Yggdrasil keeps surprising its fans. Its game Winterberries is already widely known and popular among the public, and now the creators have decided to give it a new sequel, named Winterberries 2.
Amazing features and mechanics:
This 6×3 video slot possesses 20 paylines. The theme of this slot is already known among loyal Yggdrasil fans – it’s the frozen fruit that everybody loves.
Also, many modern features are incorporated into the game. Some of them are Multipliers, Respins, and Free Spins.
The Respins mode can be activated when a winning combination appears on the reel. The symbols stay on the reel, and if the player achieves more of them, they will freeze and stay in place. When there are no more winning combinations, the round finishes.
When two or more consecutive reels get filled from left to right, the multiplier that is located at the top of the latest reel is triggered, which greatly increases the chances of winning. If you’re lucky enough, you’ll get three or more Scatter symbols that will award you with a minimum of 10 Free Spins. When the Free Spins round is activated, it also doubles all multipliers.
There is also a Special Scatter, which can enhance the multipliers up to +15. Potentially, the player can get one additional spin. The possibilities are limitless since there’s no maximum of Special Scatters that one player can achieve.
The sixth reel can be incorporated into the game via the Golden Bet feature. It doubles the possibility of entering the Free Spins round and greatly increases the chances of winning amazing, multiplied awards.
In some markets, various Buy Bonus options are available to the players, so they can progress straight to the Free Spins round.
An old game with modern features:
Stuart McCarthy, Head of Product & Programs at Yggdrasil, said: “We are excited to launch this sequel to our original title launched in 2016, which still has fans around the globe. Winterberries 2 sees the game elevated, combining Respins, Multipliers, and Free Spins in a fantastic frozen creation. We want to bring new concepts to players, and having every winning spin result in a Respin is a great way to continue to boost player engagement and deliver potentially huge wins for them in this fruity new hit.”
The players will be happy to hear that this super high volatility slot can grant up to €1.000.000.
The game is available both on desktop and mobile devices, and it can be played in many languages, including English, Czech, and Deutsch.
The first version of the game, Winterberries, was released on January 14th, 2016, and it has became highly popular, so we’re sure that the new version will be at least equally popular as the old one.
3 Oaks Gaming, a fast-growing distributor of online gambling content, has expanded its team with a new head of account management. The one joining the company is none other than the experienced Victoria Vashukevich who boasts years of experience in the sector.
Vashukevich will serve the company from its headquarters on the Isle of Man. She has previously worked in development roles at various other European companies and will bring this expertise to the 3 Oaks team.
Vashukevich’s Experience Will Benefit 3 Oaks
Vashukevich’s career started at Raiffeisen Bank Aval, where she served as project manager for almost four years. In October 2011, she joined the financial platform TRDATA as a customer relations director – a position she occupied for five years.
Between 2018 and 2019, Vashukevich had a short stint as a business development executive at Spotware Systems. She eventually joined Beetroot’s global business development team but left after a little more than a year.
In 2021, Vashukevich joined the progressive game studio Booongo Gaming as a global account manager. She was eventually promoted to head of account management – a position she still occupies to this day.
Meanwhile, the appointee’s new position at 3 Oaks Gaming will see her oversee account management for the iGaming distributor’s client base. 3 Oaks’ customer base has been growing quickly as more and more companies now seek the distributor’s services.
MD Damian Welcomed the New Hire
The addition of Vashukevich as head of account management attests to the company’s intention to reinforce its Isle of Man office with more experienced professionals. Sebastian Damian, the company’s managing director, said that the company is “entering really exciting times” which is why expanding the team is a priority.
To continue down this path, expanding our team with quality people and personnel is at the forefront of what we want to do. Hiring the right people at 3 Oaks is paramount for the business to succeed.
Sebastian Damian, MD, 3 Oaks Gaming
Damian added that Vashukevich is an important addition to the team who is sure to make a huge difference. He concluded that he is looking forward to working with her.
Vashukevich also spoke about her new position, saying that she is thrilled to join the 3 Oaks Gaming team. The hire praised the company for its fast growth and said that she is looking forward to leading the account management team into a new era.
