Claims ex violated NDA

A billion-dollar lottery winner in Maine who has to this point remained anonymous is at risk of losing his identity shield should he continue with a lawsuit against his ex.

signed a non-disclosure agreement (NDA) with the mother of his child

The man won $1.35bn in Mega Millions in 2022, taking the lump-sum payment for $724m before taxes. Maine does not technically allow for lottery winners to claim their prizes anonymously, but does allow them to set up trusts and LLCs to claim winnings, effectively protecting their identities. “John Doe” did this and signed a non-disclosure agreement (NDA) with the mother of his child, known only in court documents as “Sara Smith.”

The NDA restricted Smith to telling only their child, her significant other, and financial advisors and attorneys of the lottery haul. In late 2023, the winner sued Smith for $100,000, claiming that she told his parents of the windfall in a phone conversation.

But now, with a trial a possibility, a judge has denied John Doe’s request for closed-door proceedings. A public trial would naturally unveil the man’s identity.

Plaintiff concerned with safety

According to the Portland Press Herald, US District Judge John Woodcock called the man’s request for a private trial a “nonstarter,” adding that the idea “runs hard against historic concept of what the courts are and what they are not in this country.”

A public trial would put the plaintiff in a difficult situation. He filed the lawsuit because Smith allegedly violated their NDA, which they signed so that he could conceal his identity as a now-wealthy man. But a public trial would ruin that.

His attorneys said that “his identity and confidential information would be revealed to the public and the media; he would effectively lose the privacy war and subject himself and his minor daughter to the irreparable harm he brought suit to avoid.”

The plaintiff says remaining anonymous is important because he believes that if people know he is rich, his safety and the safety of his daughter could be at risk.

Judge believes public access is top priority

In addition to his opinion that a closed trial would run contrary to what the legal system stands for, Judge Woodcock did not buy John Doe’s argument that revealing his identity would put him at any unusual risk, at least not risk that would merit a private trial.

a party’s wealth alone is not a legitimate reason to restrict the right of public access”

“By the Court’s reckoning, one of Mr. Doe’s main points is that because he is now wealthy, the consequences of his filing this lawsuit are different for him as opposed to other less financially fortunate individuals,” Woodcock wrote in his opinion. “He fears his new-found wealth will make him the target of an inquisitive and occasionally malevolent people …  However legitimate his concerns, a party’s wealth alone is not a legitimate reason to restrict the right of public access.”

The judge added that with his millions, John Doe can easily afford “levels of security and isolation not generally available to the general public.”

The lottery winner presented an alternative option of an audio-only trial using pseudonyms, but Judge Woodcock rejected that, as well.

John Doe has filed an appeal.

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The Great Canadian Casino Resort Toronto has to pay a CA$120,000 (US$86,492) penalty to the Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario (AGCO) after two dealers were caught colluding with players that led to the illicit winnings of CA$20,000 (US$14,415) over a week period.

AGCO was unhappy that pit supervisors and the property’s surveillance team missed it all

Some of the ways in which the dealers helped three individuals cheat included intentionally showing hidden cards, overpaying winning hands, and overdrawing dealer cards. AGCO was unhappy that pit supervisors and the property’s surveillance team missed it all and failed to follow table audit processes.

AGCO charged five people in the case and remarked that it wasn’t a one-off incident at the Toronto casino. It received a CA$80,000 (US$57,661) fine in September 2023 over a cheating scheme involving an electronic craps dealer.

Talking about the matter, AGCO CEO and Registrar Dr. Karin Schnarr said that all licensees “have an obligation to ensure the integrity of gameplay in their casinos.”

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Games and spending

A new survey by Tokyo-based SMBC Consumer Finance has revealed how gacha games influence the online spending habits of Japan residents in their 20s. 

For 18.8% of the 1,000 surveyed, gacha – Japanese digital, video-type online games that involve in-game purchases similar to loot boxes – eats into their living expenses. 

spent enough on in-game purchases to affect their “ability to cover living expenses”

According to Automaton, almost one in five young Japanese admitted to having spent enough on in-game purchases to affect their “ability to cover living expenses.”

