Industry News

Holland Casino Expects Gains in H2 2021

Published

4 years ago

September 24, 2021

Reading Time: 2 minutes

Holland Casino is preparing for recovery after a rough first half of the year, having been forced to close for more than 5 months due to measures taken against the COVID-19 pandemic.

As anticipated by the Dutch state-owned company, the extended closure had a negative impact on its financial results for the first half of the year. But as its 14 branches have been operating again since June 5, the operator now expects to post positive results for the second half of 2021.

Turnover achieved in June shows that Holland Casino will soon be able “to operate in a healthy manner” again. Moreover, after having completed “necessary restructuring,” the company expects to become a more efficient and agile organisation, according to a press statement released on Wednesday.

Turnover for H1 2021 posted a low €28.8 million. Net results for tax purposes amounted to a loss of €64.8 million, compared to a loss of €37.8 million over the same period in 2020, in which the company remained open for several months.

“Although Coronavirus also hit our company head-on in the first half of 2021, notably our anniversary year in which we celebrate 45 years in business, we still look ahead with confidence. All in all, Netherlands was deprived of legal casino offer for almost a year, but now that the measures are disappearing little by little, recovery is in sight,” Erwin van Lambaart, CEO of Holland Casino, said.

“We see bright spots in the potential offer of online games of chance as of October 1, for which we have applied for a license, and the opening of our new world-class casino branches in Venlo and Utrecht,” van Lambaart added.

CFO Ruud Bergervoet considers that having sufficient liquid assets in the past six months was key to the company getting through the difficult period of closure. That, along with the NOW scheme, the deferral of tax payments, strict cost control measures and tight operation management, led to the company being able “to safeguard the continuity” of its operations over the past year and a half.

“The significant tax debt of €190.5 million is offset by a strong liquidity position without bank debt. We are therefore considering paying off this tax debt more quickly if no new Coronavirus measures are introduced and the recovery actually continues. The results after June are promising in that regard,” Bergervoet said.

Despite all branches now being open, certain pandemic measures are still being enforced, and Holland Casino is receiving guests at limited capacity in its gambling venues. The company expects that these measures will be phased out, with the hope to open at full capacity and without restrictions “towards autumn.”

“We are also looking forward to the reintroduction of poker, live bingo and our NXT zones so that gaming can really be experienced together again. We also hope to be able to offer our bars and restaurants after midnight, which currently all close at midnight,” van Lambaart said.

Bill Hornbuckle

MGM Resorts Powers Up to 100% of Daytime Las Vegas Strip Electricity with Solar

Published

12 hours ago

January 22, 2026

GamingAmericas.com

mgm-resorts-powers-up-to-100%-of-daytime-las-vegas-strip-electricity-with-solar

MGM Resorts International has reached a significant milestone in its renewable energy strategy, now powering up to 100% of its daytime electricity needs on the Las Vegas Strip with solar energy. The achievement was made possible after the Company began receiving 115 MW of solar energy and 400 megawatt-hours (MWh) of battery storage in December of 2025 from the recently completed Escape Solar and Storage Project, located in Lincoln County, Nevada.

By combining power from the newly activated Escape Solar and Storage Project with the Company’s 100-megawatt (MW) Mega Solar Array, MGM Resorts has more than doubled its access to renewable energy. In addition, the battery system from Escape Solar allows MGM Resorts to store solar energy generated during peak production hours and use it during evenings and other lower-production periods.

“With this new project coming online, we are accelerating progress toward our goal of using 100% renewable electricity domestically by 2030. Together with our Mega Solar Array, the new Escape Solar and Storage Project reflects our focus on scalable, impactful clean-energy solutions. It also demonstrates that our industry can operate more sustainably while delivering long-term cost stability, strengthening our business and supporting a more resilient energy future,” said Bill Hornbuckle, CEO and President of MGM Resorts.

MGM resorts announced a 25-year power purchase agreement with Escape Solar LLC in September of 2024 to amplify the Company’s renewable energy capabilities and extend production to cover up to 100% of its Las Vegas properties’ total daytime needs.

As an operator of large-scale resorts, MGM Resorts remains focused on expanding renewable energy use to lower long-term energy costs and mitigate exposure to energy price volatility. Since 2016, the Company has significantly reduced carbon emissions through investments in renewable energy projects, including:

• 323,000-panel Mega Solar Array providing 100 MW to MGM Resorts locations in Las Vegas

• 26,000 solar panels atop the Mandalay Bay Convention Center providing 8.3 MW to that property

• 100-kW rooftop solar array to help power T-Mobile Arena

• 3456 solar panels atop the parking garage at MGM Springfield in Massachusetts.

