Articles from July 2025

The post Japanese Poker Player Reported Missing Along With $10k WSOP Buy-In Cash appeared first on Vegas Slots Online News.

Missing with $10k

Japanese poker player Yuto Moriyasu has been missing in Las Vegas since July 2, complete with his $10k buy-in for the World Series of Poker Main Event.

time is critical”

Moriyasu’s family have reached out for help on social media, stating the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department have started an investigation and that “time is critical.”

A post on X by a user whose relation to Moriyasu was unclear, posted an “urgent missing persons report” on Tuesday:

The user, @VegasPokerMama, also referenced the original plea for help from Nobuaki Sasaki ‘Sasa,’ a Japanese poker pro staying with Moriyasu at the Airbnb where he disappeared from on July 2.

According to the posts, Moriyasu’s possessions, which included his mobile phone, shoes, suitcase, and rental car, were all left behind at the Airbnb in Spring Valley.

Fears grow

Sasa stated, however, that his friend’s passport and wallet were missing, the latter allegedly holding his $10k buy-in cash. According to reports, Moriyasu had booked the Airbnb for the WSOP event and planned to return to Japan on July 19.

Metro “currently checking places like hospitals”

His colleague stated there is no record of Moriyasu having entered Japan over the past few days, while Metro is “currently checking places like hospitals and detention centers where there might be leads.”

Moriyasu’s last text message to his friend on July 2 was: “I just got home, I’m heading out now.”

According to a poker media source, Moriyasu had been playing poker since his arrival in Las Vegas on May 25, with his “only recorded cashes coming from three $150 buy-in ‘Late Night’ events.” Moriyasu had planned to enter the WSOP Main Event but failed to show up for either the starting flights or late registration.

Sasa urged people in the poker community with any information on his friend to “please let me know anything at all.”

Shades of Brad Booth

Sasa’s plea echoes with that of US poker pro Adam Schwartz, who took to X in 2020 to ask for help in finding former highstakes pro Brad Booth, who went missing for two months from his home in Reno, Nevada.

“Sometimes in life you just have to take a timeout,” was Booth’s explanation when he eventually resurfaced alive and well.

Hopefully, for Moriyasu’s friends and family, the missing poker player will return safely to his fold.

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The post Chickasaw Lighthorse Police Hunt Suspect in Fatal Oklahoma Casino Shooting appeared first on Vegas Slots Online News.

Shooter at large

The Love County Sheriff’s Office in Oklahoma has announced police are looking for a suspect who fled WinStar World Casino after a fatal shooting reportedly in the casino parking lot.

Sheriff Andy R. Cumberledge stated on social media that “shots were fired around 2:30am local time on Saturday morning.”

man who was shot later died in the hospital

The Sheriff confirmed that one man fled the scene while the man who was shot later died in the hospital.

Because the incident occurred at the Chickasaw Nation-owned casino and was on tribal property, Chickasaw Lighthorse Police will investigate the crime.

“We have full confidence in our partners at the Chickasaw Lighthorse Police and will remain available should they need anything from our agency in the investigation,” stated Cumberledge.

Public reacts

According to news reports from Oklahoma media, police have disclosed no motive for the crime and the shooter remains at large.

Public reaction to Sheriff Cumberledge’s Facebook post, however, included more detail, including the alleged scene of the shooting, “just outside the casino in the parking lot.”

Family man, great father, amazing basketball talent.”

Other people claimed they knew the victim and expressed their condolences. One commenter stated: “Loss for words to lose a friend who was like a brother. Family man, great father, amazing basketball talent. This is a tragedy.”

Another said the victim’s family “is devastated” and he hopes the police “capture the person who committed this crime quickly and that his trial is speedy.”

Federal or tribal?

The Sheriff’s office also responded to a question from its Facebook post when someone asked if the crime should now fall under federal investigation instead of tribal because the victim died.

Love County replied that there were many factors in play that would determine that.

“If the charges are to be presented federally, all of the agencies in Love County can do that. So it wouldn’t technically be a ‘federal investigation,’ it would just be presented to the feds for prosecution (if the factors dictate that).”

While the Chickasaw are empowered to enforce the law on their lands and territories, and tribal police have jurisdiction over most non-felony crimes, the feds typically pursue homicides.

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The post Macau Running 30-Day Consultation as It Contemplates Blanket Ban on Gambling Ads appeared first on Vegas Slots Online News.

