Gambling in the USA
More than 50 Experts from Across the Country to Speak at East Coast Gaming Congress, September 21-23 in Atlantic City

The 25th Annual East Coast Gaming Congress will feature more than 50 speakers, including top CEOs, the Governor of New Jersey, and scores of other industry experts as it convenes September 21-23 at Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Atlantic City.
Several hundred gaming industry leaders, legislators, regulators, educators, suppliers, gaming lawyers, media, and other stakeholders will attend the conference’s Silver Jubilee to learn more about the trends, challenges, and critical issues facing all segments of the gaming industries.
The luncheon will feature a keynote address from Hon. Phil Murphy, Governor of New Jersey, and will also include the presentation of a Lifetime Achievement Award to industry veteran Virginia McDowell.
Bill Miller, President and CEO, American Gaming Association, will provide an update and analysis on national issues.
Keynote speakers and other presenters include:
· James F. Allen, Chairman, Hard Rock International and CEO, Seminole Gaming
· Sherry Amos, Principal, Spectrum Gaming Hospitality Group
· John Atkinson, Director of Business Development, Sports Illustrated Sportsbook/888 Holdings
· Juliann Barreto, COO, Spectrum Gaming Group
· Scott Bowen, Government Affairs Specialist, NeoPollard
· James A. Carey Jr., Executive Director, New Jersey Lottery
· Stephen Cook, Chief Counsel, Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board
· David Cordish, Chairman, The Cordish Companies
· Peggy Daniel, US General Manager, The Lotter/New Jersey Lotto LLC
· Jay Dorris, CEO, PCI Gaming Authority
· Anthony Faranca, President, Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Atlantic City
· Gabriel Feinberg, VP, Beach Point Capital
· Brooke Fiumara, CEO, OPTX
· Shawn Fluharty, Minority Whip, West Virginia House of Delegates; and Vice President, National Council of Legislators from Gaming States
· Jon Ford, Senator, Indiana; and President, National Council of Legislators from Gaming States
· Howard Glaser, Global Head of Government Affairs and Legislative Counsel, Light & Wonder
· Jason Guyot, President and CEO, Foxwoods Resort Casino
· Brian Hansberry, President, Delaware North, Gaming
· Mandi Hart, Chief Client Solutions Officer, Sightline Payments
· Eric Hausler, CEO, Greenwood Racing (Parx Casino)
· Deron Hunsberger, Chief Commercial Officer, Ainsworth Game Technology
· David Isaacson, Senior VP, Spectrum Gaming Capital
· Grant Johnson, CEO and Chairman, Esports Entertainment Group
· Kevin Jones, Chief Strategy and Legal Officer, Resorts World Casino and Genting America
· Cathy Judd-Stein, Chair, Massachusetts Gaming Commission
· Elizabeth Lanza, Director, Office of Compulsive and Problem Gambling, Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board
· Lucas Levenson, Attorney, Cooper Levenson, Attorneys at Law
· Lloyd D. Levenson, CEO and Co-Chair, Gaming/iGaming Group, Cooper Levenson, Attorneys at Law
· Lynne Levin Kaufman, Partner and Co-Chair, Gaming/igaming Group, Cooper Levenson, Attorneys at Law
· Colin Mansfield, Sector Head – US Gaming, Lodging and Leisure, Fitch Ratings
· John Martin, Executive Director, Maryland Lottery
· David Martinelli Jr., Chief Marketing Officer, Mohegan Gaming & Entertainment
· Jeffrey Millar, Commercial Director, North America, Evolution
· Howard S. Mittman, President, 888 US
· Lia Nower, Director, Center for Gambling Studies, Rutgers University
· Jette Nygaard-Andersen, CEO, Entain
· Ray Pineault, President and CEO, Mohegan Gaming & Entertainment
· Cyrus Pitre, Chief Enforcement Counsel, Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board
· James T. Plousis, Chairman, New Jersey Casino Control Commission
· Michael Pollock, Managing Director, Spectrum Gaming Group
· David Rebuck, Director, New Jersey Division of Gaming Enforcement
· Thomas Reeg, CEO, Caesars Entertainment
· Richard Schwartz, CEO, Rush Street Interactive
· Joel Simkins, Managing Director, Houlihan Lokey
· Gina Smith, Deputy Director of Gaming Compliance, Virginia Lottery
· Marty Small, Mayor, City of Atlantic City
· Jay Snowden, CEO, Penn Entertainment
· Elizabeth Suever, VP Government Relations, Bally’s Corporation