At the beginning of 2023, 3 Oaks Gaming signed an agreement with PIN-UP Ukraine, agreeing to supply the operator with casino games.
Native American tribes could soon advance their US gambling operations on both online and retail fronts under proposed rule changes by the federal government.
The Wall Street Journal on Sunday provided the details of a proposal submitted last week by the Bureau of Indian Affairs. The federal agency is proposing new rules allowing tribes to negotiate statewide online betting deals under tribal-state compacts.
remote wagers taken through servers on tribal lands would count as on-reservation betting
According to the proposal, remote wagers taken through servers on tribal lands would count as on-reservation betting, an issue that had previously proven a sticking point for tribal compacts to expand betting options.
The Bureau of Indian Affairs has additionally proposed to relax the rules around allowing tribes to purchase additional land that state and federal bodies could eventually approve for casino development.
Paving the way
“Internet gaming is rapidly becoming the largest expansion of gaming in modern history and is quickly developing into a reality where tribes are on the outside looking in,” said Bo Mazzetti, chairman of the Rincon Band of Luiseño Indians in California, in a letter supporting the changes.
The Bureau of Indian Affairs proposed the rule changes in late 2022. The move was, in part, because supporters believe the gambling industry has transformed since the US Congress enacted the federal law regulating tribal gaming 35 years ago. The proposal states that the expansion of state-taxed commercial casinos and state-run lotteries has turned tribal and state governments into rivals.
The additional proposal by the federal agency would make it easier for tribes to acquire land, a process in which tribes request the US government move properties on their behalf into a trust. For off-reservation land, the Interior Department would examine how land purchase would benefit a given tribe, with distance to the reservation not a priority.
Lost tax revenue fears
According to the WSJ, the proposals have come under fire from commercial gambling operators and state and local government leaders. Both parties are concerned about losing tax revenues and having less influence over the location of new casinos.
20 Republican state attorneys-general sent a letter listing multiple concerns around the proposals. An excerpt of the letter from Montana Attorney General Austin Knudsen claims the proposals would:
authorize an unprecedented expansion of tribal casino gaming.”
Knudsen added the expansion would unjustifiably restrict “the ability of state governments to adopt and enforce their own policies on gaming matters.” Some believe that the the amendments would require states to permit forms of gambling that some state laws might not have otherwise allowed, such as sports betting or iGaming in states that haven’t legalized it.
The post Tribes Eye Unprecedented US Online, Retail Gambling Expansion Under New Federal Rules appeared first on VegasSlotsOnline News.
On Wednesday, March 8, 2023, PSG will try to do the impossible and beat Bayern Munich at Allianz Arena. That’s something no one’s done in more than 14 months.
Bayern Munich vs PSG Odds
Moneyline
Odds
Bayern Munich
-133
Draw
+333
PSG
+280
Over/Under Goals
Odds
Over 2.5 Goals
-227
Under 2.5 Goals
+175
When, Where, and How to Watch?
Place: Allianz Arena in Munich, Germany
Date: Wednesday, March 8, 2023
Time: 3:00 PM ET
How to Watch: Paramount+
PSG have spent just under $1.4 billion on signings since Qatar Sports Investments took over the club in 2011. Since then, the team’s won almost everything, but there’s one trophy that’s still missing from PSG’s cabinet – the UEFA Champions League.
Unfortunately for their fans, it seems as if they’ll have to wait at least another year to get ahold of it. The thing is that after losing 1-0 at home to Bayern Munich in the first leg of the UCL Round of 16, their chances of advancing forward look slim. In fact, most online sportsbooks are giving +450 on PSG qualifying for the next stage.
Bayern Munich Plan to Stay Unbeaten at Home
It was January 7, 2022, when Bayern Munich lost a home game the last time. It happened in the Bundesliga, while their undefeated home run in the Champions League is even longer. They’re without a single UCL loss at Allianz Arena since April 7, 2021. What’s got to worry them is that the team that beat them in that game is PSG.
