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Gambling in the USA

Proposal for Lake of the Ozarks Casino will Appear on the November Ballot

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Missourians will get to vote on whether to authorize a casino at the Lake of the Ozarks.

Backers of a casino in the popular tourist destination need to go to statewide voters to build the casino, because the Missouri Constitution only authorizes those gaming facilities on the Missouri and Mississippi rivers.

Secretary of State Jay Ashcroft initially rejected putting the ballot item before voters, contending that the measure didn’t collect enough signatures in the required six out of eight congressional districts. Ashcroft found that the plan did receive the necessary signatures in five districts but fell short in Missouri’s 2nd Congressional District.

Cole County Judge Daniel Green ruled on Friday that proponents of the casino ballot item did actually gather enough signatures in the 2nd District, which encompasses parts of St. Louis, St. Charles and Warren counties, and all of Franklin County. He then ordered Ashcroft to place the proposal on the Nov. 5 ballot.

Ashcroft spokesman JoDonn Chaney said the GOP statewide official does not plan on appealing Green’s ruling.

“During the initiative petition review process local election authorities were tasked with checking well over 1 million signatures,” Chaney said in an email. “From their reporting, the secretary of state’s office determined the Osage River Gaming petition was just short of the required signature count for ballot certification. After a challenge by the petitioner it was determined that enough additional signatures could be verified to place the petition on the November ballot.”

Backers of the plan to build the Lake of the Ozarks casino say the facility will spur 500 construction jobs and create 700 to 800 permanent jobs. State revenue from the casino would go toward education programs, with a specific emphasis on early child literacy efforts.

Missourians are also to vote on a measure legalizing sports betting, though opponents of that proposal filed a lawsuit contending that it didn’t get enough signatures in six out of eight districts.

Gambling in the USA

Gaming Americas Weekly Roundup – August 25-31

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Welcome to our weekly roundup of American gambling news again! Here, we are going through the weekly highlights of the American gambling industry. Read on and get updated.

Latest News

DraftKings has introduced credit card deposit ban for US customers. This decision aligns them with other major gambling operators, such as Fanatics Betting & Gaming, Betr and Sporttrade, which have already banned credit card funding for wagering accounts. It also comes on the heels of another major announcement by DraftKings. Starting September 1, DraftKings will charge a 50-cent fee for every mobile and online bet placed in Illinois using its Sportsbook platform.

Virginia lawmakers are actively debating whether to establish a new regulatory agency to oversee iGaming. The joint subcommittee discussed a bill to create the Virginia Gaming Commission. It would manage all gambling verticals beyond the lottery. Currently, the Virginia Lottery regulates sports betting and casinos, while other agencies manage charitable gaming and horse racing. Lawmakers also considered legalising online casinos, including real-money platforms.

This summer is shaping up to be a strong one for the Atlantic City casinos and their online gambling operating partners. According to the latest data collected by the state, the total gambling revenue for the casinos and their operating partners from in-state online gambling was nearly $250 million during July. That represents a nearly 27% increase over last year’s total revenue for July, and it comes on top of a more than 23% year-over-year increase measured during the month of June. In all, revenue this year from online gambling through the end of July topped $1.6 billion, up 23.3% compared to the same period last year, according to a report from the state’s Division of Gaming Enforcement, which regularly tracks gambling revenue earned legally in New Jersey.

The Uruguayan Government has taken an important step towards legislating and taxing gambling activities. A new decree, decree number 167/025, gives life to a special tax on bets placed with electronic game machines and automatic betting systems installed within casinos and authorised entertainment spaces. It was signed into law by President Yamandú Orsi and Minister of Economy Gabriel Oddone and is a careful step in the direction of allowing more direct contributions to the state’s fiscal system. The new regulation imposes a 0.75% tax on the total amount of each wager. That is, regardless of whether the wager is placed in chips, coins, bills, e-money or other equivalent sources, the initial amount wagered by the player is subject to tax.

