New gambling ban in Britain; Casinos face uncertain Georgia future

Great Britain continues to crack down on gambling. As of April 14, Britons will no longer be able to bet with their credit cards. (Lottery tickets are exempted from the fatwa.) This comes on the heels of a reduction in the maximum wagers that can be placed at fixed-odds betting terminals. Paddy Power Betfair and Stars Group are expected to be hurt most by the latest hard-line measure. The aim of these draconian moves is to curb problem gambling in the United Kingdom. Some 200,000 disordered gamblers are estimated to use credit cards to fuel their habit (sort of like me and SACDs). Englishmen are carrying $94 billion in credit-card debt.

Although the British gaming industry employs 100,000 and generated $18.7 billion in revenue last year, look for those numbers to drop in 2020. “The latest in a recent series of more onerous regulatory changes, it also acts as a further reminder that the UK opportunity is no longer what it once was,” lamented Davy Research analysts, adding “However, it remains a very large, growing and highly cash generative market for online gaming operators.” Shares of 888 Holdings and William Hill dipped on the news of the ban. “We will not hesitate to take any further action necessary to protect people from gambling harm,” warned baleful Culture Minister Helen Whately (pictured). If casino companies thought a Boris Johnson administration would be friendlier to gambling they have another think coming.

* The Georgia Lege is pondering a tax cut, despite a revenue shortfall in the last budget. Which means that, in all likelihood, casino gambling will be on the table this session. After all, lower taxes have to be mitigated somehow … right? Also, Gov. Brian Kemp (R, left) has been Santa Claus to Georgia teachers, delivering a $3K/year pay increase in 2019 and promising $2K more this year. This kinda sounds like tax-and-spend to us, even with budget cuts, which makes us wonder how Kemp can viably continue to oppose casinos. Bad news for consumers: Internet purchases are soon to be taxed, as the Lege gives back with one hand and takes away with the other. State Senate Majority Leader Mike Dugan (R) is cooling toward casinos, saying, “Everything can’t be a priority,” the Lege’s priority being a ‘religious freedom’ law or 10 to crack down on those evil gays. Diversity-friendly companies like MGM Resorts International might want to rethink their economic commitment to Georgia, where discrimination never quits.

* Las Vegan and convicted felon O.J. Simpson continues to sue The Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas for having damaged his reputation by kicking him out after he’d allegedly had too much to drink. The Cosmo is fighting back, asking that the case be heard by a judge rather than an arbitrator, who might award Simpson 50 grand or so. Strangely, The Juice is not suing TMZ, which reported on his Cosmo escapade. Simpson, who is on parole for two more years, was determined not to be in violation following the trespass, which he admits to having occurred. However, “It says he was never given a reason and denies he was belligerent, broke glass or damaged property at the resort’s Clique bar.” Simpson’s lawyers contend that law enforcement “ultimately determined that the Cosmopolitan’s assertions against Simpson were false.” The Cosmo better watch its back, as Simpson is no stranger to deadly weaponry. (Trivia question: What is that tower to the left of the Cosmo and what is its unique place in Las Vegas history?)

Here’s the newest trend in slot machines, video-embedded canopies that extend over the aisle between the slot carrousels. It’s the brainchild of Aristocrat Technologies and one impressed tech publication wrote, “The design is from the company’s thinkBIGGER campaign and it is an eyecatcher for sure. The good news for casinos is that it doesn’t take up much floor space.” Adds Chief Innovation Officer Joe Kaminkow, “we’re trying to make something special that you can’t play on your cell phone.” Mission accomplished. Much is made of the mock-thunderstorms (sans rain) that can erupt during your gaming session but the Arc Canopy can also unleash a bison stampede if you happen to be playing Thundering Buffalo.

Co-designer Stephen Shaffer adds, “[Aristocrat] really wanted to get a game space above us, because that was unutilized space on the casino floor, it allows us to try all new things that we’ve never done before.” The display generated a great deal of floor traffic at Global Gaming Expo and we look forward to seeing casino deployments in the near future.

* Project revisions are pushing back Wilton Rancheria‘s Sacramento County casino into 4Q21. The Wilton are not specifying what had to be redone, only talking vaguely of redesigning “a few areas.” “As far as an update on timing, we’re most likely waiting for the spring to hit, so we’re not in the wet season, because we have in-ground infrastructure,” said Chairman Raymond Hitchcock. Once completed, the $536 million casino will be managed by Boyd Gaming. The project had to overcome opposition from anti-gambling pests Stand Up for California but they got booted out of court and it’s all systems go. Stand Up also hopes, as a sequel, to go to Washington, D.C., and get the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act amended. Good luck with that.

* Silly Phenomenon Dept.: We’ve getting e-mails referring to “womxn,” whatever they are (and however do you pronounce that?) and last week received one about “folx.” What’s with all the Xs? Are we Saxons all of a sudden? Rest assured that while S&G must repeat such silly names as “The Linq,” we will resist this latest trend with every fibre of our being.