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Fontainebleau Failure?
Sat, Apr 25, 2009
The next resort scheduled to open in Vegas has filed a $3 billion lawsuit against its lenders alleging they are backing out of the project after a default, which is denied by Fontainebleau Resorts.
Vol. 7 • No. 15 • April 27, 2009 - Print This Issue
Cover Story
Featured Stories
WEEKLY FEATURE: Seminole Game Plan
Sat, Apr 25, 2009
Two completely different plans emerge from the Florida legislature while Governor Charlie Crist pushes for the compact that he negotiated with the Seminoles in 2007.
MGM and Dubai World reach CityCenter accord?
MGM Mirage and Dubai World are working on an agreement to guarantee that CityCenter is completed.
Rank gets Isle’s Coventry casino
The ambitious Isle Casino at the Ricoh Arena, once part of U.S. operator Isle of Capri’s dream of a chain of big U.K. casinos, will be rebranded as a G Casino by new owner Rank.
Indian gaming pioneer S. Timothy Wapato dies
S. Timothy Wapato, Indian gaming pioneer and the founder and former executive director of the National Indian Gaming Association died at his home in South Dakota on April 19 just one week after attending the NIGA trade show in Phoenix.
UIGEA face-off
The debate over the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act has put two seemingly disparate entities in competition to sway lawmakers about whether or not to repeal the online gaming ban in the U.S. Former Senator Al D'Amato (l.), head of the Poker Players Alliance, squares off against professional and collegiate sports leagues.
FANTINI'S FINANCE: Quarter Questions
Sat, Apr 25, 2009
The highly anticipated first quarter reports for the gaming industry are due next week and should reveal a lot about the direction of the gaming industry—both operators and vendors.
Fine appointed Greektown CEO
Sat, Apr 25, 2009
Randall Fine has been approved as CEO of the Greektown Casino by the casino’s management board and the bankruptcy court that oversees everything the casino has done since it filed for Chapter 11 nearly a year ago.
Columns : ASIAN GAMING
Truce holds between Ho and Adelson; Macau revenues up
Sat, Apr 25, 2009
The bitter rivalry between SJM’s Stanley Ho and Las Vegas Sands’ Sheldon Adelson is on hold as the Macau casino companies unite to address serious issues facing Asia’s most important gaming destination.
Singapore outlines regulatory scheme
Sat, Apr 25, 2009
With two casinos set to open within the next year, the Singapore government last week sketched out how its regulatory agencies would be set up.
Columns : EUROPEAN GAMING
Slovenia casino seeking new investors
Sat, Apr 25, 2009
The only full casino within the capital city of Slovenia is looking to raise €4.5 million in new funding to complete its recovery plans.
Gran Scala regulations approved
Sat, Apr 25, 2009
The government of Aragon, Spain has given its approval to a bill designed to regulate immense tourism development plans similar to the Gran Scala casino and leisure complex.
Denmark to scrap monopoly
Sat, Apr 25, 2009
The Danish government has announced it is preparing a partial liberalization of the nation’s gaming market.
Columns : GLOBAL GAMING
New casinos producing for Chile
Sat, Apr 25, 2009
Initial results show that Chile’s new casinos are operating according to plan, but expose a potential weakness in regulations that disadvantage the country’s older casinos.
SkyCity rated 'Stable'
Sat, Apr 25, 2009
kyCity, operator of casinos in New Zealand and Australia, has been given a BBB-/Stable grade from ratings agency Standard and Poor’s.
New Zealand pub and club slot revenue down
Sat, Apr 25, 2009
In New Zealand, revenue from slot machines in venues other than casinos was down almost 10 percent for the first three months of 2009, compared with the last three months of 2008.
Opponents fear Jamaican casinos open to locals
Sat, Apr 25, 2009
A one-day gaming policy conference at the University of the West Indies was the scene of a clash between those in favor of and those opposed to allowing Jamaican residents to play at the island nation’s planned casinos.
Columns : ONLINE GAMING
Online growth opposed
Sun, Apr 26, 2009
A plan by the Atlantic Lottery Corp. to expand its online sports betting platform has riled some opponents.
iMEGA challenge headed to court
Sun, Apr 26, 2009
The case between iMEGA and the U.S. Department of Justice is tentatively scheduled for a July hearing after a panel decides whether information about credit card companies blocking legal transactions under the UIGEA can be added to the record.
Internet group joins Kentucky domain fight
Sun, Apr 26, 2009
The Internet Commerce Association filed a brief asking that a court of appeals ruling barring the state of Kentucky from seizing online casino domain names be upheld.
Expert: Online gamblers more disciplined
Sun, Apr 26, 2009
Dr. Howard Schaffer, an expert on addictions at Harvard Medical School, has announced the results of an extensive study on problem gambling that shows online gamblers to be more disciplined than live gamblers.
Antigua bolsters regulations
Sun, Apr 26, 2009
Antigua and Barbuda is set to strengthen its regulation of the online gaming industry with stronger rules and compliance requirements for online operators.
Columns : UNITED STATES GAMING
Station puts land on market, files suit against online site
Sat, Apr 25, 2009
Station Casinos is offering parcels for sale to ease debt; the company is also suing a web-based business.
