Gambling in the USA

Dr. Laila Mintas to join speaker lineup at the Sports Betting & Casino Summit North America 2020

Published

6 years ago

June 8, 2020

Reading Time: 3 minutes

The Sports Betting & Casino Summit North America (Virtual Conference) will open its virtual doors between 23-24 June and we are taking time to introduce you to the experts that will be joining the panel discussion.

The top industry companies have all confirmed their interest and you need to be there too! The virtual seats are limited, so hurry and register now to secure your seat(s)! REGISTER HERE

We are honored to announce that Dr. Laila Mintas (Advisor and C-Level Executive at Dr. Mintas Consulting) is going to be among the speakers that will share the insights at our first conference in the North American region!

Dr. Mintas is a C-Level Executive and serves as an independent advisor in the sports and technology industry, including the sports betting, digital sports, and fan engagement sector. Her focus is on the use of emerging technologies and developments and how those are changing sports, society, and consumer behavior and lead to new revenue streams.

She is a global thought leader on sports data, sports betting legislation, regulation, and sports integrity with speaker engagements around the world including Europe, Australia, North America, Central America, and Asia. She published more than 100+ legal publications in the top academic and professional journals about sports betting and sports law. She serves as Guest Professor at several Universities such as Columbia University NYC, St John’s University NYC, the University of New Hampshire, and Humboldt University Berlin/Germany on topics such as Sports Law and Sports Integrity.

Dr. Mintas received for her personal achievements the Leaders in Sports U 40 Award, the SBJ Game Changers Award, and the International Award for Women in the Gaming Industry – Inspiration of the Year 2018. She was named one of 25 executives to watch in 2019 by the Global Gaming Business GBB magazine, selected as SBJ´s Power Player Sports Betting 2019 and Business Insider´s Leaders of the Sports Betting Industry 2019.

Dr. Mintas is a lawyer by trade. Over the last years, she served as the Deputy President of Sportradar US, the global technology company that is the leader in analyzing and leveraging the power of sports data. She managed 350+ employees with offices in New York, Minneapolis, Menlo Park, and San Francisco. During that time, Sportradar was valued at $2.4 Bn USD. Sportradar applies technologies such as machine learning and artificial intelligence to drive data insights on a variety of business verticals for the creation of unique experiences across platforms in real-time.

She is experienced in managing high-level relationships with league partners in the US such as NFL, NBA, NHL, MLB, NASCAR, MLS, CONCACAF, and several others on a global level including FIFA and UEFA and with clients such as Google, Facebook, Twitter, ESPN, Sports Illustrated, AP, Yahoo, Deutsche Bank, Allianz, DraftKings, FanDuel, etc.

Dr. Mintas previously worked several years at the international law firm White & Case LLP in Berlin, Germany, and specialized i.a. in Sports Law, Gambling Law, Compliance, and Litigation. She wrote her Ph.D. in Betting via the Internet in Europe which became a well-recognized book in its field. Previously, she was the Head of Legal and Head of International Development for FIFA’s Early Warning System (FIFA EWS) in Zurich, Switzerland and the first Director of Sports Integrity at CONCACAF, the governing body for Soccer in North America, Central America, and the Caribbean is responsible for all 41-member countries including the US, Canada, and Mexico. In both positions, at FIFA and at CONCACAF, Dr. Mintas used data to prevent, detect, investigate, and sanction match manipulations in sports that are linked to sports betting.

2026 Indian Gaming Tradeshow & Convention

BMM Innovation Group to Advise Tribal Leaders on Compliance, Cybersecurity and Training at IGA 2026

Published

4 hours ago

March 26, 2026

Wladimir P.

bmm-innovation-group-to-advise-tribal-leaders-on-compliance,-cybersecurity-and-training-at-iga-2026

BMM Innovation Group, an international technology firm offering compliance testing, cybersecurity, and training services for the regulated global gaming sector, today declared its backing and involvement in the 2026 Indian Gaming Tradeshow & Convention (IGA) from March 30 to April 2 at the San Diego Convention Center. With its three leading brands, BMM Testlabs, BIG Cyber, and RG24seven Virtual Training®, BIG maintains its enduring dedication to supporting Tribal regulators, suppliers, and operators throughout North America.

