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Casinos Across the U.S. Continue to Close as COVID-19 Spreads
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More and more casinos across the United States are closing their doors as the nation goes into shutdown following the coronavirus outbreak.
Over the past few days, the rapid spread of the virus has forced millions of citizens to quarantine themselves at home. Offices, hotels, and venues across the country have had to cease operations, unclear when they can open again. The country is facing an economic crisis as a result and the gambling industry could be one of the worst-hit.
Both Wynn Resorts and MGM Resorts International shuttered their Las Vegas casinos last week. However, full-time employees have been given assurances that salaries will continue to be paid during the period. The move follows recommendations from the CDC to limit public gatherings to no more than 10 people.
Speaking to CNBC, Vegas-based race and sports manager Duane Colucci of Rampart Casino highlighted the industry’s struggle to prepare for such a situation. “It’s so hard to fathom. You can’t prepare for something like this, especially in the race and sportsbook industry,” she said. She hopes that work-from-home regulations will be relaxed to allow casinos to take bets online.
On the east coast, New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy has closed all casinos, bars, and restaurants in Atlantic City, rendering the popular gambling hub a ghost town.
A move online
Online gambling has managed to continue through the struggles largely unaffected, with many digital casinos accepting US players around the world. Virtual horse racing also continues to operate online, along with certain sporting events in less-affected countries like Mexico and Russia.
Sportsbooks across the country have begun taking bets on all-and-everything in an attempt to pick up the slack. For example, the popular Costa Rican-based betting site Bovada has even been taking bets on the maximum temperature in various U.S. cities.
Sports betting sites like FanDuel and DraftKings are investigating new events on which to take bets. They both took some bizarre wagers on last week’s U.S political debate, including the amount and frequency of Trump’s tweets. Some other online betting sites have come up with some questionable solutions, like hosting simulated versions of real-life sports events that have been canceled.
Across the pond in the United Kingdom, physical casinos are also feeling the pinch. However, with the UK’s more favorable online gambling regulations, many are surviving through their online partner sites. eSports, where players compete entirely online, is another industry that has garnered increased popularity. Many sports betting sites are now enticing players to redirect their bets to eSports as a way to mitigate lost revenue on real-life sports.
A drain on savings
While online gambling might solve the problem of social distancing that COVID-19 presents, it doesn’t solve the problem of dwindling capital in most households. The longer that citizens are kept away from their work, the less likely they are to spend their savings on unnecessary activities. While gambling may be a favorite past-time for many, risky investments tend to reduce significantly during times of crisis.
The overall casino and gambling industry will struggle to survive this outbreak if the lockdown continues for too long. According to the UK paper The Guardian, around 35 companies are currently investigating a COVID-19 vaccine. However, it’s an arduous process that involves several critical testing phases in order to gain regulatory approval.
Annelies Wilder-Smith of the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine believes a COVID-19 vaccine will take at least 18 months to develop, under the best possible conditions. During that time there is no telling how far the virus could spread and how devasting the effects on the economy could be.
Source: Latest News on European Gaming Media Network
This is a Syndicated News piece. Photo credits or photo sources can be found on the source article: Casinos Across the U.S. Continue to Close as COVID-19 Spreads
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WinSpirit Launches “Wish Express” — A Holiday Campaign Bringing Back the Magic of Dreams
This festive season, WinSpirit Casino has launched a heartwarming campaign called Wish Express — a New Year campaign that invites players to share their most genuine wishes, with one lucky dream set to be made real by WinSpirit itself.
Inspired by the childhood tradition of writing letters to Santa, this campaign turns nostalgia into an interactive community experience. Instead of mailing wishes to Lapland, participants can now send them aboard a virtual train — the Wish Express — and receive rewards simply for taking part.
Journey of wishes and rewards
The idea is simple yet full of holiday spirit. It brings back that familiar childhood feeling — when the world felt a little more magical, and every twinkle of a holiday light promised something wonderful was about to happen.
This campaign taps into that sense of wonder, inviting players to dream freely and feel the joy of small surprises along the way. Players share a personal wish through a special form, and every step along the way brings something special in return:
- 20 Free Spins just for sharing your wish.
- 50 Free Spins if your wish is featured on WinSpirit’s social channels.
- 100 Free Spins if the community picks your wish as the most inspiring.
And the highlight? One particularly heartfelt wish will be fulfilled in real life, turning a sincere online story into a true holiday miracle.
Celebrating sincerity
Beyond the bonuses, the project’s real goal is to remind players about the joy of believing — not in luck, but in kindness and possibility. Players, streamers, providers and media have already joined the initiative, turning it into a shared celebration of optimism and festive warmth.
Some of the wishes already shared are as heartwarming as they are diverse. One player dreams of a world where everyone does just one good deed a day. Another one wishes to reunite with a sibling they haven’t seen in years. And our partners? They’re dreaming too — from more smiles in 2026 to a future with four-day work weeks and more time to truly live.
WinSpirit invites everyone to take part — not only by sharing their own wish, but also by following the stories of others, discovering what the community dreams about, and voting for the most inspiring ones.
Through its warm storytelling and genuine tone, Wish Express feels less like a promotion and more like a celebration of shared dreams — a reminder that magic still exists when we choose to believe. What’s your wish — the one you’ve held onto for years? Share it with WinSpirit, and let’s see if this holiday season brings it to life.