Bayern Munich conceded three goals that day and they need to be worried about the same happening again. The thing is that they’re going to be without several important defenders on Wednesday. Benjamin Pavard, for instance, will miss the game because of suspension. Lucas Hernandez is injured, while Noussair Mazraoui is out due to heart problems.
When it comes to their offense, however, everything seems to be in order. In fact, we could finally see Sadio Mane start a game. The former Liverpool star had to spend more than three months off the pitch due to a muscle injury, but he did make his return two weeks ago, albeit spending only a limited time on the pitch.
PSG to Attack With All They Got
They’re 1-0 down on aggregate, meaning that their only option is to go for a win. And in order to do that, they need to score. Scoring one goal would only take the game to an extra time/penalty shootout. If they want to advance to the next phase of the Champions League, PSG needs to beat Bayern by at least two goals.
Knowing that Bayern players almost always score on home turf, PSG will probably have to aim for a very high number of goals. Luckily for them, they definitely have the manpower to outscore literally any opponent in the world.
The bad news for them is that Neymar is out, but that shouldn’t matter much if Kylian Mbappe and Lionel Messi show up on Wednesday.
Bayern Munich vs PSG Prediction
One thing looks almost 100% certain – Bayern Munich vs PSG is going to be a goal-fest. Both teams are incredibly powerful in the offense, so anything but goals galore would be a shock.
But who’s going to get to the quarterfinal of the Champions League? We think it’s gonna be the home team. At Allianz Arena, Bayern are undefeated for more than a year and we think that won’t change on March 8.
Pick: Bayern Munich and PSG to draw; over 3.5 goals
The fastforward cash game lobbies on PartyPoker are some of the most popular on the platform, and now players on the site can play for a share of over P$1,000 thanks to the daily fastforward leaderboards.
However, it must be noted that only players with a current cashback boost of over 30% on PartyPoker are eligible to take part in the leaderboards. Furthermore, only points earned from fastforward No Limit Hold’em and Pot-Limit Hold’em cash games will only count towards your leaderboard position.
Leaderboard Rewards
Two daily fastforward leaderboards run from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. (GMT/BST)., with points for the leaderboards accrued through rake contribution ($1 rake = four points).
Anyone who finishes in the paid places on the leaderboard will receive their reward in the form of partydollars (P$), which can be used for future online cash games and tournament buy-ins.
$0.50/$1 and Above
Position
Reward
1
P$100
2
P$70
3
P$50
4 to 5
P$40
6 to 10
P$30
11 to 20
P$20
$0.25/$0.50 and below
Position
Reward
1
P$50
2
P$35
3
P$25
4 to 5
P$20
6 to 10
P$15
11 to 15
P$10
16 to 25
P$5
26 to 40
P$2.50
PartyPoker Revamps MTT Schedule; Launches Two New Sunday Majors
fastforward Tips From Jaime Staples
PartyPoker ambassador Jaime Staples shared some top tips for fastforward cash games earlier this year and now is the perfect time to refresh your memory for the format.
Staples expands on the tips he provides below, so be sure to check out the full article in the link above:
Don’t Be Afraid to Use the Fast Forward Button
Steal More From Late Positions
Stick to Fundementals
Join PartyPoker To Get This Incredible Welcome Package
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Your initial deposit is matched 100% up to a maximum of $600. The bonus releases into your playable account balance in 10% increments of the deposit amount. You must earn four times the bonus amount in loyalty payments within 90 days to release the total amount.
The bonus is slightly different for residents of the United Kingdom. Your deposit bonus is 100% up to £400, with the same release rates. Your deposit of at least £10 comes with £40 of free play, consisting of the following:
Day 1: 5x $1 SPINS and 1x $5.50 MTT tickets
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Calum Grant
Editor & Live Reporter
Calum has been a part of the PokerNews team since September 2021 after working in the UK energy sector. He played his first hand of poker in 2017 and immediately fell in love with the game. Calum’s proudest poker achievement is winning the only tournament he has ever played in Las Vegas, the prestigious $60 Flamingo evening event.
