1979 stories by Steve Bittenbender
Global Gaming Expo Requiring COVID-19 Vaccines for Attendees in 2021
Another big Las Vegas event has required its attendees to get a COVID-19 vaccine. On Tuesday, the organizers for the 2021 Global Gaming Expo announced those going to the major industry trade show will need to show proof of vaccination in order...
Rivers Des Plaines Expansion Hits Milestone; Illinois Reinstates Casino Mask Order
Monday marked a key milestone in the expansion of the Rivers Des Plaines, as workers installed the final steel beam on the $87 million project at Illinois’ top casino. Casino executives, local officials, and representatives from local unions involved in the construction...
Flutter Unit Takes “Monstrous” Kentucky PokerStars Ruling to US Supreme Court
A Flutter Entertainment subsidiary that operates PokerStars has asked the US Supreme Court to weigh in on a Kentucky Supreme Court decision. In that ruling, the Court awarded more than $1 billion to the state, which sued to recoup losses suffered by...
Shuffle Up and Vaccinate: 2021 World Series of Poker Requires COVID-19 Shots
The 2021 World Series of Poker, set to begin in just a little more than a month, announced Friday that anyone attending the event, including participants, will need to show proof they’re fully vaccinated against COVID-19. In a statement released Friday, WSOP...
ZenSports Gets Breakthrough in Nevada with Two-Year Gaming License
As the saying goes, the hardest million dollars to make is the first. The saying may not hold true for sports betting licenses in the US. But you wouldn’t blame Mark Thomas and others at ZenSports if they felt that way after...
Ontario iGaming Regulators Release Operator Guide, Create Path for Grays
Operators interested in iGaming opportunities in Ontario now have some more information to help put together their applications. Last week, the Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario (AGCO) released the Internet Gaming Operator Application Guide, an online resource to guide applicants through...
Effort Underway to Support Second Cedar Rapids Casino Referendum in Eight Years
Business and community leaders in Iowa’s second-biggest county are starting to promote an upcoming referendum that could finally bring a casino to the Cedar Rapids area. Earlier this month, the Linn County Gaming Association (LCGA) revealed the five local leaders who will...
Top Indiana Gaming Official to Step Down, Oversaw Massive Spectacle Probe
Sara Gonso Tait will step down as the executive director of the Indiana Gaming Commission, Gov. Eric Holcomb announced on Friday. Tait was appointed to the position that oversees the day-to-day operations of the commission by then-Gov. Mike Pence in June 2015....
Hard Rock Northern Indiana Gets Much-Needed Certainty After Spectacle
After months of hearings, orders, and discussions, Hard Rock Northern Indiana’s ownership issues have been settled. Florida-based Hard Rock International is taking control of the state’s newest casino from its partner in the venture, a company that has been mired in an...
Powerball Third Weekly Draw Starts Monday; Mass. Man Claims $500K Just in Time
The $290 million Powerball jackpot didn’t go out on Saturday night. But now players will get an extra chance to win each week, as the multi-state lottery goes to three draws a week, starting on Monday. The jackpot for the historic Monday...
