The Fire Joker has returned, his blazing grin wider than ever. Hes back in control of the reels, where classic fruits and symbols light up under his fiery touch. But this time, theres more than just mischief in the air. The heat has intensified, the stakes are higher, and this scorching slot is cranked up to a full 100.
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The Fire Joker has returned, his blazing grin wider than ever. Hes back in control of the reels, where classic fruits and symbols light up under his fiery touch. But this time, theres more than just mischief in the air. The heat has intensified, the stakes are higher, and this scorching slot is cranked up to a full 100.

Gambling in the USA

Indiana Sportsbooks Lose Out On $165 Million In April Bets

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With retail sportsbooks shuttered and few events to draw bets, April could be low point, according to PlayIndiana.com

— Indiana sportsbooks suffered their worst month ever in April — including a retail sector that did not produce a single bet — costing sportsbooks an estimated $165 million in bets, according to estimates from PlayIndiana.

With a minimized schedule of sports to bet on and casinos closed for the entire month, Indiana generated just $26.3 million in wagers, according to official reporting released Monday. During a month in which online and retail sportsbooks would have expected to draw at least $190 million in bets, April’s handle was down 64.8% from $74.8 million in March. That’s the lowest monthly handle ever for Indiana sportsbooks, which launched in October 2019 with $35.2 million in bets.

“April’s results are shocking, but not at all surprising,” said Dustin Gouker, chief analyst for PlayIndiana.com. “Bettors have very few places to turn in Indiana. In some states, online casinos have driven significant revenue. But that isn’t possible in Indiana. So the industry’s results will continue to be grim until the sports world figures out a way to reopen.”

April’s wagers produced $1.6 million in adjusted gross revenue, down from $5.5 million in March. That yielded $148,189 in tax revenue for the state.

Without legal online casino games and poker, and no esports betting, bettors in Indiana have largely been limited since mid-March to fringe international sports and futures betting. In fact, $21 million of the state’s handle was generated by “other” sports, far more than football, basketball, and baseball.

The NFL Draft, and to a lesser extent the WNBA Draft, gave bettors some reason to engage with sportsbooks in April. Indiana, the first state to allow betting on professional sports drafts, generated $1.3 million in football-related wagers in April, most of which came from the NFL Draft.

“The shut down of sports has led to some creativity by Indiana’s bookmakers, and that creativity was rewarded with interest in the NFL Draft,” said Jessica Welman, analyst for PlayIndiana.com. “Even though Indiana has missed out on some opportunities, regulators have at least been nimble enough to allow some unconventional ideas.”

There are reasons for cautious optimism. NASCAR is planning on revving up in May, which could draw betting interest. The PGA Tour is planning a June tee off while baseball and the NBA continue to search for a workable solution to restart their seasons. In addition, Indiana’s casinos and retail sportsbooks could open as early as June 14.

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“It could be that April is the low point in what will undoubtedly still be a struggle until sports can resume with their regular schedules,” Gouker said. “If sports do resume relatively soon, online sportsbooks should recover quickly. In the meantime, sportsbooks will continue to look for creative ways to drive revenue.”

Because retail sportsbooks were shut down entirely in April—costing an estimated $40 million in in-person bets—online sportsbooks accounted for the entire handle in the state. DraftKings/Ameristar Casino led the market with $13.6 million in bets, up from $33.1 million in March. That generated $908,322 in gross receipts, down from $2.4 million. FanDuel/Blue Chip Casino was second with a $9.7 million handle, down from $21.6 million. That resulted in a $558,155 win, down from $1.5 million.

The market leaders were followed by:

  • BetRivers/French Lick Resort ($2.1 million handle, down from $3.6 million; $116,726 win, down from $343,482)
  • Hollywood Lawrenceburg/PointsBet ($449,638 handle, up from $334,237 handle; -$4,768 handle, down from $65,390)
  • BetMGM/Belterra ($418,195 handle, down from $2.1 million; $48,043 handle, down from $370,669)
  • BetAmerica/Rising Star Casino ($3,886 handle, down from $132,568; $3,519 win, down from $8,233)

The shutdown may have slowed the development of some sportsbooks apps, too. BetIndiana is still sorting through issues. And familiar brands such as William Hill, which operates a retail sportsbook at Tropicana Evansville, as well as Caesars, Fox Bet, and Unibet have yet to enter the market.

