Strong growth in revenue failed to offset the impact of growing costs for Scientific Games in 2018, with the gaming solutions provider’s loss for the period growing to $352.4m (£269.3m/€310.1m). Revenue for the 12 months ended December 31, 2018 was up 9.1% year-on-year, with a marginal decline in gaming revenue - down 0.7% to $1.8bn - offset by strong growth in the social and digital divisions.

Martin Carlesund, the chief executive of live dealer software supplier Evolution Gaming, has hailed “yet another amazing year” in the company’s history after revenue for 2018 grew 38%.

Swedish casino games developer NetEnt has reported a 8.9% year-on-year increase in 2018 revenue, though increased costs saw profit decline in the fourth quarter of the year. Chief executive Therese Hillman has challenged the business to ramp up organic earnings growth in the year ahead.

A bill that would clear the way for the first land-based casinos to be opened in Virginia, as well as legalising sports betting, has been passed by the Senate Committee on General Laws and Technology.

The US Department of Justice has revised its 2011 ruling on the Wire Act to state that the law’s prohibition applies to all forms of gambling, in what may prove a major victory for opponents of online gambling.

Nevada’s new Democratic Governor Steve Sisolak has appointed Sandra Douglass Morgan as the chair of the Nevada Gaming Control Board (NGCB). Las Vegas native Morgan currently serves as director of external affairs for US telecommunications giant AT&T in the southern Nevada region.

Total market revenue passes $1bn for fifth time in 2018, though sports betting revenue drops to $28.7m

Operator seeks online licence without a land-based presence in the state