Missouri Voters Reject Lake of the Ozarks Casino
The number of land-based casinos in Missouri will remain at 13, after state voters rejected Amendment 5 on Nov. 5. If passed, the amendment would have cleared the way for a casino on the Osage River near the Bagnell Dam at the Lake of the Ozarks. But the measure was rejected by a 52 percent-48 percent margin, per the Missouri secretary of state office.
The main proponents of the amendment were Bally’s Corp. and the Osage River Gaming and Convention Committee (OGCC). The duo had long proposed a casino for the site and submitted fresh renderings in late September. Bally’s already operates a casino in Kansas City. If Amendment 5 had been approved, other bidders would have also had the opportunity to bid for the license.
Amendment 5’s defeat is a huge victory for the Osage Nation, which is vying for its own casino nearby. The tribe had been a driving factor in opposing both the ballot measure and the previous legislation. Its $60 million development in Miller County would be the first tribal casino in the state.
Given that it is a Class II venue, it does not need state approval, only federal. Stakeholders are still waiting for that approval with no timetable, according to 500 Nations, but the removal of the OGCC proposal now leaves it as the only casino project in the area. The Osage currently operate seven casinos in Oklahoma.
Caesars Virginia to Open Dec. 12
Caesars Virginia, the permanent casino in Danville, Va. will host its grand opening Dec. 12. The 587,000-square-foot property, which is a partnership between Caesars and the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians, will feature approximately 1,500 slots, 79 traditional tables and 48 electronic table games, among other amenities.
“We have worked diligently on creating a world-class resort that will offer all the luxurious and modern amenities expected from Caesars that will also serve as an economic driver for Danville and the surrounding region through employment and tourism,” Barron Fuller, regional president for Caesars, said in a statement, per WFMY. “We’re so proud of Caesars Virginia and look forward to welcoming guests on Dec. 12.”
Sanborn Seeks Assurance that Casino Buyer Won’t Inherit his Legal Problems
Andy Sanborn, the former New Hampshire state Senator who faces charges related to pandemic aid fraud, has asked Merrimack County Superior Court for help in selling Concord Casino, the property Sanborn was forced to sell last year but has been unable to, in part due to his potential legal troubles.
Sanborn and his attorneys are seeking an assurance from the state that his prospective buyer won’t inherit his legal liability. Under state law, any person or business convicted of a felony may not operate a gaming facility for 10 years. The prospective buyer will not close the deal without such assurances, Sanborn’s attorneys said in the Nov. 5 filing, per the New Hampshire Business Review.
A key argument in this saga is the revenue that the casino generates—in New Hampshire, portions of gaming revenue are directed to charitable organizations and the state. The longer that the casino sits unused, Sanborn’s team has argued, the longer that those parties will have to wait to receive funds. Under a previous extension, there are only a few weeks left to close a deal until the property’s license is suspended for two years.
Delaware Park to Build Slot Patio and Return to 24/7 Tables
Delaware Park Casino has announced plans to build a 10,000-square-foot outdoor “slot patio” area with 250 slots. The project is expected to open next spring, and officials are calling it the largest outdoor gaming space in Delaware. Smoking will be permitted in the space.
“Post-COVID, one of the things we’ve learned is that people like being outdoors, they like having their space, they like fresh air, and a lot of people are wearing masks,” Delaware Park President Terry Glebocki told the Delaware News Journal. “This gives an option to people looking for that fresh air experience. Because this patio has so much open air, it’s considered an outdoor space.”
In addition to the patio, the property will also reinstate 24/7 table games on Nov. 8 for the first time since the onset of the pandemic. Round-the-clock slots were reinstated back in January.
NGC Approves $3 Million Tax Refund for Dotty’s Operator
The Nevada Gaming Commission Nov. 4 voted unanimously to approve a $3.1 million tax refund to Nevada Restaurant Services Inc., operators of dozens of gaming establishments under the Dotty’s and Bourbon Street Sports brands. The company had originally attempted to claim both the principal sum and $222,744 in interest but the commission refused, saying NSRI took too long to file the claim.
Ultimately NSRI agreed to waive the interest but later discovered that it was also entitled to another $1.8 million in refunds, which it will seek in the near future. The company overpaid its taxes by not deducting certain promotional costs.
Full House Releases Updated Plans for Proposed New Haven Casino
Full House Resorts, which is seeking to relocate its Rising Star Casino Resort from Rising Sun, Ind. to New Haven, has released new renderings and details for the project. According to a new website dedicated to the development, the property would encompass 90 acres and would be built in two phases.
The first phase would include a 90,000-square-foot casino with over 1,400 slots, 50 tables, a sportsbook and several other amenities. Phase two would include a 200-room hotel, an entertainment venue and more. In order for the $500 million project to materialize, it must first be approved by the state’s general assembly.
Wynn Announces Plans to Renovate Encore Rooms
On the company’s third-quarter earnings call Nov. 4, officials from Wynn Resorts said that room renovations will be coming for the Encore, although costs and details about timelines were not given. The property, opened in 2008, saw previous renovations in 2010 and 2015. Overall, the project falls under a broader CapEx vision in Wynn’s Las Vegas portfolio.
“We expect total project CapEx for the remainder of ‘24 through ‘25 in Vegas to be in the neighborhood of $300 million,” Wynn CFO Julie Cameron-Doe said during the call, per the Las Vegas Review-Journal.
Accel Buys Controlling Interest in Two Route Operators for Approx. $40 Million
Accel Entertainment announced Nov. 5 that it has acquired 85 percent interest in two Louisiana-based route operators—Toucan Gaming and LSM Gaming—for approximately $40 million. The combined company will operate as Toucan Gaming and will be led by Stan Guidroz, current Toucan CEO and owner of the remaining 15 percent of ownership interests.
Accel CEO Andy Rubenstein said in a statement, “The acquisition of Toucan further expands Accel’s reach into the attractive southeastern U.S., market, where we believe there is significant untapped demand and aligns with our ongoing strategy to expand Accel’s presence both organically and through acquisitions. Toucan is a well-run and highly respected company that shares many of Accel’s values and entrepreneurial attributes. I am confident Toucan is the perfect partner for our company, and we look forward to helping Stan grow the brand.”
GSR Fined $250,000 for Incident with State Officer
The Grand Sierra Resort (GSR) in Reno, Nev. was fined $250,000 and ordered to implement new training protocols by the Nevada Gaming Commission Nov. 4 in relation to a 2023 incident in which an agent from the state’s Gaming Enforcement Division was denied access to a theater on the property.
After attempting to bypass the theater’s metal detector, the agent was stopped by security and was told to relinquish his weapon before entering. Licensed operators must always give state agents immediate access to all parts of a property, and violations relating to authority are relatively rare. The GSR was also guilty of a similar violation in early 2021, and was told to implement better training at that time.
