Gambling in the USA
LAS VEGAS – RE-LAUNCH OF THE STRIP, an important discussion at Sports Betting & Casino Summit North America 2020
The top industry companies have all confirmed their interest to join the Sports Betting & Casino Summit North America (Virtual Conference), which will open its virtual doors between 23-24 June
The virtual seats are limited, so hurry and register now to secure your seat(s)! REGISTER HERE
Lasvegassun.com has released an interesting editorial which is titled “Sights and sounds of Vegas give us hope for a full recovery”, and we can directly tie this piece with one of the most interesting land-based industry related panel discussions at Sports Betting & Casino Summit North America (Virtual Conference).
After the Bellagio fountains are now back to life with a playing of “Simple Gifts” to honor the Las Vegas front-liners who have protected the city during the pandemic, MGM Resorts International made another spot-on choice for the follow-up song. This is of course an anthem of the fabulous city, “Viva Las Vegas”.
Las Vegas is already booming and WADE VANDERVORT, of Lasvegassun.com wrote it so beautifully as we would not change anything:
“…it was a godsend to see waters dancing, lights twinkling and guests coming through the doors in the resort corridor and downtown. After 78 days of eerie quiet, Las Vegas took its first steps to recovery.
It’s a moment of hope and a reminder that our community has rebounded from crisis and tragedy before.”
Besides the Bellagio fountains, the gondolas are also gliding along the faux canals at The Venetian.
Up and down Las Vegas Boulevard, from Wynn Las Vegas at the north end to New York-New York and MGM Grand on the south end, gamblers are sliding bills into slot machines and wagering chips at blackjack and roulette tables.
Life is slowly returning to normal in Sin City.
As mentioned above, at Sports Betting & Casino Summit North America (Virtual Conference) we will discuss the subject, and the “LAS VEGAS – RE-LAUNCH OF THE STRIP” panel discussion has some very important guests who are joining us on the 23rd of June to share their insights.
The panel discussion is joined by Jay Kornegay (Vice President Race & Sports Operations – Westgate LV Resort & Casino), Seth Schorr (CEO of Fifth Street Gaming and Chairman of Downtown Grand Hotel & Casino) and Matthew Holt (President at U.S. Integrity), and will be moderated by Benjie Cherniak (Managing Director of SG Digital’s Don Best Sports group).
Do not miss this unique opportunity to attend a virtual conference that gathers all North American gaming industry experts for 2 days of discussions and networking. Register your seat now!
Jay Kornegay – Vice President Race & Sports Operations – Westgate LV Resort & Casino
Jay Kornegay is Vice President of the LVH – Las Vegas Hotel & Casino SuperBook. He has more than 26 years experience in the race and sports book industry. Jay graduated from Colorado State University in 1987 with a bachelor’s degree in Restaurant Business Management. Always intrigued by gaming, Jay moved to Nevada later that year to start his path in that field.
Starting in Lake Tahoe and soon afterwards moving to Las Vegas, Jay has worked at four major sports books. He opened the Imperial Palace sports book in 1989, which soon turned into one of the more popular sports books in the state of Nevada.
In 2004, Jay took the reins of the LVH SuperBook. As the world’s largest race and sports book with over 30,000 square feet, the SuperBook is one of the top sports books in Nevada. Over the years, the SuperBook has won numerous awards and often represents the Las Vegas market with national media outlets. It is known for its aggressive nature and being a player-friendly book by offering fair odds to guests. The LVH SuperBook is also known for offering Nevada’s largest wagering menu by posting many 2nd/3rd tier sports, as well as having an international flavor. In addition, the SuperBook hosts the “SuperContest,” which is recognized as the most prestigious pro football handicapping contest. For the fourth consecutive year, the “SuperContest” set a record for number of entries and marked the most entries ever this past football season at 1034.
Jay resides in Las Vegas with wife Pam, daughter Cara and son Nicholas. He is also well known for shooting a 36 on the front nine and a 59 on the back nine.
Seth Schorr – CEO of Fifth Street Gaming and Chairman of Downtown Grand Hotel & Casino
Seth Schorr is CEO of Fifth Street Gaming and Chairman of Downtown Grand Hotel & Casino. The urban casino resort is the embodiments of Schorr’s vision to create a downtown Las Vegas hospitality experience delivering a superior guest experience and a genuine sense of community.
