The former Founder and CEO of Grover Gaming has officially launched a new brand in land-based gaming. Named by combining the names of his daughters, Valicy Gaming was unveiled during a recent company launch party held in Greenville, North Carolina.

Evolving from Grover Gaming—which was recently sold to Light & Wonder for a total consideration of $1.05 billion —Valicy will now focus on becoming a major manufacturer in land-based gaming across North America. Retaining a majority of the employees from the acquisition, Valicy will continue forward with a veteran team that will have a sharper focus on game development and hardware design.

Despite the name change, Valicy continues under the same experienced executive leadership team and remains dedicated to providing best-in-class customer service and technical support—qualities customers have come to depend on. The company’s values, represented by its CARE triangle—People, Company, and Work—are deeply rooted in its culture and will remain central to its mission moving forward.

The public debut of the Valicy brand will take place at the Global Gaming Expo (G2E) in Las Vegas, October 6–9, at the Venetian Expo, Booth #1623, where the team will showcase its new identity and game offerings to casino partners and operators from across the industry.

“This is an exciting time for our teams,” said Garrett Blackwelder, Founder and CEO of Valicy. “We have the opportunity to do big things in new markets, which gives us energy and enthusiasm. As we grow Valicy, we will focus on relationships, excellence, and innovation.”

The California Gambling Control Commission (CGCC) convened for its scheduled public meeting to deliberate on a wide range of licensing and regulatory matters related to cardrooms, third-party providers, tribal gaming, and key individuals in the gambling industry. The Commission addressed ownership transfers, license renewals, regulatory compliance, and findings of suitability for tribal gaming employees and suppliers.

Highlights from the Meeting

Cardroom Licensing and Ownership Transfers

Commerce Casino (California Commerce Club, Inc.)

• Initial License Approval: The Commission recommended approving an initial cardroom owner license for James Murray, Director of the Commerce Casino, through March 31, 2027.
• Ownership Transfer: The Commission approved a share transfer from Marsha Gold to the Marsha L. Gold Revocable Trust, subject to the transaction closing within 180 days and written confirmation of compliance with imposed conditions.
• Successor Trustee Licensing: The license for Jill Anter Wieder, Successor Trustee of the trust, was also approved through March 31, 2027, pending the completion of the ownership transaction.
• Additional Conditions: The Commission imposed a detailed list of conditions on the license, including certification requirements, written transaction confirmations, and mandatory legends on stock certificates to ensure regulatory compliance.

Napa Valley Casino (BVK Gaming, Inc.)

• Ownership Transfer: Similar to Commerce, the transfer of shares from Von Altizer to the Von Altizer 2017 Revocable Trust was conditionally approved.
• Successor Trustee Licensing: Applications from Christopher and Bobby Huang, successor trustees and contingent beneficiaries, were approved through May 31, 2026, contingent upon the transaction’s completion.
• Interim License Conditions: The Commission imposed a set of conditions mirroring those required for Commerce Casino, ensuring the integrity of ownership transitions.

Renewal and Interim Licenses

Seven Mile Casino (Stones South Bay Corp.)

• A new interim renewal license was approved through September 30, 2027, with prior licensing conditions officially removed.

Commerce Casino Directors

• Rick Contrucci: The Commission opted to abandon the renewal application.
• Lysa Grigorian: The application was referred to an evidentiary hearing, and an interim license was issued through March 31, 2027.

Other Cardrooms

• Limelight Card Room: License renewed through March 31, 2027.
• Lucky Chances Casino: A 90-day extension was granted through December 31, 2025, with strict restrictions on property access and communications for Rene Medina, tied to a 36-month probationary period.
• North Coast Casino and The River Card Room: Both granted 60-day extensions with multiple compliance conditions required prior to opening or continuing operations.

Third-Party Proposition Player Services

Renewals and Initial Licenses Approved

• Owner-Type Licenses for Global Player Services and Players Edge Services were renewed through 2027.
• Employee-Type Licenses: Dozens of third-party proposition player service employees were approved or renewed, including workers from Knighted Ventures, Blackstone Gaming, and Acme Player Services.
• Conditions on some licensees, such as Glenn Kaboua, included proof of fine resolution every 90 days.

Tribal-State Compact Licensing

Gaming Resource Suppliers

• Everi Games Inc. and LNW Gaming, Inc. received approval for initial and renewal suitability findings, with licenses valid through early 2026.

