1979 stories by Steve Bittenbender
Kentucky Man Plays Lottery Numbers Based Off Movie, Claims $2M Powerball Prize
A Kentucky man has decided to retire for good after cashing in a $2 million Powerball ticket this week. According to the Kentucky Lottery, the man – who opted to remain anonymous – matched the first five numbers from the Dec. 26...
In-Person Registration for Mobile Sports Betting Ends in Iowa on New Year’s Day
As the clock struck midnight Friday, not only did the calendar finally read 2021, but in Iowa, it also rang in a new era for sports betting in the state. When the Iowa legislature passed its sports betting law in 2019, it...
Huck Seed Newest Poker Hall of Fame Member, Hebert Wins WSOP Main Event’s US Leg
Huckleberry Seed, winner of the World Series of Poker Main Event in 1996, is the newest member of the Poker Hall of Fame. The player known by many as “Huck” turns 52 on Jan. 15. His resume features four WSOP bracelets and...
Japanese Inquest Urges Reconsideration of Gambling Charges Against Former Prosecutor
Seven months after Hiromu Kurokawa resigned as Tokyo’s top prosecutor, an inquest panel has determined the 63-year-old should be indicted on gambling charges. The Japan Times reported Friday that the Committee for the Inquest of Prosecutions finding now requires authorities to reconsider...
Hard Rock Expects to Fully Rebrand Cincinnati Casino by Next Year
Hard Rock International closed on a deal to buy JACK Casino Cincinnati in September 2019. But the attraction in the Ohio city’s downtown still carries the old moniker. In an interview with The Cincinnati Enquirer this past week, Hard Rock Cincinnati Casino...
Pennsylvania Becomes First State to Partner with PlayPause Self-Exclusion Tool
The Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board and Conscious Gaming announced this week that the Keystone State will become the first to utilize PlayPause, a new self-exclusion tool for online gaming. PlayPause will allow people who sign up for the self-exclusion program in Pennsylvania...
Tennessee Posts $131.4M Handle in Robust Inaugural Month for Sports Betting
The numbers are in, and Tennessee sports betting enjoyed a strong showing in its first month of operation. On Wednesday, the Tennessee Education Lottery announced more than $131.4 million was wagered in November. That figure is considered the largest first-month handle by...
Caesars Agrees to Sell Southern Indiana Casino to Cherokees for $250 Million
Caesars Entertainment Inc. announced on Thursday it has reached an agreement to sell Caesars Southern Indiana to the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians for $250 million. The deal has been in the works for several weeks. According to the Caesars news release,...
Rod Ratcliff, Former Indiana Gaming Exec, Has License Suspended by State Regulators
The Indiana Gaming Commission took severe action on Wednesday against one of the founding fathers of the state’s gaming industry. It suspended Rod Ratcliff’s license and also ordered him to surrender his ownership stake in Spectacle Entertainment. The IGC also ordered former...
New COVID Relief Bill Passes Congress, Includes Horse Racing Safety Measure
In the span of a couple hours Monday night, Congress did what it had failed to do for months – pass another federal COVID-19 relief package. By a 359-53 vote in the House and a 92-6 vote shortly thereafter in the Senate,...
