Resorts World Las Vegas, along with its former president and chief operating officer, Scott Sibella, are fighting back against a federal lawsuit filed by Robert “RJ” Cipriani. The legal team for Sibella and Resorts World has submitted a motion to a US District Court judge, urging the dismissal of the six-count lawsuit.

Resorts World Faces Lawsuit Over Alleged Oversight of Illegal Gambling

Cipriani alleges that Sibella and Resorts World turned a blind eye to felons illegally gambling at the renowned Strip casino. In response, Sibella’s attorney, J. Colby Williams, argues that Cipriani has an exaggerated sense of importance on the global stage, reported The Las Vegas Review-Journal. Cipriani, who goes by the aliases ‘Robin Hood 702’ or ‘Robinhoodvegas,’ claims to be an avid gambler, activist, and philanthropist, self-anointed to cleanse the gaming floors of high-stakes gamblers he deems a threat.

Sibella departed Resorts World in September, cited for violating company policies and the terms of his employment agreement, according to the company. The motion to dismiss asserts that Cipriani’s claims lack substance and are driven by personal vendettas rather than factual evidence.

Resorts World Las Vegas is one of the most popular properties on the iconic Las Vegas Strip. Just last week the resort witnessed a surprising appearance of British royals Prince Harry and Meghan Markle during Katy Perry‘s concluding performance of the Play concert residency at the Resorts World Theatre. 

Cipriani Accuses Resorts World of Negligence and Conspiracy

Cipriani, seeking unspecified compensatory and punitive damages, accuses Resorts World and Sibella of negligence, civil conspiracy, and intentional infliction of emotional distress. He claims to have been a patron of the 3,500-room Strip resort since its grand opening in June 2021.

Tamara Peterson, attorney for Resorts World, contends that Cipriani exhibits a pattern of inappropriate and unlawful behavior in casinos across the United States, often resulting in his barring from numerous properties. Peterson dismisses Cipriani’s allegations as frivolous and predatory litigation.

In response, Cipriani’s California-based attorney, Marshall Cole, deems the motions to dismiss mere distractions. Cole argues that Resorts World and Sibella are attempting to divert attention from the core issues of the case by launching character attacks on Cipriani. He emphasizes that such attacks have no bearing on the merits of Cipriani’s claims and only underscore the defendants’ refusal to take responsibility for their actions.

Cole anticipates responding to the dismissal motions, and the court is expected to rule on these motions within a month. Notably, in February, the Nevada Gaming Control Board concluded a year-long investigation into allegations against Sibella, determining them to be unfounded. 

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The initiative seeking to promote responsible gambling among gamblers in Ohio, Ohio for Responsible Gambling, confirmed that an increase is observed in the number of people calling for help regarding problem gambling. On Tuesday, the organization revealed that the number of calls from people in need of help with problem gambling has increased by 70% year-to-date when compared to the corresponding period last year. The increase once again alerted clinical professionals about the dangers of gambling-related harm.

The latest announcement comes at a time when sports betting is blooming, not only in Ohio but in neighboring states as well. The worrying statistics emerged ahead of National Suicide Prevention Month, featuring initiatives this September. In light of this, Ohio for Responsible Gambling once again reminded players, their families, as well as health experts to be on the lookout for early signs of problem gambling.

Spotting the Early Signs of Problem Gambling Is Crucial

Derek Longmeier, the Problem Gambling Network of Ohio’s executive director, acknowledged that amid the growth of the popularity of sports betting, people need to understand the importance of setting limits. He outlined that detecting excessive gambling early is crucial, explaining that behavioral changes such as betting more than you can afford or seeking for the excitement of wagering big sums can be counted as red flags.

“With sports betting now legal, we need everyone to understand the risks and learn about setting limits.“

Derek Longmeier, executive director, Problem Gambling Network of Ohio

Additionally, Longmeier said that people affected by at-risk, or problem gambling may hide or lie about how much money or time they spend gambling, engage in loans or cut costs for vital expenses like food or rent and use them for gambling. Another red flag could also be a sudden drop in work performance, warns the executive director of the Problem Gambling Network of Ohio.

“Research tells us that of those experiencing a gambling disorder, up to 38% will consider suicide.“

Tony Coder, executive director of the Ohio Suicide Prevention Foundation

Tony Coder, the Ohio Suicide Prevention Foundation’s executive director, spoke about the clear connection between gambling activities and mental health. Citing research, he said that people affected by problem gambling are more vulnerable to suicide, with up to 38% considering such actions. Coder noted that this percentage is the highest out of any form of addiction. Finally, he encouraged anyone experiencing problem gambling to ask for treatment and support.

