
Foxwoods’ operator, the Mashantucket Pequot Tribal Nation, has announced plans to build a casino resort in Biloxi, Mississippi.
Foxwoods Mississippi rising: although devastated by Hurricane Katrina eleven years ago, Biloxi, Mississippi’s gambling enterprises have now made a comeback, while the Mashantucket Pequot plan to go in by 2019.
Chairman of the Mashantucket Pequot Tribal Council Rodney Butler said 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 exhibition space.
It’ll be constructed on the 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 in debt.
And now a new hazard to 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 proposed project to develop a ‘satellite casino’ on the reverse side of the border. The project that has been scornfully dismissed by MGM Chairman Jim Murren as a ‘box of slots.’
But MGM is adequately worried about the plan to introduce a challenge that is legal the state of Connecticut, decrying the proposed satellite casino as unconstitutional. The Mohegans and the Pequot would be the only entities lawfully permitted to operate casinos in the state, and until now, only from inside their own tribal lands.
MGM is crying foul, noting that the satellite that is new would be built outside the tribes’ sovereign regions.
In the middle of New England’s casino border wars, Foxwoods clearly sees expansion as the only path away from crippling financial obligation, and so it is looking south. But also for all of the talk of saturation in the Northeast, Biloxi is hardly bereft of casinos it self. The town has 11, with a total of 15 on the Gulf Coast.
Biloxi’s Slowly Recovery
It has taken a decade for the location to begin its economic data recovery following the devastation of Hurricane Katrina, during which several of Biloxi’s casinos were damaged or damaged. But there are indications that Biloxi’s rebuilt casino industry is just starting to enjoy growth, and its own tourism industry is recovering.
In accordance with a report that is recent the Mississippi Gaming and Hospitality Association, Mississippi casinos reported $2.12 billion in gaming revenue and $758 million in non-gaming revenue in 2015, with Gulf Coast gambling enterprises accounting for $1.15 billion. And today, a decade after Katrina, Foxwoods is gambling on a bounce back to full health.
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 going to stay back and allow nj-new Jersey build casinos right across the water from nyc. (Image:assembly.state.ny.us)
A recent push for New Jersey casino expansion has triggered a boatload of controversy, and among those pushing back are neighboring New York City lawmakers.
Big Apple legislators are now considering cutting brief the seven-year ban on certification casinos within the brand New York metropolitan area, so that you can counteract New Jersey’s proposed expansion in the north, or at least they truly are pretending they will.
Confused? Allow brand 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 will do what we want to complete. if they do what they wish to do’
Ok, many thanks, Gary.
To convert, New York is aghast that New Jersey is considering licensing two casinos in the north, in the middle of its casino expansion that is own upstate. They even had the chutzpah to consider one on the Meadowlands Racetrack in East Rutherford, home to the gambling and brand New York Jets, of all places. And one regarding the waterfront in Jersey City, directly across from Lower Manhattan.
Fool’s Gold
New York, when it licensed three casinos that are new this year, did therefore under the proviso that no casinos could be built downstate for seven years. This had been written to the bill that authorized its expansion, that was passed in 2013.
However now, dealing with a potential border war in the south, New York pols are mulling the theory of tearing that contract up, or at least making loud noises about doing so in order to warn New Jersey down.
New Jersey, of course, has problems of its. 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 north casinos, which it’s hoped would lure gamblers across the Hudson, as the response to all their problems, while other people see them as a fool’s gold that may spell curtains for Atlantic City.
Referendum november
New Jersey residents will decide the question of expansion in a referendum in November, and polls suggest they are almost equally divided in the issue. Ny is hoping that by flexing its muscles it might be able to put New Jersey voters off, and scare away potential investors in North Jersey casino projects.
‘I’m not interested in creating a border war with New Jersey, but New York features a interest that is vested gaming and we are maybe not going allowing one of our neighbors to take away from that,’ Pretlow said this week.
As well as starting up casino gaming to New York City and its suburbs, the state is considering the notion of offering AqueductRacetrack and Yonkers Raceway full-blown casino licenses. Or at the least they will loudly be talking very about it whenever New Jerseyans are within earshot.
