Industry News

4 Challenges the Online Betting and Gaming Industry Will Face in the 2020s

Published

6 years ago

January 7, 2020

Photo source: casinodope.com

Estimates will always vary, but there are some predictions that the online betting and gaming industry will more than double in size from the period of 2017-2024, with all online gambling-related activities almost reaching the $100 billion mark globally 2025.

That’s incredible growth for an industry that is relatively mature. But we can speculate that many outliers will have an impact, such as the liberalization of gambling laws on a state by state basis in the United States, and the clarifying of laws in countries like Finland and Germany.

However, while the growth is nevertheless a reason for the industry to celebrate, there are several areas that will present challenges to betting and gaming worldwide as we enter the next decade. We look at some of those below:

Cryptocurrency

European Gaming Congress 2024 (Warsaw, Poland)

Yes, there are countless ‘bitcoin casinos’ out there. But we also know that regulators – and governments – don’t like the idea of a marriage between cryptocurrency and gaming sites. In the end, it all boils down to transparency, and crypto is seen as the antithesis of the recent drives for KYC (know your customer) policies and anti-fraud measures. A lot will depend on the mainstreaming of cryptocurrency, perhaps driven by Facebook’s Libra coin. The MGA (Malta Gaming Authority) is exploring the viability of crypto through its Sandbox Framework, but one suspects that it will be more than a few years before we see the ubiquitous use of cryptocurrency at casinos.

Regulation

Obviously, a difficult subject to cover as different countries will have varied legal restrictions on marketing and advertising. Yet, so many national parliaments have at least proposed regulations that look like they could hamstring the industry in terms of how it markets itself. The UK Labour Party, for instance, has called for incredibly tough measures, including the introduction of minimum bet amounts and an extension of KYC policies. Some regulation and help for responsible gambling would be welcome, of course, as is regulatory clarity, but the industry will need to work with regulators to ensure that it doesn’t go too far.

Millennials

Despite the growth figures mentioned earlier, the challenges to get millennials playing at land-based and online casinos remaining. Sure, plenty of under 35s will log in to casino.com to play the roulette tables or have an online punt on the Premier League, but the challenge to get millennials interested in classic games and events like horse racing will undoubtedly give operators sleepless nights. A lot of talk has occurred over the idea of merging the world of video games and competitive casino play, perhaps harnessing the incredible popularity of games like Fortnite and certain eSports and crossing them over to casinos. It’s an interesting concept, and it’s completely foreseeable that we will see monetized video games sitting proudly beside the classic table and card games in the near future.

The eSports arena opens at UCI.photo: steve zylius/UCI

Green Issues

It’s almost guaranteed that every industry on the planet is set to face more scrutiny on its carbon footprint. Tech companies, of all types, usually escape such scrutiny, as there are more apparent culprits for campaigners to turn their ire upon. The online gaming industry can certainly point to its green superiority over the land-based industry, albeit many resorts are trying to make changes, but it still takes a lot of energy to run a popular website. Statistics aren’t available for casino games specifically, but the carbon dioxide emissions of playing video games online are said to be equivalent to the emissions of millions of cars. This is obviously not an issue related to online gaming specifically, but that doesn’t make it any less pressing to address.

FanDuel Sports Network

FanDuel Sports Network Appoints Damon Phillips to Lead South, Southeast, Florida and Sun Regions

Published

14 hours ago

August 11, 2025

GamingAmericas.com

fanduel-sports-network-appoints-damon-phillips-to-lead-south,-southeast,-florida-and-sun-regions

FanDuel Sports Network, owned and operated by Main Street Sports Group, announced that Damon Phillips is joining the Company as Executive Vice President, Team Partnerships, effective August 25. In this role, Phillips will assume oversight of the South, Southeast, Florida and Sun regions, including partnerships with the Atlanta Braves, Atlanta Hawks, Carolina Hurricanes, Charlotte Hornets, Memphis Grizzlies, Miami Heat, Miami Marlins, Nashville Predators, Orlando Magic, and Tampa Bay Rays. He will report to David DeVoe, President of Main Street Sports Group.

“Damon brings an exceptional track record of using digital innovation, audience segmentation, and cross-platform strategies to drive fan growth and engagement. As we continue to invest in our local sports media platform, Damon’s deep leadership experience at both NBC Sports and ESPN, combined with his ability to scale technology-forward solutions for both media companies and team partners, provide a unique perspective as we continue to focus on team-first solutions in a dynamic local media landscape,” said DeVoe.

“I’m thrilled to be joining a company that’s reshaping what local sports media can deliver for fans and partners. FanDuel Sports Network has built a strong foundation and is uniquely positioned to harness the power of local fandom, scale engaged audiences and unlock new growth across its markets. I’m excited to help drive this next chapter,” said Phillips.

Phillips has spent more than three decades at the intersection of sports, media, and technology, including senior leadership roles at NBCUniversal and ESPN. At NBC Sports, he served as Senior Vice President, Digital Media & Emerging Businesses, overseeing NBCSports.com, Sports Betting, Fantasy Sports, the NBC Sports YouTube Channel, Peacock B2B distribution, and multiple podcast and streaming ventures. He led partnerships with DraftKings, BetMGM, Fanatics, and others, and provided strategic direction for the company’s FAST and sports betting content initiatives.

