For those who visit the Cosmopolitan Las Vegas often, there is big news coming your way. The resort’s program, Identity Membership and Rewards will be transitioning to MGM Rewards on July 30. For reference, this change comes after MGM Resorts International bought Blackstone’s operating rights for $1.6 billion in September 2019.

Cosmopolitan Identity Program Merging with MGM Rewards After Cyberattack Delays

Back in February, it was initially planned that Identity Membership and Rewards would merge with MGM Rewards by the same month in 2024. This plan faced delays due to an integration issue caused by a cyberattack that affected some domestic operations of MGM last September. Now the transition is happening and details were disclosed that are relevant to account holders.

According to MGM, all Identity Tier Points earned between July 30, 2023, and July 29, 2024, will be doubled and converted into MGM Rewards Tier Credits no later than the end of business on July 29, 2024. Additionally, points earned from table games play during this period will also be added as bonus Tier Credits to members’ MGM Rewards accounts.

These accumulated tier credits will combine with the players’ existing tier status within MGM Rewards through January 31, 2026, so players should not worry about losing any points. MGM Rewards consists of five tier levels: Sapphire, Pearl, Gold, Platinum, and the invitation-only NOIR.

Identity Transforms to MGM Rewards with New Terminology

The conversion from Identity to MGM Rewards modifies some aspects of the casino reward program. One such change is the terminology used. Tier points at Cosmopolitan will now be referred to as “tier credits” in the MGM system. 

Another important thing to note is when a guest will achieve tier status. The Tier Status Earning Year for MGM Rewards begins on January 1 and ends on December 31 each year, during this time members earn credits towards tiers they can hold for that year and the next one which runs from February 1 until January 31. All remaining or unused tier credits reset every New Year’s Day because all guests start over again trying their luck with earning new ones.

Furthermore, Identity Points previously earned through slot machines, video poker, and other gaming devices will be referred to as Slot Dollars in the MGM Rewards program.

Many people worry about changes being made to reward programs. However, altering Identity into MGM rewards was done in order to increase how many points one can earn as well as enhance tier credit opportunities.

Members of this new system will be able to earn not just at the Cosmopolitan but also at over 20 other MGM properties across the US and through the BetMGM app. There are numerous ways in which players can accumulate points including dining out, staying overnight at a hotel, entertainment services like spas or buying things from retail stores.

Notably, to advance through the tiers, members need to collect 25,000 tier credits for Pearl status, 75,000 for Gold, and 200,000 for Platinum. This integration offers a broader spectrum of benefits and earning possibilities for the loyal guests of the Cosmopolitan, making it a win-win for frequent visitors and the MGM Rewards program alike.

The post Cosmopolitan’s Identity Membership to Merge with MGM Rewards on July 30 appeared first on Keno Wizard.

Pragmatic Play, a leading game developer that supplies cutting-edge titles to the casino industry, has once again demonstrated why it is a market leader by grabbing all three GamblingNews slot awards in July.

The two games that received accolades are the player favorite titles Power of Merlin Megaways and Gates of Olympus. Sporting many distinguishing features, the former title was named Slot of the Month, as well as Most Watched Slot Game. The other game, meanwhile, secured GamblingNews’ Most Streamed Slot Game award.

Let’s see what makes these two titles so special.

Cast Mighty Spells in Power of Merlin Megaways

A great addition to Pragmatic Play’s Megaways lineup, Power of Merlin Megaways is a game that puts players in the shoes of the legendary mage from the King Arthur legend. The slot sports many of the player engagement mechanics Pragmatic Play is popular for and is certain to engage people who are passionate about dynamic and innovative features.

In addition to the Megaways mechanic, Power of Merlin Megaways leverages the highly popular Tumble feature that sees winning symbols disappear, allowing players to win multiple prizes with a single spin. Engagement is further bolstered by Wild symbols and the Lighting Bolt feature, as well as by a Free Spins round.

Rub Shoulders with Zeus in Gates of Olympus

Gates of Olympus is a game that will send players directly to the highest peaks of the mountain where the Greek gods reside. Slots enthusiasts will collect gemstones and magical artifacts to score huge wins and return to the realm of mortals richer.

The 6×5 game has 20 paylines and, just like Power of Merlin Megaways, leverages the Tumble feature to increase player excitement. Clusters of 8 or more symbols score a win and then disappear, allowing other symbols to replace them. This not only allows players to win multiple prizes but also makes triggering Free Spins easier.