Pennsylvania Casinos Obtain Choice To Dispense Alcohol 24/7, Las Vegas-Style
Enter a Pennsylvania casino within the months that are coming and you also’ll likely have the option to eat alcohol around the clock. On June 8, Governor Tom Wolf (D) signed House Bill 1690 into law in an effort to modernize the state’s rather antiquated liquor statutes.
Drinks, anyone? When bars in downtown Pittsburgh close at 2 am, the Rivers, Parx, and Sands Bethlehem properties will likely continue pouring, now that Governor Tom Wolf has signed a legislation to allow Pennsylvania gambling enterprises to provide alcohol all night and day. (Image: businesspundit.com)
Prior to the passage that is historic convenience stores and gas stations had been barred from selling six packs of alcohol, and residents in the Keystone State couldn’t purchase wine in grocery stores or have wine shipped right to their domiciles. Casinos were also forced to adhere to alcohol laws governing taverns and bars and stop selling spirits at 2 am.
Pennsylvania will stay running 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 beer in Pennsylvania and this reform package finally brings Pennsylvania’s wine and spirits system 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 are in possession of the possibility to rid on their own among these hourly restrictions, but they will come at a high cost.
The new casino liquor category allows companies invested in gambling to purchase 24/7 booze licenses for $1 million for a year that is initial. Renewals for the permits will surely cost $1 million for the next three years before dropping to $250,000 annually.
Lawmakers in Harrisburg are optimistic gambling enterprises will jump during the chance to serve booze 24 / 7, as well as in doing so, the continuing state should take advantage of the licensing revenue.
Republicans control the state legislature, plus the conservative General Assembly is looking for ways to fund Wolf’s proposed expanded spending plan that is anticipated to generate a $1 billion shortfall. In addition to easing liquor laws, the state is looking at on the web gambling as another new income source.
Sands Bethlehem, Parx Casino, and streams Casino, the top three facilities that are grossing the state, have actually remained quiet on the alcohol news. However, all three are required to benefit from the measure that is new.
While Sands and Parx are not positioned within walking distance of urban downtowns where nightlife is forced to disperse at 2 am, the Rivers Casino could become the latest go-to after celebration spot once town bars close in Pittsburgh.
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 perennial alcohol sales should do just that.
Nevada Regulators Give US Fantasy Thumbs Up, and DFS Is Back Up To Speed, Type Of
A business named US Fantasy might conjure up all types of images, but this one proposes to provide fantasy recreations betting 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 activities (DFS) could possibly be right back regarding the menu in Nevada quickly, at the least in a format that is slightly tweaked.
That’s because this the Nevada Gaming Control Board (NGCB) recommended licensing for the company newly formed by Salerno in US Fantasy week.
Las Vegas sports innovator that is betting Salerno, right, (shown with American Wagering’s Senior Vice President of Business Development & Public Affairs John English last year) is able 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 previously told the Las Vegas Review-Journal. ‘ We understand fantasy sports has proven to be an offering that is attractive a broader market. bondibet sister casino It’s a unique opportunity 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 Wednesday, the Gaming Control Board unanimously suggested the issue of an off-track, parimutuel sports system operator’s license. The application will now be passed to the Nevada Gaming Commission (NGC) where it is anticipated to receive last approval.
Pointless Licensing
Nevadans have been without daily fantasy activities (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 performance that is collective of participating in sporting events, under current legislation, legislation and approvals, in order to lawfully expose DFS for play within the State of Nevada, a person must have a permit to use 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 effect, regulators emphasized they applied for a sports betting license that they would be welcomed back in Nevada provided. But since the state does perhaps not sanction online activities betting, limiting offsite betting to remote apps inside the state which are licensed by land-based casinos, the pursuit of online licensing has not been a priority for the market-leading DFS internet sites.
Fantasy Fulfilled
US Fantasy, meanwhile, will provide competitions in Nevada through brick-and-mortar casinos, but will even seek to work well with regulators in other states, so as 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 competitions. It may also offer online contests in states where DFS has been regulated, and is not regarded as being sports gambling.
Salerno ended up being a co-founder of Leroy’s House and Sports destination, which started in downtown Las Vegas in the seventies that are late grew into American Wagering, the organization that operates the majority of Vegas recreations books today.
American Wagering was acquired by British bookmaker William Hill in 2012, and Salerno was retained as chairman associated with newly formed William Hill US. He is credited with launching several innovations into the industry, including the self-service betting kiosk and the state’s first mobile sports betting app.