Since beginning his career in gaming and hospitality in 1991, Schorr served as an integral member of the Wynn Resorts team, developing the international marketing department in Macau, the interactive gaming division, and The Wynn Collection of Fine Art. Earlier in his career, Schorr also worked in numerous capacities at Mirage Resorts including positions at Bellagio Hotel & Casino, The Mirage Hotel & Casino, and Treasure Island Hotel & Casino.
Schorr and his partner, Jeffrey Fine, co-founded Fifth Street Gaming which owns and operates five casinos. The principals of Fifth Street Gaming also control, through its affiliate, the LEV Restaurant Group, a food and beverage operation that owns and manages more than 50 restaurants in the Las Vegas area and Southern California including The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf, Jamba Juice, Lobster ME, JaBurritos, Daily Kitchen, Evel Pie, and Golden Tiki.
In early 2015, Schorr was introduced to the world of eSports and lead the effort of developing the first fully integrated eSports program in a casino resort at The Downtown Grand. The Downtown Grand’s eSports program has included weekly eSports contests, team residencies and sponsorships, a weekly broadcast and professional tournaments. Schorr sits on the board of GameCo and advised on the development and launch of the world’s first video game slot machine. In 2017 Schorr launched Commercial Streaming Solutions which developed a patent-pending media platform, KonekTV, that provides streaming content, including Esports and sports betting content, to retail venues. Schorr is a founder of the Nevada Esports Alliance and continues to be a leader in the convergence of Esports and sports gambling. Schorr is the co-founder of The Strategy Organization: a Modern Gaming and Hospitality consulting firm.
Schorr is a graduate of the University of Pennsylvania, is a member of YPO and sits on numerous boards including those for The Las Vegas Natural History Museum, Nevada Restaurant Association, Jewish Federation of Las Vegas, the Advisory Board of The Smith Center for Performing Arts, One Night for One Drop and was appointed by Governor Sandoval to serve on Nevada State Board of Museums & History. He is also an executive board member and Chairman of the Communications Committee of the Downtown Las Vegas alliance. Schorr is an avid cyclist, amateur photographer and has two little angels Dax (10) and Mia (9). Most importantly, Schorr recently married Dr. Emily Schorr.
Matthew Holt – President at U.S. Integrity
Originally from New Hampshire, Mr. Holt originally honorably served in the United States Air Force. Once completing his term in the Air Force Mr. Holt attended Morehead State University, obtaining a sports marketing degree before taking up residence in Las Vegas, Nevada. Mr. Holt founded U.S. Integrity, LLC. based out of Las Vegas, Nevada. U.S. Integrity is the gold standard of game integrity and fraud prevention services in the United States. Mr. Holt and his team at US Integrity have built innovative, technology based solutions that allow for easy accessible data and analytics for fraud prevention and game integrity monitoring.
Benjie Cherniak – Managing Director of SG Digital’s Don Best Sports group
Benjie Cherniak is the Managing Director of SG Digital’s Don Best Sports group, a leading provider of sports information products and services relevant to the North American sports betting industry. Benjie oversees the company’s sports information platform, automated data distribution, live pricing, and ancillary consulting services.
Following the acquisition of Don Best by Scientific Games, Benjie has accelerated the growth of OpenBet, the company’s sports betting platform, by integrating Don Best’s world-class pricing services into the technology. Don Best’s trading and pricing expertise have seamlessly become an integral part of SG Digital’s core offering.
Prior to joining Scientific Games, Benjie spearheaded Don Best’s international growth via tailored solutions to tier-one sportsbook operators in the United States, Europe, Asia, Latin America and beyond. Under Benjie’s supervision, Don Best introduced (a) a proprietary pricing product for North American based sports that rapidly established itself as the industry standard; and (b) a data integrity offering to assist North American based sport leagues in identifying potential fraudulent betting patterns.
With 15 years of industry experience, Benjie is a leading voice in the emerging US sports betting industry from both an operational and legislative perspective.
