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

Safe, festive ways to celebrate the holidays at the Plaza Hotel & Casino and Oscar’s steakhouse

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Safe, festive ways to celebrate the holidays at the Plaza Hotel & Casino and Oscar's steakhouse

 

As the end of 2020 approaches, many families and businesses are looking for ways to celebrate in a safe yet festive manner. Home to the largest ballroom in downtown Las Vegas and the award-winning Oscar’s steakhouse, the Plaza Hotel & Casino is offering holiday luncheon and dinner options for small groups in line with its #MaskOnMeetOn Initiative that outlines enhanced health and safety protocols for meetings and events as directed by federal, state and local health agencies.

“The holiday season is upon us, and people deserve the opportunity to celebrate in a safe, relaxed manner,” said Jonathan Jossel, CEO of the Plaza Hotel & Casino. “The Plaza and Oscar’s can provide a beautiful space and a delicious menu, prepared and served by our expert culinary staff, while observing all mandated health and safety protocols, to allow small groups of friends and family the chance to celebrate the holidays and toast the end of 2020.”

To ensure social distancing, this holiday season Oscar’s steakhouse can accommodate a total of 165 guests spread out over the main dining room under the glass dome (79), the lounge (32) and private dining room (54). Oscar’s offers various group dining menus and packages, including a selection of hors d’oeuvres and 3- or 4-course plated dinners.

The Plaza’s 30,000 sq. ft. of convention space can accommodate groups less than 250 people (per current state standards) and be transformed into smaller spaces with floor-to-ceiling sound buffering air walls to separate groups. In addition to three standalone meeting rooms, the 19,000 sq. ft. Sierra Ballroom can be divided into 10 rooms.

Inside the convention space, the Plaza’s professional event planning and catering team can develop customized menus, including a plated holiday luncheon starting at $25 per person and a plated dinner starting at $30 per person. Catered dinners will include a complimentary holiday toast to send off 2020. A winter wonderland photo opportunity background can also be set up upon request for selfies during the event.

The Plaza’s #MaskOnMeetOn Initiative outlines numerous protocols for event planning and execution to help ensure the health and safety of attendees, including mandatory face coverings and social distancing. The Plaza also offers customized technology solutions, such as live web streaming and engaging social media interaction for all attendees, onsite and remotely.

Other #MaskOnMeetOn protocols include the continual sanitization of frequently touched surfaces such as door handles, tables and chairs; no shared culinary services such as buffets or water stations; numerous hand sanitizer stations; and a mandatory wellness check point with a temperature screening for all guests. Air quality automation system in all meeting and conference spaces has also been adjusted to provide 100 percent fresh air 24 hours a day to achieve 14-16 air exchanges per hour.

Gambling in the USA

Georgia Lottery Takes Retail Experience to Next Level with Scientific Games’ SCiQ Technology

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SCiQ Ecosystem Modernizes Lottery Scratch Game Sales, Simplifies Retail Operations

The Georgia Lottery Corporation is taking a major step forward in transforming the way players experience instant scratch games at retail with the launch of Scientific Games’ award-winning SCiQ retail ecosystem at 1,500 locations statewide. The breakthrough retail technology modernizes how scratch games are sold and managed, bringing greater operational efficiency to retailers and a convenient, streamlined purchasing experience for players.

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The innovative retail technology rollout is the latest milestone in a long-standing partnership between the Georgia Lottery and metro Atlanta-based Scientific Games, a collaboration that began at the Lottery’s inception in 1993. Through the long-standing partnership, Scientific Games has worked with the Lottery to launch its first scratch game, first second-chance promotion and is soon to launch its first loyalty program.

“Retail environments are evolving, and the Georgia Lottery is proud to lead with smart technology solutions that align with how today’s consumers want to shop,” said Gretchen Corbin, President and CEO of the Georgia Lottery Corporation. “SCiQ brings a modern retail presence to our instant games, helps our retailers operate more efficiently and ultimately supports our mission to maximize revenues for the HOPE Scholarship and Georgia Pre-K program.”

A Gold Winner in the 2025 American Business Awards for Operations Management Solution and Bronze Winner in the 2025 International Business Awards for Achievement in Product Innovation, SCiQ is being deployed across the diverse mix of Georgia Lottery retailers, including both major chain and independent stores. Each will benefit from:

  • Real-time inventory tracking proven to reduce out-of-stocks and drive increased product sales
  • Advanced sales analytics to help optimize sales performance and strategic planning
  • Easy-to-use reporting tools that reduce operational time and provide management insights
  • Dynamic digital menu boards that elevate the product’s in-store presence and promotion while providing players with real-time updated information
  • Game dispensing bins that secure products, reduce theft and provide ticket-by-ticket operational tracking

“We are especially proud to bring the benefits of SCiQ to our home state,” said John Schulz, President of the Americas for Scientific Games. “The Georgia Lottery has always been a forward-thinking partner, and this retail modernization initiative is another move to ensure future growth for its instant game business to sustain future funding for Georgia’s students.”

