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JUNE 2026 • Vol. 25 • No. 6 • $10 Global Gaming Business Magazine SBA’s JOE MALONEY EAST COAST CHALLENGE THE ART OF GIFTING BALLY’S SOO KIM CARDED IN CALIFORNIA Tribal win challenged by Golden State card rooms Continental Divide Diversity in African iGaming Patrick Dumont and a new era for Las Vegas Sands Change of CommandJUNE 2026 www.ggbmagazine.com 3 Global Gaming Business Magazine CONTENTS june COLUMNS 10 AGA Gaming & AML Compliance Alex Costello 12 Fantini’s Finance Brick-and-Mortar Holds Its Own Frank Fantini 31 NCLGS Doubling Down on RG Juliann Barreto DEPARTMENTS 4The Agenda 6By the Numbers 7AGEM Update 85 Questions 36Emerging Leaders With McDonald Carano LLP’s Kelci Binau, Bally’s Interactive’s Thomas Berman, and Rush Street Interactive’s Zachary Salem 42New Game Review 44Cutting Edge 45Frankly Speaking 46Goods & Services 49People 50Casino Communications With Soo Kim, Chairman, Bally’s Corporation FEATURES Vol. 25 • No. 6 22 COVER STORY 14 All in the Cards In a victory for California tribes, new regulations have been approved for games offered in state card rooms. Is this the end of a long-fought battle? By Jess Marquez 18 One Continent, Many Markets To succeed in African iGaming, player personalization and a market-specific approach are key. By Emmanuel Okpetim 28 Good Sport How former AGA communications exec Joe Maloney moved from politics to gaming to president of the Sports Betting Alliance. By Kathy Urban 32 East is East At the East Coast Gaming Congress, experts talked AI, regulatory change, new competition and the specter of prediction markets. By Frank Legato 38 Modern Gifting Thanks to the latest technological advances, gifting programs have gone from long lines for toaster ovens to a sophisticated system of wide gift choices and speedy delivery. By Frank Legato Shifting Sands Following a leadership change at the fabled Las Vegas Sands Corp., the buck now stops with Chairman and CEO Patrick Dumont. By Roger Gros 14 324 Global Gaming Business JUNE 2026 R emember when it was forbidden to use cameras in a casino? Before the advent of camera phones, if you even brought a camera into a casino and raised it to your eye, you’d be subject to a strict dressing-down by security. When I was covering casino openings across the U.S. in the 1990s, I usually had permission to take photos, but I was still confronted by numerous security officers who demanded that I stop. In those rare instances where I might not have gotten permission, I got good at shooting from the hip, so to speak— taking photos without raising the camera. The justification for this policy was to protect the privacy of customers. You didn’t want to get complaints about a player getting admonished by the wife/husband/boss/clergy for gambling without notice (I always thought that was a stretch, but whatever). I once had a security guard demand that I open my camera and expose the film so any pictures I’d taken would be ruined (yes, Gen Poppers, we actually used real film at one point in history). Today, however, it’s all different. Everyone has a camera in his hand connected to the latest used in feature films. This seems to be a great go “viral”—the ultimate marketing campaign. This has led to people filming themselves while playing slots. In the beginning, they did it somewhat surreptitiously, since there were still some vestiges of the camera ban hanging around. But today, they set up, and lights, camera, action! I was never a fan of playing slots. I always thought they were boring. And to watch someone else play slots? Like watching paint dry. Now we see “influencers” filming themselves playing table games—blackjack, craps, baccarat, roulette. All seems like fun until the dealer pulls a five-card 21, besting their splits and double downs. Then it gets serious… Yes, this could be marketing gold in many cases, since some influencers have up to 1 million followers. But there could also be some serious repercussions, not only to the casino, but also to the influencers. Let’s not use names, but situations. One influencer plays in the high-limit pits of several reputable casinos. He’s playing at least $1,000 a hand, sometimes up to $20,000. He brags about his suites and all the comps he gets. He brings in B-level celebrities to play with him. He even promises to give money to his “commenters.” Sounds like fun, right? To his credit, he also videos times when he’s