Gambling in the USA

Gaming Americas Weekly Roundup – April 19-25

Published

5 years ago

April 28, 2021

Reading Time: 4 minutes

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 and new partnerships. Read on and get updated.

Latest News

Betsson Perch Investments AB, a subsidiary of Betsson AB (publ) (Betsson), has acquired a 50% stake in the software development company JDP Tech Ltd, which owns a proprietary technology platform for handling LatAm payments. The consideration payable for the shares amounts to EUR 8.8 million. This allows Betsson to secure customer payment flows for the continued expansion in Latin America.

Nevada Gov. Steve Sisolak has announced that the casinos in the state can operate at full capacity from June 1. Nevada is one of the leading tourist destinations in the world and has dramatically suffered due to the coronavirus pandemic. At one point last year, the entire state was shut down for three months until mid-June. But even then capacity limits were in place and hotel casinos were begging to return to full capacity. Steve Hill, president and CEO of the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority, said the vaccines played a huge role.

According to PlayMichigan, the online sportsbooks in Michigan set fresh records for handle and revenue, reaching nearly $400 million in online and retail bets in March and surpassing $30 million in online revenue, while online casino revenue approached $100 million. The NCAA Tournament spurred Michigan’s online sportsbooks to $359.5 million in handle, according to official data released. That total was up 19.1% from $301.9 million in February. Combined with the state’s $24.2 million retail handle, Michigan’s online and retail sportsbooks collected $383.7 million in bets. That overall total is up 17.8% from $325.6 million in bets in February.

Caesars Entertainment has revealed its plan to invest $400 million into its Atlantic City resorts by 2023. In Atlantic City, Caesars owns and operates three of the region’s preeminent casino destinations – Caesars, Harrah’s Resort and Tropicana Atlantic City. The plans include remodeled room towers; freshly appointed interior design elements; enhancements to the casinos’ gaming floors; new dining concepts with acclaimed restaurant partners; and many more exciting additions within the next three years.

Argentine organisation KRÜ Esports has selected international marketing agency Vanquish as its exclusive commercial agent. KRÜ Esports was established in October 2020 and is founded by Manchester City striker Sergio Agüero. KRÜ Esports currently has three partners in the form of GIGABYTE gaming brand AORUS, streaming platform Twitch and American multinational semiconductor company AMD.

Scientific Games Corporation has signed an agreement with Gold Dust Casino to install its iVIEW displays across 233 slot games and seven table games in addition to SDS and CMP core systems. iVIEW technology enables operators to show dynamic marketing content, animations and videos on the gaming machine while providing an instant response through a sophisticated multi-touch display. iVIEW uses player-friendly graphical widgets to enable marketing teams to easily update content throughout the property, significantly enhancing the player experience.

Betsson Perch Investments AB, a subsidiary of Betsson AB (publ), has acquired a 35% stake in Strive Platform Ltd (Strive) for a total amount of USD 6.5 million. Upon launch in the US, planned for the second half of 2021, Betsson has an option to increase its shareholding in Strive by another 5% for the consideration of USD 1 million. Betsson will also grant to the company a convertible shareholder loan facility of USD 2.5 million.

Partnerships

Phoenix Suns and FanDuel Group have announced a multi-year market access partnership designating America’s #1 Sportsbook operator as the Suns’ Official Sportsbook and Daily Fantasy Sports Partner. As part of this new commercial arrangement, FanDuel will open a luxury sportsbook retail location inside the Phoenix Suns Arena. The sportsbook is expected to be completed in time for the 2021-22 NBA season.

The Professional Fighters League (PFL) has announced a new, multi-year partnership that designates DraftKings as the Official Sportsbook and Daily Fantasy Partner of the PFL. The partnership will give MMA, daily fantasy and sports betting fans a truly unique viewing and gaming experience utilising PFL’s proprietary SmartCage technology.

Ainsworth Game Technology has partnered with Konami Gaming to launch historical horse racing machines (HRMs) for Churchill Downs Incorporated (CDI). Konami’s newly engineered historical horse racing machines will operate on Ainsworth’s proprietary Historical Horse Racing System. Konami’s HRMs include a suite of popular game titles and cabinet platforms. The machines will be deployed at CDI’s HRM facilities in Kentucky, including Derby City Gaming, Oak Grove Racing, Gaming & Hotel and Newport Racing & Gaming.

New Appointments

Rush Street Gaming has announced that Justin Moore, former general manager of Rivers Casino & Resort Schenectady, has been named general manager of Rivers Casino Philadelphia, pending approval from the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board. Justin joined Rivers in Schenectady soon after the property opened in 2017. He helped establish the Rivers Casino brand in a new and competitive market, operated The Landing Hotel and debuted New York’s first sportsbook—all while leading dynamic teams and earning a market-leading position.

