Thousands of workers are going to be affected by the upcoming closure of the Mirage, one of the most iconic and recognizable hotel casino resorts in Las Vegas. The temporary closure scheduled for July 17 is required as a part of the process that will completely overhaul the famous property.

Once completed, the revamp of the Mirage will turn it into a Hard Rock Las Vegas. Ahead of the planned closure, Nevada’s Department of Employment, Training and Rehabilitation (DETR) reaffirmed its intention to support hotel and casino staff who are going to be affected.

Back in May, DETR announced the launch of its Rapid Response Program, an initiative that seeks to help the workers impacted by the closure find new jobs. The worker-focused initiative offers job fairs, information and training sessions for employees.

Besides helping affected workers find new employment the initiative provides options for improving skills, including resume writing and networking, among other vital skills.

Now, according to a report released by the Las Vegas Review-Journal, some 323 Mirage employees have participated in a resource fair as of Monday. In addition, 315 others have participated in an educational program with DETR.

The Workers Will Benefit from Separation Pay

Besides the job fairs, information and other resources, affected workers at the Mirage are going to benefit from good separation pay. Overall, 3,350 workers are expected to benefit from a total of $80 million in severance packages by Hard Rock International.

Employees who currently are not part of unions will benefit from two weeks’ pay, applicable for every year they worked at the hotel-casino. It’s important to note that such severance packages are limited to a maximum of $20,000.

On the other hand, Mirage workers who are Culinary Local 226 members will benefit from a separation pay of $2,000 for every year they worked at the Mirage.

The combined efforts demonstrated by the Nevada authorities and the operator reaffirm their dedication to helping the affected employees find new jobs quickly.

In March last year, Clark County greenlighted Hard Rock’s guitar-shaped tower. The revamp of the Mirage is expected to bring a new 660-foot-tall hotel tower offering 600 rooms, among other amenities.

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The majority of people who are in this group would benefit from level 2 intensity treatment the government argues, or some 970,000 people. This means that the people in question would benefit from two or three sessions of motivational interviewing which is administered by gambling specialists.

Treatment Levels Vary By Intensity, But They Do Have an Effect

Some 243,000 adults, though, would need a level 4 intensity treatment, the government specifies, as this is designed to be a far more comprehensive and demanding treatment course with 8 to 14 sessions which are administered by cognitive behavioral therapy psychologists, who specialize in gambling disorder.

Furthermore, another 40,000 individuals would need a 12-week residential treatment program, which is the most intensive form of care. There is no exact way to tell which people will benefit from what program exactly, as practitioners must also play a role in deciding, but the government’s estimates offer robust guidance.  

The data was commissioned by the Office for Health Improvement and Disparities and conducted by the University of Sheffield and the University of Glasgow. It’s an interesting research and approach, as it directly seeks to quantify how many people would benefit from treatment.

Not only that but owing to this data, government and industry groups can calculate the costs of such interventions. Although the exact costs of these sessions are not exactly established, they would give the government a rough estimate of what is needed to address the issue.

Of course, if people are actively receiving treatment, they would have to be followed up to see if the treatment was efficient. There are several reasons to be optimistic, however, as GambleAware recently shared its optimism that interventions are having a positive impact.

Focus the Funds Where They Are Needed the Most

This means that treatment and interventions are efficient even if they cost money. Then again, there is the proposed rise of a gambling levy that would go directly to charities and treatment service providers, designed to ensure that individuals who need gambling treatment get it.

More importantly, UKGC’s latest data will allow the efforts to be focused. Earlier interventions and treatments to more people are more cost-efficient it seems, and they may even be administered in groups.

As GambleAware found out, treatment helps 9 out of 10 people, so all the more reason to seek and ensure that these solutions reach people.

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Three and a half years ago, the global COVID-19 pandemic impacted nearly all industries across the globe. The entertainment, hospitality and gambling sectors weren’t spared, and tribal and commercial casinos across the US endured temporary restrictions, including closures. Despite the huge impact of the pandemic on the gaming and hospitality sector, visitation is gradually returning to normal in gaming and entertainment hubs such as Las Vegas.

With the increase in traveling and removal of restrictions over the last two years, Las Vegas has started its recovery as companies seek to surpass financial figures recorded before the pandemic. Judging by a recent report, the global business travel industry is on the right track. Considering an increase in business travel is observed, it is safe to say that Las Vegas operators may also be able to start seeing benefits soon.

