National (AGA) - Howard Stutz, CDC Gaming Reports - Any financial aid that gaming businesses obtain from the $1.9 trillion COVID-19 relief package currently under consideration on Capitol Hill will help the industry right itself following 2020’s economic devastation brought about by the ongoing pandemic. Still, American Gaming Association Bill Miller said Thursday said the funds would just be a start. Miller said other legislative efforts on Capitol Hill, including tax incentives, liability protections, and economic stimulus measures are needed to help the commercial and tribal casino markets dig themselves out of financial holes caused by the pandemic.

Nevada (Las Vegas) - Editorial, Las Vegas Sun - A survey of convention visitors who came to Las Vegas during the 15 months prior to the pandemic showed that the majority are feeling burned out about online meetings and are ready to get back to face-to-face interactions…“Our brand is still who we are: We are the place that you can come to escape, and there’s plenty to come escape from now. We bring excitement, we bring freedom, and people miss that,” Hill said during the Vegas Chamber’s annual Preview meeting last week. “But in the meantime, it’s a balance between what Vegas has to offer, as well as the health and safety precautions that we’re taking.”

Nevada (Las Vegs) - Bryan Horwath, Las Vegas Sun - Executives of a major Strip resort company see more short-term pain but long-term optimism for Las Vegas, especially in the convention sector. Las Vegas Sands CEO Rob Goldstein said today he doesn’t buy theories that the Las Vegas tourism market will be forever altered by the pandemic. “There’s been recent commentary that’s been fun to read about how Las Vegas will never return to pre-pandemic levels,” Goldstein said. “Some are saying Las Vegas’ best days are behind it. I’ve heard all this before over the past 20 or 30 years. There’s no question that this town is struggling now, but we believe Las Vegas has plenty of gas in the tank.”

Nevada (sports) - Brad Allen, Legal Sports Report - Nevada saw the second-most sports betting action of any state in the US in December, despite a relative dip in handle to $588 million, down around 3.5% month-on-month. Retail bets accounted for 40% of the total handle, compared to 60% for online. Nevada continues to lag behind the rest of the country in adopting mobile because of its arcane rules requiring in-person account registration. Nevada sportsbook revenue for December came in at $40.6 million, good for a hold rate of 6.8%, third in the US.

Nevada (Las Vegas) - Case Keefer, Las Vegas Sun - A football season that’s been unlike any other throughout its duration is ending just like normal — at least in Las Vegas. The Westgate Las Vegas SuperBook unveiled its expansive Super Bowl proposition-bet menu in its traditional Thursday night slot 10 days before the big game. The rest of the sports books in town will soon follow and officially usher in the biggest single-game gambling event of the year.

Massachusetts (lottery) - Colin A. Young, State House News Service - The Massachusetts Lottery saw greater sales and profit performance during the six months from July through December 2020 than it did during the same six months in pre-pandemic 2019, despite changes in consumer behavior and sharp restrictions on key Lottery venues like restaurants and pubs… the agency sold $2.723 billion in the first half of the fiscal year, a 2 percent increase. Those sales have generated an estimated profit of $531.7 million, a 4.3 percent increase.

Massachusetts (restrictions) - Tom Reilly, Sun Chronicle - Planridge Park Casino is back open 24 hours a day, seven days a week. The slot parlor returned to full-time gaming Wednesday, staffers announced, and will be open 24/7 going forward. Plainridge, the state’s other two casinos in Everett and Springfield, and other businesses in the state had been operating under limited hours imposed by Gov. Charlie Baker last month.

Massachusetts (restrictions) - Jim Kinney, Republican - MGM Springfield, Encore Boston Harbor and Plainridge Park casinos are still not drawing big enough crowds to bump up against the state’s 25% capacity limit. But Bruce Band, assistant director and gaming agents division chief for the Massachusetts Gaming Commission, said y he expects crowds to grow as the state’s three resort style casino’s resume 24-hour-a-day operation.

Arkansas (regulation/license) - Michael R. Wickline, Democrat-Gazette - The Arkansas Racing Commission on Wednesday approved an order regarding its July denial of appeal by Oklahoma-based Cherokee Nation Businesses’ Legends Resort and Casino LLC…also approved an order with for the commission’s July 30 ruling that Legends Resort and Casino LLC is a qualified applicant for the Pope County casino license.

