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Casinos Across the U.S. Continue to Close as COVID-19 Spreads


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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FBMDS launches Zaltik Empire – An Aztec-Inspired Adventure in the Titan Series
FBMDS proudly announces the release of Zaltik Empire, the latest addition to its Titan Series of online slot games. Drawing inspiration from the ancient Aztec civilization, this 6×5 tumble slot invites players to uncover mystical secrets hidden within lush jungles, stepped pyramids, and sacred temples.
Guided by Itzalco, the guardian of ancestral wisdom, players journey through sacred symbols — including Gold, Moon, Shield, and Temple — in search of long-lost riches. Zaltik Empire captivates with immersive animations, atmospheric sound design, and versatile mechanics optimized for Desktop, Tablet, and Mobile.
Key Features:
- Tumble slot mechanics with unlimited cascading wins
- All-symbols-pay-anywhere for flexible win patterns
- Free Spins feature with progressive multipliers
- Scatter symbol pays anywhere and retriggers spins
- Buy Bonus or Double Chance 25x for enhanced engagement
- Max win of 5000x the base bet
- RTP: 96.50%
As part of the expanding Titan Series, Zaltik Empire reinforces FBMDS’ commitment to delivering culturally rich, high-performing content. It follows the successful launches of Secrets of Scarabs and other Momentum Series titles like Piñata Rush, Magical Garden, and Arctic Jumper, offering operators modular game solutions for today’s dynamic player base.
This release marks another milestone in FBMDS’ strong pace of innovation and product delivery in 2025. With a sharp focus on localized content, intuitive mechanics, and trend-responsive game design, FBMDS continues to roll out high-quality titles across multiple categories.
The brand’s agile roadmap and cross-functional development strategy have enabled it to launch new games at unprecedented speed, strengthening its position as a top-tier provider in competitive iGaming markets.
The post FBMDS launches Zaltik Empire – An Aztec-Inspired Adventure in the Titan Series appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
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ReferOn in the Spotlight with Two Nominations at the SBC Affiliate Leaders Awards
ReferOn, the next-gen affiliate management system, has been shortlisted in two key categories at the SBC Affiliate Leaders Awards: “Affiliate Management Platform of the Year” and “Affiliate Technology of the Year.”
These nominations reflect ReferOn’s strides in reshaping how operators run their affiliate operations and making affiliate marketing a key strategy for global brands. In 2025, the platform has expanded its capabilities, delivering new features that make management more transparent, scalable, and efficient, while maintaining its user-focused approach.
To date, ReferOn has become synonymous with making affiliate marketing simple. It has undertaken the goal of challenging legacy platforms to help empower affiliate managers with powerful yet easy-to-understand solutions, such as dynamic reporting, intuitive reward logic, multi-brand consolidation, and streamlined workflows. In turn, ReferOn has positioned itself as a trusted platform for businesses aiming to scale and maximise ROI with smarter technology.
Alex Bukin, ReferOn’s General Manager, commented on the nominations, “Recognition at this level isn’t a result of a single achievement, but from years of refining our product, listening to our users, and constant effort to improve. Our team has combined technical excellence and a deep understanding of the market to provide tools that actually work and help real affiliate managers. To be nominated for these awards reflects ReferOn’s dedication to serving our customers and delivering the best possible solutions.”
The SBC Affiliate Leaders Awards ceremony will take place on 17 September at the MEO Arena in Lisbon for a night of celebrating innovation and excellence. The ReferOn team looks forward to attending and networking with peers who push the boundaries of their respective industries.
Voting for the SBC Affiliate Leaders Awards 2025 is now open. Support ReferOn by submitting your votes here: sbcevents.com/affiliate-leaders-awards/
The post ReferOn in the Spotlight with Two Nominations at the SBC Affiliate Leaders Awards appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
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BetBrain Expands into the UK Market with Launch of British-Focused Platform
BetBrain, the very first odds comparison platform, launched in 2000, announces its expansion into the British market with BetBrain UK. The platform serves as a premier odds comparison solution focusing on informational value and responsible betting.
The launch of BetBrain UK marks a pivotal step in BetBrain’s evolution. Owned and operated by GSH Online Media, the brand continues to strive for accuracy, insight, and enhanced player protection. Its recent expansion with BetBrain NZ reflects the same mission.
Following continuous redevelopment and upgrades to the initial model, BetBrain UK represents the culmination of the brand’s identity, adding various services and guidance methods.
With this British-focused platform, the company continues its quest to steer bettors towards worthwhile and responsible opportunities in the UK market.
A Bespoke Model for UK Audiences
BetBrain UK follows sound principles and creates a user-friendly environment for users looking to compare odds across British bookmakers. It does so by providing accurate, valuable, and responsible gambling-focused guidance.
All of its listed bookmakers and casino brands are from operators with active licences from the UKGC, providing access to legitimate and qualitative betting opportunities. The main solutions provided by BetBrain UK include:
- An efficient odds comparison tool aggregating the offerings from over 100 UKGC-licensed bookmakers.
- Football predictions, match results, and free betting tips.
- A database of online casino bonuses from UKGC-approved brands.
- An AI-powered service for generating accumulators.
- Written informational support, catered to the UK iGaming context and sensibilities.
- Ongoing commitment to educating and protecting users.
Viorel Stan, GSH Online Media CEO, Addresses the Launch: “The UK digital gambling sector demands legitimacy, precision, and truthfulness. With the launch of BetBrain UK, we’ve committed to upholding these principles and providing our British audience with the utmost quality. Our development process, our work ethic, and focus on user-centric values have steered us towards a continuous improvement of our model, allowing us to provide a solution worthy of the savvy and knowledgeable British users. I am thankful for our team’s effort in this endeavour.”
The post BetBrain Expands into the UK Market with Launch of British-Focused Platform appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
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