The BMM Innovation Group serves as a sponsor for the show, highlighting its evident and continued commitment to the Tribal gaming community. The Company is dispatching representatives from BMM Testlabs, BIG Cyber, and RG24seven Virtual Training to engage with Tribal leaders and industry partners during the event.

BMM Chief Government and Regulatory Officer Travis Foley said, “Tribal gaming has always been central to BMM’s story. We are honored to support the Indian Gaming Association and to continue working alongside Tribal suppliers, regulators, and operators to strengthen compliance, protect players, and support sustainable growth across Indian Country.”

At the conference, BIG specialists will participate in multiple key educational sessions aimed at assisting Tribal gaming organizations in enhancing operations, security, responsible gaming, and human resources:

Peter Nikiper, Director-Technical Compliance, will deliver Level III Commissioner Training on Network Risk Assessment, helping regulators better understand today’s evolving technology risks.
Heather Lee, Senior Director of Sales at BIG Cyber, will moderate the panel Cyber Defense Fundamentals: Protecting the Gaming Enterprise, focused on practical strategies to strengthen cybersecurity readiness.
Wendy Anderson, CEO of RG24seven Virtual Training, will speak on the responsible gaming panel, Innovate. Protect. Heal: The Future of Tribal Problem Gambling Prevention Begins Here, and will also moderate the HR-focused session, Workforce Sustainability: Building Talent Pipelines That Actually Hold.

BMM Innovation Group provides Tribal gaming organizations an all-encompassing range of services via BMM Testlabs, BIG Cyber, and RG24seven Virtual Training, which includes product testing and certification, cybersecurity safeguards, and compliance-focused virtual training tailored for gaming staff.

The post BMM Innovation Group to Advise Tribal Leaders on Compliance, Cybersecurity and Training at IGA 2026 appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.

Fredrik Liljewall CEO at PlayStar

Strive Gaming Partners with PlayStar Casino to Expand Presence in New Jersey

Published

1 day ago

March 25, 2026

Wladimir P.

strive-gaming-partners-with-playstar-casino-to-expand-presence-in-new-jersey

Strive Gaming, the contemporary multi-state, multi-tenant platform provider designed for the North American market, has unveiled a new collaboration with prominent online casino operator PlayStar.

According to the agreement, Strive will offer its top-tier PAM technology, aiding PlayStar’s ongoing expansion throughout North America. PlayStar is set to transition its New Jersey operations from its existing player account management (PAM) provider to the Strive platform, with subsequent launches planned in more regulated areas, such as Ontario and Alberta in Canada.

PlayStar chose Strive after a comprehensive assessment as it sought a platform partner that could facilitate its long-term goals throughout North America. Strive’s exclusive emphasis on the U.S. market, along with the robustness and scalability of its technology, distinguished it as the obvious partner of choice.

Max Meltzer, CEO at Strive Gaming, said: “PlayStar is a highly ambitious operator with a clear vision for building one of the leading casino brands in North America. They were looking for a platform partner that understands the realities of operating in the U.S. and Canada and can support them as they scale across multiple regulated markets.

“Our focus on North America, combined with the strength and flexibility of our platform, made this a natural fit. Both companies are on strong growth journeys and share similar ambitions for the region, so we’re excited to support PlayStar as they continue to expand.”

PlayStar Casino has quickly established itself as one of the success stories of the regulated North American casino market. The company has successfully built meaningful market share and a strong player following. Partnering with Strive marks the next stage in its growth strategy as it looks to expand further across North America.

Fredrik Liljewall, CEO at PlayStar, added: “As we continue to scale our presence across North America, selecting a platform partner with a strong regional focus and the ability to support our long-term ambitions was critical.