Arkansas Democrat-Gazette

Illinois (Danville) - Sophia Espinosa, WAND - The city of Danville faces a bump in the road after it was dealt a lawsuit over its proposed casino. "I nearly believe it's retribution.," Mayor Rickey Williams Jr. said about the lawsuit over the location for the proposed Golden Nugget Casino…Mervis Industries is seeking a circuit court judge to declare that the city of Danville unlawfully changed its zoning code from industrial to business zoning for the purpose of putting the casino at the site. "Originally, the casino was going to go on land that's owned by two of the individuals who are the head of Mervis Industries, Williams said.

Michigan (sports) - Ryan Zuke, Michigan Live - Watching last weekend’s NFL conference championship games and other sporting events was a more enthralling experience than usual for Jack Abate…one of thousands of Michiganders to take advantage of the highly anticipated launch of online gaming and sports betting in the state…official revenue and wagering numbers from the opening weekend are not yet available, but there was a high level of activity…Michigan and Virginia both launched online gambling late last week and combined for 7.5 million online gambling transactions across 400,000 accounts,

Kentucky (racing/slots) - T. D. Thornton, Thoroughbred Daily News - A Kentucky State Senator whose district includes Turfway Park said Thursday that he intends to file legislation and hold a hearing next week to make historical horse race (HHR) gaming legal, “maintaining the status quo” for the revenue flow that annually contributes tens of millions of dollars to purses in the state.

National (racing) - Thoroughbred Daily News - The National Thoroughbred Racing Association (NTRA) named Authentic (Into Mischief)'s victory in the Sep. 5 GI Kentucky Derby presented by Woodford Reserve as the 2020 FanDuel Racing/NTRA Moment of the Year. The result was based on 3,403 votes cast via Twitter and an online poll.

California (racing) - Byron King, Blood-Horse News - Between Bob Baffert and Doug O'Neill, they have won eight Kentucky Derbys. In keeping with that history, the two trainers hold the best hands Jan. 30 in the $100,000 Robert B. Lewis Stakes (G3), Santa Anita Park's second prep of 2021 for the Kentucky Derby. Baffert, a six-time Derby winner, starts Medina Spirit and Spielberg, while O'Neill, twice a Derby winner, also starts a pair, Hot Rod Charlie and Wipe the Slate. The four are likely favorites.

Florida (racing) - Marty McGee, Daily Racing Form - A filly named Gambling Cat has been defeated by a combined total of 50 lengths in her two starts since a debut victory in September – and yet she’s still likely to be among the top wagering choices in the Friday feature at Gulfstream Park. Turning back from longer races, Gambling Cat will garner plenty of attention in the only allowance on a 10-race Friday card, a five-furlong first-level turf dash for 3-year-old fillies carded as the ninth race

Florida (racing) - Blood-Horse News - Slam Dunk Racing, Madaket Stables, Wonder Stables, and Michael Nentwig's Drain the Clock will make his graded stakes debut Jan. 30 in the $100,000 Claiborne Farm Swale Stakes (G3) at Gulfstream Park.

New York (racing) - David Grening, Daily Racing Form - Friday’s eight-race Aqueduct card has been canceled due to a forecast that calls for high winds and windchills in the single-digits, the New York Racing Association announced on Thursday. The National Weather Service has called for wind gusts in the mid-30-mile-per-hour range with temperatures in the low 20s and wind chills in the single digits on Friday.

Dubai (racing) - Bob Kieckhefer, Blood-Horse News - It was all Godolphin—almost all the time—in the second night of the Dubai World Cup Carnival at Meydan Racecourse Jan. 28 as Sheikh Mohammed's blue silks were home first in four of the five Thoroughbred races and filled the top six spots in one of them.

Global (igaming) - Ted Menmuir, SBC News - Google has updated its ‘Play Store’ developer terms and conditions, announcing that it will allow real-money app downloads for a further 15 countries…From 1 March, Google will broaden its Play Store gambling terms, allowing real money app downloads for the markets of – Australia, Belgium, Canada, Colombia, Denmark, Finland, Germany, Japan, Mexico, New Zealand, Norway, Romania, Spain, Sweden and the USA.

Europe (UK) - Ted Menmuir, SBC News - Chancellor of the Exchequer Rishi Sunak has raised direct concerns with the DCMS about further ‘enhanced affordability checks’ being imposed on bookmakers. Reported by the Racing Post, local racing delegates of Sunak’s Richmond North Yorkshire constituency wrote to the Chancellor opposing a consultation proposal being reviewed by the UK Gambling Commission (UKGC).

Europe (UK) - Ted Menmuir, SBC News - The UK Gambling Commission (UKGC) has launched a further consultation seeking guidance on ‘how online gambling companies interact with their customers’. The Commission aims to gather wide-ranging insights and opinions from businesses, employees and their customers on ‘what protections should be offered by online gambling operators to prevent harms to their customers’.