“The legacy of this shut down for the market could be in the way it has stunted its growth,” Welman said. “From lost revenue to less competition, the effects of this unprecedented shutdown will be felt well after sports resume.”

For more revenue information on Indiana sportsbooks, visit PlayIndiana.com/revenue.

About the PlayUSA.com Network:
The PlayUSA.com Network is a leading source for news, analysis, and research related to the market for regulated online gaming in the United States. With a presence in over a dozen states, PlayUSA.com and its state-focused branches produce daily original reporting, publish in-depth research, and offer player advocacy tools related to the advancement of safe, licensed, and legal online gaming options for consumers. Based in Las Vegas, the PlayUSA Network is independently owned and operated, with no affiliations to any casino — commercial, tribal, online, or otherwise.

Gambling in the USA

UNLV International Gaming Institute Announces 2025 ESPN Research Fellows

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Selected research projects will generate new insights into how responsible gambling messages are delivered and perceived in the rapidly evolving sports media landscape

The University of Nevada, Las Vegas International Gaming Institute (IGI) is proud to announce the recipients of the 2025 ESPN Research Fellowships. This year’s cohort features a group of scholars whose proposals will advance understanding of responsible gambling messaging in sports media and its implications for consumer well-being.

Fellowships recipients include:

  • Dr. Brandon Mastromartino, Director of the Institute on Sports Wagering and Gaming and Assistant Professor of Experiential Marketing at the L. Robert Payne School of Hospitality and Tourism Management, San Diego State University. Dr. Mastromartino’s project will evaluate two of the NFL’s responsible gambling PSAs using a fan-centered marketing framework.

  • Dr. Chris R. Noland, Assistant Professor of Advertising at the University of South Florida’s Zimmerman School of Advertising & Mass Communications. Dr. Noland will examine the influence of celebrity endorsements and promotional inducements in Instagram advertisements on online sports betting behavior.

  • Dr. Ramon Silva Leite, Professor in the Postgraduate Program in Management at Pontifical Catholic University of Minas Gerais, Brazil. Dr. Silva’s project will investigate how responsible gambling messages are constructed and delivered through sports media, and how young sports bettors perceive and respond to them.

  • Dr. Sarah Stokowski, Associate Professor of Athletic Leadership at Clemson University’s Department of Educational and Organizational Leadership Development. Dr. Stokowski will investigate how college student-athletes perceive and interact with sports betting content on social media.

These projects will provide important insights into practical strategies that policymakers and the industry can adopt to help safeguard the wellbeing of sports enthusiasts and the public at large.

“IGI is tremendously proud of the work our previous Fellowships produced. A key goal of this initiative is to support innovative and impactful research to better understand the rapidly changing global sports and betting environment,” said Dr. Kasra Ghaharian, Director of Research at IGI. “This research represents critical perspectives on how gambling is represented in sports media and holds important implications for all gambling stakeholders.”

“Responsible gaming continues to be a priority for ESPN, and we are proud to continue our collaboration with IGI to support research that delivers real-world impact,” said Kevin Martinez, Vice President of ESPN Corporate Citizenship. “These new projects will provide valuable insights into how responsible gaming messages can be delivered effectively across sports media and help strengthen standards that protect fans everywhere.”

Each research fellowship lasts six months. Research results will be featured in an IGI webinar in 2026.

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Gambling in the USA

Iconic Online Games Set for Land-Based Debut Through Collaboration of Gaming Arts and Evolution

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Iconic Online Games Set for Land-Based Debut Through Collaboration of Gaming Arts and Evolution

 

Gaming Arts, LLC and Evolution, through its dedicated land-based slot games partner Bluhare Studios, announced a landmark collaboration to adapt a select group of Evolution’s most celebrated online slot titles for the land-based Class III gaming market. This partnership combines proven game mechanics, strong brand recognition, innovative features, and Gaming Arts’ suite of high-performance MOD EX cabinets to deliver products designed to meet the expectations of today’s land-based casino players.

The first wave of releases is scheduled for Q4 2025 in North America and will be available across Gaming Arts’ latest cabinet line-up: the MOD EX J55, MOD EX 227, and MOD EX 337. Four titles will lead the launch, each carrying a strong legacy in online gaming along with exciting new enhancements for the casino floor.

