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$9 Million Gift Galvanizes Tribal Gaming and Law Programs at UNLV

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From left: Stowe Shoemaker, Dean of Harrah College of Hospitality; Audrey Martinez, San Manuel Business Committee Member; Lynn Valbuena, Chairwoman of San Manuel Band of Mission Indians; Marta Meana, UNLV President; Ngai Pindell, UNLV IGI Professor of Law; Loren Gill, CEO of San Manuel Band of Mission Indians

 

Historic agreement with San Manuel Band of Mission Indians will support teaching, education, and training opportunities for students, professionals, community members, and Native American tribes.

UNLV announced a $9 million gift from the San Manuel Band of Mission Indians that will position the university as the nation’s leading source for education and innovation related to tribal gaming operations and law.

This gift — the largest out-of-state philanthropic gift that the California-based San Manuel Band of Mission Indians has bestowed on an educational or healthcare institution — will support course development and an endowed chair at the William F. Harrah College of Hospitality. It will also provide curricular, faculty, and program support at the William S. Boyd School of Law. The historic agreement will for the first time infuse the unique elements of tribal gaming into the world’s leading hospitality and gaming program, and add a tribal gaming emphasis to the nation’s only master’s degree program in gaming law.

“In the tribe’s history, tribal government gaming is the only tool that has worked to meet our economic development objectives,” said San Manuel Tribal Chairwoman Lynn Valbuena. “Yet, the full potential of tribal gaming cannot be achieved if we do not also place emphasis on developing Native people to manage our economic developments, including gaming. Therefore, we are making this investment in the partnership with UNLV to educate and prepare our children, grandchildren and future generations to help chart our path to a sustainable future.”

A $6 million portion of the gift will establish the San Manuel Band of Mission Indians Endowed Chair in Tribal Gaming at the UNLV College of Hospitality. It will also enhance the college’s curriculum by incorporating tribal gaming into existing gaming courses, creating new on-campus and online degree-track courses in tribal gaming, and developing a set of online certificate courses for community members and Native Americans across the nation who are interested in learning more about careers in tribal gaming operations.

“As tribal gaming continues to expand throughout the nation, it is critical for our college to be able to educate both current and future professionals on the operational nuances of tribal gaming,” said Stowe Shoemaker, dean of the UNLV Harrah College of Hospitality. “This gift not only helps us develop greater expertise in tribal gaming operations, it allows us to make this unique educational opportunity accessible to everyone.”

The program, which will emphasize partnerships with other schools and tribes nationwide, will also host an annual, week-long executive education seminar for tribal gaming professionals. The college plans to have faculty in place this fall, with the full tribal gaming program rollout anticipated by Fall 2023.

At the UNLV Boyd School of Law, $3 million of the gift will support a professor-in-residence, a visiting professor, and a program administrator who will create opportunities for interdisciplinary dialogue and research on governance, regulation, and economic development issues.

Funds will also be channeled into a scholarship for a LL.M. student in gaming, with preference given to tribal citizens and indigenous student applicants. The Law School will also develop online courses on tribal governance and gaming regulation, expand its Tribal Law Practicum for students, and conduct an annual workshop or symposium on emerging topics and issues of interest to Native American gaming.

“The San Manuel Band of Mission Indians is one of the leaders in tribal gaming in the country, and has made a sustained commitment to philanthropy and research,” said Daniel W. Hamilton, dean of the UNLV William S. Boyd School of Law. “We are deeply grateful for their partnership, and look forward to building the nation’s leader in developing best practices for tribal gaming law, policy and governance. This is a wonderful fit for UNLV Boyd where we offer more gaming law classes than any other law school and the nation’s only master’s in gaming law and regulation. This extraordinary gift will enable UNLV Boyd to take on a leading role nationally in an area of the law that is rapidly evolving.”

G2 Digital

G2 Digital launches Vegas Club Casino in New Jersey on White Hat Gaming PAM

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G2 Digital, the iGaming operator founded by industry veterans Greg Carlin and Dan Alexander, has launched Vegas Club Casino in New Jersey on White Hat Gaming’s Player Account Management (PAM) platform. The site is now live at NJ.PLAYVEGASCLUB.COM, with apps available for iOS and Android, the companies said on July 22, 2026.

Under an exclusive agreement, White Hat Gaming will provide its PAM solution to support G2 Digital as it targets regulated jurisdictions across the United States and Canada. The platform scope includes CRM marketing support, a proprietary cashier, RGS integrations, and White Hat’s Travelling Wallet™ feature, positioned by the supplier as enabling cross-state flexibility and scalability.

Phil Gelvan, CEO at White Hat Gaming, said: “Greg and Dan are incredibly well-respected in the industry, so we are proud that they have chosen White Hat Gaming’s first-class PAM solution to supplement G2 Digital as it expands its operations in the US iGaming space with Vegas Club Casino. We are dedicated to delivering a highly optimized PAM product that ensures G2 Digital provides its players with a seamless, high-performance gaming environment.”

Greg Carlin, Co-Founder and CEO at G2 Digital, said: “After conducting a thorough analysis of all available platforms approved in the US market, White Hat’s PAM solution stood out as the winner, both in terms of the technology and the leadership team behind that product.”

White Hat noted its PAM is also used by operators including Bally’s, Jackpocket, and Choctaw Nation, and framed the deal as expanding its presence in regulated US markets.

