Each week, CasinoBeats breaks down the numbers behind some of the industry’s most interesting stories. Keep scrolling to find out about another fine issued by the Kansspelautoriteit, New Hampshire being inundated with offers and news concerning two purchases.

400,000

Dutch gaming authority the Kansspelautoriteit has imposed a €400,000 fine on TSG Interactive Gaming Europe for offering consumers in the country the potential to play poker via the pokerstars.eu portal.

Considered a game of chance by the Netherlands Supreme Court in 1998, only Holland Casino is allowed to permit the play of poker for real money in one of its physical locations, with all other physical or online offerings illegal.

The Ksa investigated the website during the second half of 2018, with a number of issues said to have been established that highlights that PokerStars “is aimed at Dutch consumers”.

It was also found that it was possible to pay with the Dutch payment method iDEAL, with a contact form also available in the relevant language and two Dutch organisations for addiction care mentioned.

516.3

The recent $516.3 sale of the Rio All-Suite Hotel and Casino by Caesars Entertainment to a company controlled by a principal of Imperial Companies could spike a flurry of activity in Las Vegas, believe analysts of investment bank Union Gaming.

A number of transactions of note have cropped up in recent times, with Union Gaming stressing that it’s just the beginning due a perceived undervaluing of Las Vegas Strip assets in the public markets.

Prophesying no end of prospective suitors for strip properties, a number of recent examples have emanated, not least the multi-billion dollar merger between Caesars and Eldorado Resorts.

Further activity has seen Virgin acquire the Hard Rock Hotel and Casino Las Vegas and Mandarin Oriental sold to private investors, with rumours continuing to swirl regarding MGM Resorts looking to offload some of its assets, notably the Bellagio, MGM Grand real estate, and Circus Circus.

490

Online bingo-led operator JPJGroup has completed the acquisition of Gamesys, excluding sports brands and games.

The £490m deal, originally announced in June, is for a mixture of cash and new JPJ shares. The renamed and enlarged Gamesys Group now offers bingo and casino games via jackpotjoy.comvirgingames.combotemania.esverajohn.comheartbingo.co.uk and monopolycasino.com.

Lee Fenton has been appointed as CEO and Robeson Reeves as chief operating officer.

In addition, Simon Wykes – formerly CEO of operations at Jackpotjoy – has moved to the role of Transition Director, and will remain on the JPJ Board for a 12-month tenure.

13

The New Hampshire Lottery has received 13 proposals from potential vendors and retailers looking to offer sports betting in the state, as officials prepare to enter the final stretch towards launch.

This follows the group issuing a request for proposals for implementing sports betting across the region last month, following which responses were due last week.

The legislation is to see the creation of a division of sports wagering within the New Hampshire Lottery to oversee sports betting.

Legislation prohibits any wagering on New Hampshire college teams or any college games taking place in the Granite State, with players having to be 18 years of age or older to make bets.