MGM China and Melco Continue Tradition of Discretionary Staff Bonuses
MGM China and Melco award about 96% of employees an extra month’s salary for 2025 work, continuing Macau casino’s annual year-end bonus tradition.
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Latest Casino and Gambling News
South African Treasury Department Proposes 20% Online Gambling Tax
South Africa’s National Treasury has proposed a new 20% tax on online gambling revenue. We break down the proposal and its potential impact.
BetRivers Sportsbook Announces New $5 Bet Minimum in Illinois
BetRivers Sportsbooks will be raising its minimum bet requirement to $5 in Illinois. It recently raised it to $1 after the state increased taxes. The new change comes just days after Chicago enacted a new city-specific license and tax system.
Wisconsin, Mississippi Eye Sports Betting Expansion in 2026
Lawmakers in Mississippi and Wisconsin are back in session and already discussing expanding their sports betting markets to include mobile sportsbooks. While changing conditions are giving proponents hope that the efforts will succeed, larger hurdles still remain for both states.
More News
Florida Senator Aims to Eliminate DEI, Increase Illegal Gaming Penalties
Sen. Clay Yarborough (R-Nassau) is hoping to remove the controversial DEI policies from the state’s gaming framework during the 2026 legislative session.
Durango Casino Expands as Station Casinos Celebrates 50th Anniversary
Durango Casino launches 275k sq ft expansion in Las Vegas after south-end casino and parking additions, as Station Casinos marks 50 years of business.
Ex-Activision Blizzard Exec Named SVP of Brand Partnerships with BLAST
Esports tournament organizer BLAST enlists a new SVP of Brand Partnerships: Steve Rossi.
Lotte’s Jeju Dream Tower 2025 Casino Sales Jump 62% to US$330 Million
Jeju casino sales surged 62% to KRW476B (US$330M), driven by a 54% visitor spike to 590,000, per unaudited Korea Exchange filings and operator data.
Woman Robbed Chick-Fil-A, Used Money to Gamble at Nearby Casino
The incident, which occurred around 9:00 a.m. on Friday, Jan. 2, ended with the woman crashing into several trees.
Industry News
Florida Senator Aims to Eliminate DEI, Increase Illegal Gaming Penalties
Sen. Clay Yarborough (R-Nassau) is hoping to remove the controversial DEI policies from the state’s gaming framework during the 2026 legislative session.
Woman Robbed Chick-Fil-A, Used Money to Gamble at Nearby Casino
The incident, which occurred around 9:00 a.m. on Friday, Jan. 2, ended with the woman crashing into several trees.
Grand Ho Tram Casino Offers Access to Vietnamese Nationals with VND Bets
The Grand Ho Tram began welcoming Vietnamese players under government approval, becoming Vietnam’s second casino that locals can access.
Financial News
MGM China and Melco Continue Tradition of Discretionary Staff Bonuses
MGM China and Melco award about 96% of employees an extra month’s salary for 2025 work, continuing Macau casino’s annual year-end bonus tradition.
South African Treasury Department Proposes 20% Online Gambling Tax
South Africa’s National Treasury has proposed a new 20% tax on online gambling revenue. We break down the proposal and its potential impact.
Lotte’s Jeju Dream Tower 2025 Casino Sales Jump 62% to US$330 Million
Jeju casino sales surged 62% to KRW476B (US$330M), driven by a 54% visitor spike to 590,000, per unaudited Korea Exchange filings and operator data.
Legal News
German gambling market enters 2026 facing key court rulings and regulatory tests
Germany’s regulated gambling market moves into 2026 with major legal rulings and regulatory decisions expected to shape its future direction.
Shares drop at Mecca Bingo owner rank after £6.2m payment fraud
Rank Group shares fell after the company confirmed a £6.2m payment fraud affecting its Spanish operations and launched an investigation.
Illinois Sweeps Casino Update: Evolution Gone? Sweeps Casino Leaving?
Sweeps Casino Tora Tora is leaving on Jan. 10, and game provider Evolution has left the state, too.
Las Vegas News
Durango Casino Expands as Station Casinos Celebrates 50th Anniversary
Durango Casino launches 275k sq ft expansion in Las Vegas after south-end casino and parking additions, as Station Casinos marks 50 years of business.
Las Vegas Ends 2025 With Nearly 5,000 Job Losses Amid Visitor Decline
Nevada’s largest sectors (leisure/hospitality) and construction saw steep Q4 job losses that trade and transport gains couldn’t reverse.
Las Vegas Raiders Part Ways with Veteran Coach Pete Carroll After One Season
Raiders fire NFL’s oldest coach Pete Carroll (74) after the league’s worst season of 3-14, forcing another coach search for the third year in a row.
World Cup 2026 News
FIFA Considers Two Rule Changes Six Months Ahead of World Cup
FIFA is reported to be considering two significant rule changes with just six months until the 2026 World Cup. In contrast, they aim to improve the quality of play; some fear the lack of preparation and testing could have the opposite effect.