Melco Cyprus has received an extension of its target opening date for its City of Dreams Mediterranean to June 30, 2023, still within its earlier stated target date of Q2 2023. When transitioned from the current temporary casino to the permanent venue the resort with gambling is expected to be the largest integrated destination resort in Europe as well as the most highly sought location.
While construction continues, the company is currently operating three permanent satellite casinos and a temporary casino which will cease to exist when the main site opens its gaming floor.
According to a report in the local Cyprus Mail, the operator is well aware of the outsized impact a successful integrated resort will have on helping to develop the island’s tourism industry which was one of the main reasons it was approved to become the first and only casino resort on the island when a license was approved in 2017. Other operators may apply for future tenders after a 30-year moratorium expires on the granting of additional licenses.
The acknowledgment of the operator’s responsibilities to the Cypriot community was expressed by senior vice president of casino sales and marketing, Grant Johnson at a recent event that marked the 5-year anniversary of the first-ever casino license issued in the country since it was divided by a UN Blue Zone from the Turkish-occupied northern part of the country following a 4-week war in 1974.
Illegal Casinos Operate Outside of Cyprus-Proper
Several casinos operate in northern Cyprus, in a sort of gray zone seemingly exempt from Turkey’s strict laws against gambling. Other pop-up and temporary casinos also operate briefly in the Blue Zone where laws have been easily manipulated and unlicensed operators can scoop in loads of cash before being shut down by laws that are difficult to enforce and prosecute.
At the event, 57 of the original employees of the licensed operation were awarded plates to commemorate their early service to the resort. Johnson said that Melco would continue to work toward assuring the country would become a global business and entertainment destination.
“Melco Cyprus is managing the temporary casino in Limassol and three satellite casinos in Nicosia, Ayia Napa, and Paphos, while at the same time developing the City of Dreams Mediterranean resort-casino, a project that aspires to be a game-changer in the island’s tourism industry,” according to an announcement from the company.
Speaking directly to team members at the event, Johnson said: “Five years ago, City of Dreams Mediterranean was a distant dream, but now we are just months away from opening.
“You have helped us grow this organization and another 2,500 colleagues will soon join our team and follow in your footsteps,” he added.
He also noted that the company and team seek to help create a sustainable future for Cyprus.
Former President Visited in February
Last month, Melco hosted former Cyprus president Nicos Anastasiades at the Limassol resort.
Anastasiades said at the time: “The creation of a multi-thematic resort was one of the government’s goals since we know that its creation would contribute towards enriching our tourist product, increasing tourist arrivals and creating new jobs, with obvious benefits for the Cypriot economy.”
According to a recently released Unaudited Fourth Quarter 2022 Earnings Statement and comments by the company’s director, Lawrence Ho, the company is currently struggling with pandemic-induced losses but the temporary casino in Cyprus has surpassed 2019 revenues and City of Dreams Manila is catching up. The company was also granted a new 10-year concession for its gambling and entertainment properties in Macau.
For all outfits Cyprus operations, the company had operating revenue of US$28.7 million during the fourth quarter of last year, compared to US$22.4 million in the fourth quarter of the previous year. The company’s fourth quarter Adjusted EBITDA of US$10.5 million for Cyprus operations nearly doubled those of the previous quarter.
The company kept $5 of every $100 put into slots in the last quarter of 2022 compared to $5.10 in 2021 bit volume was up this year from$30.5m in Q4 2021 to $38m in the fourth quarter of 2022,
Source: Cyprus can become a global tourism and entertainment destination, Cyprus-Mail, March 5, 2023
The post Melco Cyprus Recovers to Pre-Pandemic Levels, Confirms Target Opening in Q2 2023 appeared first on Casino News Daily.
After law enforcement busted an illegal gambling ring operating in Rochester, New York, the alleged members have now been arraigned, a new report reveals. Six out of the seven alleged participants of the illegal gambling operation were arraigned in Federal Court on Friday, 13WHAM revealed.
One of the defendants in the alleged multi-million-dollar illegal gambling operation that was active in Rochester was Louis Ferrari II. He was allegedly involved in illegal poker games, as well as illegal sports wagering via a website called sport700.com.