Speaking of Free Spins, players can also increase their wager to double the chance of triggering the Free Spins round.

About the GamblingNews Awards

Powered by machine learning and AI specialist Casinolytics, the GamblingNews Awards are awarded to outstanding companies and products that are able to differentiate themselves from their competition.

Casinolytics, which specializes in measuring the performance of gambling companies, games, content creators, etc., provides valuable data about the games’ performance, allowing GamblingNews to accurately determine which games are the hottest.

The post Pragmatic Clean Sweeps All 3 Slot Awards in July appeared first on Keno Wizard.

The Louisiana Gaming Control Board, the regulator in charge of overseeing sports betting and gambling in the state, has announced the sector’s financial results for the month of July 2023 and the numbers show a healthy increase in sports wagers.

Going Mobile

Sports wagers in Louisiana amounted to 134.8 million dollars in July, a figure which represents an increase of 14 percent compared to the same month of the previous year.

The best-performing sector was mobile sports betting, which attracted 122.5 million dollars in wagers during the month of July. That total represents an increase of 18.6 percent year-on-year. Baseball was the most popular sport for mobile bettors in Louisiana in July, it managed to attract wagers amounting to a total of 2.7 million dollars.

Retail sportsbooks in the state did not perform so well, in fact, they recorded a significant decline in July. The total wagers at retail locations was 19.4 percent lower compared to the financial results of July 2022, amounting to just 12.2 million dollars. In the case of retail sportsbooks most punters chose to play parlay bets, which attracted over 1.2 million dollars in wagers.

Casinos Register Downward Trend

Casino revenue in the state of Louisiana was not that great in the month of July, it registered a decrease both when compared to July 2022 and with June 2023. Harrah’s New Orleans Casino, the land-based venue which is owned and operated by Caesars Entertainment, reported gross gaming revenue of 17.5 million dollars in July 2023, 11.9 percent lower than the previous month and 22.8 less than what it recorded in July 2022.

Riverboat casinos in the state managed to bring in a total of 146.6 million dollars in adjusted gross revenue during the month of July. That was a good result considering that two riverboat casinos, one in Lake Charles and another in Bossier City, are currently closed.

Slot games located at the state’s racetracks reported slight increases in activity during July compared last month and last year. The Evangeline Downs racetrack registered the largest increase, with adjusted gross revenue going up by 7.3 percent to almost 6.5 million dollars.

Delta Downs was the best-performing racetrack in July when it comes to adjusted gross revenue, with a total amount of over 14.2 million dollars. Overall, total revenue from slot machines in Louisiana amounted to 27.6 million dollars, while the four racetracks in the state paid a total of 4.2 million in state tax.

Source: “Louisiana mobile sports betting wagers rise 18.6% year-over-year for July“. Gaming America. August 22, 2023.

The post July Brings Sports Wagers of 135 Million Dollars in Louisiana appeared first on Keno Wizard.

Michigan, the tenth largest state in the United States by population, has recorded a significant increase when it comes to online sports betting and casino gambling revenue in the month of July 2023. The increase is evident both when comparing the revenue to that of the same month of 2022 but als when putting it side by side with the previous month, June 2023.

Gross Receipts on The Rise

Sportsbook and casino operators in Michigan have recorded gross receipts of 176.1 million dollars in July, a figure which represents an increase of 18.8 percent compared to the same month last year. Moreover, the state also recorded a month-on-month increase of 4 percent as total revenue in June 2023 amounted to 169.3 million dollars. These positive results managed to stop three consecutive months of decline for online gambling in Michigan.

Online casinos had gross receipts of 153.6 million dollars in July, 21.3 higher than what was recorded in the same month in 2022 and also 1.7 percent higher than the gross receipts amassed in June 2023.

Online sports betting also recorded an increase in July, the total gross receipts amounted to 22.5 million dollars, 4.2 percent higher than last year and 23 percent higher than in June 2023. However, the handle recorded a drop of 10.8 percent from 225 million dollars in July 2022 to just 200.8 million dollars in July 2023. Spend also recorded a slight decrease month-on-month, 11.9 percent less in July 2023 than in June 2023.

