The Spanish online gambling market is growing, and according to the recently published report, the online gambling revenue in the country grew to €315.3 million (£269.8m/$342.0m) during the fourth quarter of 2023, which represents an increase of 0.6% compared to the fourth quarter of 2022. The total deposits increased as well.

Most popular games

But the growth hasn’t been noticed only on an annual level – compared to the third quarter, gross gaming revenue increased by 3.6%.

The main source of revenue was casinos, and it seems its popularity among the Spanish players is increasing even further over time. Casinos brought in €171.3 million, which is 54.3% of the total revenue earned in the fourth quarter in the whole of Spain. The popularity of slot games increased in this key European market, so the revenue generated from slot games increased by 25.9%, while live roulette games earned 15.3% more than was the case before.

Sports betting was also incredibly popular among Spanish players. According to iGaming Business, the revenue generated from sports betting was €114.7 million, which is 36.4% of the total amount collected. Poker generated €25.4 million, which is 8.1% of total revenue.

On the other hand, it seems that poker tournaments aren’t as popular as they used to be. A decrease of 0.5% was recorded compared to the previous period, while poker cash had a negative variation rate of 7.0%.

Spanish players love bingo as well, so bingo generated €3.8 million, which is 1.2% of the total revenue. On top of that, contests earned about €50,000.

Deposits and marketing activities

Players were willing to spend a lot of money on various online gambling activities, so the total was €1.04 billion when it comes to the money the players deposited in their accounts during the fourth quarter, which marks an increase of 9.4% compared to the same period in 2022.

There were 1,269,585 active accounts every month on average, which is 6.9% more than in 2022. But it seems these revenue figures were pulled by old players, since the number of new accounts created dropped by 2.3%, as the monthly average was 129,207 accounts.

The operators have spent €113.0 million on various marketing activities, which is 5.3% more than in 2022. Promotions took €53.0 million, €45.2 million was spent on advertising, while €14.0 million was spent on affiliates. Sponsorships took €750,000.

In Q4, Spain recorded 78 licensed active operators. A total of 49 were licensed for casino games, 43 for sports betting services, nine of them offered poker, three bingo games, and two contests.

Source: Fletcher, Robert. “Spain: online gambling revenue edges up to €315.3m in Q4”. iGB. February 27, 2024.

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In a move that will affect the wallets of travelers, Wynn Resorts has announced an increase in resort fees for its Las Vegas properties. 

Wynn Resorts Raises Las Vegas Resort Fees from $45 to $50

Effective January 24, 2024, the daily resort fee has been raised to $50 plus tax for reservations made on or after that date, reported The Las Vegas Review-Journal. Prior bookings, however, will retain the previous rate of $45 plus tax per day.

Resort fees, which have become a common practice among Las Vegas establishments, encompass a range of services and amenities intended to enhance guests’ experiences. At Wynn Resorts, these fees entitle guests to various perks including in-room Wi-Fi, access to fitness centers and pools, spa reservations, golf tee times, and access to digital newsstands. Additionally, guests can enjoy the convenience of Alexa in-room entertainment services and room controls.

The decision to raise resort fees comes amidst a backdrop of fluctuating hotel rates in Las Vegas. In fact, on the eve of Super Bowl Sunday, hotel room rates in the city plummeted by an estimated 35%, signaling potential shifts in the hospitality industry.

While the fee increase may pose a concern for budget-conscious travelers, Wynn Resorts aims to maintain the quality and range of amenities offered to its guests. The company’s commitment to providing exceptional service remains steadfast, even as economic factors influence pricing structures.

As visitors plan their stays in Las Vegas, they may need to factor in these adjusted resort fees when budgeting for their trips. 

MGM Resorts Takes the Lead as Las Vegas Resort Fees Rise

In January, MGM Resorts also upped resort fees at its Las Vegas properties, with rates hitting $50 at Bellagio, Aria, Vdara, MGM Grand, and Cosmopolitan. The increases, effective since January 16, 2024, amount to $2-3 per day across the board. 

Resort fees, often seen as hidden charges, serve to maintain lower official room rates for better online rankings and reduced commissions. Amidst post-pandemic adjustments and increased competition, Las Vegas resorts are strategizing to balance supply and demand. 

At the beginning of February, President Joe Biden visited Las Vegas, vowing to eliminate hidden junk fees, including resort fees, that inflate accommodation costs for US citizens. These fees often surprise travelers, affecting vacation budgets. 

