Weekly News Recap – 07/15
It’s been another action-packed week across the US casino and sports betting landscape, so there is a lot for us to unpack. As always, our Best Betting Site Advisor weekly news recap is here to bring you the latest in jackpots, game launches, casino plans, and even some political betting news. Here’s the scoop…
BetMGM and Caesars Sportsbooks launch in Washington D.C.
Following regulatory changes, BetMGM and Caesars Sportsbook have received approval to launch their mobile sports betting platforms district-wide. Until now, players could only access these online sportsbooks within two blocks of their retail locations.
Spinmatic games launch in North America for the first time
Social gaming provider Blazesoft is debuting the titles from European game developer Spinmatic to the North American market through its social casino brands Fortunecoins.com, Zulacasino.com, and Sportzino.com. “Launching Spinmatic to the North American market via our suite of online social casinos is a mutually exciting milestone,” said Blazesoft’s Head of Marketing & Strategic Partnerships.
Harrah’s Northern California becomes the first in the nation to offer HotSeat Jackpot
Harrah’s Northern California has become the first casino in the nation to introduce HotSeat Jackpot, in which guests compete against each other by placing bets ranging from $1 to $100 for a chance to win a jackpot every hour. “At Harrah’s, we are always focused on elevating our guests’ experience by providing unique and fun gaming opportunities they can’t find anywhere else,” said Jeff Cutri, Harrah’s Northern California SVP and General Manager.
Las Vegas trip up for grabs at Maryland State Poker Championship
PokerStars is offering a Las Vegas trip giveaway as a prize at the Maryland State Poker Championship, including a Gold Pass package to the Las Vegas North America Tour with a $5,300 buy-in, $1,800 in travel cash, and a 7-night hotel stay at Resorts World Las Vegas for the winner and a guest.
Players queue for hours for Mirage Casino’s $1.6 million prize giveaway
The Las Vegas casino is set to close on Wednesday, July 17, and needs to pay out $1.6 million in prizes before this. On Wednesday, July 10, the casino drew long lines, with people queueing for hours to play slot machines and table games in the hopes of landing the jackpot.
Donald Trump’s election odds improve following assassination attempt
Following a failed assassination attempt over the weekend, Donald Trump’s chances of winning the November 5 election have improved from around 59% to 66%. At UK bookmaker William Hill, where US political betting is legal, Trump’s odds have shortened from -190 to -275.
Bally’s Chicago Casino to open in September 2026
Bally’s Corporation has revealed updated plans for its Chicago casino, with Gaming and Leisure Properties Inc (GLPI) investing $2.07 billion in the development. New renderings show a Bally’s casino building alongside a 34-story hotel tower with 500 rooms at the Chicago River location.
Tropicana Las Vegas Casino set for implosion this fall
Bally’s Corporation has filed a commercial demolition implosion permit with Clark County officials, indicating that the company intends to implode the hotel and casino as early as September 30. If approved, the demolition will pave the way for a new $1.5 billion Major League Baseball stadium.
