This week’s casino news starts off with a focus on Las Vegas. From a big bet in March Madness to a group of dealers unionising, there were some important headlines from The Strip. Here’s a closer look at this week’s casino updates:
Las Vegas Dealers Join United Auto Workers Union
In a move that comes as no surprise, almost 550 gaming dealers at Caesars Palace Las Vegas have joined the Detroit-based United Auto Workers labour union. This comes on the heels of 1470 other dealers from Bally’s, Harrah’s, Paris and the Wynn doing the exact same thing.
The UAW is one of the most powerful unions in the United States and will help the dealers in their fight against the casinos in terms of benefits, salaries and rights. As you might recall, Vegas casino workers voted on their first mass strike in more than 30 years last May. So the dealers are doing their best to protect themselves in future labour disputes.
Las Vegas Casino Owner Bets $100,000 On NCAA Tournament
March Madness is one of the most active times of the year for sportsbooks in Las Vegas. One source they didn’t expect to get action from was a casino owner.
Derek Stevens, who owns a couple of casinos in downtown Las Vegas, placed a massive $100,000 bet at the South Point Casino. He bet a prop on either Duke, Gonzaga, Michigan or Kansas winning the NCAA Tournament. If he wins, he’ll earn $105,000 in profit at odds of +105.
He’s not looking too bad so far as three of his four teams have advanced to the Sweet 16. The challenge is that Gonzaga and Michigan are in the same region, and those two teams are on the same side of the bracket.
We’ll see if the casino owner can take a bite out of his neighbour’s profit and win this bet.
Biloxi House Eyeing 300-Room Casino On The Gulf Coast
Mississippi has quietly become one of the hot beds of gaming and it looks like the demand continues to outpace the supply. That’s why Biloxi House has been looking at building a 300-room casino on the Gulf Coast.
Biloxi House LLC has filed an application with the Mississippi Gaming Commission to take over the space where the Margaritaville Casino used to be. That outlet has been shut down since 2014, so Biloxi House is looking to build an expanded casino resort in that space.
As of right now, this is the fourth casino proposal on the table as the Gaming Commission is still looking at offers in Long Beach, Lakeshore and D’Iberville.
Biloxi’s plan for their Gulf Coast project would be a 68,000 square foot, 300-room resort. Their proposal includes a steak and seafood restaurant, a sports bar, a marina space, multiple entertainment venues and possibly a spa.