
Foxwoods’ operator, the Mashantucket Pequot Tribal Nation, has announced plans to create a casino resort in Biloxi, Mississippi.
Foxwoods Mississippi rising: although devastated by Hurricane Katrina eleven years ago, Biloxi, Mississippi’s casinos have now produced comeback, plus the Mashantucket Pequot plan to go in by 2019.
Chairman of the Mashantucket Pequot Tribal Council Rodney Butler stated this week that the proposed $265 million casino resort, and also to be called Foxwoods, will host a 500-room hotel, and 71,000 square legs of conference and event space.
It’ll be constructed on your website of A heinz that is former pet factory on Biloxi’s Black Bay, in partnership with Biloxi Boardwalk Ventures and The Hartmann Group.
The tribe is desperate to expand its casino operations, as the market in the Northeast is in danger of becoming saturated. Increased competition in nearby states, plus an expansion that is costly its Connecticut resort at the start of the economic downturn, has saddled the Pequot with $1.7 billion with debt.
And now a threat that is new the once-thriving Foxwoods looms just across the state line in Connecticut in the MGM Springfield, a $950 million resort, scheduled to open in 2018.
New England Border Wars
In response, Foxwoods and its Connecticut rival Mohegan Sun have partnered for a project that is proposed build a ‘satellite casino’ on the reverse side of the border. The task that has been scornfully dismissed by MGM Chairman Jim Murren as a ‘box of slots.’
But MGM is sufficiently concerned about the master plan to introduce a appropriate challenge against the state of Connecticut, decrying the proposed satellite casino as unconstitutional. The Mohegans and the Pequot are the only entities lawfully permitted to operate casinos into the state, and until now, only from within their very own lands that are tribal.
MGM is crying foul, noting that the satellite that is new would be built outside the tribes’ sovereign regions.
In the midst of New England’s casino border wars, Foxwoods obviously views expansion as its only path out of crippling debt, and therefore it is looking south. But for all of the talk of saturation in the Northeast, Biloxi is hardly bereft of casinos it self. The city has 11, with a total of 15 on the Gulf Coast.
Biloxi’s Slow Recovery
It has taken a ten years for the area to begin its recovery that is economic following devastation of Hurricane Katrina, during which several of Biloxi’s casinos had been damaged or destroyed. But there are signs that Biloxi’s rebuilt casino industry is beginning to enjoy growth, and its own tourism industry is recovering.
According to a report that is recent the Mississippi Gaming and Hospitality Association, Mississippi casinos reported $2.12 billion in video gaming revenue and $758 million in non-gaming revenue in 2015, with Gulf Coast casinos accounting for $1.15 billion. Now, a decade after Katrina, Foxwoods is gambling on a bounce back again to health that is full.
The tribe has said that it hopes to start Foxwoods Mississippi in spring of 2019.
New Jersey Casino Expansion? Maybe Not So Fast, Say New York Lawmakers
New York Assemblyman Gary Pretlow (D-89th), says he’s damned if he is planning to stay back and allow nj-new Jersey build casinos right across the water from New York City. (Image:assembly.state.ny.us)
A push that is recent brand New Jersey casino expansion has caused a boatload of controversy, and among those pushing back are neighboring New York City lawmakers.
Big Apple legislators are now considering cutting short the seven-year ban on certification casinos in the brand New York metropolitan area, so that you can counteract New Jersey’s proposed expansion in the north, or at least they’re pretending they will.
Confused? Enable New York Assemblyman Gary Pretlow (D-89th), Chairman of the New York Senate Racing, Gaming, and Wagering Committee, to clear things up.
‘We’re not telling them [New Jersey] just what to do,’ Pretlow told Bloodhorse.com this week. ‘we are telling them then we are going to do what we would like to complete. when they do what they wish to do’
Ok, many thanks, Gary.
To convert, New York is aghast that nj is considering licensing two casinos in the north, in the middle of its own casino expansion upstate. They even had the chutzpah to think about one on the Meadowlands Racetrack in East Rutherford, home to the New York Giants and brand New York Jets, of all places. And one in the waterfront in Jersey City, directly across from Lower Manhattan.
Fool’s Gold
New York, when it licensed three casinos that are new this season, did therefore underneath the proviso that no casinos could possibly be built downstate for seven years. This had been written in to the bill that authorized its expansion, that has been passed in 2013.
Nevertheless now, dealing with a potential border war in the south, New York pols are mulling the concept of tearing that agreement up, or at least making loud noises about doing this so that you can warn New Jersey off.
New Jersey, of program, has problems of unique. Atlantic City’s casino industry is through tough times, largely due to oversaturation of the market and increased competition from the casino expansion of neighboring states, chiefly Pennsylvania.
Some see northern casinos, which it’s hoped would tempt gamblers across the Hudson, as the response to all their problems, while other people see them being a fool’s silver that could spell curtains for Atlantic City.
Referendum november
New Jersey residents will determine the question of expansion in a referendum in and polls suggest they are almost equally divided on the issue november. Ny is hoping that by flexing its muscles it might be able to put Brand New Jersey voters off, and scare investors that are away potential North Jersey casino projects.
‘I’m not interested in creating a border war with nj, but brand New York includes a interest that is vested video gaming and we’re perhaps not going allowing one of our neighbors to take away from that,’ Pretlow said this week.
As well as starting up casino gaming to ny City and its suburbs, the state is considering the notion of giving AqueductRacetrack and Yonkers Raceway full-blown casino licenses. Or at the least they will be talking really loudly about it whenever New Jerseyans are within earshot.
Pennsylvania Casinos Receive Substitute For Dispense Alcohol 24/7, Las Vegas-Style
Enter a Pennsylvania casino into the coming months, and also you’ll likely have the choice to eat alcohol night and day. On June 8, Governor Tom Wolf (D) signed House Bill 1690 into legislation in an effort to modernize the state’s rather antiquated alcohol statutes.