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However, the law may not allow for such massive license extensions. Online casinos in New Jersey, which are the most lucrative interactive gambling operations in the United States, would like to see their licenses extended for another ten years, but the best the state can do as of right now is offer them two years.

Taking License Extensions Two Years at a Time

This makes license holders uneasy as the travails of constantly looking out for their license are not something a business needs operating in the region’s most competitive market. The lack of extension is not for want of trying. An Assembly committee did vote on the measure on Tuesday, but it introduced changes that changed the licensure period to just two years instead – not least to keep stakeholders on their toes and make them more focused on running their businesses by the book.

However, it’s not all bad news. According to Mark Giannantonio, president of Resorts Casino Hotel and of the Casino Association of New Jersey, who was cited by the Associated Press, the reaffirmation of the online gambling bill is an important step forward for the state. Of course, nobody really expected online casinos to just disappear, as they are a vital source of tax revenue, job opportunities, and not least – a buoy that saved the casinos from floundering during the COVID-19 pandemic.

All in all, the casinos did not object to the reduction in the applicable period of their online licenses as the state is unlikely to undertake any abrupt changes that could lead to disruption of the industry.

Online Gaming Revenue Does Not Tell the Full Story

In the meantime, industry insiders used the occasion of the license extension to comment not so much on licensure as much on the fact that oftentimes the revenue that comes from iGaming is not necessarily proportionate to how much money the operators make.

Atlantic City’s casinos collaborate with any third parties and pay developers and platform suppliers to run games and operations. In fact, 70% of all revenue goes to partners in the online gambling sector in New Jersey. In the meantime, Rhode Island became the latest state to legalize online casino gambling, joining Garden State, Michigan, Delaware, Pennsylvania, Nevada, and West Virginia.

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The Armenian studio and developer of iGaming content have teamed up with QTech Games to bolster its distribution capacities in Asian markets. QTech is a platform with a very strong presence in those specific regions, having been delivering advanced platform solutions for gaming brands in the geolocations for years.

Galaxsys Poised to Conquer New Regions 

Now, Galaxsys will have the opportunity to leverage its portfolio of Skill Games and Fast Games and make sure that it is also better represented, connecting with new audiences, striking new operator partnerships, and generally continuing to grow and expand. 

Galaxsys and QTech are poised to benefit nicely from the partnership as both companies are keen on localizing their products and bringing local players the best possible experience through tailored and native content. 

Commenting on this opportunity, Galaxsys SVP of sales and business Gil Soffer said that he was excited to see QTech Games become a leading distributor partner for the company in Asia:

Our shared commitment to innovation, player engagement, and providing the best possible gaming experience will make this a mutually beneficial partnership. 

Galaxsys SVP of sales and business Gil Soffer

QTech Games CCO Daniel Long was similarly pleased to be adding to his company’s momentum in the highly-dynamic and important Asian market. He noted that introducing content from Galaxsys put QTech in a very strong position to continue providing some of the highest quality games across the board, and spoke highly of particular games.

“So, we’re thrilled to see how Galaxsys has delivered on this challenge, above all with its engaging crash games like the stunning Rocketon,” Long concluded. Presently, Galaxsys is still a fairly small provider of games, with the company running some 18 titles in total, which is not much.

Unmatched Quality of Games by Galaxsys

However, Galaxsys is laser-focused on innovation, which has seen it produce outstanding games such as Crash and Hexagon across the board. Long touted the particular effort that has gone into creating these games. He said that there was a “video game” quality to each and every one of them, making them truly stand out.

Everything – from the return to players to the volatility of the game was tailored and adjusted to bring the highest dividends to partner operators and players. Long was also excited about how Galaxsys’ games would perform in the market and what will follow next.

He similarly said that he was excited to help Galaxsys enter new territories and sign partnerships with new operators. Previously, Galaxsys announced a distribution partnership with Pariplay, with the company determined to continue scaling its offer. 

The post QTech Adds Galaxsys as Both Companies Seek Asian Expansion appeared first on Keno Wizard.

The Las Vegas Review-Journal reported that several hotel-casino operators on the Las Vegas Strip have filed a motion to dismiss a lawsuit that accuses them of price-fixing hotel room rates through a revenue management platform, Rainmaker. 

