$216 million. That’s how much sports betting will be worth to the NHL, according to the American Gaming Association‘s Sara Slane. The new revenue will be achieved “as a result of 
spending from betting operators on advertising, data and sponsorship and revenue generated as a result of increased consumption of the league’s media and products.” The AGA cites the results of a Nielsen study to ground its position. That big number includes a projected $24 million in advertising and $35 million in sponsorship fees.
“Much like the NHL’s recent successful expansion into Las Vegas, legal sports betting will continue to expand across the country, bringing with it a $216 million opportunity for the league,” Slane concludes. Nielsen cast a wide net — 1,000 respondents — in conducting its study, so I think we needn’t take its findings with a grain of sand.
In other sports-betting news, SugarHouse Casino has become the latest applicant in Pennsylvania, ponying up $10 million for the privilege of paying 36% tax on gross revenues. Rush Street Gaming waited too for long for its application to be considered 
this month but we see no reason why it should not ultimately be successful. Greenwood Racing, meanwhile, wants casino sports betting extended to its OTB, South Philadelphia Turf Club. It remains to be seen whether that requires a discrete license. While sports betting is being incepted in staggered fashion, the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board is prepared a “coordinated launch” of Internet gambling, so those casinos with licenses will have to patient a while longer.
* A massive setback to the Mashantucket Pequots and Mohegans was dealt by a federal court this week. It ruled that a satellite casino cannot be built in East Windsor without amendment of the tribes’ compact with Connecticut. (That sound you hear is MGM Springfield execs rubbing their hands with glee.) It took Judge Rudolph Contreras 58 pages to reach the conclusion that 
the Pequots “have no legal standing to compel Department of the Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke to accept revisions to the state’s existing gambling agreement with the tribe.” According to the Connecticut Mirror, “Without Zinke’s approval” — a very big ‘if’ — “the East Windsor project is blocked indefinitely.” Zinke has approved some tribal-gaming projects but recently became the first Secretary of the Interior to take land out of trust in modern times. So he’s not necessarily a friend to Indian Country.
The Pequots were “reviewing our options,” according to spokesman. Meanwhile, MGM Resorts International, which has the right to intervene in any appeal of Contreras’ decision, 
although not a defendant in the suit, could not contain its gloating: “It has become increasingly apparent that the Tribes’ promises of legal victory, no matter how often they are repeated, prove hollow.” We’d say things look pretty bleak for MMTC these days. If that casino ever gets built, MGM Springfield will be deeply entrenched with customers and MMTC will have to build something much more impressive than authorized in order to win back players.
* The 1-3 Oakland Raiders are still two seasons away from coming to Las Vegas but that doesn’t mean Mandalay Bay is waiting for 2020 to get ready. It’s launched a revamp of its sports book and, from the sound of it, the place should be very impressive.
* In Indiana, Rising Sun casino can use every bit of help it can get. So Dan Lee must have been a happy camper when his appeal for ferry service between the casino and Rabbit Hash, Kentucky 
(I’m not making that up) was approved. Free ferry service starts this weekend. After a few shakedown cruises or so, boarding fees — $5 for one-way travel, $8 for a round trip — will kick in. The news just happens to coincide with a shakeup within Full House Resorts, which replaced the general managers at two of its casinos. Benjamin Douglass is the new boss at Rising Sun while Terry Smith takes charge of Stockman’s Casino in Fallon, Nevada. Given all the market challenges facing Rising Sun, the inception of ferry service might be the shot in the arm it needs, provided that Bluegrass State customers don’t balk at the fee.
* If you’re a lottery, how do you one-up the casinos? Offer sports betting. That’s what the Oregon Lottery plans to do and it’s not waiting for the Legislature’s say-so. We’ll have to see if the state’s tribal casinos take this lying down.
* They’re mad for gambling in Cyprus. Melco Resorts & Entertainment‘s temporary casino saw 175,000 patrons in its first quarter of operation. Called C2, it is the precursor of a City of Dreams-branded megaresort, set to open in 2021. When finished, it will be Europe‘s largest resort casino. Are you paying attention, Japan?
* This isn’t good: Macao hotel reservations for Golden Week are “weaker than initially expected.” That’s the diagnosis of Sanford 
C. Bernstein analysts. “While hotel bookings looked strong going in, recent checks of online travel agencies, group travel and property websites imply remaining room availability … Last year, there was a similar development with initially strong bookings that did not result in outsized gross gaming revenue.” Nonetheless, the brokerage is predicting a 4% to 6% improvement on gambling revenue from last year.