According to Ferrari’s attorney, Joe Damelio, it is standard for people involved in court trials to be confined within the district they reside. In this case, Ferrari II would need to stay within the 17 county district where he resides. In addition, he had to surrender his passport. Damelio explained that this is also not uncommon when it comes to criminal cases.
Overall, Ferrari II faced multiple felony charges. He was accused of conspiring to operate an illegal retail poker and online sports betting operation. Allegedly, the proceeds from the illegal operation were laundered by Ferrari II via a firm called Ferrari Excavating.
Other defendants in the multi-million-dollar case include Tomasso Sessa, James Civiletti, Joseph Lombardo, Jeffrey Boscarino, as well as Anthony Amato. Reportedly, Civiletti, Lombardo and Sessa were charged with illegal gambling and conspiracy, while Boscarino and Amato also faced charges on Thursday for their alleged participation in the illegal gambling ring. On the other hand, Dominic Sprague, another alleged illegal gambling ring member is due to be arraigned this week.
Investigation Uncovers a Large-Scale Illegal Operation
An investigation into the illegal gambling operation in Rochester claimed that Ferrari II has accumulated some $1.24 million in winnings. On the other hand, Amato is believed to have piled up winnings of nearly $9 million from his alleged participation in the illegal operation.
“During the course of the investigation, investigators intercepted a series of calls and text messages between targets of the investigation, sub-agents and individual bettors discussing the placement of bets, collection of winnings, and payment of losses. The investigation revealed that Ferrari generated $1,241,172 in winnings, while Amato generated winnings totaling $8,945,629,“
explains a statement released by the IRS
The probe into the illegal gambling business uncovered a network that was significant in size. It was back in April 2016 when the illegal betting operation started. Amato is believed to have been in charge of 128 sub-agent accounts that managed the accounts of nearly 1,800 bettors.
The charges and investigation are the result of multiple law enforcement agencies that collaborated together to bring down the illegal gambling operation. It’s important to mention that even if there are charges against the individuals that allegedly participated in the operation, they are presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.
The inaugural 888poker Mystery Bounty Festival is rapidly nearing its conclusion, with only two more numbered events and the final few Main Event flights remaining on the schedule. Only three Day 1s are left in the $160 buy-in $300,000 guaranteed Main Event. They take place at 3:30 p.m. GMT, 5:00 p.m. GMT, and 6:00 p.m. GMT on March 6, with Day 2 shuffling up and dealing at 8:00 p.m. GMT, also on March 6.
So far, 1,490 players have bought in, making up $223,500 of the $300,000 guarantee. Of those starters, only 273 have punched their Day 2 tickets and will fight it out for a slice of the main prize pool and have a golden mystery bounty envelope placed on their heads. One of those prize-awarding envelopes contains a massive $30,000 payout, which will be worth more than the first-place prize money!
MB Festival $300,000 Main Event Top 10 Chip Counts
Place
Player
Country
Chips
Big Blinds
1
pinvoypuzec
Montenegro
236,134
94
2
Nicolas “PKaiser” Fierro
Chile
218,719
87
3
blufingbaldy
United Kingdom
194,563
78
4
KeepItSecret
Montenegro
191,469
77
5
2pacnrw16
190,433
76
6
MAAtuKKs
Brazil
178,564
71
7
KURDEdersim
Sweden
177,910
71
8
SYO.OO
Ukraine
176,422
71
9
schimpfer
Germany
167,847
67
10
Iroquois
Montenegro
165,596
66
“pinvoypuzec” of Montenegro is the player to catch in the Mystery Bounty Festival Main Event right now. They turned their 10,000-starting stack into a tournament-leading 236,134, or 94 big blinds if you prefer.
The player just behind the leader needs no introduction because they have been a top-tier online poker grinder for the best part of two decades. Chile’s Nicolas “PKaiser” Fierro has accumulated more than $13 million in cashes during his long and illustrious career, with approximately $550,000 of that princely sum stemming from his play on 888poker. Fierro looks set to nudge that figure towards the $600,000 mark if he continues his impressive early form in the Main Event. Fierro returns to the action second in chips with a 218,719 stack, or 87 big blinds.
