Gambling in the USA
Prominent Support for New York City’s Envisioned Caesars Palace Times Square Project

The New York State Latino Restaurant Bar & Lounge Association (NYSLRBLA) has thrown its support behind the proposal to bring a boutique casino hotel to the Times Square neighborhood of New York City.
The plan to redevelop up to eight floors of an existing 54-story office tower at 1515 Broadway into a premier entertainment and gaming destination is the brainchild of Caesars Entertainment Incorporated working in partnership with the SL Green Realty Corporation real estate investment trust and the Roc Nation management agency. The envisioned Caesars Palace Times Square facility could encompass as much as 250,000 square feet of gaming space alongside 950 hotel rooms and a plethora of entertainment and restaurant spaces.
Caesars Entertainment Incorporated floated its plan to bring a boutique casino to central Manhattan late last year and is now working towards securing one of the three associated ‘downstate’ licenses being put up for grabs by the New York State Gaming Commission. The prominent operator went on to partner with SL Green Realty Corporation and Roc Nation before establishing its Coalition for a Better Times Square industry group.
For its part and the NYSLRBLA represents Hispanic and minority-owned food and beverage concerns across the tri-state area encompassing over 350 restaurants ranging from small Latino enterprises to larger gourmet establishments. The group recently followed numerous other local businesses, labor unions and community organizations in joining the Coalition for a Better Times Square organization so as to better advocate in favor of the proposed Caesars Palace Times Square project.
“Times Square is the right place for New York’s next gaming destination, hands down,” Jeff Garcia, President for the NYSLRBLA, said. “It’s great not only for the Times Square area but for the city as a whole and we believe the increased tourism is going to directly benefit small and minority-owned businesses across the five boroughs.”
Economic forecasts indicate that a state-of-the-art gaming and entertainment destination in Times Square could see the storied area chalk up as much as $967 million in additional aggregated receipts every year from over seven million new annual visitors. The developers believe that their proposal, which comes complete with improved congestion, sanitation and security strategies, would moreover help the Manhattan neighborhood’s existing raft of hotels, theaters and restaurants while simultaneously bolstering an already extensive compliment of retail and dining options.
“The NYSLRBLA is among the most trusted and influential groups within New York City’s food and beverage industry,” read a joint statement from Caesars Entertainment Incorporated, SL Green Corporation and Roc Nation. “The NYSLRBLA’s support for a gaming destination in Times Square is a testament to the broad and city-wide impact of our proposal. A gaming destination in the heart of New York City, above the city’s largest transit center, means more customers and more opportunity for restaurants and bars across the city.”
Gambling in the USA
Aristocrat Interactive™ to Showcase Innovative iLottery Solutions at NASPL 2025 Annual Conference & Trade Show

Aristocrat Interactive™, the Real Money Gaming (RMG) division of Aristocrat, today announced its participation as a Level II Sponsor at the North American Association of State and Provincial Lotteries (NASPL) 2025 Annual Conference & Trade Show.
NASPL, the leading trade association representing 53 lottery organizations across North America, serves as a platform for collaboration, research, standards, and best practices that drive the future of the industry. Taking place September 8–11, 2025 at the Niagara Falls Convention Center in Ontario, Canada, the event, themed “Here to Play”, will gather lottery leaders from across North America to explore the evolving future of the industry.
Aristocrat Interactive will be showcasing its latest innovations for the iLottery sector through an interactive booth setup, one-on-one director’s dialogue sessions, a product and services showcase, and more. Attendees will get a first look at new eInstant titles, featuring fresh game mechanics and the business’s first cross-over game with its iGaming & Sports division. Aristocrat Interactive will also highlight its successful omnichannel solutions, which connect retail and online play to enhance player engagement and experience.
Building on this momentum, Aristocrat Interactive recently launched the New Hampshire Lottery’s new digital platform, signed long-term contracts with the Michigan Lottery and the Massachusetts Lottery, and secured a two-year extension with its NeoPollard Joint Venture in North Carolina—where Aristocrat Interactive provides the iLottery platform. These partnerships underscore Aristocrat Interactive’s commitment to helping lotteries deliver engaging digital experiences and sustainable growth.
“NASPL always sets the table for engaging discussions that can advance our customer-driven strategies to drive real digital growth for lotteries,” said Chris Shaban, Managing Director, iLottery at Aristocrat Interactive. “We’re looking forward to another opportunity to showcase Aristocrat Interactive as a solidified, future-ready unit with global gaming expertise.”
Attendees can connect with Aristocrat Interactive at Booth #209 and meet the team for one-on-one discussions in Room #205. Aristocrat Interactive will also hold a showcase on Wednesday, September 10 at 1:30 p.m. at its booth.
For more information about Aristocrat Interactive and its iLottery solutions, please visit aristocratinteractive.com.
Gambling in the USA
Scientific Games Introduces Obsidian, All-Black Holographic Lottery Scratch Games

