New Jersey aims to raise iGaming and sports betting tax, NorthJersey.com says
Governor's Budget Proposal: Governor Phil Murphy proposed a $58.1 billion budget plan for New Jersey, the largest in the state's history, which includes raising internet gaming and sports wagering tax rates to 25%.
Stock Market Insights: The article highlights various publicly traded companies in the gaming sector and mentions stock recommendations from analysts, including Boyd Gaming's recent dividend increase and changes in ratings for other companies like Alibaba and Rivian.
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Impact of Prediction Markets: Prediction markets are emerging as a competitive threat to traditional sportsbooks, potentially reshaping the betting landscape.
Performance of Betting Operators: Despite the rise of prediction markets, at least one betting operator is thriving and maintaining its success in the industry.
- Phase Two Investment: Caesars Entertainment announces a $200 million Phase Two transformation of Caesars Republic Lake Tahoe, set for completion in summer 2026, aimed at enhancing the resort's luxury experience and strengthening its competitive position in the market.
- New Bar Launch: The new bar, Tessie's Cocktails & Chords, is set to open this summer, offering creative cocktails and live music, designed to attract younger consumers and enhance customer experience, further solidifying Caesars' brand in the entertainment industry.
- Expanded Meeting Space: The addition of 25,000 square feet of flexible meeting space will support events of various sizes, enhancing the resort's business potential and attracting more corporate clients and large-scale events.
- Fitness Center Upgrade: The new state-of-the-art fitness center will be connected to the High Dive Pool and meeting spaces, providing advanced fitness facilities to meet guests' health lifestyle needs, further elevating the resort's overall service level.
- Gaming Win Decline: The Las Vegas Strip's gaming win fell 6.1% year-over-year in December to $827.7 million, reflecting ongoing headwinds from pricing concerns and declines in international tourism, marking the second consecutive month of revenue decline.
- Statewide Performance: Nevada's statewide gaming win decreased 1.6% year-over-year in December to $1.44 billion, indicating challenges faced by the overall market, particularly amid a sluggish tourism recovery.
- Slot Machine Struggles: Slot machine gaming win on the Las Vegas Strip dropped over 7%, suggesting a decline in lower-budget tourism, which exacerbates the market's weakness.
- Strong Sportsbook Growth: Despite the overall decline in gaming win, sportsbook revenue surged 351% year-over-year, driven by strong performance in football games, highlighting potential growth opportunities in specific sectors.
- Nuclear Revival: Cameco, the world's second-largest uranium miner, has seen its stock price soar 110% over the past 12 months, playing a critical role in the nuclear energy revival and attracting Wall Street investors, highlighting its importance in the AI energy sector.
- Surging Uranium Demand: With the U.S. aiming to quadruple nuclear capacity by 2050, uranium demand is projected to consistently outstrip supply, making Cameco's market position increasingly vital and supporting its long-term growth potential.
- Westinghouse Investment: Cameco's 49% stake in Westinghouse Electric, which secured a U.S. government contract to build 10 large-scale nuclear reactors, further solidifies Cameco's leadership in the nuclear energy market.
- Upward Earnings Revisions: Cameco is projected to grow its adjusted earnings by 100% in FY25 and 55% in 2026, with its strong earnings outlook and Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy) indicating that investors should consider holding the stock for the long term.

- CAD Discount Initiative: Derek Stevens announced that his properties, including Golden Gate Hotel, The D Las Vegas, and Circa Resort & Casino, will accept Canadian dollars at par with U.S. dollars, currently at a rate of $1.00 to $0.73, providing significant discounts to Canadian tourists to stimulate tourism recovery.
- Promotion Duration: This promotional offer will run until August 31 and applies to hotel rooms, bar purchases, and $500 worth of casino play, which is expected to attract more Canadian visitors and alleviate the weak tourism trends observed over the past year.
- Tourism Data Insights: According to the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority, Canadian visitation fell nearly 25% in 2024, while overall tourism was down about 7%, highlighting the urgency for market recovery efforts.
- Air Seat Capacity Decline: Airline seat capacity from Canadian cities to Las Vegas has decreased by approximately 40%, reaching the lowest level since 2006, reflecting tourists' dissatisfaction with U.S. policies and rising travel costs, which contextualizes Stevens' discount initiative.
- Gaming Sector Outlook: BofA analyst Shaun C. Kelley noted that despite softer trends in Las Vegas, regional casinos, and Asia, online sports betting remains the focal point for investors in 2026, indicating market uncertainty.
- Earnings Forecast Update: Kelley updated forecasts for Las Vegas, regional casinos, and Macau, highlighting that gaming stocks fell about 9% in Q4, with U.S. operators down roughly 4%, Macau stocks off 13%, and digital gaming stocks plummeting 23%.
- Diverging Performance in Las Vegas: Although Kelley’s Q4 estimates are modestly below market expectations, Las Vegas locals are performing well, with BofA's estimates exceeding consensus, indicating potential resilience in the regional market.
- Regional Market Trends: In Macau, Kelley expects Q4 EBITDA to align with market expectations, driven by strong performance from MGM China, while Singapore's Marina Bay Sands may modestly outperform due to the F1 event, showcasing diverging trends in regional markets.









