London Affiliate Conference networking schedule announced

World Casino News

London Affiliate Conference networking schedule announced

The London Affiliate Conference (LAC) is fast approaching and iGB Affiliate has released a networking schedule for the event that will be held over the course of four days at the ExCeL London beginning February 7, 2018. While the guide is very handy, networking never really stops at LAC. But the schedule points out the main events inside and out of the main conference room where delegates have a chance to meet and mingle with 5,000 others and get to know some of the brightest minds in the industry. Whether you attend the dedicated parties, mingle on the floor, or wind it all up with a drink in the hotel bar, you can always meet someone new or reestablish loose connections with peers on the east side of London. The official opening party will be held at Trade Union. Payment processor for the industry, UPAYCARD will host a networking party at Tropicana Beach Club. The Draft House will be the location to meet up and wind down. Shona ODonnell, head of operations at iGaming Business said: "This is traditionally the busiest time of the year for our industry, but we can’t wait for the London Affiliate Conference to get underway next month. "We have laid on a series of events that will allow delegates to network and unwind at some of London’s most exciting venues," according to press released by iGB Affiliate this week. She added, "It’s an ideal opportunity to spend a week in London with the industry’s most influential individuals." Following is the full networking schedule for LAC 2018. Kick things off with welcoming drinks from 16:00 – 18:00 on Wednesday the 7th. Meet up at Tower Hotel on St. Katharine's Way to exercise your elbow shaking hands and lifting merrymakers. Hugs are allowed. Then from 21:00 until the last call, join in the official LAC opening party at Trade Union, 3 Thomas More Street, St Katharine's & Wapping. On Thursday night from 21:00 until late UPayCard will be holding another official networking party at Tropicana Beach Club. For those unfamiliar with the trendy outpost, take your choice between two themed bars and enjoy the palm trees along with exotics flora. Admission is free to the iGB Affiliate Awards which begin at 21:00 on Friday night, the 9th. Head over to The Brewery at 52 Chiswell Street to accept your award or cheer on your colleagues as delegates celebrate an eventful year in the iGaming business together. Once again, Intertops is sponsoring the Unwind Session from 13:00 – 16:00 on Saturday 10th February 2018. The Draft House will be your venue to finish off the week. Say your goodbyes and exchange any contact info you may have missed or misplaced earlier before catching a plane, train, or driving your auto home. For more information about LAC, please visit: http://www.igbaffiliate.com/events/london-affiliate-conference#networking

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Brazil Needs Casino Resorts to Boost International Tourism, Lawmaker Says

Casino News Daily

Brazil Needs Casino Resorts to Boost International Tourism, Lawmaker Says

The government of Brazil needs to authorize the construction of a certain number of casino resorts across the country in order to boost its tourism, Federal Deputy Paulo Azi said on Wednesday. Mr. Azi presides the Tourism Committee at Brazil’s Chamber of Deputies.

The lawmaker spoke with local media during a Wednesday event celebrating the official launch of electronic visas for Americans. As from today, January 25, American residents will be able to apply for visas to Brazil electronically. In addition, the visa price has dropped to $40 from $160. The government of the South American country has undertaken the move in a bid to attract greater tourist flow from the United States.

The number of US tourists heading to Brazil decreased to 570,000 in 2016, when Brazil hosted the summer Olympics from 657,000 in 2014. The country’s government hopes that the lower visa price and the simplified application process would attract more visitors from the States.

Overall, Brazil welcomed a little over 6.5 million tourists in 2017, or nearly half the number of people who visited Singapore last year. Here it is important to note that the city-state legalized casino gambling in the mid-2000s. It had two operational integrated resorts with casino floors by the turn of the current decade.

Brazil’s Minister of Tourism Marx Beltrão said during yesterday’s event that if they find the right formula for developing Brazil into an attractive tourism destination, this could result in R$170 million being poured into the local economy every year.

Legal Status of Gambling in Brazil

With very few exceptions, gambling is generally illegal in South America’s largest country. For several years now, lawmakers have been considering a sweeping reform that would change Brazil’s gambling regulatory regime drastically and would expand the list of legal gaming and betting activities significantly. However, no gambling expansion proposal has been signed into law so far, despite the efforts.

