Gambling in the USA

MGM Resorts Executive Included In BLACK ENTERPRISE’s 2019 Most Powerful Women In Corporate Diversity

Published

7 years ago

February 20, 2019

BLACK ENTERPRISE (BE) magazine named MGM Resorts International’s (NYSE: MGM) Phyllis A. James, Chief Diversity & Corporate Responsibility Officer, as one of the “Most Powerful Women in Corporate Diversity.” Ms. James leads the company’s Corporate Diversity and Philanthropy Departments and is responsible for managing MGM Resorts’ policy, business strategy and initiatives focused on Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) which includes the Company’s diversity and inclusion, philanthropy and volunteer programs.

“Corporate responsibility is an anchor of our company’s character, values and culture, and is central to our employee engagement, customer and business expansion and reputation growth,” said Jim Murren, Chairman & CEO of MGM Resorts International. “Phyllis has been the architect of our diversity and inclusion strategy and practices and a staunch advocate of the advantage it brings to our spirit, our culture and our business; we are proud to call her one of our own.”

BE’s “Most Powerful Women in Corporate Diversity” identifies women who are vital to the management of major corporations, from marketing and talent development to procurement spending and financial performance, among other areas. This prestigious listing will be published in their upcoming First Quarter 2019 issue.

Beyond her CSR activities, Ms. James is a director on the board of and special advisor to MGM Grand Detroit, LLC. Throughout her career, Ms. James has received several recognitions for her legal accomplishments and civic contributions. In 2015 she was admitted to the American Law Institute, the leading independent U.S. organization producing scholarly work to clarify, modernize and improve the law. In 2016 the National Bar Association conferred upon her a Lifetime Achievement Award.

She has also received many recognitions for her civic service. This year, Ms. James was named to receive the First Annual FOCUS (Feeding Our Community Unparalleled Success) Award presented by BlackDoctor.org. In 2017 she received the Human Rights Campaign’s Equality Award at the HRC Las Vegas Gala for outstanding leadership and service to the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and Queer (LGBTQ) community; the “Community Achievement Award” from The Las Vegas Asian American Group; and the “Make An Impact” Leadership Award from Las Vegas’ City Impact Center.

Prior to joining MGM Resorts, Ms. James served with great distinction with Mayor Dennis Archer as Corporation (General) Counsel and Law Director of a department of approximately 100 lawyers for the City of Detroit (then the nation’s tenth largest city) for two terms, from February 1994 through December 2001.

From 1979 until accepting her position with the City of Detroit she practiced law with the San Francisco-based firm of Pillsbury, Madison, and Sutro (now Pillsbury Winthrop Shaw Pittman) and became that firm’s first African American partner in 1985, specializing in complex litigation. She commenced her legal career as a Judicial Law Clerk from 1977-1978 for the Honorable Theodore R. Newman, Jr., then Chief Judge of the District of Columbia Court of Appeals.

Ms. James graduated Magna Cum Laude with a Bachelor of Arts Degree in American History and Literature in 1974 from Harvard/Radcliffe College after having received the honors of Phi Beta Kappa junior year, the Captain Jonathan Fay Prize (then Radcliffe College’s highest honor for a graduating woman based on the graduate’s scholarship, conduct and character) and the lsobelle T. Briggs Fellowship for Graduate Study. She earned her J.D. from Harvard Law School in 1977.

In addition to the feature, BE will honor all of this year’s Most Powerful Women In Corporate America & Corporate Diversity during a special recognition ceremony at their annual Women of Power Summit: an exclusive networking opportunity with fellow top business leaders, motivational speakers and women CEOs, held February 28 through March 3, 2019, at The Mirage Hotel & Casino.

Stake - Best Online Casino & Sports Betting Platform

ABOUT BLACK ENTERPRISE:

BLACK ENTERPRISE, your ultimate source for wealth creation, is the premier business, investing, and wealth-building resource for African Americans. Since 1970, BE has provided essential business information and advice to professionals, corporate executives, entrepreneurs, and decision makers. Every month, BLACK ENTERPRISE magazine provides 6 million readers with information on entrepreneurship, careers, and financial management. As a multimedia company, BLACK ENTERPRISE produces television programming, business and lifestyle events, web content and digital media. BLACK ENTERPRISE is the definitive source of information for and about African American business markets and leaders, and the authority on black business news and trends.

ABOUT MGM RESORTS INTERNATIONAL:

MGM Resorts International (NYSE: MGM) is an S&P 500® global entertainment company with national and international locations featuring best-in-class hotels and casinos, state-of-the-art meetings and conference spaces, incredible live and theatrical entertainment experiences, and an extensive array of restaurant, nightlife and retail offerings. MGM Resorts creates immersive, iconic experiences through its suite of Las Vegas-inspired brands. The MGM Resorts portfolio encompasses 29 unique hotel and destination gaming offerings including some of the most recognizable resort brands in the industry. Expanding throughout the U.S. and around the world, the company acquired the operations of Empire City Casino in New York in 2019, and in 2018, opened MGM Springfield in Massachusetts, MGM COTAI in Macau, and the first Bellagio-branded hotel in Shanghai. The over 82,000 global employees of MGM Resorts are proud of their company for being recognized as one of FORTUNE® Magazine’s World’s Most Admired Companies®. For more information visit us at www.mgmresorts.com.

Source: MGM Resorts International

Gambling in the USA

Inspired and bet365 Launch Next-Gen Virtual Sports: V-Play NHL, NBA Re-Play, and Re-Play eSports

Published

10 hours ago

August 20, 2025

Peter Tolan

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.

Gambling in the USA

Virginia Casino Revenue Increases 42.8% to $84.7M in July

Published

17 hours ago

August 20, 2025

Niji Narayan

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.

Gambling in the USA

New Jersey Gambling Revenue Surges in July with Online Casinos Leading Growth

Published

2 days ago

August 19, 2025

Niji Narayan

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.