Wynn, Sands amend agreements with creditors
Sat, Apr 25, 2009
Wynn Resorts and Las Vegas Sands struck deals with creditors in order to help stave off financial turmoil.
Mid-cap companies get analysts’ nod
Sat, Apr 25, 2009
Isle of Capri and Pinnacle Entertainment are positioned well to survive the economic downturn, several analysts said last week.
Illinois casinos lose to Indiana
Sat, Apr 25, 2009
A smoking ban at Chicago-area casinos along with major capital investment at casinos in northwest Indiana have shifted the field of play away from the Illinois metropolis.
Nevada Senate softens smoking ban
Sat, Apr 25, 2009
tate Senate passes bill easing restrictions on anti-smoking initiative in bars and restaurants.
Alabama governor fights bingo
Sat, Apr 25, 2009
The Alabama Supreme Court has ruled that a task force formed by Governor Bob Riley may retain possession of bingo machines and cash taken in a raid on an entertainment center in White Hall.
Maine Senate considers gaming expansion
Sat, Apr 25, 2009
A Maine lawmaker has introduced a bill that would allow three racetracks to convert to racinos.
Paterson seeks Aqueduct bids; Delware North sued
Sat, Apr 25, 2009
The star-crossed bidding process for the slot franchise at Aqueduct raceway in New York City enters phase III as the winner of the second phase, Delaware North, gets sued by a former partner.
Supporters of Ohio casinos lobby county commissioners
Sat, Apr 25, 2009
Supporters of a constitutional amendment that would allow casinos to be built in four Ohio cities lobbied their proposal last week before commissioners of Ashland County, where one of the casinos would be built.
Bill would punish Philadelphia on slots
Sat, Apr 25, 2009
State senators want to strip Philadelphia of slot revenue funds because of delays to the construction of two casinos.
Texas could be a major gaming player if lawmakers cooperate
Sat, Apr 25, 2009
If the legislature supports gaming legislation in Texas the state could very quickly become one of the biggest gaming players.
Kentucky looks at “virtual horse betting”
Sat, Apr 25, 2009
A Kentucky state senator has proposed a bill that would allow “virtual horse betting” as a way to prop up the real thing in one of the world’s top horse racing regions.
North Carolina looks at legalizing video poker
Sat, Apr 25, 2009
A state senator has introduced a bill that would legalize video poker in North Carolina, and generate a projected $500 million annually in tax revenue.
Kansas casino scheduled to open in November
Sat, Apr 25, 2009
The first of the four regional state-owned Kansas casinos appears on track to open in Dodge City in November, according to the operators of Boot Hill Casino and Resort.
Problem gamblers may get help in Nevada
Sat, Apr 25, 2009
The Nevada Assembly recently passed a bill that would enable judges to sentence suspected problem gamblers to treatment rather than jail.
Iowa casino conservative with cash
Sat, Apr 25, 2009
Iowa’s Prairie Meadows racino is an aberration: a gaming establishment without debt.
Union petitions blocked on Vegas referendum
Sat, Apr 25, 2009
A district court judge in Las Vegas rejected efforts by the Culinary Workers Union to block development of a new city hall that city officials say will anchor the redevelopment of the Downtown area.
Pinnacle delays Louisiana projects
Sat, Apr 25, 2009
Pinnacle Entertainment received 150-day delays form the Louisiana Gaming Control Board extending the time the company can use for its riverboat casinos in Lake Charles and Baton Rouge.
Columns : TRIBAL GAMING
Tribe likes Massachusetts interest in gaming
Sun, Apr 26, 2009
The Mashpee Wampanoag Tribe of Massachusetts is encouraged by the interest that the state legislature and governor are showing in gaming.
California committee kills bill that would help gaming tribe
Sun, Apr 26, 2009
A bill that was aimed at making it easier for a California gaming tribe to buy land next its casino died in a senate committee last week.
Arizona county returns tribe’s money
Sun, Apr 26, 2009
An Arizona county last week returned gaming revenue from a tribe—claiming that it came with strings attached.
Columns : PEOPLE
Magna appoints interim CEO
Sat, Apr 25, 2009
Magna Entertainment Corporation has appointed its restructuring adviser, Greg Rayburn, as interim chief executive operator.
Wynn Resorts loses VP
Sat, Apr 25, 2009
Wynn Resorts announced that its executive vice president and chief financial officer of Wynn Las Vegas, David Sisk, left the company.
Columns : GOODS & SERVICES
WMS earnings increase
Sun, Apr 26, 2009
Slot manufacturer WMS Gaming reported third-quarter increases in both revenues and profit, despite the economic downturn.
Bally expands Reno office
Sun, Apr 26, 2009
Slot and system manufacturer Bally Technologies announced it has leased a 41,000-square-foot buidling in south Reno, Nevada, to expand its office there.
EZ Baccarat approved in Macau
Sun, Apr 26, 2009
Table-game system supplier DEQ Systems Corporation annoucned that its “EZ Baccarat” system, a no-commission baccarat game with a side bet, has been approved for release in Macau.