Two separate gambling bills were introduced in Brazil’s National Congress several years ago, on in the Chamber of Deputies and the other in the Senate. The Senate piece – PLS 186/2014 – has gained more media attention, as it is the one to be calling for massive gambling expansion across Brazil and across all gambling sectors. Generally speaking, the bill provides for the legalization of casino gambling and of online gaming and betting, among other things.

Late last year, the bill stalled in the Senate’s Constitution and Justice Commission and it is yet to be announced when exactly commissioners will be able to finally cast their votes.

The potential legalization of casino gambling in Brazil has drawn the attention of some of the world’s casino powerhouses, including Las Vegas giants Las Vegas Sands and Caesars Entertainment. Reports emerged last spring that Las Vegas Sands CEO and Chairman Sheldon Adelson, in a meeting with Brazilian President Michel Temer, has revealed plans to build an $8-billion casino resort in Rio de Janeiro. Emerging from bankruptcy, fellow casino giant Caesars Entertainment has also said that Brazil has been one of the destinations it would gladly expand its presence to.

The post Brazil Needs Casino Resorts to Boost International Tourism, Lawmaker Says appeared first on Casino News Daily.

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Seminole Hard Rock Hollywood announces LHPO winner

Casino City Times

Seminole Hard Rock Hollywood announces LHPO winner

Darryll Fish won the Florida casino's Lucky Hearts Poker Open, taking home over $500,000.

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MGM Cotai allocated 125 tables, 77 more may be transferred

World Casino News

MGM Cotai allocated 125 tables, 77 more may be transferred

The DICJ, Macau’s Gaming Inspection and Coordination Bureau, has allocated MGM China Holdings Ltd 125 new to market tables for their MGM Cotai property which is expected to open in February. The tables will be allocated in parts with 100 available upon opening and the remainder to be allowed on January 1, 2019. Secretary for Economy and Finance Lionel Leong Vai Tac made the announcement to reporters yesterday according to a report on GGRAsia. The company was also authorized to place up to 900 slot machines at the property. Mr. Leong also said that MGM could move up to 77 tables from MGM Macau which opened ‎18 December 2007. It was later reported that all 100 new tables are destined for the mass market floor. No specific numbers were given for the transferred tables in terms of Junket and VIP room operations. Macau has been operating under a market cap for new tables since 2013. While analysts have been able to predict allocations to some degree, based on a maximum 3% per annum allotment, the awards are entirely at the discretion of the DICJ. Some analysts were expecting a larger allocation for MGM Cotai. Galaxy Macau Phase II and Studio City each received 250 new tables when they opened in 2015, while Parisian Macau and Wynn Palace each received 150 total new tables when they opened in 2016. According to another report, Morgan Stanley said in a note today: "We believe consensus were expecting 150 tables over the next two years and may be disappointed to get total of 125 tables. "One of the key reasons could be the licence expiry for SJM/MGM in March 2020. We believe once the licence extension is sorted, it is possible to see MGM China receiving more tables for this project," the banking group added. The licenses of all six concessionaires are set to expire on various dates between 2020 and 2022. The government has not announced a clear policy on how licenses will be renewed or if they will be up for bid on the open market.

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New York Online Poker Bill Springs to Life, Passes First Committee Vote

Casino News Daily

New York Online Poker Bill Springs to Life, Passes First Committee Vote

The legalization of online poker in the state of New York seems to be back on the agenda, as members of the Senate Racing, Gaming, and Wagering Committee passed overwhelmingly a bill on the matter earlier this week.

The piece of legislation was the now well-known S3898, which was originally introduced in the New York State Legislature last January by Sen. John Bonacic. During the 2017 portion of the legislative session, the bill passed the Senate and was referred to the Assembly, where it died. This means that the piece will now have to receive an approval from the Senate before being sent to the lower chamber of the state Legislature for a vote.

The bill gained quite some momentum last year, so it is believed that a successful passage in the Senate would not be such a difficult task to accomplish. In other words, it seems that the success of S38989 and the future of regulated online poker in the state is highly dependent on the Assembly.

The lower chamber of the New York Legislature presented its own online poker bill last year. However, it did not progress as much as its Senate counterpart. Assemblyman Gary Pretlow, Chairman of the Assembly’s Racing, Gaming, and Wagering Committee, led the Assembly’s poker push last year. In fact, the lawmaker told media late in 2018 that he planned to renew his online poker legalization effort in February 2018.

Following its positive vote earlier this week, the Senate’s online poker bill was reported to the Finance Committee, which it will have to pass in order to be referred to the full Senate floor for a vote.