Increase in Adjusted Gross Receipts

When it comes to adjusted gross receipts, a parameter which accounts for promotional spending by the operators, the state of Michigan also recorded a significant increase. The total adjusted gross receipts for iGaming and sports betting amounted to 154.6 million dollars in July, a whole 17.8 percent higher than last year and 5.8 percent more than the amount recorded in June 2023.

Online casinos were more successful than sports betting operations, with adjusted gross receipts amounting to 138.2 million dollars, up 18 percent compared to the same month last year. Sports betting operations on the other hand generated adjusted gross receipts of just 16.4 million dollars. Nevertheless, that figure was 77.5 percent higher than what was recorded in July 2022.

Licensed operators in the state paid 29.8 million dollars in taxes in July, 28.7 million dollars in casino tax and 1.1 million dollars in sports betting tax. The three commercial casinos located in Detroit also paid 7.6 million dollars in online taxes directly to the City of Detroit. Tribal operators also contributed 3.5 million dollars to the state during July 2023.

Source: “Michigan online gambling revenue tops $176m in July“. iGaming Business. August 23, 2023.

The post Online Gambling Revenue in Michigan Has Soared in July 2023 appeared first on Keno Wizard.

In a surprising twist, three lucky players hit life-altering jackpots in Las Vegas in July. 

Las Vegas Airport Slot Machines Crown Two Million-Dollar Winners in Quick Succession

One particularly lucky player hit the jackpot on a Wheel of Fortune slot machine, winning an astounding $1,286,324 on July 24. The winning combo was landed while playing the “Wheel of Fortune Red Hot 7’s” game at Terminal 3 at the Harry Reid International Airport in Las Vegas. The winner’s identity remains a mystery, but the airport authorities have officially confirmed the remarkable news.

Notably, this wasn’t the only million-dollar victory in the same location. Just a few weeks prior, a different gambler emerged victorious, seizing a jaw-dropping $1.3 million jackpot while playing the Wheel of Fortune Triple Double Emeralds machine at Terminal 1 at the Harry Reid International Airport.

The coincidental succession of million-dollar wins has sparked excitement and speculation among both tourists and locals. The Harry Reid International Airport, with its collection of over 1,400 slot machines dispersed throughout the terminals, has proven itself as a hotspot for hopeful gamblers aiming to strike it big.

The operator behind the airport’s slot machines, Airport Slot Concession, Inc., has enjoyed immense success. Last year, their revenue surpassed the billion-dollar milestone, while the airport itself reaped over $34 million in revenue from these machines. 

Huge Megabucks Jackpot Lands in North Las Vegas Casino

The Wheel of Fortune was not the only lucky slot game in Las Vegas in July. The Las Vegas Review-Journal reported that a local resident, known simply as Jesus, struck gold recently as he secured an astonishing Megabucks jackpot win of $10,488,726 at the Cannery Casino in North Las Vegas. The life-changing moment unfolded on July 7. The impressive win was confirmed by a spokesperson from Boyd Gaming.

Jesus, who usually frequents The Orleans and Gold Coast casinos, experienced his first visit to the North Las Vegas establishment. His elation was palpable as he shared his plans to utilize the windfall to purchase a new home for his mother. April was also a lucky month for IGT slot machine players. IGT set new jackpot records as their progressive games like Wheel of Fortune, Powerbucks, and Megabucks distributed a total of $17 million in jackpots, making it one of the company’s biggest months on record. Noteworthy wins included a $14 million Megabucks jackpot at Atlantis Casino Resort Spa in Reno, Nevada, and the biggest land-based jackpot in Canada.

The post Las Vegas Slot Machines Make Millionaires in July with Three Jackpot Wins appeared first on Keno Wizard.

The project features a 7,500-square-metre casino that includes slot machines, table games, and a dedicated poker room for players who wish to enjoy their favorite game a little more competitively. The sluicegates will open on July 10, 2023, when Melco Resorts & Entertainment starts promoting the venue more aggressively and focuses on getting more footfall. The company has been long-preparing for this opening, including the training of staff for its casino.

A Project That Promises Quality Gaming and Accommodation

The July 10^th opening will follow a one-month period of acclimatization beginning on June 12, 2023, when City of Dreams Mediterranean is going to start accepting visitors as part of its soft-opening period. Accommodation is not lacking with the resort featuring 500 guest rooms and suites, as well as one of the largest Presidential Suite options in Cyprus.

