Gaming Realms plans release of classic SPACE INVADERS game for real money gambling

Mobile gaming content developer Gaming Realms announced Tuesday that it has signed a licensing agreement with TAITO Corp. to create a real-money Slingo SPACE INVADERS game. TAITO is Japan’s internationally renowned video games and arcade company.

TAITO developed and released SPACE INVADERS in 1978, one of the most influential video games of all time. Gaming Realms will combine Slingo’s unique game format with SPACE INVADERS’ iconic pixelated Invader characters, creating one of its most exciting new launches to date. The game will be available as a social media and real money gambling game.

SPACE INVADERS is celebrating its 45th anniversary this year.

Tsuyoshi Nishiwaki, executive officer of TAITO Corp., commented: “We are overjoyed that it still brings fresh experiences to new audiences and gaming formats. We feel that Slingo and SPACE INVADERS will make a great partnership, and we are excited to see our iconic pixelated Invader characters manifest in this established platform.”

Applications to operate skill games in Louisa, Virginia, voted down

Two applications that would have brought skill games to the small town of Louisa, Va., were voted down on Tuesday during a joint meeting between the town’s planning commission and council.

The Sappington Revocable Living Trust and Central Virginia Property Holdings, LLC, submitted Special Use Permits (SUP) applications to operate skill games at their businesses in the town of 1,555 people. The Sappington Revocable Living Trust operates the Louisa BP gas station in town.

The machines, also known as gray machines, are like standard casino slot machines, but operate in a different way and are known as skill games. The machines have come under fire from the state as being a form of gambling since 2020. A judge in Greenville, Va., stopped the state’s attempt to ban them in July 2021. They still operate in the commonwealth today.

Applications fail

The Louisa BP gas station was already operating skill games. The station changed ownership twice in 2022, once in February, and then in September. Sumata Das, the current operator, had to submit a SUP application when it was discovered the gas station was already operating skill games.

“He was unaware a SUP was required,” one council member explained during the meeting Tuesday.

The second SUP submitted by Central Virginia Property Holdings LLC was for the Court Café and Pub building across from the Louisa post office.

Both SUP applications failed to pass during a joint vote before the Louisa planning commission and town council meeting.

The town is currently in a rebuilding effort to move forward as a vibrant community of small businesses.

“A lot of people enjoy these games,” said Melissa Chisholm with Central Virginia Property Holdings, LLC. “They do it for entertainment and they do it to relax and unwind after a day of work. I’ve had them in my business for three years down in Bumpass. We’re excited about coming to the Town of Louisa. We just didn’t know we had to go over this hurdle.”

Chisholm’s business partner, Mike Rasswallia, told the council, “People come and play $20. Nobody is losing their house. Nobody is losing rent money. It's more of a place where you come and enjoy and have a good time.”

Before voting on the applications, council members opened up the meeting for public comment.

“Once we open those doors, more is gonna happen. We’re just gonna bring in more gambling,” a resident said during public comments. “How do they know that no one has lost rent? Or money for food? Or for child support, or anything like that, by gambling with that $20, that turns into $30, $40, $50, etc…”

The games continue to operate in Virginia in a "gray area" throughout the Commonwealth. A legislative effort to regulate and tax the games failed earlier this month in the Virginia State Capitol.

Meanwhile, thieves have targeted the gaming machines in six 7-Eleven stores in Fairfax County during a four-week period in January. Surveillance cameras show thieves casually carrying the machines out of stores with ease.

International reaction to North Korea missile launches, 'what has to be done is clear'

According to news reports, North Korea launched two more ballistic missiles off its east coast on Monday.

The two ballistic missiles were fired around 5 p.m. EST on Sunday and went into waters off the east coast of the Korean Peninsula. The first missile reached an altitude of 100 kilometers and the second, launched 10 minutes later, reached 50 km.

The launches come just two days after North Korea fired an intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) into the sea off Japan's west coast.

