Gambling in the USA
Mattress Mack Doesn’t Expect Legal Sport Betting In Texas Soon, But Eyes March Madness, Astros Bets
Multimillion-dollar sports bettor Jim “Mattress Mack” McIngvale doesn’t expect sports wagering to be legalized in Texas in the next few years — but he’s happy placing his bets next door in Louisiana.
The Houston furniture store owner spoke to Gambling.com’s Larry Henry this week, and he “seriously” doubts Texas lawmakers will approve a measure to legalize sports betting when they next meet in Austin in 2025.
“They can’t pass anything,” McIngvale, 73, said in a telephone interview. “It’s a fractured group.”
McIngvale, whose major bets in Louisiana and elsewhere usually attract media attention, said he has no problem making the drive over to Louisiana. The state line is about 100 miles from Houston.
“I’m perfectly happy going to Louisiana,” McIngvale said. “All I do is sell furniture and go to Louisiana and bet.”
McIngvale, owner of Gallery Furniture, said he probably will bet this year on the NCAA March Madness basketball tournament and on Major League Baseball’s Houston Astros.
He said it’s too early to decide which team to bet on to win the March Madness tournament. He noted that the Houston Cougars (21-3), ranked No. 3 in the Associated Press Top 25 poll, have a talented team this season.
McIngvale also said the Astros are expected to be contenders this season. The team recently signed star second baseman José Altuve to a new contract. The Astros open the regular season March 28 at home against the New York Yankees.
Louisiana Thanks Texas For Sending Bettors Their Way
Ronnie Johns, chairman of the Louisiana Gaming Control Board, previously told Gambling.com he doesn’t think Texas lawmakers will approve sports betting soon. At one Control Board meeting in 2022, he thanked Texas for sending its gamblers to Louisiana.
The casinos in Lake Charles, Louisiana, only about 2 1/2 hours from Houston, typically generate more gaming revenue than the state’s other metro casino markets, including New Orleans and Baton Rouge. Houston is the fourth most-populated city in the U.S.
Johns is a former state senator from Lake Charles.
Missouri Voters Could Decide On Sports Betting
As in Texas, sports betting is illegal in Missouri. Its Legislature also has shot down previous efforts to approve sports betting. These efforts have run into a legislative battle over the video lottery games operating in places such as convenience stores and bars.
In Missouri, Gary Jenkins, an attorney former Kansas City Police Department intelligence detective, recently told Gambling.com on “The Edge” that he doubts the Legislature, now meeting in Jefferson City, will approve any measures this year that would lead to legal sports betting.
Jenkins noted Missouri is losing millions in tax dollars to bordering states where sports betting is legal. Every state that borders Missouri, except Oklahoma, has legal sports betting. Missouri’s two largest cities are border cities — — St. Louis (Illinois) and Kansas City (Kansas).
The initiative’s organizers need more than 170,000 signatures from registered voters by May 8 for the issue to appear on the November ballot this year.
Source: gambling.com
Welcome to our weekly roundup of American gambling news again! 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
Bruce Smith Enterprise and The Cordish Companies celebrated the groundbreaking of the new LIVE! CASINO & HOTEL VIRGINIA in Petersburg. The milestone officially commences construction on a transformative project that will generate billions of dollars in economic benefits and spinoff development, create thousands of new jobs, and set a new standard for gaming, hotels and entertainment in the Commonwealth. Live! Casino & Hotel Virginia is part of a larger $1.4 billion master plan by the partnership, scheduled to be developed in phases, that will bring a world-class mixed-use resort destination to Petersburg. Executives from Bruce Smith Enterprise, The Cordish Companies and Cordish Gaming were joined by Petersburg City Mayor Sam Parham and members of Petersburg City Council, Virginia State Senator Lashrecse Aird, Virginia State Delegate Kim Taylor and many other business and community leaders at the project site in Petersburg.
