Devon Jackson

About the Author

Devon Jackson

Devon Jackson is a freelance writer with Bonus. He’s written for many different magazines and newspapers, from The New York Times and People to Sports Illustrated and Bloomberg. He has also worked as an editor—for The New Yorker, the Santa Fean, The Village Voice, and Discover, among others. Jackson likes to focus on the broader ramifications of the gaming industry—issues such as responsible gambling, the effects of cryptocurrency, or crossover between gambling and esports. In an era of fake news and truthiness, Jackson tries as best he can to leave the opinionating to the talking heads and give as big a picture as possible to the reader.

Latest articles

Major casino chain operators are big fish, but are Virginia's communities big enough to hold them?

Small Town, Big Casino: Is It a Winning Gamble?

March 23, 2023 | By: Devon Jackson

Casinos, especially full-featured resort casinos, present an economic opportunity. However, they can be a mixed blessing and can seem especially scary in smaller communities that already have more than their fair share of problems. The most common worries are crime and the direct impact of gambling on residents. Easier to overlook are the secondary economic […]

Genetics are one factor influencing addiction, including gambling addiction.

Study: Genetic Predisposition to Alcohol & Other Addictions Applies to Gambling, Too

January 31, 2023 | By: Devon Jackson

A recent study shows that a family history of addiction to one thing – say, alcohol – can mean a higher risk for other types of addiction, like gambling. Dr. Csaba Barta is a co-author of the study and Associate Professor in the Department of Molecular Biology at Semmelweis University in Hungary. He says: It […]

PlayUp has twice been left at the altar, metaphorically, as acquisition deals fell through at the last minute.

IG Acquisition Corp. Terminates Relationship With PlayUp, SPAC Deal Off the Table

January 12, 2023 | By: Devon Jackson

In yet another setback for PlayUp, the special purpose acquisitions company IG Acquisition Corp., announced in an SEC filing on Jan 6 that it has terminated its relationship with the sports-betting platform. The split came after the New York-based “blank check company” signed a nearly $400 million deal with PlayUp in Sep 2022. That Business […]

Billion-dollar lottery jackpots may now be an annual occurrence

Mega Millions Over $1 Billion Again – Why Huge Jackpots Are the New Normal

January 9, 2023 | By: Devon Jackson

If you follow mainstream headlines, you’re probably aware by now that the Mega Millions jackpot currently stands at over $1.1 billion. That sounds like a lot of money – and it is. Many of us still see these ten-figure jackpots as rare opportunities. However, it may be that billion-dollar prizes have become the new normal. […]

Steve Wynn has prevailed in at least one of his many legal battles

Steve Wynn Prevails as Judge Dismisses DOJ to Force Mogul to Register as Foreign Agent

October 18, 2022 | By: Devon Jackson

Last week, U.S. District Court Judge James Boasberg dismissed a years-long effort by the Justice Department to force former casino owner Steve Wynn to register as a foreign agent. He did so despite agreeing with aspects of the DOJ’s case and expressing discomfort with his own ruling. For Wynn, the dismissal surely comes as a […]

Stacks of casino chips and dice on a laptop

Responsibility-Focused Gambling Operator Paf Tries Special Loss Limits for Young Customers

October 13, 2022 | By: Devon Jackson

Åland Islands-based operator Paf always seeks to set a good precedent for the rest of the gambling industry. Mandatory loss limits form a big part of its policies, and it has now lowered the limit for its younger gamblers. It’s not a small change, either: It has slashed the €20,000 (around $20,000, since the Euro and dollar […]

Kindred says it won't leave Norway, regardless of the fines it will receive

Kindred Communicating With US Regulators About Norway Situation

September 29, 2022 | By: Devon Jackson

Kindred Group has been given unequivocal instructions by the Norwegian gambling authority Lottstift to stop serving Norwegian players. Unless Kindred complies by October 10, Lottstift will begin fining the Stockholm-listed company the equivalent of about $120,000 daily. That adds up to $42 million annually, a figure Norwegian authorities estimate that Kindred earns yearly from those customers. […]

Steve Wynn and his former company Wynn Resorts continue to face the fallout from his alleged sexual misconduct

Another Lawsuit, Another Disciplinary Hearing: Fallout from Wynn Accusations Continues

September 19, 2022 | By: Devon Jackson

Earlier this month, the Nevada Gaming Control Board (NGCB) announced that it is preparing for a disciplinary hearing before the Nevada Gaming Commission (NGC) against Steve Wynn. Wynn, the founder of the eponymous Wynn Resorts, stepped down as the company’s CEO in 2018 amid accusations of sexual misconduct. The upcoming sexual harassment hearing with the two […]

PlayUp Legal Fiasco Pt. 2: Internal Conflict

August 17, 2022 | By: Devon Jackson

This is the second part of Bonus’s deep dive into PlayUp’s legal case against its former CEO, Dr. Laila Mintas. Read Part 1 here. The ongoing battle between online gambling company PlayUp and its former US CEO, Dr. Laila Mintas, has hit a lull but may pick up again next week. PlayUp’s attorneys, Michael Popok […]

Getting to the bottom of the legal battle between PlayUp and former CEO Dr. Laila Mintas is no easy feat

PlayUp Legal Fiasco, Pt. 1: How It Started and How It’s Going

August 11, 2022 | By: Devon Jackson

Late last week, the technology supplier PlayUp Ltd. filed another motion against their former U.S. CEO Dr. Laila Mintas. It’s the latest filing in a legal battle that PlayUp initiated last November. That’s when the Australia-based global online sports betting operator asked for a temporary restraining order against Mintas. PlayUp claims that Mintas intentionally derailed […]