NEWS & NOTES

Fitch Ratings has given Agua Caliente Band of Cahuiilla Indians in southern California an Issuer Default Rating (IDR) at ‘BB’. Fitch has also affirmed Agua Caliente’s gaming revenue bonds at ‘BB+/RR2. It has also revised its ratings outlook from Positive to Stable. According to the Fitch press release the Positive Outlook reflects Agua’s strong credit metrics for the ‘BB’ IDR level, but recognizes the uncertainty surrounding potential expansion. • Last week the Kalispell, Montana, city council was due to consider granting a conditional use permit to allow the Tree Frog Tavern to operate an accessory casino. The tavern, currently just a restaurant and bar, would, if granted a permit, turn over 13 percent of its floor to gaming.  The city’s planning department has already approved of the request. • The Arizona Department of Gaming reports that tribal gaming revenue from its 23 tribal casinos has declined by 2.9 percent from last year, reducing the 1-8 percent contribution Indian gaming makes to the state to about $25 million for the year’s second quarter. This is the second quarter of revenue decline after 18 months of increases. Part of this decline is attributed to the Desert Diamond Casino West Valley, which is operated without a compact with the state since it opened in December. • Graton Resort and Casino in northern California plans to open its six-story, 200-room hotel, spa, fitness center and outdoor pool on November 15. Rooms will range from 500 to 2,600 square feet and start at $399 a night. • San Diego police and FBI agents last week converged on the Lucky Lady Casino and Card Room in El Cerrito, a neighborhood of San Diego last week in a raid coordinated by the U.S. Attorney’s Office in San Diego. The raid followed up a two-year investigation into an illegal online gambling ring, including bookmaking. Three federal indictments were unsealed in coordination with the effort. • The Board of Supervisors of Butte County, Northern California, voted last week to appeal the decision of a federal judge in favor of the Mechoopda Tribe. The tribe had reached out peace feelers to the board after the decision, but the board declined to talk. The County has so far spent $601,468 fighting the tribe, which has been trying to build a casino for ten years. The tribe owns 625 acres along Highway 149. The land was approved for being put into federal trust two years ago, but the county filed a federal lawsuit challenging it.  •  The Macao Government Tourism Office is surveying residents about the feasibility of “family hostels” in the city. Though the city has 32,100 Macau hotel guest rooms, 20,500 of them in five-star hotels, the Statistics and Census Service says there has been slower growth in budget accommodations. The study ends August 29.  ?  The Macau Gaming Enterprises Staff’s Association is asking the local government and casino operators to blacklist gamblers. The association has received at least six reports in the last 90 days of customers acting aggressively toward dealers.  ?  The Parisian Macau, due to open on the Cotai Strip September 13, will feature more than 320,000 square feet of retail space and add 170 stores to Sands Shoppes Cotai Strip Macau portfolio.The new mall will connect to others including the Shoppes at Four Seasons, Shoppes at Venetian and Shoppes at Cotai Central via air conditioned walkways and “travelators,” according to the company.  ?   Forbes Travel Guide recently ranked the Oneida Nation’s Turning Stone Resort & Casino in Verona, New York, among its “10 Top-Notch Casinos in Unexpected Places” and cited its array of gaming options and spa among reasons for the high ranking.