The post FanDuel Sports Network Appoints Damon Phillips to Lead South, Southeast, Florida and Sun Regions appeared first on Gaming and Gambling Industry in the Americas.

Caesars Entertainment

Caesars Entertainment Launches Signature American Roulette

Published

14 hours ago

August 11, 2025

GamingAmericas.com

caesars-entertainment-launches-signature-american-roulette

Caesars Entertainment has launched its third fully in-house developed proprietary online casino title: Signature American Roulette. Now live in New Jersey, the game is available across Caesars Palace Online Casino, Caesars Sportsbook & Casino, and Horseshoe Online Casino, bringing another standout addition to the Company’s Signature table game series.

Developed by Empire Creative, Signature American Roulette reflects Caesars’ growing investment in building its own proprietary content, a cornerstone of its online casino strategy aimed at delivering a best-in-class player experience.

“Our in-house content team’s latest addition to the Signature series of table games is a standout for our online casino players. Bringing Signature American Roulette to our iGaming platforms perfectly complements our suite of Caesars-branded table games and further strengthens the robust collection of digital offerings that bring the energy of the casino floor to players’ mobile devices,” said Matthew Sunderland, Senior Vice President and Chief iGaming Officer at Caesars Digital.

Signature American Roulette follows the recent launches of fan-favorite Signature titles, Caesars Palace Signature Multihand Blackjack Surrender in May and Signature Blackjack Surrender in June, both also developed by Empire Creative. Online casino players can enjoy these games across Caesars’ marquee iGaming platforms in New Jersey, Michigan and Ontario, with Caesars Palace Signature Multihand Blackjack Surrender now also available on Caesars Palace Online Casino in Pennsylvania.

“Signature American Roulette continues our commitment to delivering immersive and player-centric table games that align with our many iconic brands. From player-selectable wheel spin direction and speed to our intuitive favorite bets system, every detail is crafted to boost engagement. With seamless play in portrait or landscape modes and picture-in-picture win evaluations, we’re bringing the thrill of the casino straight to players’ fingertips,” said Scott Krell, Senior Director of Game Products and Head of Studio at Caesars Digital.

Those 21 and older in New Jersey can play Signature American Roulette by downloading the Caesars Palace Online Casino, Horseshoe Online Casino or Caesars Sportsbook & Casino apps on iOS or Android, or visiting the platforms on desktop. These platforms are also available in Pennsylvania, Michigan, Ontario, and West Virginia, offering a dynamic online casino experience that features Caesars-branded games, timeless casino classics, and unique titles from top game providers. Each platform offers a dynamic online casino experience with a range of unique games from top providers, Caesars-branded games, and timeless casino classics. Additionally, each platform integrates Caesars Rewards, the Company’s industry-leading loyalty program allowing players in the US to earn Caesars Rewards Credits redeemable for unforgettable experiences at more than 50 world-class Caesars Rewards destinations across North America.

The post Caesars Entertainment Launches Signature American Roulette appeared first on Gaming and Gambling Industry in the Americas.

Casino Gaming

Maryland Casinos Generate $165.7 Million in Gaming Revenue During July

Published

5 days ago

August 7, 2025

GamingAmericas.com

maryland-casinos-generate-$165.7-million-in-gaming-revenue-during-july

Maryland’s six casinos combined to generate $165,661,894 in revenue from slot machines and table games during July 2025. The statewide total was down $4,159,416 (-2.5%) compared to July 2024.

Casino gaming contributions to the state during July 2025 totaled $71,857,827, a decrease of $305,727 (-0.4%) compared to July 2024. The July 2025 contributions included $51,742,064 to the Education Trust Fund, a decrease of $272,892 (-0.5%) compared to July 2024.

Casino gaming revenues also support the communities and jurisdictions where the casinos are located, Maryland’s horse racing industry, and small, minority- and women-owned businesses.

Maryland’s six privately owned casinos offer both slot machines and table games: MGM National Harbor in Prince George’s County; Live! Casino & Hotel in Anne Arundel County; Horseshoe Casino Baltimore in Baltimore City; Ocean Downs Casino in Worcester County; Hollywood Casino Perryville in Cecil County; and Rocky Gap Casino Resort in Allegany County.

The gaming revenue totals for July 2025 were as follows:

MGM National Harbor (2261 slot machines, 208 table games)

$68,587,339 in July 2025, a decrease of $3,396,384 (-4.7%) from July 2024

Live! Casino & Hotel (3832 slot machines, 179 table games)

$59,702,771 in July 2025, a decrease of $2,860,124 (-4.6%) from July 2024

Horseshoe Casino (1365 slot machines, 115 table games)

$14,415,536 in July 2025, an increase of $1,098,302 (8.2%) from July 2024

Ocean Downs Casino (900 slot machines, 18 table games)

$10,236,754 in July 2025, an increase of $615,672 (6.4%) from July 2024

Hollywood Casino (731 slot machines, 23 table games)

$7,622,642 in July 2025, an increase of $325,372 (4.5%) from July 2024

Rocky Gap Casino (630 slot machines, 12 table games)