Nov/Dec 2020

Editors Letter

Getting back to normal and progressing are opponents pitted against each other as the pandemic makes guesswork out of any best-laid plans. While things seemed to have been put on hold for months, especially in the sporting world, technology and the means to adapt safely in a changing environment have forged ahead without pause.

Online gambling has surged and casinos are replete with products borne out of a need to keep consumers safe and businesses humming along. But it’s not just the physical things that we should focus on. It’s the refusal to be beaten by circumstance. In this issue of Gaming America, we feature how two major new landmarks on the Las Vegas skyline are making a statement in terms of property scale and a determination to honor a deadline. To as much fanfare as was possible, the Circa had its soft launch in late October, and Resorts World is on track to open in the summer next year.

Las Vegas has always been synonymous with regeneration, and as we learn in a feature by Oliver Lovat, who leads the Denstone Group, starting on page 28, crises, especially in the 1980s, have always befallen the city, whether they’re economic, natural disasters or regulatory. The resilience to come back stronger, spurred on by the demand to do so from fans all over the world, has always been a source of inspiration, no matter the test.

So in 2020 when the pandemic brought on a whole new complexity to recovery, the city is doubling down on succeeding again, if history is any guide. “The key lesson of the 1980s is that even in the face of great uncertainty, if we have an understanding of our customers and have the ability to meet their needs, then there is a path for business success,” Lovat says. Plain and simple even if the hard work it requires isn’t. As he adds, the first steps were reactionary, dealing with a highly fluid situation, so the coming months will be telling when the front-foot response turns more proactive, focused and, naturally, highly competitive.

After all, what would Las Vegas be without those trying to outdo their professional opponents, and do whatever it takes not to be outdone.

In The Magazine
A Groundbreaking Trend

Since DraftKings entered a Special Purpose Acquisition Company (SPAC) agreement to purchase SBTech through Diamond Eagle Acquisition Corp last December to go public, SPAC deals have been all the rage in the US gaming market. Iqbal Johal caught up with gaming industry analysts and SpringOwl Asset Management CEO Jason Ader to discuss the rising popularity of SPAC deals and the benefits behind them.

Keeping It Simple

Chris Bevilacqua, co-founder & CEO of Simplebet, speaks to Tim Poole about micro-markets and how the supplier is using them to try and transform US sports betting.

Esports: Resilient To Crisis

Pavol Krasnovsky, CEO of esports betting company RTSmunity, explains why the esports vertical has seen significant growth in recent years and how the pandemic has accelerated this.

Power To The People

Gaming America reviews the G2E keynote address from MGM Resorts executive Jyoti Chopra, who details company’s latest diversity and leadership strides.

History As A Guide

Oliver Lovat, who leads the Denstone Group, breaks down how the eighties nearly finished Las Vegas, but the city’s survival was never entirely in doubt.

A Shared Responsibility

American Gaming Association (AGA) senior director, strategic communications and responsibility Cait DeBaun, speaks to Iqbal Johal about the necessity for the industry in the US to promote responsible gaming and education, given the popularity sports betting has seen since legalization.

A Sure Bet

At the virtual G2E, a panel looked at the state of US sports betting. Ezra Amacher reports on what was discussed as major leagues return to a sense of normal.

The Thrill Of Skill

Gaming America speaks with Synergy Blue CEO Georg Washington about moving operations to Las Vegas, and how important it’s been for business to be closer to the action.

Gaming Law Expert: The Focus On Silver Linings

Jeff Silver, who practices gaming and administrative law as Of Counsel with Dickinson Wright, PLLC, explains that although this might be perceived as the worst of times, it could also bring out the best in us.

Pace-o-matic Ceo: Doing Things The Right Way

Pace-O-Matic CEO Michael Pace reveals the proudest moments of his 50-year career and explains what lessons he has learned along the way. This interview first appeared in Gaming America's Nov/Dec magazine.

From The Top: Nice To E-meet You

Tim Poole discusses the first-ever virtual G2E and examines whether virtual events will become a permanent fixture in US gaming. This article appeared in the Nov/Dec edition of Gaming America magazine.

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