Gambling in the USA

Golden Nugget Online Gaming To Become Public

Published

5 years ago

June 29, 2020

George Miller

Reading Time: 4 minutes

Landcadia Holdings II, Inc. to Acquire Golden Nugget Online Gaming

Tilman J. Fertitta and Landcadia Holdings II, Inc. announced today that Landcadia II has entered into a Purchase Agreement to acquire Golden Nugget Online Gaming, Inc. (“GNOG”), a US online real money casino owned by Tilman Fertitta, recognized by both its peers and customers alike as the industry leading online casino that brought Live Dealer to the US market place. Landcadia II is a publicly traded special purpose acquisition company co-sponsored by Fertitta Entertainment, Inc. and Jefferies Financial Group Inc.

GNOG will become only the second pure publicly traded online casino company in the US. The transaction is expected to close in the third quarter of this year. Upon closing, Landcadia II intends to change its name to Golden Nugget Online Gaming, Inc. and its Nasdaq trading symbol to GNOG.

European Gaming Congress 2024 (Warsaw, Poland)

“GNOG is one of the best positioned companies to capitalize on this massive online gaming opportunity in the US,” said Rich Handler, Co-Chairman of Landcadia II and CEO of Jefferies LLC. “We at Jefferies couldn’t be more thrilled to partner with Tilman and bring this great opportunity to the public markets.”

Golden Nugget is a household name throughout the United States and its iGaming business is a well-established leader in New Jersey, the largest online gaming market in North America. GNOG has obtained market access, subject to regulatory approval, to Pennsylvania and Michigan and anticipates launching its online casino brand in each of those new markets in early 2021.

GNOG is known among its industry peers as the preeminent operator in the US online gaming market, having won the EGR North America Top Operator Award for three consecutive years. GNOG is known for its innovation, including initiating Live Dealer, Live Casino Floor gambling and a number of exclusive slot machine games to mobile devices, tablets and computers throughout New Jersey, as well as its top-notch 24/7 customer support.

Tilman J. Fertitta will remain GNOG’s Chairman and CEO, and Thomas Winter, who was brought in to develop Golden Nugget’s online gaming business, will continue to serve as GNOG’s President. During the seven years since Thomas Winter started Golden Nugget’s iGaming business in New Jersey, revenues and profitability have grown each year despite facing competition with greater financial resources. According to Mr. Fertitta, “Golden Nugget is one of the most time-honored brands in the gaming business today. When customers hear the name Golden Nugget, they know they are dealing with a trusted online gaming business. Thomas and his team have done a remarkable job, are the best in the industry, and with this transaction, will have access to growth capital to allow for the rapid expansion of the business.”

GNOG Highlights

Started operation in New Jersey Q4 2013
Became profitable in 2016
First online gaming company to launch Live Dealer in the US
Won Industry award as top operator 3 years in a row
First to launch Live Casino Floor in US
Net Income of over $11 million in 2019

Key Transaction Terms

The transaction values the combined company at an anticipated pro forma enterprise value of approximately $745 million, or 6.1x GNOG’s estimated 2021 revenue of $122 million. The consideration payable to the parent entity of GNOG will consist of a combination of cash and rollover equity in Landcadia II. Upon completion of the transaction, Tilman J. Fertitta, Chairman and CEO, will, through the parent entity of GNOG, hold a controlling economic interest (through an Up-C structure described below) and a controlling voting interest in the combined company. The combined company will have a dual-class share structure with super voting rights for Mr. Fertitta.

Landcadia II will be assuming $150 million of GNOG debt of and will pay down at closing an additional $150 million of its debt, plus pay prepayment fees, transaction fees and expenses. Subject to redemptions, there is approximately $321 million currently held in Landcadia II’s trust account. Upon payment of the purchase price, debt repayment and transaction fees and expenses, the combined company will have at least $80 million on its consolidated balance sheet at closing and an anticipated pro forma equity market capitalization of nearly $700 million.

The transaction will be structured as an Up-C where an entity indirectly owned by Mr. Fertitta will retain common units of a partnership managed by the combined company and an equal number of non-economic voting shares in the combined company. The combined company will also enter into a customary tax receivable arrangement with such entity indirectly owned by Mr. Fertitta, which will provide for the sharing of tax benefits relating to certain pre-combination tax attributes, as well as tax attributes generated by the transaction and any subsequent sales or exchanges by the entity indirectly owned by Mr. Fertitta of their equity interests, as those attributes are realized by the combined company.

The transaction has been unanimously approved by the Board of Directors of Landcadia II, upon the unanimous recommendation of a committee comprised solely of Landcadia II’s disinterested independent directors (the “Committee”). The transaction will require the approval of a majority of the outstanding shares of Landcadia II, excluding shares beneficially owned by Tilman J. Fertitta and Jefferies Financial Group, and is subject to customary closing conditions, including certain regulatory approvals. Jefferies LLC is acting as exclusive financial and capital markets advisor to Landcadia II. Haynes and Boone LLP is acting as legal advisor to GNOG. White & Case LLP is acting as legal advisor to Landcadia II. Houlihan Lokey, Inc. is serving as financial advisor to the Committee of Landcadia II.