A blanket ban on gambling-related advertising could be coming to Macau. Lawmakers are looking for feedback from the industry and general public regarding this potential change, allocating 30 days until August 2 for the process. In-person and online portals are now open for feedback.

Casino promotion is extensive in the special administrative region of China, targeting both overseas tourists and locals. The current Advertising Activities Law is three decades old, which is why lawmakers are looking to modernize it.

only allows advertising in the gaming areas at casinos

The current ruleset only allows advertising in the gaming areas at casinos. A ban could mean that gambling scenes or equipment could no longer be featured in promotions, and players won’t be rewarded for participating in certain games.

A stricter process for registering new ads would also come into place.

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The post Fireworks Explode in Nevada, Fires Break Out in Las Vegas Over Holiday Weekend appeared first on Vegas Slots Online News.

Law enforcement and emergency services personnel in Nevada and Las Vegas might be eyeing a much-needed vacation after lurching from a freak storm to an Independence Day weekend of multiple conflagrations caused by fireworks.

rockets streaking into the Nevada hills

One of the most dramatic, a massive fireworks explosion that sent rockets streaking into the Nevada hills, was shared by Las Vegas Locally on X:

X user Bryan shared a video of a raging house fire in the Sunrise Manor area of Vegas:

The local influencer giant also shared fireworks going off outside the M Resort, causing a small fire:

Another X user shared an image of a fire near Lake Mead that reportedly took 20 minutes to extinguish.

The seriousness of the fireworks threat to Vegas was revealed by the ranks of LVMPD vehicles outside Planet Hollywood on Sunday evening.

Come Monday, officials can hope for some respite as partygoers depart Vegas en masse, and that the monsoon season has no more surprises in store.

A violent thunderstorm hit the Las Vegas Valley on July 1, leaving over 35,000 people without power as severe winds snapped powerlines, toppled trees, and sparked an inferno that killed multiple farm animals.

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The post Intoxicated Man Pulls Gun on Dotty’s Bartender, Fires Shot at Property appeared first on Vegas Slots Online News.

An “intoxicated” man has reportedly pulled a gun on a Dotty’s bartender after she refused to serve him a shot of alcohol.

Local influencer giant Las Vegas Locally took to X over the weekend to brand the wheelchair-bound man’s actions “Unacceptable:”

Information cited by local news channels names Derwin Harris, 65, as the suspect. For his actions at the East Charleston Boulevard bar near Bruce Street on Wednesday evening, Harris faces four felony charges, including “assault with a deadly weapon and resisting a public officer with a firearm.”

A witness interviewed by the LVMPD stated Harris pulled out a liquor bottle and drank from it after he was refused service. He then reportedly pointed a gun on the bartender when she told him to leave the premises.

round was fired at the building as he left it.”

Harris “proceeded to roll out in his electric wheelchair and exit the Dotty’s bar where a round was fired at the building as he left it,” the witness claimed.

8 News Now Live at 11 featured a photo of an LVMPD crime scene cordon surrounding an abandoned electric wheelchair. According to Metro, officers arrested a resistant Harris via “less lethal options,” and later discovered a bullet impact on the building.

Harris has a prior felony conviction and is banned from ownership or possession of a gun. A Las Vegas Justice Court Judge set Harris’ bail at $20,000 during a probable cause hearing the accused didn’t attend due to medical reasons.

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The post Celebrities and Politicians Illegally Gambled $106m at Foreigner-Only Hanoi Casino appeared first on Vegas Slots Online News.

An indictment in Vietnam has revealed that last year 145 locals illegally gambled at a casino meant only for overseas visitors. Famous singers, entrepreneurs, and government officials were on this list, with the combined sum gambled at the King Club casino in the Pullman Hotel in Hanoi amounting to $106m.

136 of the 145 individuals are now facing illegal gambling charges for knowingly playing electronic games. Of those people who have avoided charges to date, one is under investigation by the relevant military authorities, another two only bet very small sums, two are mentally unfit, and four people are still on the run from the authorities.

reportedly made about $9.2m by catering to the illegal gambling

South Korean native Kim In Sung operates the venue and reportedly made about $9.2m by catering to the illegal gambling. The indictment provided plenty of detail about the activity of each player. The most active was politician Ho Dai Dung who wagered more than $7m.

Vietnamese law dictates that local residents can only gamble at specific facilities as part of an ongoing pilot program. The other casinos are only open to overseas visitors.

The post Celebrities and Politicians Illegally Gambled $106m at Foreigner-Only Hanoi Casino appeared first on Vegas Slots Online News.

