Each week, CasinoBeats breaks down the numbers behind some of the industry’s most interesting stories. In this latest entrant we look at positive UK and Australian impacts, casino developments and upgrades and a survey analysing gambling habits.

2,000

YouGov survey commissioned by the Industry Group For Responsible Gambling and published ahead of Responsible Gambling Week has questioned more than 2,000 adults about their gambling habits over the last 12 months.

Reporting its findings, only ten per cent of those surveyed considered themselves to be gamblers despite one in two buying lottery tickets, one in three purchasing scratch cards and nearly one in five betting on sporting events.

YouGov and the IGRG also highlights a perceived distinction people make between softer forms of gambling, which many do not regard as gambling at all, and so-called harder gambling, which they believe may not apply to them.

Playing machine games in arcades was not viewed as gambling by 42 per cent of those questioned, with 40 per cent stating playing in a bingo club does not constitute gambling, nor does playing the lottery (33 per cent) or buying scratch cards (29 per cent).

700

Philadelphia’s $700m Live! Casino and Hotel has held a ‘topping-off’ ceremony, as the region’s new gaming and entertainment destination builds towards a 2020 opening.

Stadium Casino, an affiliate of The Cordish Companies, and Gilbane Building Company marked the significant milestone, as the project is projected to generate in excess of $2bn in economic stimulus for the city.

Executives of each organisation were present as the final commemorative beam, adorned with hundreds of signatures from construction workers, was raised to complete the superstructure.

The 1.5-million-square-foot facility will feature 2,200 slots and electronic table games, more than 150 live action table games, a sportsbook, 12-story 200+ room boutique hotel, restaurants and live entertainment venues, valet parking and a new structured parking facility.

622.4

The Stars Group has lauded growth across its Australia and UK segments, as well as “rapid progress” across its US interests, as a third quarter financial performance comes in line with company expectations.

Group revenue increased 8.8 per cent to $622.4m (2018: $571.9m), driven by strong underlying trends in customer activity and revenues across the UK and Australia.

During the quarter, online sports betting was The Stars Group’s largest product vertical, 35 per cent versus 27.7 per cent in 2018, followed by online casino, 31.3 per cent from 31.6 per cent, and online poker, which dropped to 30.9 per cent (2018: 37.7 per cent).

The UK and Australia rose significantly, with the former posting revenue of $226.9m, 34.8 per cent up from $168.3m, due to a combination of factors including strong operational momentum across the segment’s betting and gaming products and the timing of the acquisition of Sky Betting and Gaming.

An increase of 36.4 per cent from $71.1m to $52.1m was reported in the latter, primarily driven by higher betting net win margin, partially offset by a decrease in stakes, as a result of the 2018 World Cup, and adverse foreign exchange fluctuations.

These offset decreasing revenue in Stars’ international segment, with a slight rise in gaming hampered by a drop in poker and betting, as its total figure reached $325.4m, 7.7 per cent down from $352.4m.

20

Genting UK has completed a multi-million pound refurbishment to its Genting Casino Cromwell Mint property, which has been rebranded as Forty Five Kensington.

The South Kensington venue is aiming to offer customers “a state-of-the-art casino games experience combined with a high-quality dining offering”.

The rebrand to Forty Five Kensington has seen the whole venue given a makeover, with the casino boasting “a stylish gaming environment for customers to enjoy”.

Overlooking the Natural History Museum, the entities main gaming floor has been fully refurbished and new tables have been added, including poker, blackjack and American roulette.

Furthermore, as part of the venue’s makeover the newly expanded e-lounge has welcomed 20 slot machines alongside a number of hydra e-tables.