Biden expressed his intent to combat such practices on social media, stressing their impact on hardworking families. Although specifics on eradication methods remain undisclosed, Biden’s commitment to lower costs echoes previous promises. He previously targeted deceptive pricing and pledged to crackdown on junk fees. 

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The plan to establish Petersburg, Virginia, as the state’s fifth city to host a casino has inched one step closer to realization. The odds have increased as the Virginia Senate cleared a bill that would possibly greenlight a casino in the city.

Senate Bill 628 seeks to redefine the criteria for a host city and discard the existing population threshold. Additional adjustments to tax-exempted real estate, poverty and unemployment rate criteria could make a Petersburg casino something more than just a dream.

Senate Bill 628 has some influential backers, increasing its chance of success. Proposed by Senate President Pro Tempore Louise Lucas and Senator Lashrecse Aird, the bill continues the legacy of Morrissey and Del. Kim Taylor who previously championed the cause.

Senate Bill 628 Secured Unanimous Support in the Senate

Senate Bill 628 received unanimous support from the Senate Finance and Appropriations Committee earlier this week. Now, the bill has also cleared the Senate, securing the approval of all 40 Senators.

After passing the Senate by a landslide, the measure will now go to the House of Delegates. If passed it would move to Governor Glenn Youngkin’s desk for final approval. While Youngkin has not been very vocal on his thoughts on the matter, many believe that he would sign the bill into law.

If so, this would potentially end a several years-long battle to allow Petersburg to have a casino. The initial proposal was launched in 2021 but failed to gain much support. Since then, several efforts have been made to turn Petersburg into a gambling destination.

In the meantime, the Petersburg City Council allowed City Manager John Altman to inquire about potential interest from casino operators.

In December 2022, the Petersburg City Council voted in favor of a contract with The Cordish Companies to build a $1.4 billion casino resort facility. However, this agreement attracted a lot of animosity, which is why the Petersburg City Council now plans to instead hold a competitive bidding process.

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Macau’s gaming industry reported a significant year-on-year gross gaming revenue increase in November. The special administrative region’s gambling sector was impacted negatively by the COVID-19 pandemic but seems on a steady path to recovery.

According to the report, the local gambling operators recorded GGR of almost $2 billion last month, marking a stellar 435% year-on-year increase. While this figure is still behind October 2023’s result, the November results demonstrate that the region is rebounding.

Experts also pointed out that November’s results being lower than those recorded in October was an expected outcome considering the National Day Golden Week holiday, which provided a significant boost to the industry last month. For reference, in October, Macau’s gambling operators reported GGR north of $2.4 billion.

Year-to-date GGR comes at roughly $20 billion, demonstrating a stellar 325% year-on-year increase. With this pace, the industry might be on track to hitting its $27 billion target in 2024.

Crime in Macau Is on the Rise

Unfortunately, the industry’s recovery was also accompanied by an increase in gambling-related crime. Macau’s Secretary for Security, Wong Sio Chak, just commented on the matter, revealing that local authorities have identified 716 gaming-related crimes this year.

The Secretary pointed out that cases of gambling-related fraud and thievery have skyrocketed. For reference, the police recorded 155 cases of fraud which represents an unfortunate 139% year-on-year increase. At the same time, casino thefts increased by a whopping 486% year-on-year (129 cases).

While this criminal activity corresponds to a year-on-year increase of 176%, it should be noted that the number of gambling-related cases was still 55.2% behind what the authorities recorded during the same period in 2019.

Money exchange fraud, which often happens around the region’s casinos, also represented a significant problem for the local authorities. Unfortunately, Macau would need to introduce new laws in order to combat money exchange gangs and put a stop to their activities.

Wong Sio Chak noted that the Judiciary Police has proposed a criminalization of illegal money exchange activities, hoping to increase the punishment for such criminal activities.

Speaking of gambling-related crime, a recent report claimed that the region’s Prosecutor’s Office reportedly wants charges against Alvin Chau and Suncity for fraud to be reinstated. For reference, Chau was recently sentenced to 18 years in prison but the Court of Second Instance ruled that his team no longer has to pay up.

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Super Group, the parent company of the multi-brand online casino, Spin, and the leading online sports betting and gaming operator, Betway, released Thursday its latest financial report. The company posted an increase in operational EBITDA, as well as revenue for the third quarter of this year or the three months ended September 30, 2023.

