Macau Gross Gaming Revenue Takes Major Hit In Month Of August
As protests in Hong Kong rage on, gambling revenues in the nearby gambling territory of Macau have been hit hard.
The gross gaming revenues in the lone territory in China where gambling is permitted took a major hit in the month of August. Revenues in Macau dropped by 8.6 percent in the month, which is more than double the four-percent drop that some experts had projected. The overall hit resulted in August being the third-worst month of 2019 for the area. While some have blamed bad weather in the area throughout August, it’s impossible to ignore the reality of the protests in nearby Hong Kong as severely impacted the overall numbers. At one point last month, protesters had shut down the Hong Kong airport for a couple of days.
Still, it’s important to put this number in perspective. Macau’s August GGR still reached a total of $3.01 billion. The fact that it is down from the $3.28 billion generated in August of last year is a problem, but that doesn’t mean the Chinese region didn’t land a major score. So far in 2019, the GGR number stands at $24.5 billion. While that is nearly two-percent lower than it was at the same time in 2018, it is still a significant number.
Sports Betting License Regulations Approved By D.C. Lottery
Sports betting fans in the Washington, D.C. area are thrilled to learn that the D.C. Lottery has approved sports betting regulations in the state. They will officially begin taking license applications in the coming weeks.
The changes to the law will push bettors in the region one step closer towards legally betting on sporting events in the District of Columbia. While no business within a two-block radius of a sporting event stadium will be able to apply for a license, there are a number of different establishments that will be able to do so in order to cater to those interested in betting in D.C.
The D.C. Lottery will work with licensed sportsbooks operating in D.C.’s four major sports arenas and stadiums, hotels, bars, and even some restaurants in the area. The state will offer full licenses as well as provisional licenses, which will both require a 30-day review before they are granted.
Banned Gambler Cannot Claim Jackpot At Ameristar Casino In Iowa
The Ameristar Casino Hotel in Council Bluffs, Iowa has refused to pay out a $1,733 jackpot to a gambler that was apparently banned from using the slot machines at the casino in the first place. While the woman somehow managed to make it back inside the facility to play, her name was on a list of banned patrons and was flagged when she attempted to collect after hitting the jackpot.
The woman, Tamara Bean of Omaha, has appealed the no-payment decision to state officials. However, they will not challenge the conclusion of the Penn National Gaming-operated casino.
According to the casino officials, they aren’t required to keep banned patrons outside of their establishment but will not pay them out if they are blacklisted. If she can’t collect on her winnings, though, it begs the question if she can collect back whatever she lost. It looks like
the casino has no issue with making a profit off of a banned patron but will not shell out any money at all if they actually win.