The past week in the gambling industry has been eventful, marked by significant business and regulatory updates. Casino House Group News presents a concise summary of the top headlines. Wynn Resorts, a well-known name in gaming, hospitality, and entertainment and a potential contender for one of the three New York casino licenses, has decided to withdraw from the downtown casino competition. Previously, Wynn Resorts had partnered with Related Companies to propose a luxury hotel and casino resort at Hudson Yards. The company has clarified that it intends to allocate resources to strengthen its business stability and bolster its ongoing expansion efforts. Despite Wynn's decision, there are still nearly a dozen contenders vying for the three new casino licenses in New York. In a move to safeguard the interests of the sweepstakes casino industry, a new trade group called the Social Gaming Leadership Alliance (SGLA) has been formed, led by VGW, the company behind prominent casino and social brands like Luckyland Casino and Chumba Casino. This alliance has joined the existing Social and Promotional Games Association (SPGA). This collaboration arrives at a crucial time when the sweepstakes sector is encountering significant resistance from lawmakers across various states. Sweepstakes operators have faced legal challenges in states such as Maryland, Mississippi, New York, and Arkansas. Earlier this week, Casino House Group News revealed that Casino House Group has been shortlisted for two categories at the upcoming iGB Affiliate Awards 2025. Competing in a rigorous field of nominees, Casino House Group is a finalist in the Safer Gambling Initiative of the Year and Best Casino Affiliate categories. The iGB Affiliate Awards will be held on the closing day of the iGB Live 2025 conference on July 3, 2025, with the official ceremony taking place at the Troxy in East London.
Business and finance
This week, PrizePicks, a leading daily fantasy sports operator, announced a new partnership with the Houston Astros, a well-known Major League Baseball team. Through this collaboration, PrizePicks has become an Official Daily Fantasy Partner of the Astros. This partnership will provide baseball fans and PrizePicks customers with exclusive content, special promotions, and exciting activities. Additionally, this alliance offers PrizePicks enhanced visibility through key in-stadium and digital advertising opportunities, allowing them to reach a broader audience. Meanwhile, Rivalry Corp, a top player in the betting, casino, and fantasy sports arena, issued an update regarding its Management Cease Trade Order (MCTO). This order, approved by the Ontario Securities Commission at the beginning of the month, was requested following Rivalry's inability to meet the deadline for filing its fiscal year 2024 audited annual financial statements. Rivalry stated there have been no material changes to the information since its initial announcement, and they plan to submit the required financial statements by the newly set deadline of June 30, 2025. Separately, Grover Gaming, a rapidly expanding software developer, announced the sale of its charitable assets, Grover Charitable Gaming, to Light & Wonder. The acquisition is valued at $1.05 billion, with Grover Gaming having received $850 million upfront, while an additional $200 million depends on financial milestones to be met by 2028.
Regulation and laws
In Nevada, Wynn Resorts is set to resolve past money-laundering issues by agreeing to a settlement with the Nevada Gaming Control Board (NGCB). The company will pay $5.5 million to address alleged violations, including unregistered international money transmissions. Earlier this year, Resorts World Las Vegas and MGM Resorts International faced fines of $10.5 million and $8.5 million, respectively, in Nevada for similar issues. Across the Atlantic, the UK Gambling Commission confirmed that a white-label company will exit the market. TGP Europe is withdrawing after being notified of a required ÂŁ3.3 million fine and the need to resolve several issues to continue operating in the UK. In Australia, Betchoice Corporation Pty Ltd, operating as Unibet, received a penalty of AU$1 million due to alleged failures regarding self-exclusion rules. The Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) found that Unibet did not detect and deactivate 954 accounts of individuals who had self-excluded from gambling via the national program, BetStop, leading to the fine. This week, Oddsgate, a prominent gambling software supplier, achieved two strategic certifications, highlighting its commitment to sustainable growth, compliance, and monitoring. Oddsgate obtained ISO 37001 certification for Anti-Bribery Management and ISO 37301 certification for Compliance Management. In Texas, the Senate voted overwhelmingly to dismantle the state's Lottery Commission. This decision followed a syndicate's $26 million purchase of nearly all lottery tickets, leading to a $95 million Lotto Texas jackpot in April of the previous year. The Senate intends to transfer the Lottery Commission's powers and responsibilities to the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation to enhance oversight.
Responsible gambling
As artificial intelligence continues to evolve and research in this field progresses, the International Gaming Institute at UNLV has welcomed the Responsible Online Gaming Association (ROGA) as a founding member of its AI Research Hub. This innovative center aims to support players while advancing top-tier consumer protection strategies through innovation and research. In a related initiative exploring AI's role in gambling, researchers from the University of Nevada and the University of Florida have teamed up to assess the risks associated with AI in gambling. Their focus is on understanding the impact of AI on consumer safety and other critical considerations. Additionally, during its latest funding cycle, the National Council on Problem Gambling awarded five grants totaling $192,000. These Agility Grants are intended to support programs and initiatives that promote responsible gaming and address gambling-related harm. Recipients include Artreach, Inc., the Lao Assistance Center of Minnesota, the Ohio State University Foundation for the Higher Education Center for Alcohol and Drug Misuse Prevention and Recovery, NICOS Chinese Health Coalition, and the University of Nebraska. Meanwhile, the Caesars Foundation has supported the International Council on Responsible Gambling (ICRG) with a similar contribution. The ICRG has received a new $200,000 grant to be used for research and analysis focused on the biological and psychological triggers of addiction. The aim of this research is to enhance strategies for preventing and addressing gambling-related harm.
The voice of the industry
This week, Casino House Group News had the chance to speak with Evoplay's Chief Commercial Officer, Ihor Zarechnyi. He discussed the company's ambitious plans for global expansion, emphasizing that new horizons are always open to those who dare to be bold. Additionally, Casino House Group News published a new analysis on casino cheating. This insightful report examines some of the most notorious cases of cheating, along with the popular tools and tactics used by these deceptive individuals.