Leading gambling companies Caesar’s Entertainment, MGM Resorts International and Las Vegas Sands have recently been spotlighted in the 2025 “Low-Wage 100” report. This annual publication by the Institute for Policy Studies and Inequality.org identifies S&P 500 companies that show the smallest median wages for their employees compared to the large earnings of their top executives. These pay gaps have sparked ongoing criticism of the casino industry. Since 2019, the top executive pay at Caesar’s has more than doubled, surpassing the 40% wage increase seen among its workforce. Though MGM and Las Vegas Sands have also raised executive salaries at a faster rate than employee wages, their growth was less dramatic compared to Caesar’s. Industry critics suggest these pronounced salary gaps damage employee morale and complicate talent retention, ultimately hindering long-term growth.

The post Gaming Americas Weekly Roundup – August 25-31 appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.

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Boyd Gaming

Major Casino Operators Ready to Invest if Georgia Lifts Casino Ban

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As discussions about legalizing gambling in Georgia gain momentum, major casino operators like Wynn Resorts and Boyd Gaming are poised to lead the charge if the state changes its restrictive laws.

During a recent Georgia House study committee meeting, Christopher Gordon, president of Wynn Resorts’ development arm, expressed keen interest in building a multibillion-dollar casino should legal barriers be removed. Similarly, Boyd Gaming’s government affairs vice president Ryan Soultz highlighted Georgia’s market attractiveness.

Wynn’s model would be similar to its $2.6 billion Encore Boston Harbor, suggesting that a new Georgia casino could employ up to 4000 workers and contribute substantial gaming tax revenue.

Although specific locations have not been chosen, both companies have indicated they would need constitutional changes to move forward. Their willingness to invest heavily in the Peach State demonstrates a strong belief in the untapped potential of the state’s gambling market.

Such developments offer a compelling argument for lawmakers to consider gambling expansion, marking a shift toward economic incentives as a primary motivator for legislative change.

Should Georgia proceed with legalizing casino gambling, the legislative language will be crucial in shaping the industry’s landscape. Key proposals may include requiring casino companies to invest at least $1.2 billion per resort and generate a minimum number of jobs, often set at around 10,000 per license. This ensures that any developments bring tangible benefits to the local economy.

Additional legislative demands include rigorous background checks for key personnel, proven industry experience, and adherence to strict technical and financial standards. Only companies with substantial capital and robust infrastructure, like Wynn Resorts and Boyd Gaming, are likely to meet these stringent requirements.

The post Major Casino Operators Ready to Invest if Georgia Lifts Casino Ban appeared first on Gaming and Gambling Industry in the Americas.

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Gambling in the USA

Plaza Hotel & Casino to welcome the U.S. National Champions Summerlin South All Stars to be TNT Ignitors for Welcome to the Weekend Friday Fireworks, next Friday, Sept. 5

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The Plaza Hotel & Casino will welcome the U.S. National champions, the Summerlin South All Star team to be the special guest TNT Ignitors of the property’s Welcome to the Weekend Friday Fireworks show, next Friday, Sept. 5 at 9:15 p.m., taking place on the Plaza’s rooftop pool deck.

“Getting to ignite the Plaza’s amazing fireworks show is a great honor for the team,” said Chris Mallory, president of Summerlin South. “And we thank the Plaza and Jonathan for the warm welcome and fun celebration planned for the team, including a pizza party for them and their families.”

“All of Las Vegas is proud of the accomplishments that the Summerlin South team made in the All Star postseason,” said Jonathan Jossel, CEO of the Plaza Hotel & Casino. “We look forward to hosting the team and their families, and we hope all of their fans come out to celebrate with them and enjoy the fireworks show.”

The summer fireworks shows are staged from the top of the Plaza’s South Tower every Friday at 9:15 p.m. from May through September.

The public can watch the Welcome to the Weekend Friday Fireworks Show for free at the rooftop pool, at Carousel Bar under the Plaza’s iconic dome, and from in front of the Plaza on Main Street, which will be closed to vehicular traffic during the show for viewing the fireworks from Carson Avenue to Ogden Avenue.

The Plaza’s fireworks will be dependent on weather conditions and are subject to change or cancellation. Updates will be available on the Plaza’s social media channels, including Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.

The post Plaza Hotel & Casino to welcome the U.S. National Champions Summerlin South All Stars to be TNT Ignitors for Welcome to the Weekend Friday Fireworks, next Friday, Sept. 5 appeared first on Gaming and Gambling Industry in the Americas.

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