Barry Diller's People Inc tables bid for MGM Resorts, The Star Sydney receives AU$10m fine

A newly released report from Paysafe outlined the growing interest of bettors in cryptocurrency. The report, titled "All the Ways Players Pay: Crypto Edition," highlighted that the majority of 83% of sports bettors in the US are interested in wagering with crypto. What's more, the whitepaper found 85% of the bettors are keen to withdraw winnings in cryptocurrency too.

On the other hand, a poll provided to The Center Square by Overton Insights uncovered that more Americans oppose sports betting. Per the report, opposition to the sports betting legalization is at 47%, with only 31% supporting sports gambling legalization. Equally as important, the data uncovered concerns related to the fairness of sports and how betting impacts it.

This week, Casino Guru News released the latest episode of Player’s Horizon, the bi-weekly podcast with AI hosts Nate and Mike. In that episode, the two hosts discussed what happens when you win €30,000 only to have your account locked "hours later."

The leading iGaming software provider, offering slots and crash games, as well as innovative bonus tools, Mancala Gaming, released an "Un-Boring" update, highlighting what makes players click and stick. The company focused on the benefits of high engagement and monetization, which play a key role in retaining players.

Business and finance

In a major development for the gambling industry, Barry Diller's People Inc, formerly IAC, announced it has put forward a bid for the acquisition of the remaining 74% stake in MGM Resorts International. Currently, People Inc owns a significant 26% share in MGM Resorts, but if the bid is successful, it would gain 100% control of the gaming, entertainment and casino giant.

People Inc's offer is $48.30 per share for a total of $18bn to buy out the remaining 74% in MGM Resorts. "We began investing in MGM nearly six years ago because we believed it represented a rare kind of business: one with real-world assets that AI cannot easily replicate or disintermediate and exceptional digital growth opportunities. That conviction has only strengthened over time," a letter sent to the MGM Resorts' Board of Directors reads.

Everi announced the deployment of its leading technology at the Prairie Band Casino and Resort. As a result, the go-to gaming and entertainment venue in Kansas will leverage the company's all-in-one, mobile gaming solution, Vi, bringing seamless experience and extending real-money gaming beyond the casino floor.

Workers at Hard Rock Hotel and Casino Bristol will unlock a range of benefits after voting to join Teamsters Local 519. That's the case for more than 200 table game dealers and dual rates who supported the unionization effort that is expected to bring additional benefits, higher wages and a stronger voice on the job.

Regulation and laws

The New South Wales gambling regulator announced a significant monetary sanction against The Star Sydney, the Star Entertainment-owned casino resort. Citing hundreds of breaches, the casino resort received a AU$10m ($7.2m) fine.

Notably, the gambling watchdog claimed The Star Sydney engaged in "systemic failures," tied to the company's "historical financial crime risks." Besides the new AU$10m financial sanction, the NSW Independent Casino Commission (NICC) ordered The Star Sydney to strengthen its technology for financial crime risk management and fix other deficiencies by setting aside AU$5m ($3.6m).

The former NBA player at the center of a massive scandal, Terry Rozier, is now facing new federal bribery charges over an alleged $100,000 kickback. Besides the new charges, Rozier is already fighting two other federal charges from 2025 on conspiracy to commit wire fraud and conspiracy to commit money laundering.

Jim Trusty, Rozier's attorney, argued that the latest charges against his client were a desperate attempt by prosecutors to make "something stick." Still, for the moment, Rozier faces several charges, and the legal battle that is part of a broader NBA scandal continues.

Responsible gambling

A woman, who had self-excluded from gambling in New Jersey, recently won a jackpot at a Pennsylvania casino. Despite winning the prize, the woman wasn't allowed to collect it and was instead escorted out of the Hollywood Casino in Dauphin County. Under the guidelines set by the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board (PGCB), the winnings of self-excluded individuals are confiscated automatically, and they may also receive a citation for criminal trespass.

In the Netherlands, the Dutch Gambling Authority (KSA), the country's gambling regulator, wants young people to steer clear of excessive World Cup betting. The gambling watchdog launched a new marketing campaign ahead of the upcoming World Cup, encouraging young people to keep track of the money they spend on gambling. At the same time, the KSA raised awareness of the dangers of excessive gambling.

The voice of the industry

This week, Casino Guru News released a report focusing on the streaming success story of WestCOL, one of the most influential Spanish-speaking personalities and top-performer on the popular platform, Kick. Making his way to fame and fortune, WestCOL's journey began more than a decade ago, and he isn't showing any signs of slowing down.

After the Casino Guru Awards 2026 wrapped up successfully, Casino Guru reflected on the exciting evening that celebrated excellence, responsibility, innovation, and positive change across the global iGaming industry.

Notably, Casino Guru News had the opportunity to sit down for a chat with the winners in multiple categories. At the Casino Guru Awards 2026, iWild Casino walked out with wins in three categories: the Fairest Bonus Policy, Most Effective Handling of Complaints, and Voice of the People. The premier online casino acknowledged that the awards in the three categories are the ones that matter most to real players: fairness, resolution, and trust.

The recent Casino Guru Awards recognized GambleAware Nigeria as the winner in the Rising Star in Responsible Gambling category. Casino Guru News had the opportunity to talk to GambleAware representative who spoke about the ongoing progress of the platform, acknowledging that such expansion doesn't necessarily require significant funding.

Gamblezen, the premier online gaming platform, emerged as the winner in the Most Transparent Casino category at the Casino Guru Awards 2026. Michael Bregovic, the Head of Casino at Gamblezen, sat down for a talk with Casino Guru News and spoke about the importance of the recent accolade, highlighting that the "award is not a finish line" for the leading iGaming platform.

Casino Guru News also sat down with Irina Veselkova, the Head of Marketing at Endorphina, who won the Young Changemaker accolade from the recently concluded Casino Guru Awards 2026. She acknowledged the importance of the award, saying that it represents a huge career milestone and comparing it to getting into Forbes 30 Under 30.

In a separate interview, Casino Guru News spoke to the leading independent iGaming consultant and founder of Gaming in Holland, Willem van Oort. He addressed a number of hot topics and trends, while highlighting what attendees can expect at the annual Gaming in Holland Conference, which returns to Amsterdam.

This week, Casino Guru News released a comprehensive report focusing on one of the most influential social media casino influencers, NG Slot. The analysis looked into the social media personality's endeavors, including his content creation, traveling, and authentic lifestyle.

In an interview for Casino Guru News, Zhana Aleksandrova, 7777 gaming's Director of Business Development for Spain and Latin America, spoke about the complexities of the Latin American market. The executive pointed to challenges, revealing why a one-size-fits-all approach wouldn't yield significant results in that particular region.

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