The Mystic Gambler

Casino Gambling Tips and Information

BetRivers launches Evolution casino live dealer games in Delaware

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Since striking a partnership with the Delaware Lottery in 2023, BetRivers has been able to grow its offer locally, drive revenue, and make its product known and available to players with a soft spot for betting and gaming.

BetRivers strengthens iGaming offer in Delaware

Now, BetRivers is bringing even more worthwhile products to its shopping windows with the company confirming a new partnership with Evolution, a live dealer studio, which will see numerous of the latter’s games featured on BetRivers.

The partnership builds upon the already existing relationship between the two companies, which saw Evolution originally introduce its slot content through brands such as NetEnt, Red Tiger, and Big Time Gaming, all of which operate under the company’s umbrella and have been acquired at various points in the past several years.

Now, though, BetRivers is getting a taste of the company’s flagship products, the live casino titles, among which are Live Roulette, Infinite Blackjack, Baccarat, Craps, Three Card Poker, Ultimate Texas Poker, and Blackjack.

Commenting on this opportunity, Rush Street Interactive CEO Richard Schwartz has welcomed the opportunity to see the brand grow its iGaming offer in Delaware through this tie-up with Evolution:

BetRivers in Delaware is thrilled to offer players the chance to virtually play on Evolution’s world-renowned live tables. We are confident that the live dealer online casino will be very popular as the live dealer games offer the same level of excitement as playing in a land-based casino.

This deal further demonstrates BetRivers unflagging commitment towards the iGaming and sports betting market in Delaware and helps establish the company’s dominant position.

Presently, BetRivers is the sole entity that operates sports betting and online casino products in the First State for anyone who is of the legal gambling age of 21. The company succeeded 888 Holdings’ B2C operations locally, as the latter decided to wind down its business-to-consumer business in the United States.

In the meantime, BetRivers is also not to worry about incoming competition in the sports betting vertical. Although lawmakers attempted to liberalize the market and expand on the existing sports betting framework in 2024 by breaking BetRivers’ exclusivity rights over the market, those efforts have stalled.

BetRivers to enjoy another year of uncontested sports betting preeminence

House Bill 365 was filed in April by Rep. Franklin Cooke and Rep. William Bush, and the draft legislation sought to introduce five more sportsbooks that would have created a more level playfield and competition between private companies.

According to Cooke, this move was necessary because of market forces and specifically mounting consumer demand for alternatives. Essentially, Cooke believes that a more competitive landscape would positively impact consumers who would have access to a more diverse range of odds.

Yet, for any criticism against BetRivers, the company actually negotiated the launch of online sports gambling in the state with the Delaware Lottery, making it possible for residents to access sports betting markets anywhere in the state and on the go.

MGM Stock Has Makings of a Winner, Says Analyst

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As highlighted by a year-to-date loss of 3.11%, MGM Resorts International (NYSE: MGM) stock has spent much of 2024 dithering, but a 7.66% jump over the past month indicates the shares have some momentum. Some analysts concur.

MGM Water
Bellagio Las Vegas. An analyst is bullish on MGM stock. (Image: Vegas Food & Fun)

In a new report to clients, BTIG analyst Clark Lampen initiated coverage of the casino giant with a “buy” rating and a $52 price target, which implies upside of 20.14% from today’s closing price of $43.28. The analyst believes it’s possible the stock could build on recent momentum with the assistance of upward earnings and revenue estimates.

Those catalysts would be sourced via ongoing strength on the Las Vegas Strip and in Macau as well as capital return efforts, including the possibility of a dividend from the MGM China unit. That entity is 56%-owned by the Las Vegas-based parent and runs two integrated resorts in Macau.

Likewise, MGM remains one of the most dedicated buyers of its own shares of any company in the US. Since 2021, the operator has pared its shares outstanding tally by 36% due to multiple share buyback plans.

Vegas, Digital Opps Could Boost MGM Stock

BTIG’s Lampen sounded a constructive tone on MGM’s digital operations and its Las Vegas Strip footprint. MGM is the largest operator in the US casino center.

With Vegas implied at ~8x ’24 earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortization (EBITDA) within our sum-of-the-parts (or ~5x when lease liabilities are capitalized at 8x cash rent, rather than full BS liability), the current fundamental story doesn’t seem appropriately discounted, and we’d expect the multiple to expand as Vegas concerns fade and numbers move higher,” observed the analyst.

Lampen also noted MGM’s digital business is an unfolding story that may not be getting the credit it deserves among market participants. Last week, the company said its LeoVegas will acquire the US operations of Tipico Sportsbook in a move aimed at bolstering its tech stack.

