Gambling in the USA
MGM Resorts International Pledges $1 Million For Employee Emergency Fund And Donates Close To Half A Million Pounds Of Food, Equivalent To 400,000 Meals Across The US
MGM Resorts International announced an array of initiatives intended to support those impacted economically by the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, including a $1 million crisis and disaster relief pledge into an employee emergency grant fund and donating the equivalent of 400,000 meals across the United States.
“As we confront extraordinary events and an unprecedented global pandemic crisis, we know that this is an extremely challenging and uncertain time for many of our employees, their families, friends and neighbors and we are committed to help those in need,” said Bill Hornbuckle, Acting CEO and President of MGM Resorts International. “We have done a number of things to help our colleagues, including significantly expanding eligibility coverage for the MGM Employee Emergency Grant Fund. MGM Resorts International is donating $1 million towards disaster relief to offer additional support to employees impacted by the crisis and who may be experiencing hardships.”
Hornbuckle added, “We’ve also stepped up our commitment to communities around the country. Over the past week, MGM has donated the equivalent of 400,000 meals through local food banks to alleviate food insecurity in the United States.”
In November, MGM Resorts launched its bold vision for social impact and sustainability, Focused on What Matters, a companywide program focused on a goal-centered approach to making positive impacts in its communities. Company goals by 2025 include 5 million meals to be donated through its Feeding Forward program and surpassing 1 million volunteer hours within the community.
“In battling the current global crisis, at MGM Resorts we intend to embrace humanity, exemplify inclusion and exhibit compassion. Our commitment to our employees and the communities in which we operate, conduct business and serve our customers, remains steadfast,” said Jyoti Chopra, Senior Vice President, Chief Diversity & Sustainability Officer for MGM Resorts International.
Additional information below:
MGM Resorts Emergency Relief Fund
The MGM Resorts Emergency Relief Fund provides employees and their immediate families with short-term relief in making payments or to meet obligations during unexpected hardships and emergencies. MGM Resorts’ $1 million pledge will provide expanded coverage for the fund to assist those impacted by the coronavirus, including: full-time employees, on-call employees and those facing layoff, separation or furlough.
Community Food Donations Across the Nation
Because of the difficult decision to temporarily close its properties across the country, to date MGM Resorts International has donated over 480,000 pounds of food – or 400,000 meals – to the communities in which it operates. The company is working with local food banks to ensure all available fresh food from its resorts is safely and quickly donated to charitable organizations in several underserved areas.
MGM Resorts International (Las Vegas, NV): Across Las Vegas, MGM Resorts has provided extensive on-the-ground support and in-kind donations to several local community organizations and agencies. So far, the resort group has donated 301,000 pounds of food to Three Square Food Bank, providing 251,000 meals to community members in need. Nonperishable food has been donated from multiple MGM Resorts’ properties across The Strip along with bags for the distribution of food and meals to those in need. MGM will continue to work with Three Square as well as other food banks throughout the city to manage donation intake and food storage.
MGM National Harbor (Oxon Hill, Md.): MGM National Harbor worked with food donor partner Nourish Now to contribute 55,000 pounds of food to community nonprofits such as Nourish Now. The food will provide more than 45,000 meals to Maryland residents throughout Montgomery County and Prince George’s County.
MGM Springfield (Springfield, Mass.): MGM Springfield has donated 12,000 pounds to the Food Bank of Western Massachusetts, Open Pantry Community Services and Friends of the Homeless. These donations will provide over 10,000 meals to Springfield residents in need.
Beau Rivage (Biloxi, Miss.): Beau Rivage has donated 25,000 pounds of food to multiple organizations including Extra Table, Loaves & Fishes, Lord is My Help and the Hancock County Food Pantry for individuals and families across the city. The effort will provide more than 20,000 meals to South Mississippi families who may have suddenly found themselves in need.
Gold Strike: (Tunica, Miss.): Gold Strike has donated 10,000 pounds of food which is more than 8,000 meals to Sacred Hearth Southern Mission.
MGM Northfield Park (Northfield, Ohio): Working with JACK Casino and JACK Thistledown, MGM Northfield Park has donated more than 3,000 pounds equal 2,500 meals of food to the Greater Cleveland Food Bank, offering support to the Northeast Ohio community. They are continuing to donate throughout the week.