The post G2 Digital launches Vegas Club Casino in New Jersey on White Hat Gaming PAM appeared first on Americas iGaming & Sports Betting News.

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Gambling in the USA

AGS Reflects on Their Class II Roots at OIGA 2026

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AGS today announced it will be attending the 2026 Oklahoma Indian Gaming Association (OIGA) Conference and Trade Show, taking place July 20-22 at the Oklahoma City Convention Center.

With deep seated roots in Oklahoma, where AGS was founded and where its primary warehouse and production facility is located, AGS is eager to return to OIGA with a continued commitment to serving the needs of tribal operators.

”Oklahoma is not just another dot on the map for us. It’s where we started and where we learned how to be a true gaming supplier,” said David Lopez, CEO and President of AGS. “You can’t fake it in Oklahoma. Tribal customers know the games, they know the math, they know service, and they know who shows up every time. That has been great for AGS, because it forced us to get better. It made us more disciplined while keeping us honest. We’ve grown a lot since then – Class III, tables, interactive, offices all over the place – but our history in Oklahoma and Class II is not something we moved on from. It’s part of the AGS engine.”

The Company’s product showcase will include the large-format, specialty cabinet Spectra SL75+™. Designed to support the entire Spectra game library, including premium titles when leased, Spectra SL75+ gives operators added flexibility to mix and match content to fit their unique casino floor.

The cabinet acts as the perfect canvas to highlight five new titles including Rakin’ Bacon! Fu Zhu Bao Bao™ and Rakin’ Bacon! 5 Prosperity Pots™, Cash Carriage Looter™, Da Da Luo Boom™, and Frightful Fortunes Popping Pumpkins™.

AGS’ high-performing mechanical stepper cabinet Revel® – available in both Class II and Class III – is redefining the category by blending traditional mechanical gameplay with video-inspired features, creating an engaging experience for all player types. The latest Revel portfolio includes Crystal Reels® and Royal Reels®, available in both Class II and Class III. Expanding the lineup, Jackpot Legends™ – a new cash-on-reels title featuring an exciting Jackpot Bonus Wheel – and So Hot Cash®, which delivers classic stepper gameplay and can be linked to the So Hot Grand progressive, are set to debut in Class III later this year, with Class II launches following in 2027.

On the table side, AGS’ award-winning progressive platform Bonus Spin Xtreme® (BSX) has been hugely successful in turning small side bets into massive jackpots throughout the tribal casino market. Linking all table games – from the pit to the poker room – BSX has been elemental in allowing operators to offer the flexibility at the tables to make these life-changing wins become more common.

AGS’ participation in OIGA reflects the Company’s history in Oklahoma and its longstanding commitment to the tribal gaming community. More than a trade show presence, OIGA is an opportunity for AGS to reconnect with valued partners, strengthen relationships, and reaffirm its respect for the Oklahoma Tribes that have played such an important role in the Company’s growth.

Attendees are invited to visit AGS at booth 732 throughout the show.

For more information, visit newsroom.playags.com.

©2026 AGS LLC. All® notices signify marks registered in the United States. All ™ notices signify trademarks which are currently not registered on any country-wide basis. Products referenced herein are sold by AGS LLC or its affiliates.

The post AGS Reflects on Their Class II Roots at OIGA 2026 appeared first on Americas iGaming & Sports Betting News.

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UpUp Casino Opens to U.S. Players with Premium Games Free, Faster Redemptions, and a Player-first Rewards Program

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UpUp Casino, a free-to-play social sweepstakes platform built on player-first principles, officially launched in the US at upupcasino.com. The platform debuts with a premium game library, independently audited systems, and a legally compliant sweepstakes model that never requires a purchase or deposit to play or redeem real cash prizes.

UpUp Casino features a diverse collection of social and live games from globally recognised studios that power leading international iGaming brands — premium titles that are traditionally paid-to-play, now available free within the UpUp Casino sweepstakes experience. The platform operates using two virtual currencies: Gold Coins (GC) for entertainment gameplay and Sweep Coins (SC), which can be redeemed for real cash prizes.

Built around a player-first rewards experience, UpUp Casino offers every new player a welcome gift upon signup, alongside a wide range of ongoing promotions and benefits. Players can enjoy daily rewards, weekly bonuses, coin package bonuses, limited-time coin boosts, refer-a-friend incentives, and more. The platform’s VIP program further enhances the experience with boosted promotions, priority support, and exclusive tier-based rewards.

All eligible SC balances can be redeemed for real cash prizes through a redemption process designed for speed, security, and low minimum thresholds — ensuring rewards remain accessible to players.

UpUp Casino has been independently audited for security and fair-play integrity prior to launch and operates in compliance with U.S. sweepstakes promotional regulations. Player accounts are protected through industry-standard encryption, identity verification systems, and dedicated 24/7 customer support staffed by real people.

“Players deserve more — premium games without paywalls, faster redemptions, better rewards, and support from real people who genuinely care. We built UpUp Casino around those principles. This is what a modern player-first sweepstakes casino should look like,” said Angelina Upton, Founder of UpUp Casino.

The post UpUp Casino Opens to U.S. Players with Premium Games Free, Faster Redemptions, and a Player-first Rewards Program appeared first on Americas iGaming & Sports Betting News.

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