The casinos of Pennsylvania logged another big month at the tables in April, earning $72.2 million in table-game revenue—a nearly 12 percent over the same month last year, according to the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board. Sands Casino Resort Bethlehem scored the largest table win at $17.7 million, followed by $14.5 million for Parx in Bensalem and $9.7 million for SugarHouse in Philadelphia. It was the 22nd consecutive monthly increase in statewide table-game revenues. • The Financial Times reported that the Ben-Yitzhak brothers, cofounders of online gaming operator 888, have sold a £57 million stake (US$81 million) in the public company, bringing down their share from 10.4 percent to below 3 percent in what is the threshold to announce such a sell-off of shares. Many observers see the move as a way to put pressure on the other major shareholders, the Shaked family. The price of 205p a share is slightly over the price former suitor William Hill offered earlier in the year when it was refused by what is believed to be the Shaked family. The Shaked family are focused on a merger between companies rather than a full buyout, and the possibility of a renewed deal with William Hill. • Germany’s Gauselmann Group has acquired Town and County Leisure Ltd., a supplier to pub retailers in the U.K. The new division will be under Gauselmann subsidiary Merkur Engineering Ltd. “The company philosophy of Town and County Leisure Ltd. fits perfectly to the Gauselmann Group,” said Gauselmann U.K. General Manager Sascha Blodau. “Both companies set themselves the highest quality demands and spare no efforts to accommodate their ambitious goals and service concepts. The acquisition is a great asset to the entire corporate group.” • The Santee Sioux Tribe has opened its tribal-themed, Paul Albanese-designed, 18-hole Tatanka Golf Course at the Ohiya Casino. • The Nevada Supreme Court denied attorney Allen Dershowitz’ attempt to have Clark County District Court Judge Elizabeth Gonzalez removed from a wrongful termination suit filed by former Sands China President Steven Jacobs against Sheldon Adelson and Las Vegas Sands. The matter heads back to Clark County. • New York Assemblyman Gary Pretlow reportedly is drafting a bill that would legalize daily fantasy sports betting in the state, where DraftKings and FanDuel last fall were told to cease operations. • Wynn Resorts’ Steve Wynn recently took a spin on the popular SlotZilla zipline ride along the Fremont Street Experience, and a Wynn Resorts spokesperson says Wynn is thinking of adding a similar attraction at Wynn Resorts Las Vegas. • The Las Vegas Economic Impact Center says the Asian-themed Lucky Dragon Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas will open later this year with 204 hotel rooms near the north end of the Las Vegas Strip on West Sahara Avenue. • TopGolf Las Vegas has opened its 105,000–square-foot driving range and entertainment venue behind the MGM Grand on Koval Lane, which is open until 4 a.m. and includes 108 driving bays, a concert stage, two pools, several bars and restaurants, and events space. • The New Las Vegas indoor venue, MGM’s T-Mobile Arena, announced that legendary singer Barbara Streisand will perform her first concert in four years at the arena on August 6. Streisand remains a popular draw in Las Vegas, and her last concert performance sold out at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in 2012. • Las Vegas slipped to third in the nation, behind Orland and Chicago, for top trade show destinations, according to event services firm Cvent, which manages more than 16,000 events clients the world each year and bases rankings upon customers’ preferences. • Two dozen Irish greyhounds were scheduled to arrive in Macau last week, despite animal activists who have protested cruel treatment of racing dogs at the Macau Canidrome. The activists staged protests in the streets of Dublin, London and Milan to protest the treatment of greyhounds and the export of animals from Ireland. Qantas and Cathay Pacific Airlines both have decided not to transport the animals to Hong Kong. ? Royal Flight, a Russian charter airline based in Abakan, Siberia has inaugurated a Macau-Moscow route. At least two flights a day will travel between the cities, according to an airline spokesperson. • Arizona’s Sheraton Wild Horse Pass Resort & Spa, which operates near Phoenix, has earned the designation as the first Sheraton Grand resort in North America. According to Sheraton, “The distinction recognizes the hotel’s enticing destinations, distinguished designs, and excellence in service and guest experiences.” It joins 24 other Sheraton Grand properties worldwide. • The Mohegan Tribe, which operates the Mohegan Sun casino in Connecticut last week revealed plans to turn the former Norwich Hospital site of 393 acres that lies across the Thames River from the casino into the Preston Riverwalk, a family destination. The Preston board of selectmen announced that they are considering partnering with the tribe to redevelop the property into an outdoor adventure park that could have amenities like a synthetic ski slope. • The Rank Group, owners of Grosvenor Casinos, reported a 2 percent increase in total revenues compared to the first 19-week period 2015. The group, which has 60 casinos, saw a 35% increase in digital revenue for this period. This helped offset the group’s Mecca bingo losses of 4 percent. Rank issued a statement saying that it expects “full year performance will be in line with management expectations.” • Bangor, Maine and Hollywood Casino have settled a dispute over the casino’s valuation that is used to determine property taxes. The city had originally assessed it at $97.4 million, which the casino challenged. The settlement calls for the city to assess the casino at $80 million for this year and next, and for the valuation to be normalized at $82.5 million for 2015. The casino first challenged the valuation in 2015, with an abatement request. The city denied it and the casino appealed to the state board of property tax review. With the dispute settled, that board won’t hold a hearing this summer.
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