News and Anaylsis

Evolution Gaming and Barstool Sportsbook & Casino Create Exclusive Branded Content

Evolution Gaming has signed a deal with Barstool Sportsbook and Casino (Penn National Gaming) this week to create a bespoke, fully Barstool branded live casino studio. This increases the live dealer offering at this new online casino, helping them edge out as a front runner in NJ for live dealer games. Barstool Casino currently offers live blackjack, roulette, Dream Catcher, poker, and the Lighting range.

Which US Sportsbook Apps are Leading the Industry?

Sports betting US app download fingers are in and show a 183% increase in downloads YoY for September. DraftKings and Fanduel are the industry's front runners with respective download shares of 32% and 25%, followed by BetMGM and Caesars.

AGA CEO Survey Records High Expectations for Industry Recovery

The American Gaming Association's Gaming CEO Outlook (launched this year and included the survey responses of 24 iGaming executives) has revealed that 48% of Gambling CEOs expect full industry recovery over the next six months. While official figures show a slowdown in growth (only 15% for Q3, compared with Q2), the overall opinion was that the industry is stronger and more resilient as an outcome of the COVID pandemic.

Slot Game of the Week

Fiesta Mistica: Playtech. RTP: N/A%.

Coming up for release over the weekend is a brand new number from Playtech, Fiesta Mistica Slot. Based on Mexican Day of the Dead, this game puts its colorful twist on the theme, providing a stunning slot backdrop filled with bright glowing symbols.

The game is a jackpot slot and comes with bonus features which include free spins. You'll start making wins in the base game by lining up matching symbols. Fiesta Mistica can be played from $0.20. There's not much more we can tell you as Playtech is keeping this release very mistica! You can play it from the weekend at these US Playtech Casinos.

News and Analysis

It’s All Heating Up in CT as Sports Betting Goes Live

Both DraftKings and FanDuel launched legal sportsbooks in CT yesterday as the market went live with iGaming expected in October (post regulatory approval: thus far, only Rush Street Interactive has been approved to run the state’s lottery program).

Since March, the launch has been awaited when Governor Ned Lamont agreed on new Tribal Compacts with Mohegan Sun and Mashantucket Pequot Tribal Nation Tribes. Under the compacts, the tribes and state lottery can offer sports betting, while iGaming is the exclusive right of the two tribes.

Playtech and Unibet Agree New Casino Deal

Playtech is a newer games developer in the US after securing marketing access earlier this year. This week the supplier has signed a deal with Kindred Group (Unibet) that will see Playtech games go live at Unibet Casinos online, starting with the NJ platform. Playtech content is currently live in Michigan and Pennsylvania Casinos.

Delaware Hits Year High Revenue Record for iGaming

Players are lighting up the board in Delaware, where iGaming revenue is hitting a year high record for August, with lottery the biggest earner, followed by table games, then poker. Delaware Park remains the state’s favorite online casino. Check out our online casino review of Delaware Park and find out what deposit bonus you can enjoy as a new player.

Slot Game of the Week

Dave Lame Bad Magician Slot: SG. RTP: 96.1%.

Ready from a brand new game from industry giants Scientific Games? Then this humor-filled spinner is the title for you this week. Based on Dave Lame, a relatively unsuccessful magician (but still manages to pull out his fair share of cash-based prizes from the reels), it’s set on 5x3 reels, which can expand up to 5x9 during the escapology free spins.

With five magic trick free spin rounds (Knife Throw, Rabbits out of Daves Hat, Card Trick, Escapology Act, and Saw the Reels in Half - we’ve leave the details a mystery), growing multipliers, and random base game re-spins that have pay both way lines, this game has all the magic you need for a great online gaming experience!

Set your bets from $0.20-50 for max payouts of $250,000. Get in on the action and start spinning to win at these Scientific Games Casinos.

News and Analysis

PA Market Blooms YoY for August

PA total gaming revenue is up a whopping 31.3% on last year’s figures for August. Slots accounted for more than half of the revenue, with tables in second and online slots in third place. Parx Casino, Hollywood, and Penn National came in first, second, and third place for the top-earning casinos. In total online gambling has grown 58.7% on last year with the front runners Hollywood and Rivers Casinos.

Americans Show Increasingly Positive Attitudes Towards Gambling - AGA

This year’s AGA’s Annual Survey of American Attitudes on Casino Gaming has revealed increasingly positive attitudes within the US towards gambling.

Findings revealed:

• Two-thirds of adults view the industry as a positive economic contributor that provides high-quality jobs, and 73 percent support legalized sports betting in their state.
• Nearly 7 in 10 Americans believe the gaming industry behaves responsibly and a majority (57%) believe the industry gives back to the communities where it operates.

You can read the results in full at the American Gambling Association.

Ontario: First Month of Legal Sports Betting Brings in >$6m in Bets

Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corporation have released revenue figures of over $6 million for the first month of legal sports betting in Ontario following federal Bill C-218.

Slot Game of the Week

Reef Raider: Netent. RTP: 96.01%.

Fresh off the development board for September 2021 is NetEnt’s latest slot release, Reef Raider. This game is downright gorgeous with a 7x7 cluster reel and pay set up that sees multiple wins and multipliers hit the reels one after another.

Features include Free Spins, Cannon Blasts, Mystery Chests, Anchor Drops, and Random Wilds features that you’ll trigger along the way and increase the in-game action even more.

Spin to win this stunning underwater slot for max prizes of 8,500x your bet and stakes starting from $0.20 up to $100 per spin at any of our top-rated NetEnt US online casinos.

News and Analysis

Greentube Gains NJ Market Access

Novomatic’s interactive online arm, Greentube, has struck a deal with Golden Nugget Online Gaming this week that will see the games provider go live in NJ before expanding to additional states. Greentube is a popular European provider that's been pumping out hit titles for over a decade and comes with a lobby of over 400 games.

High 5 Games Celebrates Nine Years of Making Games

One of our favorite US games providers, High 5 Games, celebrated its ninth birthday this week. The studio is a knock-out player in the US and globally, focusing on creating innovative games and a unique gaming style. Plus, with over 500 games to their name, they’ve achieved a hell of a lot in just nine years. If you’ve not tried a High 5 Games Slot, then you must!

Michigan Casinos Bring Home the Revenue

As gaming figures roll in for August, Michigan’s reporting record-breaking revenue of $97.2m for online casinos. That’s up 5% on July and a record total since the market opened. The state’s top-performing casino is BetMGM, followed by FanDuel.

DoI Approves CT Amended Gaming Compacts

Connecticut has this week taken one step closer to legal online gambling as the DoI has approved the new tribal gaming compacts that will allow for online sports betting, fantasy sports, and online casinos in the state.

Under the pact, the state’s two tribes (Mashantucket Pequot Tribe and Mohegan Tribe) can operate one gaming site and one sportsbook skin. The following steps are for CT to continue creating licensing and certification processes for operators so that the market can launch.

Slot Game of the Week

The Amulet and the Charm Power Bet: High 5 Games. RTP: 95%

As well as celebrating their ninth birthday, this week, High 5 Games has released The Amulet and the Charm Power Bet Slot for US players. Based on mystery, fantasy, and lucky charms, this slot is all about seeking out the precious amulet or enchanting charm and all the power that comes with it.

Set on 4x5 reels with 40 betlines, features include Scatter Bucks, Stacked Wilds, Multipliers, Free Spins, and the Power Bet feature, which increases your chance of hitting wins over 30 spins. Bets start high from $0.80 and go up to $400, so watch how you stake with this game. Play this title now at our top-rated High 5 Games Casinos.

News and Analysis

PariPlay Kick Off the Week With West Virginia Launch

It's been a big week for PariPlay who has secured West Virginia supplier licensing. Should online casinos opt to stock PariPlay, this delivers a lobby of over 3,000 new titles, over 100 of which are proprietary games, with the rest are secured from 60+ developers. Live tournaments and a bonus engine have also been approved under the license.

Nevada Gambling Smashes Records with $1.36bn Revenue for July

Nevada is smashing gambling revenue records this summer as what's been tagged, "the gambling come back of the year", is tallied up for July with whopping revenue figures of $1.36bn.

Caesars Entertainment Completes Sale of South Indiana Operations

Caesars Entertainment has completed the sale of Caesars Southern Indiana Casino to the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians. The deal, which was agreed on in January 2021, totaled $250mn. Caesars and the Eastern Band have been working together since 1996, opening Harrah’s Cherokee in North Carolina, then a second property, Harrah’s Cherokee Valley River, in 2015.

Slot Game of the Week

Interstellar Attack Slot: High 5 Games. RTP: 97.2%.

The perfect mix of arcade game meets slot, Interstellar Attack is a high volatility, high payout new title from High 5 Games. Set on grid reels with a space raider theme and mechanics, you'll light up the reels collecting gems and shooting asteroids.

Collecting green crystals upgrades your fleet, which is good news as the space ships along the bottom of the reels shoot asteroids to deliver line multipliers. Red crystals, which you'll also collect along the way, are used for special power-ups for big wins as the asteroids are destroyed to create the perfect storm of reel and booster action.

Take a trip down memory lane and start spinning this brand new online slot from $0.20-40 for max payouts of up to x28039 at these High 5 Games Casinos.

Slot Game of the Week

Street Fighter 2: The World Warrior - NetEnt, RTP: 96.08%

Reigniting player's passions for Street Fighter, NetEnt originally released this title mid-2020, but it's hot off the press in the US. If you're ready to channel your inner Ryu or Ken and beat your opponent on the reels for real money prizes, then this is the slot to spin for September!

Staying true to the arcade gaming vibes, the reel background is the original game graphics, which change depending on which character you pick. The 5x5 grid reels feature cluster pays (4-16 symbols) and cascading wins, making for exciting action from the get-go.

• 

• 

• 

Start by picking your fighter, and you'll randomly be assigned an opponent. While spinning the reels, you'll fight with your health points on-screen, dealing damage when you win with your victory/defeat symbols and receiving damage points if your opponent's victory/defeat symbols are in the mix.

Win the battle, and you're awarded Beat the Boss Free Spins. There are 4 boss levels, each offering a higher multiplier, but you'll only ascend if you win each round.

• Barlog = 2x
• Vega = 3x
• Sagat = 5x
• M. Bison = 10x

Beat them all, and you'll go head-head against M. Bison, the final boss. Should you win this fight, you'll leave with 100x your stake. Free spins are unlimited and last as long as your health sustains.

There's a wild feature that triggers if you fill the gauge (one point for each high paying symbol in a line win that's reset with each spin), and it adds random wilds to reels helping you make bet line wins and beat your opponent in both the base and bonus game. But that's not all; there's one final bonus round, the Car Smash Bonus Game where you'll take control of the fight and destroy the on-screen car for 5-15x your bet level.

