Compliance Updates
SL Green and Caesars Entertainment Announce Pursuit of New York Gaming License for World-Famous Times Square
SL Green Realty Corp. and Caesars Entertainment announced a partnership to redevelop 1515 Broadway as a premiere entertainment and gaming destination in the heart of Times Square, one of the most visited destinations in the world. Caesars Palace Times Square will not only provide billions in tax revenue to New York City and State, it will also accelerate New York’s economic recovery through strategic partnerships with area businesses utilizing its industry-leading loyalty program Caesars Rewards, home to more than 65 million members. Caesars Rewards members will be able to use credits at Broadway shows, local hotels, restaurants, retail stores, comedy clubs, entertainment venues, and more, driving more tourists to area businesses and creating thousands of direct and indirect jobs in and around Times Square.
In addition to major economic benefits to all Times Square stakeholders, SL Green and Caesars are proposing significant security and traffic improvements as part of their proposal, which would boost Mayor Adams and the NYPD’s efforts in Times Square. These efforts will make visitors feel safer, improve mass transit, encourage pedestrian travel, and mitigate vehicle congestion in the area, pursuant to a proposed traffic plan to be included as part of the project.
Caesars Palace Times Square will be designed to include a Broadway Theater for The Lion King. The development will also bring Caesars Entertainment’s more than 50 years of globally-recognized excellence in entertainment, food & beverage, and gaming to New York to deliver a best-in-class experience that will be authentic and complementary to the Times Square entertainment district.
“We believe that Times Square offers the best location for a new resort casino that can attract tourists and benefit local businesses. We’re excited to pursue this license with Caesars and our many local partners. Our approach will ensure that under-represented communities benefit both in terms of employment and investment opportunities,” said Marc Holliday, CEO of SL Green. “A casino in Times Square is in keeping with existing uses in the area. Times Square is the center of the entertainment universe. Because we are proposing a renovation, once the license is issued, we can open quicker than other facilities, which require entirely new construction, changes in law, and will be disruptive to their local communities.”
“Caesars is thrilled to partner with SL Green in connection with a five-star project that will meet and exceed New Yorkers’ expectations for world-class entertainment, immediately enhancing New York City’s tourism engine and elevating this one-of-a-kind global destination to new heights,” said Tom Reeg, CEO of Caesars. “As one of the largest mobile sports books in New York, Caesars is passionate about New York itself. Caesars is also deeply invested in New York-based restaurant groups, chefs, and entertainers from across the Empire State.”
Actors’ Equity stated, “The proposal from the developer for a Times Square Casino would be a game changer that boosts security and safety in the Times Square neighborhood with increased security staff, more sanitation equipment, and new cameras. We applaud the developer’s commitment to make the neighborhood safer for arts workers and audience members alike.”
“Carmine’s has been in business in Times Square for over 30 years, and the public-private investments that were made in the late 90s and early 2000s literally transformed Midtown,” said Jeffrey Bank, President and CEO of the Alicart Restaurant Group, which operates Carmine’s and Virgil’s BBQ. “It is time for us to reinvest again – Times Square is the beating heart of New York, but everyone in Times Square is still hurting from the pandemic. The Caesars Palace proposal is the key to bringing tourists back, making Times Square safer, and is exactly the economic driver we need to not only recover but continue to grow and create more jobs.”
“A successful bid will provide a much-needed boost to area theaters, hotels, restaurants, and businesses and commit to fund a wide range of neighborhood initiatives and improvements to make Times Square the safest, cleanest, and most pedestrian-friendly entertainment district in the world,” said Michael Prohaska, Business Manager of Laborers’ Local 79. “This would mean bringing thousands of good union jobs to Midtown and enabling innovative new training and apprenticeship programs — initiatives that will provide disadvantaged community members with pathways to sustainable employment.”
“A trip to New York isn’t complete without a visit to Times Square – it’s the crossroads of the world,” said Geoff Ballotti, President and CEO Wyndham Hotels & Resorts, which franchises 38 hotels in Manhattan and the Great State of New York. “A project of this scale and scope will help bring more tourists back to Times Square, fill hotel rooms not only here, but all across the City and create great jobs at the same time.”
“We know how to bring crime rates down in Times Square because we’ve done it before. With better security infrastructure and 24/7 monitoring, we can anticipate and prevent crime – we just need the financial and political willpower to do so,” said former New York City Police Commissioner William Bratton. “SL Green and Caesars’ proposal for Times Square goes beyond routine, in-house security and would invest millions in a new public-private safety initiative. This investment will ensure Times Square is safe for years to come.”
