Gambling in the USA

MGM Resorts’ Entertainment Partners Unite In Unprecedented Support For Company’s Employees During Covid-19 Crisis

Published

6 years ago

April 12, 2020

Reading Time: 2 minutes

MGM Resorts International recognized the support of many of its resident entertainment partners who generously donated to the company’s Employee Emergency Grant Fund in support of those impacted economically by the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.

David Copperfield, Jay Leno, Bill Maher, Kathleen Madigan, David Spade, Boyz II Men, Brad Garrett, Carrot Top, Terry Fator, Ray Romano, Jabbawockeez, Shin Lim, Thunder from Down Under, Hans Klok, Australian Bee Gees, Fantasy and Bill Blumenreich Presents each showed their support for the MGM Resorts family this week with a donation to the fund.

“During these difficult and uncertain days, weeks and months, we are working tirelessly to support the tens of thousands of employees who were furloughed or laid off due to the closures of our properties across the country,” said Bill Hornbuckle, MGM Resorts’ Acting CEO and President. “We are incredibly humbled by the support of our entertainment partners, who have come together to assist the people who, during normal times, are committed to creating incredible experiences for our guests from around the world.”

Hornbuckle added, “With donations from this extraordinary line-up of entertainers, commitments from MGM Resorts and its leadership team, our own employees, and a number of other generous contributions, we have already raised approximately $11 million to assist our employees during this time of unprecedented challenges and hardship.”

Jyoti Chopra, Senior Vice President, Chief Diversity & Sustainability Officer for MGM Resorts International, said, “Our focus during this crisis is people, first and foremost, followed by compassion and care. We are proud to join our entertainment community to lend humanitarian assistance to those in need. We are incredibly grateful for the generous donations by our entertainers, a vital part of our ecosystem at MGM Resorts, which will be used to provide emergency relief.”

Additional information:

MGM Resorts Emergency Relief Fund & Commitment to Social Impact
The MGM Resorts Foundation’s 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. The fund is designed to assist those impacted by the coronavirus, including: full-time employees, on-call employees and those facing layoff, separation or furlough.

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. As the company closed its properties across the country last month, it donated the equivalent of 454,000 meals through local food banks to alleviate food insecurity in the United States.

To learn more about The MGM Resorts Foundation, visit www.mgmresortsfoundation.org.

American gambling industry

Gaming Americas Weekly Roundup – September 29-October 5

Published

1 week ago

October 7, 2025

Niji Narayan

gaming-americas-weekly-roundup-–-september-29-october-5

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

Jackpot Digital Inc. has announced that it has been granted a Manufacturer and Distributor License by the Mississippi Gaming Commission. This approval authorizes Jackpot Digital to supply gaming equipment to licensed casino operators throughout Mississippi. This marks the Company’s second state-level manufacturer’s license in the US. Additional licensing applications are currently pending in other jurisdictions as part of the Company’s ongoing growth strategy. Mississippi is one of the nation’s premier destination gaming markets, generating over $2.4 billion in gross gaming revenue in 2023. The state’s Gulf Coast and Biloxi regions are particularly well known for their vibrant casino tourism and established gaming brands.

iDEA (iDevelopment and Economic Association), the leading trade association representing the U.S. online gaming industry, launched the definitive online destination for all things online gambling: ideagrowth.org. The new website provides the media, and U.S. legislators and regulators, a comprehensive resource for data-driven research, policy insights, and responsible gaming resources. The new website provides the industry’s most vital statistics and research — from consumer protections to economic development — in an engaging, accessible format designed for maximum impact.

CT Interactive has further strengthened its international presence by expanding its certified game portfolio on the regulated Peruvian market with 20 new titles. This milestone underscores the company’s commitment to delivering high-quality, engaging gaming content tailored specifically to regional markets. The newly certified portfolio features titles from CT Interactive’s popular Buy Bonus product line, including fan favorites such as Duck of Luck, Fruits & Sweets, Doctor Winstein, and Nanook the White Ghost. These enhanced editions deliver dynamic gameplay with one- or three-level Buy Bonus options, giving players new tools for diverse strategies and greater control over the game’s pace and excitement. A highlight of the newly certified titles is the launch of Lucky Clover 10, the latest addition to the acclaimed Clover-themed series.

Partnerships

CT Interactive has entered a new phase of its Latin American growth by launching its complete portfolio of games on Rushbet in Mexico and Peru. This collaboration with Rush Street Interactive—one of the region’s leading online casino and sportsbook operators—marks a significant step in the company’s international expansion. Players on Rushbet now have access to proven favorites like Lucky Clover, 40 Treasures, Win Storm and Big Chilli, along with the engaging Hot Luck three-level jackpot, designed to enhance player excitement and retention. This partnership underscores CT Interactive’s commitment to long-term collaboration and delivering tailored gaming solutions across diverse Latin American markets.

Hard Rock International has announced its 26th annual PINKTOBER campaign in partnership with Sports Illustrated Swimsuit ahead of this Breast Cancer Awareness Month. As a global entertainment and hospitality brand guided by the principle “All is One,” Hard Rock is leveraging every touchpoint to support the cause throughout October, from a limited-edition retail collection to special menu items and events. A portion of proceeds from PINKTOBER sales each year are donated to the Hard Rock Heals Foundation, the charitable arm of Hard Rock, to support breast cancer awareness and research worldwide. The program has raised over $13 million for breast cancer research since its inception.

The post Gaming Americas Weekly Roundup – September 29-October 5 appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.