For Street Fighter fans, this slot is a must-play game as it gives you the chance to revisit an iconic childhood game with an adult gambling twist. What's more, as a branded slot, it delivers on all fronts with superb graphics, epic bonuses, top-line payouts, and nail-biting action. The cost per spin is $0.20-700, so you can really up the ante, and max payouts are 7,142x your stake.

Are you ready to take to the streets and start fighting for big prizes? Then start spinning at any of our top-rated US NetEnt Casinos.

News and Anaylsis

Industry Catch Up: What is the US Gambling Industry Worth?

The US gambling industry is on track for another record-breaking year with projections set at $44 billion for 2021, based on revenue figures published by the American Gambling Association for the first two quarters. The top-earning states are Nevada, Pennsylvania, and New Jersey.

With such figures rolling in, the industry is back to full pre-pandemic levels. Meanwhile, iGaming revenue is also hitting new highs with a record $1.66 billion revenue for the first half of 2021, which is already more than 2019's total figure of $1.55 billion.

For any states currently considering online gaming reform, these figures will undoubtedly provide an insight into the possible tax potential should they go ahead. And it seems the population is all for it, with seven in every ten US voters believing that gambling contributes positively to the US economy.

White Hat Gaming Hits the States Forming New US Gaming Division

White Hat Gaming has announced it's coming to the US and has formed a new US content division that will target the market, creating games and offering slots, jackpots, RNG tables, and instant win games to operators in NJ, PA, MI, and WV.

The launch is expected in the first quarter of 2021, and the new games will run alongside White Hat's 200+ title strong portfolio, including top slot hits like TED and Eye of Horus. This is excellent news for real money gamers in these states, as White Hat Gaming is a player favorite in Europe.

Game of the Week

Kingmaker Fully Loaded | Big Time Gaming: RTP 96.60%

It's that time of the week when we bring you the latest game releases and this time, it’s a big one: Kingmaker Fully Loaded from BTG.

Set on five reels with 32-16,807 ways to win, the game delivers Megaways spins, Fully Loaded Multipliers, and free spins. The Fully Loaded element is the new edition (Kingmaker is already a popular BTG Slot, this is a new edition).

Along the right of the reels, you'll notice four pendants corresponding to each of the game's high-paying gem symbols. At the start of each spin, a random multiplier between 0-99 is added to the pendants, and should you hit a win with the matching symbol, the multiplier is added, which leads to substantial potential payouts!

To trigger the free spins round, you'll need between 3-5 crown scatter symbols for 7-20 royal spins, plus on the triggering spin, all pendant multipliers are totaled and pay! The free spins are played with the max of 16,807 ways to win, so there's plenty of fully loaded action in this brand new BTG slot!

Available from September 9th, you can play this game at any of our top US BTG Casinos.

News and Analysis

Delaware Online Casino Market is Growing

Home to three online casinos and the first US state to legalize online casino gaming, Delaware is state that doesn't often hit headline news. However, the market has recently shown substantial growth, with the Delaware Lottery Commission reporting YoY increases of 12.4% for the iGaming sector, with the most popular online choice for players, Delaware Park Casino! If you want to learn more about online casinos in Delaware, check out our dedicated page!

WynnBet Casino to Launch Online Reward Program

This week WynnBet Casino has announced that they will be integrating their rewards program for online mobile and desktop players! This is fantastic news for WynnBet gamblers as you will soon be able to earn points as you play and exchange them for online rewards and play, hotel stays and discounts, and in-person experiences at Wynn & Encore Las Vegas, and Encore Casino, Boston. The system is expected to go live in the fall.

Slot of the Week

Pork Knox™ Slot: NetEnt. RTP: 96%.

Pork Knox™ is a 5x3, 20 payline slot that’s brand new to the US and comes with a progressive jackpot prize! With a criminal and cash-filled piggy theme, this game delivers both fun and big prizes with a total of four fantastic bonus features!

Here’re the symbols and features you need to know to play and win:

• Mystery Symbols: Score multiple coin stack mystery symbols on the reels, and they’ll all merge into a singular matching one for big payouts.

• Scatters: Land 3-5 scatters on the reels, and 3 pick me safe symbols will appear on the reels. Select 1 to trigger 1 of 3 bonus features, including free spins with a 3x multiplier, an instant cash win of between 7.5-1,000x your stake, or the cash stacker jackpot feature.

• Cash Stacker Bonus Feature: Your aim in this round is to fill the reels with cash stacker symbols. Each cash stacker symbol sticks for the round and awards a cash multiplier, and you’ll start with 3 spins (this resets for each cash stacker symbol you land).
  
  Fill the whole of reel 2 with cash stacker symbols, and you’ll get the mini jackpot (10x your stake), fill reel 4, and you’ll be awarded the midi pot at 30x your stake, and fill the middle reel, and you’ve got your hands on the mega jackpot! When the round ends, you’ll get the total payouts from any cash stacker symbols and jackpots you’ve won.

Ready to start spinning? Then check out this top new game at any of our NetEnt Casinos from just 20 cents!

News and Analysis

DraftKings Acquires Golden Nugget Online Gaming in Mega-Merger

This week DraftKings and GNOG have struck a deal that will see the company acquire 100% of Golden Nugget’s online division for a whopping $1.56bn. Subject to regulatory approval, the agreement is set to close in early 2022.

New York License Bidders Revealed

The New York Gaming Commission has revealed that FanDuel, Kambi, Bet365, Fox Bet, and theScore have all bid to be one of NYs only two platform providers when gambling goes live in the state.

Until now, the proposals have been sealed, and we still don’t know the financial details, but the New York Gaming Commission was clear from the outset they were looking for figures up from $25mil.

Rush Street Interactive Gets Together with Boom Entertainment

Online gambling operator Rush Street Interactive has this week invested in games developer Boom Entertainment. The deal will see Boom Entertainment integrate its casino game and sports products with Rush Street. The developer will also create exclusive content for RSI, which should be live at BetRivers and SugarHouse Casinos from next year.

Illinois Sets December Deadline for Sports Betting Applications

The Illinois Gaming Board has set a December 3rd deadline for three additional licensing applications from online-only sports betting operators. The winning bidders will have to pay the $20m licensing fee and then can launch.

The state has decided to allow for additional operators as it’s aiming to diversify the gambling outlook after falling revenues. The current leading sportsbooks in Illinois are Fanuel and DraftKings.

Slot Game of the Week

Big Bad Wolf Megaways: Quickspin. RTP 96%.

If you’re ready to blow the house down with big prizes and stellar slot action, then you’ve gotta check out Big Bad Wolf Megaways from Quickspin. Featuring stunningly detailed graphics, a tumble mechanic, climbing multipliers during the free spin bonus round, and up to 117,649 ways to win, this game is a highlight for 2021.

The action kicks off in the base game, where the Megaways, wilds, and big line wins create impressive action. Plus, whenever you win, the tumbling reels take over, replacing winning symbols with new ones, so you get a second shot to score a betline.

To make it to the Blowing Down the House Bonus Game, you’ll need to collect 3 full moon scatters, which grants you a tasty 11 spins. These are no regular free spins, and with each wins, you’ll get a growing multiplier (it starts at x1 but doesn’t reset throughout the round, it just keeps getting bigger). Plus, if you land more scatters, you’ll be granted even more spins and a bonus multiplier.

Too impatient for the bonus round? Then use the bonus buy feature at the cost of 90x your bet and get guaranteed instant access.

Ready to check out this top title? Then load the reels from $0.20-100 at these Quickspin Casinos.

News and Analysis

Scientific Games Acquires Lightning Box

Kicking things off this week is Scientific Games who have completed their acquisition of Lightning Box. Lightning Box is an Australian games developer that has proved popular in the USA, with FanDuel, BetMGM, BetRivers, and Golden Nugget Casino stocking their games.

Under the deal, Lightning Box will continue to create games while benefiting from SG’s distribution channels and resources. The agreement comes as part of SG’s recent overhaul that has seen them sell off the lottery and sports betting divisions concentrating solely on the casino side of the industry.

SG Senior VP of Gaming said of the deal: “Lightning Box games are hugely popular with slot players around the world, and we’re excited to welcome them. […] Our strategy is a simple one: talented, passionate people make great games, and the addition of the Lightning Box team is another example of this and how we will continue to be the iGaming industry leader."

If you’re a fan of Lightning Box and their games like we are, then greater access to funds and resources should mean that we’ll be seeing much more from this studio soon!

Caesars Entertainment Launches Stand-Alone Sportsbook After William Hill US Acquisition

Caesars Entertainment has launched a sportsbook using the Liberty Platform, which it acquired from the William Hill takeover earlier this year. The platform is already live in Colorado, Indiana, Iowa, Michigan, New Jersey, Tennessee, Virginia, and West Virginia, with plans to launch in Arizona, Maryland, and Louisiana once sports betting goes live.

Play Gun Lake Casino Gets Sports Betting Go Ahead in Michigan

In more sports news, Play Gun Lake Casino and Parx Interactive (the platform provider) have this week received the go-ahead from the MGCB to launch a sportsbook alongside their casino platform in Michigan.

Slot Game of the Week

Alright, that’s it for the serious stuff this week, it’s time to move on to the slot game that you should be spinning. Without further ado, here’s our slot of the week.

Atlantis Megaways™: ReelPlay (Yggdrasil Masters) RTP: 96.10%

Atlantis Megaways™ takes players on a mythical journey and deep dive into the sea to discover the lost underwater Kingdom of Atlantis. Mixing Megaways with a brand new feature where every win you make triggers a super reaction along the six reels and 117,649 ways to win, this slot is sublime.

Still, that’s just the start of things as there is also a bonus re-spins round that’s triggered if you hit six scatters on the reels and for each new scatter, your re-spin total resets to three, and you’ll get a bonus or prize, which could lead up to a 2000x Pearl Bonus jackpot! With a potential of up to 42 scatters on the reels during this round, max payouts get as high as $216,000.

Ready to spin the reels? Then set your bets from $0.25-25 and see what the lost kingdom of Atlantis has in store for you at these ReelPlay Casinos!

News and Analysis

New Jersey has a New Online Casino: Welcome PointsBet

PointsBet Casino has gone live in New Jersey this week after securing NJDGE licensing. The operator is not new to the market, having run a sportsbook in NJ since 2019 and launching their first casino product in Michigan in May.

The operator uses a proprietary iGaming platform developed in-house. Hence, it brings something fresh for the market and is partnered with Bally’s Atlantic City, making them the first of a prospective five online casino skins under Bally’s license.

Live Dealers Launch in all Michigan Casinos

Last week we brought you the epic news that Evolution Gaming was licensed and live in Michigan, starting with Golden Nugget Casino. Well, this week, they’ve already formed deals with 80% of MI’s online casinos, meaning you can now play live dealers at FanDuel, BetMGM, DraftKings, BetRivers, PokerStars, and TwinSpires.

Scientific Games Teams up with BetRivers West Virginia

Rush Street Interactive has agreed on a supplier deal with Scientific Games that will see SG content launch in BetRivers Casino WV, making them the first online casino in WV to feature SG games.

