NEWS & NOTES

Private Vista increased its holdings in Isle of Capri Casinos by buying another 38,729 shares, it announced in a July 19 SEC report. The raises Private Vista’s stake in Isle of Capri Casinos to 121,655 shares valued at $2,270,082  •  Legendary singer Tony Bennett opened Caesars Palace 50 years ago and will headline a private affair celebrating the casino’s 50^th anniversary on August 6  •  UNLV will host a boxing match pitting Manny Pacquiao against a yet-to-be-determined opponent on November 5, Top Rank promoter Bob Arum announced  •  Australia is hosting Nevada Governor Brian Sandoval through August 6 as he undertakes a two-week economic junket Down Under to promote mining, gaming, and water technology interests  •  The owner of the Mohegan Sun casino, the Mohegan Tribal Gaming Authority, recently confirmed it is interested in buying the vacant Fontainebleau Las Vegas, which investor Carl Icahn reportedly is looking to sell for $650 million.  •  Intertain Group Ltd. (IT.T), an online betting company and operator of intercasino.com and botemania.es has announced that it will lost in the London Stock Exchange.  The company said this will boost its valuation by exposing it to European investors, however it doesn’t plan to offer shares for sale. It is currently listed on the Toronto Stock Exchange.  •  The Santa Ynez Band of Chumash Indians in central California celebrated an 18-month expansion of the Chumash Casino Resort last week with a party with 800 guests. Guests were given tours of the new lobby, spa and hotel tower pool deck. Tutor Perini Building Corporation was the building contractor with interior design by SFA Design and casino interiors by Yates-Silverman.  •  South Korea’s state auditor has demanded stronger measures to curb gambling addiction by locals. Korean nationals may only gamble at one casino, Kangwon Land Casino; according to a study, 2,165 South Koreans visited the resort more than 100 days in a recent one-year period. More than 9,500 people visited the casino 50 to 99 days, the data showed.  ?  Six casino restaurants in Singapore have been listed among the best in the city-state in the Michelin Guide for Singapore.Four restaurantsat Resorts World Sentosa were listed: Joel Robuchon, which earned the highest rating with three stars; L’Atelier de Joël Robuchon; the Chinese-Thai eatery Forest; and Osia, serving contemporary Australian cuisine. Wolfgang Puck’s Cut and Tetsuya Wakuda Waku Ghin also made the list; they are located at the Marina Bay Sands.  ?  Illegal transactions using UnionPay International terminals in Macau have reached almost MOP2.1 billion (US$263 million) for the first six months of the year. The government has vowed to crack down on the transactions; to date, 31 people have been arrested for the illicit exchanges.