The recent report, published by the Global Business Travel Association (GBTA) in partnership with Visa, was titled “2023 GBTA Business Travel Index Outlook – Annual Global Report and Forecast,” and reveals important trends and predictions regarding the global business travel industry. Undoubtedly, this report is relevant for entertainment and gambling operators in Las Vegas, and on the Strip in particular, that offer business amenities such as convention and exhibition spaces.

Rebound of Business Travel Is Faster than Expected

According to the recent report, the global business travel industry has rebounded faster than anticipated. “The global business travel industry has rebounded at a more accelerated rate than expected just a year ago and is now expected to surpass its pre-pandemic spending level of $1.4 trillion in 2024 − and grow to nearly $1.8 trillion by 2027,” explains the new report.

Last year, global business travel spending increased to $1.03 trillion, up by 47%. The positive trend materialized this year as well, with growth expected to reach some 32%. Per the recent report, the positive results come amid an increase in demand after the pandemic and “more favorable global economic conditions in 2022 and 2023 and recession risks that have yet to happen.”

GBTA’s report revealed that business travel recovery recorded different values depending on the region. While Western Europe saw the biggest uptick in 2022, Latin America and North America have been growing their spending significantly too.

“The headwinds that were anticipated to impact the rebound of global business travel over the past year didn’t materialize and that is good news.“

Suzanne Neufang, CEO at GBTA

Suzanne Neufang, GBTA’s CEO, revealed that the challenges that were expected to impact global business travel didn’t happen, which was a good sign. She added the report points to an accelerated return to business travel spending to pre-pandemic levels. Moreover, Neufang predicted further growth for the business travel industry in the next few years.

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The provider of real-time risk profiling tools and software, ClearStake, announced that its innovative solution brings benefits to its clients by boosting affordability and reducing player churn. On Monday, the company released a new report, underlining the effectiveness of its technology for operators within the gambling sector.

Currently, ClearStake offers Open Banking technology that was developed for the gambling sector. The innovative technology helps reduce manual labor and player churn by identifying instantly players that can stake freely, as well as ones that need protection. Ultimately, the solution helps maximize the revenue for the gambling operators while at the same time, helping protect at-risk and problem gamblers.

Operators who ask for physical bank statements from their clients experience an increase in player churn. According to ClearStake, such requests result in high levels of player churn that can be approximately 85%, reaffirming the ineffectiveness of that method and its negative impact on operators.

Citing partner data, ClearStake revealed that one of its clients saw the benefit of its technology. A sports betting operator, whose name was not disclosed, reported a 160% increase in the number of players that complete enhanced due diligence checks. This was achieved thanks to the company’s innovative technology.

This summer, Hollywoodbets announced a collaboration with ClearStake, confirming it will enhance its player protection. The partnership reaffirmed the operator’s commitment to combating financial threats and ensuring the protection of its growing customer base.

Operators Benefit from ClearStake’s Technology

Martin Burt, ClearStake’s founder, spoke about the company’s recent report. He highlighted that the results reaffirm the effectiveness and benefit of the Open Banking technology. Moreover, Burt stressed that the technology helps streamline affordability processes and at the same time, save money for the operators. Finally, ClearStake’s founder pointed out: “We look forward to seeing a further boost in these statistics as our customers deepen integration and widen use cases.”

“These customer results show the ability of ClearStake’s Open Banking technology to expedite the financial risk check process, save money and improve confidence in decisions around affordability.“

Martin Burt, founder of ClearStake

Another one of ClearStake’s customers reported a significant increase in processing requests related to limits. That company saw an uptick of 500% in the approval for limit increases, up from a rate between 10% to 60%. This ultimately resulted in improved convenience for the players.

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The premium casino operator in Australia, The Star Entertainment Group, announced it extended its partnership with Konami Gaming, the renowned provider of casino gaming and systems technology. The extended and expanded deal, announced Tuesday, sees the duo continue to collaborate together since their initial agreement dating back to 2008. Extending their long-term partnership marks a milestone moment for The Star, as well as Konami, reaffirming their success so far.

Per the extended deal, the casino operator will benefit from SYNKROS, Konami’s award-winning casino management system. Throughout their extensive agreement, innovation played an important role in the duo’s flourishing partnership within the gambling sector. Ultimately, the two companies share a vision to revolutionize the experiences for casino customers.