If you’re in WV and have never spun an SG slot before, then you must, as these guys are an absolute cornerstone of US land-based and online gaming. The top titles to play straight away are 88 Fortunes, Monopoly Megaways, and Wheel of Fortune!

Slot Game of the Week

Gordon Ramsay’s Hell’s Kitchen™ Slot: NetEnt. RTP: 96.07%

Are you ready to whet your appetite in Gordon Ramsay’s Hell’s Kitchen video slot edition? Then get ready because his game serves up the emotionally charged atmosphere of Hell’s Kitchen TV series, but in an interactive format, on 5x3 reels with 20 lines.

Inclusive of flying crockery, knife wilds, Ramsary’s glaring stares scatters, and even Team Challenge Free spins, this is one super spinner slot. Line up the staring scatters (if you dare), then pick a side, red or blue, and spin to win.

If you’re lucky enough to survive the team challenge, you’ll score entry to an additional round, Gordon’s Bonus Game, which is a click and pick menu bonanza, with multipliers and coin payouts up for grabs.

Think you can handle the heat? Then set your stakes from $0.20-400 and start cooking up prizes at any of our top-rated US NetEnt online casinos!

News and Analysis

Live Dealers Come to Michigan

It's official Michigan has live dealers! This week Evolution Gaming's live Blackjack, Roulette, and Baccarat secured MGCB approval and launched in the state, with Golden Nugget being the first online casino to feature the games.

If you're not familiar with live games, they are played in real-time, with a human dealer running the table and providing entertainment. The game is live-streamed to players, who use a game interface to make their moves and engage with the dealer as the action happens.

FireKeepers Casino Strikes SG iGaming Deal

FireKeepers Casino has this week become Michigan's tenth online casino. The site, which initially launched as a sportsbook in 2020, and has now doubled down, adding online casino games after extending their agreement with SG who provides both verticals.

FireKeepers is MI's largest tribal casino and a favorite of players in this state, so if you're in Michigan and fancy taking this site for a test drive, sign up and start playing on the house with a match deposit deal up to $500!

SG and Playtech Seal Distributor Deal

Scientific Games and Playtech have hashed out a deal this week that will see Playtech games and live dealers distributed under the SG network in the USA, beginning with online casinos in NJ. As SG is featured at most US online casinos, the deal will provide Playtech with more US exposure and bring award-winning games to players while varying the live dealer options (only Ezugi and Evolution Gaming titles are currently available).

Slot Game of the Week

Divine Fortune Megaways™. NetEnt: RTP 96.06%

This week we're continuing the celebration of 2021's award-winning games. This time it's another number from NetEnt: Divine Fortune Megaways™, which has just won Product Launch of the Year 2021 at the Global Gaming Awards.

Originally released in 2017 as a progressive jackpot slot, the version of Divine Fortune we're talking about today is the 2021 Megaways edition, which swaps out the progressive element, replacing it with 117,649 ways to win.

Aside from the reel mechanic change-up, the theme and features stay faithful to the original and offer thrilling action with wilds, falling wilds re-spins feature (land a wild symbol, and you'll get re-spins that only end once the wild leaves the reels, it drops one position with each re-spins), wild reels, and free spins with multiplier payouts, special symbols, and extra wild reels!

That's a lot of action packed into one slot, right? Well, it gets better because the bets start from just $0-10 and reach $100 with max payouts up to 38,000x! Are you ready to take this award-winning game for a spin? Then check out our top NetEnt Casinos and grab yourself a welcome bonus at a 5-star gambling site!

News and Analysis

New York Requests Applications from Mobile Sports Betting Providers

The NY Gaming Commission has opened applications for mobile sports betting platform providers. Licenses will cost a whopping $25mill in this state and will be bid for by candidates, with the most robust proposal winning. It’s been suggested and incentivized by the state that a 50% revenue sharing model would be readily accepted.

FanDuel Opts for SG’s OpenSports Platform

FanDuel is migrating their sportsbook to Scientific Games' OpenSports platform after successfully trialing the product in Iowa, Virginia, Pennsylvania, and New Jersey.

PGCB to Hold Public Hearing on Proposed Mini-Casino

The PGCB will hold a public hearing on August 16th at PA’s municipality of College Township, Centre County, to consider and hear opinions on the proposed category four casino application from SC Gaming Op Co.

Category four casinos are satellite or mini-casinos that the state legalized in 2017. Pennsylvanian allows for ten mini-casinos, each of which can host 300 to 750 slot machines and up to 40 table games but cannot be within 25 miles of an existing category 1-3 establishment.

“Changing States: US iGaming On The March?”

This week we also tuned into the CasinoBeats Summit to catch a panel of iGaming experts discussing where things are headed with the US market and whether it's primed for a new iGaming gold rush as more states look to legalization.

Participants included Fintan Costello, Managing Director, BonusFinder.com; Adam Noble, Co-Founder and Chief Business Development Officer of Playstar Casino; and Benjamin Truman, Co-Founder & COO, MediaTroopers.

Here is the main question put to them:

What did the experts have to say, is the US primed to explode with new gambling states and a gold rush?

Adam Noble: “I’m not sure if it’s primed for the next gold rush, or we’re right in the middle of it. You’ll see that you mentioned there New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and Michigan. The two latter markets there have been live for a relatively short time in the online casino world, and two of the soon to be largest markets globally, so it’s just a couple of states were talking about, so by the time you add another 10, 15, 20 states to that equation absolutely, absolutely that will be a gold rush."

Fintan Costello: “The short answer is yes. Its automatic growth as more and more states pass iGaming laws. You know, a tiny fraction of the US population currently has access to legal online casino. It’s just natural organic growth. I think where the stumbling blocks could be things around how many licenses are going to be issued in a particular state, what kind of restrictions are going to be put in place, and what tax rates”.

Benjamin Truman: The US is so minor at the moment with iGaming experience; it’s going to take a while. The states are looking at it, and every single state sees what’s going on in New Jersey and Pennsylvania. Even a state like WV, with only about one million people, has pretty strong numbers, but it’s going to take a while though [….] the US is very young with a long term to grow, it will take a while for this market to mature. […] Anybody who is small coming in with a good product will succeed in the USA, and that’s what we see now.”

Slot Game of the Week

Over the next two weeks, we’re celebrating award-winning games, and first up is Red Tiger's Gonzo’s Quest Megaways™, which has just been named Global Gaming Awards 2021 Casino Product of the Year.

Gonzo’s Quest Megaways: RTP 96%. Red Tiger Gaming.

This game is Gonzo’s Quest, but with a Megaways twist that adds a sixth reel and up to 117,649 ways to win.

Now, if you’ve played Gonzo’s Quest before (and if you haven't drop what you're doing and play a free edition now, as this is an iconic slot and a must-play), you’ll be familiar with the avalanche and multipliers set up (when you make a line win, the symbols explode causing new symbols to fall in their place, consecutive wins add multipliers) as well as the free fall feature (free spins), which can deliver up to 15x multipliers.

On top of this, this edition adds an unbreakable wilds symbol and earthquake feature where it all comes crashing down, and only high-paying symbols hit the reels. Plus, if you want to risk it all, you can gamble for extra free spins delivering a max win up to 21,000x your stake!

Sounds pretty epic, right? Then it should come as no surprise that this game just won GGA’s Casino Product of the Year. Set your bets from $0.20-4.00 and start hunting treasure in the lost city of El Dorado with the award-winning Red Tiger Gaming at these Red Tiger online casinos.

News and Anaylsis

Tribal Gaming: The Leveler (HB 4308)

In 1988 Congress introduced The Indian Gaming Regulatory Act, which superseded a Supreme Court hearing from a year before stating that gambling on reservation land was included in tribal sovereignty. The 1988 Act removed control over gambling from the tribes, introducing classes of gambling and state compacts that had to be formed between the local state governments and tribes. Over the years, this Act has prohibited tribes from entering the online gaming sphere unless the state they reside in agrees explicitly to a compact with the tribe.

This week, a new bill has been brought before congress, bill 4308, which says that any gambling servers located on tribal lands should be considered gambling on tribal lands and regulated as such. This bill aims to remove federal barriers to iGaming for US tribes and level the playing field, allowing them to benefit from the sweeping iGaming legalization taking place in the US. We'll update you on how the bill progresses.

Mohegan and FanDuel Strike a Deal for Connecticut

With sportsbooks and online casinos in CT set to go live this fall, Mohegan and Fanduel have hashed out a deal that will see Fanduel provide Mohegan’s online casino and sportsbook in the state! We can’t wait to see who partners with whom as things heat up ahead of online casinos opening!

Harrah’s Casino Heads to Nebraska

Caesars Entertainment has forged a deal with Columbus Exposition and Racing (CER) for a new land-based casino in Nebraska. CER will take the lead with the build and operate the site once open. Completion is expected in late 2022.

Slot Game of the Week

Sticky Bandits 3. Quickspin: RTP 95.82 - 96.25%

Are you looking for a slot to spin this week? Then it's gotta be Sticky Bandits 3 from Quickspin. This is the third in a highly popular slot trilogy, which brings the wicked Wild West back to life on 5x3 reels, with 9 betlines, and enormous prizes up to 22,000x your bet!

Set the stakes from $0.09-90 and spin for line wins and huge scatter pays. Then watch as it all comes together in the bank robbery free spins round with sticky bandit wilds, which might see the whole reels fill with matching sticky symbols and all your wins multiplied! Can’t wait for that to happen? Then use the bonus buy button to buy the free spins at the cost of 60x your bet!

Ready to start spinning? Check out Sticky Bandits 3 slot at these Quickspin Casinos.

News and Analysis

SG Plans to Drop Lottery and Sports Divisions

Gambling giant Scientific Games plans to drop their lottery and sports betting divisions to focus on more sustainable business growth. The company is considering several options for divesting the businesses, but nothing concrete as yet.

Gamesys and Ballys Mega-Merger Approved

Gamesys and Ballys have hashed out a mega-merger deal between the two companies that will create a leading group in the retail and online industry for US and global markets.

Mohegan Gaming Creates New Digital Division

Mohegan Gaming has launched Mohegan Digital, its new iGaming division. Mohegan Digital’s first task will be creating a digital experience for Connecticut players from the brand’s flagship, Mohegan Sun Casino, after the state legalizes online gambling.

PlayStar Casino Extends Deal with GIG Gaining PA Market Access

PlayStar Casino, which is set to launch in NJ in the fourth quarter of this year, has already signed a deal with GIG that extends its agreement and provides PlayStar with market access to Pennsylvania. With two new launches already scheduled for this independent new casino, we’re expecting big things, especially as the company touts itself as “an online casino with a difference that will stand out from the current offerings in the market”!

Borgata Casino Holding Firm as NJ Online Players Favourite Casino

In New Jersey, Borgata Casino is winning the award for most popular online casino in terms of revenue for the third month running. So ladies and gents, if you’re in NJ and ready to spin some slots, this the player’s favorite option in NJ.