“Strive’s technology, deep understanding of the North American market, and collaborative mindset made them the clear partner for PlayStar. We look forward to working closely together as we migrate our New Jersey operations and expand into additional jurisdictions, including Canada.”

This partnership marks another important milestone for Strive Gaming, which now supports more B2B PAM customers in the U.S. than any other platform provider. The addition of PlayStar further strengthens Strive’s growing portfolio of operators and reinforces its position as a supplier of choice for ambitious brands looking to launch and scale in the North American market.

The post Strive Gaming Partners with PlayStar Casino to Expand Presence in New Jersey appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.

Gambling in the USA

PENN to Open the New Hollywood Casino Aurora to Public on June 24

Published

3 days ago

March 23, 2026

GamingAmericas.com

penn-to-open-the-new-hollywood-casino-aurora-to-public-on-june-24

PENN Entertainment Inc. has announced that it expects to open the new land-based Hollywood Casino Aurora to the public on Wednesday, June 24, pending customary regulatory approvals. This will be the second all-new PENN property to open in the Chicagoland region following the grand opening of the land-based Hollywood Casino Joliet in August 2025.

The new $360 million entertainment destination is being developed across from Chicago Premium Outlets, located near Interstate-88 in Aurora. The state-of-the-art property will feature a luxurious hotel, more than 1200 gaming positions, a retail sportsbook, outdoor entertainment area, full-service spa, premium bars and restaurants, a 12,000 square foot event center and approximately 1700 parking spaces. The Company expects to employ approximately 700 team members at the new casino, which nearly doubles PENN’s existing employee roster in Aurora.

“We are now months away from opening another premium entertainment destination in the greater Chicago region. We are thrilled to follow the successful rollout of Hollywood Casino Joliet last summer with another new land-based property, strengthening our overall retail portfolio in the Midwest and deepening our roots in the community,” said Jay Snowden, CEO and President of PENN Entertainment.

Hollywood Casino Aurora will feature an upscale 226-room hotel offering a variety of standard rooms and suites, as well as a beauty and wellness space, Drift Spa.

The new property will also be outfitted with numerous world class dining experiences for guests to enjoy. As previously announced, PENN has partnered with celebrity chef and entrepreneur Giada De Laurentiis to open Sorella by Giada. The Italian-California fusion restaurant will offer approximately 170 seats for indoor and outdoor dining, a contemporary bar and private dining options.

Boulevard Food & Drink Hall, operated by McClain Camarota Hospitality (MCH), will include Lucky Goat by celebrity chef Stephanie Izard; Five50 Pizza, a pizza concept from the renowned chefs at MCH; and Chicago favorites Antique Taco and Pretty Cool Ice Cream. Additional restaurant partners that will be unique to Aurora’s Boulevard Food & Drink Hall will be announced in the coming weeks.

“These popular restaurateurs will provide our customers with amazing dining options at the new Hollywood Casino Aurora. Together with our hotel, event center, spa and additional amenities, patrons will experience a vibrant atmosphere at this new area attraction,” said Rafael Verde, Senior Vice President of Regional Operations at PENN Entertainment.

The 12,000 square foot event center will be equipped to host a variety of events, including meetings, conferences, weddings, galas, entertainment and more. Entertainment bookings are already underway, and the first public events will be announced soon.

Additional details related to the grand opening of the new casino will be provided in advance of June 24. The Company expects to work with the Illinois Gaming Board on the transfer of operations from the existing Hollywood Casino Aurora, which is located on the Fox River in downtown Aurora, to the new landside facility as the opening date nears.

In conjunction with this $360 million project, PENN expects to receive $225 million in funding from Gaming and Leisure Properties Inc. near the project’s opening, at a 7.75% capitalization rate. By the end of the year, the Company also expects to receive the remaining $21 million of the $50 million in funding being contributed by the City of Aurora by year end.

The post PENN to Open the New Hollywood Casino Aurora to Public on June 24 appeared first on Americas iGaming & Sports Betting News.