Drinks, anyone? When bars in downtown Pittsburgh close at 2 am, the streams, Parx, and Sands Bethlehem properties will likely continue pouring, now that Governor Tom Wolf has signed a law to allow Pennsylvania gambling enterprises to provide alcohol all day and night. (Image: businesspundit.com)
Prior to the historic passage, convenience stores and gasoline stations had been barred from selling six packages of alcohol, and residents in the Keystone State couldn’t purchase wine in food markets or have wine shipped right to their houses. Casinos were also forced to adhere to alcohol laws taverns that are governing pubs and stop selling spirits at 2 am.
Pennsylvania will continue operating the continuing state liquor shops, but the bill is being celebrated by Wolf and alcohol expansion proponents.
‘As I have always stated, my goal is to modernize the sale of liquor and alcohol in Pennsylvania and this reform package finally brings Pennsylvania’s wine and spirits system in to the 21st century,’ the governor stated.
Spirited Business
Before HB 1690, Pennsylvania’s 13 casinos were forbidden from serving alcohol after 2 am. Casinos will now have the option to rid on their own of those hourly limits, nevertheless they will come at a high cost.
The new casino alcohol category allows companies invested in gambling to purchase 24/7 booze licenses for $1 million for an initial year. Renewals for the permits will cost $1 million for the next 3 years before dropping to $250,000 annually.
Lawmakers in Harrisburg are optimistic gambling enterprises will jump at the chance to serve booze night and day, plus in doing so, the state should take advantage of the certification revenue.
Republicans control the state legislature, plus the conservative General Assembly is researching ways to fund Wolf’s proposed expanded budget that is anticipated to generate a $1 billion shortfall. In addition to easing liquor regulations, the state is looking at on the web gambling as another brand new source of income.
Sands Bethlehem, Parx Casino, and streams Casino, the top three grossing facilities in their state, have actually stayed quiet on the alcohol news. However, all three are expected to benefit from the new measure.
The rivers Casino could become the new go-to after party spot once city bars close in Pittsburgh while Sands and Parx aren’t located within walking distance of urban downtowns where nightlife is forced to disperse at 2 am.
Alcohol Laws Vary By State
An edge as gambling has expanded in the congested northeast, states are looking for ways to give their venues. Permitting alcohol that is perennial should do just that.
Nevada Regulators Give US Fantasy Thumbs Up, and DFS Has Returned Up To Speed, Sort Of
An organization named United States Fantasy might conjure up all types of images, but this one proposes to supply fantasy recreations gambling to customers at Nevada gambling enterprises considering a parimutuel wagering system. Owner Vic Salerno, known as an innovator in the race and sports book companies, believes that daily fantasy recreations (DFS) could possibly be right back on the menu in Nevada soon, at least in a slightly tweaked format.
That’s because this week, the Nevada Gaming Control Board (NGCB) recommended licensing for the business newly formed by Salerno in US Fantasy.
Las Vegas activities betting innovator Vic Salerno, right, (shown with American Wagering’s Senior Vice President of Business Development & Public Affairs John English last year) is preparing to unfurl his US Fantasy in Nevada. (Image: reviewjournal.com)
‘It’s so simple, I can’t understand just why anybody didn’t contemplate this before,’ Salerno formerly told the Las Las Vegas Review-Journal. ‘ We all know fantasy sports has proven become an attractive offering for a broader audience. It’s really a unique possibility for the industry.’
Now, he’s giving it a twist that is new telling Gaming Today this week that ‘all we’re doing is replacing horses with peoples athletes.’
On the Gaming Control Board unanimously recommended the issue of an off-track, parimutuel sports system operator’s license wednesday. The application will now be passed to the Nevada Gaming Commission (NGC) where it’s anticipated to receive last approval.
Pointless Licensing
Nevadans have been without daily fantasy recreations (DFS) since late year that is last when operators pulled the plug following a ruling by Gaming Control Board Chairman A.G. Burnett that DFS constituted gambling under Nevada law. And that ruling had been subsequently supported by the state’s Attorney General Adam Laxalt, who copied Burnett’s decision.
‘Because DFS involves wagering on the collective performance of people participating in sporting events, under current law, legislation and approvals, in bondi bet casino purchase to lawfully expose DFS for play within hawaii of Nevada, an individual must have a permit to operate a sports pool issued by the Nevada Gaming Commission,’ wrote Burnett at that time.
While operators like DraftKings and FanDuel were told to cease and desist with immediate impact, regulators emphasized that they would be welcomed back Nevada provided they applied for a sports betting permit. But since their state does perhaps not sanction online sports betting, limiting offsite betting to remote apps in the state which can be certified by land-based casinos, the pursuit of online certification has not been a priority for the market-leading DFS sites.
Fantasy Fulfilled
US Fantasy, meanwhile, will offer competitions in Nevada through brick-and-mortar casinos, but will also seek to utilize regulators in other states, in an effort to link up with racetracks, off-track-betting parlors, casinos, and lotteries around the US. The goal will be to help build prize that is networked for the contests. It may also offer contests that are online states where DFS has recently been regulated, and is maybe not regarded as being sports wagering.
Salerno ended up being a co-founder of Leroy’s House and Sports Place, which opened in downtown Las Vegas in the late seventies and grew into American Wagering, the company that operates nearly all Vegas recreations publications today.
American Wagering had been acquired by British bookmaker William Hill in 2012, and Salerno was retained as chairman regarding the newly created William Hill US. He could be credited with presenting several innovations into the industry, including the self-service gambling kiosk and their state’s first mobile sports app that is betting.