Spin Cycle: State Of The States, More Michigan Militancy Highlight Week In Gambling

Welcome to “Spin Cycle,” Casino Reports’ weekly Friday roundup of all things impactful, intriguing, impressive, or idiotic in the gambling industry. Pull up a chair, grab a stack of chips and a glass of your beverage of choice, and take a spin with us through this week’s news cycle …

AGA: American Gambling Acceleration

The American Gambling Association published its annual “State of the States” report on Tuesday, and its numbers made one thing very clear: Gambling remains a growth industry in the U.S.

Total commercial gaming revenue in 2024 measured $72.04 billion according to the AGA, a 7.5% increase over 2023. But perhaps the more striking number: Of the 38 states with commercial casinos, 28 established new records for revenue in a single year.

Comparing states is far from an apples-to-apples exercise, but for what it’s worth, the biggest increase was found in Washington, D.C. ($181.7%) — which massively expanded its sports betting options last year. Among actual states, Kentucky saw the biggest gains at a 148% revenue rise.

And here’s a useful note for states considering legalizing online casino and in search of extra tax dollars: Every single state with regulated iCasino increased its revenue (and thus its tax revenue) year-over-year. Connecticut was up 31.3%, Michigan 17.1%, Delaware 10.4%, Pennsylvania 10.3%, West Virginia 9.6%, New Jersey 9%, and Rhode Island 0.5%.

18 more in Michigan

During this era of sweepstakes gambling, offshore sites, and other gray-market and black-market operators, the Michigan Gaming Control Board (MGCB) has not been shy about issuing cease-and-desist orders. But even by the MGCB’s aggression standards, the past week was a big one in terms of C&D output.

Last Friday, the control board announced it had sent the orders to 14 online operators that had made themselves available to “Michigamblers,” and that was followed Monday by an announcement that four more had received the warning shot. Among the more recognizable names in these batches of C&Ds were JuicyStakes and YouWager.

MCGB Executive Director Henry Williams was direct in his language in Monday’s release:

“Illegal gambling operations prey on vulnerable consumers and undermine the integrity of the regulated gaming industry. Michigan residents deserve the protections that come with licensed, legal gaming. We will continue to take strong action against those who skirt the law.”

Shuffle up and watch

You know the World Series of Poker is drawing near when PokerGO announces its livestreaming schedule.

From May 31-July 1, the streamer will cover 26 bracelet events, ranging from a $300 buy-in to a $100,000 entry.

Then, coverage of the Main Event kicks off on July 2 and continues until the tournament concludes on July 16.

Here’s a little flashback to the final hand of the 2024 coverage to get you in the mood:

White Hat makes landfall

Gaming provider White Hat Studios should be a familiar name to online casino players, and now its games are reaching land-based U.S. casinos as well, thanks to a newly announced distribution deal with Gaming Arts.

Said White Hat Studios CEO Andy Whitworth in a press release: “The collaboration with Gaming Arts marks a landmark moment for White Hat Studios as we take our top-performing iGaming content to the casino floors. 

“Our primary objective is to deliver content that maximizes entertainment for players, whether that is online or in land-based casinos, and we have no doubt our portfolio will elevate the offering of Gaming Arts’ partners. We look forward to introducing White Hat Studios’ hit titles to a whole new audience and showcasing the omnichannel appeal of our games to the wider industry.”

House Rules: Insights from around our network

SWEEPS EMOTION: There are no easy answers when it comes to sweeps [by Chris Altruda]

HI AGAIN, OHIO: Ohio senator introduces online casino, lottery, and horse racing bill [by Jeff Edelstein]

A LOTTO TALK ABOUT: Courier execs see ‘silver lining’ to Texas Lottery mess [by Eric Raskin]

STYLIN’ AND PROFILIN’: Sweet bastards, sharp dressers, and the grandfather effect [by Jeff Edelstein]

TIME TRAVEL: Crystal ball hints at changes for Las Vegas visitors, gamblers by 2030 [by Aaron Moore]

ILL AD-VISED: Lawmakers propose banning gambling ads kids don’t see while ignoring ones they do [by Jeff Edelstein]

RETAIL REJECTION: Sportsbooks in stadiums, arenas aren’t delivering on promise [by Brant James]

US TOO!: Nevada casinos ask to be dealt in on lawsuit involving Kalshi [by Daniel O’Boyle]

ACROSS THE RIVER: New Jersey senators introduce amendment to bring casinos to Meadowlands, Monmouth racetracks [by Jeff Edelstein]

PICS OR IT DIDN’T HAPPEN: Photo essay: The SBC Summit scene [by Eric Raskin]

The Shuffle: Other news and views

THE DISH ON CORDISH: Baltimore developer used stealth to sell a big-dollar casino to rural NC county [The News & Observer]

PEAKS AND BALLY’S: Bally’s reports a solid Q1 after an eventful start to 2025 [CDC Gaming Reports]

JUNK THE JUNK: FTC’s ‘junk fee’ rules take effect on resort, ticket pricing [Las Vegas Review-Journal]

GONE PHISHING: Scam targeting casino goers sweeping the US, Gulf Coast [WLOX]

HIGH SEAS, CLEAN AIR: Royal Caribbean opens non-smoking casino on its newest ship [Royal Caribbean Blog]

KEYSTONE COPS: Illegal gaming network shut down after over 400 devices seized from western Pennsylvania establishments [CBS Pittsburgh]

FINE TIME: Wynn Resorts third Las Vegas Strip operator to face multi-million-dollar fine in the past two months [CDC Gaming Reports]

NO CASINO-HOTEL FOR YOU: Historic Westside hotel project fails to clear key hurdle [Las Vegas Review-Journal]

BACK TO WORK: Gambling regulators give Bally’s permission to resume construction of Chicago casino [Chicago Sun-Times]

SOMETHING’S MISSING … : Casino-backed Texas reps leave anti-gambling amendment out of rezoning bill, prompting criticism [KERA News]

The Bonus Round

Completing the Spin Cycle with some odds and ends and our favorite social media posts of the week:

• Caesars unveiled a new online casino product this week, well-timed to line up with what has thus far been an unpredictable NBA postseason: NBA live-dealer blackjack. The game is available in New Jersey, Michigan, Pennsylvania, and West Virginia, featuring a felt designed to look like basketball hardwood. “This expanded live-dealer experience, created in collaboration with the NBA, is another example of our commitment to delivering engaging and innovative content across our digital gaming offerings,” said Caesars Digital Senior Vice President & Chief iGaming Officer Matt Sunderland.

• Quick followup to our story from a few weeks ago about Oregon’s effort to ban simulcast dog race betting: It’s now official, Oregon Gov. Tina Kotek has signed the law banning the betting. The new rule won’t be enforced, though, until July 1, 2027.

• A highlight quote from the SBC Summit Americas poker session this week, from poker influencer and BetMGM ambassador Abby Merk: “Failing is relatable. People don’t talk about how many bullets you need to fire to hit that big score.” (And a highlight question, via SBC editor Jessica Welman for you poker aficionados out there: “Do the kids still read Super/System?”)