Gambling in the USA
Pennsylvania Skill Congratulates Casinos on $504 Million in April Revenue
Pennsylvania Skill, powered by Pace-O-Matic (POM), applauded the April revenue reports that show the gaming industry in the state made more than $504 million for the third time since April of last year. Pennsylvania gaming grossed nearly $1.7 billion in commercial revenue in just the first three months of 2024, second only to the casino capital of the United States, Nevada.
The funding comes from slot machines, table games, internet gaming, sports wagering, fantasy contests and video gaming terminals (VGTs).
As the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board (PGCB) celebrates yet another big financial month, however, casinos continue to falsely claim their revenue is impacted by skill games.
“We want to know what the revenue number is that casinos need to hit, or the next record they need to break before they stop claiming skill games are competition,” said Mike Barley, chief public affairs officer for POM. “Every month, we read about their incredible revenue gains, and then the casino industry turns around and claims they are losing money because of skill games. Their arguments don’t pass the smell test.”
Instead of battling skill games, Barley said casinos should support legislation sponsored by Sen. Gene Yaw and Rep. Danilo Burgos that will regulate and tax skill games. There is bipartisan backing for the legislation that will place guardrails around skill game operations and provide as much as $250 million in skill game state tax revenue in just the first year. Gov. Josh Shapiro wants to see skill game tax revenue as part of his 2024-25 state budget.
Given the casino industry revenue gains so far this year, it is hard to understand why they are crying wolf. “It’s difficult to see how skill games are causing hardship for a billion-dollar industry,” Barley said, adding that there is room for both gambling and skill games in the Commonwealth. Since skill games entered the marketplace, gambling revenue has increased and broken records.
Several courts have ruled Pennsylvania Skill games are legal, including a unanimous Commonwealth Court last year. In addition to providing supplemental income to small businesses, many Pennsylvania Skill games are manufactured in Williamsport, and over 90 percent of the income they generate stays within the local economy and the state.
The baseless accusations, Barley explained, are an assault on small businesses, veterans groups, volunteer fire companies and other fraternal clubs across the state that count on legal skill games to make ends meet. Small business owners with skill games in their establishments are saying the revenue has saved their businesses.
Many of these locations rely on income from skill games to offer competitive wages and benefits to their employees, who are often heads of households supporting their families. This is what struggling families need right now, not another roadblock, Barley explained.
The proposed legislation limits the number of skill games per establishment to no more than five in LCB and lottery-licensed locations and up to ten at fraternal clubs.
Skill game distributors, operators and locations will be licensed and regulated through the Department of Revenue. The Pennsylvania State Police Bureau of Liquor Control & Enforcement and local law enforcement in counties of the first class would be responsible for policing the skill game industry, helping to crack down on illegal games encroaching on communities across the Commonwealth.
“Backing this legislation means speaking up for the little guy – volunteer fire companies, VFW posts, mom-and-pop shops, fraternal clubs, small businesses and their employees. I believe Pennsylvanians can sleep comfortably knowing that the big internationally owned casinos will continue to survive on their record profits.” Barley said.
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.
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FashionTV Blackjack: A premium take on the casino classic, featuring refined visual assets and high-end production values.
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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.
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.
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.
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In-Person Location: 2399 Gateway Oaks Drive, Hearing Room 100, Sacramento, CA 95833.
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Virtual Access: Zoom Meeting Link
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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:
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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.
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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.
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New Discussion Items:
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Third-Party Provider Employee Table Coverage.
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Procedures for Lost or Damaged Employee Badges.
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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.
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