Scientific Games Corporation has announced that Victor Blanco will join the Company in 2022 as Chief Technology Officer. In this role, Blanco will oversee Scientific Games’ technology strategy to support the Company’s leadership across gaming, lottery, sports betting and iGaming as well as support the development and execution of the Company’s great games.

DraftKings has appointed Gisele Bündchen, an environmental activist, philanthropist and former super model, as a special advisor to the company’s CEO and board of directors for environmental, social and governance (ESG) initiatives. Bündchen has been recognised in Time Magazine’s 100 Most Influential People in the World and 100 Fashion Icons lists, appeared in hundreds of campaigns for the most prominent and iconic brands, graced more than 1200 magazine covers worldwide and walked the runway in close to 500 fashion shows. She is a prominent supporter of numerous environmental and social projects.

Gambling in the USA

PENN to Open the New Hollywood Casino Aurora to Public on June 24

Published

6 hours ago

March 23, 2026

GamingAmericas.com

penn-to-open-the-new-hollywood-casino-aurora-to-public-on-june-24

PENN Entertainment Inc. has announced that it expects to open the new land-based Hollywood Casino Aurora to the public on Wednesday, June 24, pending customary regulatory approvals. This will be the second all-new PENN property to open in the Chicagoland region following the grand opening of the land-based Hollywood Casino Joliet in August 2025.

The new $360 million entertainment destination is being developed across from Chicago Premium Outlets, located near Interstate-88 in Aurora. The state-of-the-art property will feature a luxurious hotel, more than 1200 gaming positions, a retail sportsbook, outdoor entertainment area, full-service spa, premium bars and restaurants, a 12,000 square foot event center and approximately 1700 parking spaces. The Company expects to employ approximately 700 team members at the new casino, which nearly doubles PENN’s existing employee roster in Aurora.

“We are now months away from opening another premium entertainment destination in the greater Chicago region. We are thrilled to follow the successful rollout of Hollywood Casino Joliet last summer with another new land-based property, strengthening our overall retail portfolio in the Midwest and deepening our roots in the community,” said Jay Snowden, CEO and President of PENN Entertainment.

Hollywood Casino Aurora will feature an upscale 226-room hotel offering a variety of standard rooms and suites, as well as a beauty and wellness space, Drift Spa.

The new property will also be outfitted with numerous world class dining experiences for guests to enjoy. As previously announced, PENN has partnered with celebrity chef and entrepreneur Giada De Laurentiis to open Sorella by Giada. The Italian-California fusion restaurant will offer approximately 170 seats for indoor and outdoor dining, a contemporary bar and private dining options.

Boulevard Food & Drink Hall, operated by McClain Camarota Hospitality (MCH), will include Lucky Goat by celebrity chef Stephanie Izard; Five50 Pizza, a pizza concept from the renowned chefs at MCH; and Chicago favorites Antique Taco and Pretty Cool Ice Cream. Additional restaurant partners that will be unique to Aurora’s Boulevard Food & Drink Hall will be announced in the coming weeks.

“These popular restaurateurs will provide our customers with amazing dining options at the new Hollywood Casino Aurora. Together with our hotel, event center, spa and additional amenities, patrons will experience a vibrant atmosphere at this new area attraction,” said Rafael Verde, Senior Vice President of Regional Operations at PENN Entertainment.

The 12,000 square foot event center will be equipped to host a variety of events, including meetings, conferences, weddings, galas, entertainment and more. Entertainment bookings are already underway, and the first public events will be announced soon.

Additional details related to the grand opening of the new casino will be provided in advance of June 24. The Company expects to work with the Illinois Gaming Board on the transfer of operations from the existing Hollywood Casino Aurora, which is located on the Fox River in downtown Aurora, to the new landside facility as the opening date nears.

In conjunction with this $360 million project, PENN expects to receive $225 million in funding from Gaming and Leisure Properties Inc. near the project’s opening, at a 7.75% capitalization rate. By the end of the year, the Company also expects to receive the remaining $21 million of the $50 million in funding being contributed by the City of Aurora by year end.

The post PENN to Open the New Hollywood Casino Aurora to Public on June 24 appeared first on Americas iGaming & Sports Betting News.

Daniel Lechner

Studio combines engagement tools with bespoke, franchise and omnichannel content under single umbrella

Published

5 days ago

March 18, 2026

GamingAmericas.com

studio-combines-engagement-tools-with-bespoke,-franchise-and-omnichannel-content-under-single-umbrella

White Hat Studios, a dedicated US iGaming market supplier, has unveiled Amplify Suite, a comprehensive engagement ecosystem designed to deliver operators flexibility, creative autonomy, and measurable commercial impact.