Key Tribal Employee Licensing

• A significant number of tribal casino employees across the state received initial or renewed findings of suitability. These included employees from:

  • Chumash Casino Resort

  • Thunder Valley Casino Resort

  • Fantasy Springs Resort Casino

  • Graton Resort & Casino

  • Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Sacramento, among many others.

• The Commission emphasized continuous monitoring of suitability, especially for applicants under conditional approval like Tatianna Wren, who must provide quarterly updates on efforts to resolve outstanding fines.

Key Individual Decisions

• Huy Dang: The Commission approved the renewal of Dang’s Key Employee License through September 30, 2027, removing prior conditions related to court-mandated classes and debt resolution.

Consent Calendar Items

• Items 15 through 21 included approvals for initial and renewal licenses for various employees, work permits, and tribal key employees. All items were approved per staff recommendations.

Conclusion

The September 18, 2025, meeting of the California Gambling Control Commission underscored the Commission’s ongoing role in maintaining transparency, accountability, and integrity in the state’s gambling industry. With careful review of ownership changes, key personnel, and operational compliance, the CGCC continues its commitment to fair and responsible gambling practices in California.

For full details and future updates, visit the California Gambling Control Commission website

Time to power up your spins and collect big wins with Hippo’s Lock™ in Mexico. The new slot adventure launched by FBM® has Super Hippo as a hero, delivering entertaining gaming sessions with the Lock Feature, the Power Spins and Extra Spins accumulators. The game is available to play on the Auria, Galaxy II and Shadow III casino cabinets and is set for a fast expansion in the Mexican gaming market.

Hippo’s Lock is the latest slot title developed by FBM and brings a new theme with a charismatic hero, equipped with gadgets and special powers which will attract and engage slot players in Mexico.

The 30-lines game works with 15 independent reels, and the main action happens around the central position with Super Hippo’s intervention. The purple hippo guides the game narrative, taking players on an exciting gaming journey with non-stop action, suspense, and compelling animations.

The “X” effect of Power Spins joins the lucrative Extra Spins

Every time Super Hippo lands on the central reel, he bites the lock symbols and creates the chance to open the bonus mode with Power Spins, Extra Spins or the two accumulators combined.

When the Hippo’s Lock bonus starts with one accumulator, players guarantee five free spins. This number increases to ten free rounds if Super Hippo triggers Power Spins and Extra Spins at the same time. Each one of the accumulators has a special power:

• Extra Spins – Super Hippo uses its backpack to shoot lasers, increasing the number of free spins displayed in the counter.
• Power Spins – Super Hippo multiplies all coins, bags, Mini and Minor jackpots by 2, 3 or 5, leading players to a significant prize.

Super Hippo remains in the central position during all bonus rounds, and the special powers of the accumulators activated may repeat several times until the bonus rounds are over.

A kit of jackpots and gadgets to achieve big wins!

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The bonus ignited by the Lock feature concentrates Super Hippo’s main powers. However, the game character has more tricks and resources to captivate and involve players:

• Jackpots – Hippo’s Lock offers access to four jackpot levels – Mini, Minor, Major, and Grand – through the vault symbol, which may appear on the reels during the main game or bonus rounds.
• Rewind – What if a gadget could change the symbols on the reels and lead players to bigger wins? That is the magic of the Rewind Feature activated by Super Hippo using its bracelet.
• Luck Has Arrived – Super Hippo announces a special flight on the screen with a message and takes off anticipating a lucrative game round for the player.

A slot game compatible with several casino cabinets and layouts!

Hippo’s Lock combines a fascinating game mechanic with an appealing feature set exhibited by an intriguing character through cutting-edge graphics, animations, and sound effects. This blend captures the interest of first-time players, delivering enjoyable gaming sessions that encourage them to return for more.

Hippo’s Lock reinforces the Lock product line FBM debuted this year with the Croc’s Lock theme launch. This new game title introduces a new hero, a new accumulator, and new thrills to the gaming sessions delivered by the global gaming brand’s slots portfolio.

Available on the Galaxy II, Auria and Shadow III casino cabinets, Hippo’s Lock starts its expansion journey in Mexico and intends to surpass the high expectations of local slot fans with long-lasting gaming sessions filled with prizes and adrenaline. The following plans include a global expansion having the US as the next showcase market for this FBM casino game.