MGM Grand Detroit (Detroit, Mich.): To provide critical help to the city, MGM Grand Detroit has donated approximately 15,000 pounds of produce and dairy products to Forgotten Harvest, a food distribution channel equal to 12,500 meals. MGM Grand Detroit also donated 3,000 gloves to medical professionals in the City of Detroit.
Borgata: (Atlantic City, NJ): The Borgata has donated more than 35,000 pounds or about 30,000 meals to the Boys and Girls Club of Atlantic County and to the Community Food Bank of NJ.
Empire City:(Yonkers, NY): Cariats of Port Chester NY received approximately 25,000 pounds of food from Empire City which equals to 20,000 meals.
ABOUT MGM RESORTS INTERNATIONAL
MGM Resorts International (NYSE: MGM) is an S&P 500® global entertainment company with national and international locations featuring best-in-class hotels and casinos, state-of-the-art meetings and conference spaces, incredible live and theatrical entertainment experiences, and an extensive array of restaurant, nightlife and retail offerings. MGM Resorts creates immersive, iconic experiences through its suite of Las Vegas-inspired brands. The MGM Resorts portfolio encompasses 29 unique hotel and destination gaming offerings including some of the most recognizable resort brands in the industry. Expanding throughout the U.S. and around the world, the company recently acquired the operations of Empire City Casino in New York and Hard Rock Rocksino in Ohio, which was rebranded as MGM Northfield Park. In 2018, MGM Resorts opened MGM Springfield in Massachusetts, MGM COTAI in Macau, and the first Bellagio-branded hotel in Shanghai. The over 80,000 global employees of MGM Resorts are proud of their company for being recognized as one of FORTUNE® Magazine’s World’s Most Admired Companies®. For more information visit us at www.mgmresorts.com.
SOURCE MGM Resorts International
Arizona Department of Gaming
Arizona Sports Betting Hits New Record: $967 Million Wagered in October 2025
The Arizona Department of Gaming (ADG) has released its sports betting report for October 2025, revealing a record-breaking month for the Grand Canyon State. Total wagers reached approximately $967.1 million, marking a significant 22.2% increase year-over-year and a 13.6% jump from September 2025.
This performance solidified Arizona’s position as a top-tier U.S. betting market, ranking 6th nationally in total handle for the month, just behind Pennsylvania.
October 2025 Performance Breakdown
The surge in betting activity was driven almost entirely by mobile operators, which accounted for 99.4% of the total handle.
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Total Handle: $967,141,269 (New State Record)
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Mobile Wagers: $961.4 Million
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Retail Wagers: $5.7 Million
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Gross Revenue: $82.0 Million (Before promotional deductions)
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Privilege Fees (Taxes): $5.2 Million collected by the state.
Top Operators by Market Share
The “Big Three” continue to dominate the Arizona landscape, with FanDuel and DraftKings locked in a tight battle for the top spot.
| Operator | October Handle | Mobile Handle | Adjusted Revenue |
| FanDuel | $317.1 Million | $317.1 Million | $13.4 Million |
| DraftKings | $297.8 Million | $293.7 Million | $22.7 Million |
| BetMGM | $102.9 Million | $102.0 Million | $5.0 Million |
| Fanatics | $88.2 Million | $88.2 Million | $4.8 Million |
| bet365 | $55.0 Million | $55.0 Million | — |
Note: While FanDuel led in total amount wagered (handle), DraftKings reported the highest adjusted revenue for the month at $22.7 million.
Fiscal Year-to-Date (FY26) Summary
Through the first four months of the 2026 fiscal year (July–October), Arizona has generated substantial revenue for state funds:
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Total Privilege Fees: $20.7 Million
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Event Wagering Fees: $20.2 Million
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Fantasy Sports Fees: $462,576
The ADG also noted its continued focus on player protection, recently launching the “Too Young to Bet AZ” initiative to combat underage gambling and revoking Underdog Fantasy’s license due to concerns over its prediction market offerings.
The post Arizona Sports Betting Hits New Record: $967 Million Wagered in October 2025 appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.
Family Feud Lottery
Scientific Games Unveils “GAME SHOW EXPERIENCE”: A Multi-Million Dollar Omnichannel Linked Game
Scientific Games Unveils “GAME SHOW EXPERIENCE”: A Multi-Million Dollar Omnichannel Linked Game
Scientific Games, the global leader in lottery games, has officially launched GAME SHOW EXPERIENCE. Announced on January 6, 2026, this new omnichannel “Linked Game” leverages the massive brand equity of three iconic Fremantle television properties to offer players across the United States a chance to win up to $10 million in cash.
