Areas of Expertise
3040 stories by Philip Conneller
San Diego Democrats Want Ban on State-Sponsored Horse Race Gambling
San Diego Democrats have voted overwhelmingly to commit to banning gambling on state-sponsored horse racing in California. On Tuesday, the San Diego Democratic Central Committee passed a resolution by 37-4 in support of striking live horse race wagering from the state constitution....
Florida Casino Cruise Tycoon’s Sons in Legal Squabble Over Murdered Father’s Estate
The sons of the late Florida casino cruise founder Gus Boulis are engaged in a legal fight for their inheritance. Boulis was murdered in a Mafia hit two decades ago. The Miami Herald reports that brothers Aristotle and Alexander Hren-Boulis are battling...
China’s ‘DCEP’ Digital Yuan Could Prevent Up to $600B Capital Flight to Macau: Analyst
The uptake of China’s state-backed digital currency in Macau would stem the flow of hundreds of billions of dollars from the Chinese mainland into the special administrative region (SAR). That’s according to iGamix gaming analyst Ben Lee, who estimated up to $600...
Spain Woman Faked Own Kidnapping, Used Husband’s Ransom to Play Bingo
Spain police have arrested a woman they accuse of faking her own kidnapping and using the ransom for bingo buy-ins. According to Mossos d’Esquadra, the police force serving Spain’s semi-autonomous Catalonia region, the unnamed 47-year-old woman concocted the plan while her husband...
Encore Boston Harbor to Get Bridge Funded with Public Money
Massachusetts Gov. Charlie Baker’s administration has committed to building a pedestrian bridge linking the Encore Boston Harbor in Everett to the city of Somerville, northwest of Boston. Construction will begin in early 2024. The 785-foot-long structure would link the casino directly to...
MGM Resorts Raises Over $100M in Picasso Selloff
MGM Resorts cashed in 11 Picassos for a total of $109 million via a Sotheby’s auction at the Bellagio in Las Vegas on Saturday. The artworks were part of the MGM Resorts Fine Art Collection, which was started by Steve Wynn. MGM...
MGM Resorts Sued For $3M Over Alleged Gold Strike Casino Tunica Bed Bugs
A twice-bitten Memphis, Tenn. woman is suing MGM Resorts for $3 million in a federal court. She claims she was savaged by bed bugs in two separate hotel rooms at the Gold Strike Casino in Tunica, Miss. Gloria Washington claims she suffered...
Crown Resorts Hit by Shareholder Revolt Over Executive Pay Plan
Crown Resorts shareholders have voted down the embattled company’s remuneration report. The move, at the company’s virtual AGM Thursday, signified widespread discontent over fat payouts to executives, many of whom have left the company under a cloud. Almost 31 percent of proxy...
Financial Crimes Agency FinCEN Scraps ID Docs Rule for Casino Patrons
The US Treasury Department’s Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN) has relaxed regulations surrounding the ID verification of casino customers. The agency said Wednesday casinos would now be permitted to use “non-documentary means” to ID their patrons. Previously, staff were required to inspect...
Seminoles Strike Back Against Ballot Threats from LVS, DraftKings
All-powerful Florida tribal gaming operator the Seminoles are plowing millions of dollars into a new political committee called “Standing Up for Florida,” Florida Politics reports. The tribe is hoping to sabotage efforts by out-of-state gaming companies that want to challenge its gambling...