Oceania (Australia/results) - Press Release - Aquis Entertainment Limited, this is the first full quarter’s trading after the re-opening of Casino Canberra on 10 August 2020 following the ACT Government’s mandated shut-down as part of their Covid-19 restrictions. During the quarter, the business continued to comply strictly with the Government’s trading restrictions. Despite operating at a reduced capacity under the restrictions, all  operational employees have returned to their pre-shutdown working hours.  Business revenues were strong throughout the quarter and net operating cash flow is also positive.

Oceania (Australia) - Press Release - Crown Resorts announced the New South Wales Independent Liquor and Gaming Authority (ILGA) has issued a news release relating to the inquiry under section 143 of the Casino Control Act 1992 (NSW) (Inquiry). The news release provides that, on 1 February 2021, ILGA will receive the Commissioner’s report of the Inquiry and that the report is expected to be publicly released within the next two weeks.

Oceania (New Zealand) - Press Release - On February 2nd 1996, SkyCity Auckland officially opened its doors to the public and to celebrate SkyCity will be hosting a free ‘90’s themed Federal Street Party this Friday 29 January 2021, with a stellar line up of Kiwi artists from the era…“Since we first opened to the public 25 years ago, SkyCity Auckland has transformed from a casino business into one of Australasia’s largest tourism, leisure, and entertainment companies employing 2,500 staff from a wide range of ethnicities and skill levels, speaking 57 different languages.

Oceania (Marianas) - Michael Penn, Asia Gaming Brief - The plight of its foreign workers has put pressure on Imperial Pacific International as never before, with even the US Department of Labor recently demanding action from the court, including the possible arrest of Chairwoman Cui Li Jie. In the latest turn, US District Court for the NMI Chief Judge Ramona Manglona has ordered IPI to satisfy the remainder of the consent judgment with the Department of Labor by March 1, threatening that otherwise she will appoint a receiver to gather and liquidate IPI’s assets.

Asia (Japan) - GGRAsia - “Five groups” have submitted documents in an effort to qualify for the request-for-proposal (RFP) phase of Nagasaki prefecture’s effort at getting a casino resort.

According to a Friday announcement by the prefectural integrated resort (IR) promotion division. It didn’t name the entities involved. Hodo Nakamura, Nagasaki prefecture’s governor, said they were drawn from, respectively, Europe, the United States and Asia.

Asia (Macau) - Inside Asian Gaming - Macau’s casinos are currently home to 77 VIP clubs operating 1,566 gaming tables as of January 2021, reflecting a decline in the number of licensed gaming promotors announced by the Gaming Inspection and Coordination Bureau earlier this week.

Asia (Macau) - Ben Blaschke, Inside Asian Gaming - Genting Hong Kong, the Hong Kong-listed cruise ship arm of Malaysia’s Genting Group, says there is a good chance it will eventually sell off its entire remaining stake in a Macau hotel and casino development as it fights to keep its troubled cruise business afloat. 

Asia (Macau) - Macau News - The Novel Coronavirus Response and Coordination Centre calls on all citizens to stay in Macau as much as possible during the Chinese New Year (CNY). In a statement issued today, the authorities recall that the pandemic situation intensified with the beginning of winter – especially in the northern hemisphere – noting that in several provinces of mainland China there are outbreaks of Covid-19 “with some seriousness”.

Asia (Macau) - Nelson Moura, Macau Business - The general unemployment rate and the unemployment rate of local residents have both dropped slightly to 2.7 per cent and 3.8 per cent, respectively, in the October-December 2020 period. Total employment by December end reached 388,800 and the number of employed residents totaled 281,500, up by 2,600 and 3,200 respectively from the previous September-November period.

Asia (Macau) - Renato Marques, Macau Daily Times - Lawmakers are not happy with the approach taken by the government regarding the ongoing economic crisis. Their disappointment was clear yesterday at the Legislative Assembly (AL) plenary session, where Secretary for Economy and Finance Lei Wai Nong was grilled by lawmakers questioning the lack of government measures to mitigate the difficulties of both citizens and companies.

Asia (Macau) - Macau Post Daily - Secretary for Economy and Finance Lei Wai Nong underlined yesterday that the government will not rule out the possibility of rolling out a third round of financial support measures for residents and businesses – in case something “unexpected” happens resulting in the need for the government to financially support residents and businesses.

Asia (Macau) - Macau Post Daily - The number of arriving and departing commercial flights in Macau declined by 81.4 percent to 13,676 last year than in 2019. Last month, there were 1,117 commercial flights arriving in and departing from the local airport, a year-on-year drop of 82.9 percent.