NEWS & NOTES

The plan of Pittsburgh’s Rivers Casino to add a hotel is being delayed by a “paper street,” one that appears on maps but does not actually exist. The casino is waiting for the city to “vacate” the paper street from the map before it can start construction on the $50 million hotel, near the casino and its closest neighbor, the Carnegie Science Center. The casino submitted its application to have the street cleared last year, but has yet to receive a response from the city. “We hope to start construction early next year on this next phase of our development, which will grow our tax base and add to the expanding amenities available on the North Shore,” casino spokesman Jack Horner told the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. City officials told the newspaper they are waiting for a “definitive proposal” for the hotel from the casino before approving the project.  •  Maryland’s Hollywood Casino Perryville is seeking permission from the Maryland Lottery and Gaming Agency to expand its gaming floor to include an outside area where smoking is permitted. The casino is requesting that 14 of its slot machines be moved to an existing smoking patio. Smoking is barred inside Maryland’s five casinos, but is permitted in outdoor gambling areas. Horseshoe Casino Baltimore and Rocky Gap Casino Resort currently offer outside smoking areas with slot machines.   •  The Swinomish Indian Tribal Community of Washington state, owners of the Swinomish Casino and Lodge in Skagit County has begun a $20 million expansion that will lead to opening an 18,000 square foot gaming room, with more slot machines, and transform its buffet into a 24-hour food court. During the 15-month project the casino, which opened 31 years ago, will convert its bingo operation into storage and a break room for its 500 employees. The operation added the 98-room lodge in 2012 and later acquired a golf course.  •  The Langley City, British Columbia city council has approved of an expansion of the Cascades Casino. The casino, owned by Gateway Casinos and Entertainment, was authorized to add 23,000 square feet, including a rooftop patio, an upscale restaurant and a quick service Asian eatery named Chow. A spokesman for Gateway said they want to create “a more fulsome experience.” Gateway expects to begin construction next year.  •  The San Diego County (California) Board of Supervisors last week approved an agreement with the Viejas Band of Kumeyaay Indians making it easier for the tribe to expand its Viejas Casino, including building third hotel tower. The tribe will pay the County $150,000 to pay for impacts to traffic, fire protection, lighting and water caused by the expansion. The third tower, a five-story structure with 170 rooms, will have a spa, restaurant and entertainment venues. The agreement is in line with past agreements between the tribe and county.  •  A Hong Kong-listed company called New Silkroad Culturaltainment is looking to raise US$189 million through a share rights offering to develop a casino on South Korea’s Jeju Island. “With the booming gaming and cultural tourism industry on Jeju Island, we hope the open offer will equip us with a solid financial foundation for the development of a world-class gaming and entertainment complex and a large-scale tourist resort in South Korea,” said Paul Ng, New Silkroad’s executive director.  •  Golden Entertainment’s PT Entertainment Group will be the first tavern chain in Southern Nevada to deploy Interblock’s StarBar brand of electronic bar-top table games. The touch-screen platform, recently approved by Nevada regulators, offers versions of blackjack, baccarat, roulette, craps, keno and video poker  •  Station Casinos will donate $100,000 to 10 Clark County elementary schools through its Smart Start partnership with the county School District. Since its launch in 2000, the program has given more than $2.5 million to local schools.  •  Pao Tu Casino in Sihanoukville has reportedly been shut down by provincial authorities after it failed to renew its operating license. The license expired at of the end of 2015.  ?  Seoul Airlines, a low-cost carrier owned by Asiana Airlines, has begun flights to Macau. Cho Jin Man, a representative of the budget airline, said the route was established in part to enhance the economic and tourism relationship between China and Korea.  ?