Gambling in the USA
Def Leppard Hits Vegas: The Sin City Residency
HEADLINING LAS VEGAS RESIDENCY STARTS WEDNESDAY, AUG. 14 AT ZAPPOS THEATER AT PLANET HOLLYWOOD RESORT & CASINO
2019 will be another influential year for legendary British rock ‘n’ roll icons Def Leppard. In addition to being inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame® on March 29, 2019, the band will be taking over the Las Vegas Strip later this year with their exclusive headlining residency show. Promoted by Live Nation and Caesars Entertainment, Def Leppard Hits Vegas: The Sin City Residency kicks off Wednesday, Aug. 14 at Zappos Theater at Planet Hollywood Resort & Casino.
Said lead singer Joe Elliott, “Five years ago, we played our first ever residency in Las Vegas which was relatively new ground for a rock band giving this kind of experience…I have to say, we really enjoyed it! Being in one place for the best part of a month is vastly different to our normal city to city touring routine. Breaking this cycle adds another element to the experience for both us and the audience. We look forward to seeing you at the Zappos Theater this summer!”
“Planet Hollywood transformed the entertainment landscape in Las Vegas with the first pop residency,” said Jason Gastwirth, president of entertainment at Caesars Entertainment. “We are proud to be at the forefront of rock residencies as well and treat the city’s visitors to a new type of experience with Def Leppard.”
Tickets go on sale to the public Friday, Feb. 22 at 10 a.m. PT. Fans will have first access to a presale beginning Thursday, Feb. 14 at 10 a.m. PT through Thursday, Feb. 21 at 10 p.m. PT. Citi® cardmembers can also purchase tickets before the general public starting Monday, Feb. 18 at 10 a.m. PT through Thursday, Feb. 21 at 10 p.m. PT. In addition, Caesars Rewards members, Caesars Entertainment’s loyalty program, and Live Nation and Ticketmaster customers will have access to a presale beginning Wednesday, Feb. 20 at 10 a.m. PT through Thursday, Feb. 21 at 10 p.m. PT. A limited number of meet and greets will also be available.
The 12 performances going on sale are:
Aug. 2019: 14, 16, 17, 20, 23, 24, 29, 31
Sept. 2019: 1, 4, 6, 7
General ticket prices begin at $69, plus applicable tax and fees, and may be purchased online at ticketmaster.com/defleppard or in-person at the Planet Hollywood box office. All shows begin at 8 p.m.
DEF LEPPARD
With more than 100 million albums sold worldwide, two prestigious Diamond Awards in the U.S., 2019 Rock & Roll Hall of Fame® inductees, Def Leppard – Joe Elliott (vocals), Phil Collen (guitar), Rick “Sav” Savage (bass), Vivian Campbell (guitar) and Rick Allen (drums) — continue to be one of the most important forces in rock music. Over the course of their career the band has produced a series of classic ground-breaking albums that set the bar for generations of music fans and artists alike. The group’s spectacular live shows and arsenal of hits have become synonymous with their name, leading Def Leppard to be heralded as an institution in both the music and touring industry. Def Leppard’s influential career includes numerous hit singles and ground-breaking multi-platinum albums—including two of the best-selling albums of all time, Pyromania and Hysteria, capturing the group’s legendary tracks, bringing together classic Leppard hits such as “Rock of Ages”, “Pour Some Sugar on Me” and “Foolin.” The band’s 2015 self-titled studio album debuted at #1 on Billboard’s Top Rock Albums and Top Independent Albums charts. The album also took the #5 spot on Billboard’s Top Current Albums and #10 spot on the Top 200, as well as claiming 15 top 10 debuts around the world. For the first time, in January 2018 Def Leppard debuted their full recording catalog worldwide via streaming and download platforms. As they did with the original release of their records, Def Leppard dominated the worldwide charts again. Chart stats saw their albums charting in the iTunes Top 10 in more than 30 countries, including Hysteria at #3 in the US, and #5 in the UK. Def Leppard had the #1, #2 and #3 records on the US catalog albums chart.