Under the extended deal, The Star will benefit from a wide range of SYNKROS technology solutions that seek to elevate the experiences for visitors of its casinos. Such innovations will include digital wallet/cashless wagering options, seeking to deliver seamless, convenient and secure experiences for the players. Additionally, The Star’s properties will benefit from mandatory card-based play, streamlining the gaming process and delivering convenient experiences for the players.

Extending its agreement with Konami, the company will also leverage its AI facial recognition technology, SYNK Vision. Through this technology, the duo will be able to create personalized experiences for the visitors. Additionally, The Star will benefit from a robust approach that will complement its efforts toward meeting regulatory requirements. Overall, the collaboration will bring efficiencies with the implementation of cashless options, which can also contribute positively toward reducing gambling harm and compliance with the evolving regulations in Australia.

The Extended Deal Marks an Exciting Moment for The Star, Konami

Joe Mayer, Konami Australia’s systems sales and operations manager, revealed that the company is delighted to expand its technology offering for The Star. He highlighted that the new technology deal complements the growth of SYNKROS and allows it to expand its global footprint.

“In partnership with Star Entertainment Group, we at Konami are excited to leverage the future technology development from this partnership, expanding offerings within SYNKROS to the wider market.“

Joe Mayer, systems sales and operations manager APAC at Konami Australia

Steve Sutherland, Konami’s president and CEO, added that the company is delighted to extend and expand its long-term collaboration with The Star. “Our joint commitment to innovation and excellence will not only transform the cashless gaming experience but also set new industry benchmarks for years to come,” he said in conclusion.

Laurent Fresnel, The Star’s chief technology and innovation officer, was similarly delighted, highlighting the importance of cashless solutions and the potential of Konami’s SYNKROS technology. Finally, he spoke about The Star’s commitment to delivering world-class solutions that combat gambling harm.

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The leading provider of innovative technology powering the iGaming sector, SOFTSWISS, announced details regarding a new partnership with Kings Media LTD, the parent company of the popular King Billy Casino. Under the terms of the new collaboration, announced Thursday, the company agreed to power King Media with its Jackpot Aggregator which will introduce three customized and unique jackpot campaigns.

The new campaigns involve King Billy’s MGA and Curacao casino brands. Ultimately, the collaboration seeks to elevate the thrill and excitement for the casino’s players. At the same time, Jackpot Aggregator is expected to impact positively Kings’ revenues and boost retention and loyalty.

SOFTSWISS Jackpot Aggregator is renowned for its scalable campaigns and expertise. The first online operator that tapped into the innovative solution was Cleopatra Group which powered six of its online casino brands. Since then, the interest in Jackpot Aggregator within the iGaming sector has only been growing, allowing SOFTSWISS’ leading technology to reach new partners and customers across the globe.

Thanks to the new collaboration, Jackpot Aggregator will deliver three unique prize levels that include Crown Jackpot, Shield Jackpot and Sword Jackpot. Players of King Billy Casino will have a chance for daily jackpots within the operator’s complete portfolio of more than 7,000 games. Still, it’s important to mention that the company’s MGA and Curacao brands will offer different jackpot totals.

Recently, SOFTSWISS joined forces with the leading provider of games for the online gambling industry, BF Games. Under the terms of the deal, announced late last month, the iGaming developer agreed to provide its portfolio of games, strengthening SOFTSWISS’ Game Aggregator.

The Partnership Marks an Exciting Moment for the Duo

Andrii Morozov, Kings Media’s head of product, acknowledged the importance of the company’s new “Royal Jackpots” feature. He explained that powered by SOFTSWISS technology, the new jackpot system will deliver unrivaled entertainment for the company’s customers. Finally, Morozov said: “All of us at King Billy are excited to be a part of this!”

Aliaksei Douhin, the head of SOFTSWISS Jackpot Aggregator, was similarly delighted about the new collaboration with Kings Media. He explained that Jackpot Aggregator is powered by innovation and proven to boost player engagement.

At the same time, according to Douhin, the solution delivers unique online gambling experiences. Finally, he confirmed that SOFTSWISS will support the whole process related to the delivery of the much-anticipated jackpot campaigns.

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The leading provider of premium live casino games, powering operators within the online gambling sector in Europe and around the world, Stakelogic Live, announced the launch of its cutting-edge brand-new studio with Bingoal.nl, a Dutch online gambling operator. The launch, announced Friday, makes the Dutch operator the first one to benefit from Stakelogic Live’s new studio.

