Sun, Apr 10, 2011
The annual trade show of the National Indian Gaming Association, held last week in Phoenix, attracted vendors from around the world and featured a contest for NIGA leadership between current Chairman Ernie Stevens Jr. (l.) and challenger Ivan Makil, the former president of the Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community. But it wasn’t much of a contest in the end as Stevens trounced Makil.
Sun, Apr 10, 2011
The issue of “slots in the box” i.e. racinos, continues to separate Massachusetts Governor Deval Patrick and Speaker of the House Robert DeLeo (l.). So gaming will take a back seat to the budget for now. But one senator has a plan that seems to be acceptable to both sides.
Sun, Apr 10, 2011
The 2009 defeat of the casino gaming referendum by the citizens of Penghu derailed Taiwan’s gaming effort at the time. Now, the Taiwan government is taking another stab at establishing a couple of casinos on some of the country’s offshore islands, including Kinmen and Matsu.
Sun, Apr 10, 2011
Going by the number of press releases about the gaming business in Mexico, it would be easy to assume that the industry there is built on solid ground. But a look at the foundation reveals an improvised structure that is in desperate need of a complete renovation.
Sun, Apr 10, 2011
Three active bills in Congress would offer a “Carcieri fix” for the Supreme Court ruling that has crippled putting land into federal trust for Indian tribes recognized after 1934. Senate Indian Affairs Chairman Daniel Akaka (l.) is sponsoring a bill to amend the limiting 1934 law.
Sun, Apr 10, 2011
A state Senate committee has passed a new version of legislation that would create five destination-style casino resorts in the state. A level playing field for parimutuels may make this effort more palatable to racino operators. But it might spell the end of the payments from the casinos owned by the Seminole tribe, including the Hard Rock in Hollywood (l.).
Sun, Apr 10, 2011
The Indiana legislature has made it legal for riverboat casinos to be permanently docked, eliminating the need for a “crew,” and for casinos to hold card tournaments in hotels that they operate adjacent or nearby the actual casino, including the magnificent dome of the West Baden Springs Hotel (l.), operated by the French Lick casino in central Indiana.
Sun, Apr 10, 2011
Ohio racetracks paint a stark picture of their future if they are not allowed to install slot machines, a decision that Ohio Governor John Kasich (l.) must make very shortly.
Sun, Apr 10, 2011
This week, the Global Gaming Business Podcast features an interview with Amy Lipton, the vice president of marketing for WMS Gaming, on how her experience marketing for a well known high-tech company will help in her current role.
Sun, Apr 10, 2011
While some forms of gaming have been legal in Vietnam, there has been no overarching policy of the national government nor a regulatory or legal system regarding gaming. Now that will change as the minister of finance proposes an organized effort. MGM Grand at Ho Tram Strip (l.) is expected to be issued a gaming license.
Sun, Apr 10, 2011
A proposed smoking ban in public places in Macau will go into effect on January 1, 2012, but casinos will have another year to design and implement the ban on at least 50 percent of the casino floor.
Sun, Apr 10, 2011
Liechtenstein is on track to have its first casino since the law banning such activity in 1949. The two bids submitted involve regional actors Casinos Austria and Novomatic, whose nearby Swiss and Austrian operations will ultimately be competing and/or cooperating with the new property.
Sun, Apr 10, 2011
The VLT may be a regulatory success story in Italy, but in the Czech Republic an older system operating under a vague legal structure has proven unable to cope with the entrepreneurial spirit. Some changes are in the works.
Sun, Apr 10, 2011
Not many governments are willing to give up tax revenue once they have it. In Poland, the mandatory elimination of the street market slot industry is resulting in just that.
Sun, Apr 10, 2011
The earthquake that hit the city of Christchurch, New Zealand in late February caused the casino there to close, throwing 500 people out of work. Christchurch Casino continued to pay salaries up until April 5, but employees failed to win larger severance payouts.
Sun, Apr 10, 2011
The casino that opened outside Damascus, Syria last Christmas has closed its doors for now. The recent wave of social and political unrest appears to have forced the hand of the president, who has enough problems for the moment.
Sun, Apr 10, 2011
Turkish gaming ban has had little effect of secret gaming halls.