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Gambling in the USA
New Research Shows Stark Reality of Tourism Decline in Las Vegas
A new research has revealed the stark reality behind a notable downturn in tourism to the renowned resort city, Las Vegas, with the number of visitors falling sharply compared to previous years.
The study, conducted by leading casino and sports betting community OLBG, shows that Vegas has seen a drop off of around 264,248 tourists on average per month – a decline of approximately 7.6%. It means over a quarter of a million fewer people are heading to the city each month marking one of the most significant slowdowns outside of pandemic years.
Post-Covid recovery stalling
Despite a steady period after the 2020 lockdown, Las Vegas saw consistent growth up until 2024. Recent OLBG data however shows a clear reversal with average monthly visitors falling from 3.47million to 3.21million. The city is now facing renewed pressure to maintain its global appeal.
The drop in tourism is reflected across key hotel metrics. Average room occupancy has declined to 80.4%, down from 84.4% the previous year – the lowest level in four years.
At the same time, the average daily room rate has fallen by nearly 10%, indicating that hotels are reducing prices to attract visitors. Revenue per available room has also dropped by 13% year-on-year, reaching its lowest level in over nine years outside of the pandemic.
Gaming revenue shows some resilience
Gaming revenue has seen a modest increase of 3.8% year-on-year, reaching a monthly average of $1.11 billion (inflation-adjusted). However, this follows a decline the previous year and remains below earlier peak levels.
While the sector is holding relatively steady, it is not enough to offset the wider decline in tourism and hospitality performance.
The data also reflects broader changes in consumer behaviour. The continued growth of online gambling, combined with more value-driven travel decisions, is reshaping the global gambling landscape.
Shift toward lower-cost destinations
Rising travel costs and changing consumer priorities appear to be driving a shift toward more affordable gambling destinations. Travellers are increasingly seeking locations that offer similar entertainment experiences at a lower overall cost.
Destinations such as Atlantic City and Biloxi in the US, alongside European cities like Prague and Budapest, are gaining traction due to cheaper accommodation, lower travel costs, and competitive casino offerings. International resort destinations, including Sun City in South Africa, are also emerging as cost-effective alternatives.
This growing competition is putting pressure on Las Vegas, particularly among price-sensitive travellers.
An OLBG spokesperson said: “Las Vegas has been the benchmark for global gambling tourism, but latest figures suggest its dominance is being tested. Continued rising costs in terms of travel and accommodation, plus spending in the city, means many players are more selective on destinations.
“Destinations that offer similar casino experiences but at lower prices are becoming more popular – whether that’s still in the US in Atlantic City and Biloxi or across Europe in cities such as Prague and Budapest. Value is becoming the key driver for tourists’ decision-making.
“However, continued growth of online gambling is giving players more flexibility than they’ve ever had. In some cases, this reduces the need to travel altogether whilst others choose short, cost-effective trips with digital play.
“Sin City isn’t going anywhere, though. It remains a world class destination but it’s operating in a much more competitive global market compared to previous years.”
The post New Research Shows Stark Reality of Tourism Decline in Las Vegas appeared first on Americas iGaming & Sports Betting News.
Aristocrat Gaming
MONOPOLY Big Board Bucks by Aristocrat Gaming Makes its Official Debut at Yaamava’ Resort & Casino
Aristocrat Gaming has officially launched its new MONOPOLY Big Board Bucks slot game in the US, with Yaamava’ Resort & Casino at San Manuel becoming the first casino in the world to debut the game.
Ushering in a new era, MONOPOLY Big Board Bucks is the first game title released by Aristocrat Gaming, under its newly awarded multiyear licensing partnership with Hasbro. Powered by the company’s industry-leading innovation, this first title brings nostalgia, iconic iconography and dynamic gameplay to the forefront.
“We are incredibly proud to see our introductory MONOPOLY title, Big Board Bucks, make its debut on casino floors. The journey to this moment has been filled with energy, excitement, and a deep appreciation for the opportunity to innovate with one of the world’s most iconic brands. Yaamava’ Resort & Casino truly embraced the significance of being the first to launch, and we’re kicking things off with tremendous momentum. We look forward to the continued excitement from players as the game rolls out nationwide,” said Craig Toner, CEO of Aristocrat Gaming.