Amplify consolidates the provider’s promotional tools and proprietary content into a fully connected, scalable framework, equipping operators with a diverse range of performance-enhancing solutions engineered to maximise growth across regulated US markets.

Built on an API-first foundation, the suite incorporates White Hat Studios’ Engage promotional engine, comprised of tools such as Win Spins, Super Mode, and Triggers, alongside its award-winning Progressive Jackpot networks. This services an increasing demand for advanced gamification tools, enabling operators to stimulate user activity and drive sustained engagement.

These promotional tools are complemented by the studio’s first-class content portfolio. With a track record of creating custom products for tier-one operators, Amplify Bespoke will build on this momentum to deliver bespoke slots that support deeper brand integration and exclusive IP ownership.

Amplify Franchises transforms standalone hits into enduring game families, exemplified by the US-renowned 7s Fire Blitz series. By leveraging player familiarity and brand loyalty, franchises consistently drive momentum upon launch and can reignite traction across a game brand.

The suite is further strengthened by Amplify Omni, enabled through the studio’s landmark distribution agreement with Gaming Arts. The partnership facilitates the conversion and distribution of White Hat Studios content across US land-based casinos, while also supporting the transition of land-based titles into regulated online markets for the first time.

This powerful two-way content pipeline enhances the ecosystem, allowing US brands to engage and convert players seamlessly between casino floors and digital platforms.

The launch of Amplify represents a significant milestone in White Hat Studios’ strategic evolution, connecting its full product portfolio within a single, unified framework. Custom-built for US markets, the suite is set to redefine how operators engage their audiences and elevate commercial performance.

Daniel Lechner, SVP Sales and Marketing at White Hat Studios, said: “Amplify will serve as the promotional and engagement backbone of White Hat Studios. Bringing our diverse offering under one cohesive ecosystem, the suite is optimised to deliver tangible impact across the entire player journey.

“By combining configurable engagement tools with premium, high-performing content, Amplify empowers US operators to differentiate and scale within competitive environments.”

The post Studio combines engagement tools with bespoke, franchise and omnichannel content under single umbrella appeared first on Americas iGaming & Sports Betting News.

Gambling

White Hat Studios launches all-in-one engagement ecosystem Amplify Suite

Published

5 days ago

March 18, 2026

Wladimir P.

white-hat-studios-launches-all-in-one-engagement-ecosystem-amplify-suite

White Hat Studios, a specialist provider for the regulated US iGaming market, has introduced Amplify Suite, a fully integrated engagement ecosystem built to give operators greater flexibility, creative control, and measurable commercial results.

Amplify brings together the company’s promotional tools and proprietary content into a single, scalable framework, offering a broad set of performance-driven solutions designed to accelerate growth across US markets.

Built on an API-first architecture, the suite incorporates White Hat Studios’ Engage promotional engine, featuring tools such as Win Spins, Super Mode, and Triggers, alongside its established Progressive Jackpot networks. The combined offering addresses rising demand for advanced gamification, enabling operators to boost player activity and sustain long-term engagement.

These capabilities are supported by the studio’s premium content portfolio. Known for delivering tailored products for tier-one operators, the new Amplify Bespoke arm expands this approach, offering custom slot development that allows for deeper brand integration and exclusive IP ownership.

Meanwhile, Amplify Franchises is designed to turn successful standalone titles into long-term game families. A key example is the popular 7s Fire Blitz series, which demonstrates how familiar branding and player loyalty can drive strong launch performance and ongoing engagement across a franchise.

The ecosystem is further enhanced by Amplify Omni, powered through a landmark distribution agreement with Gaming Arts. This partnership enables the distribution of White Hat Studios’ content across US land-based casinos, while also facilitating the transition of land-based titles into regulated online environments for the first time.

By enabling this two-way content flow, Amplify strengthens connections between retail and digital channels, helping operators engage players seamlessly across both spaces.

The launch marks a major step in White Hat Studios’ strategic development, unifying its entire product portfolio within a single ecosystem tailored specifically for the US market.

Daniel Lechner, SVP of Sales and Marketing at White Hat Studios, said: “Amplify will serve as the promotional and engagement backbone of White Hat Studios. Bringing our diverse offering under one cohesive ecosystem, the suite is optimised to deliver tangible impact across the entire player journey.

“By combining configurable engagement tools with premium, high-performing content, Amplify empowers US operators to differentiate and scale within competitive environments.”

The post White Hat Studios launches all-in-one engagement ecosystem Amplify Suite appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.