The action met a strong reaction from congressional members in Washington.

“The recent North Korean ICBM test is a stark reminder that Kim Jong Un is an unstable dictator with a growing nuclear arsenal capable of ranging the U.S. homeland,” Rep. Mike Rogers (R-Ala.), chairman of the House Armed Services Committee, said in a statement.

“Protecting the U.S. homeland must be paramount as we develop our 2024 budget, and this includes fully-funding homeland missile defense assets,” he continued. “What has to be done is clear – we must accelerate our missile defense development to outpace the DPRK (Democratic People's Republic of Korea) threat. This includes speeding up the Next Generation Interceptor, putting more interceptors in the ground, and looking to space-based missile defenses.”

The German Federal Foreign Office said the launch endangers international security.

“North Korea is obliged to completely, irreversibly, and verifiably end its programs to develop weapons of mass destruction and ballistic missiles,” said the Federal Foreign Office in a statement on Sunday.

“North Korea’s continued violations of United Nations Security Council resolutions are deeply worrying,” the office continued. “We call on North Korea to fully implement the decisions of the United Nations Security Council and to take up the offers put forward by the United States and South Korea to engage in serious dialogue.

Referring to the ballistic missile test by North Korea, the Foreign Ministers of the G7 on Feb. 18 stated that North Korea’s reckless behavior demands a unified response by the international community, including further significant measures taken by the UN Security Council.

Navy awards contract for up to 64 King Air 260 aircraft

Textron Aviation announced Thursday it has been awarded the Multi-Engine Training System (METS) contract by Naval Air Systems Command.

The contract award is for up to 64 King Air 260 aircraft, which will be known as the T-54A. The initial Lot I award will procure 10 new Beechcraft King Air 260 commercial aircraft and associated support. Lot II and Lot III, if the options are exercised, would each procure up to 27 aircraft. Aircraft deliveries are planned from 2024 to 2026.

The Beechcraft King Air 260 aircraft acquired under the METS contract will replace the Chief of Naval Air Training (CNATRA) fleet of T-44C Pegasus aircraft. The T-44C Pegasus aircraft is a variant of the twin-engine and pressurized Beechcraft King Air 90. The T-44 has been in service since 1977.

“METS will modernize multi-engine aircraft training at CNATRA, providing an intermediate and advanced training platform for U.S. Navy, Marine Corps, and Coast Guard aviators into the P-8, EP-3, KC-130, E-6, E-2, CMV-22, CV-22, and MV-22 aircraft,” said Bob Gibbs, vice president, Special Missions Sales for Textron Aviation.

“The T-54A will include an updated avionics suite, automation qualities, and virtual reality and augmented reality devices to better prepare students for the advanced aircraft they will fly in the fleet,” said Navy Capt. Holly Shoger, Naval Undergraduate Flight Training Systems Program Office.

The King Air 260 METS aircraft will be delivered in a fully compliant, METS mission-ready configuration from Textron Aviation’s King Air production line in Wichita, Kansas.

More than 7,700 Beechcraft King Air turboprops have been delivered to customers around the world since 1964.

The King Air 260 cockpit features the Innovative Solutions & Support ThrustSense Autothrottle system, which supports pilots in their critical mission of delivering people or cargo by automatically managing engine power from the takeoff roll through the climb, cruise, descent, landing, and go-around phases of flight. This enhancement reduces pilot workload and is designed to prevent over-speed or under-speed, over-temp, and over-torque conditions.

The King Air 260 cockpit also features a digital pressurization controller, which automatically schedules cabin pressurization during both climb and descent, reducing pilot workload and increasing overall passenger comfort. The pressurization gauges have been integrated with the powerful Collins Aerospace Pro Line Fusion flight deck.

The aircraft includes the Collins Multi-Scan RTA-4112 weather radar, providing pilots with a fully automatic system that is optimized to detect short, mid, and long-range weather.

The King Air 260 was first introduced in December 2020.

