NEWS & NOTES

The website of Gauselmann subsidiary GeWeTe, a market leader in cash-handling, has been revamped. The new GeWeTe.com site enables users to access GeWeTe apps from any device. “Regardless of the end device, the website flexibly adjusts to its individual characteristics,” said GeWeTe Managing Director Aristidis Tsikouras. “Whether our customers prefer using a smartphone, tablet or laptop, they have access to our applications in their full extent everywhere and at all times.”  •  A new poll released last week by a coalition of anti-smoking groups shows Pennsylvania voters strongly favor expanding no-smoking laws to social clubs, bars and casinos. “In Pennsylvania, tobacco will claim an estimated 22,000 lives this year alone,” Brad Cary, manager of the Breathe Free Pennsylvania Coalition, said in a statement. “We know that comprehensive smoke-free laws save lives and reduce tobacco-related illnesses like heart disease and cancer.” In the poll of 600 likely voters, the Breathe Free coalition found that by more than a 2-to-1 margin (69 percent to 30 percent), Pennsylvanians support a law that would ban smoking in all workplaces, including bars and casinos.   •  The Clark County Commission has approved a plan to renovate and expand the Showcase Mall on the Las Vegas Strip by 481,000 square feet. The plan calls in part for extending the property to a neighboring site, formerly a Smith & Wollensky restaurant, which will be demolished and replaced by a four-story structure totaling 145,000 square feet.  •  The Ukrainian Gaming Summit will be held November 17 at the Hyatt Regency Kiev. The event will focus on a new regulatory regime under consideration in the country and also examine the current state of the gaming marketplace across Eastern Europe.  •  MGM Cotai plans to display around 300 works of art when the resort opens later this year. They will include contemporary paintings and sculptures by established artists in Asia along with specially commissioned works by new local and regional talents, large-scale installations and antique carpets from the Qing Dynasty period.  •  A new J.D. Power survey ranks Las Vegas’ McCarran International Airport third-best in customer experience among North America’s largest airports. Florida’s Orlando International was ranked first, followed by Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport. The survey measured the quality of terminal facilities, accessibility, security checks, baggage claim, check-in and food and retail outlets.  • The Ohio Lottery is encouraging its retailers who worry about problem gamblers to give a discreet tip to players they suspect are addicts. They are being allowed to hand out papers with scratcher or MegaMillion tickets with this message: “Does Playing Lottery No Longer Seem Fun? Help is Available. Call 1-800-589-9966.” The number is to a 24/7 hotline. Ohio becomes the second state (after North Carolina) to offer this. A button that will print the slip will be added to self-serve lottery terminals later this month.  •  Chile’s Arica Commune will soon get a second casino, the only commune in the country to have two. It will have 350 slot machines, 12 gaming tables and 60 bingo positions. The two casinos will be neighbors and located near the commune’s commercial hub, near the international railway station, army base and residences. The Regional Council said the casino and adjacent shopping mall of the Arica City Center project, will be the largest investment in the city in the last 50 years.  •  The Gujarat High Court will hand down its ruling on the legality of poker on November 23. Petitioner clubs in the Indian state have already said an adverse ruling would be challenged.  ?  China’s Guangdong Province has announced a project to link seven cities to Guangzhou. The transportation network will include 77 routes connecting the provincial capital to Foshan, Dongguan, Shenzhen, Zhongshan, Jiangmen, Zhuhai and Macau. Hong Kong has been sidestepped in the plan.  ?  Casino operator Waterfront Philippines has secured a P1.5 billion (US$29.5 million) credit line from the Philippine Bank of Communications.The money will be also used by subsidiaries Waterfront Cebu City Casino Hotel Inc., Waterfront Mactan Casino Hotel Inc., Davao Insular Hotel Co. Inc., Pacific Rehouse Corp., and Crisanta Realty Development Corp.Waterfront is an investment holding company for hotel, leisure, and tourism businesses.  ?  Macau junket investor the David Group has opened a new VIP gaming area at Galaxy Entertainment’s Galaxy Macau casino resort. David Group is running a total of 10 gaming tables in Phase II of Galaxy Macau. David inaugurated a new VIP club at Studio City in May and launched one at the Macau Roosevelt Hotel in July.