NEWS & NOTES

Indian tax officers raided four offshore casino vessels and one on-shore casino in Goa’s capital of Panaji late last month as part of an investigation into illegal cash transactions. The floating casinos, Deltin Royale, Deltin Jaqk, Casino Pride 1 and Pride 2, were closed for a day, as was Casino Paradies at the Hotel Neo Majestic in Porvorim. The residents of some company directors also were searched.   •  Betting on this year’s FIFA World Cup in Brazil is expected to exceed US$1.6 billion, according to UK bookmaking giant William Hill. The public will be offered odds on some 700 different markets, from naming a game’s first goal scorer to the number of red or yellow cards.  •  A tender for the acquisition of the sole casino in Venice has been closed with no bids submitted, commencing a process whereby the city is free to negotiate privately with entities interested in purchasing the venerable gambling hall. The venue is one of only four land-based casinos in Italy.  •  WMS Gaming won a court decision in the patent infringement lawsuit brought against the slot-maker by MGT Capital Investments. MGT claims it owns intellectual property rights via its social games to content in games released by WMS and Aruze Gaming. Last week, the United States Court of Appeals vacated an earlier decision denying a WMS motion to move the case from Louisiana to Illinois. The case will now be heard by the appeals court’s panel in WMS’ home state of Illinois. The decision does not impact MGT’s ongoing action in Mississippi against Aruze.  •  Affinity Gaming may resolve board infighting over control of the Las Vegas-based company that operates 11 properties in four states. In separate filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission last week, Connecticut-based hedge fund Silver Point Capital and private equity firm Z Capital Partners of Illinois used similar language to describe reconstituting Affinity’s board. The changes would resolve any litigation filed by Z Capital in the past year. Z Capital is Affinity’s largest with a 30.5 percent stake in the company. Silver Point Capital is the second largest shareholder with 24.9 percent stake. Affinity, which was created in December 2010 following the bankruptcy reorganization of Herbst Gaming, is not publicly traded but has publicly owned debt.  •  Delaware’s Dover Downs Gaming & Entertainment reported a $1 million net loss for the first quarter, as revenues continue to be negatively impacted by heavy regional competition. Dover Downs COO Denis McGlynn said that without a deal to lower state revenue taxes, layoffs are likely. The casino is now $46 million in debt.  •  Supplier Paradise Entertainment Ltd. announced that its subsidiary LT (Macau) Ltd. has won a service contract with the Macau Jockey Club casino. LT Macau will provide the casino with sales, marketing, promotion, player development and referral, event coordination and other services. The contract entitles LT Macau to 55 percent of the net win from the jockey club casino’s live multi-game machines and chip-less e-baccarat tables, and to 40 percent of the net win from the casino’s slot machines.  •  The Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board has renewed the gaming license of Sands Casino Resort Bethlehem for three years. Despite dealing with a cyber-attack in February, the departure of longtime president Robert DeSalvio and rumors of a pending sale to Tropicana Entertainment by parent company Las Vegas Sands, board members commented at the relicensing hearing that Sands has excelled where it counts—in generating tax revenue for the state of Pennsylvania, and for contributions to the city of Bethlehem.  •  Novomatic Gaming Spain has launched its new website, www.novomatic-spain.com. Based on the new corporate website design of the Novomatic Group, the Spanish subsidiary is now able to present a new web space where the company’s entire product range for casinos, arcades, bingos and the street market can be viewed. A special section of the website is dedicated to customer service, offering user manual downloads and other types of documents for registered users.  •  The South Dakota Lottery voted 6-1 last week to ease the policy that governs promotions run by licensed lottery operators. For example, “Ladies Nights” are now permissible under the rules.  ?   Station Casinos will spend $20 million to upgrade its Green Valley Ranch Resort in Henderson, Nevada. Station will add four restaurants and bars including Mexican restaurant Mercadito and the F&B outlet Tippling Hall. Green Valley will also upgrade nearly 300 hotel rooms. The renovations are expected to be completed by spring of 2015.  ?  The first Chinese-produced show on the Las Vegas Strip has begun a long-term residency at the Palazzo Casino. “Panda!” is based on Chinese folklore and motifs, and includes views of an ultra-modern Beijing skyline on giant LCD screens. The show is produced by the team behind the 2008 Beijing Olympics opening and closing ceremonies.  ?  The $12 million SlotZilla zip line attraction is now open at the Fremont Street Experience in Downtown Las Vegas. Rides start from a 12-story tower that resembles a giant slot machine. Another ride starts at an altitude of 77 feet, and takes riders 850 lateral feet to a platform near the D and 4 Queens casinos.  ?  Law enforcement in Ohio last week, including Ohio Department of Public Safety, U.S. Secret Service and local police last week raided multiple alleged internet gambling sites in multiple counties. In Cleveland, Martin Sarcyk, a man who had previously been convicted in connection with an internet gambling ring was arrested again and indicted for money laundering and gambling at a company called Union Vending.  •  The Ohio Lottery Commission April 30 awarded a gaming license to Belterra Park Gaming & Entertainment Center in Belterra, which opened to the public on May 1. The new racino, near Cincinnati, employs 800 and has 1,500 slots and six restaurants.  •  “Technical problems,” that shut down surveillance cameras closed the Northern Edge Navajo Casino in Farmington, New Mexico on April 29 for part of the day. The Navajo Nation Gaming Enterprise did little to shed light on what happened when questioned by reporters. No one from the New Mexico Gaming Control Board was available to comment either. State law requires a casino to close if its surveillance cameras are not functioning.  •  The Arizona legislature has sent a bill allowing legal advance deposit wager (ADW) to Governor Jan Brewer’s signature. Supporters of the state’s horse racing industry say the change will be positive. The bill passed both houses by handy margins. Thirty-seven states have approved ADW. Arizona is currently dependent on an off-track betting network at
62 satellite locations.  •  San Manuel Indian Bingo & Casino in Southern California has been recertified in its designation as a Responsible Gambling Establishment by Board of Directors for the California Council on Problem Gambling. The casino has earned this certification every year since 2007. According to CCPG trainer Marc Lefkowitz, “San Manuel is not just a partner of the organization, but an actual part of it.”  •  Ohio’s Horseshoe Casino Cleveland is bringing back a bit of nostalgia, the Silver Grille cardboard ovens that were popular 30-40 years ago. The casino, located in the historic Higbee Building, is bringing back the cardboard ovens that kids loved from the old Art Deco restaurant, that was once located there. For one time only, on May 18, the cardboard ovens will be used to serve lunch as part of the casino’s Then & Now promotion. Lunch served in the ovens costs $29 apiece.