LIVE NATION LAS VEGAS
Live Nation Entertainment (NYSE: LYV) is the world’s leading live entertainment company comprised of global market leaders: Ticketmaster, Live Nation & House of Blues Concerts, LN Media and Artist Nation Management. Live Nation Las Vegas produces residency shows from Def Leppard, Gwen Stefani, Backstreet Boys, Pitbull and Christina Aguilera at Zappos Theater at Planet Hollywood Resort & Casino; Lady Gaga, Aerosmith, Bruno Mars, Stevie Wonder and Queen + Adam Lambert at Park Theater at Park MGM; Mariah Carey at The Colosseum at Caesars Palace; and Blink 182, Billy Idol and Lady Antebellum at Pearl Concert Theater at the Palms. Live Nation Las Vegas also brings other world-famous artists to many of the city’s other premier concert venues including T-Mobile Arena, Mandalay Bay Events Center, MGM Grand Garden Arena, House of Blues, Downtown Las Vegas Events Center, The Joint at Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Las Vegas, and more. For additional information, visit www.livenation.com.
PLANET HOLLYWOOD RESORT & CASINO
Celebrating 10 years, Planet Hollywood Resort & Casino is the centerpiece of the famed Las Vegas Strip, with 2,500 beautifully redesigned guest rooms and suites showcasing some of the best views in town, along with endless options of unparalleled shopping, distinguished dining, popular entertainment and a bustling nightlife. A bright, bold addition to the resort’s portfolio, the new Ultra Hip Rooms feature contemporary elegance and luxury bedding. Known as the place to play for its roster of A-list celebrity guests, Planet Hollywood’s 231 newly restyled suites feature stunning views of the glittering skyline and daring décor elements such as suspended sofas, lounge-style living spaces and oversized modern artwork. The resort encompasses more than 100,000 square-feet of gaming, several lounges, impressive restaurants including Gordon Ramsay Burger, KOI, Strip House, and the award-winning Spice Market Buffet, an intimate wedding chapel and the Planet Hollywood Spa by Mandara. The resort also features The Scene Pool Deck with the Strip’s first and only stand-alone wave machine, the FlowRider. Home to the first pop music residency in Las Vegas, Zappos Theater showcases resident headliners Backstreet Boys, Gwen Stefani, Christina Aguilera, Pitbull and Def Leppard. Magician Criss Angel performs an over-the-top visual spectacular of “Criss Angel MINDFREAK®” in the newly-renovated Criss Angel Theater. The property is encircled by Miracle Mile Shops with more than 170 specialty stores and restaurants. Planet Hollywood Resort & Casino is operated by a subsidiary of Caesars Entertainment Corporation (NASDAQ: CZR).
Gambling in the USA
Inspired and bet365 Launch Next-Gen Virtual Sports: V-Play NHL, NBA Re-Play, and Re-Play eSports
Inspired Entertainment, Inc. (“Inspired” or the “Company”) (NASDAQ: INSE), a leading B2B provider of gaming content, technology, hardware, and services, is proud to announce the launch of three groundbreaking Virtual Sports titles – V-Play NHL, NBA Re-Play, and Re-Play eSports – available through bet365, one of the world’s premier online gambling brands.
These new products represent the next generation of Inspired’s award-winning Virtual Sports portfolio, featuring cutting-edge motion capture, ultra-realistic animation, and non-stop action to deliver an engaging player experience.
V-Play NHL is an officially licensed product that brings the speed and intensity of professional hockey into the virtual arena. Featuring real NHL teams and logos, the game delivers an authentic sports betting experience with broadcast-quality graphics and dynamic gameplay.
NBA Re-Play, officially licensed by the NBA and the NBPA, uses iconic archive footage and advanced rendering technology to recreate unforgettable basketball moments. Fans can engage with the action in innovative ways, thanks to new betting formats and cinematic presentation.
Re-Play eSports™ offers fast, always-on Counter-Strike: Global Offensive (CS:GO) virtual gameplay and betting opportunities for one of the most popular competitive video games globally and its captive audience of digitally native fans. The product utilizes official tournament archive footage from the Champion of Champions Tour, a top CS:GO event, with official in-game data and video feeds provided by data and technology company GRID.
These new titles are part of Inspired’s growing suite of officially licensed North American Virtual Sports products available through bet365, further reinforcing the companies’ shared leadership in the space.