American gambling industry

Gaming Americas Weekly Roundup – September 22-28

Published

2 weeks ago

September 30, 2025

Niji Narayan

gaming-americas-weekly-roundup-–-september-22-28

Reading Time: 2 minutes

Latest News

The Brazilian Institute of Responsible Gaming (IBJR), an entity that brings together the leading operators of regulated sports betting and online gaming in Brazil and worldwide, is beginning a process of leadership transition. Fernando Vieira is leaving the executive presidency of the institution to pursue a new professional opportunity in another sector. The association has already started the process of selecting Fernando’s successor, and during this transition period, André Gelfi, current director, board member and one of the founders of the entity, will serve as interim president. During his tenure, Fernando was one of the most active voices in consolidating the regulated betting sector in Brazil, helping to shape the public debate, expanding the responsible gaming agenda and leading the fight against the illegal market, which still represents a large portion of activity in the country.

Genius Sports Limited has announced that it has acquired Sports Innovation Lab, the leader in sports fan data. The acquisition fast-tracks the expansion of Genius Sports’ media business, combining the most comprehensive official game data with the deepest fan intelligence available. Together, the two companies will deliver a 360° view of the modern fan journey, uniting on-field performance with off-field transactions, unlocking new value and innovation across the global sports ecosystem. This combination creates the most comprehensive fan database in sports and entertainment, tracking billions of annual transactions, including purchases, attendance and viewership. It enables brands and agencies to target fans with unmatched precision, directly connect campaigns to real behaviours and transactions, and deliver measurable ROI across every channel.

Partnerships

CT Gaming has announced another successful installation in the Latin American region, strengthening its footprint in one of the most dynamic gaming markets worldwide. In partnership with Group Caliente, CT Gaming has introduced the Diamond King 4 multigame on the cutting-edge NEXT cabinet at the operator’s venue in the region of Tijuana, Mexico. This installation brings a premium gaming experience, combining next-generation hardware with one of CT Gaming’s most celebrated multigames. This is not the first collaboration between CT Gaming and Group Caliente, as the two companies have built a strong and lasting partnership over the years. However, the new project represents an important step forward, further enhancing the gaming offerings available to players in the region.

BetMGM has announced a new content partnership making BetMGM the presenting sponsor of Playmaker HQ’s “Roommates Show” with Jalen Brunson and Josh Hart. Playmaker HQ, part of Better Collective’s global House of Brands, is also debuting “No Limit” under its dedicated casino content arm, All In – a new show featuring former NBA star Iman Shumpert. BetMGM will serve as the presenting sponsor. “Roommates Show” is a weekly video podcast hosted by Josh Hart and Jalen Brunson, two of the NBA’s top rising stars and backcourt dynamic duo of the New York Knicks. Joining Josh and Jalen is their best friend and college roommate, Matt Hillman, serving as the show’s third co-host. The latest season began September 6 with BetMGM as the presenting sponsor.

The post Gaming Americas Weekly Roundup – September 22-28 appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.

Gambling in the USA

UNLV International Gaming Institute Announces 2025 ESPN Research Fellows

Published

4 weeks ago

September 17, 2025

GamingAmericas.com

unlv-international-gaming-institute-announces-2025-espn-research-fellows

Selected research projects will generate new insights into how responsible gambling messages are delivered and perceived in the rapidly evolving sports media landscape

The University of Nevada, Las Vegas International Gaming Institute (IGI) is proud to announce the recipients of the 2025 ESPN Research Fellowships. This year’s cohort features a group of scholars whose proposals will advance understanding of responsible gambling messaging in sports media and its implications for consumer well-being.

Fellowships recipients include:

Dr. Brandon Mastromartino, Director of the Institute on Sports Wagering and Gaming and Assistant Professor of Experiential Marketing at the L. Robert Payne School of Hospitality and Tourism Management, San Diego State University. Dr. Mastromartino’s project will evaluate two of the NFL’s responsible gambling PSAs using a fan-centered marketing framework.
Dr. Chris R. Noland, Assistant Professor of Advertising at the University of South Florida’s Zimmerman School of Advertising & Mass Communications. Dr. Noland will examine the influence of celebrity endorsements and promotional inducements in Instagram advertisements on online sports betting behavior.
Dr. Ramon Silva Leite, Professor in the Postgraduate Program in Management at Pontifical Catholic University of Minas Gerais, Brazil. Dr. Silva’s project will investigate how responsible gambling messages are constructed and delivered through sports media, and how young sports bettors perceive and respond to them.
Dr. Sarah Stokowski, Associate Professor of Athletic Leadership at Clemson University’s Department of Educational and Organizational Leadership Development. Dr. Stokowski will investigate how college student-athletes perceive and interact with sports betting content on social media.

These projects will provide important insights into practical strategies that policymakers and the industry can adopt to help safeguard the wellbeing of sports enthusiasts and the public at large.

“IGI is tremendously proud of the work our previous Fellowships produced. A key goal of this initiative is to support innovative and impactful research to better understand the rapidly changing global sports and betting environment,” said Dr. Kasra Ghaharian, Director of Research at IGI. “This research represents critical perspectives on how gambling is represented in sports media and holds important implications for all gambling stakeholders.”

“Responsible gaming continues to be a priority for ESPN, and we are proud to continue our collaboration with IGI to support research that delivers real-world impact,” said Kevin Martinez, Vice President of ESPN Corporate Citizenship. “These new projects will provide valuable insights into how responsible gaming messages can be delivered effectively across sports media and help strengthen standards that protect fans everywhere.”

Each research fellowship lasts six months. Research results will be featured in an IGI webinar in 2026.

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