SOURCE Landcadia Holdings II, Inc.

California Gambling Control Commission

California Gambling Control Commission Advances Licensing, Tribal Partnerships, and Responsible Gaming Initiatives

Published

4 days ago

April 25, 2025

GamingAmericas.com

california-gambling-control-commission-advances-licensing,-tribal-partnerships,-and-responsible-gaming-initiatives

Sacramento, CA — In a meeting packed with regulatory updates and licensing decisions, the California Gambling Control Commission (CGCC) convened on April 24 to advance numerous agenda items impacting the state’s gambling landscape—from tribal gaming approvals to responsible gambling programs and operator renewals.

Problem Gambling & Public Health Takes the Stage

The Commission meeting opened with a presentation by Sosha Marasigan-Quintero from the California Department of Public Health, offering an overview and update on the California Problem Gambling Treatment Services Program. While no specific staff recommendations were provided, the update underscores California’s continued focus on behavioral health in gambling.

Tribal Revenue Distribution Approved

The Commission approved the quarterly distribution of payments from the Revenue Sharing Trust Fund to eligible recipient Indian Tribes. This routine, yet vital, procedure ensures the equitable distribution of revenue to support tribal sovereignty and infrastructure across the state.

Cardroom Licensing: Approvals and Extensions

Among key licensing matters:

500 Club Casino (K & M Casinos, Inc.) received both initial and renewal owner-type license approvals through January 2027.
Casino Chico, Hollywood Park Casino, and Lake Bowl Cardroom were granted renewals and short-term extensions, some with conditions such as improving record-keeping systems or ensuring regulatory compliance ahead of reopening.
Hotel Del Rio & Casino was granted a 60-day extension under several strict conditions, including updated safety plans and the restatement of commingled financial records.

Key Employee Licensing Actions

The Commission approved several initial and renewal key employee licenses. Notably:

Jeffrey Thompson was approved with a condition prohibiting involvement in illegal gambling activities.
Kevin Lee and George Rahme received 120-day extensions for renewal processing.

Third-Party Proposition Player Services Under Scrutiny

The Commission approved both initial and temporary licenses for Fortune Players Group, Inc., with a lengthy list of conditions tied to the conduct of a former associate, Rene Medina. These conditions highlight the Commission’s ongoing vigilance in monitoring third-party player services and maintaining compliance across operations.

Progressive Gaming, LLC was also approved for an initial license, further expanding third-party service provider capacity.

Gaming Resource Suppliers & Tribal Approvals

Initial suitability findings for several prominent tribal gaming resource suppliers were approved, including:

HCAL, LLC
JCM Global
Konami Gaming, Inc.
PDS Gaming, LLC

Dozens of tribal gaming employees were also approved for key positions at tribal casinos across California, reflecting the Commission’s continued support of tribal gaming operations and the necessary workforce to support it.

Notable Withdrawals and Denials

In two notable cases, requests to withdraw license applications—Josephine Hoang and Jesus Bojorquez—were denied, signaling the Commission’s increased scrutiny and emphasis on applicant accountability.

A Broader Look Ahead

With regulatory reform on the horizon and ongoing efforts to promote responsible gaming, the April 2025 CGCC meeting showcased a mix of routine license management and deeper engagement with emerging compliance issues. As the Commission prepares for the next quarter, the groundwork laid in this session will likely influence policy developments and enforcement trends across California’s gambling sector.

The post California Gambling Control Commission Advances Licensing, Tribal Partnerships, and Responsible Gaming Initiatives appeared first on Gaming and Gambling Industry in the Americas.

Gambling in the USA

Gaming Americas Weekly Roundup – April 14-20

Published

1 week ago

April 22, 2025

Niji Narayan

gaming-americas-weekly-roundup-–-april-14-20

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

H. Betti Industries Inc, the leading distributor of amusement and gaming equipment and parts, has announced the appointment of Todd Cravens as President of Betson Gaming. In this expanded leadership role, Cravens will oversee all aspects of its growing gaming division, with a focus on expanding market share, building the product portfolio and accelerating growth in new and existing markets. Since joining the Company in January 2025 as SVP of Gaming, Cravens has made an immediate and measurable impact across the business. His leadership has helped sharpen Betson’s gaming strategy, align the team and focus on new revenue streams, while also bringing operational discipline and strategic vision to other areas of the company.

The Michigan Gaming Control Board has initiated investigations into unlicensed sports prediction markets operating within the state. These platforms, which bypass Michigan’s regulatory framework, have raised significant concerns about consumer protections. Michigan’s investigations align with similar actions already taken by other state regulatory bodies and focus on how this form of unlicensed sports betting may jeopardize the integrity of Michigan’s legal sports betting system. The unlicensed platforms offer what they describe as innovative financial products that allow users to trade their predictions on the outcomes of sports events. By sidestepping the regulatory protections of Michigan’s legal sports betting market, these platforms pose a serious risk to consumers. They create potential confusion among bettors and blur the line between sports betting as entertainment and sports betting as a financial trading vehicle.

