Gambling in the USA
Gaming Americas Weekly Roundup – December 14-20
Welcome to our weekly roundup of American gambling news again! It was again an eventful week in the USA, despite the still-active virus attack.
Here, we are going through the weekly highlights of the American gambling industry which include the latest news, new partnerships and new acquisitions. Read on and get updated.
Latest News
New Jersey has become the first state in history to post a legal sports betting handle of more than $900 million. NJ sportsbooks generated $931 million in wagers in November, breaking the previous record of $803.1 million set in October and marking the fourth consecutive month the state has set an all-jurisdiction record for handle.
iTech Labs, a testing and certification laboratory for the global online gaming industry, has added Buenos Aires and Panama to its growing list of online gaming jurisdictions. With over 16 years of specialising in the online gaming space, iTech Labs has built a solid place for itself in the industry, with many of the world’s leading online gaming companies turning to iTech Labs for their certification needs.
Further to the announcement on December 11 from the Ontario provincial government that certain businesses in certain regions, such as casinos, will be restricted further for indoor gathering limits, Great Canadian Gaming Corporation has suspended the gaming operations at Elements Casino Grand River from December 13. Currently, only seven of the Company’s 26 properties are open with the 5 Ontario properties operating with a guest capacity of fifty, Casino New Brunswick operating with 25% of pre-closure capacity, and Casino Nova Scotia Sydney operating with 20% of pre-closure capacity.
Casinos in Pennsylvania have once again been ordered to close their doors as part of the new Covid-19 restrictions in the state. Governor Tom Wolf ordered the casinos to close until January 4. Wolf’s mandate covers other indoor entertainment venues, theatres, museums, gyms and activities in public gathering spaces. Indoor dining at restaurants is also prohibited.
Wind Creek Bethlehem casino closed for the second time this year, but it plans to continue to pay its active employees throughout the three-week shutdown. Wind Creek issued a statement pledging to pay its 1600 “active salaried and tipped employees.” The closure includes the casino, its restaurants and hotel. The Wind Creek Event Centre and Vision bar remain closed. The Outlets at Wind Creek Bethlehem will be open at a reduced maximum capacity of 50% in line with the new state requirements.
New Partnerships
BetWinner has entered into a partnership with ESPN’s flagship programme SportsCenter, a daily national and international sporting events highlights show, to increase its footprint in Brazil. The four-month partnership will see BetWinner’s imagery and QR code appear in the Sportscenter programmes.
FanDuel Group has entered a strategic business deal with The Cage Companies to launch online and retail sportsbooks in South America and the Caribbean. The new relationship brings together Cage’s experience in the region with FanDuel’s premier brand and industry-leading sports betting platform.
Las Vegas-based gambling firm GameCo has entered into a partnership with sports betting solutions company USBookmaking. The partnership will launch the first-ever dedicated esports sportsbook in the US and will be available digitally at Sky Ute Casino Resort for all players in Colorado.
New Acquisition
Genius Sports Group Limited has entered into a definitive agreement to acquire Sportzcast, a leading manufacturer of sports scoreboard data distribution systems. Terms of the deal were not disclosed.
New Appointment
Lia Nower, JD, PhD, Rutgers University Professor and Director of its Centre for Gambling Studies, has joined the Board of Directors of the National Council on Problem Gambling. Nower is currently Chair of the NCPG Research Committee and has served on several other committees. She is also Director of the Addiction Counselor Training Certificate Programme in the Rutgers School of Social Work and a research affiliate with the Gambling Treatment Unit at the University of Sydney Brain and Mind Centre.
Powered by WPeMatico
BetMGM
BetMGM and FashionTV Gaming Group Bring Luxury Lifestyle to North American iGaming
BetMGM, a leading iGaming and sports betting operator, has officially partnered with FashionTV Gaming Group to launch a curated portfolio of luxury-branded games. This strategic collaboration marks the entry of FashionTV’s iconic aesthetic into the North American iGaming market, exclusively through BetMGM’s platforms.