Caesars is the largest North American gaming operator with more than 50 casino properties across its portfolio, retail and/or mobile sports betting in 27 jurisdictions, and iGaming in five jurisdictions. Caesars Palace Times Square will be 100% privately funded. Caesars will license its brand and manage the operations under a long-term management contract.
In addition to its breadth of experience in operations and development, Caesars prides itself on its 30-year legacy in responsible gaming. Since creating the industry’s first responsible gaming program in 1989, Caesars has devoted millions to organizations working to combat problem gaming. Its pioneering responsible gaming training program reaches every Team Member through Operation Bet Smart, a required company-wide course devoted to problem gaming awareness training, and Project 21, a required class focused on preventing underage gambling. Additionally, the company has more than 1,600 Responsible Gaming Chairpersons and Ambassadors who are specially trained to assist guests who may show signs of a potential gaming problem.
Recently named to the Civic 50 as one of America’s 50 Most Community-Minded Companies, Caesars’ PEOPLE PLANET PLAY framework ensures it acts with integrity and care for its Team Members, communities, and the environment, with stated goals around environmental impact, diversity, equity and inclusion, and community support. Among those goals is a commitment to increase representation of women and people of color in leadership roles to achieve full gender and racial parity by 2025, the promise to reduce water consumption by 20% per square foot by 2035, and a pledge to divert from landfills 65% of all waste generated at our properties by 2030.
Compliance Updates
GeoComply and Citi launch the second edition of “The Challenger Series” in Las Vegas
GeoComply Solutions Inc. (“GeoComply”), the market-leading geolocation, fraud, and risk solutions provider, is pleased to announce its second Challenger Series Summit, in partnership with Citi’s investment bank, to be held in Las Vegas, on October 8th, 2023, before G2E.
Following the success of the inaugural New York Challenger Series event, held on May 8th, 2023, GeoComply and Citi are continuing the momentum, supporting early-stage companies and start-ups in the gaming industry by gathering industry founders and entrepreneurs to share their valuable knowledge and insights.
GeoComply’s Challenger Series is designed to provide companies targeting the US-regulated gaming market with expert advice from founders and entrepreneurs with decades of personal experience on topics that include hyper-growth, payments, product innovation, marketing, post-exit strategy, and more.
Feedback from New York Challenger Summit was exceedingly positive. Attendees remarked on the quality of panelists who spoke on relevant topics for their emerging businesses. The carefully curated thought leadership panels and additional time for networking allowed attendees to forge meaningful relationships within the gaming community.
GeoComply Co-Founder David Briggs commented, “We are so thankful for all the industry leaders who shared their time and expertise at our first event. The ability to bring together top gaming founders and entrepreneurs in one room to speak on tackling the North American market and its challenges is an invaluable experience for all emerging business owners. Our goal is to continue to support this community and build this space for connection and relationship-building.”
What: The Challenger Series – Vegas Summit
Where: Bellagio, Las Vegas, Nevada
When: October 8th, 2023, 2 pm – 6 pm PST
Presenters: Paul Liberman (DraftKings), Lesley Eccles (HelloRelish Inc), Joey Levy (Betr), Nik Robinson (Big Time Gaming), Nan Wang (Sleeper), Matt Davey (Tekkrop Capital LLC), Scott Longley (Clear Concise Media), Anna Sainsbury (GeoComply), David Briggs (GeoComply), Andrew Fabian (Citi)
Attendees will have the opportunity to meet founders, market leaders, and visionaries during and after the event which will end with a networking cocktail hour on the Bellagio balcony overlooking the city.
The Gaming Americas Quarterly Meetups by Hipther Agency are designed to keep you up-to-date with what is fresh in the North American and Latin American gambling industry.
The meetups feature several panel discussions per region and topics that are joined by key industry experts, CEOs, C-Level Executives, Business Development Managers, and sometimes government officials/regulators.
The Gaming Americas Q3 Virtual Meetup that took place on September 13 brought back the quarterly US Legislation Round-up with our favorite experts, Bill Pascrell, III (BP3), Partner at Princeton Public Affairs Group, Martin Lycka, SVP for American Regulatory Affairs and Responsible Gambling at Entain, and Jeremy Kleiman, Gaming Attorney and Member at Saiber LLC.