The rooms have private balconies with views of the Akrotiri Salt Lake, the Troodos Mountain Range or Lady’s Mile Beach. The casino offering is aligned with Melco Resorts’ global footprint and ability to bring exclusive offers to its customers worldwide.

In terms of other recreational activities, City of Dreams Mediterranean will tempt guests with both the quality of its gaming facilities as well as with the deliciousness of its dining options.

The venue will feature meals from Amber Dragon’s Pan-Asian Fusion, Aura’s Middle Eastern Delights, Ana’s European Contemporary, and Oléa’s Real Mediterranean Flavors. There are other dining options, with more to arrive in the future as well.

The Grand Ballroom can host up to 1,000 people, and the facility features an Amphitheater, meeting spaces, and other recreational activities.

City of Dreams Mediterranean Offering Tons of Amenities

Commenting on the upcoming project, City of Dreams Mediterranean general manager Grant Johnson said that the company was thrilled to welcome the new project and its guests:

A landmark project and our first venture in Europe, it will bring Melco’s standards of entertainment and leisure and welcome innovation to Cyprus’ luxury hotel scene.  

City of Dreams Mediterranean general manager Grant Johnson

There is more as well, with the Renu Spa & Fitness offering rejuvenating treatments and more. There is a designer shopping promenade to keep guests never wanting for goods, and famous DJs will fly in to ensure that party-goers are having a might good time. The project has been designed with sustainability in mind, which is one of the City of Dreams Mediterranean is also hailed as an exemplary project in terms of environmental impact.

The upcoming casino resort features Europe’s grandest casino, extensive entertainment options, and the biggest expo center in Cyprus, the company concluded. The launch of the project is a welcome development after the company confirmed late last year that it needed to fill 1,000 jobs. It seems that it has all gone as planned.

The post Melco Resorts Sets to Launch City of Dreams Mediterranean in July appeared first on Keno Wizard.

The Netherlands will proceed with its plans to restrict gambling advertising. The harsh measure was announced by Frank Weerwind last summer, with the minister planning to ban the first set of ads on January 1, 2023. However, the ban was eventually delayed because of public consultations regarding the law.

Now, Weerwind has announced that the ban on untargeted gambling ads should happen by July 1. As a result, the other planned bans will also be delayed. Thus, TV program sponsorships should be banned from July 1, 2024, with sports sponsorships to follow on July 1, 2025.

Weerwind added that if the ban on untargeted ads is further delayed, the other two bans will also be postponed accordingly. This will provide operators, TV companies and sports teams with enough time to prepare.

Weerwind made his statement as a response to questions from other parliamentary members. However, the minister added that he is against the idea of suspending an operator’s license after two violations have been identified.

Weerwind Opposes the Two-Strikes-You’re-Out Model

The Netherlands, known for its strict gambling regulations, is bullish on protecting the youth from being bombarded with gambling content. A survey from a year ago proved that young adults are exposed to tons of ads, while minors still encounter promotions on TV and radio.

In the wake of such concerns, Dutch lawmakers proposed restricting gambling ads and temporarily suspending the license of big-time offenders. Under the proposed two-strikes-you’re-out model, the Netherlands will be able to temporarily suspend operators if they commit two or more offenses and promote to young people.

However, Weerwind said that the rules should be enforced proportionally. In addition, the minister noted that the local regulator should be able to correct its licensees’ mistakes once they have been identified.

Weerwind noted that conversation often leads to compliance. He said that the regulator is also able to impose periodic penalty payments when necessary and, if a violator still fails to comply, further fines can be imposed.

Weerwind added that the Kansspelautoriteit can also prevent payment providers from accepting payments from incompliant companies – a measure that he believes is much better than a two-strikes-you’re-out model.

Overregulation Allegedly Does More Harm than Good

While the Netherlands continues to be keen on regulating the online gaming market, some have suggested that overregulation might have adverse effects.

In a recent letter to the Dutch House of Representatives, affiliate companies claimed that certain bans encourage customers to play with illegal operators. Since offshore companies rarely offer the same safeguards that their licensed counterparts do, channeling players toward the black market can be very dangerous, the letter said.

The affiliates asked the government to rethink its stance on certain sports betting markets that are currently prohibited in the country.

The post The Netherlands to Ban Untargeted Gambling Ads Starting July 1 appeared first on Keno Wizard.