This week’s casino news starts off on a solemn note as the community has lost one of its prominent figures. We’ll start there as we recap this week’s casino news:
Owner of 5Dimes Casino & Sportsbook Found Dead
It’s a storyline that’s been monitored closely in the sports betting and casino industry, and unfortunately it has a sad ending. The owner of 5Dimes Casino & Sportsbook, a prominent online gambling hub, has reportedly died. William Sean Creighton, known widely in the online gambling industry as “Tony,” was believed to have been found dead in Costa Rica after an apparent kidnapping late last month.
The Costa Rica Star reported that local police recovered the body but have yet to publicly confirm that claim. According to police, Creighton’s wife had reported his disappearance on September 25. Local media reported that Creighton’s wife had received a phone call from possible kidnappers hours after he went missing. Also included in local accounts of this story is that Creighton’s wife paid a ransom without effect.
Some in the industry might have some specific questions about what this means for 5Dimes in the near future, but most analysts expect business to continue at the company without profound interruptions or significant administrative changes.
Horseshoe Casino Baltimore and Baltimore Ravens Announce Deal
Since the United States Supreme Court ruled in favor of opening up sports betting, we’ve seen the landscape across the country shift significantly. It was once deemed a shady activity, but the country has now warmed up to it.
The perfect sign of that is a multi-year marketing agreement reached between the Horseshoe Casino Baltimore and the Baltimore Ravens. According to the Baltimore Sun, the casino can use Ravens logos and trademarks for marketing purposes. The casino, which is close to the Ravens’ home stadium in Baltimore, is likely to make other attempts to capitalize on its proximity to the Ravens’ stadium.
The U.S. Supreme Court ruling led the NFL – among many other entities – to rethink its position on associations with sports betting ventures. The NFL specifically announced after the ruling that it would lift its long-standing ban against casino advertising and now we’re seeing the money trickle in.
The Dallas Cowboys were the first NFL team to arrive at a deal with a casino, teaming up with a hotel and casino owned by the Chickasaw Nation of Oklahoma.
Hong Kong-Macau Bridge To Open October 23
The Chinese Liaison Office in Hong Kong has reported that a bridge connecting Hong Kong and Macau will be officially opened on October 23. The bridge, which cost $20 billion to build, crosses the Pearl River Delta and will offer the first direct road link between Hong Kong International Airport and Macau.
This is a big development as there’s obviously a lot of money in Hong Kong and now people will be able to reach the Macau casinos more easily. Previously, locals or tourists would take the various daily ferries that make their way over to Macau and back. Now we’ll likely see buses and casino shuttles on the roads, but those types of large-sized vehicles won’t be allowed from the get-go. This will undoubtedly give a boost to the revenues at the Macau casinos.
The sea bridge is 34 miles long, reportedly the longest of its kind in the world. It was made of 420,000 tons of steel, which is roughly the equivalent of 60 Eiffel towers.