Gambling in the USA
Illinois Gambling Revenue Continues to Drop
The casino revenue in Illinois has been sliding, for more than a decade, because of the smoking ban and rise of video gambling machines.
Illinois gamblers decided to stay at home and the industry is still trying to lure them back, said Tom Swoik, executive director of the Illinois Casino Gaming Association.
“Our revenues dropped off about 20 percent from 2007 to 2008 and were just starting to come back up pretty good in 2011. And then video gaming came aboard,” Swoik said.
Revenues are now down 40%, to $1.3 billion from the high water mark ten years ago. Gamblers are spending money on video gaming machines, which can be found in many bars, restaurants and truck stops.
“You know, we’re not, we’re not creating any new gamblers,” Swoik said.
That problem could get worse as six more casino licenses are handed out, thanks to SB 690, which Gov. J.B. Pritzker signed into law last year.
“The market is just saturated. All we’re doing is grouping revenues from one venue to another,” Swoik said.
One bright spot in the law is sports wagering. According to the American Gaming Association, Americans spend more than $150 billion a year on sports wagering. And now, Illinois’ casinos are going to be able to get in on that action.
“Sports betting and internet gaming are the two areas that are not [saturated] in Illinois,” Swoik said.
The state is expected to start allowing the first legal sports bets in just a few weeks, Pritzker said in his budget address last month. That means it will be up and running, just in time for the lucrative March Madness tournament, when an expected $8.5 billion is wagered.
Compliance
BMM Innovation Group confirms SBC Summit Americas 2026 presence
BMM Testlabs, BIG Cyber and RG24seven Virtual Training will exhibit at Booth 730 in Fort Lauderdale, June 9-11.
BMM Innovation Group (BMM) said it will attend SBC Summit Americas 2026, running June 9-11 at the Broward County Convention Center in Fort Lauderdale, Florida.
The company will exhibit at Booth No. 730, presenting its testing and certification, cybersecurity, and compliance-focused training services for North America and Latin America through its brands BMM Testlabs, BIG Cyber, and RG24seven Virtual Training. BMM said its team on-site will include multilingual business development staff supporting English, Spanish, and Portuguese.
BMM’s International iGaming Leader, María Romero de Alba, said, “SBC Summit Americas is one of the most important gatherings for the gaming industry across North and Latin America, and we’re excited to bring the BMM World Tour to Fort Lauderdale. As iGaming continues to grow across the region, BMM is helping suppliers expand into new markets with trusted compliance, cybersecurity, and training solutions.”
Separately, BMM said it has been shortlisted for “Compliance Solution of the Year” at the SBC Awards Americas 2026, scheduled for June 10 alongside the conference.
The post BMM Innovation Group confirms SBC Summit Americas 2026 presence appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.
Gambling in the USA
BMM INNOVATION GROUP BRINGS THE WORLD TOUR TO SBC SUMMIT AMERICAS JUNE 9-11 IN FORT LAUDERDALE, FLORIDA
BMM Innovation Group (“BMM”, “BIG Group”, or “BIG”), a global technology company providing compliance testing, cybersecurity, and training solutions for the regulated global gaming industry, today announced its participation in the SBC Summit Americas 2026 June 9-11 at the Broward County Convention Center in Fort Lauderdale, Florida.
BIG will exhibit in Booth No. 730, where the Company will showcase its leading testing, certification, cybersecurity, and training solutions for North America and Latin America.
In Latin America, BMM plays a leading role in gaming testing and certification, with offices in Argentina, Brazil, and Peru. In North America, the Company supports the growing iGaming and sports betting market with its full portfolio of testing, certification, cybersecurity, and compliance-grade training solutions.
Representing BIG’s global brands, BMM Testlabs, BIG Cyber, and RG24seven Virtual Training, the team will feature multilingual business development experts speaking English, Spanish, and Portuguese to support suppliers, operators, and regulators across the Americas.
Attendees visiting the Company’s Booth No. 730 can learn more about BMM’s expert testing and certification services, cybersecurity solutions, and compliance-grade virtual training designed to help gaming companies launch faster, stay secure, and meet regulatory requirements across global markets.
BMM’s International iGaming Leader, María Romero de Alba, said, “SBC Summit Americas is one of the most important gatherings for the gaming industry across North and Latin America, and we’re excited to bring the BMM World Tour to Fort Lauderdale. As iGaming continues to grow across the region, BMM is helping suppliers expand into new markets with trusted compliance, cybersecurity, and training solutions.”
BMM Innovation Group has also been shortlisted for “Compliance Solution of the Year” at the SBC Awards Americas 2026, which will be held June 10 in conjunction with the conference.
To book a meeting with the BIG team at SBC Summit Americas 2026, visit BMM World Tour.
The post BMM INNOVATION GROUP BRINGS THE WORLD TOUR TO SBC SUMMIT AMERICAS JUNE 9-11 IN FORT LAUDERDALE, FLORIDA appeared first on Americas iGaming & Sports Betting News.
executive-moves
Yaspa hires Justin Fears as US Director, Enterprise Sales
Yaspa has appointed US fintech and gaming executive Justin Fears as US Director, Enterprise Sales, as the company pushes further into North America. The company said Fears will be based in its Atlanta office and will lead strategic commercial growth across the region.
Yaspa said Fears will focus on working with gaming operators to modernise payment experiences using real-time bank payments and transaction intelligence, and will work with its US and global commercial leadership teams to scale partnerships and adoption.
Fears brings more than 18 years of experience across payments, fintech, SaaS, and AML compliance in the gaming sector, according to Yaspa. His previous roles include senior positions at Kinectify, First Data Corporation, Glory Global Solutions, DiTronics Financial Services, NEXGEN Technology, and CASINOMONEY. Yaspa also noted he is a United States Air Force veteran.
James Neville, CEO of Yaspa, said: “We’re delighted to welcome Justin to the team as we accelerate our footprint in the US market. His deep operational understanding of gaming-focused financial infrastructure, compliance technologies, and enterprise sales leadership makes him an incredible asset. Justin’s appointment further strengthens our local team and underscores our commitment to helping North American operators lower costs, reduce fraud, and elevate the player experience through open banking.”
Fears said: “I’m excited to join Yaspa at such an important stage in the company’s growth journey. The combination of open banking, innovative payment solutions, and intelligent transaction data represents a significant opportunity within the US iGaming market, particularly as operators continue to prioritise player experience, fraud reduction, and payment efficiency. Yaspa has built an innovative platform uniquely positioned to support the evolving needs of regulated operators, and I look forward to helping expand the company’s presence and strategic partnerships across the US.”
Yaspa said it was named winner of the Real-Time Payments Innovation award at the 2025 Payments Awards and was included in the CB Insights Top 100 Fintechs list in the past 12 months. The company also referenced a $12m investment round in July led by Discerning Capital, and said it has opened a new Atlanta office and a tech hub in Leeds, UK, in August 2025.
The post Yaspa hires Justin Fears as US Director, Enterprise Sales appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.
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