Play on Day 2 continues until only nine players remain, and those finalists enjoy a brief rest before returning to the action from 7:00 p.m. GMT on March 7 under the watchful eyes of the 888poker Twitch viewers.
888poker Ambassador Kara Scott Breaks Down Tips For Your First Live Poker Tournament
“hell0_brotti” Reels in $6,700 Score
Seventh 888poker players bought into the $525 Mystery Bounty event, ensuring the $35,000 guarantee was met. Only the nine players that navigated their way to the final table received a slice of the main pot, and nobody secured more of that prize money that the United Kingdom’s “hell0_br0tti.” First-place prize money weighed in at $5,250, a prize that swelled to $6,708 with the addition of $1,458 worth of bounties.
The player who finished as the runner-up, Belarus’ “GoodStoryDMG” actually won almost double the money of the champion! GoodStoryDMG scooped $12,045 in total, thanks, in part, to helping themselves to $8,545 from the bounty prize pool, including the $3,500 jackpot bounty!
$35,000 MB Festival Mystery Bounty 525 Final Table Results
Place
Player
Country
Bounties
Prize
Total Prize
1
hell0_br0tti
United Kingdom
$1,458
$5,250
$6,708
2
GoodStoryDMG
Belarus
$8,545
$3,500
$12,045
3
marllonsanti
Brazil
$2,467
$2,467
4
Fighta07
Germany
$2,275
$1,802
$4,077
5
Hvalavam
Montenegro
$2,041
$1,347
$3,389
6
KingSteppa
$1,020
$997
$2,018
7
M1k3n70a7
Lithuania
$805
$805
8
DosPoochies
Canada
$700
$700
9
Rash4444
United Kingdom
$630
$630
Swede Secures Event 27 Title
The 27th event of the Mystery Bounty Festival may have only cost $55 to enter, yet it paid out $50,000! Some 964 players bought in, and Sweden’s “Walkeer_Boh” outlasted them all, capturing a $7,474 payout, which gave their bankroll a serious boost.
This event had a top-paying mystery bounty that tipped the scales at $5,000. That prize went to fifth-place finisher “dukacgl” of Brazil, who walked away with a total haul worth $6,439, a sum only surpassed by the worthy champion.
Anywayz Takes Down Largest 888poker Mystery Bounty Event So Far
MB Festival #27 – $50,000 6-Max Final Table Results
Place
Player
Country
Bounties
Prize
Total Prize
1
Walkeer_Boh
Sweden
$3,391
$4,082
$7,474
2
Thanksbro
Romania
$251
$2,975
$3,226
3
Ssv117
Kazahkstan
$1,566
$2,182
$3,748
4
dolphin15
Ukraine
$400
$1,605
$2,005
5
dukacgl
Brazil
$5,251
$1,187
$6,439
6
DIMOSREG
Belarus
$710
$880
$1,590
7
Paulauda85
Brazil
$726
$655
$1,381
8
Charliebuz12
United Kingdom
$117
$487
$605
9
Hptpoker
United Kingdom
$133
$370
$503
Mystery Bounty Results So Far
Check out the full list of numbered Mystery Bounty Festival results so far. The numbered events go up to 30, so are only two more events, plus the Main Event, waiting to crown their champions.
Both Events #29 and #30 take place on March 6. The former, an $11 buy-in $15,000 guaranteed affair, starts at 5:00 p.m. GMT. The latter, a $109 buy-in $15,000 guaranteed tournament, starts promptly at 7:30 p.m. GMT.
The move aims to get ahead of the trend of sports betting becoming increasingly popular, as well as to serve as an example of what the standard approach for universities should look like. Towson University’s program is titled “Tigers Play Responsibly” – after the college’s Tigers moniker.
MA Tigers Support Responsible Gambling
The campaign is not only focused on promoting responsible gambling, but also on education and anti-gambling workshops. It’s funded by the National Council on Problem Gambling’s (NCPG) Agility Grant. The marketing campaign pushes an in-app banner to students who’ve been geo-locked to be on campus and using a sports betting app.
