A long-delayed casino resort slated to appear on the Las Vegas Strip is set to finally complete construction work after securing a $2.2 billion loan from a group of banks and other investors.

Testament of Dedication

Fontainebleau Las Vegas, developed by a partnership between Fontainebleau Development and Koch Real Estate Investments (KREI), a subsidiary of Koch Industries, secured the financing with the participation of Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corp., Blackstone, Goldman Sachs, Guggenheim Partners and VICI Properties.

JP Morgan Chase served as the administrative agent while Dustin Stolly and Jordan Roeschlaub of Newmark Group served as advisers for the financing. The property will be operated by a subsidiary of Fontainebleau Development upon completion.

Commenting on the development, Brett Mufson, president of Fontainebleau Development hailed the financing as “a milestone for Fontainebleau Las Vegas,” and as “a testament to the tremendous dedication” of the people who had worked to secure the funding at Fontainebleau and their counterparts at Koch Real Estate Investments.

Jacob Francis, president of Koch Real Estate Investments, thanked “J.P. Morgan, SMBC, Blackstone Real Estate Debt Strategies, Goldman Sachs, Guggenheim, and VICI Properties [in his comments] for recognizing both the potential of this property and the expertise of those involved in its capitalization, design, and construction.”

“Securing $2.2 billion in financing in today’s market speaks to the widespread confidence in this project and the team that’s come together to bring it to Las Vegas,” Francis concluded.

Twists and Turns

The property is located on the north end of the Strip, near Wynn Resorts and the Las Vegas Convention Center in a part of the Strip that has traditionally been a difficult one for hotel operators due to the lack of many other resorts nearby. In June 2021, Genting Group opened its Resort World Las Vegas in the area.

The partnership acquired the property in February 2021 and officially began work on the $3.7 billion casino resort project in November last year, planning to open the property to the public in 2023. The property is planned to have a 67-story hotel, a casino and convention space, as well as a two-level mall featuring more than 35 designer stores.

Originally launched by the owner of Fontainebleau resort in Miami Beach, Florida, Jeffrey Sofer, the project began in 2007 but was halted during the financial crisis as he lost control of it.

The property was owned by Carl Icahn and Steven Witkoff before Sofer and its partner, Koch Real Estate Investments, regained the ownership last year.

Fife member of Scottish parliament Mark Ruskell has urged fellow lawmakers to muster the support to close Thornton Greyhound Stadium in Fife, which is due to have its next round of races in January.

Ruskell cited a report by the Scottish Animal Welfare Commission (SAWC) which is due to appear before the Holyrood’s Rural Affairs, Islands and Natural Environment Committee in February next year. While Ruskell did say that he didn’t mean to show bias towards the establishment of the report, he stated flatly that the time to end “this cruel and exploitative activity” was banned once and for all.

Greyhound Racing Not the Most Pressing Issue on the Agenda

Ireland and the United Kingdom are also planning to pass similar moves against their own gambling industry. The report, which is still in the process of compiling in Scotland, should help lawmakers make evidence-based decisions. Overall, greyhound racing and even horseracing have been under attack all over the world, with concerns over animal welfare raised in most developed countries.

To enact any changes, lawmakers would need to find evidence that the country’s Animal Health and Welfare Act 2006 has been breached. The act protects both racing and retired greyhounds which should be kept in specific dignified conditions. A rebuke has already come from the Greyhound Board of Great Britain who said that it was strange that the Green party in Scotland would consider this a priority for 2023.

The organization added that greyhound welfare was evidently at the very heart of every licensed establishment and professional who worked in the industry. The Board further added:

We constantly strive to enhance our welfare standards, which is why this year we have launched a new long-term welfare strategy that has received considerable political and veterinary acclaim.

Greyhound Board of Great Britain

The Greyhound Board of Great Britain reminded that as a regulator, it’s committed to ensuring that everyone involved in the sport upholds the highest standards for care and attention to greyhounds.

Concerns About Animal Warfare Are Misguided Say Insiders

The Board further warned of a significant economic downturn and a welfare crisis for greyhounds affected by the ban and shutdown on any venue, forcing the animals to move into new homes that fail to meet the necessary standards.

“Hard-working families across Scotland who share our love of animals will wonder why the Scottish Greens believe the parliamentary time and economic cost of a ban are a priority for next year,” the Board concluded.

The track owner, Paul Brignal, described the allegations that his establishment may in any way endanger animal welfare as ludicrous and said that it was not true that the Thornton Greyhound Stadium in Fife led to cruelty.

He similarly rebuked a report by Scotland Against Greyhound Exploitation which asserted that there have been 18,000 injured dogs and 3,000 deaths, reminding the people leveling these allegations that the establishments had 70 dogs in racing.

The Dallas Cowboys have already booked a playoff berth, but this doesn’t mean they have no motivation coming into Week 17. They want to keep their good form going, especially after beating the mighty Philadelphia Eagles last weekend.

When it comes to the Tennessee Titans still haven’t secured a playoff spot, but a win over the Cowboys could achieve that.

Dallas Cowboys vs Tennessee Titans Week 17 Odds

When, Where, and How to Watch?

• Place: Nissan Stadium in Nashville, Tennessee
• Date: Thursday, December 29, 2022
• Time: 8:15 PM ET
• How to Watch: Amazon

Dallas Cowboys are Fantastic in the Offense

The Dallas Cowboys secured a spot in the playoffs back in Week 15. Despite losing to the Jacksonville Jaguars 40-34 after overtime, they still booked the ticket to the postseason thanks to the fact that the Washington Commanders lost the same weekend.