Sun, Apr 10, 2011
With casino revenue at an all time low, the union at Caesars Windsor sees their new contract as a necessary compromise.
Sun, Apr 10, 2011
Almost immediately after completion of the bwin / PartyGaming merger, the German states delivered bad news in the form of proposed high taxes on sports betting turnover, not just on win. The company’s exposure to the German market hurt the stock and its rating.
Sun, Apr 10, 2011
California, with the world’s eighth largest economy, may soon pass a law that could allow the state to claim tax revenues from online poker, something that many millions of players do illegally.
Sun, Apr 10, 2011
In an interview with Forbes magazine, Wynn Resorts Chairman and CEO Steve Wynn explains why he did an about-face and aligned himself with an online poker room.
Sun, Apr 10, 2011
Casinos Austria International has relaunched its online casino site with the release of 100 new games.
Sun, Apr 10, 2011
Although an Iowa Senate committee approved an internet poker bill in March, and it has the support of numerous legislators, the measure is not likely to progress as it is written. The committee chairman said legislators need to have a better understanding of how many Iowans play poker online illegally, so a revamped bill will approve a study.
Sun, Apr 10, 2011
Mark Lipparelli (l.), the head of Nevada’s gaming board, says regulators will not be unduly stringent when it sizes up the past record of online gaming companies.
Sun, Apr 10, 2011
Online operator Chilipoker has introduced social networking features that enable players to interact in many of the same ways as they would in a physical poker room—even the ability to bet they will last longer than their friends in a given tournament.
Sun, Apr 10, 2011
After announcing poor results for 2010, the chairman of the online poker site 888.com is predicting the site will soon be one of the top five online poker networks.
Sun, Apr 10, 2011
Sportsbook technology provider Offsidegaming and Evolution Gaming, a pioneer of Live Casino dealer gaming technology, have formed a strategic partnership to offer Live Blackjack, Roulette, Baccarat and Mermaid’s Fortune through the company’s software platform, starting in July.
Sun, Apr 10, 2011
Rock Ohio Caesars has bought an option to buy the Ritz Carlton hotel (l.) in downtown Cleveland just blocks from where the company is developing its Horseshoe casino.
Sun, Apr 10, 2011
A new gaming association is arming itself for the battle to bring table games to New York State. Legislators will take their time with this one; they don’t have to vote till 2012.
Sun, Apr 10, 2011
A bill now before the Nevada state assembly would allow gamblers to play just about everywhere on computers and smart-phones, including in their hotel rooms. Cantor Gaming’s “E-deck” (l.) would be one device that could be used.
Sun, Apr 10, 2011
Casino Control Commission approves Marc Lasry (l.) and his partners to manage three Atlantic City casinos. One will be removed, however, when the deal to sell Trump Marina to Landry’s to operate as a Golden Nugget is completed.
Sun, Apr 10, 2011
A group of investors in the Las Vegas Sands Corp. take aim at Chairman Sheldon Adelson (l.) and others at the top, saying they put shareholder value at risk through risky business.
Sun, Apr 10, 2011
New Jersey real estate developer Bruce Toll has paid Trump Entertainment over $5 million for the rights to build a casino. The site once contained the Playboy Hotel Casino in Atlantic City (l.), which was later rebranded as the Trump World’s Fair casino hotel.
Sun, Apr 10, 2011
The newest resort in Las Vegas drained cash in advance of its December opening, but experts say no matter: Cosmopolitan could set a new standard for Sin City.
Sun, Apr 10, 2011
If the Illinois legislature exempts casinos from the Smoke Free Illinois act, it would be the first state in the nation’s history to take that action. It’s a real possibility as the House voted to remove casinos from the 2008 law.
Sun, Apr 10, 2011
Singer-songwriter Jimmy Buffet and casino veteran Tom Brosig recently asked the Mississippi Gaming Commission to approve the design and financing of their Margaritaville Casino and to allow construction to proceed. The $48 million resort will include a casino, a Margaritaville-themed restaurant, retail, events center and marina.
Sun, Apr 10, 2011
In a “brilliant” defensive strategy, Borgata Hotel Casino and Spa plans to renovate its 2,000-room hotel tower.
Sun, Apr 10, 2011
Seven new casinos could be built in Michigan if a group called Michigan is Yours! successfully pushes an initiative proposal they it unveiled last week.