The analyst called MGM’s digital operations a marquee driver of “growing delta between BTIG’s estimates” and consensus forecasts stretching out over several years.

Asset Sales Possible

In addition to the possibility of a dividend MGM China dividend and the parent company’s domestic shareholder return efforts, Lampen added it’s possible that the stock could be sparked by the sale(s) of regional casinos.

In March, rumors surfaced that MGM was mulling the sale of MGM Northfield Park, a racino near Cleveland, and its eponymous casino hotel in Springfield, Mass. The operator has yet to publicly confirm it’s considering divesting those or any of its regional casinos nor did Lampen mention specific properties the operator could sell.

While it’s possible MGM is evaluating sales of some of its regional casinos, the current interest rate environment is hard on prospective buyers that need financing, meaning the most desirable suitors are those that can execute transactions with minimal need for additional capital. That diminishes the pool of would-be buyers for regional casinos.

The post MGM Stock Has Makings of a Winner, Says Analyst appeared first on Casino.org.

Rephrased by The Mystic Gambler

Mega Millions Jackpot Survives, Grows Beyond $160M for Friday

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Across the United States, lottery players tried their luck for the Mega Millions jackpot from the drawing on Tuesday. Advertised at $137 million or a cash option of $63 million, the jackpot was able to survive the latest drawing.

Regretfully, nobody was able to guess correctly all winning numbers 4, 8, 19, 31, 45 and the gold Mega Ball 11 from Tuesday’s drawing. On the bright side, two players, one from Texas and one from California, matched the five winning white numbers to secure a second-tier prize of $1 million. While two lucky lottery players collected $1 million each, nobody secured a $4 million Megaplier prize from the latest drawing.

As usual, there were more players who collected prizes within the lower tiers. A total of 18 players took home $10,000 each, while seven lucky gamblers won a $40,000 Megaplier prize each for guessing correctly four white numbers and the gold Mega ball on Tuesday.

On the other hand, 440 lottery players who matched four winning numbers on Tuesday won $500 each. Another 112 lucky lottery players who also matched four winning numbers secured a $2,000 Megaplier prize each.

Within the lower prize tiers, nearly 700,000 lottery players secured prizes between $800 and $2. The highest number of lottery players, close to 353,000, guessed only the gold Mega ball, securing a $2 prize each.

Upcoming Jackpot Estimated at $162 Million

Surviving the drawing on Tuesday, the jackpot from Mega Millions now continues to grow. The next draw of the popular lottery game is scheduled for Friday, July 7, 2024.

The grand prize from the popular lottery game is estimated at a mind-blowing $162 million. A cash option is also available which would shrink the jackpot to $74.5 million. While the sum is far from the astronomical $162 million, it would still completely change the life of anyone who wins it.

The price per Mega Millions play is $2. The game’s drawings are held on Tuesdays and Fridays at 11:00 PM ET.

On every draw, the overall chances of securing a prize are the same, 1 in 24. However, the odds of winning the Mega Millions jackpot are roughly 1 in 302.6 million.

First-Time Gambler Wins Massive Jackpot at Hard Rock Atlantic City

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A man who claimed to have never gambled before struck it rich just moments after placing his first bet at a casino resort in Atlantic City.

Hard Rock Atlantic City jackpot slot machine
An extraordinarily lucky player at Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Atlantic City won almost $1.6 million on a Wheel of Fortune slot machine. Much to the surprise of casino staff and other gamblers, the man who wished to remain anonymous said it was his first time in a casino. (Image: Hard Rock International/Casino.org)

Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Atlantic City said in a release that a lucky gambler arrived at the Boardwalk resort on June 26. The man, who wished to remain anonymous following his life-changing win, told casino staff that he had never been inside a casino before that day.

The person inserted $100 into a Wheel of Fortune slot machine and says he was down about $90 when one of his final $10 spins hit the progressive jackpot. The payout was nearly $1.6 million at $1,593,457.33.

We weren’t voted the luckiest casino for nothing,” Hard Rock Atlantic City said in a press release and on its social media channels. “Congratulations to the winner of the life-changing $1.5 million jackpot. This guest was playing with a $10 bet and $1 denomination.”

In February, Hard Rock was named the luckiest casino in New Jersey based on user reviews on Tripadvisor.

Payout Not Immediate

Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Atlantic City features 2,425 slots and 130 live dealer table games. The Wheel of Fortune slot the anonymous player won the nearly $1.6 million progressive jackpot will be paid out over a 20-year annuity, game manufacturer IGT confirmed.

