Reception workers at the Palms hotel casino have voted to join Teamsters Local 986, according to the local union.
Thirty-four front desk agents are the newest members of the bargaining unit, joining roughly 100 unionized workers already in place. The newly organized group includes employees who handle guest check-in and check-out, customer service functions and inventory.
Off-Strip Palms is now a 100 percent unionized workplace following the Teamsters vote.
According to Local 986, workers sought union representation to secure higher wages, expanded benefits and improved working conditions.
Krista Frehner, a front desk agent who has worked at the Palms for 13 years, said the vote reflects a desire for greater unity among the staff.
“It takes courage to stand up and speak out, but it takes unity to create real change,” she said.
The Palms, owned and operated by the San Manuel Gaming and Hospitality Authority, a unit of the Yuhaaviatam of San Manuel Nation, is currently the only tribally operated casino in Las Vegas. The California-based tribe purchased the property from Red Rock Resorts in 2021 for $650 million.
WSOP Releases 2026 Event Schedule
The World Series of Poker will return to Horseshoe Las Vegas and Paris Las Vegas from May 26 to July 25, according to a press release. The 2026 series will feature 100 bracelet events and an expanded slate of high-profile tournaments.
The $10,000 Main Event begins on July 2nd, with the final table set for July 13th. A free daily live stream on the WSOP YouTube channel will run from Opening Day until the start of the Main Event.
New additions this year include the $550 Mini Mystery Millions with a guaranteed $1 million bounty, a $10,000 GGMillion$ High Roller, a US Circuit Championship event and expanded PLO offerings. The WSOP is also launching an all-time summer WSOP Circuit series, running from July 14-25, immediately after the bracelet ends.
Returning favorites like the Monster Stack, Colossus, Millionaire Maker, Poker Players Championship and the $250,000 Super High Roller highlight the mid-series schedule.
The WSOP is also strengthening its Player of the Year race with a revamped scoring formula and a $1 million prize pool, including a $100,000 WSOP Paradise package for the POY winner.
Full details and registration are now live in the WSOP+ app. Online qualification is available via GGPoker internationally and WSOP Online in the US. Discounted room rates at Caesars Entertainment facilities are available with code WSOP26.
The lawsuit is dismissed
A U.S. District Judge in Nevada has dismissed a complaint by a prediction market that filed a lawsuit against Attorney General Aaron Ford and members of the Nevada Gaming Control Board and the Nevada Gaming Commission.
U.S. District Judge Cristina Silva on Feb. 7 dismissed an emergency request for a temporary injunction and preliminary injunction by Coinbase Financial Markets Inc. after the Gaming Control Board sought to enforce state gaming laws by barring Coinbase from selling sports betting contracts in Nevada.
The Coinbase motion was denied without prejudice, meaning it can be remanded if amended.
Coinbase sued on Feb. 4, and a hearing had been scheduled for Tuesday to hear arguments for a restraining order against Nevada regulators from enforcing state gambling laws that believe predictive market contracts are a form of sports betting.
The control board recently filed a lawsuit against Blockratize Inc., doing business as Polymarket, in Carson City District Court. It’s part of a new strategy Nevada regulators are taking to block prediction markets by turning to state courts instead of federal courts.
Arizona gambling tax increases
Arizona Governor Katie Hobbs has proposed her state more than quadruple the gambling tax on online sports betting to 45 percent from the current 10 percent.
Hobbs last week announced the proposal for a graduated tax rate on sports betting to apply to bookmakers doing at least $75 million in monthly business.
According to current projections, that would mean the higher tax would be paid by bettors using apps from Caesars Sportsbook, DraftKings, Fanatics and FanDuel, based on past betting data.
If approved, the proposal, which could potentially raise another $145 million to a $17.7 billion budget, would move Arizona from one of the lowest sports betting tax rates in the nation to one of the highest. Only Delaware, Illinois, New Hampshire, New York, Oregon and Rhode Island have rates higher than 45 percent. Nevada’s tax rate is 6.75 percent.
Arizona legalized sports betting in 2021 and the state quickly became one of the fastest growing betting markets. State law allows 20 sportsbooks to offer sports bets there.