Men (22.8%) were more likely to prioritize in-game purchases over living expenses such as rent and food than women (14.8%).

While nearly 25% of those canvassed regretted spending money on gacha, the number of young Japanese who made purchases via microtransactions is on the rise. 

Men and women alike

While women appear considerably less likely to spend in-game than men, those who make such transactions have also spiked. In 2025, 2.6% more women than in 2024 fell into the category of not being able to enjoy games without making in-game buys.  

The result is that “women are following the trend at almost the same pace as men.”

I can’t enjoy the game if I don’t make in-game purchases.”

The 2025 survey’s insights came from positive answers to questions offering responses that included: “I’m willing to pay to have an advantage in-game” and “I can’t enjoy the game if I don’t make in-game purchases.”

Overall rise and fall

Overall, the survey states that the percentage of Japanese spending on gacha and other online games offering in-game purchases has risen 5.8% over 2024, to 21.6% in 2025.

Somewhat contrary, however, was that the survey found the average spend on in-game purchases is decreasing. In 2024, those canvassed spent a monthly average of approximately ¥5,138 ($35.85) on microtransactions. In 2025, this figure dropped to ¥4,247 ($29.63).

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A homeless man has won $1m through a California lottery scratch-off ticket. He was still in the liquor store where he bought the ticket when he realized that he had won big.

initially thought the prize was $100,000

While the unnamed individual initially thought the prize was $100,000, the store’s manager told him it was actually $1m after taking a look.

They high-fived each other and the manager gave him a ride to the lottery headquarters in Fresno to submit the winning ticket. After realizing the result, the lucky winner said: “I’m not homeless anymore.”

The man is a long-time customer of the liquor store; the manager Wilson Samaan said that he has “a lot of happiness for the person, especially like a loyal, regular customer … I wish them all the best.”

He intends to use the money to make a down payment on a house, purchase a car, and then save the remainder. It will likely take the California Lottery several weeks or even a few months to process the prize.

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The Wynn Resorts share price plunged 10.62% on Thursday after the market reacted to the specifics of US President Donald Trump’s global tariff plan. Other major casino companies like MGM Resorts and Caesars Entertainment experienced similarly-sized drops.

Pre-market trading for Friday looks volatile once more, so Wynn’s stock price is likely to reach its lowest point since October 2022.

The timing is not ideal for those staff members who received $10,000 worth of company stock as a thank-you for being with the firm since the beginning. The Wynn Las Vegas casino is celebrating its 20-year anniversary this month, and employees who have worked there since the start are also getting a choice of gifts, such as a MacBook or a video game console.

the $10,000 in company stock is now worth $8,938

After yesterday’s drop, the $10,000 in company stock is now worth $8,938, so it was certainly poor timing. With another 5% drop looking likely off the back of pre-market trading, the $10,000 figure could be worth $8,491 by the end of Friday.

Investors are concerned about the knock-on impact of Trump’s tariffs. Many economists believe that it will strain consumers, with price increases likely and job losses on the horizon. For the gaming industry, this means less discretionary spending on gambling, entertainment, and vacations.

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US casino stock prices were decimated when the market opened on Thursday following President Donald Trump’s announcement of his ‘Liberation Day’ tariff plan the previous day.

Las Vegas Sands has continued its downward trend, with a 31% drop

Caesars Entertainment hit its lowest point since May 2020, when the COVID-19 pandemic was at its worst for the industry, dropping 9.5% to $23.77. MGM Resorts International and Red Rock Resorts fell similarly, while Wynn Resorts plummeted 10.6%. Las Vegas Sands has continued its downward trend, with a 31% drop in its price over the past six months.

Casino companies were more sensitive to the tariffs announcement than the overall market, with the S&P 500 falling 4.8% and the NASDAQ 6% on Thursday. Pre-market trading ahead of Friday’s session looks calmer as people take stock of the wreckage.

Investors have concerns about the impact that tariffs will have on the average person. They expect that companies facing higher costs will pass on much of these additional expenses to customers through price hikes.