The Wheel jackpot ranks within the top five slot wins in the history of Hard Rock Atlantic City. The casino celebrated its sixth-anniversary last month.

IGT says its Wheel games are the most popular slot machines in the U.S. commercial and tribal gaming industries. Since debuting the branded slots based on the popular syndicated evening gameshow in 1996, IGT says 1,180 millionaires have been created via Wheel jackpots.

The Wheel slots have delivered over $3.5 billion in jackpot prizes, and, on average, someone wins a jackpot worth at least $100K every 72 hours.

Beginner’s Luck

The lucky Hard Rock player is the envy of millions of longtime casino gamblers who have never won a slot jackpot anywhere near the $1.59 million prize he claimed.

The term “beginner’s luck” has no traceable origins but refers to the idea of a newbie participating in a sport, game, or activity for the first time and finding unlikely success. The term is traditionally used in pursuits of skill like a sport but is also lent to chance-based endeavors like playing a slot.

There’s also the thinking that beginner’s luck sometimes arises because of “confirmation bias,” a psychological phenomenon in which people are likelier to project outcomes based on their personal history. If someone new to a casino hasn’t ever experienced repeated losses — nor understands just how difficult and unlikely it is to win a jackpot — they’re perhaps likelier to achieve one.   

Regardless of whether it was beginner’s luck, confirmation bias, or some other phenomenon, the Hard Rock guest might be smart to give the Wheel another spin in the future.  

The post First-Time Gambler Wins Massive Jackpot at Hard Rock Atlantic City appeared first on Casino.org.

Rephrased by The Mystic Gambler

First-Time Hard Rock AC Visitor Scores $1.6M Jackpot

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Hard Rock Hotel and Casino Atlantic City is renowned as a premium gaming and entertainment destination in the coastal resort city. Atlantic City’s Boardwalk serves as the resort’s backdrop, with the venue offering a range of lounges, restaurants, retail shops and other amenities.

Notably, Hard Rock Atlantic City offers a wide variety of gaming options, including slots and table games. With that in mind, one lucky visitor of the leading hotel and casino resort recently was able to secure a jackpot of more than $1.5 million after a $10 bet.

The casino resort announced Monday that an out-of-state, first-time visitor scored a hefty $1,593,457 progressive jackpot. The lucky visitor played IGT’s Wheel of Fortune slot.

Enjoying the slot with a $1 denomination, the incredibly lucky player placed a $10 bet to secure the staggering jackpot. IGT’s Wheel of Fortune is among the most popular slot machines of the company across the United States.

Undoubtedly, the visitor was lucky, considering that before hitting the jackpot, he spent only $87. This turned his visit to Hard Rock Atlantic City incredibly profitable.

The jackpot which was just short of $1.6 million features a 20-year annual annuity payout. This means that the lucky guest will receive a sum of approximately $79,000 per year. Still, it’s important to note that relevant state and federal taxes apply to the hefty $1.59 million jackpot win.

The name of the lucky winner was not disclosed. The recent jackpot winner also did not want to publicly comment on the topic.

The Win Marks One of the Largest Slot Jackpots for the Casino

Currently, Hard Rock Atlantic City offers 2,425 of the most popular slot games. The venue has also established a high-end slot salon and offers further gaming options such as 130 table games with craps, roulette, baccarat and blackjack, among others.

The recent $1.59 million win marks one of the biggest slots jackpots for Hard Rock Atlantic City. In fact, the jackpot is in the top five of the largest slot machine jackpots ever won at the casino.

The jackpot win comes after a push in New Jersey sought to increase online gambling taxes.

The proposal called for a rise in online casino tax from 15% to 30%. Additionally, the effort called for the mobile sports betting tax to increase by 17% to 30%. Still, the proposal didn’t make it to the New Jersey 2025 fiscal year budget proposal which means that the tax increase may be on hold, at least for the moment.

MGM Grand Detroit Sued for Refusing to Pay $127K Progressive Blackjack Jackpot

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MGM Grand Detroit, Denise Ezell, progressive blackjack, jackpot, lawsuit
Denise Ezell, above, believes she won the jackpot fair and square and the casino should pay up – especially since it has been taking her money for years without a quibble. (Image: Ivan Land via Detroit Free Press)

Denise Ezell, 65, visited the casino on October 30 last year with a friend to play at the progressive blackjack tables. This is a game where players can place a side bet in the hope that their two cards will combine with the dealer’s in a way that triggers a jackpot. [Read more…] about MGM Grand Detroit Sued for Refusing to Pay $127K Progressive Blackjack Jackpot