· Drew Svitko, Executive Director, Pennsylvania Lottery
· Teddy Swigert, Managing Director, Credit Suisse
· June Taylor, Chair, Ohio Casino Control Commission
· Richard Taylor Jr., Responsible Gambling Program Manager, BetMGM
· Marlene Warner, Principal, Spectrum Safer Gaming Advisors, and Executive Director, Massachusetts Council on Gaming and Health
· Richard Weil, Principal, Spectrum Gaming Lottery Group, and President, Richard Weil Group
· Joseph Weinert, Executive VP, Spectrum Gaming Group
· Andrew Winchell, Director of Government Affairs, FanDuel
· Luisa Woods VP Marketing – Gaming and Entertainment, Delaware North
The conference will kick off with an opening reception on September 21. There also will be a networking cocktail party on Thursday evening. Additional panel discussions will focus on issues facing the industry, ranging from sports betting and igaming to the view from Wall Street, as well as insights from our Industry Leaders Forum.
Gambling in the USA
Abbiati Casino Equipment and Hawkins Holdings Form Strategic Alliance to Expand Presence Across the Americas

Abbiati Casino Equipment, a globally recognised leader in premium casino equipment and technologies, announced a strategic partnership with Hawkins Holdings to strengthen its presence across North and South America. As part of this initiative, seasoned gaming executive Roger Hawkins has been appointed Brand Ambassador and Strategic Consultant for the Americas.
With more than 20 years of executive leadership in the global casino and gaming industry, Hawkins will spearhead the company’s efforts to expand its footprint throughout the Western Hemisphere. His role will include market development, strategic partnerships, regulatory positioning, and the promotion of Abbiati’s legacy of Italian innovation, craftsmanship, and integrity.
“This partnership is about more than market entry – it’s about building deeper awareness, driving product adoption, and reinforcing Abbiati’s commitment to quality across every pit and poker room in the hemisphere,” said Hawkins.
Giorgio Abbiati, CEO of Abbiati Casino Equipment, said: “We have proudly served clients in the Americas for many years, but the time is right to deepen our focus. Roger’s knowledge of our products and his insight into the market make him the ideal partner to lead this next phase.”
Gambling in the USA
Catawba Two Kings Casino Resort Rising in Kings Mountain as First Year of Construction is Completed

Significant construction has been completed during the first year of work on the $1 billion Catawba Two Kings Casino Resort in Kings Mountain, N.C., a site off Interstate-85 only 35 miles from Charlotte and close to the South Carolina border.
Construction on all aspects of the project is in full swing, with the foundations for the casino complex and hotel completed several months ago, the casino complex at its full height and expanding horizontally, and steel continuing to rise for the 24-story, 385-room hotel. The hotel tower framing is now 10 stories high, with an additional floor being added nearly every week. At completion, the hotel will be connected to the casino complex.
The casino complex includes the introductory casino on the first level, three levels of covered parking, a back-of-house level and top level with the main casino floor and restaurants. The introductory casino, set to open in spring 2026, will include 1350 slot machines, 20 table games, a 40-seat restaurant, a bar, sports betting kiosks, and Lucky North Rewards desk.
The introductory casino will replace the current temporary (prelaunch) casino, which continues to grow in popularity as it nears its fourth anniversary on July 1.
The main casino complex is targeted to open in 2027. It will be about 2 million square feet and feature:
• 4300 slot machines
• 100 table games
• 11 dining outlets, including a steakhouse, Italian restaurant, marketplace with six venues, café, and grab-and-go outlet
• A players lounge
• 11 bars, including a center bar and sports bar
• A 2700-space parking garage built under the casino complex and 800 surface parking spaces
The project has created hundreds of construction jobs. Upon completion, the casino resort will employ an estimated 2200 regional residents and citizens of the Catawba Nation.
