NEWS & NOTES

Full House Resorts out of Las Vegas is seeking $300 million in additional debt to help expand Bronco Billy’s Casino and Hotel in Cripple Creek, Colorado. In its SEC filing, Full House said it would also use the money to redeem $106.8 million in debt due 2024. It will add a 300-room hotel, parking garage, meeting space, rooftop pool, spa and fine dining restaurant as part of a 67 percent expansion. The expansion was prompted when voters in November approved allowing the three casino cities to eliminate the $100 wager limit. • Mohegan Tribal Gaming Authority’s corporate family rating for debt has been raised to “Caa1” with a “stable” outlook by Moody’s Investors Service Inc. Its “probability of default” rating was also raised to “Caa1-PD” from “Caa2-PD. Moody’s commented: “The upgrade considers that on January 26, Mohegan Tribal Gaming Authority closed on a refinancing that had a meaningful positive impact on the company’s liquidity.” The authority had over $2 billion in debt as of September 30. Last month Mohegan Gaming and Entertainment asked South Korea if it could postpone until 2023 the opening of its Inspire International Resort. ● Casinos in Massachusetts including Plainridge Park Casino are back in business, open 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Plainridge reopened the last week of January, followed by Encore Boston Harbor in Everett and MGM Springfield. Previously, Governor Charlie Baker required businesses to close by 9:30 p.m. They still cannot exceed 25 percent capacity. ● The Grand Canal Shoppes at the Venetian resort in Las Vegas has a new attraction. The Museum of Dream Space, or MoDS Vegas, features high-tech digital art that creates an interactive and unique experience for guests. “Everyone comes out happy and in a better mood. You get creative and that’s what we want,” said MoDS Vegas Manager Gabriella Diaz. ● Grand Korea Leisure Co. Ltd., an operator of foreigner-only casinos, has announced its three gaming halls—two in Seoul venues and one Busan—will remained closed until February 15. The Seoul venues have been temporarily suspended since November 24 and the Busan site since December 1 as Covid-19 countermeasures. ● MGM National Harbor reopened its restaurants Friday, nearly two months after Prince George’s County, Maryland shut down indoor dining due to rising numbers of Covid-19 cases. Restaurants will still be limited to 25 percent capacity, which also applies to the casino at large. ● Southern California’s San Manuel Tribe has donated $1 million to help businesses in San Bernardino County. Fifty small businesses were each awarded $20,000 by the tribe. The tribe operates the San Manuel Casino, 60 miles from downtown Los Angeles. The list of beneficiaries included restaurants, personal care services and others deemed “non-essential” that remain critical to the region’s economic recovery. ● Australia’s Star Entertainment Group has increased capacity at its flagship property the Star Sydney to 5,000 people across gaming areas after the NSW state government agreed to ease Covid-19 restrictions. Until January 29, the resort was subject to a cap of 300 patrons per area. ● The Tachi Palace Casino Resort in Lemoore, California is completing an $80 million year-long renovation project that adds 24,000 square feet of additional space including a sports bar with indoor and outdoor dining; an expanded food court; a high-limit room on the third floor; and renovated hotel rooms. The property is owned and operated by the Tachi-Yokut Tribe. Cuningham Architecture was in charge of design. ● Sports fans have a new place to cheer on their favorite team, the new Caesars Palace sports bar Stadia. The new venue, set to open this spring, will offer high-end cocktails, mobile food ordering and 16 large HDTV and LED screens for watching games. Its VIP leather-wrapped viewing domes are designed to look like vintage leather football helmets. ● The future of Kenya sports betting giant SportPesa is up in the air after major U.K. partners Equiom and Ince GD Corporate Services have terminated their partnerships with the brand. Equiom was SportPesa’s registered agent in Isle of Man, and Ince GD has been the brand’s company secretary since 2017. Both companies have filed resignation notices at their respective company registers in the Isle of Man and the U.K., without explanation. SportPesa has faced ta disputes with Kenyan authorities, which have threatened to remove the company’s sports betting license. ● The Twin River Casino Hotel in Rhode Island and Laborers Local Union 711 have reached a deal where health insurance will be jointly funded for casino table dealers whose hours were cut in January due to Covid-19. Slot machines have returned to 24/7 operations and table games followed on February 4. The casino won’t be returning to full service for some time although both hotels are operating. ● Hard Rock International is issuing cash bonuses to team members in several states, including over $1 million to be split among 2,184 employees of Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Atlantic City. “The dedication of our team members has been crucial to driving the success of our casino resorts, and we are proud that Hard Rock Atlantic City has been able to prevail during these challenging times,” said Hard Rock Chairman Jim Allen. “We are committed to the well-being of our valued team members.” ● Las Vegas Sands, Wynn Resorts and MGM Resorts International have made Fortune magazine’s 2021 list of the “World’s Most Admired Companies.” LVS came in at No. 4 in the hotels, casinos and resorts category and No. 1 among Nevada-based companies. Wynn was ranked No. 5 and came in second In Nevada. MGM was ranked sixth worldwide among hotels, casinos and resorts and third in Nevada. The rankings are decided in conjunction with corporate executives and analysts based on criteria that range from financial soundness to social responsibility. Apple tops the 2021 list. Meanwhile, Caesars Entertainment has ranked No. 104 on Newsweek’s list of “America’s Most Responsible Companies” in 2020, up 42 slots from 2019. Caesars was lauded for its commitments to climate action, water security and human rights.