Sun, Apr 10, 2011
Among numerous proposals to expand gambling in Texas is a Senate bill that would permit video lottery terminals in existing racetracks and federally recognized Indian reservations. None of the bills, however, is considered likely to pass this session.
Sun, Apr 10, 2011
The South Dakota Lottery Commission voted unanimously to allow video lottery establishments to offer new games that resemble slot machines. Casino owners told commissioners the new games could help reverse the decrease in business caused by the economy and a smoking ban.
Sun, Apr 10, 2011
At a forum on the future of the gaming and horseracing industries in New Jersey, commission head Jon Hanson says there will be no slots at racetracks. Jeffrey Gural, poised to take over the Meadowlands, attended the forum and asked Governor Chris Christie for an extension to close the deal.
Sun, Apr 10, 2011
The Presque Isle Downs racino declared it has no intention of doing business with real estate developer Gregory J. Rubino, who is trying to lift a board-imposed ban on his doing business in the state’s gaming industry.
Sun, Apr 10, 2011
The year-end tax data proves Atlantic City’s gaming profits continue to plunge as recession, competition increase.
Sun, Apr 10, 2011
It took an Albany newspaper more than two years to get the New York Racing Association’s 2009 business plan; now NYRA is fighting release of 2010-2011 plans.
Sun, Apr 10, 2011
A Las Vegas firm has filed for a license to operate the shuttered Casino MonteLago. A neighboring property, the former Ritz-Carlton hotel, has just reopened.
Sun, Apr 10, 2011
A revision in casino regulations now allows casinos to cancel in-house progressive jackpots and to pocket the money themselves.
Sun, Apr 10, 2011
The largest casino project ever proposed for California was killed last week by the city council of Richmond, which by a 5-2 vote rejected an Indian casino and retail development for Point Molate on San Francisco Bay.
Sun, Apr 10, 2011
The federal government moved quickly last week to speed up a fee to trust application by the Tohono O'odham Nation of Arizona in order to prevent land the tribe owns from being annexed into the city of Glendale.
Sun, Apr 10, 2011
Since opening in December 2007, the Saganing Eagles Landing Casino in Standish, Michigan, the economy has been in “crisis mode.” Still, it continues to generate revenue and prepare for more prosperous times.
Sun, Apr 10, 2011
Iowa’s Peninsula Gaming has appointed new corporate vice presidents in the areas of food-and-beverage, Stefan Huba, and marketing, Jim Rafferty (l.).
Sun, Apr 10, 2011
Software supplier and consultant NEWave announced it has promoted Tom Bechtel from vice president of operations to chief operating officer.
Sun, Apr 10, 2011
Joseph L. Billhimer recently joined MTR Gaming Group, Inc. as senior vice president for Operations and Development. He also will serve as president and general manager for Mountaineer Park, Inc.
Sun, Apr 10, 2011
Logistics and parts management at Shuffle Master Asia is now being handled by Paul Hodgson. The expert in stock control developed his gaming chops at IGT Asia.
Sun, Apr 10, 2011
Bill Warner, the founder of Warner Gaming, is interim leader for the Hard Rock Hotel in Las Vegas; management jobs also have opened up at the hotel, which defaulted on $1B in loans.
Sun, Apr 10, 2011
PokerStars has named Guy Templer as Business Development Director. Former employee Lee Jones comes back as head of the new Home Games department.
Sun, Apr 10, 2011
Bally announces commitments for credit facilities, a share repurchase program and a pending Dutch auction for shares.
Sun, Apr 10, 2011
International Game Technology is releasing the online version of its legendary Jacks or Better video poker game for use on mobile devices.
Sun, Apr 10, 2011
Vegas.com and the Las Vegas Palms resort partner to provide ease of booking at the resort via a streamlined virtual “shopping cart.”
Sun, Apr 10, 2011
Slots and systems supplier Unidesa also delivers products for the bingo market. The Spain-based company recently added the Canary Islands to the autonomous communities where bingo halls are connected by its Networked Jackpot Bingo system.
Sun, Apr 10, 2011
The publisher of Penthouse magazine has signed a deal to open a Penthouse-branded club across the street from the only casino in Auckland, New Zealand. And believe it or not, the casino doesn’t like it one bit!
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