The content provider’s new Chrome Key Studio leverages green screens that bring options for personalization and customization. Thanks to the collaboration, Bingoal.nl will be the first operator to leverage this technology, seeking to deliver unique live casino experiences to its growing customer base.

Located in the Netherlands, Stakelogic Live’s Chroma Key Studio will stream the games in Dutch. Currently, there are three games that can be streamed via the studio. Those include European Roulette, Absolute Blackjack, as well as 7 Seat Blackjack.

Only recently, Stakelogic announced a new content agreement with Starcasino. Per that deal, the leading provider agreed to supply a portfolio of its games for the operator, strengthening its offering in Belgium. As a result, Starcasino gained access to classic and video slots, along with live dealer titles from Stakelogic.

The New Deal Brings Excitement to Bingoal, Stakelogic

Dany Salmon, Bingoal’s casino product manager, spoke about the significant popularity of the live casino segment in the Dutch gambling market. He acknowledged the importance of that segment for the company and its efforts to deliver unrivaled casino entertainment for its players.

Finally, Salmon said: “Using Stakelogic Live’s Chroma Key Studio allows us to do this in a way that strengthens the relationship between our brand and the player – building trust and the association between players and Bingoal.nl as being the go-to destination for live content in the Netherlands.”

“Live casino is hugely popular in the Netherlands and as an operator, it’s important for us to stand out and deliver unique experiences to our players.“

Dany Salmon, casino product manager at Bingoal.nl

Olga Bajela, Stakelogic Live’s CCO, was similarly excited. She outlined that the launch of the Chrome Key Studio in the Netherlands represents a major milestone for the company. At the same time, she highlighted that the new studio enables Stakelogic to deliver branding opportunities for gambling operators who want to create unique customer experiences.

Bajela explained: “That this can be offered to multiple operators from a single table means this is infinitely scalable, benefitting both Stakelogic Live and the operators that partner with us.” Finally, she said that Stakelogic Live is delighted to see the debut of its new studio with Bingoal.nl, the first operator that will be able to leverage this cutting-edge technology.

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Jamie Nettleton, partner at the Australian law firm Addisons, spoke with Inside Asian Gaming about the dangers of banning online gambling advertising. According to him, such a drastic move would channel players toward the dangerous black market.

A recent parliamentary report in Australia proposed the gradual ban of online gambling ads. Under the proposal, ads will be banned in four phases. During the first one, online gambling inducements and advertising on social media will be prohibited.

The second phase would see all online gambling advertising and commentary on odds banned during sports broadcasts, as well as an hour before and after them. In-stadia and player jersey sponsorships will also be prohibited.

The third phase would prohibit the airing of online gambling advertising between 6 am and 10 pm. Finally, the fourth and final phase would introduce a blanket ban on iGaming advertising and sponsorship, with the exception of advertising on dedicated racing and betting channels.

Nettleton Says the Ban Would Benefit the Black Market

During his interview with the news outlet, Nettleton commented on the theoretical effect a blanket ban on advertising may have. He noted that taking ads out of the equation would endanger the business of legal companies.

Stacking restrictions, such as a ban on ads, restrictions on what products can be offered, tight KYC requirements and rising taxes will make regulated companies less competitive than their offshore counterparts, Nettleton argued.

As a result, many players may prefer playing with unlicensed foreign brands. Nettleton believes that what defines a licensed company is “access to the market.” Access to the market, according to him, is not just having customers but also being able to market to those customers, allowing them to keep on coming.

Nettleton pointed out that other regulated jurisdictions have also introduced certain restrictions on advertising but few to the same extent as what is being proposed in Australia.

“Those Who Recognize a Good Price Will Find Better Odds and Utilize Them”

While Nettleton acknowledged that Australia’s Gambling Law prohibits offshore operators from operating in Australia, he added that it isn’t illegal for Australians to participate in games offered by black market companies.

And speaking of law and regulation, Nettleton also expressed his skepticism about the proposals to establish a nationwide gambling regulator, replacing the current state-based model. In his view, such a move may create more problems than solutions as conflicts between the states are sure to sprout up.

I mean, how is NSW going to justify continuing its Point of Consumption tax if there is a national regulator generating levies? How is that going to work out? Product fees are also issued at a state level, and no one will want to give up the golden goose.

Jamie Nettleton, partner at Addisons

When asked whether he believes such a regulator will be established, Nettleton replied that he cannot say anything with certainty. However, the analyst is highly doubtful of the proposed timeframe.