Gaming Americas Q3 Session 2: US Legislation Round-up
Speakers: Bill Pascrell, III (BP3) | Martin Lycka
Moderator: Jeremy Kleiman
Watch the Session on YouTube and HiptherTV!
In this edition of the US Legislation Round-up, moderator Jeremy Kleiman immediately delved into the major developments of the past quarter. He invited Bill Pascrell to kickstart the conversation with insights into Florida’s online sports betting launch, thanks to the Seminole-Hard Rock collaboration.
Bill shared his unique perspective, having represented Hard Rock International for the last 11 years. He revealed that while Hard Rock had initially launched betting, legal challenges forced a temporary shutdown. However, recent legal developments suggest that Hard Rock is poised to relaunch on September 19th. Bill credited this success to Jim Allen, Chairman of Hard Rock International and CEO of Seminole Gaming, as well as the entire Hard Rock Team and the Seminole Tribe.
Bill also touched upon the legal complexities surrounding this case, especially regarding the Indian Gaming Act. He expressed excitement about Florida becoming the largest state in the nation to launch sports betting, emphasizing the enormous opportunities it presents.
Jeremy followed up by asking about the regulatory framework and potential collaborations with Hard Rock. Bill explained that opportunities for collaboration, both online and in retail, hinge on the Indian Gaming Act’s provisions. He also hinted at the possibility of ancillary services and additional partners.
Martin Lycka joined the conversation, emphasizing that Florida’s unique regulation is an example of the intricacies in US gambling and sports betting laws. He discussed the tax rates and restrictions in Florida and how four key states, including New York, California, and Texas, will shape the future of the US market.
The discussion then shifted to California, where Bill discussed the need for a ballot referendum due to the state’s complex political landscape and gaming entities.
Regarding Texas, Bill shared that it has no history of gaming, with many Texans crossing state borders for gambling. Regulatory attempts in the state have thus far failed, with potential regulation expected in the spring of 2025.
The conversation touched on the crucial role of professional sports teams in shaping gaming regulation. Bill emphasized that these teams will be license holders for venues and possess significant political influence.
Martin pointed out the cultural contrasts in Texas, a conservative state with popular sports teams eager to embrace sports betting. He also drew attention to New York’s high tax rate, which poses challenges for operators.
Jeremy shifted the discussion to responsible gaming, with Martin informing us that September is the Responsible Gambling Education month in the US, underscoring the importance of responsible gaming education throughout the year.
In summary, our panel of American gaming specialists provided a comprehensive session with valuable insights into US gambling legislation. They highlighted both the challenges and progress in key states, setting the stage for the future of the industry.
Watch the full US Legislation Round-up for Q3 on HiptherTV
Stay tuned for Session 3 of the Gaming Americas Q3 Meetup and the special focus on “AI Issues”!
BMM Testlabs, the world’s original gaming test lab and product certification consultancy, is pleased to announce that BMM Testlabs Spain has been approved as a testing and certification laboratory for the games and lottery industry by Paraná; State Lotteries.
Marzia Turrini, Executive Vice President, EURSAM, commented: Paraná State Lotteries (LOTTOPAR) initiated a public call for accreditation earlier this year, inviting interested laboratories to apply for the license to serve in this jurisdiction for betting and lottery games. This is the first jurisdiction regulating laboratories in Brazil, which demonstrates understanding of the importance of the testing and certification of gaming devices in the region. BMM is excited for the opportunity to serve in this Brazilian jurisdiction and would like to thank LOTTOPAR for their support during the application process.
Paraná State Lotteries signed an accreditation agreement authorizing BMM Testlabs to collaborate with lottery and fixed-odds betting operators, including sports betting, for the purpose of testing and certifying gaming products and systems. This accreditation extends to electronic games, lottery systems, gaming machines, online platforms, and other related components.
The accreditation signing ceremony on Friday, September 15, 2023, was attended by Daniel Magarios (Sales Manager for South America, BMM Testlabs), Analice Castor de Mattos (lawyer representing BMM Testlabs Spain), Daniel Romanowski (Chief Executive Officer, LOTTOPAR), Rog&#e9;rio Nogueira (Chief Financial Officer, LOTTOPAR), Fabio Veiga (Chief Operating Officer, LOTTOPAR), Rafael Halila (Chief Technology Officer, LOTTOPAR), Stefanny Fernandes (Chief of Staff, LOTTOPAR), and Simone Marin Israel (Operations Directorate, LOTTOPAR).
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