”Bad Actor” and Other Key Provisions

Generally speaking, S3898 designates online poker as a game of skill, and not one whose outcome is based on chance. This classification is particularly important, as the New York State Constitution prohibits any form of gambling expansion within the state’s borders, and any gambling expansion requires an amendment to the current laws.

If online poker is legalized, interested operators will be able to apply for licenses and provide Texas Hold’em and Omaha Hold’em games to New York players. There will be a total of eleven licenses for online poker operators to be issued by regulators.

Each and every successful license applicant will have to pay a one-off licensing fee of $10 million. The money will go to the state coffers. Online poker proponents in the Legislature also believe that the legalization and regulation of online poker will generate significant additional tax revenue. Under S3898A, licenses operators will be taxed at 15% on their revenue.

Last year, the Senate sneaked a “bad actor” provision to its bill in hopes to help it navigate through the Assembly successfully. The provision bans operators that had continued operating in the US in the post-UIGEA era from applying for licenses in New York. In other words, PokerStars would not be welcome in the state, if the bill gains the necessary support in the Legislature.

The Stars Group, parent company of the popular poker brand, has been a staunch supporter of New York’s legalization effort. However, the “bad actor” provision may thus cost the state a mighty player in the online poker field.

The post New York Online Poker Bill Springs to Life, Passes First Committee Vote appeared first on Casino News Daily.

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IP Casino reveals December jackpot winners

Casino City Times

IP Casino reveals December jackpot winners

The casino awarded several mega jackpots in December, including a $50,000 win.

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Aleksandr Shevelev Leads WPT Lucky Hearts Poker Open Championship Final Table

Casino News Daily

Aleksandr Shevelev Leads WPT Lucky Hearts Poker Open Championship Final Table

The official six-handed final table of this year’s WPT Lucky Hearts Poker Open Championship was set last night, and it will be Russian player Aleksandr Shevelev who will lead the pack of six into today’s final day of action.

The player emerged the chip leader for a second consecutive day, although he had his ups and downs throughout Tuesday action at the host casino, Seminole Hard Rock in Hollywood, Florida.

Ness Reilly took the lead at some point on Day 4 of the $3,500 buy-in tournament and gained quite some pace to increase her advantage. Reilly came fresh from an eight-place finish in the WPTDeppStacks Hollywood Main Event, which took place last week at the same host venue and as part of the larger Lucky Hearts Poker Open festival.

Winning a massive pot, Shevelev managed to narrow the gap that his female fellow player had created, and eventually took the lead to never let go of it throughout the rest of the day. The Russian player bagged and tagged 6.96 million in chips last night, good for 116 big blinds.

Shevelev currently has a little over $22,500 in live tournament earnings. The player has cashed in four live tournaments so far, all of which have taken place at Seminole Hard Rock Casino in Hollywood, Florida. In other words, a victory in the Lucky Hearts Poker Open Championship could become the young Russian’s debut among poker’s heavyweights.

The player made two in-the-money finishes in this year’s Lucky Hearts Poker Open festival. Being among the final six, the player has locked a six-figure payout from the Championship tournament. Each of the six finalists is guaranteed a minimum cash of $104,784.

The Final Pack of Six

Aside from Shevelev, the official final table also includes former WPT Main Tour Main Event champion Andy Frankenberger, who will enter the final day of play as the short stack with 2.17 million, Alan Krockey (2.81 million), Brett Bader (3.16 million), Darryll Fish (5.92 million), and Ness Reilly (6.295 million).

The six players will return to the host casino at noon Florida time to play down to a champion. And the winner will collect a nice payout of $511,604, which includes an entry fee into the season-ending WPT Tournament of Champions. The WPT announced on Tuesday that the event will take place over May 24-26 at Aria Resort & Casino in Las Vegas, with the final table being slated to be played at the newly opened eSports Arena Las Vegas at Luxor Hotel and Casino.

As mentioned above, Andy Frankenberger is the sole surviving WPT Champions Club member in the Lucky Hearts Poker Open Championship. The player won his title back in 2010, when he topped the field of the Legends of Poker $5,000 Championship Event. Apart from his performance in the WPT, the player has also won two WSOP gold bracelets over the course of his career.

The post Aleksandr Shevelev Leads WPT Lucky Hearts Poker Open Championship Final Table appeared first on Casino News Daily.

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