Mohegan announced that it has appeared on Newsweek’s America’s Greatest Workplaces for Diversity list for 2024. This distinction cements Mohegan as a leader when it comes to fostering a culture of diversity and inclusion, the company said.

According to the casino and hospitality giant, this accolade attests to its ongoing commitment to creating a healthy workplace that appreciates the benefits of diversity.

Newsweek, for reference, is the modern global digital news organization built around the iconic American magazine. Its selection process for the America’s Greatest Workplaces for Diversity list includes a comprehensive evaluation process that combines employee feedback with an in-depth analysis of companies’ practices.

Newsweek leverages a complex methodology to make sure it properly evaluates how effective companies are in promoting and maintaining diversity. The highest-scoring companies are then categorized into 78 industries.

The complete list is available on Newsweek’s official website.

Diversity Is More than a Buzzword, Mohegan Says

Mohegan believes that diversity is more than just a buzzword and treats it as a “critical component of business success.” The company pointed out that all companies appearing on the America’s Greatest Workplaces for Diversity list are recognized for their genuine respect and value for individuals from different walks of life.

Mohegan prides itself on its proactive approach when it comes to diversifying its workforce and implementing its appreciation of diversity in its business practices, customer relations and community engagement. Its diverse teams, Mohegan says, are not only a commitment but a strategic asset that bolsters the company’s competitiveness.

Ray Pineault, Mohegan’s president and chief executive officer, elaborated on this, saying that a diverse workforce is the key to “fostering creativity, innovation and a dynamic environment where new ideas thrive.” Pineault added that his team is delighted to appear on Newsweek’s list.

We are immensely proud of this recognition, and being named to this prestigious list reflects our ongoing commitment to diversity and inclusion and underscores the success of our efforts to integrate diversity at every level of our operations.

Ray Pineault, president & CEO, Mohegan

Naketrice Snow, the company’s director of people experience, also shared her thoughts on the matter, praising the recognition. Snow reaffirmed Mohegan’s commitment to fostering a healthy workplace where every team member can feel valued and empowered.

Snow added that the company’s diversity initiatives are designed to ensure that the company continues to be a workplace that respects and values everyone.

In unrelated news, a baccarat dealer was just accused of rigging games at Mohegan Sun.

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Gambling addiction in the United States is getting more and more serious as calls to get the situation under control grow louder. The Guardian spoke with experts who highlighted America’s concerns about the young people exposed to harm.

Gambling organizations across the US have noticed a concerning number of teen and young adult patients seeking help.

New Jersey, which has always been ahead of the curve when it comes to gambling, is currently dealing with an influx of harmed young patients. According to the Council on Compulsive Gambling of New Jersey, the number of requests for support has more than doubled since 2018. This was also echoed by UCLA, which has been evaluating the trend.

Many believe that the convenience mobile gambling provides has made it very appealing to young people Brad Ruderman, of the Beit T’Shuvah treatment center in Los Angeles noted that this would be the first generation to grow with mobile gambling.

Keith Whyte, the National Council on Problem Gambling’s executive director, asked a room of 40 17-year-old boys in Virginia how many had sports betting apps on their phones. Thirty-six boys admitted to having one, further supporting T’Shuvah’s claim.

Experts believe that young people, whose brains are still developing, might be much more susceptible to gambling’s tricks of attracting customers.

Arnie Wexler, a counselor, fears that America might be “killing its youth.”

The Situation Is Bad But Not Hopeless

Rick Benson, the founder of the Algamus treatment facility in Goodyear, Arizona, believes that America might be headed into a “gambling addiction quagmire if not crisis.” He said that the nonstop betting opportunities provided by the local mobile operators are simply too convenient.

Another aspect is peer and commercial pressure, Shekhar Saxena, ex-director at the WHO, believes. He pointed out that younger people easily influence one another, exacerbating the problem.

For reference, in 2018 only 11.5% of the people who contacted New Jersey’s gambling support services admitted they were under 25. During the first 10 months of 2023, this number had increased to 19.6%.

Luckily, the younger generation is more likely to seek help, according to UCLA’s co-director of the gambling studies program, Timothy Fong. The stigma among them is not so serious suggesting that there might be hope for solving the issue.

The Guardian also spoke with Amanda Blackford, director of operations and problem gambling services at the Ohio Casino Control Commission. Commenting on the rising harm rates that followed the recent legalization of sports betting, Blackford said that problem gambling will always exist, so it is important to help as many people as possible.

Many Believe Tougher Regulations Are Needed

In the meantime, calls to better regulate the sports betting sector have increased. While many states now offer gambling, some believe that few of them are sufficiently engaged in the protection of customers.

Felicia Grondin, executive director of the Council on Compulsive Gambling, is one of the many supporters of restrictions on gambling ads. Ads are already talked about a lot in other modern markets as many believe that exposure leads to more harm.

WHO’s Saxena, on the other hand, said that operators themselves should not exploit their consumers’ vulnerabilities. Saxena thinks that allowing the customers to choose how often and how much to wager is not enough.

