NEWS & NOTES

The Las Vegas Culinary Workers Union Local 226 has launched a radio campaign against Station Casinos shareholder Deutsche Bank for manipulating Libor rates, for which the bank paid a $2.5 billion fine. The complaint is part of an ongoing effort to get Station to agree to unionize its employees.  •  The Double Down Betting, Sports Bar & Grill in Idaho Falls closed its doors after its historical horse racing machines were banned across Idaho for being too similar to illegal slot machines. Meanwhile, the Coeur d’AleneTribe missed its deadline to collect $95,000 in legal costs after winning an Idaho Supreme Court case accusing the governor of not timely vetoing a bill to keep instant horse racing machines legal in Idaho, the Attorney General announced.  •  The Macanese government will “temporarily” extend the concession for Macau’s dog racing track operator, Macau (Yat Yuen) Canidrome Co. Ltd., which was set to expire December 31. Angela Leong, executive director of SJM, said the operator hopes to add new attractions at the venue, like family-friendly or cultural events.  ?  Scientific Games Corporation has signed a new contract to provide retail technology, including 600 terminals, software and maintenance services, to the Verwaltungsgesellschaft Lotto und Toto in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern mbH, Germany. The eight-year contract, which was awarded through a competitive procurement process may be extended by the lottery for an additional two years. Barbara Becker, managing director of the Verwaltungsgesellschaft Lotto und Toto, said, “Building on nearly two decades of successful partnership with Scientific Games, we are very happy to continue with reliable, next-generation retail terminals for the lottery’s retailers across Mecklenburg-Vorpommern.”  •  Rivers Casino and the Sports & Exhibition Authority of Pittsburgh and Allegheny County (SEA) announced that $3 million has been received from Rivers and put toward construction expenses for Consol Energy Center. Per its gaming licensing prerequisites, Rivers contributes $7.5 million annually to the SEA, with two installments occurring in April and October. To date, Rivers has generated $48 million to help fund construction expenses for Consol, home of the NHL’s Pittsburgh Penguins, and will have contributed $225 million to the SEA for the arena’s construction by the time the agreement concludes in 2038.  •  MGM Resorts International announced that it will fund vaccines needed in panda reserves at the China Conservation & Research Center for the Giant Panda (CCRCGP). The immunization program is run by Pandas International, a nonprofit organization dedicated to providing assistance to public education, research support and habitat preservation for China’s giant panda population. With MGM Resorts’ support, in collaboration with U.S. drug manufacturers, Pandas International will deliver over 1,000 vaccines to protect pandas in areas most impacted by the disease. “MGM Resorts is proud to join Pandas International’s efforts to protect giant pandas, including those in China facing this most recent outbreak,” said Jim Murren, chairman and CEO of MGM Resorts International.  •  International Game Technology announced that its wholly-owned subsidiary IGT Global Solutions Corporation (formerly known as GTECH Corporation) has developed new mobile player convenience apps for the Rhode Island Lottery and Tennessee Lottery. Each app is individually branded for the lotteries and gives players quick access to real-time lottery information including jackpot information, winning numbers, lottery retailer locations, instant games information, and details related to responsible gaming. Both apps also feature a “Check My Ticket” function that enables players to scan both instant tickets and draw tickets with their mobile devices, and check if they hold winning lottery tickets.  •  Casinos Austria resisted a takeover move by the Czech-based consortium CAME Holdings, which had wanted to obtain a majority holding in casino operator. The Austria board voted down the attempt by CAME to buy shares owned by MTB private foundation. At the same time I voted to allow Novomatic to increase its share in the company by 16.8 percent bringing its share to 39.5 percent.  •  Mortimer’s Card Room, a 77-year-old card room in Marina, California, closed last week. The casino closed without warning, according to Marina Police Chief Eddie Rodriguez. No reason was given for the closure, and there is some talk of a new owner purchasing the enterprise. Marina voters passed a 5 percent gaming tax two years ago. Some speculate that this was the reason the card room closed.  •  The U.S. District Court in Sacramento has ruled that the Bureau of Indian Affairs acted rightly in putting 228 acres in Amador County, California into trust for the Ione Band of Miwok Indians. The court ruled against Amador County and several non-profits that formed to fight the casino that the Ione Band wants to build on the property in Plymouth. The tribe has been battling the County and most of its residents for nearly a dozen years. The two lawsuits were combined. Judge Troy L. Nunley ruled that the tribe was recognized in 1934, and thus was eligible to put land into trust.  •  Connecticut and the Mashantucket Pequots and Mohegans have reached an agreement for revenue sharing that will allow the Connecticut Lottery Corporation to offer keno at the 3,000 or so retailers in the state, plus new retailers at bars and restaurants. In return for not opposing the keno games the tribes will get 12.5 percent of their gross revenues. In addition, the tribes will be able to offer keno at the Mohegan Sun and Foxwoods Resort Casino.  •  The Second District Court of Appeal has ruled that the San Pasqual Band of Mission Indians in San Diego County, California can’t seek $315 million in damages from the state for the seven years that the state illegally prevented the tribe from offering 2,000 slot machines. Although the state acted wrongly, the state tribal gaming compact specifically prevents either party from seeking monetary damages for violations. The tribe was prevented from operating all 2,000 of its slots between 2002 and 2009 before a federal court upheld its claim against the state.