losing. But for knowledgeable observers, he definitely displays signs of a problem gambler. That vacant look in the eyes. The lethargy that envelops him as bet after bet returns to the dealer’s tray. The anger that seeps out as his bankroll diminishes. The depression you can witness going deeper and deeper. It’s really a sad scene. And then, another influencer. His message is simple: “Get even.” He wears a T-shirt proudly displaying this motto—probably the worst advice you can give a gambler, and often a trigger for problem gambling. Chasing your losses is one of the chief symptoms of a pathological gambler. This influencer also has “systems” that he promotes at games. And everyone knows systems don’t work. When he tries to use them on camera, they always backfire. Bad advice and bad results. And the casinos welcome this guy? whose sad lives are exactly the opposite of what gambling should represent. This is entertainment, and casino executives need to emphasize that point. By allowing influencers who may be closet problem gamblers, or whose messages are divergent from the criticism or even legal challenges. Let’s go back to the “no cameras” rule. We don’t have to stop someone from taking a snapshot of a big win or doing a harmless selfie. But sitting at a table game or a slot machine, recording the results on an endless loop, can be counterproductive to the casino’s role. Back these people off like you would a card counter. You’ll be protecting your assets, which is exactly what is required of you. Bad Influence Vol. 25 • No. 6 • JUNE 2026 GGB Frank Legato, Editor-in-Chief flegato@ggbmagazine.com Robin Harrison, Publisher robin.harrison-millan@worldgamingbusiness.com Roger Gros, Editor-at-Large rgros@ggbmagazine.com Marjorie Preston, Managing Editor mpreston@ggbmagazine.com Monica Cooley, Art Director mcooley@ggbmagazine.com Terri Brady, Sales & Marketing Director tbrady@ggbmagazine.com Columnists Juliann Barreto • Alex Costello • Frank Fantini Contributing Editors Alex Goldstein • Jack Goodin • Jess Marquez • Anthony Mason Emmanuel Okpetim • Matt Rybaltowski • Kathy Urban _____ EDITORIAL ADVISORY BOARD Rino Armeni, President, Armeni Enterprises • Dike Bacon, Principal/Partner, HBG Design • Lauren Bates, President, Global Gaming Women • Mark A. Birtha, Senior Vice President & General Manager, Hard Rock International • Brendan Bussmann, Principal, BGlobal Advisors • Alex Dixon, Senior Advisor, Board of Directors, Resorts World Las Vegas • Daron Dorsey, Executive Director, Association of Gaming Equipment Manufacturers • Sally Gainsbury, Director at Gambling Treatment & Research Clinic & Professor of Psychology, University of Sydney • Stephen Martino, Vice President & Chief Compliance Officer, MGM Resorts International • Bill Miller, President and CEO, American Gaming Association • Walt Power, CEO, Grand Ho Tram • Rob Russell, Senior Gaming Analyst, Regulatory Management Counselors PC • James Siva, Chairman, California Nations Indian Gaming Association/ Vice Chairman, Morongo Band of Mission Indians • Michael Soll, President, International Center for Responsible Gaming • Kresimir Spajic, CEO, Allwyn Digital • Katherine Spilde, Executive Director, Sycuan Institute on Tribal Gaming, San Diego State University —————— GGB Magazine 702-248-1565 • www.ggbmagazine.com The views and opinions expressed by the writers and columnists of GLOBAL GAMING BUSINESS are not necessarily the views of the publisher or editor. Copyright 2026 Clarion Digital Media LLC GLOBAL GAMING BUSINESS is published monthly by Clarion Gaming International, LLC. Printed in Nevada, USA. Email: subscriptions@ggbmagazine.com Official Publication BY ROGER GROS, EDITOR-AT-LARGE THE AGENDA;, JII 6 Global Gaming Business JUNE 2026 L egal iGaming in the United States does not eliminate the unregulated market, but may dramatically reduce it. According to new research, in states that offer both regulated online casino gaming and sports betting, the offshore market share drops an average of 38 percent. In its 2025 U.S. iGaming analysis, the Blask Index reported that offshore platforms still get the lion’s share of U.S. iGaming value—79 percent versus 21 percent. But states that have legal online casino and sports betting keep most of the action at home. For example: • New Jersey retains approximately 73 percent of the market domestically. • Michigan captures roughly 75 percent domestically. • Across fully regulated states, domestic