The industry, however, argues that an overwhelming majority of consumers wager safely. According to the American Gaming Association (AGA), legal operators offer a number of important safeguards to keep players safe.

Overregulation, on the other hand, risks channeling people toward the black market, which offers few, if any, of these safety measures. The AGA urged for further research before proceeding with overregulation.

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Interblock has confirmed that it’s buying out electronic table games (ETG). The company, which develops products for the iGaming industry, will strengthen its own offering in the vertical by securing the remaining assets from Aruze Gaming America.

Aruze’s ETGs Change Hands

Interblock is moving confidently in the vertical as well, as the company is acquiring the ETG product line and will be expanding its workforce to more than 700 employees worldwide, with more details about the company’s plans and the exact nature of the acquisition forthcoming. Commenting on the recent development, Interblock Global CEO John Connelly had this to add:

The Aruze acquisition creates a significant portfolio of innovative synergies we intend to bring to the market before the end of this calendar year.

Interblock Global CEO John Connelly

The executive said that his company was happy to buy these assets from Aruze Gaming, as it allowed the company to significantly diversify and scale up its offer. This acquisition is an opportunity for the company to offer a broader range of high-quality, innovative gaming solutions to its valued partners.

Interblock is committed to bringing worthwhile gaming solutions for both the land-based and online sectors, with the acquisition of the ETGs assets from Aruze Gaming America a step in the right direction.

As the transition of assets is carried out, Interblock expects to continue business as normal, with no disruptions in development or delivery. Aruze Gaming America is also said to be laying off 100 people as part of its asset sale.

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Americas Cardroom, a US-themed online poker site, will celebrate International Women’s Day with a special charity tournament. As announced by the company, it will donate funds raised during the event to the United Breast Cancer Foundation.

Poker enthusiasts can join Americas Cardroom in celebration of the occasion and compete for a $10K guaranteed prize pool. The tournament has an entry fee of $55, making it accessible for players of all skill levels.

In addition, Americas Cardroom has decided to make the event even more appealing by providing entrants with an additional $55 tourney ticket. Players can use this second ticket to enter any future $55 tournament hosted by the company.

Americas Cardroom added that the prize pool will be paid out to players. The company will, meanwhile, match the total prize pool and will donate it to the United Breast Cancer Foundation.

A Twitch Live Chat Will Boost Engagement

Katie Lindsay and Ebony Kenney, Americas Cardroom team pros, and Nikki Lomo and Caitlin Comesky, prominent poker celebrities, will bolster engagement during the tournament by hosting a live chat on Twitch.

In addition to discussing the ongoing event and the latest developments, the women will also speak about the importance of raising awareness of the dangers of breast cancer and how important is for women to conduct self-exams at home.

Kenney noted that this wouldn’t be the first time the poker company has organized a tournament for Women’s Day. Last year’s event, she said, was a resounding success. Because of that, Kenney is excited to be a part of the celebrations once again. She said that there is nothing that beats playing poker with friends while supporting a good cause.

Playing poker with some badass friends of mine while also supporting a good cause?! Yes, sign me up! I am honored to be a part of the positive and intentional movement happening for women in poker.

Ebony Kenney

Lindsey added that she still fondly remembers the last time Americas Cardroom teamed up with the United Breast Cancer Foundation.

It was so wonderful working with the United Breast Cancer Foundation for our last charity event and I’m super excited to be able to do it again with another great group of women.

Katie Lindsay

Nikki Lomo and Caitlin Comesky also released statements on the upcoming tournament, saying that they feel honored to be part of the initiative and join so many talented and inspiring women.

In February, Americas Cardroom ran two satellite events, providing four full poker vacation packages for a Super High Roller Series in Vietnam this March.

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2022 was a very good year for commercial casinos in the US. Gamblers left a total of $60.4 billion in the machines and on the tables giving the house edge its best year ever.

On Wednesday, the American Gaming Association’s (AGA) Commercial Gaming Revenue Tracker showed that land-based gambling accounted for about 80% of the win with online casinos and internet sportsbetting picking up the other roughly 20% of last year’s revenue.

On a nationwide basis, online revenues in America lag behind many European markets. The U.K. is out front with 65% of revenues coming from iGaming, France at about 29%, and Germany at roughly 28%. Drawing in from the U.S. macro to the four states that offer commercial gaming on land and online, online revenues averaged 40.7 percent of the totals.

Regulated U.S. commercial online casino revenue grew to about $5 billion – an increase of 35.2%. Six states currently offer internet casino gambling: Delaware, Michigan, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Connecticut, and West Virginia. New bills are moving through the legislative process in five more states to legalize online gambling. Those states are Illinois, Indiana, Maryland, New Hampshire, and New York.

US Commercial Casinos Won over $60 Billion in 2022

The more than $60 billion casinos won last year is almost 14% more than 2021 totals.