The post MGM Resorts Powers Up to 100% of Daytime Las Vegas Strip Electricity with Solar appeared first on Americas iGaming & Sports Betting News.

crash titles

DragoBet Launches Multi-Regional Casino and Sportsbook Platform

Published

13 hours ago

January 22, 2026

Wladimir P.

dragobet-launches-multi-regional-casino-and-sportsbook-platform

DragoBet has launched its online casino and sportsbook as a service designed for use across multiple markets. The platform adjusts language, currency, and payment settings by region, while keeping casino play and sports betting available through a single account.

Players complete one registration and can use the platform on desktop and mobile devices, with the same account structure and balance maintained across all access points.

Casino and Sportsbook Offering

Drago Bet launches with a casino catalogue exceeding 10,000 titles, covering a broad range of play styles. The selection includes slot games, table formats, live dealer tables, jackpots, crash titles and other feature-based releases. Games are supplied by more than 100 established software providers, combining well-known titles with newer releases within the same library.

DragoBet sportsbook is built into the same environment as the casino and covers a mix of international competitions and locally followed events. Football, basketball, tennis and cricket make up the main focus, while a range of other sports is also included. Betting is available both ahead of kick-off and during live matches, with prices updating continuously as games unfold.

Account Structure and Payments

A single account and wallet connect both casino and sportsbook activity. A single account and wallet connect casino and sportsbook play, with one DragoBet login used to access all products under the same balance.

DragoBet casino supports a range of commonly used payment options, depending on market and currency. These typically include bank transfers, debit and credit cards, alternative card solutions, digital wallets such as Google Pay, Apple Pay, Revolut and N26, as well as cryptocurrency payments. The exact methods available are displayed within the platform.

Deposits are processed online, while withdrawals are handled following account verification in line with standard internal procedures.

Security and Compliance

The platform operates under an established offshore gaming framework. Standard operational controls are applied, including encrypted data transmission and transaction monitoring.

Know Your Customer (KYC) and Anti-Money Laundering (AML) procedures form part of the withdrawal process. These measures are applied to support account security and payment integrity.

Bonuses and Player Programs

The casino offers a structured DragoBet bonus system for new and returning players. The welcome package is delivered across multiple initial deposits, with defined wagering conditions. Additional promotions, reload offers and cashback campaigns are available on an ongoing basis.

A loyalty system, Dragon Throne Club, is integrated into the platform. The program is structured across multiple levels and provides cashback, rakeback and account-based rewards tied to continued play.

The post DragoBet Launches Multi-Regional Casino and Sportsbook Platform appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.

eyeDP

Promofy Wins This year’s Pitch ICE Award

Published

14 hours ago

January 22, 2026

Wladimir P.

promofy-wins-this-year’s-pitch-ice-award

AI-gamification specialist Promofy emerged victorious at this year’s Pitch ICE competition. The company’s CEO and founder Irakli Davarshvili fended off competition from 11 other companies bidding to win the prize money of €15,000 provided by the competition’s lead sponsor AWS.

In a pitch lasting three minutes followed by a three-minute Q&A, Davarshvili wooed the panel of judges, consisting of Adam Rosenberg, senior adviser, gaming & leisure, Blackstone; Meir Shachar, gaming advisor and CEO at Digicode and RUNWAI, respectively; igaming adviser and gaming industry expert Paris Smith; Maxime Sbeghen, head of investment at FDJ United Ventures; and Jeff Millar, managing partner at JJK Partners.

Davarshvili emphasised how “innovative, customisable and easy to use” Promofy’s gamification engine was, highlighting its AI flow and ability to rapidly build gamified campaigns.

He described 2025 as having been a “foundational year”, outlining how the company had achieved $800,000 in revenue, had more than 20 customers and was now looking to raise $2m to support Promofy’s further growth.

Other pitch participants included eyeDP, an AI-powered solution to help operators process and analyse unstructured data and documents; Whizdom AI, designed to personalise game recommendations for players; Swiss Shufflers with its patented card-shuffling deck; and fantasy sports platform Loserball which “makes losing as cool as winning”.

The post Promofy Wins This year’s Pitch ICE Award appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.