“This casino resort will be an economic game changer for Catawba citizens and a force to drive the economy of Cleveland County and the City of Kings Mountain. This project is a testament to our resilience, our commitment to self-sufficiency, and our determination to build a better future for ourselves and our future generations,” Catawba Nation Chief Brian Harris said.
Harris noted the temporary casino is contributing to many community and charitable organizations in the region, and that will only increase as the full casino resort opens.
The project is being led by the Catawba Nation Gaming Authority under Vice President Trent Troxel, with Yates-Metcon as the construction general contractor; Delaware North as the gaming management, development and hospitality consultant; and SOSHNY Design architects.
“Once again, I want to thank the Cleveland County, City of Kings Mountain, federal and state leaders who have supported the Catawba Nation’s efforts develop the casino resort in its ancestral lands in North Carolina,” Harris said.
Work has also been completed on two key infrastructure projects for development of the permanent casino resort that were funded by the Catawba Nation: doubling the size of the Dixon School Road Bridge over I-85 near the casino entrance and installing new sewer lines near the casino.
Gambling in the USA
Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Tampa Named Luckiest Casino in US by Casinos.com

Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Tampa has been named the luckiest casino in the US according to a recent study conducted by Casinos.com. The resort claimed the top spot based on an in-depth analysis of Tripadvisor reviews, measuring the frequency of luck-related keyword mentions.
With a 25.49% luck rate, Seminole Hard Rock Tampa topped the list thanks to glowing guest feedback, including frequent mentions of jackpots, hand pays and bonus wins. 50 reviews mentioned the word “jackpot,” and 19 even referenced a “hand pay.”
Casinos.com tracked keywords such as lucky, luck, won, winning, success, jackpot, hand pay, winner, bonus, profit to determine which U.S. casinos inspired the most winning moments among visitors.
“I hit 4 jackpots. I stayed one night. I had a blast. The machines are as loose as anywhere else,” wrote one Tripadvisor reviewer, noted Casinos.com, capturing the essence of why the casino landed in the No. 1 spot.
“We’ve always known this was a lucky casino, but it’s exciting to see that recognized through data-driven research. It’s a testament to the vibrant energy on our casino floor and the unforgettable experiences we strive to create for every guest,” said Steve Bonner, President of Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Tampa.
The ranking reinforces Seminole Hard Rock Tampa’s reputation as one of the premier gaming and entertainment destinations in the US. Seminole Hard Rock Tampa was not involved in the study and was unaware of it until the results were publicly released.
Over the past year, Seminole Hard Rock Tampa has paid out nearly 839,000 jackpots totaling more than $2.45 billion, continuing to deliver thrilling high-stakes gaming. Since May 1, 2024, the casino resort has awarded 375 jackpots of $100,000 or more, amounting to an impressive $61 million in winnings. Notably, 47 of those massive wins stemmed from bets of $5 or less and nine came from wagers of $3 or less.
Seminole Hard Rock Tampa offers a fully integrated casino experience with a sleek, modern design and welcoming atmosphere of 245,000 square feet of gaming space and entertainment. With 5230 of the hottest slot machines and a full range of table games such as poker, blackjack and baccarat, there is no shortage of opportunities to win. Additionally, guests can enjoy live craps, roulette, and sports betting at their leisure.
-
Canada7 days ago
AGCO Fines Great Canadian Casino Resort Toronto $350,000 for Serious Regulatory Violations Linked to Impromptu After-Party on Gaming Floor
-
Compliance Updates7 days ago
Esportes da Sorte holds forum on “Integrity in Sports” with Ceará and Náutico
-
Latest News7 days ago
Blokotech unveils Cristian Tonanti as new Casino Partnership Manager
-
Latest News7 days ago
EDGE Boost Named Preferred Payment Method for World Series of Poker Event Series
-
Latest News7 days ago
FIRST and Genius Sports Extend Landmark Data Partnership, Powering Continued Growth
-
Canada7 days ago
IGT and Atlantic Lottery Sign Eight-Year Video Lottery Central System Technology Agreement
-
Latest News6 days ago
NASCAR & iRacing Renew Partnership with PlayVS
-
Latest News4 days ago
Rivalry Reports Full-Year 2024 Results as Strategic Turnaround Takes Hold, Operating Loss Narrows, and Efficiency Improves