Overall, Super Group reported revenue of €356.9 million ($381.4 million) for the latest trading period. This result, compared to the €307.8 million ($329 million) reported for the same period in 2022, showed an increase of 16%. The leading betting and gaming company explained that the strong revenue comes after growth of the company’s operations in Europe, North America, Africa and the Middle East. Super Group said that the revenue was “partially offset by declines from the South/Latin America and Asia-Pacific markets.”

In its latest trading update, the company confirmed that operational EBITDA for Q3 hit €53.8 million ($57.5 million). This result also marked an increase when compared to the €49.6 million ($53 million) figure reported for the corresponding period last year.

According to the latest trading update, Super Group saw an uptick in its monthly active customers. The new report reveals that monthly active customers increased to 4.0 million in the third quarter of 2023. This result, compared to the 2.7 million monthly active customers reported in Q3 2022, marked an increase of 44%.

After the recent trading period, Super Group announced its withdrawal from the gambling sector in India. The announcement came at a time when the country increased its tax applicable for gambling activities. The global sports betting and gaming company identified this increase as an issue, causing its business in the country to be unsustainable which is why it decided to exit the market.

The Company Plans Further Growth and Expansion

Alinda van Wyk, Super Group’s CFO, commented on the recent results. “For the third quarter, we delivered ex-US Revenue of €348.9 million and ex-US Operational EBITDA of €64.1 million, which resulted in a strong margin of 18%,” she explained. The CFO added that the company remains dedicated to investing in its future growth and implementing cost efficiencies. In conclusion, Wyk said that despite some headwinds in Q3, Super Group reaffirmed its guidance for the rest of the year.

“Super Group has delivered yet another quarter of solid results, having achieved our highest ever revenue for a third quarter, as well as new all-time highs for both our customer numbers and deposits.“

Neal Menashe, CEO of Super Group

Neal Menashe, Super Group’s CEO, acknowledged that the company enjoyed another strong quarter with exceptional results. He explained that in Q3 this year, Super Group recorded its highest third quarter revenue along with an increase in monthly active customers. Finally, Menashe predicted further expansion for the company within the global iGaming vertical.

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Ireland’s Minister of Finance, Michael McGrath, presented the country’s budget for the upcoming year, omitting any mention of the planned increase in the betting levy. The proposed change, an initiative first championed by the Labour Party, would see the tax rate rise from 2% to 3%, with the additional funds earmarked to support domestic sports projects.

An Increase Would Have Hurt Retail Bookmakers

Despite earlier discussions and support for the increased betting levy, Minister McGrath did not comment on the matter during the budget presentation, instead indicating that the government would explore the possibility of tax raises in the future. This delay in implementing the levy increase is a relief to retail bookmakers in Ireland, who were concerned about additional taxation. 

The Irish Bookmakers Association (IBA) had previously expressed reservations about further betting tax increases, labeling them as unsustainable and detrimental. IBA chair Sharon Byrne noted that the recent economic downturn placed immense financial pressure on betting shops, with many teetering on the edge. The country’s gambling industry is in a tight place, as the number of shops recently reached an all-time low of roughly 750.

If the tax goes up again, they will be in deeper trouble. Hopefully, we have provided enough data and facts to demonstrate how another increase at a retail level is just not sustainable.

Sharon Byrne, IBA chair

Fortunately for betting shops, the new Irish budget omits mentions of levy increases, meaning they will be safe at least until 2024. The delay should hopefully give the government and stakeholders time to consider the best approach for boosting domestic sports without hurting the struggling retail betting sector. Byrne also urged the Irish regulator to address black market operators and safeguard local shops.

The Government Remains Committed to Supporting Sports

The proposal for the betting levy increase hoped to ring-fence additional revenue to fund domestic sports facilities, focusing on supporting football teams and addressing gender equality issues. The Football Association of Ireland (FAI) has requested €517 million ($549 million) from the Irish Government, placing a significant burden on the system. 

Minister McGrath noted that the government needed more time to determine how taxes could effectively support sports organizations in Ireland. He reaffirmed the government’s continued interest in exploring potential tax measures to benefit such initiatives. McGrath added that the current system provided significant reliefs to sporting organizations and charities, but stressed it could do significantly better.

I intend to examine how the tax system can be utilized to further support these organizations… This will involve examining the tax treatment of long-term strategic development funds.

