Trade group report: Gambling economy hit hard by coronavirus
The pandemic and efforts to fight it led to a nearly 79% drop in commercial gambling revenue for the second quarter of 2020, the industry’s trade association reported Thursday.
The pandemic and efforts to fight it led to a nearly 79% drop in commercial gambling revenue for the second quarter of 2020, the industry’s trade association reported Thursday.
To say Indiana’s horse racing industry had concerns about Eldorado Resorts Inc. taking over the state’s two horse-racing casinos would be putting it mildly.
The deal, which affects five Indiana casinos, was approved by New Jersey regulators on Friday.
The Indiana Horse Racing Commission signed off on the deal this week, paving the way for what will be the world’s largest casino operation. The merger, which awaits approval from New Jersey regulators, affects five Indiana casinos.
The Indiana Gaming Commission on Friday approved Eldorado Resorts Inc.’s acquisition of Caesars Entertainment Corp.’s four Indiana casino properties, with major conditions.
Approval of the acquisition of Caesars Entertainment in coming days from regulators in Indiana and New Jersey would create the world’s largest casino operation.
Churchill Downs will institute a number of operating procedures for the Kentucky Derby, which has been moved to Sept. 5 because of the pandemic.
The Indiana Gaming Commission required casino safety plans to include how they would encourage six-foot distancing between gamblers and limit the number of people at table games, along with requiring face masks for employees.
According to a financial report presented to the Hoosier Lottery Commission on Tuesday morning, lottery sales are expected to hit $1.3 billion in fiscal year 2020, which is 1.1% less than budgeted and nearly 3% lower than in fiscal year 2019.
After delays, the Indiana Gaming Commission is poised to consider awarding a casino license to a subsidiary of Spectacle Entertainment, now that two former executives of Centaur Gaming have divested their interests in the project.
According to the revenue report released Monday morning by the Indiana Gaming Commission, Hoosiers wagered $26.3 million on sports in April.
A former Senate budget writer said the hit to the state budget could be bigger than during the Great Recession, when state revenue dropped 15% over two years.
The casinos’ futures remain up in the air as the Indiana Gaming Commission looks into allegations that a former Indianapolis gambling company and one of its officers were involved in a federal campaign finance scheme.
At nearly every turn, Rod Ratcliff or his companies or his associates have run into questions and concerns about the way they interact with the public officials who make the rules associated with the industry.
The XFL is baking sports betting into its operations as a crucial part of the recipe. Indiana is one of at least nine state where gambling regulators have approved wagering on XFL games.
Indiana Gov. Eric Holcomb on Monday said he backs the Indiana Gaming Commission’s probe into casino executives who have been implicated in a federal campaign finance scheme. The investigation has delayed action on a proposed new Indiana casino.
The Indiana Gaming Commission on Tuesday gave the final approval to Harrah’s Hoosier Park in Anderson and Indiana Grand Racing and Casino in Shelbyville to launch live-dealer table games.
The $91.7 million that Indiana sportsbooks accepted last month is almost triple the amount wagered in September when sports betting became legal.
Participants at the forum cautioned that while the industry is growing quickly, the high cost of acquiring customers and promoting a new business could lead to some current operators failing.
PlayUSA.com Network, a news and research organization that follows sports gambling and operates PlayNJ.com and PlayIndiana.com, called the first-month data “impressive.”