Slot Game of the Week

Dragon Shard: Stormcraft Studios (released under DGC in the US). RTP: 96.4%.

Dragon Shard Slot was initially released in 2019, but it is brand new to the US at BetMGM, Party, and Borgata Casinos; plus, it's a darn fine slot to spin, so we’re making it this week’s slot of the week!

It’s a fantasy spinner filled with dragons, stacked dragon symbols, and a duel between the Ice King and Fire Queen on 5 reels with 40 lines. With a tense playing atmosphere, this is a stunning slot with beautifully crafted graphics. There are three main features you’ll want to know about, the win booster, which doubles the stakes, makes the paylines win both ways, and boost mystery symbols; the super-stacked mystery symbols, which reveal wilds or high paying symbols; and free spins, which you’ll trigger with 3+ scatter and come with mystery reels.

Ready to set your bets from $0.05-200 and start spinning Dragon Shard Slot? Check it out at our top rated DGC Casinos today!

News and Analysis

It’s Official; Online Sports Betting is Legal in Louisiana

Both of Louisiana's sports betting bills have been signed off by Governor Bel Edwards this week, meaning that 41 sportsbooks (two skins per each of the state’s 20 land-based casinos) could be launching within the state before fall this year!

Pennsylvania Gross Gambling Revenue Keeps on Growing

Players in Pennsylvania have made it another record-breaking month as GGR for online casinos increases by 10%+ in May compared with April 2021. YoY, that’s a massive 76.7% increase. Which casinos have been most popular? In first place, Hollywood Casino takes the lead, followed by BetRivers, and in third place is FanDuel.

Slot Game of the Week

Triple Monkey: High 5 Games. RTP: 95%.

This week’s game is a 2018 release that’s just gone live in the USA. Created by High 5 Games, it's a cheeky number and a top spinner with 720 ways to win and maximum payouts of 5001x your bet. The setup is a 3-4-5-4-3 transparent reel matrix, which looks stunning and is filled with fruits, monkeys, and lower-paying letter symbols.

Aside from collecting as many monkeys and split monkey symbols as possible (the game pays out 250,000 coins for combinations of up to 15 symbols) and collecting coins, there are two bonus symbols you’ll want to know about: the Free Games Scatter and the Find Your Fortune Bonus Scatter.

Free spins work, as usual, providing you with 6 non-paid spins, and can be triggered by collecting 3+  yellow Banana Scatter on reels 2,3, or 4. To begin the Find Your Fortune Round, you’re looking for 3+ red Banana Scatter symbols, which can also appear on reels 2-4 only.

This bonus round is a multi-tiered click-and-pick game, and you'll start by selecting one of the bunches of bananas to reveal which tier opens the game. Each tier has different coin rewards, which increase as you ascend the levels, but should you hit an end-of-round logo, then it’s all over - hopefully, you’ll have already pocketed some pretty tasty coin wins by this point.

Ready to start spinning? Then check out this beautifully crafted slot at any of our recommended High 5 Games Casinos and play from $0.50+.

News and Analysis

Get the Latest on Responsible Gambling with New Entain Foundation App

The Entain Foundation is a responsible gambling charity formed and funded by Entain and BetMGM. This week the service has launched a free new responsible gambling app, “Gamble Responsibly America.” The app offers various tools, information, and support for US players struggling with problem gambling. Players can learn how to use responsible gambling casino tools, complete self-assessments, and keep a gambling diary. There’s also 24/7 live chat support which is teamed by specialists in the field.

Whether problem gambling is something you experience or not, every gambler should understand the risks associated with gambling, use responsible gambling tools, and regularly assess their behavior. If you want all the tools for this in one handy app, take this new service for a test drive.

The PGCB Fines Land-Based Operators: Toe the Line of Face the Fine

This week both Boyd Gaming and Penn National Gaming have come under fire from the PGCB. Penn National received two fines totaling $120,000, the first for allowing a self-excluded player to gamble and the second for funneling payments to service providers resulting in lower licensing fees. On the other hand, Boyd Gaming received a fine of $150,000 after the commission ruled that they had failed to disclose information relating to the suitability of a key employee listed on the company's license.

Bally’s Still Growing Strong as it Enters Illinois Market

Last week Bally’s completed its acquisition of Tropicana Casino, Evansville. This week, the company is still growing strong as they hit headlines with the second completed acquisition in as many weeks, this time buying up Jumer’s Casino & Hotel, Illinois. While online casinos are not currently legal in Illinois, online sports betting is, and Bally’s now has a foothold to capitalize on this.

Bally’s president and chief executive, George Papanier, said: “As the latest step in our ongoing portfolio diversification strategy, we are excited to complete our acquisition of Jumer’s and enter the rapidly growing Illinois gaming market. […] The closing provides Bally’s with the potential to capitalize on several lucrative sports betting opportunities, which we expect will drive revenue and cash flow growth.”

Messi: The New Face of Hard Rock Casino

Football legend Lionel Messi has signed a 5-year deal becoming the new ambassador of Hard Rock Casino for the brand’s entertainment, hospitality, and restaurant properties. Twinning the agreement with the brand’s 50th anniversary, which falls this year, Hard Rock will also be offering a new collection of Messi merch to commemorate both events. Messi is the first athlete to partner with Har Rock.

If Hard Rock Casino just became a front runner in your online casino search, NJ players can check our Hard Rock Casino Review.

State Finances: Market Figures in NJ and MI For May

Online gaming revenue in NJ has increased 25.9% YoY for May, with Borgata Casino leading the way in terms of revenue as the highest-earning casino, followed by Golden Nugget, then Resorts Casino.

Meanwhile, in Michigan, the MGCB reports online revenue falls for the second consecutive month showing a slight decline of 0.8%. While online casino revenue is holding steady, it was sports betting that saw the decline. During May, the state generated a whopping $18.1m in taxes from online casino revenue. In terms of revenue in this state, the most popular online casinos are BetMGM in pole position, FanDuel hitting number two, and DraftKings in third place.

Online gaming revenue figures might seem dull at first glance. Still, they are a great way to stay on top of which markets are growing and, therefore, likely to see more significant investment and innovation, plus which operators are the most popular, giving you guys an insight into the hottest casinos in each market state.

Slot Game of the Week

Amber Sterling's Mystic Shrine: DGC. RTP: 96.31%

With 5x3 reels, 20 lines, re-spins, multipliers, and a 4-tiered jackpot, Amber Sterling’s Mystic Shrine brings this daring explorer to slot screens once again for explosive win action. Not sure who Amber Sterling is? Well, she’s DGC’s slot version of a fearless explorer, similar to Lara Croft. In this game, she’s exploring an ancient shrine filled to the brim with riches that equate to 5000x your bet and an over-the-average RTP of 96.31%.

As with all slots, the aim here is to line up symbols, and score betline wins, but in this title, you’ve got an Action Reel Mechanic that can randomly trigger the Blazing Wild Streak Feature, plus wilds and scatters, and a pick and click jackpot bonus game.

The Action Reel sits on top of the reel frame and can show 1, 2, or 3 flames; when it does, the corresponding number of reel positions will be marked. Should an x1, x2, x3 re-spin symbol show, then the Blazing Wild Streak Feature will begin. This grants a re-spin with all multipliers stuck in place and all marked positions turing wild with multipliers of up to 5x applied, causing the promise of big wins from re-spins.

Find 3 scatter symbols, and the main game reels will disappear, replaced with a click, and pick Buddah Burst Round, where all you have to do is uncover matching gems to win one of four jackpots! Ready to play? This game is available to play at BetMGM, Party Casino, and Borgata Casino, with bets starting from $0.20.

News and Analysis

VR Slots Are Finally Here: Gonzo's Quest Gets A Virtual and Live Gaming Makeover

Virtual reality slots have been on the cards for a few years, but there’s not been much movement and certainly no big releases until this week, which saw the release of Evolution and NetEnt’s Gonzo’s Treasure Hunt. This game mixes live gaming with VR and one of the most famous slot game characters of all time to create a brand new type of gameplay.

Inclusive of a live host and featuring a treasure hunt feature, this game will have you scaling the giant stones of El Dorado, looking for golden treasure and big wins in highly exciting gameplay. While not yet available in the USA, it will be coming to online casinos soon as Evolution Gaming is licensed in PA and NJ, so it’s just a matter of time. While we recognize this is a bit of a tease, we couldn’t resist sharing such a big moment of industry innovation with you, especially as it’s the first game that blends NetEnt and Evolution’s specialties since Evolution acquired NetEnt at the end of last year!

Until this one-of-a-kind new game arrives at US online casinos, you'll have to make do with taking a sneak peek at the trailer:

Bally's New Owner of Tropicana, Evansville

Bally’s Corporation has completed its acquisition of Tropicana Casino in Evansville, Louisiana, from Caesars Entertainment. While online casinos are not yet legal in this state, the deal includes the rights to future online skins for Tropicana Casino and continues Bally’s ongoing growth and diversification strategy.

Sports Betting Tax Bill Signed in Louisiana and Second Bill Off for Senate Approval

In more news from Louisiana, Governor Bel Edwards this week brought the state closer to legal online sports gambling by signing the first of two bills that will legalize the activity. The first bill, HB 679, makes a regulatory framework for sports, such as tax rates and licensing fees. The second bill is currently in the state’s Senate awaiting further discussion, but once passed and signed into force, sports betting will be legal in Louisiana.

Slot Game of the week

The last nugget of good news for players this week is a brand new slot from High 5 Games.

Captain Payback 2: High 5 Games. RTP: 96.5%.

Not sure which slot game you should spin this week? Then check out this tasty new release from High 5 Games. Featuring a classic comic book theme that 80-90s kids will love, Captain Payback 2 is packed with bonuses and brings a ‘legendary superhero’ to casino screens across the US.

Ready to save the day and chase evil off the 3-4-4-4-4-3 reel matrix, this slot comes with 75 lines, expanding and stacked wilds, and scatter bucks that’ll trigger 8-12 free spins and see you help the hero save the city while making bet line wins!

Ready to check it out? Then set your bets from $0.50-500 and get in on the high volatility action at these High 5 Games Casinos!

News and Analysis

Connecticut Governor, Ned Lamont, Makes Gambling History

It’s official, online sports betting, fantasy sports, and casinos are now legal in CT (but still await Federal government approval). This week Governor Lamont has taken the historic step of signing HB 6451 into law. We’ve been following this story closely over the last few months, and it’s now official, the Mashantucket and Mohegan tribes of CT will soon be able to offer online sports betting and casino games online legally. All that’s left is for the Bureau of Indian Affairs at the US Department of Interior to approve the law changes and the tribe’s casinos to form platform partnerships and launch online services, so hold tight CT, the launch of online gambling is not long off!

Bragg Gaming Group Complete Wild Streak Gaming Acquisition

This week Bragg Gaming Group (B2B iGaming supplier) has acquired Wild Streak Gaming. This move increases Bragg’s games content and offering for players as Wild Streak has 39 online slots and creates social games content (sweepstakes games).