“We’re excited to expand our partnership with bet365 through the launch of these groundbreaking products,” said Brooks Pierce, President & CEO of Inspired. “With V-Play NHL, NBA Re-Play, and Re-Play eSports, we continue to redefine what’s possible in Virtual Sports, delivering high-quality, immersive content that resonates with both fans and bettors.”
“Inspired continues to lead the way in Virtual Sports innovation,” said a bet365 spokesperson. “With compelling visuals, official league integrations, and thrilling gameplay, these titles are set to be a major hit with our global audience.”
The launch highlights the ongoing collaboration between Inspired and bet365 and their joint commitment to innovation and player-first entertainment.
All three products are now live on bet365’s global platform, fully optimized for desktop and mobile.
18+, GambleAware.org, Gambling can be addictive, please play responsibly.
Virginia’s casinos have generated $84.7 million in adjusted gaming revenue in July, a 42.8% increase compared to $59.3 million in July 2024, boosted by Caesar Virginia opening its full casino in December.
According to the report from the Virginia Lottery, Caesars Virginia led the market with $35.1 million in AGR, up 86.5% year-over-year from the $18.8 million generated in 2024. Revenue from slots totaled $24.6 million, up from last year’s figure of $14.4 million. Table games saw an increase of 137% to $10.5 million in July.
Rivers Casino Portsmouth was the second-highest earner in the state but saw the smallest year-over-year increase. Revenues for table games and slots increased last month, with table games generating $7.9 million, up from $7.4 million, and slots rose by 3.4% from $18.3 million to $18.8 million.
Hard Rock Bristol posted the lowest AGR at $22.9 million, but it was a double-digit percent increase from the $14.8 million generated from the year prior, with slots accounting for 81.6%.
Virginia is close to welcoming its next casino in the form of an interim gaming hall. Boyd Gaming and the Pamunkey Indian Tribe will open the temporary casino in Norfolk in November, with the permanent resort slated for 2027.
The gambling sector in New Jersey experienced impressive gains in July, hitting a total gaming revenue of $606.2 million. This figure marks an increase of 10.7% compared to July 2024, highlighting continued expansion within the state’s gaming market.
Online Casinos Set New Records with $247 Million Revenue
Online casino platforms played a key role in driving this growth, generating an unprecedented $247.3 million during the month. This amount represents a more than 25% rise from the same period last year and establishes a new monthly high for internet gaming in New Jersey. So far in 2025, online casinos have accumulated $1.63 billion in revenue, a year-over-year increase exceeding 23%. Major operators such as FanDuel, DraftKings, and BetMGM have been instrumental in positioning New Jersey as the leading state for legal online gambling in the US.
FanDuel maintained its position as the top online casino, earning $52 million in July—a 38% increase from the previous year. DraftKings followed with $48.6 million, while BetMGM generated $31.4 million. Additionally, Caesars Palace Online achieved a record $18.7 million, more than 50% above last year’s equivalent month. The fierce competition among these industry leaders has sparked innovation and increased player engagement, contributing to sustained market growth.
Land-based casinos in Atlantic City also experienced a positive month, collectively bringing in $284.1 million, a 4.3% increase compared to July 2024. The Borgata remained the highest-grossing casino with nearly $80 million in revenue, while Ocean Casino Resort recorded the fastest growth at over 18%. Hard Rock Atlantic City also noted gains. However, many of the older casinos continue to lag behind their pre-pandemic results, emphasizing the growing importance of newer venues in the market.
Conversely, sports betting revenue saw a decline. Earnings from bets placed at casinos, racetracks, and online platforms totaled $74.8 million in July, reflecting a 6.6% decrease year-over-year. The total amount wagered reached $664 million for the month, bringing the cumulative sports betting revenue for 2025 to $626.8 million—approximately 4% lower than last year’s figures.
Record-Breaking Year-to-Date Revenue and Tax Contributions
Despite the downturn in sports betting, New Jersey’s overall gambling industry has achieved record-breaking performance during the first seven months of 2025. Combined revenue from all gaming categories reached $3.92 billion, marking the highest year-to-date total on record for the state. In July alone, gambling-related tax revenues amounted to $81.7 million, contributing to a year-to-date total of $446.1 million to New Jersey’s fiscal resources.
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