Tourists Sue Las Vegas Hotels for Alleged Antitrust Violations

In January, two tourists filed a lawsuit that accused hotel operators of violating the Sherman Antitrust Act and demanded that the defendants repay guests who overpaid. The lawsuit also alleged that Rainmaker unlawfully maximizes profits for its hotel operator users by designing rate recommendations through real-time pricing and supplying information from competitors on the platform. 

The hotels have dismissed these allegations, stating that there is no direct or circumstantial evidence that backs their allegations of conspiracy. The initial complaint did not identify who entered the conspiracy nor when it began. The hotels claimed that the complaint fails to articulate what the defendants agreed to and how the alleged conspiracy operates and instead speaks generally to algorithmic pricing. 

The plaintiffs’ law firm, Hagens Berman, released a statement that the motion to dismiss was expected, and they looked forward to continuing the case on behalf of the sizable class of those harmed by illegal pricing measures. Rainmaker, which is used by 90% of the hotels on the Strip, is accused in the lawsuit of violating the Sherman Antitrust Act.

The plaintiffs claim that Rainmaker’s proprietary software, Guestrev, analyzes real-time pricing and room supply information, then artificially suppresses supply, maximizing resort profits. According to the lawsuit, this artificially inflates hotel room prices, displacing normal competitive pricing and leading to increased room prices.

UNLV Professor Refutes Allegations of Las Vegas Price Fixing

In January, FOX5 reported that the plaintiffs claimed that if someone has rented a hotel room on the Strip on or after January 25, 2019, they may have overpaid due to this alleged illegal price-fixing scheme.

However, according to Amanda Belarmino, an assistant professor at the William F. Harrah College of Hospitality at UNLV, the current record high room revenue in Las Vegas is not because of price fixing. Belarmino stated that the biggest factor contributing to the high demand was the lifting of pandemic restrictions.

In the lawsuit, the plaintiffs accused MGM Resorts, Caesars Entertainment, Treasure Island, and Wynn Resorts of using the Rainmaker software to unlawfully increase hotel room prices by collecting real-time pricing and supply information from competitors. However, Belarmino disagrees and argues that the sharing of pricing and capacity information through Rainmaker is not collusion, but rather competitive research. She believes that unless proprietary information was shared, the plaintiffs will have a hard time winning their case.

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The French National Assembly’s Economics Committee agreed to a new amendment curtailing influencers from advertising dangerous products. The proposed legislation received strong support and has a good chance of making it through the Assembly and Senate. If the amendment is passed into law, it will severely impact influencers promoting crypto assets.

Crypto Assets Will Be Equated to Gambling

Unregulated promotions of potentially harmful products like crypto assets have become a matter of contention among many European nations. France now plans to join countries like the UK and Belgium as it tightens down on crypto promotions. The movement received support from both sides of the political spectrum as a new amendment received the approval of a legislative committee this Wednesday.

Amendment n°CE48 aims to combat scams and restrict the advertising of pharmaceutical products, gambling, and crypto asset promotions on social media. The text treats digital assets identically to other speculative financial products. Lawmakers seek to limit the proliferation of advertisements posing risks to consumers, such as investments in various digital assets.

The text explicitly bans individuals from using social media to promote crypto assets not licensed by financial regulators. Currently, these are exactly zero. While changing regulations may open ways to circumvent the restrictions, the amendment would effectively ban French influencers from endorsing digital assets. With penalties of up to two years in prison and a €30,000 ($32,000) fine, few would risk the regulator’s ire.

Upcoming Regulatory Changes May Ease Restrictions

French lawmakers appear intent on dealing with the proliferation of scams on social networks and protecting consumers from risks. The proposed legislation coincides with a new wave of crypto promotion controversy as the US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) charged eight celebrities with illegal advertisements on social media.

Despite turbulent French politics, the amendment enjoys support from the ruling party and the opposition. Socialist Arthur Delaporte noted that the crypto industry had remained under the radar for most politicians and urged reforms. Strong support from lawmakers means that the proposed legislation has every chance to soon pass into law.

Not all is doom and gloom for crypto influencers, though. France plans to overhaul its crypto firm registration requirements, adhering to the EU’s upcoming Markets in Crypto-Assets regulations. Under the new guidelines, European companies can extend their services through the bloc, once again opening the doors for crypto ads.

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