share averages almost 62 percent. By contrast, sports betting-only states like New York forfeit about 74 percent of market share to offshore providers. Needless to add, states without legal gaming send 100 percent of online gambling activity offshore. While no state is free of offshore competition, legal markets effectively stem the loss by more than half. As Blask concludes, the takeaway for policymakers “is pragmatic rather than ideological: full-spectrum regulation meaningfully shifts economic value onshore.” BY THE NUMBERS STUDY: REGULATION WORKS TO CURB OFFSHORE GAMBLING MONTHLY NOTIONAL TRADING VOLUME ON PREDICITON MARKETS FROM 2024 THROUGH APRIL 2026 PREDICTION MARKETS BOOM S ports. Politics. Entertainment. Global conflict. All are fodder for prediction markets, in which people wager on the outcome of future events. Since early 2025, monthly notional trading volumes on platforms like Kalshi, Polymarket, Opinion and Limitless have exploded from approximately $1.2 billion to more than $20 billion, per blockchain research firm TRM Labs. Bets accelerated during the 2024 presidential campaign, which coincided with a U.S. court ruling that allowed Kalshi to offer betting tied to elections. Wagers continued to surge ahead of recent international events, with big jackpots raising concerns about insider trading. Some traders made big bucks betting on the capture of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro, the U.S.-Israeli attack on Iran, the assassination of Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, and more. In April, reported GZERO Media, the U.S. Justice Department indicted a U.S. Army soldier who allegedly used classified information to bet on the Maduro abduction. According to the DOJ, after winning $400,000 on Polymarket, Gannon Ken Van Dyke “sent most of his proceeds to a foreign cryptocurrency vault before depositing them into a newly created online brokerage account.” Questions about the ethics of prediction markets prompted Brazil to block the platforms entirely, joining France, Germany and the Netherlands. And Hong Kong recently paused the rollout of legal basketball betting, set to launch in September, due to concerns that it would fuel a rise in prediction- market bets. Ian Bremmer, founder of GZERO parent Eurasia Group, has said betting markets that focus on politics are “corrosive” to society. 62% Across fully regulated states, domestic share averages almostAGEM.org ©2026 Association of Gaming Equipment Manufacturers (AGEM). Your Advocate. Your Partner. Your Voice in the Gaming Industry. To learn more about who we are, what we do, and how you can become part of our community, visit: AGEM is the world’s leading non-profit trade association representing the global gaming industry’s foremost suppliers and technology companies, advancing innovation, collaboration and responsible growth.8 Global Gaming Business JUNE 2026 T he narrative around artificial intelligence tends to fall into two categories. The first: AI is a tool to support workers and boost efficiency. The second: AI is a grim reaper that will make human beings obsolete. The truth likely lies somewhere in between, and may only be evident over time. Until then, Bill Werksman and David Lacey (pictured l. to r.) of Las Vegas recruiting firm Resource Partners share their thoughts on the likely impact of AI and how workers can prepare. GGB: What jobs are most at risk of being replaced by AI? Bill Werksman:The potential impact of AI on junior-level roles is significant and concerning. These positions often serve as essential training opportunities, enabling organizations to cultivate and identify talent for mid-level roles. The increasing focus on bottom-line profits and cost-cutting tends to affect junior-level roles first. Technical positions are particularly vulnerable. The rise of AI automation and advanced coding capabilities poses a threat to junior engineers, as these technologies may replace their roles in the workforce. David Lacey: In the manufacturing sector, we’ve started to observe AI’s impact on game development. Many creative elements such as art and sound design are increasingly driven by AI technology. How will AI affect customer-facing jobs? DL: AI is significantly transforming front-line positions, especially in customer service, call center operations and data entry. Applications that are well-suited for automation are often the first to experience this shift. What is