Gambling industry representatives have once again appeared at the top of The Sunday Times’ Tax List. The 2024 edition of the list shows that the owners of Betfred and bet365 occupy two of the five top spots.

Outclassing celebrities such as Harry Potter author J.K. Rowling (31st place) and singer Ed Sheeran (32nd place), Fred and Peter Done and the Coates family stood in fourth and third place respectively.

According to the list, the Done brothers paid £204.6 million ($259.4 million) in taxes to the UK government. The Coates, meanwhile, paid almost two times that, with their contributions standing at £375.9 million ($476.5 million). In total, the two gambling families contributed £580.5 million.

This is not the first time the Coates have appeared at the top of the list of Britain’s highest-paying taxpayers. Denise Coates, for example, was singlehandedly the highest taxpayer in 2019 when she paid £276 million in taxes to the government. She was also the highest taxpayer in 2021, despite a significant pay cut that year.

For reference, bet365 was the second biggest taxpayer in the UK last year and was only outclassed by the Moscow-born billionaire Alex Gerko.

Russian-Born Billionaire and F1’s Ex-Boss Took the Top Spots

The Coates family no longer holds the top spot, although the company continues to see its profits increase. Unfortunately, bet365’s success is offset by some significant operating losses that were attributed to higher spending.

Betfred, on the other hand, has not yet disclosed its FY 2023 financials, although its presence on the list suggests growth. This is further supported by its launch in new jurisdictions and the introduction of a new Mohegan Sun sportsbook in Las Vegas.

Despite the gambling families’ significant contributions, Bernie Ecclestone, the former chief executive officer of the Formula One Group, and Alex Gerko, the owner of the algorithmic trading company XTX Markets took the first two spots. Ecclestone, who was recently involved in legal trouble, had to pay £652.6 million ($827.3 million) in taxes. Gerko, on the other hand, paid £664.5 million ($842.4 million) in UK tax, which earned him the top spot on The Sunday Times’ list.

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North Carolina succeeded in getting legal sports betting approved but failed to legalize casino gaming in 2023. While proponents of casino resorts plan to continue pushing for legalization of the vertical, opponents of such a measure are anxious that the game might be rigged.

For reference, North Carolina recently vowed to provide several counties, including Anson, Nash and Rockingham, with funding for major infrastructural improvements. The move caused some to think that the measure might be a preparation for the launch of casino gaming in the Tar Heel State.

For reference, Anson is set to be provided with $6 million for wastewater projects. Nash, on the other hand, will receive some $17 million for similar reasons. The biggest winner of all is Rockingham, which will be provided with a whopping $54.5 million for infrastructural upgrades. The money is part of the $2 billion North Carolina will allocate to infrastructure projects across the state.

The Government Has Been Planning This Investment for Years

According to uneasy opponents of the expansion of gambling, the infrastructural improvements in question are a setup for the launch of Las Vegas-style resorts as they will facilitate the construction of such venues.

Opponents of the launch of casino gaming were quick to point out that last year’s legislation sought approval for casino resorts in these exact counties. The legislation was the brainchild of Sen. Phil Berger and was supported by The Cordish Companies, a major casino and hospitality company. Berger’s promise to reintroduce the measure in 2024 is another factor that caused concern among anti-gambling activists.

For reference, the majority of voters in North Carolina oppose further expansion of the state’s gambling industry. At the same time, Berger believes casino resorts are not just about gaming but about nurturing the economic growth of rural areas as a whole.

In any case, the government was quick to point out that there is no correlation between the proposed improvements and some local leaders’ support for casino resorts. According to the authorities, the infrastructural investments are something they have been planning for years.

Anson County Manager Leonard Sossamon, however, did confirm that the infrastructure improvements would benefit a potential casino resort – a project that would be impossible at the moment.

In other news, NC recently approved the second batch of sports betting rules.

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Amid the fervent competition to secure licenses for New York City’s inaugural casinos, developers are undertaking unconventional strategies to garner local support, but this turns out to be a move sparking parental discontent.

This summer, a basketball camp held at Coney Island’s Kaiser Park was emblazoned with the logo of “The Coney”, a proposed casino project seeking to establish roots in the neighborhood, reported the New York Times. The basketball clinic, organized by Brooklyn USA Basketball, is just one example of the lengths to which casino operators are going to curry favor with local communities as they vie for coveted licenses.

While some parents decry the casinos for using their kids to advance a potentially detrimental agenda, others welcome the funding that enables enhanced sports programs and activities. The divisive issue has fueled heated debates on social media, bringing the ethics of casino-funded youth programs into the spotlight. The discussions have prompted deeper contemplation on the roles of gaming corporations within communities and the responsibilities they carry when engaging with the youth.

The controversy underlines the high stakes in the race for the three casino licenses in the New York City area. However, these battles extend beyond the boardrooms and into local communities, where concerns over the impact on children and ethics are in focus.

Silverstein and Greenwood Join the Race for New York’s Casino Licenses

Legal experts have noted that this grey area in advertising to minors continues to challenge states, despite measures in place to prevent casino operators from targeting young audiences. New York’s gaming regulators, for instance, have a pending rule proposal that would forbid marketing sports betting to minors, encompassing logos on clothing aimed at those under 21.

