Author Lars Jones

Lars Jones

Contributing Editor

Lars has been involved in publishing since the 1970s and has worked on the internet since the mid-1990s. Formerly a frequent visitor to Las Vegas, family life now dictates that any responsible gambling he does these days is from his home in the western US. Lars is a contributing editor across much of the LCB Network. His ability to analyze the most mundane things with an undying sense of wonder often brings a perspective seldom seen elsewhere. His long experience with online gambling includes over a decade in the industry, exclusively for WCD and then the LCB Network since 2011. Lars has worked on both the land-based and online side of the casino industry for several years. His previous experience in entertainment and advertising, both as a creator and a producer allows him to cut through the fog on important issues that affect players and the industry as a whole. A self-styled "mountain man", Lars enjoys the freedom of working from his home base in the Northwest United States. With decades of writing, editing, and publishing experience he brings a lifelong love of gambling to his contributions. Whether it's putting on a suit to help broker a multimillion-dollar casino deal or simply rolling up his sleeves to slave over a hot slot machine, Lars goes all in when it comes to the gambling industry. As the founding editor of World Casino News and now the media relations specialist, he has the ability to liaise with c-level executives as well as hunker with the players - after all, at heart, he's a kid in the candy store around this stuff!

Ālon Las Vegas details leaked; Strip property moving forward

June 26, 2015

Latest Casino and Gambling News, Tribal Gaming, Casino proposals, Casino News, Casino project updates, Mergers, Acquisitions & Partnerships, Nevada

Details have been leaked about the much anticipated Ālon Las Vegas casino resort to be built on the Las Vegas Strip. The project is being headed up by Australian James Packer and former Wynn Resorts president A...

Maine Senate scuttles casino hopes 18-16

June 25, 2015

Latest Casino and Gambling News, Gaming Law & Legislation, Tribal Gaming, Casino proposals, Casino News, Maine

Last Thursday the Maine House voted 114-26 in favor of a bill that would see at least one of four indigenous tribes open a casino in Aroostook or Washington counties. This Monday the Senate blocked the bill, as...

Ourgame buys World Poker Tour for $35 million from bwin.party

June 22, 2015

Latest Casino and Gambling News, World Casino News, Poker, Mergers, Acquisitions & Partnerships

In an all cash sale, Bwin.Party Digital Entertainment Plc has offloaded the World Poker Tour to Hong Kong listed Ourgame for US$35 million. Ourgame is a social gaming company with interests in several Asian cou...

14 arrested in China for attracting gamblers

June 21, 2015

Latest Casino and Gambling News, World Casino News, China, Crime, South Korea

On Friday, Asian news agency Yonhap reported that Chinese authorities had arrested 14 South Koreans on Wednesday for allegedly trying to lure Chinese citizens into foreigner-only casinos in Korea. The charges i...

AGA recruits former Boston Police Commissioner for advisory panel

June 21, 2015

Latest Casino and Gambling News, Gaming Law & Legislation, U.S.A., Casino News, Unlicensed Operation, Licenses, Massachusetts

Just days before the first slot parlor opens in Massachusetts, the American Gaming Association (AGA) has appointed former Boston police commissioner, Ed Davis to advise them on illegal gambling. The recently cr...

Vietnamese Prime Minister approves Phu Quoc casino location

June 21, 2015

Casino proposals, Gaming Law & Legislation, Vietnam

According to a report in Vietnamnet news yesterday, Vietnamese Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung has issued a decision to approve a new location for a recreational complex and casino off mainland Kien Giang Provin...

Harrah’s Cherokee Valley opening September; Job fair Tuesday

June 21, 2015

Latest Casino and Gambling News, Casino project updates, Employment & Careers, North Carolina

After several delays, Harrah’s Cherokee Valley River Casino is now set to open near Murphy, North Carolina in September. A temporary casino was expected to open in late 2014 but the plan was scuttled to focus ...

Massachusetts: New Bedford casino vote Tuesday

June 21, 2015

Latest Casino and Gambling News, Gaming Law & Legislation, Casino proposals, Massachusetts

If history is any indicator it may be likely that voters in the Massachusetts municipality of New Bedford will vote "Yes" Tuesday on a referendum asking if they want a riverfront casino. If approved by voter...

U.S. casinos suspicious transaction reports up 69% over last year

June 20, 2015

Latest Casino and Gambling News, Gaming Law & Legislation, U.S.A., Las Vegas, Casino News, Money Laundering, Fines, Lawsuits & Litigation

According to the U.S. Treasury Department’s Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN) U.S. casinos increased suspicious activity reports to the agency by 69% last year. At a recent conference in Las Vegas, ...

Macau gaming revenue continues decline; government cuts spending

June 20, 2015

Latest Casino and Gambling News, Economy/Finance, Macau

Lionel Leong Vai-tac, Secretariat for Economy and Finance in Macau said on Thursday that June gaming revenues may be as much as 20% lower than those reported for May. June is historically a slow month for casin...

Maine House passes tribal casino bill

June 20, 2015

Gaming Law & Legislation, Tribal Gaming, Casino proposals, Maine

The Maine House of Representatives passed a bill on a 114-26 vote with no debate that paves the way for Indian tribes in the state to open a casino in Aroostook or Washington counties. The bill still needs sena...

Tribe to break ground on casino in Yuba County

June 20, 2015

Gaming Law & Legislation, Tribal Gaming, Casino project updates, California, Fines, Lawsuits & Litigation

The Enterprise Rancheria of Maidu Indians plans to begin construction of a scaled down off-reservation Class II gaming facility within the next two months. This, according to a federal court filing in Sacrament...

Castle Rock faces issues; Review board may choose Kansas casino Tuesday

June 18, 2015

Latest Casino and Gambling News, Casino proposals, Licenses, Kansas

If all goes as currently scheduled, a review panel for the Kansas Lottery Gaming Review Board is expected to announce their choice among three competitors for a SE Kansas Casino license on June 23rd.. At a J...

Quapaw Tribe of Oklahoma seeks dismissal of lawsuit

June 18, 2015

Latest Casino and Gambling News, Tribal Gaming, Casino project updates, Fines, Lawsuits & Litigation, Kansas, Oklahoma

The Quapaw Tribe of Oklahoma is asking a federal court to throw out a lawsuit naming them as co-defendants. The suit by Attorney General Derek Schmidt aims to block the tribe from expanding a casino on the bord...

Thailand NRC Chair denies casino study; Police chief endorses idea

June 18, 2015

Casino proposals, Gaming Law & Legislation, Thailand

Chairman, Thienchay Kiranandana of Thailand’s National Reform Council (NRC) has stated that the NRC has no plans to consider a proposal to legalize casinos in the country. He added that the plan has not been pr...