Casino News Roundup: Wynn UAE Resort Resumes & UK Tax Hike Looms Large
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.
Wynn's $5.1bn UAE Resort Pushes Forward As Middle East's First Casino Stays On Track For 2027
Wynn Resorts has confirmed that construction on its $5.1billion Wynn Al Marjan Island resort in Ras Al Khaimah, UAE, has resumed following a brief pause caused by regional tensions stemming from the conflict in Iran.
The Las Vegas-based operator said it had taken steps to ensure the safety and security of all on-site employees and that both its design team and resort management group had continued working throughout.
The project is one of the most ambitious in casino history - and for players looking to gamble online with a global operator while the resort takes shape, Wynn already operates world-class digital gaming platforms across multiple regulated markets.
The UAE project is set to become the first regulated gaming venue in the Middle East, and Wynn holds the only gaming license in the country - giving it what analysts describe as a multi-year monopoly on UAE casino gaming.
The resort spans 60 hectares on the man-made Al Marjan Island, just 50 miles from Dubai International Airport.
When it opens in spring 2027, guests will find 1,542 hotel rooms, suites and villas, 22 dining venues, a 20,900-square-foot main casino and a further gaming area on the 22nd floor - described as a "sky gaming casino".
A $40million Wynn Bridge is also under construction, linking the resort to the wider UAE road network, with completion targeted for late 2026.
Wynn said it remains in regular communication with the governments of both the US and Ras Al Khaimah, and expressed confidence in the UAE's "broad defense posture".
The company noted that for most of the local population, business has continued to follow normal patterns throughout the period of regional uncertainty.
Analysts remain bullish on the long-term opportunity.
Some estimates put the UAE's potential gross gaming revenue at between $3bn and $5bn a year once the market matures - which would place it alongside Macau, Las Vegas and Singapore as one of the most significant gaming markets in the world.
Wynn is also well positioned to funnel high-value customers from Europe into the UAE resort.
The company acquired Wynn Mayfair - London's most exclusive private members' casino, located at 27-28 Curzon Street - in June 2025, with CEO Craig Billings describing it as a strategic move to access the wealthy Gulf clientele that spends time in London each year.
That pipeline of premium players could prove a significant advantage as Wynn Al Marjan Island prepares for its 2027 debut.
Missouri Casinos Post 7.6% Revenue Rise As Regional Market Keeps Growing
Missouri's casino market delivered another encouraging set of numbers in February 2026, with statewide gaming revenue climbing 7.6% year-on-year to $160.6m, according to figures released by the Missouri Gaming Commission.
The result builds on a strong run for the state's 13 commercial casino properties and underlines the continued resilience of the Midwest's regional gaming market.
The performance reflects a broader trend of steady growth across the US casino sector. Missouri's casinos benefit from a loyal locals player base and a well-established network of riverboat and land-based properties spread across the state.
With operators continuing to invest in facility upgrades and amenity improvements, the outlook for the remainder of 2026 remains positive.
The Missouri numbers add to a growing body of evidence that brick-and-mortar casino gaming across the US is holding its own, even as the digital sector continues to expand rapidly.
For players curious about their options beyond the casino floor, Gambling.com has a full breakdown of where to play casino games for real money online safely and legally across Missouri.
UK Remote Gaming Duty Set To Double As April Tax Deadline Looms For Operators
With just days to go until April 1, UK casino operators are bracing for one of the most significant tax changes the industry has seen in a generation.
From next Wednesday, the Remote Gaming Duty applied to online casino revenue - covering slots, table games and other digital casino products - will rise from 21% to 40%.
The increase was announced by Chancellor Rachel Reeves in the government's Autumn Budget and forms part of a wider package of gambling tax reforms rolling out across 2026 and 2027.
The industry's response has been mixed. Major operators including Flutter Entertainment say they are well placed to absorb the changes, while others - particularly smaller operators - have warned of reduced promotional activity, tighter bonuses and lower return-to-player percentages as companies seek to protect margins.
The Office for Budget Responsibility estimates the changes will generate an additional £1.1bn in tax revenue for the government by 2029-30, though it has also flagged a potential reduction in licensed market activity as some players may shift toward unlicensed offshore operators.
On a more positive note for the sector, Bingo Duty is being abolished from the same date - a move widely welcomed as a long-overdue simplification of the tax structure for land-based bingo clubs.
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IGT Restructures As New CEO Aligns Business For Future Growth
Slot machine giant IGT has announced a global workforce reduction of 700 employees - approximately 10% of its total headcount - as new CEO Hector Fernandez moves to streamline operations following last year's $6.3bn acquisition of the company by New York-based Apollo Global Management.
In a letter to staff, Fernandez described the cuts as necessary to "align resources with business priorities" and said the leaner business would be better positioned to drive innovation and compete with clarity and speed.
Fernandez stressed the layoffs are not performance-related but instead reflect the structural work required to operate as a single, unified company following the Apollo acquisition.
He said severance packages, outplacement support, and transition resources are being provided to all affected employees. IGT - best known for its iconic Wheel of Fortune slot series - also operates a systems business, financial technology division and online casino content arm.
The company's new Las Vegas headquarters, established after Apollo moved its corporate base from Italy, will serve as the center of the revamped operation.
Fernandez said his focus going forward would be on five core pillars: culture, capabilities, content, commercialization and cash-flow creation.