Its message is summarized as PAWS: “Plan ahead, Always know your limits, Wait to play again/wager again, Stop while you’re ahead.” While this covers the responsible gambling side of the university’s efforts, educators are available at sporting events and maintain messaging campaigns on social media to cover the informational side of the campaign.
An Associated Press (AP) report said that between 75% and 80% of college students have gambled in the past year according to research conducted between 2007 and 2014. Coupled with the higher chance of exposure to addictive substances and addictive behavior, this makes Towson University’s program even more necessary, while also showing that college students are indeed a high-risk group.
This is also one of the main reasons why the program was awarded a grant. AP’s report cited Keith Whyte – executive director of NCPG – who said the council believes that prevention efforts with high-risk populations had the highest chance for a bigger impact with the least funding. Many scientists agree that college can expose students not only to addictive substances, but also behaviors.
Sports Betting Gaining Popularity Across US
However, because of the limitations in funding and running time, the program is also facing quite a few challenges, mostly related to prevention and education effectiveness. Pew Research Center’s survey showed that public opinion also adds to these problems, as more than half of the people surveyed thought sports betting to be neither good nor bad for society.
This shows not only that the tax revenue generated from gambling isn’t being used to properly educate people about the dangers of gambling, but also how this reflects on people’s opinions on the matter. This also translates into poor awareness of the legality of sports betting, with 44% of respondents saying they were not aware that there were more states that permit sports betting than states that prohibit it.
The survey was published in September 2022, and the number of states that have legalized sports betting in some form has grown since then. This continues the trajectory that was set before it, and Maryland launched online sports betting after the survey. As it currently stands, sports betting is legal in 33 states, with only five states remaining without any legislation.
Gambling giant Caesars Entertainment is preparing to foray into Nebraska with a new Harrah’s casino. The company, which announced its plans in 2021, has now shared an official visualization of the property.
The Harrah’s Columbus, NE Racing & Casino will mark Caesars’ entry in the state. It is made possible by the company’s agreement with Columbus Exposition and Racing and will be the home of Nebraska’s longest thoroughbred racetrack.
The racetrack, however, will not be the only notable feature of Harrah’s Columbus, NE Racing & Casino. The venue, as its title implies, will also feature a large 28,000-square-foot casino and sportsbook area. Local players can expect to find a rich selection of over 500 slots, as well as 14 gaming tables.
In terms of dining, Caesars’ new property will feature a bar called Wishbones, named after a beloved, now closed, event district in the city. The property will also be home to The Brew Brothers, an award-winning restaurant, popular for its fantastic beer and gourmet food. Lastly, visitors will also be able to visit a Marriot Fairfield Inn and Townplace Suites, which will be built next to the casino and will provide traveling players with a place to stay the night.
Caesars hopes to open Harrah’s Columbus, NE Racing & Casino in the first half of 2024.
Caesars Cannot Wait to Welcome Nebraskans
The operator is excited about the property’s upcoming launch. According to Joe Morris, the company’s senior vice president of racing, horse racing is an integral part of the Cornhusker State. Caesars will support locals’ passion for the sport by launching an “all-new, one-mile racetrack for the community to enjoy.”
During a recent event at the Elks Country Club, Caesars not only presented renderings of the casino but also saw executives talk about the company’s vision. According to Todd Connelly, Caesars Entertainment’s regional president, the construction of the new property represents a major milestone for the operator.
Connelly thanked all of Caesars’ partners and local community members who attended the event and said that he is looking forward to welcoming locals to Harrah’s Columbus, NE Racing & Casino.
During the event, the Harrah’s Columbus, NE Racing & Casino team also donated $5,000 to the new Columbus FIeldhouse as a sign of goodwill.
Nebraskans Will Get to Play Earlier than They Think
Although the new property is set to open in early 2024, locals will get to play with Caesars sooner as the company will open a temporary casino at AG Park. This property is scheduled to open in late spring this year and will feature 200+ slots and will be home to an expansive simulcast offering for horse racing.
Caesars noted that the temporary location will be part of its Caesars Rewards loyalty program, allowing loyal customers to collect points and redeem various prizes.
