Macau casinos posted revenues of MOP16.3 billion (US$2.1 billion) in July, an increase of 70 percent over the previous July and almost 20 percent higher than June, when World Cup football depressed the results. For the first seven months of the year, revenue in Macau is up 61 percent from the same period in 2009.  •  A judge has said he will expedite the process to issue an opinion on the legality of Instant Racing in Kentucky. The Kentucky Horse Commission unanimously approved regulations for Instant Racing machines, which allow wagering on random historical races in a slot-like format, on July 20. The commission, though, requested a declaratory judgment from the Franklin Circuit Court on whether the games, to be placed at all eight racetracks in the state, are legal. Judge Thomas Wingate says be will accept briefs within 30 days, although he may withhold a ruling, because there are no “respondents”—no one is challenging the legality of the games.  •  A study commissioned by the Casino Association of New Jersey and conducted by the Center for Urban Policy Research at Rutgers University revealed that Atlantic City was the second-most popular casino district in the U.S. and a destination for one-third of all visitors to New Jersey. Of those who visited in 2008, 80 percent said they came to gamble.  •  A Mississippi group that opposes the construction of a Choctaw casino in Jones County group presented apparent proof to the county board of supervisors that the casino is already under construction, despite opposition to the project from some community and tribal members. The Coalition for Family and Community Values showed aerial photos that “clearly show a foundation has been poured at the site.”  •  A drive for casino gambling in Arkansas stalled after a Texas businessman missed the state’s deadline to place a constitutional amendment legalizing casinos on the November ballot. Businessman Michael Wasserman began a petition drive in January for an amendment that would have allowed casino gambling in seven Arkansas counties. However, he failed to submit the necessary 77,000 signatures to the Arkansas secretary of state by a July 2 deadline.  •  UNLV Japan, a branch of the University of Nevada-Las Vegas and CNH Academy, will establish a new institute for casino management in Tokyo next year. The object is to train casino dealers and managers for jobs throughout Asia. There are four different courses available, including casino management, dealing, EMC and MBA classes. In addition to jobs in current Asian casino markets, the program is designed to have personnel ready should Japan legalize casinos.  •  Michigan’s Little River Band of Ottawa Indians has reached an agreement with the Red Cross to offer its Little River Casino Resort an official emergency evacuation shelter. The tribe and Red Cross have been working on the plan for years, as a way to offer extra facilities in the wake of storms like those that ripped through the region in 2008. The casino resort has 300 rooms, its own tribal water system and secondary power generation. The nearest evacuation shelter only holds 50 people.  •  In an opposing view to fellow casino giant Steve Wynn, Donald Trump announced he fully supports Barney Frank’s internet gaming bill. The Atlantic City casino tycoon pointed out the benefits the bill could bring, including increased tax revenue for cities that drastically need the extra funds.  •  The Navajo tribe will vote for its top presidential contenders this Tuesday, reducing 12 hopefuls to just two candidates who will vie for head of the tribe next year. Current president, Joe Shirley, was denied permission by a tribal court to run for a third consecutive term, which is prohibited by the tribal constitution. Primary candidates include current Navajo vice president, tribesmen with career experience serving in the government, and newcomers to tribal politics.  •  Starting August 9th, after almost a year of financial strains at the Silverton Casino Resort in Las Vegas that included layoffs and salary cuts, workers will see their paychecks increase by half of what had been cut.  The casino has seen its customer base slowly creep back up in recent months, and, if the revenue keeps coming in, workers could see all of their pay returned as well as slashed benefits.  •  Sioux Falls residents and politicians are weighing in on the subject of bringing a casino to the South Dakota town.  With the beginnings of a new casino project across the river in Larchwood, Iowa and the success of gambling in Deadwood, the two major candidates for governor both acknowledge that the town may benefit from a casino property.  Many obstacles, including an amendment to the state constitution, still stand in the way of the proposed project.

By Staff