NEWS & NOTES

Singapore’s Marina Bay Sands has reopened its second and third hotel towers. Both towers, which were forced to close in April due to Covid-19, reopened August 1, two weeks after Tower 1 opened alongside other non-gaming amenities. Also open again are more restaurants and retail stores. The Sands Expo and Convention Centre, Marquee and Sands Theatre are still closed. • While Las Vegas Raiders fans will not be able to attend a home game this season, they will get to view Allegiant Stadium. The new arena’s website is advertising tours for people who want to “go behind the scenes of our world-class stadium” while waiting for it to open—which may not happen until sometime in 2021. • Wynn Resorts has closed its Yokohama office in what could well be the latest withdrawal from the race to develop an integrated resort in Japan. The U.S. company had previously ended its pursuit of an IR in Osaka to focus its energies on Yokohama. The company issued a statement saying, “Long term, we remain interested in the Japan integrated resort market and will monitor the situation closely.” • The X-Train, a planned high-speed, L.A.-to-Las Vegas rail line that was supposed to launch in November 2019, could now be on track to start operations in spring 2021. It would compete with Virgin Trains USA’s planned high-speed train from Victorville, California to Vegas. • Churchill Downs Inc. has cut off sales of general admission tickets for the 2020 Kentucky Derby in an effort limit the crowd size. CEO Bill Carstanjen said in a quarterly conference call that “we’re still well under the capacity that we’ve discussed with the governor. But we’ve stopped (selling general admission tickets) anyway because we want to make sure first and foremost that when our customers come to the event, that they feel safe.” Usually run the first Saturday in May, the 2020 Run for the Roses was pushed back to September 5 due to the coronavirus. • The Massachusetts Gaming Commission has approved West Springfield’s request for $200,000 from the Community Mitigation Fund, enough to pay 19 percent of the cost of 16 public safety employees to deal with an influx of calls attributed to the MGM Springfield casino. The grant is a one-year, one-time payment, commissioners said at a virtual meeting last month. • Thirty-eight acres of undeveloped land on the Las Vegas Strip sold for $108.6 million during a virtual bankruptcy auction, Colliers International Las Vegas announced in July. The site includes 750 feet of frontage on Las Vegas Boulevard directly across from the Mandalay Bay and is walking distance from the Raiders’ Allegiant Stadium. • Three Station Casinos poker rooms slated to reopen August 3 have been approved for eight-handed play with Plexiglas dividers. The rooms at Boulder Station, Red Rock Resort and Santa Fe Station had been set to host six-handed games, but recently gained approval for eight-handed play. No reopening date has been announced for the Green Valley Ranch Resort and Palace Station poker rooms. • The D Las Vegas rescinded a dress code policy that barred people with face and neck tattoos after an inked-up patron went on an Instagram rant viewed by thousands. “With @vegasbikefest coming up, just wanted to let all the homies know who’re covered in art that you might not want to book a room at @thedlasvegas unless you’re cool with getting profiled,” wrote Ryan Dannettelle. D spokeswoman Angela Ciciriello said, “In evaluating our policy, we determined that limiting face and neck tattoos was overreaching.” • Elk Valley Rancheria in Crescent City, California has announced the permanent closure of Tsunami Lanes Bowling. “We thank the community and all of our bowlers for the years of support and great memories,” said Tribal Chairman Dale A. Miller. • Legends Casino Hotel in Toppenish, Washington, plans to reopen August 13 under limited hours and capacity, the Yakama Nation has announced. The casino will be open from 10 a.m. to 2 a.m. daily, operate at 50 percent guest capacity, according to the reopening plan. The hotel also will operate at 50 percent capacity. The swimming pool and fitness center will be open with limited hours and availability. • The stage show Absinthe, performed on the Roman Plaza at Caesars Palace, may be among the first to bring live performance back to the Las Vegas Strip. Show creator Spiegelworld said in a press release that it is working to reconfigure the tent to allow for social distancing because of the pandemic, accommodating 220 people, instead of 600. • The Ho-Chunk Nation Department of Health is investigating multiple Covid-19 cases at Ho-Chunk casinos in Wisconsin. According to a social media post from nation officials, two employees at the Ho-Chunk Gaming in Wittenberg and three at the Ho-Chunk Gaming in the Wisconsin Dells have tested positive for the virus. • Live! Casino Pittsburgh is holding a dealer school starting August 17, with room for 120 students. Of those, between 60 and 70 will be hired at the $150 million casino, which is expected to open before Thanksgiving with 750 slot machines and 30 table games. • Las Vegas’ Downtown Grand has officially christened its latest expansion, the Gallery Tower, named for the art that will be displayed throughout the property. After 18 months of construction, the tower is accepting reservations starting September 22. • Red Lake Casino in Minnesota, operated by the Red Lake Nation, reopened July 31 with new hours and new restrictions due to the Covid-19 pandemic. Temperature checks are taken on entry with their newly installed automatic rapid infrared thermal cameras. Valid photo IDs are now required and will be verified by Seven Clans security staff. The casino is now smoke-free. • After being closed for four months, Bok Homa Casino in Sandersville, Mississippi reopened August 8, the first Pearl River Resort property back in business as the Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians unveiled plans for a “phased reopening.” The Golden Moon Hotel & Casino will open its doors again at noon on August 14 and the reopening date for the Silver Star Casino has not been set. • Churchill Downs may require all Kentucky Derby jockeys to be in the state by August 24. Churchill Downs Communications Director Darren Rogers said an official decision will be announced soon, along with a list of safety protocols, including how many fans will be allowed to attend the race. • Interwetten has agreed a multi-year partnership with the Greek Super League to become the league’s new naming right and main sponsor. The three-year partnership will start with the upcoming 2020-21 season, lasting until the end of 2022-23. The league will be rebranded Super League Interwetten, with Interwetten to be integrated into the official league logo. • Foxwoods Resort Casino and New Hampshire Motor Speedway have renewed their partnership through the 2021 season just as the NASCAR Cup Series begins. Speedway GM David McGrath said the partnership is a “win-win” and added, “we certainly hit the jackpot in affiliating with Foxwoods.” Foxwoods Interim CEO Jason Guyot said he looks forward to welcoming fans “for what’s sure to be a wild 2021 race.” • Diamond Jim’s Casino in Rosamond, California, has laid off 20 employees and completely closed due to the pandemic. The casino is owned by PT Gaming, which owns 11 other card rooms in the state, and has had to lay of a total of 492 employees. • BetMGM has signed a multi-year contract with the PGA Tour to be its official betting operator. It will have the rights to use PGA Tour trademarks and advertise in tour media. PGA Tour executive Norb Gambuzza said, “Through the power of BetMGM brand and resources, this new relationship will help accelerate our sports betting strategy and enable the Tour to reach new fans and further engage current fans.”