Gaming Today

Market growth expected for 2021

Sports betting in the Midwest in 2020 felt like a jockey finally guiding their jittery horse into its starting gate, only to watch another competitor false start and make you begin the process again. If you hadn’t already launched operations in 2019, like Iowa and Indiana did, then the spring of 2020 and the onset […]

Can sports betting get Maine out of hole?

Scrooge paid a visit to Maine just after Thanksgiving as Scarborough Downs closed its doors. The harness track south of Portland had been in business for 70 years and when the lights went out on Nov. 28, it meant for hundreds of people whose livelihoods depended on the track, their Christmas was going to be […]

Sisolak extends lockdown pause

As Nevada prepares to vaccinate its healthcare workers this week with the Pfizer vaccine approved Friday by the Food and Drug Administration, Gov. Steve Sisolak Sunday extended his “pause” until Jan. 15, and he warned he will take tougher measures if coronavirus infections and hospitalizations don’t decrease.  The pause, implemented just before Thanksgiving, strengthened a […]

Pennsylvania governor closes casinos due to COVID-19

Pennsylvania has become the third state to again close its casino industry due to resurging COVID-19 infections. In an announcement Thursday, Gov. Tom Wolf and the state’s health secretary said casinos and other businesses would close on Saturday. The shutdown will last through Jan. 4. “It has become clear that we need to take further […]

NBA awards wagers approved

The Nevada Gaming Control Board Thursday granted approval for sportsbooks to offer wagers on the winner of the 2021 NBA regular season Defensive Player of the Year, Sixth Man of the Year, 2021 NBA Regular Season Most Improved Player, 2021 NBA Regular Season Coach of the Year and the 2021 NCAA Basketball John R. Wooden Award. […]

Boyd Gaming sells Eldorado Casino

Boyd Gaming announced Thursday that it has sold the Eldorado Casino in downtown Henderson to Henderson-based DeSimone Gaming.  The Eldorado Casino has not reopened since the pandemic shuttered the casino Nevada industry for 2 ½ months earlier this year.  Boyd spokesman David Strow said in confirming the sale, the gaming company isn’t disclosing the terms […]

Cosgriff born to book

Last week, I introduced you to what an oddsmaker goes through on a typical NFL Sunday. This week, we bring you another perspective, this time from Matt Cosgriff, BetMGM’s director of trading operations. Unfortunately, due to the coronavirus pandemic, I wasn’t able to meet Matt in-person, but he filled me in the best he could […]

M Resort developer proposes new casino

Anthony Marnell III, the developer of the M Resort in west Henderson, has proposed building a casino right across the street from it. The Henderson City Council on Tuesday will consider selling nine acres to Marnell Gaming Management north of St. Rose Parkway and east of Las Vegas Boulevard. Henderson acquired the land in April […]

A chance to go non-smoking

It’s becoming clear that if smoking isn’t temporarily banned in any new round of casino restrictions that the state would put in place, it’s here to stay in casinos. An anti-smoking group made headlines last week by urging casinos through the American Gaming Association to adopt smoke-free policies. It’s also encouraging Congress to tie any […]

Be smart, sit out the preseason

It’s a good thing that the NBA bubble managed to crown a champion as recently as Oct. 11, just two short months ago, and that the college basketball season is already in full swing. You therefore should have enough to occupy yourself with to avoid wagering on the preseason altogether. Games open on Friday, and […]