This launch follows the company’s proven strategy of combining retail tickets with digital second-chance opportunities to drive incremental sales for state lotteries.
The Brands: TV’s Powerhouse Lineup
The promotion features a “triple-threat” of game show nostalgia and modern popularity, specifically chosen after a 2025 consumer study confirmed their high purchase intent across all demographics:
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THE PRICE IS RIGHT: Television’s longest-running game show, celebrated for over five decades of Emmy-winning entertainment.
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FAMILY FEUD: Currently the #1 rated syndicated show for adults 25-54, celebrating its 50th anniversary in 2026.
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PRESS YOUR LUCK: A high-stakes favorite known for the legendary “Whammy” and strategic gameplay.
The Prize: An Exclusive Hollywood Experience
Lucky winners from participating U.S. lotteries will be awarded a “Linked Game” experiential prize package that takes them to the heart of the entertainment world:
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Host City: Los Angeles, California.
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Date: Fall 2027.
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The Trip: A five-day, four-night “white glove” experience in the entertainment capital.
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The Highlight: Winners will attend a live taping of The Price is Right as special guests.
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The Event: Following the taping, the lottery winners will take center stage on the iconic set for a private GAME SHOW EXPERIENCE event, where they will compete for a share of up to $10 million.
Omnichannel Strategy and Market Impact
Scientific Games pioneered the “Linked Game” concept in 2007. To date, these programs—including hits like Willy Wonka and Deal or No Deal—have generated more than US$6.6 billion in retail value.
| Feature | Details |
| Game Formats | Instant Scratch, Fast Play, and Digital (iLottery) |
| Prize Cap | Up to $10 Million |
| Target Audience | Omnichannel (Retail & Digital players) |
| Producer | Scientific Games in partnership with Fremantle |
“The incredibly broad appeal of these classic TV game show brands makes the GAME SHOW EXPERIENCE a perfect promotion for lottery, bringing to life the surprise, joy, and wins that players love,” said Tina Hoover, VP of Licensing for Scientific Games.
The post Scientific Games Unveils “GAME SHOW EXPERIENCE”: A Multi-Million Dollar Omnichannel Linked Game appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.
AGS Gaming
Lucky Player Rings in 2026 with $1.6 Million Baccarat Jackpot at Encore Boston Harbor
A New Year’s Day visit to Encore Boston Harbor in Everett, Massachusetts, turned into a historic event for a lucky gambler who hit a massive $1,620,355.70 jackpot. The win occurred on AGS’ Royal 9® Baccarat, fueled by the developer’s innovative STAX
Progressive platform.
The payout is the largest single jackpot ever awarded in the history of the resort and potentially sets a new record for the state of Massachusetts.
The Winning Moment
The winner, identified as a man from Quincy, MA, who chose to remain anonymous, triggered the life-changing prize with a single $5 progressive side bet.
The Royal 9 Baccarat progressive adds a unique layer to traditional baccarat:
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Personal King-Nine: Each seat at the table is assigned a unique, pre-printed King/Nine combination.
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The Trigger: The top-tier jackpot is hit when both the Player and Banker hands perfectly match the specific King-Nine combination imprinted at the player’s seat.
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STAX
Platform: The win was facilitated by AGS’ STAX system, which allows for multi-level, “must-hit-by” jackpots and community prizes.
“We built STAX to bring incredible wins to players, and this is exactly the kind of excitement we envisioned,” said John Hemberger, SVP and General Manager, Table Games for AGS. “This is a true testament of what a single $5 progressive bet can do.”
AGS’ Historic Run in New England
This record-breaking win at Encore Boston Harbor follows a streak of high-profile AGS jackpots across the New England region in recent months:
| Date | Location | Game / Side Bet | Jackpot Amount |
| Jan 1, 2026 | Encore Boston Harbor | Royal 9 Baccarat (STAX) | $1,620,355 |
| July 9, 2025 | Mohegan Sun (Casino of the Earth) | Spanish 21 (Bonus Spin Xtreme) | $2,018,742 |
| Feb 13, 2025 | Mohegan Sun | Super 4 Blackjack (STAX) | $1,338,736 |
The July 2025 win at Mohegan Sun remains the largest table game progressive jackpot in AGS history, triggered by the “Triple Diamond” prize on their Bonus Spin Xtreme® wheel system.
The post Lucky Player Rings in 2026 with $1.6 Million Baccarat Jackpot at Encore Boston Harbor appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.
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