A leading innovator in the industry, the Georgia Lottery ranked No. 2 in the world for scratch game per capita sales (La Fleur’s 2025 World Almanac). It has been a participant in the Scientific Games Enhanced Partnership program since the Lottery’s inception, benefiting from instant game design and production, portfolio management and game planning services, data analytics, advanced logistics, licensed brand services and retail sales and marketing support. Used by more than 20 lotteries, including five of the top six performing instant game lotteries worldwide, the SGEP program drove 31% better performance for U.S. partners in fiscal year 2023-24.

As the world’s largest lottery games company and the fastest-growing lottery systems provider in North America, Scientific Games currently serves more than 150 lotteries in 50 countries around the world.

SCiQ® is a registered trademark of Scientific Games. ©2025 Scientific Games, LLC. All Rights Reserved.

 

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$50 MILLION GUARANTEED IN ACR POKER’S BIGGEST-EVER TOURNAMENT SERIES: THE ONLINE SUPER SERIES XL, LAUNCHING THIS WEEKEND

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  • $4.25 million guaranteed in Monster Main Events across three tourneys, plus
  • $2.8 million guaranteed in Multi-Flight Events

Fresh off the massive Dual Venom tournaments with over $10 million in prize pools, ACR Poker announces the return of its flagship Online Super Series (OSS) XL. From this Sunday through Tuesday, September 30th, players of all bankrolls can jump into supersized poker action and compete for a staggering $50 million in guaranteed prize pools.

Headlining the OSS XL schedule are three monster Main Events. Starting Sunday, September 21st, players can take their shot at the $2 million guaranteed ($2,650 buy-in), the $1.5 million guaranteed ($1,050 buy-in), and the $750,000 guaranteed ($215 buy-in) Main Events.

Adding to the excitement is the high-energy Survivor Flips tourney ($130 buy-in), offering a $150,000 guarantee. Phase 1 and Steps Flips run from Wednesday, September 17th to Sunday, September 21st at 3pm ET. Phase 2 is a regular tournament on September 21st at 3:05pm ET where all players start in the money.

“After heated back-to-back Venom tourneys, the OSS XL feels like the perfect follow-up,” said ACR Pro Chris Moneymaker. “This series offers every type of player a mix of incredible value with a lot of variety. From Main Events to Survivor Flips and Mystery Bounties, plus big guarantees on top, it’s the kind of schedule that gets the whole community fired up, and I can’t wait to dive in.”

In addition, the jam-packed schedule features plenty of multi-flight action. The $630 buy-in Multi-Flight tournament boasts a $1.5 million guarantee, with Day 1’s starting on Sunday, September 7th and Day 2 on Monday, September 29th.

There are also four Mystery Bounty Multi-Flight events, including two $500,000 guaranteed $109 buy-in events, with Day 1’s starting on September 7th and September 21st. Players can jump into the $200,000 guaranteed ($33 buy-in) and $100,000 guaranteed ($5.50 buy-in) events, with the final flight and Day 2 on September 28th.

To add further sweat, ACR Poker’s Leaderboard Contest returns with $65,000 in cash and tourney tickets across three tiers. The High Stakes ($104.50 buy-ins and above) will award a $15,000 top prize, while the Mid Stakes ($16.50 to $88 buy-ins) and Low Stakes (under $15 buy-ins) will award $7,500 and $4,000, respectively.

For further details on the OSS XL, read the ACR Poker blog or visit ACRPoker.eu.

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Gambling in the USA

Major Casino Operators Ready to Invest if Georgia Lifts Casino Ban

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As discussions about legalizing gambling in Georgia gain momentum, major casino operators like Wynn Resorts and Boyd Gaming are poised to lead the charge if the state changes its restrictive laws.

During a recent Georgia House study committee meeting, Christopher Gordon, president of Wynn Resorts’ development arm, expressed keen interest in building a multibillion-dollar casino should legal barriers be removed. Similarly, Boyd Gaming’s government affairs vice president Ryan Soultz highlighted Georgia’s market attractiveness.

Wynn’s model would be similar to its $2.6 billion Encore Boston Harbor, suggesting that a new Georgia casino could employ up to 4000 workers and contribute substantial gaming tax revenue.

Although specific locations have not been chosen, both companies have indicated they would need constitutional changes to move forward. Their willingness to invest heavily in the Peach State demonstrates a strong belief in the untapped potential of the state’s gambling market.

Such developments offer a compelling argument for lawmakers to consider gambling expansion, marking a shift toward economic incentives as a primary motivator for legislative change.

Should Georgia proceed with legalizing casino gambling, the legislative language will be crucial in shaping the industry’s landscape. Key proposals may include requiring casino companies to invest at least $1.2 billion per resort and generate a minimum number of jobs, often set at around 10,000 per license. This ensures that any developments bring tangible benefits to the local economy.

Additional legislative demands include rigorous background checks for key personnel, proven industry experience, and adherence to strict technical and financial standards. Only companies with substantial capital and robust infrastructure, like Wynn Resorts and Boyd Gaming, are likely to meet these stringent requirements.

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