Michael McGrath, Ireland Minister of Finance

The decision to postpone the betting levy increase in Ireland’s budget indicates a measured and deliberate approach by the government in exploring how tax measures can best support domestic sports projects. While the discussion will continue in the coming year, this budget decision provides temporary relief for the retail bookmaking industry.

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The Government of Romania has announced the introduction of new rules for both online and offline gambling and sports betting, including a steep increase for license fees and slot machine fees.

The government approved these measures through an emergency ordinance, which means it will come into force straight away. However, the new piece of legislation will be discussed by the country’s Parliament at a later date, when it could be approved, modified or rejected altogether. Until then, casino and sportsbook operators will have to adjust their businesses to the new regulations.

The new rules include higher license costs, new rules for advertising, the prohibition of selling alcohol in gaming venues, along with a new requirement which forces all gambling businesses to have a fiscal headquarters in Romania.

The annual fees have gone up to 500,000 euros for online casinos, 200,000 euros for lottery businesses, 50,000 euros for pari-mutuel operations, 200,000 for fixed-odds betting, 4,000 euros per table for land-based casinos and 5,000 per club for brick-and-mortar poker rooms. Bingo games that are organized through television will also have to pay a licensing fee of 500,000 euros per year, while slot machines in land-based venues will carry a fee of 100 euros per machine, going up to 300 euros in 2024 and 500 euros in 2025.

Minimum Capitals Required

Moreover, the government’s emergency ordinance requires operators to hold minimum capitals that can cover the licensing costs. These minimum capitals are set based on the respective company’s total revenue, but will have a base threshold of 1 million euros starting from 2025.

The new rules also establish the destination of the money that will be collected from gambling operators. 70 percent of that revenue will go to the state’s general budget, while the remaining 30 percent will be invested by the state into responsible gambling initiatives.

Operators in Romania will be required to display their license information on all promotional materials and will have to refrain from sending unsolicited emails to their customers. Moreover, billboards containing gambling and sports betting ads will have a maximum size of 35 square meters.

There have been several initiatives to change the gambling laws in Romania in recent years but so far none managed to successfully go through the parliamentary process. When announcing the new emergency ordinance, prime minister Marcel Ciolacu underlined that he won’t be intimidated by the companies in the gambling sector and accused other politicians of having been too receptive to the demands of the industry’s lobbying efforts.

Observers expected the government to sign off on the emergency ordinance yesterday. On Tuesday, prime minister Marcel Ciolacu claimed to not be intimidated by threats from the gaming sector, accusing some politicians in the past of caving into industry lobbying.

Source: “Romania increases online gambling licence fee to €500,000“. iGaming Business. October 6, 2023.

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Illegal gambling operators across the globe disrupt the operations of the legal sector, avoid paying taxes and in some cases are even related to groups tied to criminal activities. As such, governments and gambling regulators constantly monitor the online and retail sectors, fighting against illegal gambling. Japan, a country that seeks to reduce the number of illegal gambling operators and prevent other crimes, recently announced it will increase the rewards for anonymous crime reporting.

Earlier this week, the National Police Agency (NPA) in Japan, confirmed that it will increase the reward that anonymous crime tippers can receive. The current reward for anonymous reporting of crimes is set at 100,000 yen ($680). This sum is expected to change, starting from October 1, 2023, skyrocketing to the staggering 1 million yen ($6,800).

The reward would be applicable to people who report crimes and result in the discontinuation of illegal organizations. Crimes that can be reported via phone or online include illegal gambling, drugs, human trafficking, as well as prostitution, among others. Ultimately, the NPA anticipates detaining culprits involved in the so-called “dark jobs,” that involve different crimes, including robberies, thefts and even child prostitution. In addition to individuals, the law enforcement authorities will fight against mobile crime groups. Such groups are often gathered through social media and are involved in a variety of criminal activities.

Crime Tips Can be Submitted via Phone and Online

The tips can be submitted via an online platform in any language or by phone. People who want to receive more information or would like to submit a crime tip can call a toll-free service number in Japanese. A private organization will be responsible for the collection of the information which will then be reported to the NPA.

The increased reward for reporting crime tips comes after more than 27,000 tips were filed for the fiscal year 2022. The reported crime tips led to arrests in 45 different cases. Overall, some 530,000 yen ($3,600) was paid to informants for 11 different cases. A majority of the reported cases were related to drugs, among other crimes.

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The lottery that operates on behalf of 12 local society lotteries in Great Britain, the Health Lottery, confirmed its plans for a rebranding of its flagship lottery game. On Monday, the lottery revealed that it plans to not only overhaul its brand with a new logo and identity but also implement a new prize structure.