The partnership merges FashionTV’s global prestige in the worlds of fashion and high-society entertainment with BetMGM’s award-winning digital casino infrastructure.
Immersive Luxury Table Games
The initial rollout features two high-gloss table games designed to provide players with an “immersive, lifestyle-driven” experience that mirrors the sophistication of the FashionTV brand.
-
FashionTV Blackjack: A premium take on the casino classic, featuring refined visual assets and high-end production values.
-
FashionTV Roulette: A sleek, stylized version of the iconic wheel, bringing a “fashion-forward” energy to every spin.
The titles are currently live in Michigan, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania, with a wider rollout planned for all jurisdictions where BetMGM Casino is active.
Strategic Vision and 2026 Roadmap
For BetMGM, the partnership is part of a broader “branded content” strategy that includes previous successes with major TV and movie franchises.
“At BetMGM, we have redefined what it means to deliver entertainment in iGaming,” said Oliver Bartlett, VP of Gaming at BetMGM. “By partnering with FashionTV Gaming Group, we’re creating experiences that go beyond gameplay and connect players to the brands they love.”
Moshe Cohen, Founder & President of FashionTV Gaming Group, added: “BetMGM’s leadership and scale make them the perfect partner to transform our vision into a North American success story.”
Looking ahead, BetMGM has confirmed that additional FashionTV-branded titles—including slots and potentially live dealer variants—will be released throughout 2026 as part of an expanding content pipeline.
The post BetMGM and FashionTV Gaming Group Bring Luxury Lifestyle to North American iGaming appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.
BetMGM
BetMGM and FashionTV Gaming Group Unite to Bring Luxury and Style to iGaming
Partnership brings FashionTV Gaming Group to North America with exclusive branded games
BetMGM, a leading sports betting and iGaming operator, announced a partnership with FashionTV Gaming Group, to launch a portfolio of FashionTV-branded games exclusively on BetMGM Casino platforms. This strategic collaboration brings Fashion TV’s global luxury aesthetic together with BetMGM’s award-winning online casino experience.
“At BetMGM, we have redefined what it means to deliver entertainment in iGaming. By introducing iconic TV and movie titles to iGaming and now partnering with FashionTV Gaming Group, we’re creating experiences that go beyond gameplay and connect players to the brands they love,” said Oliver Bartlett, VP of Gaming at BetMGM.
Moshe Cohen, Founder & President of FashionTV Gaming Group, said, “We are proud to bring FashionTV’s luxury lifestyle universe to the heart of online gaming in North America. BetMGM’s leadership and scale make them the perfect partner to transform our vision into a North American success story.”
FashionTV-branded table games offer players an immersive, high-gloss experience that merges casino action with the style, sophistication, and global prestige of FashionTV. FashionTV Blackjack and FashionTV Roulette are now available to play at BetMGM Casino in Michigan, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania and will be available in all jurisdictions where BetMGM Casino is live soon. Additional titles will be released throughout 2026.
FashionTV, broadcast in over 200 countries and reaching billions of viewers worldwide, stands as the definitive voice of global luxury. With unmatched reach across television, digital, and social media, FashionTV continues to captivate audiences through its celebration of fashion, travel, and high-society entertainment.
BetMGM’s award-winning online casino is home to over 5,400 titles across North American markets and one of the largest state-by-state exclusive progressive jackpot networks. BetMGM’s jackpot network currently consists of over 25 games including popular titles such as MGM Grand Millions, Bison Fury, and 15 Lanterns. Players can earn BetMGM Rewards Points and Tier Credits by playing at BetMGM Casino. BetMGM Rewards points can be redeemed for digital bonuses, MGM Rewards Points, and Marriott Bonvoy Points.
As BetMGM continues to expand into new markets and introduce new features, responsible gaming remains a key focus. Additionally, BetMGM is proud to provide resources to help customers play responsibly including GameSense, an industry leading program, developed and licensed to MGM Resorts by the British Columbia Lottery Corporation. Through the integration within BetMGM’s mobile and desktop platforms, customers can receive the same GameSense experience they have grown to rely on at MGM Resorts properties nationwide. This complements BetMGM’s already existing responsible gambling tools which serve to provide customers with an entertaining and safe digital experience.
