Steven Stradbrooke

Born and raised on a hippie commune/grow-op in British Columbia, Steven Stradbrooke is likely high right this second. Steven began writing at an early age, leading to his being expelled from high school one month from graduation for publishing an op-ed in the school paper suggesting the theme for the prom should be the Jim Carroll Band’s ‘These Are People Who Died’. Steven later moved to Los Angeles, where he penned numerous adult film screenplays under the pseudonym Phil E. Cheesedick. Following a brief but productive stint with Hallmark Cards, Steven discovered online gambling, and has been struggling to work off his debt to Calvin Ayre ever since. If you run into Steven at the bar, he¹ll have a Stradbrooke (three parts Rémy Martin champagne cognac, one part green Original Sport Aqua Velva).

LATEST ARTICLES BY Steven Stradbrooke

victoria-royal-commission-crown-melbourne-casino-probe

Crown Melbourne casino to face royal commission as yet another director walks plank

By Steven Stradbrooke

22 February 2021

Crown Resorts' Melbourne casino to face royal commission in Victoria while yet another director quits following Bergin report.

michigan-online-casino-sports-betting-gambling-revenue

Pennsylvania online gambling records fall, Michigan charges out the gate

By Steven Stradbrooke

18 February 2021

Pennsylvania's online gambling market sets more revenue records while Michigan's iGaming/sports betting market charges out of the gate.

new-jersey-january-online-casino-poker-sports-betting-records

New Jersey’s January iGaming revenue tops $100m for the first time

By Steven Stradbrooke

17 February 2021

New Jersey's iGaming revenue tops $100m for the first time in January, while sports betting sets new record with $82.6m.

lebanon-casino-du-liban-online-gambling-tender

Israeli firms need not apply for Casino du Liban online casino tech partner search

By Steven Stradbrooke

25 May 2020

Lebanon's Casino du Liban opens request for proposals for online gambling tech partner but Israeli firms aren't eligible.

sweden-online-casino-deposit-limits

Sweden proposes exempting race, sports betting from new deposit limits

By Steven Stradbrooke

23 May 2020

Sweden's social security minister proposes exempting sports and race betting from new online gambling deposit and loss limits.

uk-children-gambling-advertising-viewing

Survey shows UK kids seeing fewest television gambling ads on record

By Steven Stradbrooke

22 May 2020

uk-vat-ruling-fixed-odds-betting-terminals

UK bookmakers in for nine-figure windfalls from FOBT tax ruling

By Steven Stradbrooke

21 May 2020

UK retail bookmakers in for nine-figure payouts as taxman opts against appealing legal ruling that it unfairly taxed gaming machine revenue.

switzerland-online-gambling-blacklist-expands

Switzerland online gambling blacklists grow faster than local online casino revenue

By Steven Stradbrooke

21 May 2020

Switzerland's online casino blacklists continue to expand while locally licensed online casinos offer first performance indications.

brazil-tourism-minister-integrated-resorts-casinos

Brazil gov’t preparing land-based casino authorization proposal

By Steven Stradbrooke

21 May 2020

Connecticut’s tribal gaming operators will partially reopen their venues on June 1, much to the chagrin of the state’s governor. On Wednesday, the Mashantucket Pequot Tribal Nation and the Mohegan Tribe announced that they would “begin the reopening of portions” of their reservations, which include (respectively) the Foxwoods Resort Casino and Mohegan Sun, which were shut on March 17 to minimize spread of the COVID-19 coronavirus. https://calvinayre.com/tag/foxwoods-resort-casino/ https://calvinayre.com/tag/mohegan-sun/ The tribes say they collaborated on new safety protocols and operating procedures to minimize risks to both casino guests and staff, including protective equipment, physical distancing and mandatory masks for guests. Neither property will open its buffets, concert venues or poker rooms, while tenant restaurants will be open on a take-out only basis. The casinos also “will be catering to Connecticut and Rhode Island residents only.” No out-of-state buses will be “accepted” and “no out-of-state marketing to New York or Massachusetts will take place at either property,” although one suspects the odd VIP gambler from those states might just find a way through these roadblocks. The tribes might be in agreement but Gov. Ned Lamont called the decision to reopen an “incredible risk,” both for staff and guests, particularly “older people … with pre-existing conditions.” Lamont further claimed that “it’s risky for the region because you have a lot of employees that go back out into the region.” Mohegan Tribe chairman James Gessner responded to Lamont’s concerns by noting the tribes’ commitment to deter most out-of-state customers and their public statements about urging older customers to “take specific precautions and to stay home if they are part of an at-risk group.” Mashantucket Pequot chairman Rodney Butler told the Associated Press that state officials were welcome to tour the casinos and, if they can find “something that we’re doing in operations that we can do for the better, we’re certainly open to those conversation.” https://www.usnews.com/news/best-states/connecticut/articles/2020-05-21/tribes-open-to-suggestions-but-still-plan-to-reopen-casinos Whatever Lamont’s concerns, he’s effectively powerless to stop the federally recognized tribes from doing as they please on their sovereign territory – although he noted Thursday that the state controls their liquor licenses. And the tribes have their own concerns, given that the casinos are the primary economic engines of their peoples. MGE SEEKS $100M That economic urgency was underscored this week following reports that Mohegan Gaming & Entertainment (MGE) had missed a self-imposed deadline of May 11 to raise $100m. The company is looking to ensure its liquidity position as well as fund its expansion projects, including the Hellinikon integrated resort project in Greece. https://calvinayre.com/tag/mohegan-gaming-entertainment/ https://calvinayre.com/tag/hellinikon/ Bloomberg reported that MGE had offered to pay 14% interest for a new loan maturing in October 2021 but would-be lenders were spooked by a variety of factors, including around $400m of MGE debt that comes due in 2021 and questions over whether claims could be made on MGE assets on tribal land should the company default. https://finance.yahoo.com/news/mohegan-sun-tribal-owners-pushback-113044525.html The news will likely be used by US tribal gaming operator Hard Rock International (HRI), which still hasn’t gotten over the fact that MGE was chosen to build Hellinikon over HRI. https://calvinayre.com/2020/05/07/casino/greek-court-rejects-hard-rock-appeal-hellinikon-casino-license/

Connecticut governor calls casino reopening plans “incredible risk”

By Steven Stradbrooke

21 May 2020

opap-greek-betting-ceo-jan-karas

OPAP names new CEO as Greece, Cyprus betting shops reopen

By Steven Stradbrooke

21 May 2020

Greek lottery and betting operator OPAP names chief commercial officer Jan Karas as acting CEO, Greek and Cyprus betting shop reopen.

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