In a victory for Las Vegas hospitality workers, the Culinary Workers Union announced a groundbreaking tentative deal with Caesars Entertainment, potentially averting a city-wide strike. 

Historic Caesars Deal Ushers in New Era of Workers’ Rights in Las Vegas

The deal, described as “historic” by union leaders, includes substantial wage increases in the first year, along with enhanced healthcare and pension benefits. One of the most noteworthy aspects of the agreement is the reduction in workload for housekeepers, marking the first such change in three decades. Additionally, the union successfully negotiated language enabling them to support non-union workers on the Las Vegas Strip, a move seen as a crucial win for workers’ rights.

The news of the Caesars deal has sent ripples of hope through the city, with many workers celebrating the breakthrough. However, the threat of a strike still looms large as negotiations with MGM Resorts International and Wynn Resorts remain unresolved. If agreements are not reached by the looming deadline on November 10, nine casino resorts employing 25,000 workers could be affected, posing a significant challenge to the city’s bustling tourism industry.

MGM has expressed optimism about reaching an agreement and has promised the largest pay increase in its history of contracts with the unions. However, the financial implications of these agreements are substantial, with every 1% increase in wages translating to millions in additional labor costs for the casino operators.

Las Vegas Workers Set Example Amidst National Labor Movement

The Culinary and Bartender unions have been engaged in talks with the casinos for seven months, with 95% of their members voting to authorize a city-wide strike in September. The negotiations have been emblematic of the larger trend in the United States, where unions are pressing employers for better pay and benefits amid a shortage of workers.

As Las Vegas prepares for high-profile events like the Formula 1 Las Vegas Grand Prix, the outcome of these negotiations will not only impact the livelihoods of thousands of workers but also the city’s bustling tourism sector. The resilience and determination of the workers have become a testament to the collective strength of the labor movement. 

Tiffany Thomas, a guest room attendant at Mandalay Bay Resort & Casino and a member of the Culinary Union for 17 years, expressed her determination, saying: “I am willing to go on strike because I have a 10-year-old daughter who comes to negotiations with me and she is going to inherit all of this. I refuse to sit back and watch what we’ve built crumble. I want my daughter to look at me and know I fought for a better future.”

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In February, Jose Rivera from Altadena, California sued Edwin Castro, the winner of the massive $2.08 billion Powerball prize, claiming that he was not the rightful owner of the winning ticket. 

One week after Castro went into the spotlight with bells and whistles and claimed the mouth-watering prize on February 15, Rivera made the surprising announcement, claiming that it was actually he, and not Castro, who purchased the very lucky ticket from Joe’s Service Center on November 7, 2022.

Now, according to information from the City of Pasadena’s public information officer, Lisa Derderian, reported by The US Sun, investigators seem to suspect that Rivera had lied regarding the stolen ticket. 

Rivera Claims His Ex-Landlord Stole the Ticket From Him

In February, Rivera claimed that the ticket that he allegedly bought from the service center owned by Joe Chahayed was stolen from him by his ex-landlord, Urachi F. “Reggie” Romero, one day prior to the bin draw.

During an interview with The New York Post in May, Romero said he believed Rivera was the actual owner of the winning ticket. He remembered Rivera’s explanations regarding each of the numbers that he picked on the ticket: 10, 33, 41, 47, 56, and red Powerball 10.

Romero recalled asking Rivera about the reason why he selected two 10s, and receiving the explanation that the 10th represented the date when both of his parents had passed away. 

Rivera also told Romero that he had chosen the number 47 because it represented his age. The number 56 was chosen as a means of celebrating his father’s love for 1956 Chevy trucks. 

Romero concluded that Rivera seemed to have a reason behind every marked number on the ticket. The said conversation took place prior to the draw, according to Rivera’s former landlord. 

Nonetheless, Romero denied having taken the winning ticket from Rivera. He also denied having any sort of connection to Castro, adding that he was not aware of how the ticket had reached Castro.

The Formal Police Investigation, Relaunched in June

At the time of the draw, California Lottery expressed their confidence in Castro being the rightful winner of the huge prize while explaining they were not “authorized” to investigate any type of criminal activity among their players.

After it originally shut down the initial investigation into the complicated matter, the Pasadena Police Department announced it would relaunch a formal investigation in June. 

They also mentioned a close collaboration with investigators representing the California Lottery.

According to reports from Derderian, the Pasadena police department has now sent the documentation to the City Prosecutor “for potential misdemeanor charges” regarding a potentially false police report filed by Rivera. 

In the meanwhile, Castro, who has constantly denied all of Rivera’s allegations through the voice of his lawyers, has been busy spending his money on luxury property in Los Angeles, including a $47 million seven-bedroom mansion with an infinity pool in Bel Air, overlooking downtown L.A.

Castro’s lawyer, David De Paoli, explained that “at some point”, it will become clear to everyone his client is the rightful owner of the winning Powerball ticket. 

Earlier this month, another very lucky Powerball player from California hit the massive $1.76 billion jackpot. The news triggered some online users to raise questions regarding the credibility of Powerball wins, since, according to Powerball data, four of the top five biggest jackpots were won in The Golden State. 

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Bulgaria’s National Revenue Agency (NRA), the country’s government department responsible for the regulation of gambling, announced that self-excluded people are not be allowed to work for casino companies.

According to the NRA, people who are included in the country’s newly-introduced self-exclusion register are prohibited from working with gambling operators. Employers must also adhere to a special norm outlined in Bulgaria’s gambling laws, the NRA noted.

As announced by the agency, gambling companies that violate this rule and employ self-excluded people risk a fine of between 5,000 and 20,000 Bulgarian leva (around $2,800-$11,250).

