Areas of Expertise
7893 stories by Devin O'Connor
Osaka Officials Concede Integrated Resort Opening Ahead of 2025 World Expo Impractical
Government officials in Osaka say opening an integrated resort ahead of its hosting of the 2025 World Expo is no longer a realistic goal. Osaka Prefecture and city leaders cite the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic as the primary reason for the push back....
Former MGM Resorts CEO Jim Murren Gives Nevada Coronavirus Task Force Update
Jim Murren, the former CEO of MGM Resorts who expedited his planned resignation from the casino company earlier this month to head the Nevada COVID-19 task force, provided an update on Monday regarding its progress. The ex-gaming executive made his address via...
Detroit Casinos Halt Worker Pay This Week, Extend Benefits Through June
The three Detroit casinos – MGM Grand Detroit, MotorCity, and Greektown – said pay will stop this week for their workers because of the state mandated shutdown, but benefits will continue through June 30. The casinos abided by an order from the...
DraftKings CEO Says Sports Shutdown Increasing Interest in Offbeat Events
DraftKings CEO Jason Robins says the near-global shutdown of professional and collegiate sports has resulted in US sports bettors increasing their engagement with offbeat events. Talking with Bloomberg, Robins says ping pong is one such sport that typically doesn't receive hardly any...
Washington Tribe Donates $750K to Pandemic Relief Efforts In Its Hard Hit State
Washington state has more than 3,200 confirmed cases of COVID-19, with 147 residents dead form the disease. Area tribes have closed their casino resorts, and are instead assisting in the relief effort for those in need. The Cowlitz Indian Tribe, owner of...
Nevada Grades Well on Social Distancing Report Card, Could Expedite Casinos Reopening
Nevada is doing its part when it comes to social distancing in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. A team of scientists and PhDs at Unacast – a location data research firm with offices in New York and Norway – compiled a social...
Massachusetts Casinos Will Remain Closed Until at Least April 7
The Massachusetts Gaming Commission (MGC) says the state's three commercial casinos will remain closed until April 7. During the agency's remote meeting on Wednesday, the five-member commission voted unanimously in favor of extending the mandatory gaming shutdown that was initiated on March...
Yonkers Officials Call on New York State to Expand Sports Betting to Empire City, Resorts World NYC
Sports betting in New York is currently limited to the four upstate commercial casinos, as well as those operated by Native American tribes. But in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, downstate officials are seeking authorization. The seven-member Yonkers City Council voted unanimously...
William Hill CEO Joe Asher Establishes Employee Fund, Donates Entire Salary
William Hill US has been forced to furlough more than 600 employees as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, shuttering sportsbook operations across the country. But CEO Joe Asher is coming to their rescue. Asher said this week that he's created the...
Tilman Fertitta Furloughs 40K Employees, Including Golden Nugget Workers, ‘Have to Survive’
Billionaire Tilman Fertitta, owner of Golden Nugget casinos and Landry's hospitality empire, says he's been forced to furlough roughly 40,000 employees in response to the pandemic. Along with his Golden Nugget casinos and NBA Houston Rockets franchise, Fertitta's Landry's portfolio of restaurants...