Casino City’s Friday Five: Massive jackpots and live sports betting edition

Earlier this week, a casino in Florida saw two players win six-figure slot jackpots on back-to-back days. In addition to life-changing wins, we have news on the largest jackpot in U.S. online casino history, Tabcorp receiving a major fine, an expansion moving forward at a New York property, and a study saying that NFL live betting is headed for an increase this season.

Let’s begin with the jackpots:

5. Seminole Classic Casino pays out massive slot win
A player at Seminole Classic Casino in Florida hit a massive jackpot of over $300,000. The Unity Card member wagered $12.50 and won a total of $300,323 while playing a Dragon Link slot on 18 August.

Just one day later, another player won big at Seminole Classic Casino with a jackpot of over $150,000 on 19 August. The guest wagered $10 and won a total of $151,831 while playing a Huff N’ Even More Puff slot machine.

4. Tabcorp fined $4.6 million for breaching obligations
Tabcorp has been issued a substantial financial penalty and directed to transform its operations after extensive investigations by the Victorian Gambling and Casino Control Commission in Australia into several instances of non-compliance with its regulatory obligations.

Announcing the $4.6 million fine, Commission Chair Fran Thorn said Tabcorp Wagering Pty Ltd had repeatedly breached the Wagering and Betting License and Responsible Gambling Code of Conduct between August 2020 and February 2023.

The Commission’s findings included that Tabcorp:

- Sent direct marketing material to a customer six times between October 2022 and February 2023, despite the customer having opted out of receiving promotional materials
- Failed to minimize the potential for gambling harm through inadequate training of employees to responsibly deliver its products and services
- Failed to provide appropriate support to a customer exhibiting observable signs of distress or indicators of potential gambling harm.

Tabcorp has been fined $4.6 million and directed to transform its operations after repeatedly breaching the Wagering and Betting Licence and Responsible Gambling Code of Conduct between August 2020 and February 2023.

Media release: https://t.co/IfCkGUtUWY pic.twitter.com/HvmmHqUk3J

— Victorian Gambling and Casino Control Commission (@VicGCCC) August 22, 2024

3. BetMGM Casino player wins largest jackpot in US online casino history
BetMGM announced that a player in New Jersey won a $6.4 million progressive jackpot. It is the largest jackpot in the history of the legalized online casino industry in the U.S.

On Monday morning, the player won “The Big One” progressive jackpot for $6.4 million on a $200 bet while playing Fruit Blaster.

The progressive jackpot reached an operator record of $4 million in late February and grew throughout the spring on “The Big One,” BetMGM’s progressive jackpot pool of exclusive in-house produced games by Entain.

ICYMI: We made history this week ??

??: https://t.co/AfSeUJWDoz pic.twitter.com/PNiAQB12Uu

— BetMGMCasino (@BetMGMCasino) August 21, 2024

2. Oneida Indian Nation breaks ground on expansion at Point Place Casino
On Wednesday, the Oneida Indian Nation held a groundbreaking event at Point Place Casino to kick off a major expansion at the upstate New York property.

The more than $50 million expansion of Point Place Casino will include:

- Doubling the size of the existing gaming floor
- A new multi-story hotel with 100 rooms
- A new restaurant
- A new Perfect Pour Cafe satellite location in the hotel’s lobby
- An event space
- An update for the Fireside Lounge that will double its current size and add a 360-degree view of the wood-burning fireplace with new seating

Oneida Indian Nation breaks ground on Point Place Casino $50M expansion. Here are plans. https://t.co/sefQbCL9Ix

— Observer-Dispatch (@uticaOD) August 21, 2024

1. Optimove predicts more live betting this NFL season
Earlier this week, Optimove Insights, the analytical and research arm of Optimove, released its 2024-2025 Consumer Report on NFL Wagering Intentions.

A key finding is that a significant 85% of respondents plan to engage in live betting during games, a 39% increase from 2023, underscoring the growing complexity and appeal of in-play betting.
Other Key Findings:

- Increased Betting Frequency: 71% of bettors placed wagers on one or more NFL games per week in the previous season, up from 63% in 2023. Additionally, 43% wagered several times per week, reflecting a marked rise from 37% last year.

- Betting Preferences: Point spread remains the top choice for 68% of bettors, followed closely by over/under and moneyline bets at 62%.

- Sources and Influences: Sportsbooks or web apps are the primary sources for determining bets (76%), with social media and betting tipsters also playing critical roles.

- Responsible Gambling: 97% of bettors are aware of responsible gambling resources, and 67% actively use them. However, 66% admitted to wagering more than they could afford or wanted to lose, up from 45% in 2023.