Indy Gaming: Behavioral research drives new UNLV gaming institute leader
Brett Abarbanel is the new executive director of the UNLV International Gaming Institute. She was the director at the International Conference on Gambling and Risk Taking. The conference's keynote discussion featured poker standout Andy Bloch and sports gambler turned "Jeopardy!" champion James Holzhauer. Abbbanels has been doing research into gambling issues and behaviors for nearly two decades. She started working at IGI as a graduate student in the mid-2000s. I GI has nearly 2 dozen employees touching all facets of gaming and research.
Brett Mufson, president of Miami-based Fontainebleau Development, is taking on the additional role as CEO of the company's under-construction Fontainbleu Las Vegas. Clifford Atkinson, a former executive with MGM Resorts International and former president at Luxor Las Las Vegas, was hired as the CEO a year ago. Fontanebleue and Koch Real Estate obtained $2.2 billion in financing to complete the development.
BetMGM and MGM Resorts are considered influential partners in the legal sports betting industry. The NHL betting market is growing in both the United States and Canada. BetM MGM has sports bets with four NHL teams: Vegas Golden Knights, Detroit Red Wings, New York Rangers and Nashville Predators. In a list of teams’ top sponsors for advertising and promotions, 12 of the 32 franchises have sports bettors as their main sponsors. FanDuel CEO Amy Howe is ranked No. 54 and Sportradar CEO Carl Karsten at No 58.
VICI Properties completed its purchase of MGM Grand Las Vegas and Mandalay Bay from Blackstone Real Estate Income Trust for $1.27 billion. VICi also bought four casinos in Alberta for PURE Canadian Gaming Corp. for a total of $200.8 million. Pure is the largest gaming operator in Canada. The Canadian gaming market generated $12 billion in gaming revenue across 114 casinos by 2019. The deal expands VicI's footprint internationally. It also expands its presence in Mississippi. A gaming analyst says V ICI will continue to execute accretive deals despite the challenging environment.
Red Rock Resort and Casino in Summerlin will add a European-inspired cocktail lounge this spring. Nick Mathers, creator of Kassi Beach House at Virgin Hotels Las Vegas and Southern California’s Élephante in Santa Monica and Belle's Beach house in Venice, will develop the Rouge Room.
Sue Ascanio has been hired as the general manager of the Plaza Hotel & Casino. She has more than 30 years of experience with commercial and tribal casinos in Las Vegas, California and the Midwest.
New York officials are seeking proposals for three casino licenses for the New York City area. MGM Resorts International, Resort World, Caesars Entertainment, Wynn Reserves and others are expected to submit proposals. The gaming tax could be 25 percent on slot machines and 10 percent for table games.
