April 2019
by Buddy Frank

Early last month, the World Game Protection Conference (WGPC) held their expo and meetings at the M Resort in Las Vegas. The conference was dedicated to helping casinos detect and deter fraud and cheating. About the same time, the RSA Conference in San Francisco was focused on cybersecurity threats and solutions. This June, the Gartner Group will be meeting in National Harbor, MD to hit many of those same topics. Likewise, the Black Hat Conference Series will take place in Las Vegas in August to again discuss security research and technical training. There are at least three dozen annual conferences held in the US that focus on things like bodyguard training, counterterrorism, and surveillance, not to mention a like number conducted worldwide.

by Frank Legato

When the U.S. Supreme Court issued its decision last May, striking down the Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act, a federal ban on sports betting ended and a new arm of the U.S. gaming industry opened for business.

On the supplier side, many were ready for the development. Leaders of the British and European legal sports betting markets already had established beachheads in the U.S., notably UK’s William Hill, which had been operating books in Nevada for nearly a decade. Fantasy sports operator FanDuel was ready to power legal U.S. retail books outside of Nevada as well.

The two largest U.S.-based slot machine manufacturers, IGT and Scientific Games, however, were the most active in preparing for the legal U.S. sports betting market.

by Buddy Frank

By Jean Scott, Marissa Chien & Russell Fox
226 pp. Huntington Press, 2019 $24.95

Are you participating in the Tea Party? I’m not referring to the right-leaning political group that’s been splintering Congress for the best part of the last decade, or a latter-day version of the rebellious rabble rousers who dumped bales of commercial tea into Boston Harbor a few centuries ago. I’m talking about the group who sarcastically celebrates April 15th with a “Taxpayers Eat it Again Party.” If you’re not part of that depressed group, feel fortunate. I can assure you that most of your casino customers are.

There are probably hundreds of areas of the tax law that are unfair or onerous, but, from my perspective, there are two parts that are simply outrageous.

ReelHot March 2019 Update
Top-performing game title per Supplier (trailing 3 months).

Click here or the chart below to see the full ReelHot index.
Upcoming Industry Events of Interest
San Diego Convention Center, San Diego, CA - 04/01/2019 - 04/04/2019
As the longest running gaming tradeshow in history, the Indian Gaming Tradeshow & Convention delivers the insight and strategies you need to rise to the top of the competitive gaming industry landscape. Meet industry leaders, access cutting-edge trends and celebrate a proud tradition of success.
Seminole Hard Rock & Casino, Hollywood, FL - 04/23/2019 - 04/25/2019
This program, specifically designed for managers and those new to Director level, will help participants increase management skills and boost leadership development.
Meadowlands Exposition Center, Secaucus, NJ - 04/23/2019 - 04/25/2019
Betting on Sports America is brought to you by SBC, the world’s leading provider of sports betting business events, news and media. If you are involved or looking to become involved in the US based part of the sports betting industry Betting on Sports America is an absolute must attend event! Expect the highest quality sports and sports betting focussed content from 200 of the very best industry speakers and experts.
Las Vegas, NV - 05/01/2019 - 05/03/2019
Our fourth and final Educational Program – the W Leadership Development Conference – is reserved for the most senior level women in the gaming industry. This is an exclusive education conference available to already proven women leaders in the gaming industry. Strategic thinking, emotional intelligence and advanced coaching skills are all part of this 2.5 day conference.
Biloxi, MS - 05/07/2019 - 05/09/2019
Southern Gaming Summit is the premier casino industry conference & convention for the South—a can’t-miss event that covers the issues that matter to gaming operators and suppliers. Learn from compelling conference sessions, hear about the latest cutting-edge products and services available to make casino resorts more profitable, and network with leading executives.
Boston Conference and Exhibition Center, Boston, MA - 05/13/2019 - 05/15/2019
Join the best of the best from the multiverse of sports betting and interactive gaming at this action-packed event, where great minds will meet and lasting connections be made. Experience the latest solutions suppliers have to offer in the buzz of the ICE exhibition hall, the gaming industry’s most popular meeting place.
This report is edited by Buddy Frank, Frank Legato, and Justin Martin