For the second year in a row, Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Atlantic City has been named a USA Today Top Workplaces Award Winner. Hard Rock Atlantic City ranked number 31 on the list of USA Today Top Workplaces Award Winners for 2025 in the category of large organisations, considered to be those with more than 2500 employees. Hard Rock Atlantic City is the highest-ranked casino on the list. In late 2024, more than 1000 Hard Rock Atlantic City team members participated in an anonymous survey administered by Energage, an independent human resources technology and research company behind the USA Today Top Workplaces employer recognition programme. USA Today first partnered with Energage in 2023 to identify, recognise and celebrate organisations prioritising people-first cultures. Top workplace awards have also been earned by Hard Rock Atlantic City’s corporate parent, Hard Rock International, which has been named one of America’s Best Large Employers by Forbes in 2025 and for seven of the past eight years.
Partnerships
Amusnet announced the continued growth of its partnership with Meridianbet, now live in Brazil. This latest development adds to a strong presence in markets such as Montenegro, Bosnia, Serbia, Congo, Cameroon, Kenya and Tanzania, where Amusnet’s games have already gained significant traction. Meridianbet.bet.br, players can find some of Amusnet’s top-notch games, such as Hot Deco, Extra Crown, Candy Palace, Stoichkov #8, Dancing Dead, Aztec Forest, 20 Golden Coins, Cavemen and Dinosaurs, and Cocktail Rush.
Quick Customer Intelligence (QCI) has deepened its partnership with Maropost, the leading provider of B2C ecommerce and retail technology. The partnership enables more meaningful and proactive communication between QCI’s casino clients and the casino guests. B2C companies are often bogged down by the expense and time spent managing technology tools, pulling focus away from the customer experience. Maropost enables QCI, and its casino clients, to stop focusing on tech and return their guests to the center of their business. Key to making this happen is Maropost’s “unified identifier” (UID). Casino operators can now use their own “player Ids” as Maropost’s UID, enabling a unified view of guest activity, even in cases of shared guest email addresses. Flexible UIDs result in improved tracking, engagement and personalised communications across multiple channels.
The post Gaming Americas Weekly Roundup – March 24-30 appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
Gambling in the USA
BMM INNOVATION GROUP SHOWCASES ITS SUPPORT FOR TRIBAL SOVEREIGNTY AT INDIAN GAMING CONFERENCE & EXPO MARCH 31 – APRIL 3 AT SAN DIEGO CONVENTION CENTER
Company to sponsor, attend, and speak at the San Diego, California show.
BMM Innovation Group (“BMM,” “BIG Group,” or “BIG”), a technology conglomerate focused on product compliance testing, cybersecurity solutions, and virtual training for the global gaming industry, today announced its sponsorship and participation in the Indian Gaming Association’s (“IGA”) annual IGA Conference & Expo, March 31-April 3 at the San Diego Convention Center.
With over three decades of experience supporting Tribal gaming, BIG will be on-site as sponsors, speakers, and attendees to reinforce the Company’s steadfast commitment to Tribal sovereignty and self-regulation.
Proud Partners in Tribal Progress
The BIG Group’s Chairman, President, and Chief Executive Officer Martin Storm said, “BMM proudly partners with Tribal governments, Tribal casinos, and Tribal gaming equipment and technology suppliers to advance Tribal sovereignty, self-determination, and economic development. We are honored to continue supporting the growth and integrity of Tribal gaming through our trusted product compliance services, world-class training and virtual education, and our cybersecurity solutions to protect Tribal enterprises.”
BMM’s long-standing relationships with Tribal gaming suppliers and regulators are at the heart of its mission. As active members of IGA and other key Tribal organizations, BIG is committed to elevating Tribal voices and ensuring Tribal interests remain at the forefront of industry growth.