Economists believe jobs could be under threat and people’s discretionary spending will be hit hard, meaning less money spent on travel, gambling, and entertainment, which is bad news for casino companies. The chances of a recession are much higher, especially as many nations are considering retaliatory moves following Trump’s bold play.

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Plenty of uncertainty

The world was swept into turmoil on Wednesday after US President Donald Trump’s “Liberation Day” tariff announcement took some unexpected twists and turns.

retaliation is expected in the coming days

These new taxes hit most big countries, and retaliation is expected in the coming days. Global stock markets were in the red on Thursday morning, with the S&P 500 down 3.5% in pre-market trading.

Concerning times

Everyone from employees to business owners and government officials is now trying to determine whether these changes will impact their industry or operations.

Of the 2,500+ people who responded to a poll from Las Vegas Locally on what they thought this might mean for Sin City, 68% believe the tariffs will hurt the local economy:

Only 18% believe tariffs will help Las Vegas, with the remaining 14% being unsure.

Knock-on impact

The general consensus is that the tariffs will hit the wallet of the general consumer as companies pass on much or all of the costs by increasing prices.

That will, in turn, lead to people having less money to spend on vacations, entertainment, and gambling. Of course, this would have a big knock-on effect on Las Vegas, which relies so heavily on these verticals.

Airport traffic numbers and gaming revenue have dropped recently, perhaps a warning of what’s to come.

share prices drop between 3.5% and nearly 5% overnight as investors react to the news

Major casino companies like Wynn Resorts, MGM Resorts, and Las Vegas Sands have seen their share prices drop between 3.5% and nearly 5% overnight as investors react to the news.

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US President Donald Trump is in line to receive a $115m payment if Bally’s Corporation is successful with its bid to get one of three downstate New York casino licenses. The company is battling it out with almost a dozen other proposals as it tries to bring a resort to the Bronx on the site of a golf course that was previously run by The Trump Organization.

forked over $60m to the firm in 2023 to take over the operation of the golf course

Bally’s forked over $60m to the firm in 2023 to take over the operation of the golf course and remove the Trump name. The Associated Press has reported that part of the agreement states that Bally’s will give an additional $115m to Trump if its bid is successful.

Bally’s is up against stiff competition, such as Steve Cohen’s Citi Field plan and a Times Square casino backed by Jay-Z. It also received a credit downgrade over financing concerns last week as it builds Chicago’s first-ever casino.

Many lawmakers in New York are anti-Trump, which could also work against its efforts when it comes time for public officials to consider the proposals. The expectation is that the New York State Gaming Commission will decide on the recipients of the three licenses before the end of 2025.

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Sands China has repaid a subordinated unsecured term loan of $1bn to its Las Vegas Sands holding firm three years before its deadline.  

The loan Sands China received from LVS on July 2022 was repayable on July 11, 2028, according to Asia Gaming Brief. 

A Friday filing by the Macau gaming operator with the Hong Kong Stock Exchange stated the Sands China board was “pleased to announce” the full loan repayment on March 27.

Paying off the hefty loan early reflects Sands China’s strong financial performance over 2024, with the LVS subsidiary indicating in February it would be dishing out its “first dividend in five years.” 

10.4% percent annual increase in net casino revenues 

The Macau-headquartered firm reported a profit of $1.05bn for the full year 2024, while total net revenues for the same year hit $7.08bn, an 8.4% yearly increase. The results were driven by Sands China’s 10.4% annual increase in net casino revenues to the total tune of $5.35bn.

Macau continues to represent a major focus for LVS, with Chairman Robert Goldstein indicating that the Las Vegas-headquartered group has invested around $17bn “to diversify Macau’s economy and create Asia’s leading leisure and business tourism destination.”

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Bally’s offer backed

Australia’s Star Entertainment Group has been in trouble for some time. The casino giant has faced multiple government enquiries into its processes over the past two years, resulting in substantial fines and the removal of its Sydney casino license in 2022. Now though, the company may have a lifeline.

