Casino City’s Friday Five: Ad bans and new casinos edition

U.S. gambling revenue had one of its best months ever and it is adding more to its arsenal with the construction of a new casino in Oklahoma. In addition to that, we have some other news stories in the iGaming industry to cover. We have India banning online betting ads, a gaming compact signed in California, and a new progressive jackpot at two Florida casinos.

Let’s begin with some news from India:

5. India to ban online betting ads
On Monday, the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting issued an advisory to print, electronic and digital media to refrain from advertising online betting platforms.

The advisory comes in light of instances of a number of advertisements of online betting websites/platforms appearing in print, electronic, social and online media.

Betting and gambling, illegal in most parts of the country, pose significant financial and socio-economic risk for the consumers, especially youth and children, the advisory states. It has further added that these advertisements on online betting have the effect of promoting this largely prohibited activity.

“The advertisements of online betting are misleading, and do not appear to be in strict conformity with the Consumer Protection Act 2019, Advertising Code under the Cable Television Networks Regulation Act, 1995, and advertisement norms under the Norms of Journalistic Conduct laid down by the Press Council of India under the Press Council Act, 1978”, the advisory stated.

4. Aristocrat Gaming and Seminole Gaming launch $1 million Storm Progressive Jackpot
The Dollar Storm $1 million progressive jackpot can be found exclusively at Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Hollywood and Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Tampa in Florida. Each property will have linked progressive jackpots starting at $1 million.

Aristocrat's $1 Million Dollar Storm slot game featuring a $1 million progressive jackpot will include denominations at 10 cents, 25 cents, 50 cents, $1, $2 and $5. It has a minimum entry bet of only $5.

Just one year ago, the $1 million Dragon Link progressive became a quick player favorite and made headline news when the same winner hit the jackpot twice in less than three weeks.

"We are ecstatic to debut the new $1 million progressive jackpot on Dollar Storm with Seminole Gaming," said Jon Hanlin, senior vice president of commercial strategy and business analytics. "The addition of this game to both of these casino floors is another example of how Aristocrat continues to bring engaging high-limit content to slot players."

First came the Dragon and now comes the Storm. We are excited to offer the newest $1 million dollar progressive from @aristocratslots. We look forward to offering the $1 million progressive awards to an even larger audience with the new $5 minimum bet option. pic.twitter.com/ZLih006nnK

— Seminole Hard Rock Tampa (@SHRTampa) June 17, 2022

3. California governor signs tribal state gambling compact
Governor Gavin Newsom concurred with the U.S. Department of the Interior’s determination on Monday to allow 320 acres of land to be placed in trust for the Tejon Indian Tribe for the purpose of establishing a class III gaming facility. The Governor also signed a tribal-state gaming compact with the tribe.

The compact would allow the Tribe to operate up to 3,000 slot machines and affords meaningful protections for employees and patrons.

The tribe estimates its proposed gaming facility, which will be located in Kern County approximately four miles from the Tribe’s government center, will directly create over 1,000 construction and 2,000 permanent jobs, drawing heavily from the local workforce.

2. US gambling continues to roll
April 2022 was the second best month ever recorded for U.S. gaming, only trailing March of this year when the all-time revenue record was set.. Nearly $5 billion was generated in U.S. gambling revenue for April, which was a gain of well over 12% from the year before.

Traditional casino gaming accounted for over $4 billion of that total, while online gambling chipped in over $415 million. Sports betting managed to contribute nearly $500 million, which was close to a 75% increase from 2021.

It’s now official that wagers on sporting events is one of the fastest growing segments of the industry ever recorded. Since the repeal of the PASPA law just over four years ago, 33 states and the District of Columbia have regulated the activity, bringing the total to 35 and counting. Not only that, since May of 2018, the American Gaming Association reports that over $125 billion has been gambled on sporting events. That translates to nearly $9 in gambling revenue for sportsbooks, and over $1.3 billion in tax revenue for states.



1. Choctaw Nation officially breaks ground on Choctaw Landing
On Tuesday, Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma broke ground on Choctaw Landing, the Nation’s newest entertainment and resort development in Hochatown, Oklahoma. The Nation plans to invest $165 million on the project and will create more than 2,000 new jobs.

Scheduled to open in late 2023, the four-story, 200,000 square-foot entertainment destination will feature 100 hotel rooms, 600 slot machines, eight table games, several restaurants and bars, a pool, an outdoor venue with an amphitheater, beer garden and a family-friendly game zone.

“At the Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma, our goal is to continue to provide for our fellow tribal members, families and our community,” said Choctaw Nation Chief Gary Batton. “Choctaw Landing will provide significant opportunities for local residents and the future availability and quality of this hotel will not only attract business, but tourism opportunities for Choctaw Nation Reservation in Southeast Oklahoma.”