Partnerships

Bragg Gaming Group announced the acquisition of a strategic equity stake in, and the signing of an exclusive content partnership with RapidPlay, a specialist Brazilian game development studio renowned for its localised, high-performance online casino content tailored to Brazilian and the broader Latin American market. Under the terms of the agreement, Bragg receives an equity stake in RapidPlay and has entered into an exclusive commercial distribution agreement with RapidPlay at standard market terms. The agreement allows Bragg to integrate and offer RapidPlay’s full content portfolio through its expanding base of licensed Brazilian operators.

PrizePicks has renewed its partnership with the Atlanta Braves, reaffirming its position as the club’s Official Daily Fantasy Sports Partner. This new three-year agreement reinforces the longstanding relationship between the two Atlanta-based powerhouses, building on a successful collaboration that began in 2020. As part of the partnership, PrizePicks branding will be prominently featured throughout Truist Park with a combination of static and LED signage. The company will also retain access to exclusive VIP experiences for business needs and will continue its popular “PrizePicks Pick of the Game” segment, which airs on the Braves Radio Network pregame show before all regular season games.

SCCG Management has become the sponsor of SFT Combat, one of Brazil’s premier MMA promotions. As a long-time client partner, SFT Combat continues to push boundaries in the world of professional fighting, delivering high-quality events that captivate both local and global audiences. The sponsorship reflects a strategic investment in Brazil’s sports and gaming ecosystem, where MMA plays a central role in both cultural identity and entertainment value.

The post Gaming Americas Weekly Roundup – April 14-20 appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.

Gambling in the USA

Gaming Americas Weekly Roundup – April 7-13

Published

2 weeks ago

April 14, 2025

Niji Narayan

gaming-americas-weekly-roundup-–-april-7-13

Reading Time: 2 minutes

Latest News

WyoLotto’s COO, Robin Medina, has been named to join a national committee to support problem gambling initiatives. The committee is through the National Council on Problem Gambling and will manage the annual selection of nominations and election of the Board of Directors that oversees NCPG. Last year WyoLotto applied for and was accepted to the NCPG and NASPL’s (North American State and Provincial Lotteries) Responsible Gambling Verification Programme. WyoLotto’s Responsible Gambling Programme includes an in depth plan to ensure the organisation honours its commitment to educating players, retailers and the general public about how to gamble responsibly and what to do if gambling becomes a problem for yourself or someone you know.

As Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Tejon moves closer to its highly anticipated grand opening, the company is engaging with the Kern County community through exclusive informational sessions at Bakersfield College’s Renegade Event Room located at 1801 Panorama Drive. The first session, held on April 4, provided local leaders and invited guests with insights into upcoming job and vendor opportunities in the region. The second session took place on April 5 from 10:00 AM to 12:30 PM. Job opportunities for Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Tejon will be posted on the recruitment site, www.gotoworkhappy.com, starting in May.

An investigation by the Delaware Division of Gaming Enforcement (DGE) into VGW Luckyland – a subsidiary of the Australian-based VGW Holdings – revealed that VGW Luckyland was operating illegal online gaming. Delaware officials concluded that VGW misrepresented its services as a promotional sweepstakes while enabling players to purchase coins for casino-style games, leading to potential cash winnings. These types of real-money games offered to Delaware residents by an unlicensed entity violate the Delaware Constitution, the Delaware Penal Code and the Delaware Gaming Competitiveness Act of 2012. With the support of the Delaware State Lottery, DGE issued a cease-and-desist order to VGW.

Partnerships

AC Milan announced a new partnership with Reals, a company renowned for its excellence in Brazil’s sports betting and online gaming market, which will become Official Regional Betting Partner of the Rossoneri’s Club in Latin America. Elected in 2024 as the “Best Sportsbook Operator” in Brazil by SiGMA World – the largest international authority in iGaming – Reals has been consolidating its position in the sector, reinforcing its growing trajectory of ascent. The brand is aligned with the best market practices, presenting sustainable growth based on innovation, strategic partnerships and sports engagement.

Scientific Games’ SciQ retail technology is set to roll out at North Carolina Education Lottery retailers as part of the Lottery’s focus on improving the retail environment for its Scratch-Off games. The company will deploy 1000 SciQ units at lottery retailers across North Carolina. NCEL Scratch-Off games represented more than $2.9 billion in retail sales in fiscal year 2024, anchoring NCEL among the world’s top 15 performing instant game lotteries (La Fleur’s 2024 World Almanac). Offering real-time scratch game inventory management data that amplifies the power of Scientific Games’ SciTrak predictive ordering system used by NCEL, SciQ creates supply chain efficiencies proven to lift scratch game sales.

The post Gaming Americas Weekly Roundup – April 7-13 appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.