Las Vegas Sands’ plan to develop a $6 billion casino and resort complex (photo above) on Long Island has recently made progress, with the company securing a 42-year lease to manage the Nassau Coliseum. However, the company still faces an important challenge: obtaining a state gaming licence.?In Long Island, 11 contenders are competing for three licences, with the final decision potentially delayed until late 2025.

The decision to award the management of the Nassau Coliseum and its surrounding area to Las Vegas Sands was made by Nassau County. After debating the project, the county voted in favour of it, as a means of securing the jobs of those already employed on-site. Supporters of the project argue that the casino could bring substantial economic benefits to the region. Ryan Stanton, from the Long Island Federation of Labour, noted that the construction project alone could create numerous opportunities for nearly two years.

Among the 11 contenders, Las Vegas Sands is considered one of the strongest candidates for a gaming licence. The company has proposed significant investments in the community and has secured a strategic location, with Nassau Coliseum being close to Manhattan.

Long Island attorney Joshua Liebman, a supporter of the Sands project, has publicly urged Governor Hochul to accelerate the bidding process for the three casino licences. He argues that any delay in the decision could have an important economic impact, resulting in a loss of revenue for both the state and local communities.

“If Rick’s casino in the movie ‘Casablanca’ had been waiting for Governor Hochul’s administration to issue it an operating licence, the amoral French Captain Renault would have died of old age long before being presented with his winnings,” wrote Liebman.

The lawyer, who claims to have no relationship with Sands nor any financial interest in their venture, concluded: “This governor and her casino siting board need to recognise what the business community has long known: delay is as much a decision as definitive action.”

Concerns about the casino’s potential impact have been voiced by opponents, including Hofstra University and nearby communities such as the Village of Garden City. They fear the project could lead to increased traffic, pollution, and crime.

The countdown has ended, and the deadline for gaming licence applications in Brazil officially closed as of midnight on 20 August with 114 applications meeting the deadline.

SiGMA News presents the final list of companies that have submitted applications through Sistema de Gest?o de Apostas (SiGAP) until midnight on 20 August. The most popular day for submissions was 20 August. with applications still pouring in until the very last moment. The final list below, with the most recent applications at the top, includes Kaizen, the first submission on 26 May. Initially, 134 companies expressed interest, with 114 companies successfully submitting applications marking a significant milestone in the regulated gaming market. Applications submitted will receive a response by year-end to legally operate from 1 January 2025.When a company submits more than one application, it indicates a need for multiple licences to operate various brands.

The highest number of applications was recorded on the final day, 20 August. As midnight approached, there was a surge in new applications. SiGMA News noted that BBET Solucoes was the 101st company to apply for a licence at 11pm. In the last hour, from 11 PM to midnight Brazil time, four more applications were submitted by G2 Negocios Digitais Ltda, Puskas Bet, Zetbet Ltda, Cash for Pay Ltda and AF Technologia e Solucoes Financeiras Ltda, was the final applicant before the midnight deadline.

Registration in SIGAP is mandatory for companies aiming to operate in the regulated market. The Treasury guarantees that applications submitted before 20 August will receive a response by the end of the year. Approved companies will be able to operate legally from 1 January, 2025, when all regulatory rules come into effect.

Companies applying after 20 August may begin trading in January 2025 without a federal licence in January 2025 but will face penalties, as the approval process can take several months.

According to Estad?o, around 60 companies were expected to apply prior to the process commencing. This estimate increased to 134 earlier this month. The decline from 134 to 114 is attributed to the stringent legal requirements, including a BRL 30 million ($5.5 million) subsidy, which many platforms may not be able to meet, preventing them from operating in Brazil’s regulated market.

The sports betting industry is growing in the United States, reflecting one of the most popular trends in the global gaming scene. Since the legalization of sports betting in 2018, when the US Supreme Court struck down the Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act (PASPA), the American market has seen a lot of growth. In just five years, annual gross gaming revenue (GGR) skyrocketed from $400 million to $11 billion in 2023, highlighting the country as one of the leading global players in this sector.

The GGR, an acronym for Gross Gaming Revenue, is a key indicator to understand the performance of the sports betting sector. It represents the total amount of money wagered minus the winnings distributed to players. For example, if in a casino a player bets $1 million and wins $900,000, the resulting GGR would be $100,000. This concept is essential for measuring the profitability and financial health of the gaming marketplace.

Gross gaming revenue in the United States has increased  very rapidly from $0.4 billion in 2018 to $0.9 billion in 2019, $1.5 billion in 2020, $4.3 billion in 2021, $7.5 billion in 2022, to reach the current figure of $11.0 billion in 2023.

Since the 2018 decision, states such as Nevada, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania have led the growth of sports betting in the US. Nevada, driven by Las Vegas, is one example. In the first four months of 2024, the state generated more than $5 billion in commercial gaming revenue, which includes sources other than sports betting. New Jersey and Pennsylvania also stood out, each generating more than $2 billion over the same period. These numbers reflect the strong sports culture, regulatory frameworks, and early adoption of legalisation in these states.

The impact of legalisation is evident in both the numbers and the geographic expansion of the market. To date, 38 states and the District of Columbia have legalised sports betting.

The future of sports betting in the United States is positive, with economic, cultural, and legal factors driving the industry. With more states legalizing and revenues on the rise, the country is establishing itself as one of the largest sports betting markets in the world.

The Esports Integrity Commission (ESIC) has announced that the ESIC Global Esports Summit (EGES) will make its U.S. debut on 3-4 October, 2024, at the Georgia World Congress Centre in Atlanta, Georgia. This prestigious event marks a significant milestone as the summit, renowned for being a key platform for discussing integrity and transparency in esports, is hosted in the U.S. for the first time.

The EGES 2024 will be held alongside DreamHack Atlanta, a globally recognized gaming festival, offering attendees an exclusive opportunity to participate in both events. The collaboration with DreamHack highlights the summit’s focus on bringing together various stakeholders from the esports industry, including publishers, tournament organizers, and media professionals, to address the challenges and opportunities in the rapidly growing esports sector.

ESIC CEO Stephen Hanna (pictured above), emphasised the importance of this gathering, noting, “As the esports industry continues to evolve at an unprecedented pace, it is crucial for industry leaders to convene and collaborate on maintaining the integrity that is fundamental to the success of esports worldwide.” The summit will feature a carefully curated agenda of keynote presentations, expert panels, and workshops, fostering deep discussions on the future of esports.

David Neichel, Senior Vice President of Public & International Affairs at ESL FACEIT Group (EFG), which is presenting the event, expressed enthusiasm about hosting the summit in Atlanta. “This prestigious global event, combined with the DreamHack festival and Georgia Games Week, will provide a unique immersion into the thriving esports and video games community,” Neichel said.

The EGES 2024 is designed for industry executives and decision-makers, offering strategic insights and networking opportunities essential for navigating the complexities of the esports landscape. With a focus on upholding the integrity of esports competitions, the summit is set to be a pivotal event in the global esports calendar.