The post BetMGM and FashionTV Gaming Group Unite to Bring Luxury and Style to iGaming appeared first on Americas iGaming & Sports Betting News.
California
CGCC Gaming Policy Advisory Committee (GPAC) Meeting: Jan 20, 2026
The California Gambling Control Commission (CGCC) has scheduled a meeting of the Gaming Policy Advisory Committee (GPAC) for 1:00 p.m. on Tuesday, January 20, 2026.
The committee is established under Business and Professions Code Section 19817 to provide advisory recommendations to the Commission on regulatory policy, with a specific focus on integrity and problem gambling.
Meeting Attendance Information
The meeting will be conducted in a hybrid format, allowing for both in-person and remote participation.
-
In-Person Location: 2399 Gateway Oaks Drive, Hearing Room 100, Sacramento, CA 95833.
-
Virtual Access: Zoom Meeting Link
-
Phone Access: 1-888-475-4499 (Toll-free) | Meeting ID: 285 757 8614
Key Agenda Items
The agenda focuses on internal governance, regulatory controls for third-party providers, and administrative updates:
-
GPAC Roles and Responsibilities: A review of the mission statement, adherence to the Bagley-Keene Open Meeting Act, and expectations for member conduct and responsiveness.
-
Current Projects: Update and discussion on Third-Party Providers of Proposition Player Services (TPPPS) – Internal Controls, led by subcommittee members Kirill Yermanov and Michael Hill.
-
New Discussion Items:
-
Third-Party Provider Employee Table Coverage.
-
Procedures for Lost or Damaged Employee Badges.
-
-
Administrative Updates: An update on the Category G vacancy (Public Member with accounting/business background).
2026 Committee Composition
The committee consists of 10 members (expanding to 12 if pending legislation like AB 77 is finalized), split equally between the cardroom industry and the public.
| Member Name | Category / Role | Term Expiry |
| Trevor Dewar | Category A (Bureau of Gambling Control) | 12/31/2026 |
| Sosha Marasigan-Quintero | Category B (Problem Gambling/Addiction) | 12/31/2026 |
| Michael Hill | Category C (TPPPS Representative) | 12/31/2027 |
| David Fried | Category D (Cardroom with 25+ Tables) | 12/31/2026 |
| Michael Koniski | Industry Representative | — |
| Emmanuel Macalino | Industry Representative | — |
| Linda Ng | Public Representative | — |
| John Stacy | Industry Representative | — |
| Kirill Yermanov | Public Representative | — |
Advisors: Lisa Wardall (Executive Director) and Jason Pope (Chief Counsel).
The post CGCC Gaming Policy Advisory Committee (GPAC) Meeting: Jan 20, 2026 appeared first on Americas iGaming & Sports Betting News.
-
Five Elements Slot1 day agoPG Soft Concludes 2025 with High-Volatility Launch: Mythical Guardians
-
Hold and1 day agoPragmatic Play Rings in 2026 with Joker’s Jewels Hold & Spin™
-
Bespoke Gaming Studio1 day agoCreedRoomz and Casumo Forge Strategic Partnership to Elevate Live Casino Experience
-
iGaming News 20261 day agoSpinomenal Rings in 2026 with Japanese-Inspired “Kami Reign Ultra Mode”
-
B2B gaming software1 day agoGamblers Connect and BetOxygen Announce Strategic B2B Partnership
-
Button Blind1 day agoStretch Network Boosts Player Engagement with Year-End Platform Enhancements
-
Latest News1 day agoFrom ‘Mummyverse’ to Crash Games: Belatra Reviews a Landmark 2025
-
Balkan Gaming Market1 day agoYggdrasil Strengthens Bulgarian Presence Through Strategic Deal with bet.bg