EveryMatrix Launches US Games Studio: Armadillo

In more good news for casino games and software in the US, this week, EveryMatrix (a European iGaming and sports supplier) has announced the opening of its first US games studio, Armadillo. The studio will be creating games exclusively for the US market, targeting local tastes and playing styles.

Game of the Week

Phoenix Kingdom: Pariplay. RTP: 96.24%

Pariplay invites players to rise from the ashes with their brand new slot game, Phoenix Kingdom, a mythological adventure with considerable jackpot prize potential and line wins up to 1,600x your bet. Get started by setting your stake from $0.50-100, then spin the explosive reels, matching 2-5 symbols for base game payouts. As you do, keep an eye peeled for wilds and stacked wild reels as they’ll help you make more wins, subbing for other symbols, and levy up the excitement factor.

Now, take a look at the screengrab above and notice the extra boxes sitting above the reels, this is the Reel Prize Feature, and it triggers several different bonuses, including coin wins, a jackpot wheel, free spins, or wild bonus prize. How does it work? Well, when a Phoenix Egg appears on a reel, the prize above that reel is awarded. The reel prizes change position during the game, keeping the gameplay lively, and if you hit a jackpot symbol, you’re in with the chance to spin a jackpot wheel and can walk away with the Mini, Minor, Grand, or Major fixed jackpot, which payout 15x, 35x, 250x, and 1,000x, respectively.

Are you ready to journey deep into the mountains in this 5x3 reel video slot and 50 ways to win? Then check it out at our top-rated Pariplay Casinos!

News and Analysis

The Race is On: PlayOJO Agrees NJ Market Access

Last week we brought you the news that LeoVegas had brokered a deal that would see its proprietory Rhino platform launch in the USA (post regulatory approval). Now, this week it’s PlayOJO’s turn as the parent company, SkillOnNet, has hashed out a market access deal with Caesars Entertainment that will see the PlayOJO Casino (PlayOJO is a brand that prioritizes safe and responsible gaming while offering a vast and varied gaming portfolio, operating under the logo “The Fairer Casino”) brand launch in New Jersey (post approval from the NJ DGE). This is excellent news for players as New Jersey is getting more competitive in terms of the games and software available, with more of Europe's biggest gaming brands moving to the US.

New York Tightens Up Against Offshore Casinos

Since Governor Andrew Cuomo released the financial budget for 2022 last month (which included legal tax revenue plans for iGaming in the state and tighter regulation making it illegal for offshore casinos to accept NY players, rather than a “grey area”), offshore operators have begun leaving the NY market, the most notable of which include Bovada.

According to the new rules for NY residents, players who have funds in non-US-Licensed casinos and live in NY have until June 21st to use any remaining balances, bonuses, or tournament tickets - that’s less than a month, ladies and gents, so make your move - withdraw, use it or lose it.

New Tribal Gaming Compacts Progress in Connecticut and Florida

Tribal Gaming has recently gained renewed attention, with ICE365 creating a Tribal Gaming Series and GGR revealing that it accounts for almost 50% of all gambling revenue across the USA. Until now, it’s been challenging for many of the 572 Federally recognized US tribes to launch online gaming services due to the Indian Regulatory Act, which first requires a gaming compact to be made with state legislations before “Class III” gambling can take place, online gambling falls into this class.

Any of you who are familiar with the idea of Tribal sovereignty might be a bit confused here, and rightly so, as on reservation land, US tribes have the right to self-determination, their laws, and own governance. Nether-the-less, when it comes down to gambling, this isn’t the case as in the late 80s, Congress superseded the Supreme Court (California VS Cabazon Band of Mission Indians, 1987) and created the Indian Regulatory Act. Enough with the history lesson. Suffice to say, it’s great news to hear that this week both Connecticut and Florida have announced new Tribal Gaming Compacts, which will allow for online tribal gaming. Let’s take a look at what’s taken place.

Connecticut

In Connecticut, HB 6451 will legalize online sports, and iGaming has passed the House of Representatives and the Senate. It now awaits being signed into law by Governor Ned Lamont. The Bill allows for the state’s Mashantucket and Mohegan tribes to operate one online iGaming and one sportsbook skin each and allows one non-tribal operator one skin as well as 15 retail establishments. Once signed into law, the new rules will come into effect from Jan 1, 2022.

Florida

In Florida, Senate Bill 2-A, which will allow online sports betting, fantasy sports, and Class III games (slots and tables) provided exclusively by the Florida Seminole Tribe, has been signed by Governor Ron DeSantis and moves to the United States Secretary of the Interior where it has 45 days to be approved.

DraftKings Funds Responsible Gambling Research

Proving their worth as a responsible operator, DraftKings has this week announced that it is contributing to the International Center for Responsible Gaming’s fund for research. The research aims to provide a greater understanding of problem gambling in sports bettors, the development of the issue in the US, and best practice to tackle problems faced by problem gamblers.

Software News

Gaming Realms Secures PGCB License

Gaming Realms (most well known for its brand Slingo) has secured Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board Licensing; the games software studio is already active in Michigan and New Jersey, with plans to expand further into US markets.

Wazdan Gets Waiver to Launch Games in NJ

Wazdan, a popular slots provider already operating in European and Latin American markets, has secured a waiver from the NJDGE to launch its games content in the state. Look out for player-loved titles like Valhalla, Wild Guns, and Magic Stars coming to online casinos in NJ soon!

Red Tiger Gaming Available in PA

Red Tiger Gaming content is now available for the first time in Pennsylvania at MGM brand online casinos (Borgata and BetMGM); must-play games include Dragon Pearl and Jack in a Pot.

Game of the Week

Speaking of software and games, it’s about time we told you our hot slot of the week.

Blue Fortune Slot: Quickspin. RTP 96.57%.

Grab your scuba gear and get ready to drop to the depths of the ocean in this brand new and fascinating slot from Quickspin. Filled with a giant octopus, pirate sea creature symbols (join Salty, Roger, Scarlet, and Pegleg), this 5x3, 9 line slot offers high volatility re-spins and free spins that’ll see you discover sunken treasure at the bottom of the sea.

Place your bets from $0.10-100 and spin the cheeky and fun reels, then line up symbols (3-5) for cash payouts, and when you do, the matching symbols will stick, while others disappear in a puff of squid ink causing on-going re-spins that won’t stop until you lose! Looking for even bigger wins, then collect sunken scatters and hit the bonus round for 10 free spins with higher paying symbols on the reels!

Ready to play? You should be as not only is this slot stunning, it also offers mesmerizing spins! Check out Blue Fortune Slot at these Quickspin Casinos.

News and Analysis

LeoVegas Announces US Deal with Caesars Entertainment

Subject to approval from the New Jersey DGE, LeoVegas (a Swedish powerhouse iGaming operator and one of the most popular choices for European players) will launch its proprietary Rhino platform in the US after striking a deal with Caesars Entertainment. Caesars Entertainment brand casinos will shift over to the Rhino platform during the first half of 2022. This is LeoVegas’ first move into US markets. Like most new operators, they are heading straight for New Jersey, the USA’s most significant gambling market in terms of development and revenue.

PA Patrons Hit the Halls as Casinos Reopen

It’s been a big week for Pennsylvania as land-based casinos reopened, much to the delight of players across the state, who hit the halls in their droves, creating new revenue records and a 776.2% increase on March’s figures (when establishments were closed due to COVID restrictions). Retail slots were the most played games, followed by tables, and it’s not just land-based casinos experiencing the boom; online gaming also experienced a revenue bump across the month!

New Jersey YoY Gambling Revenue on the Rise while Michigan Market Slows Down

Gambling Revenue in New Jersey is also rising, showing an incredible 326.4% increase YoY from last April. While in Michigan, things have slowed down after March Madness caused a monumental rise in gambling revenue from the new market. However, the decline is only reflected in sports betting, with casino revenue holding steady.

PGCB Issues Financial Penalty to Fantasy Sports Operator

In more news from Pennsylvania this week, the PGCB has issued a fine of $7,500 to one of its operators for illegally offering fantasy sports contests before securing PA licensing. The unlucky recipient of the penalty is Fantasy Sports Games, LLC, which delivered its product from May 2018 onwards but only applied for licensing in Feb 2019.

While it is good to see the PGCB making moves to fine operators who do not stick to the rules, in comparison to the UK, which levies million-dollar fines to operators who break the rules, the size of this penalty is somewhat inconsequential given the operator accepted illegal bets for more than six months.

Delaware Online Gambling Shows Slight Growth YoY

As you’re probably well aware, if you live in Delaware, with only three online casinos in the state and an incredibly high tax rate for operators, the iGaming offering is relatively limited in this location. However, that’s not prevented the market from edging ahead of last year’s revenue figures and showing YoY growth of 2.1%! Keep it up, Delaware.

Slot Game of the Week

Bonanza Megapays: Big Time Gaming. RTP 96.4%

This week a legend is being reborn, but with more juice than ever before. Welcome to Bonanza Megapays: the iconic Megaways™ game you know and love, but with an extra four tantalizing progressive jackpots (the highest of which is seeded at an incredible $300K).

This is a supercharged, progressive version of BTG’s landmark game, Bonanza (which was the first Megaways™ slot to be released and proved to be one of the most popular licensed slot concepts ever), and it promises more action, more prizes, and it’s released today - ready to find out more? Then keep reading!

Following the original set-up and game features, otherwise known as 117,649 ways to win, cascading reels, and a progressive multiplier bonus round, this game delivers the whole new jackpot mechanic, Megapays, which you’ll see running above the horizontal cart reel at the top of the reels.

Gameplay starts with you setting your bet from $0.20-20.00, and you’re looking to make lines of 3 - 6 symbols. As it’s a Megaways slot, the number of ways to win alter on every spin. What’s more, these reels cascade, which means you can score multiple wins on a single spin. But let’s get to the juicy bit: to start the bonuses rolling in, all you need to do is spell GOLD (in any order) anywhere on the reels. Once achieved, you’ll get 12 free spins (each additional scatter that lands awards 5+ spins). The free spins round comes with progressive multipliers, starting at 1x, increasing with each winning spin, and equating to potential prizes up to 12,000x your bet.

But that’s not all, because the Megapays feature is yet to come. Randomly awarded, you’ll enter this round when the Megapays word (located on the game logo, right-hand side - see the screengrab) turns purple. Played on new reels, with one randomly selected symbol becoming the Megapays symbol, the round consists of re-spins that continue until you spin and none of the chosen symbols land. The jackpots are awarded depending on how many of your special symbols you can collect before the round ends, and payout as follows:

• 4-7 symbols = Mini jackpot (seed fund = $100).
• 8-11 symbols = Midi jackpot (seed fund = $1,500).
• 12-14 symbols = Major jackpot (seed fund = $20,000).
• 15+ symbols = Mega jackpot (seed fund = $300,000).