Divine Fortune has been a global standout since its debut, ranking as the number one title for Evolution in the United States. Performing well in New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Michigan, and in all states it can be found online. It’s no surprise it has inspired successful online sequels such as Divine Fortune Megaways and Divine Fortune Black. Now, this player favorite will make its long-awaited land-based debut. Developed in collaboration with Gaming Arts, Divine Fortune Ascensionbuilds on the success of the original with a fresh twist, introducing an all-new three-pot perceived persistence feature designed to heighten engagement.

Starburst, released in 2012, is one of the most recognizable slot titles in online gaming history and Evolution’s top performer globally. With its simple yet captivating gameplay, it has remained a staple for over a decade, inspiring sequels such as Starburst XXXtreme and Starburst Galaxy. Starburst Supernovareimagines this classic with a multiplayer-enabled format, launching as part of a two-game multi-pack. Both titles will feature a new perceived persistent bonus mechanic that culminates in a hold-and-spin feature, adding a fresh layer of excitement to an already proven brand.

This collaboration also creates new opportunities for integrated marketing campaigns across both online and land-based platforms, reinforcing brand engagement and building stronger connections with players.

“We are thrilled to be working with the Evolution team, which has long been an industry leader in creating compelling content for online gambling markets.  This partnership allows us to work with two of Evolution’s most celebrated titles and bring them to a brand new player base”, said Greg Colella, Chief Product Officer, Gaming Arts.

“Bringing these iconic titles to land-based casinos represents a major step forward for Gaming Arts,” said Rob Ziems, CEO of Gaming Arts. “This collaboration goes beyond simply combining Evolution’s exceptional game brands with our latest MOD EX hardware. We are working closely with Evolution to effectively adapt these classics for land-based play while also innovating and modernizing them to create fresh, engaging experiences that will truly resonate with today’s casino players.”

Todd Haushalter, Chief Product Officer at Evolution, said: “Since the beginning of online gaming, content has traditionally flowed in one direction; from land-based casinos to online. That approach made sense, as it brought proven experiences to digital audiences. What excites us now is reversing that trend by taking some of the most successful games in the history of online gaming and bringing them to land-based casinos. Evolution is thrilled to be at the forefront of this shift. This collaboration allows us to bring our world-class IP to the incredibly talented team at Gaming Arts, and watching them work their land-based magic to adapt and reimagine our games has been truly inspiring.”

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Gambling in the USA

TCSJOHNHUXLEY to Sponsor Inaugural G2E Dealer Championship

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G2E Las Vegas 2025 is set to host the first-ever US Dealer Championship, and TCSJOHNHUXLEY is delighted to announce its sponsorship of this landmark event. The championship, which celebrates the skill and professionalism of casino dealers, will take place at The Venetian Expo from October 7-9, 2025.

The G2E Dealer Championship will bring together the nation’s top casino dealers to compete for the title of “Best Dealer.” Contestants will be judged on their technical precision, game knowledge, and ability to provide a superior player experience.

As a proud sponsor TCSJOHNHUXLEY will be supplying all the Roulette tables for the competition, ensuring the highest standard of equipment for the championship. This not only highlights the company’s commitment to the dealers but also provides the perfect platform to showcase its renowned manufacturing expertise. TCSJOHNHUXLEY’s world-class Roulette tables are testament to the precision engineering and superior craftsmanship that has set the industry standard for decades.

Phil Lee, TCSJOHNHUXLEY Chief Financial Officer & Managing Director Americas comments, “We are delighted to be a part of the first G2E Dealer Championship, an event that truly celebrates the invaluable role of casino dealers. Dealers are the heart of the live gaming experience, and we are committed to supporting their success. Our outstanding Roulette tables will provide the perfect platform for these talented professionals to showcase their artistry and skill.”

The G2E Dealer Championship will take place at Booth #5225, located in The Strip at G2E.

The sponsorship underscores TCSJOHNHUXLEY’s unwavering commitment to the live gaming sector and the professionals who drive its success. The company invites all attendees to witness the championship and visit its stand at Booth #4439 during the expo to see its full range of innovative solutions.

 

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