the future of non-compete agreements in casino gaming? BW: With 35 years of experience in professional recruitment, I’ve witnessed the good, the bad and the ugly aspects of these agreements. But they remain standard practice, and I don’t anticipate this changing in the near future. DL: Companies utilize these agreements to safeguard their workforce from poaching and have no intention of abolishing them. Although there may be political momentum to eliminate non- competes, corporate interests will strongly resist such initiatives. Should employees use the “open to work” banner on LinkedIn? BW: I understand the hesitation some may feel about displaying their job-seeking status, especially in a climate of layoffs and workforce changes, but it’s worth considering the potential benefits. If you find yourself between roles, sharing that information can help connect you with opportunities and facilitate interviews. DL: There’s value in informing the right people that you’re open to new opportunities. There are also downsides. One is the influx of anonymous recruiters and resume writers who often target unemployed candidates. Many lack a genuine understanding of which opportunities align with which skills and have no useful contacts in the gaming space. Some may be scam artists looking to exploit job candidates. While I don’t believe the “open to work” banner conveys desperation, approach this option with caution. Should candidates have multiple resumes? BW:An updated, easily editable resume is crucial, and it’s beneficial to maintain multiple versions tailored to specific roles. Organize these versions clearly for easy access. Utilize popular cloud services to ensure they’re readily available. Be prompt in applying for new roles, to demonstrate your seriousness and commitment to potential employers. Stay prepared and proactive in your job search. DL: An updated resume is essential, even if you’re currently employed and satisfied in your role. Opportunities can arise unexpectedly, and being prepared is key. Recruiters review numerous resumes daily, often spending only a few moments on each. A well-crafted, targeted resume can make a significant difference in capturing their attention and advancing your candidacy. 5 QUESTIONS “We’ve got a gun to our heads. Those gambling dollars that we would see in North and Central Jersey are going to go across state lines the second these casinos open.” —Vin Gopal, New Jersey senator, who supports casinos at the Meadowlands and other Garden State racetracks to better compete with planned casinos in New York City Bill Werksman and David Lacey Managing Partner and Executive Recruiter, Resource Partners 1 2 3 4 5 June 2-4: IAGA International Gaming Summit, Ritz-Carlton, Sarasota, Florida. Produced by the International Association of Gaming Attorneys. For more information, visit theiaga.org. June 9-11: SBC Summit Americas, Broward County Convention Center, Fort Lauderdale, Florida. Produced by SBC Events. For more information, visit sbcevents.com. July 1-2: iGB LIVE London, ExCeL London. Produced by WorldGaming. For more information, visit iGBLive.com. July 14-15: Casino Marketing & Technology Conference, Pechanga Resort Casino, Temecula, California. Produced by Raving. For more information, visit casinomarketingtech.com. Sept. 1-3: SiGMA North America, Mexico City. Produced by SiGMA Group. For more information, visit sigma.world/summits. Sept. 8-9: Gaming & Technology Expo, Puerto Rico Convention Center, San Juan. Produced by GAT Events. For more information, visit gatevents.net. Sept. 20-24: TribalNet Conference & Tradeshow, Hilton Anatole, Dallas, Texas. Produced by TribalHub. For more information, visit tribalhub.com/events/. Sept. 21-24: NASPL Annual Conference, Caribe Royale Orlando, Florida. Produced by the North American Association of State and Provincial Lot- teries. For more information, visit naspl.org/events. Sept. 28-Oct. 1: Global Gaming Expo (G2E), Venetian Expo, Las Vegas. Produced by RX. For more information, visit globalgamingexpo.com. Sept. 23-25: SPiCE Central Asia 2026, Yerevan, Armenia. Produced by Eventus International. For more information, visit spiceseries.com. Sept. 29-Oct. 1: SBC Summit Lisbon, Feira Inter- nacional de Lisboa, Portugal. Produced by SBC Events. For more information, visit sbcevents.com.Save The Date GLOBALGAMINGEXPO.COM SEPTEMBER 28–OCTOBER 1, 2026 THE VENETIAN EXPO, LAS VEGAS THE FUTURE OF GAMING STARTS HERENext >