Bally’s Corporation made an unsolicited approach for a controlling stake in Star earlier this month. News has broken this week that the largest single shareholder of Star has backed that deal, which would see Bally’s add AU$250m (US$158m) in funding in return for a 50.1% stake in the company.

will add an additional AU$50m (US$31.5m) to the pot to make sure that the deal goes ahead

Bruce Mathieson, a pubs and slot machine mogul, currently holds around 10% of Star’s capital. He has supposedly claimed he will add an additional AU$50m (US$31.5m) to the pot to make sure that the deal goes ahead. If Star approves then Mathieson will increase his stake to 20% and secure a boardroom seat.

Keeping it together

Star has been seeking a deal to solve its financial woes since February this year. Oaktree Capital Management offered the company AU$650m (US$414m) to keep the company afloat that same month. To accept that offer, Star would still require approval from the Queensland and New South Wales governments.

Earlier this month, Star confirmed that it had already accepted an offer from Hong Kong-based Chow Tai Fook and Far East Consortium. Both of the Hong Kong firms hold a 25% stake in Star’s Brisbane-based casino The Star Brisbane. They offered to buyout the remaining 50% stake to take full control of the property.

We look forward to working with Bruce to reinvigorate these great assets”

That offer came days before Bally’s threw its hat into the ring. Bally’s Chairman Soo Kim believes Star offers a lot of potential as an existing company, without selling off its casinos separately. “We have said from the beginning that our plan is the best way to preserves shareholder value,” he said. “We look forward to working with Bruce to reinvigorate these great assets.”

A viable future

Speaking earlier this month, Star Chief Executive Steve McCann said that the Brisbane property deal and Oaktree loan had provided his company with the “capacity to have a viable future.” However, the company has confirmed that it is still considering several offers, now including the Bally’s deal.

Bally’s itself was purchased by its top investor in a $4.6bn deal just last year. Standard General previously owned a 23% stake in the firm before agreeing to pay $18.25 per share in cash for the remaining shares, a premium of about 35% of the company’s closing price at the time. Shares jumped 26% after the deal was confirmed.

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The Federal Court of Australia has handed Active Super an AU$10.5m (US$6.6m) penalty after it was found investing in restricted sectors like gambling despite describing itself on its website, impact reports, and product disclosure statements as an ethical superannuation investment fund.

It even named gambling companies in its excluded list of industries that present “too great a risk to the environment and community.”

sports betting operators Tabcorp and PointsBet, and casino firm SkyCity Entertainment

The Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC) discovered that Active Super invested in several gambling-related companies, such as sports betting operators Tabcorp and PointsBet, and casino firm SkyCity Entertainment.

Other questionable holdings included stakes in oil companies, coal firms, and entities with links to Russia. The fund held the positions for about two and a half years, with Justice O’Callaghan remarking Active Super’s stubbornness to admit its faults by offering “a host of contrived arguments in its defense.”

Talking about the sizable penalty, ASIC Deputy Chair Sarah Court remarked that it sends a strong message to other investment companies in the space to ensure they meet their promises.

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Endeavor Group, which owns the WWE and UFC, is in the process of going private. CEO Ari Emanuel was part of a consortium trying to buy its OpenBet and IMG Arena sports betting assets in November for $450m. While the deal is reportedly still on the table for the same price, only OpenBet will be part of the agreement.

$125m to Sportradar and $100m for certain sports rights holders

Sports data firm Sportradar announced on Wednesday that it’s taking over IMG Arena and getting paid to do so. Endeavor will pay Sportradar $125m and fork over another $100m to certain sports rights holders. Once it secures the necessary regulatory approvals, the deal is expected to close in Q4 2025.

Endeavor didn’t explain the reasoning behind the decision, although it could be due to IMG Arena’s negative market value. Endeavor wants to get the company off its books before going private.

Talking about the transaction, Sportradar CEO Carsten Koerl explained that “the unique structure of this deal accelerates our revenue and cash flow profile and will be accretive to our margins.”

About 70% of IMG Arena’s rights relate to soccer, tennis, and basketball, which are the most bet on sports in the world today. Here’s a quick overview of what it’s getting:

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