FIFA Slashes Ticket Prices After Blowback From Fans
FIFA has announced it will soon offer supporter entry-tier tickets for $60, following public blowback over the incredibly high prices to attend. While the details remain unknown, FIFA is expected to limit the number of lower-tier tickets available.
FIFA Draw Sets up Exciting Field for the 2026 World Cup
FIFA held the draw for the 2026 World Cup today, setting a field consisting of 12 groups of four teams each. Match information will be provided on December 6, but the final spots won’t be decided until the European playoffs are over.
World News
Macau Casinos Hit New Post-COVID High in 2025 Despite December Slump
Macau’s 2025 GGR reached US$30.86 billion, up 9.1% from 2024 and the highest since the pandemic onset, but remains below pre-pandemic levels.
Portugal Casino Concessions Extended Amid Tender Processing Delays
Portugal extends casino licenses for a strictly necessary period of three months during procedural steps, unless legal challenges arise.
Finnish Twitch Streamer Risks Penalty for Unauthorized Gambling Promotions
Finnish authorities found Rostedt’s Twitch repeatedly hosted gambling content targeting mainland Finland, breaching marketing laws.
Sports Betting
BetRivers Sportsbook Announces New $5 Bet Minimum in Illinois
BetRivers Sportsbooks will be raising its minimum bet requirement to $5 in Illinois. It recently raised it to $1 after the state increased taxes. The new change comes just days after Chicago enacted a new city-specific license and tax system.
Wisconsin, Mississippi Eye Sports Betting Expansion in 2026
Lawmakers in Mississippi and Wisconsin are back in session and already discussing expanding their sports betting markets to include mobile sportsbooks. While changing conditions are giving proponents hope that the efforts will succeed, larger hurdles still remain for both states.
Las Vegas Raiders Part Ways with Veteran Coach Pete Carroll After One Season
Raiders fire NFL’s oldest coach Pete Carroll (74) after the league’s worst season of 3-14, forcing another coach search for the third year in a row.
Esports
Ex-Activision Blizzard Exec Named SVP of Brand Partnerships with BLAST
Esports tournament organizer BLAST enlists a new SVP of Brand Partnerships: Steve Rossi.
League of Legends World Champion Faker Awarded With Cheongyeong Medal
The President of South Korea gave Faker the Cheongyeong Medal.
Comprehensive Mobile Legends: Bang Bang M7 World Championship Guide
The M7 World Championship for Mobile Legends: Bang Bang is returning after a year-long absence.
Responsible Gambling News
Public Opinion on Sports Betting Shifts, According to New Poll
A new poll found that public opinion has begun to shift against the sports betting industry, with people concerned over gambling addiction and betting scandals. The poll found that more people favor expanding sports betting in the US.
Wyoming Joins National Voluntary Self-Exclusion Program
Wyoming has joined idPair’s National Voluntary Self-Exclusion Program. Residents who sign up will be unable to use online sportsbooks, ending (most of) the targeted advertising they receive. This can help those struggling with addiction, though prediction markets are changing that.
The Dangers of Truth Social’s Impending Prediction Market Launch
Trump Media has announced it will launch a prediction market platform on Truth Social through a deal with Crypto.com. Those markets will include sports and present some very real dangers for Americans across the US.
Michael Savio covers the US online casino industry, giving readers insights and information they won’t find anywhere else. He has followed the retail industry since his time living in Las Vegas and has continued to do so as the online industry has taken off. Michael covers everything from online casino reviews to industry news, making him one of the most trusted insiders in the business.
Grant is a former graduate of Virginia Tech, a former NCAA track and field athlete, and an avid sports fan and sports bettor. He aims to provide up-to-the-minute and detailed coverage of headlines in the sports betting industry. Grant joined the professional ranks in 2021 and quickly made a name for himself, working with entities such as Forbes and VSiN and earning a reliable reputation in the industry. When he’s not working, you can find him exercising, walking around the city, or somewhere watching the big game of the day.
Richard Janvrin, a graduate of the University of New Hampshire with a degree in English/Journalism, has been a professional writer since 2015. Specializing in sports, sports betting, and online casinos, Richard began his casino writing journey following the repeal of the Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act in 2018. Since then, he has crafted various casino-related content, including how-to guides, online casino reviews, bonus/promotion overviews, and breaking news. Richard is dedicated to delivering the most current and precise news in the online casino industry.
Lucas is a New Jersey-born and raised copywriter. His content encompasses casino, software provider, and game reviews, news, and blogs. Lucas’ professional writing experience spans more than six years. He works globally with clients from the US, the UK, New Zealand, Australia, South Africa, and Canada. Before he started writing gambling content, Lucas went to Rutgers University to pursue a bachelor’s degree in psychology. Just to shake things up, he became a painter, following in his father’s footsteps. He now writes full-time and doubles in painting now and then.