- Representatives from Suffolk County Off Track Betting recently announced that a large-scale renovation and expansion of its Jake’s 58 property is currently in the works. The upgrades, which could cost as much as $200 million, will include significant additions to the existing building and will double the machine count from 1,000 to 2,000. ● A Las Vegas couple—40-year-old Amber Crow and 21-year-old Daniel Rodriguez—were recently arrested and charged with setting a total of eight small fires at various casinos around the Las Vegas Strip. The arson spree included two trash cans at the Flamingo, two fires at Caesars Palace and four at the Horseshoe. Upon apprehension, the two suspects reportedly turned on each other, as Crow alleged that Rodriguez burned her belongings. Rodriguez then said he wasn’t present for the Flamingo fires, and told authorities that Crow frequently starts fires when angry. The pair will have a preliminary hearing May 16. ● Macau welcomed 354,000 visitors in the first three days of the Labor Day celebration, or 118,000 a day, according to official data. That’s far more than the expected 70,000 daily arrivals, but much less than the 2019 numbers, with 177,000 daily visitors during the holiday, also known as “May Golden Week.” ● Hong Kong-listed LET Group, formerly Suncity Group, has agreed to sell a 54-acre plot of land in Hokkaido, Japan for $27 million, and may also sell a parcel of land in Okinawa. It’s part of the group’s broader strategy to prevail despite the arrest and imprisonment of its founder, Alvin Chau, and the shutdown of its lucrative Macau junket business. ● A high-profile Indian gaming investor was among 83 people arrested in Thailand last week for running a makeshift casino at a Pattaya hotel. Chikoti Praveen Kumar, who runs a floating casino boat in Goa, reportedly told gamblers the casino was legal, though Thailand has yet to move on proposed casino legislation. ● Macau casinos have been directed to strengthen security measures following a brawl on a gaming floor in Cotai. Representatives of all six concessionaires met with police to discuss the incident and ways to improve their emergency response. Eight people involved in the fight have been banned from entering Macau. ● The New York Racing Association has secured a loan of $455 million to rebuild Belmont Park under bills that were passed by the state legislature, following negotiations between legislative leaders and Governor Kathy Hochul. Hochul is expected to sign the legislation into law. The loan will allow NYRA to demolish Belmont Park and replace it with a smaller, year-round facility approximately one-fifth the size of the current grandstand. NYRA will give up its lease to Aqueduct racetrack, and downstate racing will be consolidated at Belmont. The state owns both tracks.
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