Casino News Roundup: Vanderpump Hotel Opens On Strip & Senate Targets Prediction Markets
Welcome to the Casino Daily News Roundup - your briefing on the latest news from the global casino industry. We bring you the biggest stories from across the sector, covering everything from major business deals and revenue figures to new openings and regulatory developments.
Vanderpump Hotel Opens On Las Vegas Strip As TV Star Makes Hotel History
Friday marks the opening of one of the most anticipated hotel launches on the Las Vegas Strip in years.
The Vanderpump Hotel - the fully reimagined former Cromwell on the corner of Las Vegas Boulevard and Flamingo Road - has been completely transformed by reality TV personality Lisa Vanderpump and her design partner Nick Alain.
The 188-room boutique property has been redesigned in their signature "industrial romantic" style, featuring moss-green and dusty lilac tones, dark velvet headboards, custom furnishings and lighting specifically engineered to be flattering.
It is Vanderpump's first hotel venture - an expansion of a Caesars Entertainment partnership that already encompasses six Las Vegas dining and bar concepts, including Vanderpump Cocktail Garden at Caesars Palace, Vanderpump a Paris at Paris Las Vegas, and Pinky's by Vanderpump at the Flamingo.
Opening weekend room rates start from around $419 per night for a standard king room, rising to $850-plus for suites.
The flagship Royal Rascal suite features sectional seating, two flat-screen TVs, an eight-seat dining table, a pool table, a soaking tub, and a separate steam shower. The property also introduces Soleia - a new rooftop pool and event space with panoramic Strip views - replacing the former Cromwell rooftop.
A Bravo limited series documenting the full transformation, Vanderpump Rules: Lisa Las Vegas, is already in production and expected to generate significant national publicity for the property in the months ahead.
The opening arrives at a moment when Las Vegas is actively trying to rebuild international tourism - and a celebrity-branded boutique hotel with a ready-made TV audience is exactly the kind of high-visibility launch the city needs.
For those inspired to book a stay, the best online casinos are also just a click away for anyone wanting to get into the Las Vegas spirit from home.
Senate Gives Prediction Markets A Rough Ride As Lawmakers Signal A Crackdown Is Coming
The Senate Commerce Committee's landmark prediction markets hearing on May 20 delivered a blunt message to the industry: senators from both parties are deeply uncomfortable with what Kalshi and Crypto.com are selling - and they are not buying the argument that sports event contracts are financial instruments rather than gambling.
Subcommittee Chair Marsha Blackburn opened with concerns about sports integrity and the cheating risks prediction markets create for athletes. Senate Commerce Committee Chairman Ted Cruz was equally pointed, warning that "unless Congress acts, the Supreme Court may have to decide the issue."
Kalshi CEO Tarek Mansour and Crypto.com president Eric Anziani faced two hours of largely hostile questioning on advertising practices, regulatory disputes, and the integrity threat their platforms pose.
The committee set no timetable for legislation - but leading members said the hearing had created substantial progress toward a regulatory framework, with the second half of 2026 increasingly likely to produce a bill.
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Evoke/Bally's Takeover Collapses As Deadline Passes Without Deal
The proposed rescue takeover of William Hill and 888 owner Evoke by Bally's Intralot has collapsed after the May 18 UK Takeover Panel deadline passed without a firm offer being confirmed.
Bally's Intralot is now barred from making another approach to Evoke for six months under the UK Takeover Code.
The breakdown leaves Evoke - which owes lenders around £1.8billion against a market cap of approximately £225m - without a white knight buyer at a critical moment.
The company still has the option of pursuing a debt restructuring or attracting alternative bidders, but the failed Bally's process has consumed months of management time at exactly the point when the business needs to be focused on navigating the impact of the UK's doubled Remote Gaming Duty and the closure of 200 William Hill shops.
Evoke's shares fell sharply on the news.
