Gambling in the USA

Rev. Al Sharpton Urges Lawmakers To Halt The Legalization Of Mobile Sports Gambling In Colorado

Published

5 years ago

March 17, 2020

Photo Source: gq.com

Civil Rights activist Rev. Al Sharpton says new legislation has the potential to cause job loss and enforce racial stereotypes in the state

Civil rights activist Reverend Al Sharpton urged Governor Jared Polis, Speaker of the House Kathleen Becker, and members of the Colorado Gaming Commission to pause legislation that seeks to legalize mobile sports gaming. Rev. Sharpton emphasized that lawmakers should not move forward until the impact on casino workers and people of color is understood. He calls on these leaders to take this into consideration as they work through the various types of stimulus to handle the impact of coronavirus.

Service industry workers, many of whom are low-income and from communities of color, are among the most vulnerable in this global pandemic. They are more likely to suffer financially from unexpected scheduling changes or sick days than those in other professions. He argues that now, more than ever, we must be thinking about inequality.

The Colorado Limited Gaming Commission approved nine sports betting rules for permanent adoption in early February, and regulators remain on target to reach the state’s projected May 1 rollout. Rev. Sharpton says the problem does not lie in the rules changes, but in the subsequent attraction of “unsavory out-of-state hedge funds who profit off of job loss” due to this legislation.

European Gaming Congress 2024 (Warsaw, Poland)

Sharpton says that casinos need to consider the unintended consequences of opening their doors to these new opportunities.

The text of the letter is below.

Dear Governor Polis, Speaker of the House Becker, and members of The Colorado Gaming Commission,

As you are considering various types of stimulus to deal with the impact of the coronavirus, I sincerely hope you will consider the following. I write to you to express serious concern for the hasty move to legalize mobile sports gambling in Colorado. Even a cursory look at the parties pushing the legislation gives me pause about the wisdom of the legislation and it should give you pause too.

Online gaming in Colorado will inevitably attract unsavory characters who profit off of job loss. That’s almost a given. But in looking at who specifically benefits from the legislation, it’s difficult to understand why the state would want to reward bad behavior. Out-of-state hedge funds with long records of mass firings and shady dealings have come into the state to capitalize on mobile sports betting and based on their track record—middle class workers and minorities will be the first to be negatively impacted. My job is to spot those problems before they occur and to speak up about them before it’s too late.

You don’t need to look any further than Rhode Island-based Twin Rivers to start understanding the harm and the forces at play. Twin Rivers, which is owned and run by Soohyung Kim, a New York based hedge fund manager, purchased three Colorado casinos earlier this year. Twin Rivers has a long history of failing to support its employees and Kim and his fund, Standard General, has a long track record of investing in deals that have caused mass layoffs for workers — especially workers of color. Whether it’s the 6,000 people who lost their jobs at Radioshack or the 2,400 people who were fired at American Apparel by Kim’s mismanagement and disregard for working class people, Standard General does not seem like the type of company Colorado should automatically entrust with mobile sports gambling.

Twin River has time and time again operated with only the bottom line in mind. In 2017, Twin River announced it would slash healthcare benefits for workers, which tripled out-of-pocket costs for certain employees, just weeks after Massachusetts cleared the way in 2017 for the company to open a new casino in Tiverton. That same year, they threatened to layoff staff and replace them with private contractors, and to cut the remainders’ healthcare benefits.

As this track record shows, if Mr. Kim, who already over-extended Twin River in his pursuit of potential mobile betting licenses, fails to make a profit, you can be sure that it will be the workers of the Colorado casinos that suffer. Colorado needs to pay full attention to who is profiting off of this new law to legalize online betting —otherwise, jobs WILL be lost. This is a real issue affecting real people.

Please take a deeper look at who is supporting the legislation to legalize online sports betting before you enact it into law. It’s the least that Colorado’s workers can ask of you.

Sincerely,

Reverend Al Sharpton

SOURCE Reverend Al Sharpton

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Gambling in the USA

Gaming Americas Weekly Roundup – March 24-30

Published

17 hours ago

April 1, 2025

Niji Narayan

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Reading Time: 2 minutes

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

Published

1 day ago

March 31, 2025

GamingAmericas.com

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

Published

2 days ago

March 31, 2025

George Miller

epic-global-solutions-highlighted-as-a-key-element-in-prizepicks’-icap-accreditation

Reading Time: 2 minutes

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.