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The globally-recognized technology company delivering solutions and services powering sports betting, casino, poker and other operators within the gambling vertical, Playtech, announced Monday it joined forces with the leading gaming operator in France, La Française des Jeux (FDJ). Thanks to the freshly minted partnership, FDJ will benefit from Playtech’s poker network, including content and services.

The new collaboration sees FDJ join Playtech’s extensive iPoker.EU Network. This is in fact one of the biggest liquidity pool networks on the Old Continent that is supported by leading software that ensures compliance within different jurisdictions.

Per the new deal, FDJ will access not only the content package from Playtech but its services as well. As a result, the leading operator will gain access to poker tournaments, cash tables, as well as Twister Poker, Playtech’s flagship poker game.

At the same time, the collaboration complements Playtech’s growth within the poker vertical in the French Market. The country’s poker market continues to grow annually and has generated €10.7 billion in 2021, marking a year-over-year increase of 7%.

The deal with FDJ comes during a busy period of Playtech. Early last month, the company revealed that it joined forces with 10bet, a famous online gambling brand. At the time of the announcement, the company revealed that its UK and Sweden-facing businesses will benefit from sports betting solutions.

The Operator Is Delighted to Access Playtech’s Content

Richard Courtois, FDJ’s CEO of sports betting and online gaming, acknowledged Playtech’s strong presence as a content provider within the regulated gambling sector around Europe. At the same time, he spoke about the company’s understanding of the market in France and pointed out that the collaboration will help expand FDJ’s offering by delivering new games. Finally, Courtois predicted that the partnership will boost the company’s presence in the country.

“Thanks to Playtech, we are pleased to offer our players a new range of games. This move enables FDJ to complete its presence in the French online gaming market open to competition, based on a business model that combines performance and responsibility to keep gaming fun.“

Richard Courtois, CEO of sports betting and online gaming at FDJ

Marat Koss, Playtech’s VP of interactive gaming, shared his excitement about the latest deal. “We are very proud that FDJ has chosen Playtech as its partner, he said. Additionally, Koss pointed out that the leading operator will benefit from Playtech’s extensive network and deliver unique experiences for its growing customer base. Finally, he said that Playtech is looking forward to the success the deal with FDJ will bring.

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Legal land-based gambling as well as sports wagering activities help raise tax revenue for states that offer such options. While there are always supporters and opponents of legal gambling, one major benefit of the activity is precisely the tax revenue and the fact that legal gambling helps reduce the share of the black market. Still, land-based casinos can bring much more benefits than tax revenue, considering that such locations can provide economic stimulus for counties or cities.

Now, as reported by The Republican, a new grant will help boost the tourism profile and stimulate the economic profile of Holyoke, Massachusetts. In 2019, the city secured a $200,000 grant that contributed toward its tourism plan, providing much-needed support. The current growth plan for tourism in Holyoke seeks to boost visitation to the city for certain events.

Per the plan, a shuttle will help transport MGM Springfield casino visitors to the city, allowing them to enjoy different annual events. This, in turn, is expected to have a positive effect on the overall visitation of Holyoke and see local businesses grow further.

To engage with its plan, the city secured a $200,000 grant from the Massachusetts Gaming Mitigation Fund. Securing the grant was contingent on acceptance from the City Council. Greenlight about the state grant came Tuesday, allowing the city to progress with its ambitious tourism and economic stimulus plan.

The Grant Is Expected to Have Long-Term Impact

Aaron Vega, the director of Holyoke’s Office of Planning and Economic Development, acknowledged the importance of the new $200,000 grant for the city. He explained: “We’re going to capitalize on the fact that more people are coming to Western Massachusetts due to the casino.” Moreover, he pointed to the city’s potential in offering a wide variety of food options saying: “One of our big focuses is cultural diversity, especially when it comes to our restaurants.”

According to Vega, the funding won’t benefit only short-term initiatives but play a key role in long-term processes. Ultimately, the city’s plan will seek to make it more appealing, attracting tourism and investment as well. He spoke about the different areas that will benefit from the funding saying that the city’s website, Explore Holyoke, will benefit.

Additionally, Vega noted that the grant will fuel different historic tourism initiatives, that are expected to attract new visitors and guests. Different art projects would also receive a boost from the latest grant from the Massachusetts Gaming Mitigation Fund.

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