King Air 360

The U.S. Army Contracting Command-Redstone in Huntsville, Ala., announced plans earlier this month they plan to award a sole source five-year contract to Textron Aviation for the initial purchase of two King Air 360 aircraft for the country of Peru.

The contract will include one 12-month base period and four 12-month ordering periods for the procurement of King Air Series B200 and B300 and Cessna C208B and C408 to support upcoming Foreign Military Sales cases.

NTSB releases preliminary report on plane crash in Rockingham County, Va.

The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) released a preliminary report on Tuesday that provides details on a single-engine plane crash that killed a pilot after departing Winchester, Va., on Jan. 11.

The report says a Piper PA-32R-301 Saratoga (registration N43156), was destroyed on Jan. 11 when it was involved in an accident near Dayton, Va. The pilot was fatally injured.

According to initial information obtained from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and witnesses, the pilot flew the plane with a passenger from Shelby County Airport in Alabama to Winchester Regional Airport in Virginia.

The flight arrived in Winchester around 3:44 p.m. EST, and the passenger was dropped off. The plane was refueled with 54 gallons of gas, and the pilot departed for a return flight to Shelby County Airport at about 5:39 p.m. The aircraft climbed to 6,500 feet after departure.

According to data obtained from the U.S. Naval Observatory, sunset occurred at 5:15 p.m. and the end of civil twilight occurred at 5:45 p.m.

At about 6:03 p.m., the pilot advised air traffic control that he was going to descend to 5,500 ft for a few minutes. The controller acknowledged and instructed him to “maintain visual flight rules,” which the pilot acknowledged. No further transmissions were received from the airplane.

Air traffic control lost radar contact with the plane at about 6:10 p.m. near Bridgewater, Va. Emergency services were then dispatched to search for the plane.

Emergency personnel found the plane at 3:30 a.m. at an approximate elevation of 4,000 ft in the Maple Spring area of the Shenandoah Mountains. The crash site was near Dundore Mountain in Rockingham County, Va.

Examination of the accident site revealed that the airplane had impacted trees while heading south and came to rest about 520 ft from the initial impact point.

The airplane was “highly fragmented” the NTSB said in their report.

Recorded weather at Bridgewater Air Park, located about 13 miles southeast of the accident site, showed visibility was seven statute miles, and cloud layers were broken at 3,800 ft.

According to FAA and pilot records, the pilot held a private pilot certificate. He did not possess an instrument rating. The plane is registered to Mangham Truck and Equipment Inc., according to FAA records.

The cause of the accident is still under investigation.

Air India looks to buy 540 planes between Boeing and Airbus

Air India is looking to buy up to 290 planes from Boeing and 250 from Airbus to address South Asia's rapidly growing market for domestic and international air travel.

The airline announced Tuesday it has selected Boeing to expand its fleet with plans to buy 190 737 MAX, 20 787 Dreamliner, and 10 777X planes.

In addition, the carrier announced its commitment to order 250 Airbus aircraft. The order includes 140 A320neo and 70 A321neo single-aisle aircraft as well as 34 A350-1000 and six A350-900 wide-body jets. Deliveries are set to commence with the first A350-900 arriving by late-2023.

The agreement between Boeing and Air India includes options for 50 additional 737 MAXs and 20 787-9s. When finalized, this will be the largest Boeing order in South Asia and a historic milestone in the aerospace company's nearly 90-year partnership with the carrier.

The additional planes will support Air India's growth strategy they are pursuing, according to Campbell Wilson, CEO and MD, Air India.

"These new airplanes will enable us to dramatically expand our network, both domestically and internationally, and will come with a completely new, world-class onboard product enabling passengers to travel in the highest levels of comfort and safety,” Wilson said in a Boeing press release. “With this order, we are delighted to take our long relationship with Boeing to a new level."

Air India has also contracted with Boeing Global Services for lifecycle support services, including digital solutions, spare parts, and landing gear exchange programs, pilot and maintenance technician training, aircraft modifications, and other services.