Before that loss, they were in a superb run with four straight wins in which they scored a total of 149 points. That accounts for 37.25 points per game on average. Their amazing offensive stats in their period are mostly thanks to their quarterback Dak Prescott.

The state has done well in setting up its core infrastructure, argues Casey Clark, SVP of AGA. Ohio is on track to be the 32^nd state to launch legal sports betting, too, and there are many local franchises that sports bettors would love to back.

Ohio’s Sports Gambling Industry Will Be Big

The state has issued licenses to around 1,000 restaurants, bowling alleys, and other facilities. Starting on January 1, any resident and visitor of Ohio who is at least 21 years of age will be able to bet up to $700 per week, part of the state’s broader ambitions to protect customers at all costs.

This is a measure spearheaded by Senator Niraj Antani who argues that the state is keen to make sure that people do not end up spending profligate amounts from the very start of betting operations, nor run into bad habits that could cost them dearly later down the road.

Kiosk betting will be limited to spreads, totals, moneylines, and parlays, which are pretty much the standard types of betting that other states support. According to AGA, Ohio will definitely drive a serious interest, with $9 billion wagered every year and another $63 million contributed as state and local taxes.

Some Forms of Gambling Still Blocked

Clark though emphasized that the problem of illegal gambling remains, with Americans spending half a trillion dollars on unlicensed and offshore operations. These operators hardly care for the well-being of consumers and pay no tax, Clark assured.

While Ohio is looking to set up its industry properly, not all events will be allowed to wager on. For example, the state has blocked high school sports from the viable gambling markets, making Ohio a bit of an outlier.

Another prohibited form of gambling is pre-recorded events, which usually include virtual sports. Events sponsored by primary or secondary schools where more than 50% of the athletes are under the age of 18 also are not viable betting markets.

Irish iGaming and sports betting operator BoyleSports finally found a replacement for its vacant CEO role. Former William Hill director Vlad Kaltenieks will take up the mantle, replacing his predecessor, who lasted less than a year in the position. Kaltenieks joins at a turbulent period for BoyleSports as the operator pursues international expansion amidst rising challenges.

The New CEO Enters During a Dynamic Time

BoyleSports has remained without a chief executive ever since Mark Kemp, the man formerly occupying the position, left the company after just ten months at the helm. Kemp departed to pursue other projects, joining DAZN BET as CEO. BoyleSports then spent several months with nobody at the helm, as finding a suitable replacement proved difficult. 

However, the absence of a CEO did not dampen the operator’s ambitions. The company currently maintains a substantial presence in Ireland, employing a staff of roughly 2,500 across 350 venues. BoyleSports has recently focused significantly on its UK expansion efforts, opening eight new shops in the country over the past eight months, bringing their total count to 29, with two more in the Isle of Man.

Kaltenieks Is a Well-Rounded Industry Professional

With such an ambitious and expansion-focused mindset, BoyleSports has been in dire need of a capable leader to spearhead its efforts. Luckily for the operator, Vlad Kaltenieks seems like a perfect match for the position, possessing substantial industry knowledge and years of relevant experience. Announcing his new appointment in his official LinkedIn profile, Kaltenieks expressed excitement to join the BoyleSports team.

Over the years, the company has grown into a successful business, with its own technology and experienced team, and I am very optimistic for our next chapter.

BoyleSports CEO Vlad Kaltenieks

Kaltenieks is a proven industry veteran. He worked with several high-profile operators and sports a substantial technological background. Launching his career in 1999, he co-founded the technology company Skynet and moved on to several IT-related management positions. In total, Kaltenieks has over two decades of technology experience. His most recent jobs with high-profile gambling operators gave him a new perspective and allowed him to apply his skills to a new and dynamic industry.

The new BoyleSports CEO’s first introduction to the gambling world was in 2016 when he got appointed as director of digital and data at leading European gambling and iGaming operator Betsson Group. Immersing himself in the field, he later moved to William Hill, where he spent four years as global director of data, analytics, and digital before becoming BoyleSports CEO.

Kaltenieks’s blend of technological experience, leadership skills, and industry know-how should make him well-suited for his new position. His customer-centric strategy, organizational focus, and value-driven mindset will prove valuable to BoyleSports as the operator seeks to maintain momentum in an increasingly challenging economic environment.

Even though the state isn’t one of the biggest in terms of population, Arkansas has certainly proven to be one of the most important betting hubs in the United States. The state managed to collect a total of $30.5 million in total bets during November, official data by the Department of Finance and Administration confirmed.

Good Month for Betting in Arkansas

This means that November has been the highest-grossing month in the history of the state insofar as sports betting is concerned. The previous record was set in October with $26.87 million of total wagers placed, and still much ahead of the $21.18 million placed during September.

Arkansas has been in fact registering a robust month-over-month growth in sports betting interest. November is also more than twice ahead of the June results which saw $12.60 million worth of bets placed in the state.

The Department did not offer further breakdown into the November numbers but said that in October, more than $20 million had been placed through mobile apps with the remaining $6.1 million going through the state’s three licensed casinos.

The Department also said that over the past 11 months, the state handled more than $124 million in total bets. However, online sports gambling has been available in Arkansas since March. The period between January and March saw gamblers limited to land-based options only.

Arkansas also made several changes to its gambling industry over the past several months. The state finally picked a provider for its gambling treatment service, choosing the Problem Gambling Council as the official educational and treatment provider.

The delay has been criticized with the state officially earmarking $200,000 of the tax money generated through gambling towards the tackling of problem gambling but then taking years to actually set it up.