Areas of Expertise
6735 stories by Devin O'Connor
Hard Rock Unveils ‘Unity’ Rewards Program, as Virginia’s First Casino Nears Opening
Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Bristol has unveiled its forthcoming loyalty rewards program. The initiative will accompany the temporary gaming space set to open next month. Hard Rock International, the hospitality and gaming empire owned by the Seminole Tribe of Florida, has...
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis 2024 GOP Betting Front-Runner, But Trump Lingers
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis (R) has emerged as the betting favorite to win the Republican Party's 2024 presidential ticket. Despite his front-runner status, all eyes remain on former President Donald Trump and what the 45th commander-in-chief will do, post-midterms. Trump has largely...
Macau Casino Entry Procedures Tighten to Include Negative COVID-19 Tests
What little foot traffic Macau casino floors have seen over the past week will likely only become even more scarce. That's after local officials implemented additional COVID-19 precautionary measures. Macau managed to successfully keep the coronavirus outside of its borders for most...
Atlantic City Union Claims Strike Would Cost Casinos $2.6M a Day
The Atlantic City union representing more than 10,000 workers employed by the town's casinos says a looming strike would have steep financial consequences on the nine properties. Members of the Local 54 chapter of the national Unite Here labor union have authorized...
Harrah’s Pompano Beach Expansion Project Raises Owl Population Concerns
Isle Casino Pompano's multimillion-dollar expansion project and rebranding to Harrah's Pompano Beach could threaten the South Florida property's burrowing owl population, former racetrack workers contend. Caesars Entertainment acquired the Isle Casino some 35 miles north of Miami through its merger with Eldorado...
Kazuo Okada Group Denies $36.4M Payment to Newly Installed Okada Manila Chairman
Another day, another controversy stemming from Kazuo Okada's May 31 forcible takeover of his namesake integrated resort, Okada Manila in the Philippines. Reports surfaced this week that the Kazuo-led group that took control of the $2.4 billion casino late last month has...
Massachusetts Developers Seek to Rewrite State Gaming Allow, Create New License
The Massachusetts Expanded Gaming Act passed in 2011 and signed into law by then-Governor Deval Patrick (D) authorized as many as four commercial casino properties. More than a decade later, only three casinos have been licensed and since opened for play. A...
Deadwood Casino Regulators Uphold Ban on Poker Player Appealing Blacklist Inclusion
The gaming agency that regulates Deadwood casinos has refused a poker player's request to be removed from the regulator's involuntary Exclusion List. The South Dakota Commission on Gaming yesterday rejected Rick Burleson's plea that he be restored entry privileges to Deadwood's 18...
Macau Casinos Sign Contract Extensions, New COVID-19 Cases Climb to 115 Infections
Macau's six casino operators have each signed six-month extensions that allow them to continue facilitating games of fortune through December 31, 2022. Macau is finalizing its next regulatory law that will govern gaming ops from 2023 through at least 2033. The rulemaking...
Atlantic City Officials Urge Casinos to Increase Wages, Avoid Union Strike
The Atlantic City Council this week passed a resolution calling on the town's nine casinos to adhere to the union's primary demand of higher wages for resort workers. The City Council last night approved Resolution No. 423, a motion in support of...