Spin Cycle: Sweepstakes News, Smoking Blues 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 …

One Small step …

Still not convinced of how big the sweepstakes gambling industry is and will become? Here’s the latest sign: Indiana Gaming Commission Executive Director Greg Small is stepping down, effective Sept. 20, to become the head of legal and government affairs for Fliff Inc., one of the biggest sweeps operators.

Fliff is available in 49 states, and in 41 of them, customers can play for cash and prizes. Notably, Fliff is purely a sweepstakes sports betting operator — it does not (as of now) offer casino gaming.

Small, who became the IGC’s general counsel in 2016, had been executive director since 2021. General Counsel Dennis Mullen will take over for Small as acting executive director.

… And one possible backward step …

While sweepstakes and social casinos (which are similar, but not exactly the same) continue to build momentum in terms of audience and activity, they are also facing legal headwinds. The latest of those comes in Kentucky, where resident James Scott Tipmore has filed a lawsuit against Aristocrat Leisure, alleging its social casino products are a form of illegal gambling.

Implied in the filing of the lawsuit is that Tipmore lost money on Aristocrat’s casino and seeks to recover those losses. Well, actually, he seeks to recover triple the total of all Kentuckians’ losses on the site over a particular period of time.

Tipmore had better live up to his surname if he wins this one.

The complaint argues: “These new slot machine applications, misleadingly referred to as ‘social casino games,’ are nothing more than slot machines that can be carried in one’s purse or pocket.”

In response, a spokesperson for Aristocrat told NEXT.io, “We firmly reject any contention that social-casino themed mobile games are gambling, and will vigorously defend our position.”

Survey says: Missourians want sports betting

With sports betting headed for the November ballot in Missouri — barring a lawsuit to get it yanked off the ballot — St. Louis University and YouGov recently conducted a poll of 900 likely voters regarding support for the proposed constitutional amendment to allow sports betting. And the results suggest that regulated sports wagering is indeed something the people of Missouri want.

Half of those polled, 50%, said they support the amendment, 30% said they oppose it, and 21% were “not sure.”

The support skews toward voters on the political left. Democrats were split 58% yes, 17% no, 24% undecided, while Republicans leaned 44% yes, 35% no, and 21% undecided.

Further breakdowns: Support is stronger in metropolitan areas than rural, is stronger among men than women, and is stronger among younger voters than older.

Of course, the polling will be moot if the lawsuit to remove the measure from the ballot is successful. A judge is expected to make a decision on that by next Tuesday.

Fighting smoke with fire

A week ago, New Jersey Superior Court Judge Patrick Bartels issued a ruling allowing smoking on casino floors in Atlantic City to continue. That ruling, you will be unsurprised to learn, drew some rather angry responses.

The organization known as CEASE (Casino Employees Against Smoking Effects) spoke out anywhere and everywhere against Judge Bartels’ decision and has launched an ad campaign in which children of casino workers offer their perspective. And the United Auto Workers union, which represents table game dealers in Atlantic City, vowed to step up its pressure on New Jersey lawmakers and specifically said it was pulling out of the New Jersey AFL/CIO.

One of CEASE’s leaders, Nicole Vitola, issued a compelling statement connecting smoking with problem gambling.

“We know that smoke-free environments require players who smoke to briefly step away from the table,” Vitola said. “Experts in gambling addiction prevention say that taking breaks is one of the best ways to interrupt the damaging cycle of destructive gambling. With the health and well-being of guests and the workers in mind, casinos can limit problem gaming and exposure to harmful second-hand smoke simultaneously. … Ensuring that players take breaks and all those inside breathe healthy air is the true responsible gaming that individuals deserve, not money traps that prioritize profit over people.”

The Shuffle: Other news and views

ARE YOU READY?!: The top 4 gambling industry stories to watch this NFL season

MARYLAND MILLIONS: Maryland casinos generate $173.9 million in gaming revenue in August

BUCKEYE BONANZA: Ohio senator introduces online casino bill, would allow up to 11 apps

QUINN-WYNN SITUATION: ‘Thousands of jobs for homeless moms’ — Christine Quinn throws support behind Hudson Yards casino

MARKETING MATTERS: iLottery: Not simply a case of building it, and they will come

NETGAMING HEADS NORTH: NetGaming expands into Ontario via BetMGM deal

HOPE IS A GOOD THING: Ruddock Report: Going with the glass-half-full view for a change

NO QUICK FIX: Report: Legalization didn’t undercut illegal sports betting

THREADING THE NEEDLE: Tribal gaming revenue up to $41.9B in 2023, but margins narrow

SPLASH THE POT: More added to Fontainebleau poolside gaming

THE GAME WAS RIGGED: DraftKings and White Hat Gaming fined for online slot game in Connecticut that awarded no wins

SHORE SHAKEUP: Borgata Casino announces projects, closing of Gypsy Bar

TAKE TWO: Massachusetts Gaming Commission to (try to) address sports bettor limiting (again)

STOCKMAN’S EXCHANGE: Full House Resorts sells Fallon casino

MATH ME ANYTHING: Slots mathematician takes to Reddit for eye-opening AMA

MAINE DRAIN: Maine casino inspectors vote ‘no confidence’ in Gambling Control Unit executive director

BAD HAND FOR CARDROOMS: California tribes granted legal path to challenge cardrooms amid ongoing gaming dispute

UNITED WE STAND: Sweepstakes operators announce formation of Social and Promotional Gaming Association

The Bonus Round

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

• Sometimes the headline tells you everything you need to know: “Las Vegas hotel guest claims scorpion stung him in privates and ruined his sex life: lawsuit” … but I’ll bet there’s more you want to know, right? This alleged incident took place at The Venetian, where apparently 62-year-old Michael Farchi was stung on the testicles by a scorpion that found its way into his bed, and struggles with erectile dysfunction have followed. Lots of people come to Las Vegas and experience bad luck, but Michael Farchi is in the running for unluckiest person ever to come to Sin City. (Not counting anyone buried in the desert, of course.)

• New sportsbook alert! Ocean Casino Resort in Atlantic City has a newly opened Fanatics Sportsbook inside The Gallery, a 100-foot-elevated bar/lounge area surrounded by slots, table games, and 140 feet of LED walls. The Gallery spans 12,000 square feet in total. Here’s a peek at the space:

• Last week in “Spin Cycle,” we mentioned plans for a fireworks show ahead of the demolition of Tropicana Las Vegas on Oct. 9. This week, we’re reminded that there’s nothing Vegas can’t figure out a way to make an extra buck off of. As the Las Vegas Review-Journal reported, room rates near the demolition site for that date have been jacked up. One jaw-dropping example: The cheapest available room at the MGM Grand on Oct. 8 was listed as of press time at $2,172. One week earlier, when nothing is scheduled to implode, those rooms are going for $59.

And with that … bring on the weekend, and bring on the football!