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Ho-Ho-Hold onto Your Wins! Booming Games Takes Festive Fun to the Next Level with Santa in Vegas!
Reading Time: < 1 minute
This holiday season, Santa’s traded in his sleigh for a private jet and touched down on the Vegas Strip! Santa in Vegas delivers festive fun and flashy riches in a vibrant 5×4 slot packed with luxurious symbols, glittering lights and that famous Booming Games excitement. Spin through jets, limos, watches and shimmering gifts as you chase down wild wins in the city that never sleeps.
Look out for the Santa Collect feature in the base game: Red Santa collects Coin symbols to trigger the Coin Collection bonus, while Golden Santa gathers Scatter symbols to randomly trigger the coveted Free Spins feature.
Trigger the Free Spins bonus and experience the exciting symbol upgrade feature. With every spin, low-paying symbols can be eliminated and high-paying symbols can be upgraded, boosting your chances for bigger and brighter wins!
The excitement peaks in the Gift Spin, a guaranteed spin at the end of Free Spins where every Wild you’ve collected during Free Spins is dropped onto the reels in a powerful finale, with up to 20 Wilds unleashed for explosive win potential.
With seasonal cheer, golden glamour and a sleigh-full of win potential, Santa in Vegas brings you the ultimate Christmas party on the Strip. Time to jingle all the way to jackpot city!
Play Santa in Vegas now!
“Santa in Vegas is all about turning up the holiday cheer with a Vegas twist,” said Craig Asling, Director of Games at Booming Games.
“We’ve mixed bright visuals, exciting features and plenty of win potential to deliver a game that’s both festive and full of fun, it’s Christmas with a touch of Vegas sparkle.”
The post Ho-Ho-Hold onto Your Wins! Booming Games Takes Festive Fun to the Next Level with Santa in Vegas! appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
Reading Time: 2 minutes
Vixio, a leading provider of regulatory intelligence solutions, unveiled its 2025 Global Regulatory Awards (GRAs) winners last night during an event in London.
More than 300 industry leaders, regulatory experts, and esteemed professionals of the global gambling industry attended the prestigious event. The independently judged GRAs recognise and celebrate the achievements of individuals, teams, and organisations in the gambling industry who have excelled in compliance, corporate social responsibility, and safer gambling.
The ninth annual awards ceremony recognised winners across 22 categories.
Notable winners on the evening included Playtech, Casino Guru, and Kambi.
Vixio also recognised outstanding individuals, such as Bill Curtis of DraftKings, named Compliance Professional of the Year, Corinne Valletta of Betsson Group, awarded Chief Compliance Officer of the Year, and Wes Himes, who was recognised with the Special Award for Compliance Lifetime Achievement.
“Thank you to everyone who joined us at last night’s Global Regulatory Awards in London,” stated Mike Woolfrey, CEO of Vixio. “This year has seen significant regulatory change across the industry, making the quality of entries even more impressive. Our independent judges did a fantastic job in selecting the winners, who truly represent the highest standards in regulatory compliance. Congratulations to all, and we look forward to welcoming you to the 10th annual Global Regulatory Awards next year!”
Awards were presented by category sponsors: Docaposte, DraftKings, eCOGRA, Gaming Associates and White Bullet.
The award evening was associate-sponsored by: Greentube, San Manuel Tribal Gaming Commission, Scientific Games, and Soft2Bet.
The 2026 Global Regulatory Awards presentation will celebrate the 10th annual GRA event and is set to take place on November 18th, returning to the historic Grand Connaught Rooms in Central London.
The official 2025 winners are as follows:
AML or MLR Professional of the Year
Eleni Panagiotopoulou, SOFTSWISS
Award for Commitment to Compliance by a Supplier
GeoComply
Award for Commitment to Compliance by an Operator
Tipico Games
Chief Compliance Officer of the Year
Corinne Valletta, Betsson Group
Compliance Innovator of the Year
Sharp Vision
Compliance Lifetime Achievement Special Award
Wes Himes
Compliance Professional of the Year
Bill Curtis, DraftKings
Compliance Rising Star Special Award
Medisha Moodley, Games Global
Compliance Team of the Year
Playtech
Head of Regulatory Affairs or Government Relations of the Year
Devon Dalbock, GLI
Legal Team of the Year
Kambi
Marketing Compliance Team of the Year
Catena Media
Outstanding Contribution to Safer Gambling
Casino Guru
Outstanding Contribution to Sports Betting Integrity
ALTENAR
Outstanding Individual Contribution to Safer Gambling
Dr. Michael Auer, Neccton
Payment Service or Solution Provider of the Year
Paysafe
RegTech Provider of the Year
Mindway AI
Regulatory Initiative of the Year
Gambling Regulatory Authority (URHH SK)
Regulatory Law Firm of the Year
Bird & Bird
Regulatory Lawyer or In-House Counsel of the Year
Behnam Dayanim, Orrick Herrington & Sutcliffe LLP
Responsible Gambling Service or Solution Provider of the Year
BetBlocker
Testing Service or Solution Provider of the Year
BMM Innovation Group
The post Vixio Announces Winners for the 2025 Global Regulatory Awards appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
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