NEWS & NOTES

Sihanoukville’s Queenco Casino is seeking investors to expand its operations in the seaside Cambodian town, according to a report issued by Israeli-based owner, Queenco Leisure International. The company wants to build a 3,000-room hotel on nine hectares of land adjoining the casino. But after financial losses of about US$1.18 million in the most recent quarter, Queenco said it may be forced to sell the land.  •  The UK’s Advertising Standards Authority ordered Betfair to pull two online ads it said were misleading. The watchdog received complaints about three ads in total, all offering “money back specials” under certain terms. The ASA excused one after concluding it was properly worded. The two offending ads related to refunds on wagers made on England’s World Cup performance and Andy Murray’s performance at Wimbledon.  •  The budget for a star-studded film Melco Crown Entertainment has commissioned to promote the 2015 opening of its Studio City resort on Cotai has ballooned to US$70 million. Martin Scorsese is directing the short, which was written by Boardwalk Empire creator Terence Winter and includes Robert De Niro, Brad Pitt and Leonardo Di Caprio in the cast. The three are being paid $13 million each for their roles, according to the New York Post.  •  Italian newspaper La Gazzetta dello Sport is launching a Playtech-powered online sports book for the Italian market. The five-year deal calls for Playtech to provide software and related products and support for the site, dubbed GazzaBet.it.  •  Organizers of the Macao Gaming Show, taking place November 18-20 at the Venetian Macao, have called on gaming companies from across the world to take a look at the “expansive selection” of special exhibitor and sponsorship packages that are available throughout the show. With a focus on products from across the international gaming industry, and the show about to move into its final phase of preparation, MGS said that now is the time for potential parties to register their interest and discuss all the opportunities on offer ahead of the event, which has been dubbed “By Asia For The World.” “We are very much looking forward to receiving the full spectrum of the international gaming community to the Macao Gaming Show,” Ross Zhang, event operation manager for MGS, said. “With an extensive database of gaming industry professionals and organizations, and a comprehensive list of confirmed media partners, we are delivering the Macao Gaming Show message to the world.”  •  GameAccount Network has announced a partnership with a multi-state U.S. casino operator to launch a Simulated Gaming online experience for new customers and existing patrons of clients selected casinos in the United States. It is expected that GameAccount Network and the client will launch their first Simulated Gaming website in the last quarter of 2014 subject to suitable regulatory approvals, after which GameAccount will reveal the operator’s identity. Simulated Gaming is a free-play gaming website platform that is designed to have casinos prepared for prospective real-money internet gaming.  •  Leading social game developer Zynga announced that the new Zynga Poker is now available to consumers worldwide on the App Store and Google Play. The new, free-to-play Zynga Poker was developed for mobile from the ground up, blending personalized game play, fast performance and sophisticated design to create an authentic casino experience for players. “In reimagining Zynga Poker, we set out to create the most authentic and immersive poker experience that mirrors the fun and excitement consumers have on real casino floors—all in a free-to-play social game,” said Jon Liu, vice president of games for Zynga Casino.  •  The Horseshoe Casino Cleveland in Ohio has withdrawn a controversial dice-themed city park that it proposed for a tiny piece of land that it recently acquired near its casino. The property once was occupied by the Stanley Block but is now vacant. The park, which the casino recently acquired, is surrounded on three sides by valet parking and the casino’s welcome center. The item was withdrawn to give local residents a chance to comment.  •  The Ohio Lottery has started to deploy video lottery terminals at fraternal and veterans clubs, replacing existing raffle machines that the state maintained are illegal. A lawsuit is still pending on those machines. The lottery estimates that the new machines will make the state about $10 million a year. It will share the profits with the fraternal groups, 60/40. They are expected to be fully operational by late September. Unlike traditional slot machines, lottery machines have a predetermined outcome, just like a scratcher.  •  The Spa Resort Hotel in Palm Springs, once a playground of the rich and famous, has begun to fade into the landscape. The Agua Caliente Band of Cahuilla Indians has begun demolishing the resort and nearby buildings. According to Tribal Chairman Jeff L. Grubbe, “We are in the planning stages of creating a vision for this key location in downtown Palm Springs.” He added, “Our next steps include demolition of existing structures as well as taking the necessary steps to protect and preserve the hot mineral spring.”