The post Venetian to Pay $850,000 in Religious Discrimination Suit appeared first on Vegas Slots Online News.

Suit settled

A religious discrimination lawsuit filed by the US Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) against Venetian Casino Resort LLC has finally been resolved via an $850,000 settlement.

The EEOC filed the suit before Apollo Global Management and VICI Properties purchased the Venetian from Las Vegas Sands for $6.25bn in February 2022.

The Commission took to X Thursday to say the Vegas casino resort will pay the settlement “to a class of employees, of diverse faiths, who claimed denial of religious accommodation”:

The EEOC had alleged the “Venetian retaliated against employees who opposed these acts of religious discrimination. In some cases, the denial of accommodations led to discipline, denial of promotion opportunities, and discharges or constructive discharge.”

Religious accommodations

EEOC Acting Chair Andrea Lucas lauded the resolution of the case, stating: “Religious rights are not second-class rights, but rather part of our nation’s first principles.”

In a news release, Lucas outlined what she termed “a reasonable accommodation” for employers to make in the workplace would look like.

not punishing anyone who speaks out in favor of these rights”

“Allowing certain days off for Sabbatarians or Buddhists and allowing beards for Orthodox Christians. It also means not punishing anyone who speaks out in favor of these rights.”

The federal body has the power to investigate and prosecute cases against corporate firms, labor unions and employment agencies over workplace discrimination.

More dues to pay

Terms of the settlement mean the Venetian is compelled to train all staff on worker rights and employers’ obligations relating to religious accommodations.

The resort must also employ an independent third party to monitor its anti-discrimination policy, complaint handling, and compliance for three years.

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The post UKGC Fines Fafabet Parent £170,000 For Regulatory Failures, Unfair Casino T&Cs appeared first on Vegas Slots Online News.

Big fine for small firm

The UK Gambling Commission (UKGC) has handed out a hefty fine to one of the country’s lesser known iGaming firms, Taichi Tech.

regulatory failures linked to anti-money laundering

The UKGC announced Tuesday it had fined the Reading-based company £170,000 ($232,249) for regulatory failures linked to anti-money laundering (AML), social responsibility violations, and unfair terms and conditions under its subsidiary Fafabet. The UK body took to X with news of its fine for the 2021-established Taichi Tech:

An investigation by the regulator discovered multiple failures. Breaches included terms in Fafabet’s casino bonus T&Cs that the UKGC said lacked transparency and “may lead to unfair outcomes for consumers.”

The failure within Fafabet’s bonus T&Cs for new casino promotions, the UKGC stated, came from Fafabet stating it reserved the discretionary right “to close accounts or forfeit winnings.”

The regulator added that Fafabet’s use of the discretionary clause “without clear justification” placed the firm in violation of fair and open licensing conditions.

Failings mount up

The regulator’s probe also uncovered social responsibility and AML violations. An example of the latter breach, stated the UKGC, was Taichi allowing some customers to gamble big amounts over short periods of time, despite the firm “holding limited customer information.”

Under the social responsibility aspect, the UK body accused Taichi of not taking appropriate steps for players’ “exhibiting potential markers of harm” such as gambling large amounts in short bursts.

The UKGC also found the firm guilty of not following up on safer gambling emails sent to at-risk customers. Taichi sent the emails to the customers in question who didn’t acknowledge them and continued their “concerning behaviour.”

taken steps to address these shortcomings”

The regulator, however, stated that Taichi acknowledged it fell short of UKGC standards “and has since taken steps to address these shortcomings.”

Besides paying the fine, Taichi is also legally required to commission an independent audit to ensure the firm is complying with regulations including safer gambling policies and AML.

Size doesn’t matter

The UKGC’s penalty against Taichi demonstrates the body’s intent to tackle regulatory violations from the biggest brands in UK gambling to the smallest.

In a news release about Taichi’s fine, UKGC Director of Enforcement and Intelligence John Pierce said the body expected all licensees to comply with consumer protection laws and ensure T&Cs meet regulations “regardless of their size or customer base.”

clear, fair, and transparent”

“Licensed operators must ensure their terms are clear, fair, and transparent, so customers fully understand what to expect.” The UKGC’s censure of Taichi comes a week after its Industry Forum Chair Nick Rust resigned, citing his frustration over public dialogue related to gambling policy.

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The post Thailand’s Casino Dream Fades as Prime Minister Suspended appeared first on Vegas Slots Online News.

