Each week, CasinoBeats breaks down the numbers behind some of the industry’s most interesting stories. In the latest edition we take in another Dutch fine, further blows for Crown Resorts and a $150m Illinois casino proposal.
470,000
The Kindred Group has been handed a €470,000 fine by the Dutch gaming authority, Kansspelautoriteit for offering online gambling through unibet.eu.
Issuing the penalty to Trannel International, a wholly owned subsidiary of Kindred, it’s the latest in a steady stream of similar punishments issued by the Ksa over the last 18 months, which most recently saw the regulator impose a €350,000 fine on ElectraWorks Limited for offering online gambling via the Bwin.com site.
Research by the Ksa showed that online gambling was offered to Dutch consumers during a four month period from August to December last year, which highlighted that it was possible to pay with the Dutch payment method iDEAL.
Furthermore, a Dutch-language chat service was also available, with terms and conditions on the site included a list of countries whose residents were excluded from participation, with the Netherlands not included.
38
Melbourne headquartered Crown Resorts has reported shrinking revenues, as the firm again denies allegations of inappropriate practices amid increasing regulatory scrutiny.
The firm has slammed a “deceitful campaign” in it home country, with a Nine Network investigation alleging links to drug traffickers through junket operators, as well as the fast tracking of visas for Chinese gamblers.
Turnover from VIP play tumbled 26.1 per cent to AU$38bn for the period ended June 30, 2019, with the figure having the potential to plummet further still with the allegations subsequently referred to Australia’s integrity watchdog.
John Alexander, executive chairman of Crown, commented: “It comes as no surprise that various regulators and other agencies have launched inquiries given recent media reports and the sensationalist nature of the allegations raised.
“Crown has zero tolerance for criminal elements, and we view these inquiries as an opportunity to continue our cooperation with regulators and other agencies.”
3
The Greek Government is adamant that the deadline for bids to operate a new casino as part of the €8bn Hellinikon Project is set in stone, after three previous delays has seen the country’s gaming regulator stipulate Monday 30 September.
Being undertaken at the former airport at Elliniko, what was once Athens’ airport complex, Mohegan Gaming and Entertainment, Hard Rock International and Genting are said to be the three organisations in the running to secure the only gaming licence on offer.
Three ministerial decisions are said be imminent, with those involving the park, coastline development and the casino expected to be approved by August 27, and a fourth, involving a plethora of further construction, anticipated by August 30.
The casino, being lauded as Europe’s first integrated casino resort and the first Hellinikon investment, will include gaming-integrated hotels, convention facilities, entertainment shows, theme parks, luxury retail and fine dining, and is set to occupy approximately 15,000 square metres of the 6,200,000 square metre Hellinikon Project.
150
A new $150m Rivers-branded casino has been proposed for the Illinois city of Waukegan, as local media reports that six groups are vying to construct a new property in the region.
This follows Governor JB Pritzker rubber stamping a $45bn ‘Rebuild Illinois’ action plan, which included provisions for a significant gaming expansion that will see further new properties pop-up in Rockford, Williamson County, Danville and the South Suburbs.
With the Windy City to see construction of its first land-based establishment, as well as a slots introduction at the Midway and O’Hare Airports, proposals have been submitted by Churchill Downs Incorporated and Rush Street Gaming for Rivers Casino Waukegan.
Both parties, which control the state’s top grossing establishment in Rivers Casino Des Plaines, are proposing building a 1,625-gaming-seat venue, which it states will create over 1,200 permanent jobs, 900 union construction jobs and pump over $150m annually into the economy.