Just like Megaways™ when the concept first broke, Megapays is sure to be a hit and may just change the face of jackpots as we know it. Where can you play Bonanza Megapays? Well, it’s freshly released today, so keep your eyes out for it coming to these BTG Casino lobbies!

That's it for this week guys, but we'll see you next week for more iGaming news from the US! Have a wonderful weekend.

News and Analysis

AGA Releases Gambling Figures for Q1 with Revenue Hitting $11bn.

With COVID restrictions finally coming to an end, casinos are beginning to make a comeback across the US, according to the American Gambling Association, with the industry hitting $11.13 bn in gross gambling revenue for Q1 of 2021. While this isn’t record-breaking, it’s a near-perfect match for the US industry’s largest-ever GGR achievement made in Q3 of 2019 and is a great sign for the gambling market, representing a YoY increase of 4.1%. Want to find out more? Check out the AGA’s commercial revenue tracker.

Las Vegas is Back Baby: Caesars and MGM Hit Full Capacity

This week, the Nevada Gaming Control Board has given the go-ahead to Caesars and MGM Resorts to return to full capacity. While face masks are still mandatory, it looks like Vegas is back to full form and pre-pandemic days. If you’ve missed hitting up the casino floor and enjoying your favorite real-life games, then the wait is finally over -Vegas is back!

Spin Games Sells for $30m.

Spin Games, a US game provider based in Nevada and featured at online casinos across the country, has been purchased by Bragg Gaming for $30m. This is Bragg Gaming’s first move into US markets and is a strategic way to gain easy entry, albeit at a tidy sum of $30m. Bragg Gaming is an iGaming provider best known for its proprietary ORYX platform.

BetMGM Partners with Golf’s LPGA

BetMGM has become the official betting partner of the Ladies Professional Golf Association after this week striking a multi-year partnership. The ladies tour joins the men’s PGA and European Tours at BetMGM casinos and sportsbooks.

Slot Game of the Week

Wondering what new game you should be spinning? This week's slot of the week is a brand new release from Lightning Box Games - Lightning Shenlong - check it out below.

Lightning Shenlong: Lightning Box Games. RTP 96.13%.

Travel to the far East for big prizes, fixed jackpots, gorgeous oriental-themed graphics, and outstanding bonuses in Lightning Box’s latest video slot release, Lightning Shenlong Slot.

Set on 5x3 reels with 243 ways to win, this slot game comes with wilds, scatters, lightning re-spins, colossal symbols, jackpots, and free spins! Begin the adventure in the base game, setting your bets from $0.40-50, then use Shenlong wilds to help you make betline wins (wilds can appear on reels 2-5) for generous payouts. Score 6+ lightning bolt scatters anywhere on the reels trigger the epic lightning bolt re-spins, and you're in with the chance of winning one of four fixed jackpots (Mini at $5, Minor at $50, Major at $250, and Grand at $250,000) as colossal symbols fill the reels.

Not enough action for you yet? Then keep your eyes peeled for the Dragon symbols as 3-5 trigger 8-30 free spins, which also come with colossal symbols for total tasty payouts of up to 5,000x your bet in this high volatility spinner! Ready to play? Then check out this game at our top-rated Lightning Box Casinos.

News and Analysis

Nevada Considers iGaming Expansion

Nevada, which currently offers legal on and offline sports betting and poker games has this week asked the public for their approval on proposed gambling amendments that would see online casino games become legal in the state. This great news for prospective players and the state’s tax office, but we also love the fact that Nevada has approached the topic as an open conversation with the public. Roll on Nevada!

Penn National Dives into Proprietary Games Software After YoY Online GGR Increase

Penn National Gaming has purchased HitPoint Studios and its subsidiary LuckyPoint, in a move that will see the gambling operator create its own proprietary games content for Penn National players.

While we’re on the subject, Penn National also posted its GGR figures for Q1 of 2021 this week, showing massive online growth of just under 20% YoY - it’s no wonder they’re looking for more ways to expand in this sector.

PointsBet Offers Casino Games in Michigan as Market Heats Up

PointsBet is an online sportsbook operating throughout the US, and unless you live under a rock or have no interest in sports what so over, you’ve probably heard of them. This week the operator is hitting the headlines after securing approval from the Michigan Gaming Control Board to add casino games to their MI gambling platform.

This is the company’s first foray into casino games (which is telling in that under 20 games are provided on site), they’re all exclusive titles, according to Sam Swanell, PointsBet director:

“Over the past 18 months we have assembled a highly experienced igaming team, which has built our in-house proprietary igaming platform and administrative tools, and I am thrilled to announce our inaugural launch in Michigan.”

While MI may be the first state to see PointsBet new games, it won’t be the last as the company plans to go live in NJ next month, and already operates a sportsbook in CO, IA, IN, and IL.

Games of the Week

Wild Luchador Slot: Quickspin. RTP: 96%.

Quickspin is one of our favorite game developers operating in the US. Wild Luchador is the studio’s latest release, and it’s golden, delivering high volatility action and payouts up to 40,558x the stake. Are you ready to don your mask and step into the ring in this Mexican wrestling-themed slot?

Played on 5x3 transparent reels with 243 ways to win, the game takes place in the wrestling ring. While main game symbols fill the reels, what you’re looking for is the Wilds, which replace symbols, and trigger stacked wrestler reels for bigger wins. Collect scatters to trigger the Dead Slam Free Spins, and you’ll get 7 with a multiplier between 1-3 attached to the whole round and if you’re feeling impatient, then use the feature buy (at the cost of 70x the total bet) to enter the round instantly - it’s up to you.

Ready to play? Then set your bets from $0.30-90 and see if you can make it last the round with this knock-out new slot at any of our top-rated Quickspin Casinos.

Dazzle Me Megaways™: NetEnt. RTP: 95.08% (Variable).

Dazzle Me is the kind of slot that will pull classic players into the Megaways™ decade, featuring iconic graphics with both new and old features; this game adds a Megaways twist to an iconic title resulting in up to 99225 ways to win.

If you’re looking for Avalanche reels, free spins, wild reels, and much more, then this feature-rich NetEnt production is a game you should spin this weekend. Load up the reels, ramp up the razzle-dazzle, and set your bets from $0.10-50 at any of our US-licensed NetEnt Casinos for max prizes up to 50,000x!

Have a great weekend folks and we'll catch you next Friday for all the latest news and games from the US gambling scene!

News and Analysis

Parx and Playtech Launch New Michgan Mobile Casino App

Gun Lake Casino has just become Michigan's ninth online casino, and you can signup right now. The result of a partnership between Parx Interactive, Playtech, and Gun Lake Casino, the trio this week launched PlayGunLake mobile app for iOS and Android users. The casino offers slots, jackpots, and skill games. It's the USA's first site powered by Playtech’s IMS platform and features proprietary content for this top-tier iGaming giant that's been leading the industry since 1999.

Playtech is one of the biggest and most respected iGaming developers on the European and worldwide markets. Still, their games are currently only available at a handful of online casinos in the US, so don't miss out on checking out this new mobile app!

TwinSpires Expands with Pennsylvania Casino, and Betting Platform in CO and IN

This week Churchill Downs Incorporated has launched its bespoke TwinSpires Casino and Sportsbook for PA players and debuted the sports app in Colorado and Indiana, offering bets across a large number of sports markets and all the major leagues, while the PA Casino offers an additional 150+ games (including live dealers) for players to dive into. What's more, as a welcome deal, TwinSpires offers 100% of your losses refunded within the first 24 hours of play (up to $500). The casino is already live; check it out and discover how to claim that very generous welcome offer in our full TwinSpires Casino review.

BetMGM Launches Online Poker App

In the last new launch of this week, BetMGM has opened two new poker apps in Pennsylvania: BetMGM Poker and Borgata Poker (both powered by PartyPoker). The app delivers a wide range of Poker games, tournaments, and cash games. What's more, if you're already an M life Rewards client (MGM rewards clubs), then both apps will be integrated with the club, so you keep on collecting loyalty points as you play.

Games of the Week

Perfect Potions Megaways: Scientific Games. RTP: 96%.

Perfect Potions is a brand new Megaways release from Scientific Games that offers 96,040 - 700,000 ways to win, bets from $0.20-20.00, and top prizes of $250,000. Bringing Merlin and his magic to life on expanding reels with expanding wilds, free spins, and multipliers!

It's a downright gorgeous-looking slot and a must spin game that comes with an adventurous and lilting background track that'll carry you away as you mix the perfect brew. Upon opening the game, you'll see potions hovering above the reels; with each spin, they cascade down, and if they land in the cauldrons sitting along the bottom of the game frame, the reels will grow or expanding wilds will be added, creating more wins and ways to win. Should this happen when free spins are active, then all your wilds will become sticky and come with multipliers and if you're the kind of player that can't wait to get to the bonus round, then there's a bonus buy feature to take advantage of.

Ready to take Perfect Potions Megaways™ for a spin? Check it out at these top Scientific Games Casinos today!

News and Analysis

Figures Roll in for March Showing Revenue Increases Across All Gambling States

Michigan: Michigan has announced their gambling revenue figures for March, and they show a stunning 42.8% increase on February’s figures (Michigan gambling only went at the start of 2021, it’s a new market, with no YoY figures as yet). Casino games were up by 20%, while sports betting revenue shot through the roof with a 240% increase (primarily attributed to the NCAA tournament held in March).

New Jersey: While in New Jersey, the NJDGE has announced a 199.8% revenue increase YoY (March 2020-2021) with growth across all sectors (land-based, online, and sports). The top operators in this market in terms of revenue are Borgata and Golden Nugget Casinos.

Pennsylvania: It’s all go in Pennsylvania as the PGCB has announced a 22% increase in land-based gambling revenue for last month (162.7% for YoY), showing a significant land-based casino comeback (post-COVIDclosures), while online gambling is still booming with 302.1% increase!

AGA Warns of Illegal Gambling Machines

Since the start of this year, there’s been a tremendous amount of attention placed on illegal vs. legal US gambling, the differences between the two, and educating gamblers on how to spot a licensed from an unlicensed operator. Continuing on this trend, the American Gambling Association has this week warned of the “rapidly” growing number of illegal gaming machines in the US (raising awareness of the issue and the fact that the games are not tested or audited for fairness, so safety and payouts are not guarenteed).

Wherever you gamble from, whether land-based or online, always make sure you play at a licensed casino or gambling establishment; this way, you ensure that the game you play is tested, fair, and pays out wins.

Caesars Completes Acquisition of British Bookie William Hill

In our final nugget of iGaming news for this week, Caesars Entertainment has completed its acquisition of British betting goliath William Hill. The completion comes after the UK high court sanctioned the merger.

Slots of the Week

Starburst Slingo: Slingo. RTP 96.5%.

