Areas of Expertise
3704 stories by Philip Conneller
Nevada Travel Industry: Tourist Confidence Growing in Face of Pandemic
Nevada’s travel industry had cause for cautious optimism this week. Stakeholders said there are indications of growing confidence among visitors to the Silver State. AAA spokesperson Sergio Avila told Fox 5 Las Vegas that a shift in customer behavior suggests people “are...
Georgia Pols Hope Gift Card Plan Will Eliminate Illegal Machine Payouts
Georgia’s coin-operated amusement machines (COAMs) have surged in popularity since the state lottery began licensing and regulating the games in 2013. Georgians wagered $3 billion during the last fiscal year on COAMs, which are like slots, but also employ simple elements of...
Lawsuit Filed Over Alabama Gambling Bill is ‘a Lie,’ Says Lawmaker
A lawsuit attacking Alabama gambling expansion legislation contains explosive allegations that are untrue, according to the bill’s sponsor, State Sen. Del Marsh (R-12th). The complaint accuses Marsh of taking kickbacks from the Poarch Band of Creek Indians in return for pursuing legislation...
Malta Chief Gaming Regulator Charged, Tied to Casino Owner in Journalist Murder
Former Malta Gaming Authority (MGA) CEO Heathcliff Farrugia was quietly charged with corruption in January. The nation’s chief gaming regulator is accused of trading in influence with Yorgen Fenech, the casino owner and businessman suspected of ordering a hit on journalist Daphne...
‘Anti-Masker’ Kicked Out of Harrah’s New Orleans Casino Went on to Kill Cop
A New Orleans man suspected of shooting to death a Tulane University police officer outside a high school basketball game last Friday evening was removed from Harrah’s New Orleans casino for not wearing a mask hours earlier. John Shallerhorn’s anti-mask tirade on...
Imperial Pacific Faces License Suspension, Controversial Company Owes Island Millions
Officials in Saipan are finally losing patience with Imperial Pacific (IPI). The Chinese company has, for the past five years, been building the impossibly lavish Imperial Palace Casino in the US territory in the western Pacific Ocean. Executive director of the Commonwealth...
Suffolk Downs $3 Billion RICO Case Vs. Wynn Resorts Quashed in Federal Appeals Court
A federal appellate court on Wednesday killed a case filed by the former owner of Suffolk Downs racecourse in East Boston, that accused Wynn Resorts of racketeering in its pursuit of a casino license in Massachusetts. A panel of judges from the...
Taiwan Indicts Billionaire Accused of Running Vast Illegal Online Gambling Empire
Taiwanese authorities have indicted the billionaire chairman of Taichung-based company Xinliwang International Holdings on charges of illegal gambling and money laundering. Chuang Chou-wen and 31 of his employees are accused of operating a vast online gambling empire. It comprises 532 online gambling...
Venetian Las Vegas to be Sold to Private Equity Firm Apollo Global, VICI for $6 Billion
LVS Corp has agreed to sell its flagship Las Vegas Strip property, the Venetian Resort, plus the accompanying Sands Expo and Convention Center, for $6 billion. The buyers are private equity giant Apollo Global Management, which announced the deal early Wednesday, and...
Police in India Detain Fighting Rooster for Slashing Owner to Death
Police in southern India’s Telangana state have taken into custody a fighting rooster suspected of killing its owner during a daring escape attempt. According to the New India Express, the unfortunate man was preparing the bird for a bout of cockfighting in...