BIG Group Shares Thought Leadership on Conference Panels and Trainings
- In addition to sponsoring and attending, the BIG Group’s expert thought leaders will speak and provide in-person training at the conference:
- Tuesday, April 1 at 9 am: Innovation vs. Regulation: Keep Pace with Emerging Gaming Technologies – Sean Mason, Senior Director of Tribal Services
- Tuesday, April 1 at 4 pm: Gaming and Cyber Risk Best Practices – Mitigate Risk and Sleep Better at Night – Heather Lee, Senior Director of Sales for BIG Cyber
- Wednesday, April 2 at 9 am: Level III Commissioner Certification Training – Peter Nikiper, Director of Technical Compliance
Unmatched Expertise in Product Compliance and Certification
As a trusted testing laboratory for Tribal gaming jurisdictions across North America, BMM’s focus is fairness, integrity, and security in every gaming environment. IGA attendees are invited to connect with BMM experts to learn more about the Company’s comprehensive product compliance programs.
Education & Training for Long-Term Success
BIG continues to empower Tribal gaming employees through exclusive education and training programs, including free access to RG24seven Virtual Training. These knowledge-sharing initiatives are designed to support responsible gaming, regulatory compliance, and the long-term sustainability of Tribal gaming operations.
Cybersecurity Solutions Tailored for Tribal Gaming
The BIG Group is focused on bolstering cybersecurity defenses for Tribal enterprises through its BIG Cyber services, which includes penetration testing, vulnerability assessments, PCI:DSS evaluations, and a host of managed security services featuring CYREBRO’s Security Operations Center, KnowBe4’s security awareness training, and Maxxsure’s risk management platform.
The post BMM INNOVATION GROUP SHOWCASES ITS SUPPORT FOR TRIBAL SOVEREIGNTY AT INDIAN GAMING CONFERENCE & EXPO MARCH 31 – APRIL 3 AT SAN DIEGO CONVENTION CENTER appeared first on Gaming and Gambling Industry in the Americas.
Compliance Updates
EPIC Global Solutions highlighted as a key element in PrizePicks’ iCAP Accreditation
EPIC is proud to have played a key role in helping PrizePicks achieve iCAP certification, the industry’s leading responsible gaming (RG) assessment.
As the globally recognized experts in harm minimization, EPIC worked closely with PrizePicks to enhance its responsible gaming initiatives, contributing to this historic milestone. With the certification, PrizePicks becomes the first and only daily fantasy sports operator in North America to achieve this level of recognition.
A key factor in this achievement was EPIC Global Solutions’ implementation of its comprehensive responsible gaming (RG) tools within PrizePicks. Through an anonymous, company-wide RG survey, EPIC provided valuable insights into the organization’s culture and commitment to player protection. The survey revealed that 82% of PrizePicks employees believe the company fosters a strong RG culture, while 88% emphasized the importance of responsible gaming for the long-term sustainability of the industry.
“Direct engagement with staff was pivotal to our assessment,” said Teresa Fiore, SVP North America at EPIC Global Solutions.
“Our survey underscores how deeply PrizePicks is committed to responsible gaming—not only as an ethical imperative but as a driver of employee morale and long-term industry sustainability. Additionally, they recognize that a strong commitment to RG is essential for the long-term sustainability of the industry.”
EPIC’s robust assessment also highlighted the significant impact of extensive RG training, with over 2,500 hours provided to staff from partners such as EPIC during the past year. The survey’s insights have not only served as a foundational benchmark for ongoing improvements but have also been cited as a critical factor in PrizePicks securing its iCAP accreditation.
Phil Sherwood, Senior Director of Responsible Gaming at PrizePicks, added: “Our partnership with EPIC has been instrumental in elevating our responsible gaming initiatives. Their expertise and insights have enhanced our programs, contributed to our iCAP accreditation, and reinforced our commitment to continuous improvement.”
Both EPIC and PrizePicks are committed to building on these achievements with plans to conduct annual surveys and further integrate employee insights into future RG initiatives.
The post EPIC Global Solutions highlighted as a key element in PrizePicks’ iCAP Accreditation appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
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