Aristocrat announced that the company was the first international slot and online technology company to be granted a Gaming-Related Vendor license by The General Commercial Gaming Regulatory Authority (GCGRA), the federal entity overseeing commercial gaming activities in the United Arab Emirates (UAE). This announcement grants Aristocrat the ability to provide the company’s land-based electronic gaming machines (EGMs) and online games and technology solutions to commercial gaming operators licensed by the GCGRA. The issuance of the license marks a new milestone in the GCGRA’s endeavour to establish a well-regulated commercial gaming sector in the market.

As a leading designer, manufacturer, and distributor of regulated land-based slot games, Aristocrat will operate under the “Gaming Related Vendor License” category. As the GCGRA’s first supplier to obtain the license, the company will offer world-class gaming content, hardware, and services to cater to player interests and financial preferences.

“We are honored to be the first large, international technology provider to be awarded a gaming-related vendor license to serve the UAE market. At Aristocrat, our vision is to deliver the best seat in the house wherever, and whenever the world plays. We look forward to doing so by providing premium content for players in the UAE while simultaneously encouraging responsible gameplay,” said Hector Fernandez, CEO, Gaming for Aristocrat.

West Flagler Associates LTD, Bonita-Fort Myers Corporation, Southwest Florida Enterprises Inc. and Isadore Havenick (the “West Flagler Parties”) and the Seminole Tribe of Florida have entered into a comprehensive agreement whereby the West Flagler Parties have agreed to refrain from engaging in any future litigation with respect to the Seminole Tribe’s gaming operations and instead will begin a new partnership to offer and promote wagering on Jai Alai on the Hard Rock Bet app.

As part of the agreement, the West Flagler Parties have agreed not to bring or support any future legal challenge to the Seminole Tribe’s gaming operations, including mobile gaming offered by the Seminole Tribe now or in the future. In addition, Jai Alai provided by Battle Court Jai Alai LLC, an affiliate of West Flagler, will be offered on the Hard Rock Bet app. The parties anticipate that the Seminole Tribe will launch Jai Alai on its Hard Rock Bet app in early 2025.

This agreement ends years of disputes between the Seminole Tribe and the West Flagler Parties and avoids future litigation over the Seminole Tribe’s gaming operations.

According to Jim Allen, CEO of Seminole Gaming, “This is truly a win-win agreement for the Seminole Tribe and West Flagler. This agreement establishes a relationship of collaboration among the Seminole Tribe and West Flagler in the State of Florida. Rather than engaging in years of additional litigation, this agreement will allow the parties to work together to promote Jai Alai, which has played an important role in Florida’s gaming landscape for nearly 100 years.”

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Isadore Havenick agreed, stating: “We are thrilled to be partnering with the Seminole Tribe in support of their gaming operations in Florida and to promote Jai Alai, which has been a critical component of Florida’s gaming industry since the 1920s. We are proud that Jai Alai will be featured on the Hard Rock Bet app and we look forward to developing a strong partnership with the Seminole Tribe.”

The Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board (Board) unanimously voted to renew the Category 2 stand-alone casino license of Wind Creek Bethlehem LLC, operator of Wind Creek Bethlehem casino in Northampton County.

In making the decision, the Board determined that Wind Creek Bethlehem LLC had fulfilled the obligations under its previously approved casino operator’s license and therefore qualified to have its license renewed for an additional five-year period.

The decision to renew the license was based on a process utilized by the Board that enables both the operator and the public to provide information relevant to the renewal decision. A public input hearing was held in July 2024 in the casino’s host municipality, the City of Bethlehem, where personnel of Wind Creek Bethlehem submitted exhibits and presented testimony on various aspects of the facility’s operation since its last license renewal was granted. The public was also permitted to provide testimony about the casino and its impact in the community.

In reaching its decision, the Board also received information from local government officials, community groups and the PA State Police, along with the Gaming Control Board’s Office of Enforcement Counsel, Bureau of Investigations and Enforcement, Office of Compulsive and Problem Gaming, and Bureau of Casino Compliance.

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Additionally, a public hearing was held in Harrisburg to permit Board members to further question Wind Creek Bethlehem LLC representatives about any remaining issues prior to voting on the renewal.

Since its opening in May 2009 through September 2024, Wind Creek Bethlehem has generated over $7 billion in revenue from the play of retail slot machines and table games, sports wagering and iGaming, and has returned to the Commonwealth a total of $2.9 billion from tax revenue, assessments and fees. Wind Creek Bethlehem currently operates 2318 slot machines, 202 table games and a 20-table poker room while providing employment to 2242 persons directly or through third-party tenants in the events center, food and beverage outlets or retail stores. 94% of those employees are Pennsylvania residents.