For reference, the NRA also prohibits people in the national self-exclusion register from entering gambling establishments. Armed people, uniformed people and minors also may not enter a casino, as well as people without ID or those under the influence of alcohol or drugs.

Operators are required to make sure that the players they allow on the premises of gambling properties are not self-excluded. Bulgaria’s national register, however, is not public and is available only to certain NRA members and operators that request access for safer gambling purposes.

Thousands of Bulgarian Players Are Excluded from Gambling

Bulgaria re-launched its national self-exclusion program in December, 2022, allowing Bulgarian citizens to exclude themselves from gambling for two or more years. The NRA invites people who believe themselves to be high-risk customers or problem players to sign up in the register and shield themselves from gambling.

To do so, players must visit a NRA office and fill in a document or sent the document digitally to the NRA’s official email address. Players can learn more about the register on the NRA’s official website.

In the meantime, the list of self-excluded persons continues to grow, according to the agency. Recent data shows that some 11,500 people are excluded from gambling now. This figure is based on data collected in June, 2023, and represents a significant growth from the 7,000 excluded people recorded in April, 2023.

Bulgaria’s Gaming Market Looks Promising

Bulgaria’s budding gaming market makes the country an attractive destination for international operators and suppliers. This is underscored by the high number of companies seeking to expand their footprint in the Balkan country.

Just now, Kaizen teamed up with 7777 gaming, agreeing to power its Betano Bulgaria brand with content. Prior to that, Spinomenal teamed up with Palms Bet and Alphawin, expanding its presence in the country.

Palms Bet, on the other hand, also secured solutions from Altenar.

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Four Californians were arrested during the raid of an illegal casino in Oakland. All of the arrestees were armed with illegal weapons, with one of them likely serving as a lookout. As a result of their possession of illegal firearms, the culprits now face gun-related charges.

The raid was carried out on July 5 after the police suspected an illegal gambling operation in a residence in the city. One of the men, was reportedly loitering in front of the property, likely serving as a lookout for the illegal operation.

During the raid, the police arrested four people, all of them aged 19 to 23. In addition to the arrests, the police seized gambling equipment, slot machines, ledgers and an undisclosed sum in cash. More concerningly, the police seized a number of firearms including three guns – two pistols and one assault rifle – and a bunch of magazines.

Despite discovering only three weapons on site, the police observed all of the arrestees prior to the raid and saw all of them carrying a gun at one moment or another. The police also linked one of the men to the possession of a gun through a DNA test.

All of the weapons were illegally owned and, as a result, the culprits now face charges of illegal gun possession and illegal firearm activity.

Once an Illegal Operation Is Stopped, Another Appears

In an earlier interview with KTVU, Noel Gallo, a member of Oakland’s City Council, said that the July raid was the third time the police has raided the same location within a year. He explained that sometimes gangs would set up operations at properties that have been previously raided, hoping that they will avoid a second raid.

Gallo highlighted the dangers and proliferation of illegal gambling operations. He explained venues would often create a lot of noise in addition to attracting criminal gangs and other illicit activities.

However, according to Gallo, people in the community are oftentimes reluctant to report illegal activities and say who’s behind them.

The councilman said that, frustratingly, once an illegal operation is extinguished, another pops up in its place. Sometimes there would be multiple illegal casinos within a mile of each other.

The fight against unlicensed gambling will continue. Last month, the police warned that landlords can be fined if their properties are found to house illicit activities.

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Intralot, an international gaming solutions and operations leader, has published its FY 2022 results, showing slight group revenue decrease. Despite the setbacks, the positive annual and quarterly EBITDA changes attested to the effect of the company’s strategy.

Intralot reported FY 2022 group revenue of $428.7 million (converted to USD), marking a 5.1% year-on-year decline. EBITDA, meanwhile, was $134.1 or 11.3% up from FY 2021. EBITDA was very strong in Q4, for example, increasing by 25.1% to $38million.

Intralot also reported annual operating cash flow of $105.1 million, which translates to a YOY decrease of 10.5%.

In spite of certain declines, the gaming specialist was able to wrap up 2022 with lower net debt than the one it had in 2021. For reference, the company owed $542.6 at the end of 2021 and $535.3 at the end of 2022.

Amid the ongoing economic hurdles, Intralot recorded a 3.9% increase in its operating expenses. The company attributed these results to the unfavorable foreign exchange movements.

CEO Kokkalis Praised His Company’s Robust Performance

While certain metrics were lower than in 2021, Sokratis P. Kokkalis, Intralot’s chair and CEO, praised the results, saying that they reflect the company’s robust performance and restructuring efforts. He also mentioned the successful completion of a $140.8 million share capital increase that attracted Standard General, a US-based fund, as a strategic investor. The money helped Intralot regain control of its US subsidiary.

In addition to that, Intralot was able to repay the US-issued 2025 PIK Toggle Notes thanks to a new $230 million term loan from a consortium of US banks and its own cash. Intralot also secured a new revolving credit facility of $50 million.

Kokkalis concluded that Intralot will continue pursuing growth in the United States and beyond.

In the light of our significantly improved position, we look forward to tapping new growth opportunities in the US and the rest of the world as one of the top gaming technology providers worldwide and working towards refinancing the 2024 Notes.

Sokratis P. Kokkalis, chair & CEO, Intralot

Intralot Is Wary of the Economic Headwinds

Intralot concluded that the current period is challenging as inflationary pressures and rising interest rates weigh on economic growth. These headwinds have a direct effect on Intralot Group and since analysts believe that banks will not ease their monetary policy before the end of 2023, the company prepares for a turbulent period.

Intralot concluded that its management is closely following the geopolitical and economic developments. The company is fully prepared to react and protect its operations if needed.

A few days ago, Intralot continued its NA expansion by signing a new deal with the British Columbia Lottery Corporation.

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