Casino City’s Friday Five: Super Bowl betting recap edition

The Super Bowl betting figures are starting to roll in and several U.S. states are reporting major decreases in betting activity, while some saw improvement. In addition, the Ontario gaming regulator has placed a target on the back of an operator in regard to the NBA sports betting scandal. Also this week, a player became a millionaire while sitting at a Three Card Poker table in Las Vegas, an Atlantic City resort announced major upgrades, and a California casino announcing an opening date.

Let’s start Friday off with a massive win:

5. $1.6 million Three Card Poker win at The Venetian Las Vegas
On 5 February, a guest from New York was playing Three Card Poker at The Venetian Las Vegas and was dealt a spade royal flush activating the mega tier of the resort’s Millionaire Progressive.

By making a $5 side bet, the player was eligible to win the mega tier of the Millionaire Progressive for $1,661,451.

4. New California casino unveils grand opening date
Acorn Ridge Casino will celebrate its grand opening on 23 February in Amador County, California, marking the launch of a new entertainment, dining and hospitality destination.

The event will include a ribbon-cutting ceremony, remarks from the Ione Band of Miwok Indians Tribal Council, and a drone show.

The 60,000-square-foot property features an outdoor entertainment venue, 484 slot machines, 12 table games and farm-to-fork dining at the casino’s flagship restaurant, Stone Creek Kitchen.

The casino will open to the general public on 24 February.

3. Hard Rock in Atlantic City undergoing $50 million in enhancements
Hard Rock Hotel & Casino - Atlantic City announced a $50 million capital improvement plan for 2026 that is already underway. The resort will renovate more than 700 standard guest rooms, over 60 suites, and eight penthouses in the hotel’s North Tower, along with refreshing walkways and corridors. The majority of the capital improvement projects are expected to be completed by the end of 2026.

Additionally, the resort will expand its culinary landscape with several new dining concepts that include the debut of Sitar, an East-Indian restaurant. The property will also welcome Philadelphia’s Federal Donuts and Chicken, opening this spring.

Upgrades are underway for new carpet installation on the casino floor and second floor corridor. Plus, the addition of 16 electric vehicle chargers have been installed at Rocktane Gas & Wash, and South Tower exterior restorations are also underway.

2. AGCO moves to suspend PointsBet
The Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario issued a Notice of Proposed Order to suspend PointsBet Canada’s iGaming registration for five days.

The suspension is the result of PointsBet’s alleged failure to properly monitor, detect, document and report suspicious betting patterns related to the 2024 bet-rigging scheme involving the National Basketball Association’s Jontay Porter.

Upon obtaining and reviewing PointsBet’s wagering data, the AGCO confirmed the indications of suspicious betting that was central to the scheme uncovered in 2024. These wagers should have been detected and reported at the time the betting occurred.

AGCO moves to suspend PointsBet for failing to report suspicious NBA bets on Jontay Porter: https://t.co/Rd9RnVCS4X pic.twitter.com/N6pmzSA2Wm

— Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario (@Ont_AGCO) February 12, 2026

1. Nevada Super Bowl wagering falls to decade low
Nevada sportsbooks took in $133.8 million in wagers on Super Bowl LX, the lowest handle the state has recorded for the Super Bowl in at least 10 years, according to figures released by the Nevada Gaming Control Board. Nevada's Super Bowl handle has now declined in three of the last four years, with only a modest bump in 2023 breaking the pattern.

The Nevada Gaming Control Board released figures today showing that $133.8 Million was wagered in Nevada's 186 Sports Books on this year's Super Bowl. pic.twitter.com/0sJwr3FHhf

— Nevada Gaming Control Board (@NevadaGCB) February 10, 2026

Yesterday, the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board reported that preliminary figures show $59,275,463 was wagered in the Commonwealth on last weekend’s Super Bowl through retail and online sportsbooks. That was a 41.6% decrease over wagers placed in Pennsylvania for the Super Bowl achieved last year when the Eagles and Chiefs faced off.

It wasn’t all bad across the U.S. The New Jersey Division of Gaming Enforcement also announced preliminary wagering data related to Super Bowl LX.

Preliminary wagering statistics reported by Atlantic City casinos, New Jersey equine racetracks, and online sports wagering mobile applications show that wagering on this year’s Super Bowl totaled approximately $126.5 million, with a projected sports wagering payout to winning customers of $87.8 million.

The actual hold percentage, or the portion of money gambled that the casino retains, was 31.6% for 2026 compared to 14.9% last year. Operator revenues were $38.7 million in 2026 compared to $25.2 million in 2025.