Gambling in the USA
Nominations Open for the 2020 American Gambling Awards
Nominations to win a coveted Golden Eagle are now being accepted in 12 categories for the 2020 American Gambling Awards, which recognize operational and business excellence within the regulated, American online gambling industry. The Golden Eagle trophies and American Gambling Awards brand serve as trustworthy symbols to consumers looking for the best regulated casinos, sports betting, horse racing and fantasy operators in the United States.
For the 2020 American Gambling Awards, eight commercial categories will honor the achievements of the industry’s regulated online gambling operators and suppliers serving the flourishing U.S. market. Four more service categories will recognize the achievements of the industry supporters, policymakers, lawyers and regulators who play a vital role in developing the American online gambling market. For the full list of categories visit www.gambling.com/us/awards.
Returning to evaluate nominations for each award category will be a diverse panel of expert judges. For the first time, the public will have a chance to weigh in on the online gambling industry’s most impactful companies and influencers – from the perspective of the American gambler. A public voting opportunity will be available online when finalists are announced.
Key dates for the 2020 American Gambling Awards include:
- March 20, 2020 – Nominations due
- March 30, 2020 – Finalists announced; public vote opens
- April 14, 2020 – Judging and public voting closes
- May 14, 2020 – Winners announced at awards party at ICE North America in New Orleans
Charles Gillespie, chief executive of Gambling.com Group Plc, says, “There was an unprecedented flurry of activity in every corner of the American online gambling industry in 2019. From all the legislation and advocacy, to the product launches and an evolving media landscape, there will be no shortage of milestones and achievements to celebrate at the 2020 American Gambling Awards. Competition will be fierce as operators and policymakers seek acknowledgement of their early success in the American market. Don’t miss out on this chance to take home a Golden Eagle.”
The American Gambling Awards will culminate with an awards party on May 14 at ICE North America, organized by Clarion Gaming. The 2020 American Gambling Awards are presented by Gambling.com and bookies.com. For more information, visit: www.gambling.com/us/awards.
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.
Compliance Updates
Incentive Games wins interim Pennsylvania gaming licence
Incentive Games has been granted an interim gaming licence in Pennsylvania by the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board, effective immediately. The approval allows the B2B supplier to offer its real-money gaming products to licensed operators in the state.
The Pennsylvania approval follows Incentive Games’ licensing in Michigan in 2025, as the company continues to expand across regulated North American markets.
Incentive Games said the Pennsylvania licence gives it access to one of the most established and competitive US iGaming markets, where compliance and player protection requirements are tightly enforced.
Ahmed Baker, Chief Commercial Officer at Incentive Games, said, “Being granted an interim licence in Pennsylvania is a huge achievement for our business and a strong endorsement of our regulatory approach. It strengthens our position in North America and supports our ambition to grow through trusted partnerships in regulated markets. We look forward to working with operators in Pennsylvania to deliver high-quality real-money gaming experiences to their players.”
The post Incentive Games wins interim Pennsylvania gaming licence appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.
Detroit casinos
Detroit Casinos Report $118.87M in April Revenue
Detroit’s three commercial casinos reported $118.87 million in aggregate revenue (AGR) for April 2026. Table games and slots generated $118.03 million, while retail sports betting produced $837,397 in qualified adjusted gross receipts (QAGR).
April market shares were:
• MGM, 49%
• MotorCity, 29%
• Hollywood Casino at Greektown, 22%
Table Games and Slot Revenue
April 2026 table games and slot revenue increased 7.8% compared with April 2025 and 5.8% from March 2026. For the period January 1 through April 30, revenue was up by 1.4% year-over-year.
Casino-level results compared with April 2025 were:
• MGM: up 14.3% to $58.42 million
• MotorCity: up 3.2% to $34.13 million
• Hollywood Casino at Greektown: up 0.8% to $25.48 million
The casinos paid $9.6 million in state gaming taxes in April, compared with $8.9 million in April 2025. They also reported submitting $14.0 million in wagering taxes and development agreement payments to the City of Detroit.
Retail Sports Betting Revenue
Detroit casinos reported $8.74 million in total retail sports betting handle for April. Total gross receipts were $868,546. QAGR increased by $520,859 from April 2025 and 3.3% from March 2026.
April QAGR by casino:
• MGM: $78,681
• MotorCity: $234,997
• Hollywood Casino at Greektown: $523,719
The casinos paid $31,654 in state taxes and submitted $38,688 in wagering taxes to the City of Detroit based on April retail sports betting activity.
Fantasy Contests
For March 2026, fantasy contest operators reported $448,069 in adjusted revenues and paid $37,638 in taxes.
The post Detroit Casinos Report $118.87M in April Revenue appeared first on Americas iGaming & Sports Betting News.
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