Crippling blows

Thailand’s much-vaunted hopes of establishing integrated resort casinos (IRCs) by 2019 have taken a series of crippling blows recently. Now, the suspension of Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra has the potential to kill the entire project.

phone calls between her and controversial former Cambodian leader Hun Sen

Paetongtarn drew the ire of Thais last month after the leaking of phone calls between her and controversial former Cambodian leader Hun Sen. The PM allegedly called him “father” and referred to the Thai military as the “enemy” in Cambodia.

Despite a public apology from Paetongtarn, her Pheu Thai administration was plunged into turmoil after the powerful Bhumjaithai Party withdrew from the ruling two-party political coalition.

With additional pressure coming from civic groups for the Pheu Thai party to withdraw its Integrated Resort bill, the Constitutional Court voted 7-2 to suspend Paetongtarn as PM.

Political intrigue

Paetongtarn’s suspension comes from a senatorial request to remove the PM from office on charges of sedition. The opposition senators allege Paetongtarn’s criticism of the Thai army, after it engaged in a firefight on May 28 that left a Cambodian dead, “negatively affected the nation’s sovereignty.”

Paetongtarn now has two weeks to provide evidence in support of lifting her suspension.

According to Inside Asian Gaming, she will still hold some political power despite her suspension, after she assigned herself the role of cabinet minister only hours before the Constitutional Court’s ruling “as part of a Cabinet reshuffle.”

Uncertainty reigns

As Thailand enters another political vacuum, it leaves the possibility of  Paetongtarn being forced out of power just like her predecessor Srettha Thavisin was in 2024. This creates uncertainty for the likes of MGM Resorts International and Wynn Resorts, who have both expressed a desire to secure Thai IRC licenses.

The opposition People’s Party has also allied with a coalition of civic groups in calling for Paetongtarn administration to withdraw both its retail and online casino bills.

In addition, last month, Thailand’s National Institute of Development Administration released results of a survey in which 56.7% of Thais voted against legalizing IRs.

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The post New Zealand Set to Hold Auctions for 15 New Online Casino Licenses appeared first on Vegas Slots Online News.

License auction

New Zealand is set to introduce 15 new licenses for online casino gambling operators in the country, in a major step toward a full, multi-license, regulated market.

The licenses will be put to tender via auction, with companies invited to bid for the right to run a regulated online casino, as a result of a new bill being passed through parliament.

The bids are expected to attract major interest from established online casino operators, although the process has attracted criticism from land-based casino owners over the number of licenses being issued.

Regulatory framework revealed

New Zealand has long had plans to launch a regulated online casino market, with the current government’s timeframe being set for an open market by 2026. The plans have been led by Brooke van Velden, minister at the Department of Internal Affairs.

The result of those efforts has been the Online Casino Gambling Bill, which has been put to parliament and sets out the requirements for the upcoming auction of licenses.

Unlicensed operators or those who fall foul of the regulator will face hefty fines

While neighboring Australia continues to mull over a ban on gambling advertising, New Zealand will allow ads “with restrictions.” In addition, unlicensed operators or those who fall foul of the regulator will face hefty fines established at NZ$5m (£2.2m).

“The Online Casino Gambling Bill will introduce a regulatory system for online gambling in New Zealand, which will prioritise harm minimisation, consumer protection, and tax collection,” said van Velden. “The Bill will proceed to select committee later this year and New Zealanders will have the ability to have their say through the select committee process.”

While potential online casino operators will welcome the number of licenses being issued, other groups will likely be cold on the plans. SkyCity Entertainment Group, which owns several of New Zealand’s largest land-based casinos, had previously written to Van Velden requesting that fewer licenses be auctioned off.

Opposite paths

However, it’s not all a stampede toward open markets in New Zealand where gambling is concerned. At the same time the online casino market is opening up, the sports betting market is becoming more of a closed shop.

At the same time as the Online Casino Gambling Bill, the government has also amended the Racing Industry Act 2020, which will make TAB NZ the only legal sports betting operator in the country.

TAB NZ is operated by Entain, which has a 25-year contract to run sports betting in the country and is also active in Australia via other brands such as Ladbrokes.

“TAB NZ is the core funding source for New Zealand’s racing industry and contributes vital funding to a variety of sports codes,” said racing minister Winston Peters. “This legislation redirects New Zealand punters’ dollars for the benefit of the racing industry and sports here, rather than overseas commercial operators.”

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