Vol. 9 • No. 44 • November 14, 2011, Featured Articles, PODCASTS
GLOBAL GAMING BUSINESS PODCAST: Mark Birtha, President and Chief Development Officer at SOL Casinos
This week, a special edition of Global Gaming Business Podcast features an interview with Mark Birtha, the president and chief development officer at SOL Casinos, just days before the official grand opening of the new hotel, meeting space, spa, pool and other amenities at Casino del Sol in Tucson, Arizona
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The Pascua Yaqui tribe of Tucson have taken a reasoned attitude toward expansion: When the market is ready, they’re ready. Well, the new addition to Casino del Sol is one of the most impressive resorts in the Tucson area, competing even with the high-end properties dotting the surrounding mountains. Mark Birtha, a Las Vegas gaming veteran, was brought in last year to develop the new project. He discusses the goals of the tribe and how they hope the new facility will help them accomplish those goals. Birtha understands why service is the key component, however, and how the employees—largely tribal members—were trained and educated. He spoke with Global Gaming Business Publisher Roger Gros just days before the debut of the new facility on 11/11/11.
More Featured Articles
WEEKLY FEATURE: Death in Illinois
The Illinois legislature may finish out its fall session without addressing the objections of Governor Pat Quinn to a gaming expansion bill passed in May. The most recent attempt to do so died in the House last week and efforts by its champion, Rep. Lou Lang (l.), to revive it failed.
The Big Questions in Florida
As talks about destination casino resorts continue in Florida, opinions are forming and the players are gathering. Disney and the state Chamber of Commerce have come out against destination resorts in South Florida. But many other businesses say they’re neutral on the hot-button issue. Steve Wynn and MGM Resorts are interested in developing the resorts. But the Seminoles, the operators of the state’s only casino resorts in Tampa (l.) and Hollywood, are not happy campers.
Bermuda Considering Gaming Referendum
The island of Bermuda has debated the issue of gambling for years, installed in its top-flight hotels to attract more tourists. But politicians have never reached a consensus. Premier Paula Cox (l.) thinks voters might be able to break the deadlock.
Atlantic City Hilton Gets Another Chance
Colony Capital LLC, owners of the Atlantic City Hilton, have reached an agreement with the lenders to erase the debt of the casino, keeping it out of foreclosure. The deal would pump $24.3 million into the property, though Colony will give up ownership of its two Mississippi properties. The deal needs to be approved by New Jersey’s Division of Gaming Enforcement, which is evaluating the company’s financial stability.
Casinos Austria Reorganizing International Goals
The management shakeup at Casinos Austria International earlier this year has been followed by a rethink on global strategy. The plan is to trade costly and underperforming projects in European neighbor countries for the potential of bigger gains at home and in Asia and Latin America. CEO Karl Stoss (l.) is leading the effort.
Poker is Gambling, Says DOJ
The argument that online poker was exempt under the UIGEA bill passed in 2006 is simply wrong, says the Department of Justice in a filing connected to the lawsuits against online poker sites Full Tilt, PokerStars and Absolute Poker. Poker, says the government, is a game of chance, not of skill.
SAGSE Success
Last week’s SAGSE Buenos Aires trade show was accompanied by two mornings of seminars produced by Latin America media specialist Yogonet. The expo together with the discussions provided a good look into the mature-but-not-saturated Latin American market, with a focus on Argentina.
Tucson’s Casino del Sol Debuts New Hotel
Tucson’s Casino del Sol last week opened its new hotel, packed with non-gaming amenities, designed to launch the property into the upper echelon of resorts in the Tucson area.