Often described as the perfect blend between slots and bingo, Slingo is hitting new heights with their latest release that adds a bingo twist to the world’s favorite slot - NetEnt’s Starburst. Set on a 5x5 grid, with a single reel along the bottom, you spin this reel and get 10 revolutions per round (bets from $0.20-25, and a total prize of 1,500x your stake).

The idea is to match the numbers on the single reel with those on the grid to make a horizontal or vertical line and fill the reels within the 10 spins per round. Make a line, and you’ve got a Slingo. Every Slingo, you make moves to the bonus ladder on the left of the reels. You want to reach the top of this ladder, the full house) to gain guarenteed win spins on Starburst (the bonus).

If you run out of spins without marking off every square in the grid, you can opt to buy extra spins and try to reach the bonus round. There are also bonus symbols that can appear on the single reel to help you make Slingos, including Starburst Wilds (mark off any number on the column above and get a free spin) and Red and Green Joker Hat Wilds (mark off any symbol). If you love Starburst Slot, this a game for you, and it’s a low volatility game! Take it for a spin at these Slingo Casinos.

Scarab Link: IGT. RTP 96.25%.

Our second new game for this week is produced by IGT and is all about the Egyptian theme. It’s a hold and re-spin slot, with simple gameplay and three jackpot prize, the largest of which is seeded at $5,000!

Set on 5x3 reels with 50 fixed lines, this slot works in cycles of 10 spins (every scarab symbol you land highlights that reel position, and on the tenth spin, all highlighted reel positions become wild for a single spin producing super tasty wins). Aside from the base game wins and sticky scarabs, keep an eye out for the scarab link symbols (appearing on reels 2-4) as 3 triggers the hold and respins round, which is where you’ll find the biggest prizes in this game.

The hold and re-spin round begins with 6 sticky high-paying cash or jackpot symbols; these remain on the reels for the 3 spins, only additional cash, blank, and jackpot symbols can land, but the more characters you get, the more the re-spins clock up. Manage to fill the whole reels before the round ends, and you’ll get a corresponding cash payout or jackpot prize, the largest of which is 40x your total bet! Ready to play? IGT is one of the world’s favorite slot developers and is widely available at US casinos, take a look at our top IGT sites and take Scarab Link Slot for a spin.

Have a top weekend guys, we'll see you next week for more news, analysis and games!

News and Analysis

Rush Street Gaming Launches in WV

Evolution Goes Big Time with its Next Acquisition

Evolution Gaming has this week scooped up Big Time Gaming in their next mammoth acquisition. Building on Evolution’s earlier acquisition of market leaders, NetEnt, this move seals the deal for developer's entrance to the world of slots.

The acquisition has been described as the perfect match in innovation by BTG CEO and Evolution Gaming Chairman, Jens Von Bahr said of the deal, “Big Time’s focus on innovation and creating unique playing experiences is a great fit with our culture and mind-set at Evolution. We look forward to continuing our journey together.” We’ve got to admit with these two epic iGaming studios coming together, the future certainly looks bright and we can’t wait to see the results!

Alabama Considers Gambling Legalization: SB310

Alabama’s Senate has passed Senate Bill 310, which would see online sports, horse racing, and casino gambling expand throughout the state. The bill introduces the Alabama Gaming Commission, which would take the lead, overseeing the new laws and implementation of gambling regulations and licensing (licenses will cost $5-35mil) and proposes a tax rate for operators of 25% on slots, 20% on sports, and 35% on other games. Senate Bill 310 will now move to the House for the next round of voting.

Slots of the Week

This week we’ve got two brand new amazing slots to tell you about: Phoenix Coins from Lightning Box and Midas Coins from Quickspin.

Midas Coins: Quickspin. RTP 96.02%

In case you don’t know, King Midas is a Greek tragedy that tells the story of a King, whom the God Dionis bestowed with the power to turn everything he touched into gold (the infamous “Midas Touch”). The story is a tragedy because if forwarns of excessive greed as Midas almost starves as a result and makes the misstep of hugging his daughter, Marigold (the game's golden wild) - anyway, you get the idea, excessive greed leads to downfall.

Now, that might be how the original story goes, but QuickSpin’s version is all about the gold and a whole lot less tragedy! With an ambulance of bling, the 5x3, 25-line reels light up with golden symbols and coins. The game features are simple but engaging and packed with payouts that focus on collecting coins (on reels 1-4 coins award 1-500x). However, these only come in handy if you land a Midas symbol on reel 5, which triggers the coin payouts - unless you’re in free spins.

Collect 3+ Satyr Scatter, and you’ll trigger the All is Golden Free Spins, where you can collect any coins that land in the coin stack meter, and when Midas lands (on any spin), the whole stack pays. What’s more, impatient players can use the bonus buy feature (at the cost of 50x the bet) to buy their way straight into the bonus round!

This slot offers some epic multipliers both in the base game and free spins and a tantalizing max win of 5000x. Set your bets from $0.25-100 and take Midas Coins for a spin at these top Quickspin Casinos!

Phoenix Coins: Lightning Box. RTP 96.03%.

It’s a double hit for the Ancient Greek theme this week with Lightning Box's Phoenix Coins Jackpot Slot release. Taking a far more dreamy approach to the graphics and genre, this slot’s set somewhere above the clouds and is loosely connected to Greek folk law (the Phoenix was born in this discourse, as a mythical bird that was reborn after death, rising from the ashes). The phoenix is joined on the reels by Pegasus, an owl, Adonis-like God and Goddess, and 1024 ways to win!

There’s a single bonus round with slot, but it leads to jackpot payouts; it’s a free spin round that you’ll trigger when landing a full stack of scatter symbols on any reel and one Phoenix scatter on reel 5.

The bonus round takes place on new reels, with only high-paying symbols (and 1+ symbols, which extra spins, up to 60 allowed). What’s more, if you land multiple Jackpot Phoenix symbols, you’ll a jackpot payout:

• 4 Phoenix = Mini Jackpot of 10x.
• 9 Phoenix = Mini and Minor Jackpots (x90).
• 14 Phoenix = All jackpots payout (x900).

Bets start from $0.40-200, but as this slot game has an unusual math model and unique way to trigger the bonus round, we recommend you take it for a spin in free play mode before staking cash - try it out at these Lightning Box Casinos.

Alright guys, have a great weekend and we'll catch you next Friday from more iGaming news and brand new games!

News and Analysis

More States Give Online Sports Gambling the Green Light

Wyoming: This week, Wyoming signed into force its new sports betting gambling bill. Bill 0133 legalizes online sports betting and charges Wyoming’s Gambling Commission with developing regulation for the market by September 1st.

The bill also outlines the cost of licenses ($100,000, valid for five years) and the revenue tax rate for operators at 10%: this places Wyoming in a very competitive position (most states have more significant taxes and license fees, see New York below).

New York: Continuing with the developing news of NY sports betting, this week Governor Andrew Como has confirmed the new state budget, which includes the introduction of mobile sports betting.

The budget allows for two gambling licenses (four skins between two operators) and bids open at a whopping $25m—license fee. The scoring criteria is yet to be decided but will include extra points for proposals that include revenue-sharing agreements with Native American tribes. The level of the bids will also determine the revue tax rate for operators.

The New York state gaming commission will open for proposals from operators no later than July 1st and select the winning operators within 150 days.

North Carolina: Senate Bill 688 goes to the vote this week in North Carolina; the bill would see the expansion of online sports betting across the state (currently this is only permitted by Tribal operators), allowing the lottery commission to grant ten new licenses at a cost $25,000 each (valid for five years with a tax revenue rate of 8%). SB 688 would also introduce a self-exclusion program for players in the state.

Slots of the Week

Quadruple Da Vinci Diamonds: High5Games. RTP 97%.

This week High5Games has taken another shot at reinventing one of the most popular slots of all time: IGT’s Da Vinci Diamonds (High 5 Games has already scored a double whammy on this front with past additions including Da Vinci Diamonds Extreme and Tripple Da Vinci Diamonds).

Featuring an all-new slot backdrop and in-game bonuses, the studio has knocked it out of the park with this title, adding their customary bonus-filled gameplay and high volatility mechanics to IGT’s classic graphics.

This must-play slot comes packed with tumbling reels, cluster symbols, split bonus symbols, spin-crease feature, free spins, colossal base game payouts, and a total win potential of 5712x your total bet! If you loved IGT’s Da Vinci Diamonds Slot or any of High 5’s additions, then you’re going to love this supped-up version. Take for a test drive from $0.20-200 at these High 5 Games Casinos.

Yanaha’s Rite: Scientific Games. RTP 96.7%.

Yanaha’s Rite offers more calming gameplay than Quadruple Da Vinci Diamonds, so it is perfect if you’re looking for a chilled slot to spin this week. Set on 4x6 reels with dual-way paylines (make lines horizontally or vertically and left to right or right to left) that deliver a max prize potential of up to 5,000x your bet (that’s a sizable prize of $250,000).

It’s a graphically beautiful game set in the dusty American outback with symbols that appear as if by magic on each spin and a laid-back vibe. Still, it does portray the stereotypical image of Native Americas. Along with the fantastic dual-way wins, the game features wilds, sizable payouts and it comes with four different free spins rounds (different spirit modifiers and bonus features are added on every spin) that’ll trigger once you fill the totem pole with 20 scatter symbols. Take it for a spin in demo or real money mode at our top-rated Scientific Games Casinos.

Okay, guys, that’s it for this week, but we'll be back next Friday with new games and more news. Have a great weekend!

News and Anaylsis

Playtech Announces New Michigan Live Studio

This week Playtech has made an official move on Michigan, announcing that it will open a new live dealer studio in Southfield. The move is a significant expansion for Playtech into the US. The studio will provide dedicated casino spaces, meaning branded tables, and an exclusive live experience for casinos that partner with Playtech.

Shimon Akad, Playtech’s Chief Operating Officer, said of the deal, which will also contribute jobs and support to MI's economy: "The new studio in Michigan is the first step in our US live expansion as we look to deliver live studios in all regulated states. [...] Our Michigan studio is being designed to be one of the more sophisticated studios tailored to the US market featuring innovation and entertainment at its best. The scale of our technology and breadth of our product will allow Playtech to take the live iGaming experience in the US to the next level."

Evolution and PlayLive! Casino Agree to PA Partnership

PlayLive! (Cordish Group) and Evolution Gaming has signed a deal that will see Evolution Gaming deliver live dealers, gameshows, and First Person games at PlayLive! Casino Pennsylvania (launch expect Q2 of 2021).

Jeff Millar, Evolution Gaming's Commercial Director for North America said; "We are excited and proud to be working with Cordish Gaming Group and PlayLive! Casino. The extensive Evolution online casino and entertainment portfolio is a great fit for further developing their Live! experience online."

Get ready, Pennsylvania; things are about to go Live, Cordish-style!