Premium Instant Scratch Game Innovation Adds Luxury and Uniqueness at Retail with Exclusive Play Experience
Scientific Games announces Obsidian, its latest breakthrough in instant scratch game innovation. A revolutionary addition to the global lottery company’s holographic product offerings, Obsidian will debut at the North American Association of State & Provincial Lotteries 2025 Conference taking place September 8 to September 11 in Ontario, Canada.
With 18 unique design concepts, Obsidian games feature a dramatic combination of all-black tones and holographics to create a sleek, glasslike appearance. Named after naturally occurring volcanic rock, the Obsidian line offers a bold, ultra-premium look and scratch experience.
Obsidian is one of a number of new product designs from Scientific Games to be unveiled at NASPL 2025. The new products were developed by Scientific Games’ Innovation and Discovery teams at its metro Atlanta global headquarters, the largest lottery instant game production facility in the world. Obsidian games will also be produced at the company’s Canadian and UK facilities.
“Our game innovators have followed holographic trends on high-end luxury items and were inspired to create fresh, new games centered on value proposition design for our lottery partners,” said Danielle Hodges, Senior Director, Global Product Innovation & Development for Scientific Games. “At a time when the market basket average is increasing, holographic games allow lotteries to differentiate their games by adding a touch of luxury and uniqueness. In sneak previews of Obsidian with several lotteries, the response we’ve received is pure excitement.”
The company continues to lead the industry in scratch game innovation, using holographics to heighten retail appeal and create immersive player experiences.
Scientific Games, the world’s largest creator, producer and manager of lottery instant games, offers more than 100 strategic enhancements for its world-leading scratch products. The company’s products represent 70% of global instant game retail sales.
Innovating products and solutions that move the global lottery industry forward since 1973, Scientific Games provides retail and digital games, technology, analytics and services to 150 lotteries in 50 countries around the globe, including nearly every North American lottery.
Obsidian™ is a trademark of Scientific Games, LLC. © 2025 Scientific Games, LLC. All Rights Reserved.
Gambling in the USA
ETPL APPOINTS LONDON-BASED OAKVALE CAPITAL AS EXCLUSIVE INVESTMENT BANKER TO LEAD CAPITAL RAISE AND GROWTH STRATEGY

The European T20 Premier League (ETPL), an ICC-approved T20 league co-owned by Abhishek Bachchan and backed by Cricket Ireland, Cricket Scotland, and the Royal Dutch Cricket Association, has appointed Oakvale Capital as its exclusive investment banker.
“Oakvale’s deep expertise in sports finance will be a game-changer for ETPL’s long-term vision. We look forward to working closely with their expert team to help bring our event to fruition,” said Warren Deutrom, CEO, Cricket Ireland.
“Oakvale is one of the leading London-based investment banks in the sports and gaming ecosystem. Their sector depth, global network, and track record advising rights-holders, clubs, and technology platforms make them the right partner for ETPL as we scale,” said Saurav Banerjee, Co-owner and Director, ETPL.
“We’re excited to support ETPL’s bold and innovative approach to cricket. The vision to elevate the sport in Europe with a premium, differentiated offering aligns well with Oakvale’s strategic focus in global sports properties,” said Sandford Loudon, Partner, Oakvale Capital.
Blending world-class cricket with a distinctively European experience, ETPL aims to redefine the sport through elite talent, immersive fan experiences, and data-driven innovation. In addition, KPMG in India has been appointed as ETPL’s strategic advisor.
-
Latest News5 days ago
Spintec Strengthens its Partnership with Merkur in Colombia and Peru
-
Canada4 days ago
iGaming Ontario Appoints Joseph Hillier as its New President and CEO
-
Canada4 days ago
Playson strengthens Ontario foothold with Casino Time integration
-
Gambling in the USA4 days ago
$50 MILLION GUARANTEED IN ACR POKER’S BIGGEST-EVER TOURNAMENT SERIES: THE ONLINE SUPER SERIES XL, LAUNCHING THIS WEEKEND
-
Gambling in the USA4 days ago
Georgia Lottery Takes Retail Experience to Next Level with Scientific Games’ SCiQ Technology
-
Canada3 days ago
Evoplay strengthens Ontario presence in partnership with Caesars Entertainment
-
Latest News5 days ago
ACR POKER CONCLUDES MONSTER VENOM TOURNAMENTS, DELIVERING OVER $10 MILLION IN PRIZE POOLS AND EPIC FINAL TABLE BATTLES
-
Latest News2 days ago
Proper Loud and Galactic Announce Groundbreaking Global Partnership to Launch the World’s First Socially-Driven Prediction Market Platform