Besides The Coney, there are also other projects fighting for the coveted New York licenses. At the end of June, Silverstein Properties and Greenwood Gaming and Entertainment joined forces to vie for a commercial casino license in downstate New York. Their proposed “Avenir” casino hotel, situated in Manhattan’s far West Side, aims to tap into the area’s high demand for entertainment and gaming options. The collaboration faces tough competition from other casino operators, with factors like financial stability and project design influencing the regulatory evaluation process. The developers must also address community concerns, as seen in Coney Island where residents are protesting a Boardwalk casino bid due to crime and pollution fears.

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With gambling continuously proving to be a favorite pastime of many Americans, it is hardly surprising that many people do manage to land a jackpot. With that in mind, here are some of the latest lucky players in the US.

Grandfather Reaps Jackpot, Vows to Share It with Grandchildren

An elderly man managed to win a $556,120 jackpot at the Chumash Casino Resort in Santa Ynez, California, a tribal property operated by the Santa Ynez Band of Chumash Indians. On May 25, the player won while playing on a Bonus Times progressive machine at the venue.

According to local media reports, the grandfather hit the jackpot on his second attempt for the day. He spoke with local officials and said that he was bewildered to see three 10s come up.

The man joked that one of the first things to spend the money on is paying the taxes on the jackpot. After that, he plans to buy a new car for one of his granddaughters and fund his other two grandchildren’s college.

PA Man Turns $300-Buy-In into a $1M Payday

During the Memorial Day weekend a few days later, a Pennsylvania man by the name of Pete Mitchell won $936,996 while playing at a casino in South Philadelphia.

Mitchell was playing Ultimate Texas Hold ‘Em at the Live! Casino & Hotel Philadelphia property and decided to go all-in for his last wager. Mitchell’s $300-buy-in turned into a payday of almost a million when he was dealt a Royal Flush

Not only did the player take thousands of dollars home but he also became a part of the casino history since this is the largest progressive jackpot won at the property.

Las Vegas Continues to Consistently Distribute Jackpots

An anonymous player at Caesars Palace was playing Ultimate X video poker when they landed on four aces, effectively landing on a $200,000 jackpot at the same time.

Two days later, another anonymous player won a whopping $2,198,173 by playing a Wheel of Fortune Gold Spin Triple Gold MegaTower machine at ARIA Resort & Casino Las Vegas.

The developer of the gambling terminal, International Game Technology, addressed the matter, saying that the lucky winner has won the jackpot after wagering $7 on the game.

Recently, another Caesars player won a jackpot, this time when playing 88 FORTUNES online. The winner was Stacy M. from Edgewater, New Jersey, who won the $308.914 jackpot.

Speaking of jackpots, IGT smashed its jackpot record in April, distributing $17 million to lucky players.

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Everi Holdings, a leading provider of casino and iGaming products, financial technology and loyalty tools, has announced that it has received a new badge of honor. The supplier proudly announced that it has been named one of Nevada’s top workplaces.

The 2023 Nevada Top Workplaces award, provided by the Las Vegas Review-Journal and Las Vegas Business Press, designates Everi Holdings as a company with a healthy workplace culture that cares for its employees.

2023 notably marks the third year in a row Everi Holdings has received this recognition. In total, the company has received 21 Top Workplaces honors over the last three years, further attesting to its functional culture.

In 2023, Everi also earned four Culture Excellence awards from Top Workplaces – for Innovation, Work-Life Flexibility, Compensation and Benefits, and Leadership. Furthermore, the provider’s name made it to the Top Workplaces USA list for the second year in a row.

Randi Taylor, chief executive officer of the company, said:

We have worked diligently to create a positive company culture with shared values across multiple office locations and with our talented team of remote employees in Nevada, so we are thrilled to be recognized once again by Top Workplaces.

Randi Taylor, CEO, Everi Holdings

Taylor added that Everi Holdings would not have secured the award if not for the extreme dedication and hard work of its team members.

Energage Praised Everi Holdings’ Efforts

It is worth noting that the Top Workplaces award Everi has received is entirely based on employee feedback gathered by the employee engagement technology platform Energage. Energage has over 16 years of experience in probing how employees from over 70,000 organizations feel about their workplace.

The best thing about this vote is that it maintains the anonymity of the respondents, allowing them to share their honest thoughts on 15 culture drivers. Some of these include alignment, execution and connection, among others.

Energage’s chief executive officer, Eric Rubino, commented on the development, saying that a Top Workplaces award is a badge of honor for companies. He added that Everi Holdings should be proud of receiving the award for the third year in a row.

In today’s market, leaders must ensure they’re allowing employees to have a voice and be heard. That’s paramount. Top Workplaces do this, and it pays dividends.

Eric Rubino, CEO, Energage

Everi Holdings shared its thoughts, attributing the accreditation to the hard work it has put into creating a positive company culture. Despite having many offices in Nevada, the company strives to maintain homogeneous values across its hubs, ensuring the well-being of all of its workers.

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