Tribal casinos and state lotteries report their numbers separately, but if fourth-quarter and full-year numbers hold up for tribal operators it could push the total for the US industry past $100 billion, a new record of its own if that occurs. The National Indian Gaming Commission will release its 2022 revenue report later this year.

According to an Associated Press report by Wayne Parry in the Concord Courier, AGA vice president David Forman said that number would put the American gambling industry revenue about on par with U.S. revenues from the sale of beer.

Bill Miller, the association’s president, and CEO said: “Our industry significantly outpaced expectations in 2022. Simply put, American adults are choosing casino gaming for entertainment in record numbers, benefiting communities and taking market share from the predatory, illegal marketplace.”

VP Forman added: “That growth is almost the equivalent of adding another Las Vegas Strip to the U.S. market.”

While Chicago, the Mississippi Gulf coast, and Baltimore-Washington, D.C. markets also produce healthy revenues, the Las Vegas Strip and Atlantic City reign supreme as the top-performing U.S. gambling markets.

Although Nevada lawmakers legalized online casino gambling about the same time New Jersey did, regulators have purposefully neglected to enact a regulatory framework for them, instead opting to only regulate sports betting and poker online.

How the States Stacked Up

That may be the reason online sportsbetting and iGaming numbers are not reported in the AGA tracker rankings when including the legacy Las Vegas Strip and other Nevada markets.

Ranked from 10 through 1, along with their take we find the following:

• Boulder Strip in Nevada ($966 million +/- = to last year)
• St. Louis market spanning parts of Missouri and Illinois ($1.1 billion + 3.6%)
• Detroit ($1.3 billion – 1.4%)
• Philadelphia ($1.4 billion – 1.8%)
• New York City ($1.5 billion + 2.6%)
• Mississippi Gulf coast ($1.6 billion – 0.5%)
• Chicago region spanning parts of Illinois and Indiana ($2.1 billion + 6.1%)
• Baltimore-Washington D.C. ($2.2 billion + 8.7%)
• Atlantic City ($2.8 billion + 8.5%)
• Las Vegas Strip ($8.2 billion + 17%)

In a turn-around from historic trends, revenue from land-based gaming tables was up 13.9% while the slots take increased by 5.1%.

About one-third of the U.S. adult population made at least one visit to a casino in 2022.

Sports betting continued to grow with 36 states (and D.C.) offering legalized sports betting in 2022 and the AGA predicting that it will be available in 40 states by the end of this year.

Source: US casinos hit high mark, Concord Monitor via AP, February 18, 2023

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The former Lucky Club in North Las Vegas opens Monday, February 6th as the rebranded Ojos Locos Sports Cantina y Casino at Hotel Jefe – the first Hispanic-oriented casino in the country, according to the operator.

The 90-room hotel is also getting a new name, rebranding as Hotel Jefe. However, the hotel is still undergoing renovations and only about 40% of the rooms are complete, all rooms should be open by the end of the year.

Fifth Street Gaming owns the property and casino license. The new venture is a partnership with Ojos Locos Sports Cantina. The restaurateur is based in Dallas, Texas, and offers sports bars and restaurants in Texas, Arizona, and New Mexico. Ojos Locos Sports Cantina is situated in the center of the 10,000-square-foot casino. According to a press release, the sports bar and restaurant will seat nearly 300 people.

Laura Caudillo, vice president of growth at Ojos Locos Sports Cantina, said in a statement: “We are excited and honored to collaborate with Fifth Street Gaming on this flagship location, allowing us to bring the first-ever Ojos gaming experience to market. We look forward to welcoming the Latino community with our excellent service, delicious food, and fun-filled atmosphere.”

New Gaming and Entertainment Destination for Hispanic Community

Seth Schorr, CEO at Fifth Street Gaming said: “After two years of planning and collaboration, we are overjoyed to introduce this new gaming and entertainment destination catering [to]

y.

“We are grateful to Ojos Locos for joining us in this endeavor and to our valued customers whose enthusiasm inspired us to create a development just for them,” added Schorr.

The casino itself will offer 200 slot machines, and 35 video poker terminals in the bar. Throughout the property will be nearly 100 TV screens.

Fifth Street sees the Hispanic community as mainstream rather than a niche and to serve the audience the company launched JefeBet, a unique sports, betting, and entertainment company purpose-built for the Latin American audience.

Latinos Make up 44% of North Las Vegas Population

When the partnership was first announced in September 2022, North Las Vegas Mayor John Jay Lee said: “With 44 percent of our city’s population identifying as Latino, we’re thrilled to see an already established business providing entertainment created with such a large portion of our residents in mind. We anticipate the JefeBet Casino and Hotel to be a wonderful addition to our community.”

Schorr added: “This one-of-a-kind property will be the first time a company has opened a space for this massive, yet underserved population. The other unique feature of this property is that the sportsbook, sports bar, and restaurant will all be in one layout and won’t be separate entities.”

Source: North Las Vegas’ Lucky Club to open as rebranded Ojos Locos Sports Cantina y Casino on February 6, YogoNet, February 3, 2023

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