The flagship lottery game has taken a new name, The Big Win, which will be in effect starting with the drawing scheduled for Tuesday night. The rebranded five-times-a-week lottery game has also implemented a new prize structure.

As a part of the change, matching four balls on any draw will now bring a higher prize, the lottery reveals. Previously, matching four balls granted a prize of £250 ($318) and that sum will now increase to £300 ($381).

Most notable is the change regarding the lottery’s Saturday draw. The main prize for its free second chance prize draw was £250,000 ($317,000) previously. However, in light of the changes, that prize will be increased nearly double, to £475,000 ($603,200).

Further changes within the Health Lottery’s rebranding bring a special Mega Monday promotion. That change sees anyone participating in QuickWin on Mondays tap into a £500 ($635) raffle. Moreover, the changes bring in a £500 ($635) raffle for participants in Super Sunday instant win games on Sundays.

Elevating the experience for the players even further, Health Lottery’s players that use direct debit will be entered into a monthly raffle. The automatic participation in the raffle will reward 10 players with £100 ($127) each on a monthly basis.

Rebranding to Help Appeal to More Players

Lebby Eyres, the Health Lottery’s CEO, explained that the increase for the Saturday night free prize draw seeks to boost customer engagement. According to her, the current prize is the highest one a society lottery operator can offer. Eyres added: “Players will be able to win a truly life-changing amount from this weekend’s draw. Though the free second chance prize draw jackpot will almost double, tickets to the main draw will still cost £1.”

“To improve our appeal to players, we’ve increased our Saturday night free prize draw to the highest level possible for a society lottery operator.“

Lebby Eyres, CEO of The Health Lottery

The Lottery’s CEO added that the rebranding seeks to give the draw “its own identity.” She spoke about the expansion of the lottery’s portfolio of games and acknowledged that its main game needed to stand out from its other products. Besides the main game, the Health Lottery offers online instant win games, All or Nothing, as well as QuickWin games.

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The leading American gaming and hospitality company, Boyd Gaming Corporation, released its latest trading update, outlining details regarding its performance for the second quarter of 2023. The unaudited report released Thursday shows that the company’s total revenue for Q2 2023 hit $917 million. A comparison to the corresponding period last year, when revenue halted at $894.5 million, shows that revenue this year increased slightly.

For the second quarter ended June 30, 2023, Boyd Gaming reported net income of $192.5 million, representing $1.89 per share. That result marked strong growth, considering that the net income reported for Q2 2022 was $146.8 million, representing $1.33 per share.

The recent trading update revealed that the total adjusted EBITDAR reported by the company for the second quarter this year was $351.4 million. This figure represented a slight decrease when compared to the $353.9 million result for the same period in 2022. Finally, adjusted earnings for Q2 2023 hit $161.3 million, down slightly when compared to the $163.5 million result from Q2 last year.

The Company Posts Strong Results despite the Challenging Environment

A breakdown provided by Boyd Gaming revealed strong growth in the company’s online gaming revenue. Overall, online gaming revenue hit $85 million in Q2 this year, representing an increase of nearly 50% when compared to the $56,8 million result from the same period in 2022.

In contrast to the positive results from the online sector, Boyd’s new report revealed that the company’s gaming revenue decreased slightly in Q2 this year. In Q2 2022, the gaming revenue hit $685 million, while for the same period this year, it dipped by 3.5% to $660.7 million.

Additional revenue segments in Q2 showed similar values to the figures from last year with food and beverage revenue hitting $70.4 million and room revenue contributing just short of $50 million.

“During the second quarter we once again proved our ability to deliver solid results in a challenging environment, thanks to our effective operating model, strong management teams and successful growth initiatives.“

Keith Smith, CEO and president of Boyd Gaming

Keith Smith, Boyd Gaming’s CEO and president, praised the company’s operating model, growth initiatives and management efforts that helped deliver strong results despite headwinds. “We maintained our focus on building loyalty among our core customers while our operating teams continued to effectively manage expenses throughout the business, achieving strong companywide margins consistent with recent quarters,” he explained.

Focusing on the results, Smith pointed out that growth initiatives within online gaming and the Sky River Casino had a positive impact on the performance of the company throughout the second quarter. Finally, he predicted further growth for Boyd Gaming and an increase in the long-term value for its shareholders.

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