In detail, the airline will purchase 190 737 MAXs, including 737-8s and 737-10s, with options for 50 more jets. They also plan to expand international routes with 20 787-9 Dreamliners and options for 20 more jets, while becoming the newest 777X customer with a selection of 10 777-9s.

The 737 MAX will provide flexibility across Air India's network while reducing fuel use and emissions by 20% compared to the airplanes it replaces.

• The 737-8, seating 162 to 210 passengers, depending on configuration, and with a range of 3,500 nautical miles, is the market's most versatile single-aisle airplane, capable of operating profitably on short- and medium-haul routes.

• The 737-10, the largest airplane in the 737 MAX family, offers the best per-seat economics of any single-aisle commercial jet, seating 188 to 230 passengers, depending on configuration with a range of 3,100 nautical miles.

Air India has benefited from the efficiency and flexibility of the 787 Dreamliner family with an existing fleet of 27 787-8s. The larger 787-9 will provide increased capacity, greater range, and 25% better fuel efficiency compared to earlier-generation jets.

The flagship 777-9 – the world's largest and most efficient twin-engine jet -- will be the largest airplane in Air India's fleet, enabling it to fly passengers non-stop and in enhanced comfort to almost any long-haul destination.

Bally's CEO steps down following employee reduction announcement

Bally's Corp. announced Monday that Lee Fenton, CEO, will step down and Robeson Reeves, President - Interactive, will take over next month.

Fenton became CEO of Bally's on Oct. 1, 2021, following the acquisition of Gamesys Group PLC where he had been CEO since 2015. Fenton will also step down from Bally's Board of Directors.

Soo Kim, chairman of Bally's Board of Directors, said, "On behalf of the Board of Directors, I want to thank Lee for his excellent leadership and valuable contributions to Bally's. Lee has led Bally's through the effective integration of Gamesys, leaving us well positioned for future growth.”

Kim continued, "Robeson has an extraordinary mind and the drive required to excel as he takes the helm."

Robeson Reeves, Bally's incoming Chief Executive Officer, said, "We are a unique company with a robust core and an extraordinary set of opportunities ahead of us. I look forward to working hard with my Executive Team and all our teams to take those opportunities and maximize our growth."

Reeves joined Gamesys in September 2005 and held several leadership positions. Prior to his current role with Bally Interactive, Reeves served as Chief Operating Officer of Gamesys since July 2015, and before that as Gamesys' Director of Gaming Operations.

Workforce reduction

Fenton's departure follows an announcement by the company last month that they will reduce their Bally's Interactive employees and contractor workforce by up to 15%, over the coming weeks.

“We always need to be acutely aware of the macro-economic conditions and adjust accordingly to come through what is a challenging environment in the best possible shape,” Fenton said in a letter to the company's Interactive division. The letter was part of the company's SEC filings last month.

Fenton continued, “Companies who take tough but decisive steps to effectively manage costs will be stronger and fitter for the future. I am committed to ensuring that Bally’s is one of those that is best placed to flourish in the long term.

“With this in mind, we’ve made the difficult decision to reduce our Interactive employees and contractor workforce by up to 15%, over the coming weeks.

“We’ve reflected hard as a business to come to this conclusion. Everyone put in so much effort last year, and I am proud of what we achieved together. However, we didn’t manage to achieve everything we had hoped for.

“I now can see that we may have over-hired in some areas, and I take full responsibility for that.”

Fenton concluded his letter by saying, “Most of all, please lean on your leadership, including me, as we all work through this difficult time together.”

Fenton's last day at Bally's will be March 31.

With 10,500 employees, Bally's casino operations include approximately 15,000 slot machines, 600 table games, and 5,300 hotel rooms. Upon completing the construction of a temporary casino facility in Chicago, IL , and a land-based casino near the Nittany Mall in State College, Pa., Bally's will own and/or manage 17 casinos across 11 states.