With this historic game launch, Yaamava’ is hosting its largest promotion to date, culminating on May 29 when one Club Serrano member will receive the biggest single prize in the property’s history — the “Own It All” package valued at more than $1.6 million, including $500,000 towards a mortgage, $500,000 in travel credit and a Ferrari 296GTS worth over $640,000.
“Launching the World Premiere for MONOPOLY Big Board Bucks gives us the opportunity to do what we do best—deliver next-level entertainment paired with meaningful rewards for our players. From the immersive reveal to our largest promotion ever, this launch reflects our commitment to creating moments that feel big, celebratory, and uniquely Yaamava’,” said Kenji Hall, General Manager of Yaamava’ Resort & Casino at San Manuel.
MONOPOLY Big Board Bucks infuses nostalgia into gameplay with the player experience feeling like playing the actual board game, including player-selectable game tokens, Mr. Monopoly, Free Parking, houses and hotels and even the famous game board itself. Players are presented with triple metamorphic gameplay with Extra Spins, Extra Properties and Extra Houses. These metamorphic features lead to the Big Board Bucks Bonus, and may be awarded individually, in pairs, or all together to enhance the bonus. Any of these triggers will lead to the Big Board Bucks Bonus. In the Big Board Bucks Bonus, players have the chance to trigger rewards around the game board and land money bags, properties, houses and hotels, Free Parking and even the GO Jackpot Wheel. There’s also an exciting fourth metamorphic with Free Games that will trigger once the meter bar has been filled.
MONOPOLY Big Board Bucks is available on The Baron Portrait cabinet and is available in a never-before-seen signage package, the Skyline, featuring LED-lit themed panel dividers and dual-tier LED toppers adorned with lit Monopoly signature property game pieces crowning the top.
The post MONOPOLY Big Board Bucks by Aristocrat Gaming Makes its Official Debut at Yaamava’ Resort & Casino appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.
Gambling in the USA
Plaza Hotel & Casino to open new High Limit Gaming Room this summer
The Plaza Hotel & Casino in downtown Las Vegas will open a High Limit Gaming Room later this summer, offering an exclusive slot play area with the newest, most popular games.
Located on the main casino floor, the Plaza’s new High Limit Gaming Room will be an intimate gaming space with approximately 60 state-of-the-art games, including several electronic table games, for an enhanced gaming experience.
“The Plaza continues to diversify its offerings to meet the changing needs of our guests,” said Jonathan Jossel, CEO of the Plaza Hotel & Casino. “Adding a High Limit Gaming Room is just another amenity we want to provide so our guests know they have a variety of gaming options at the Plaza, including an exclusive, comfortable, and personalized area for slot play.”
Jossel added that the High Limit Gaming Room is being added due to the Plaza’s growing slot business, new higher-end players making the Plaza home, and requests from longstanding customers.
To create a uniquely opulent ambiance, the design of the Plaza’s High Limit Gaming Room blends classic Las Vegas glamour with modern sophistication, featuring rich dark tones, gold Art Deco detailing, and plush upholstery.
The Plaza’s new High Limit Gaming Room will also offer players convenient amenities like a concierge desk where casino hosts can assist guests with booking dinner reservations at the award-winning Oscar’s Steakhouse, hotel room upgrades, reserving a cabana at the Plaza’s rooftop pool, and more.
Dedicated cocktail servers will provide personalized service to guests round-the-clock, while the room will also feature chilled beverages available to guests at their leisure. Additionally, guests will have convenient access to an ATM/TITO redemption machine installed for use only in the High Limit Gaming Room.
To ensure the experience in the new High Limit Gaming Room feels intimate and personalized, the Plaza capped its size to 2,000 sq. ft. It is also being designed with the functionality to transform into a private event room with ample counter space to accommodate party platters, buffets, and beverages.
The Plaza’s new High Limit Gaming Room will be open 24 hours a day, seven days a week, and a grand opening event will be held later this summer.
The post Plaza Hotel & Casino to open new High Limit Gaming Room this summer appeared first on Americas iGaming & Sports Betting News.
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