New National Council on Problem Gambling (NCPG) Report Says Young People at Higher Risk of Gambling Harm

The NCPB has undertaken its first National Survey of Gambling Attitudes and Experiences since 1999, and the results are in. Here are some of the key findings:

1. 12% of American have never gambled
2. Three out of four American adults gambled in 2019.
3. 70% of respondents who gambled did so responsibly and without negative consequences.
4. 7% reported struggling with compulsive gambling behaviors.
5. Half of the young Americans who gamble also answered yes to at least one indicator suggesting they could be at risk from gambling-related harm; in contrast, only 10% of those over 65 yes responded yes to one or more indicators.
6. Americans across the country are accessing gambling, whether they were located in a gambling state or not.

The whole report is well worth a read, and you can find it at the NCPB.

Flutter Entainment Denied New Hearing by Kentucky Supreme Court

Flutter Entertainment this week saw their request for a new hearing, which would challenge an $870m fine received by PokerStars (the brand’s online product) for supplying iGaming to 34,000 Kentucky players between the years of 2006-2011 (directly breaking UIGEA, the site was shut down in 2011), denied. As things stand, Flutter Entainment must still pay the fine.

Slots of the Week

As it's Easter, we're keeping on theme, and have an eggtastic slot for you to play.

EggOmatic: NetEnt, RTP 96.48%.

Eggomatic is a totally rad and unique 5x3, 20-line video slot that delivers non-stop action. With gorgeous graphics and gameplay inclusive of wilds, spreading wilds, free spins, coin-win eggs, and egg surprises, plus the max prize potential is 95,750 coins; this game has it all.

Set your bets from $0.20-200 and spin to win by lining up matching hens in the roost, but watch out for the ergometer, which is loaded with 4 bonus egg features. Trigger a feature, and if the corresponding egg lands above a reel with a rooster, it will crack open to reveal the bonus round, and with four to score, there’s plenty of action and prize available! We don’t want to give too much away, but if there’s a slot to spin this week, EggOmatic from NetEnt is it. Check out at these top US-Licensed NetEnt casinos.

Alright, Guys, that’s it for this week’s news, have a fantastic Easter weekend, and we’ll see you next week for another iGaming roundup.

News and Analysis

Casino Cabbie Interviews Seth Palansky of Conscious Gaming

As part of responsible gambling month, this week, Casino Cabbie sat down for an interview with Seth Palansky of Conscious Gaming regarding their new Bettor Safe campaign. The campaign aims to improve awareness of safe online gambling and legal and illegal casinos in the USA. If you’ve not seen the interview, it is a must-read and packed with industry insight; check it out here!

Gamesys and Bally’s Agree on Merger

Bally’s Corporation and the Gamesys Group plc have this week agreed to a $2.7bn merger that will see Bally’s acquire Gamesys (an online casino operator and software developer). The union aims to increase Bally’s US market presence.

Action 24/7 Becomes the First US Operator to Have Gambling Licence Suspended

Action 24/7 has this week become the first US gambling operator to have its licence revoked. The Tennessee Lottery took this decision to suspend Action 24/7’s licensee after reports that credit card fraud and proxy betting had taken place at the sportsbook.

Action 24/7 is challenging the decision in court and has called it “erroneous and arbitrary”. While we are not quite sure that credit card fraud falls into the quoted description, it’s great to see US regulations taking firm steps against unsafe practices and showing no hesitation to revoke licenses when operator practices are called into question.

New York Senate Passes Problem Gambling Education Bill

In New York, Senate legislators have this week passed HB 4207. If approved by NY’s Alcohol and Abuse Committee, the bill will see any player listed on the state’s self-exclusion program first have to pass a problem gambling education program before requesting removal from the list.

Every US gambling state has a self-exclusion program for players struggling with addictive gambling. The idea being that players can register for the state-wide program and are excluded from all state gambling services. In most states, de-registration involves making a written request to the regulator. The bill, therefore, represents a step up in supporting players who are struggling with gambling addiction.

FanDuel Partners with Gamban

Last week we reported that the Kindred Group (Unibet Casinos) had formed a Gamban partnership, and this week, it’s FanDuel’s turn. Gamban is a gambling blocking software, and post regulatory approval in the US will be offered at FanDuel Casinos and sportsbooks. It will be available for free download for players who wish to self-exclude from gambling services and can be used on up to 15 devices.

Slots of the Week

This week we've got two brand releases to tell you about! You can play these slots either in demo mode via the provider or in real money mode at our recommended online casinos (just be aware that some sites can be a little slower to adopt new titles than others).

Monopoly Utility Trails Slot: Scientific Games. RTP 96.61%.

Monopoly is a slot theme almost as popular as the Ancient Egyptians. In fact, there are more than 30 Monopoly Slots available online from multiple developers, and SG has made six of them. As most of us have played the original version of Monopoly at some point, it’s little wonder that it’s become such a popular casino theme. Monopoly Utility Trails is Scientific Games’ newest Monopoly slot creation and comes with 8x7 grid reels, cluster pays, 4, wilds, wild tracks, two bonus rounds and up to 5,000x your stake in payouts!

Form clusters of 5-15 symbols, and with each win, you’ll get a second chance cascade, where new symbols fall into the place of old ones. Watch out for the 4 different wilds in play that sub for other symbols and trigger the wild tracks feature, which might just see the whole grid go wild! Then fill-up the waterworks and electric company bonus metres (each requires 15 scatters) to trigger either of two epic bonus rounds; as you spin and earn community chest cash wins multipliers between 5-1,000x! Set your bets and start spinning this juicy new slot from $0.20-50 at our top-rated Scientific Games Casinos!

Wild Fruit Super Wheel Online Slots: Pariplay: RTP 94.23%

Are you looking for some wild fruit jackpot action? Then welcome to Pariplay’s latest release, Wild Fruit Super Wheel Slot. Set on gorgeous, transparent 5x3 reels with 243 paylines, this game comes with a bonus wheel, wilds and multipliers wilds. Trigger the super wheel feature by getting 3+ wheel scatter, and you’ll be in with a shot at winning the mini, minor or major jackpots ($500, $5,000 and $20,000, respectively). Start spinning this stunning new slot and set your bets from $0.40-4.00 at PariPlay Casinos now!

Okay, folks, that’s it for now. Have a great weekend, and we’ll see you next week for more news and games!

Casino News and Analysis

Pennsylvania, New Jersey and Michigan iGaming Markets Still Growing

Financial figures are in for February from the PA, NJ, and MI gambling commissions so let's start off this week's digest taking a look at which online casinos are leading the way in each market.

Pennsylvania

In PA, iGaming revenue is still growing with figures for Feb 2021, four times the amount for Feb 2020, with online gaming up 299.1%. As expected, online slots were the biggest draw and revenue makers in PA, with DraftKings and BetRivers Casinos leading the way in popularity.

New Jersey

While the NJ market revenue shows signs of slowing down (compared with January’s 2021 revenue), it still represents a marginal year-on-year growth from 2020 (up from $287.3m to $288.3m). Breaking this down across iGaming and Sports Betting, and iGaming is still growing at break-neck speed (up to 80% on Feb 2020’s figures) and with Golden Nugget Casino the top-ranking casino brand in this market.

Michigan

And lastly, revenue figures are in for Michigan. As a new gambling market, there are no 2020 figures to use and compare revenue to, but the MI market is off to a flying start, and in its first ten days of legal gambling, the state cleared $47.3m. Figures are now in for February, which shows a 171.8% increase in January (note that MI opened online casinos in the last month of January). Thus far in Michigan, BetMGM leads the way as the most popular casino and sportsbook.

Unibet Launches Gamban on US platforms: Safer Gambling.

This month’s hot topic is problem gambling as it is a responsible gambling month in the USA. Continuing the streak of awareness and campaigns from operators, NGOs, and other iGaming stakeholders, this week, Kindred Group (Unibet Casinos) has integrated British software, Gamban onto its US platforms. Gamban and Kindred have a long-standing relationship, and the software is already integrated with Kindred’s European platforms. Gamban is the first interstate casino exclusion software to be used in the USA.

New York Senate Moves Approves New Budget with Betting Taxes Included

The New York senate has been busy this week finalizing and passing the 2021-22 state budget, including operator licensing fees, tax structure, and projections for sports betting revenue. This comes as part of NY’s proposed changes to gambling laws to allow mobile sports betting.

CT Governor Confirms Online Gambling Amendment in Mashantucket Pequot Compacts

Last week we brought you the news that CT Governor, Ned Lamont, had formed an agreement with Connecticut’s Mohegan Tribe, which would facilitate new online gambling regulations in the state. This week brings more good news, as Lamont has finalized agreements with CT’s Mashantucket Pequot Tribe, and amendments to the MP Tribe’s gaming compact have taken place. This was the final hurdle for Lamont in creating a new licensing and regulatory environment in CT and paves the way for online betting in the state.

Slots of the Week

This week we’ve got two brand new slots from US-licensed game providers to tell you about: Pop and Crown of Valour. You can play these games at our recommended US online casinos or via the provider in demo mode (free play).

Crown of Valour: Quickspin. RTP: 96.16%.

Grab your sword and head off to a besieged castle during medieval times with this high volatility spinner from Quickspin. Featuring cluster pays, tumbling wins, wilds, multipliers, and a bonus round with max payouts up to 15,619x your stake, this game is not one for the faint-hearted.

Gloomy, murky, and brilliant, this dark tale takes place on 5x5 reels with cluster pays (from 5-12 symbols) and is our slot game of the week. After each winning spin, you’ll get a second chance tumble, where burning wilds are guaranteed and come with progressive multipliers (the tumble and multipliers ends with a non-winning spin). Look to the right, and you’ll see a fire win meter, fill it with 18 wins, and the wildfire feature takes place, burning up the reels with extra wild wins. Lastly, watch out for the firey Powder Kegs as 3+ symbols on the reels begin free spins with extra bonus features and the game’s highest prize potential.

This brand new slot is exciting, immersive, and offers top-notch gameplay with cutting-edge graphics. Don’t miss out; start spinning this game at top-rated Quickspin Casinos from $0.20-100.

Pop: Big Time Gaming. RTP: 96.54%.

First came Donuts, then Chocolates, and now Pop, the third installment of BTG’s 4x4 reel series. Going against the grain, this title comes with 256 fixed ways to win (BTG are the creators of Megaways™, which piloted reel and symbol modifiers that change the number of ways to win per spin), royal spins, wild balloons, multipliers, and up to 66,960x your stake in prizes!

This high volatility slot is all about the bonuses and reactions. Set on 4x4 reels, the main symbols are balloons and A-9 icons. Winning lines trigger win reactions where the matching balloons pop and are replaced with more balloons or bonus symbols for more wins (basically, respins, which end when you lose). Wilds act to substitute for non-bonus symbols and help make winning lines and add up to 4x multipliers. Find 3+ golden balloons to trigger free spins where growing multipliers heat up the action for big prizes, plus you can re-trigger!

With bets starting at $0.10 and going up to $20, this game offers great fun for everyone! If you’re looking for some fairground, high volatility fun, then take this slot game for a test drive at our top BTG casinos.