The proximity of Orange County, New York to the Big Apple has become one of the biggest debates in the competition for four new casino licenses in New York State. Casino developers who hope to build farther north say a license for Orange County, where Caesars wants to build an $800 million project (l.), would kill their businesses, when the purpose of the bill was to benefit the economically struggling Catskills region.

Blaming a deteriorating relationship with license-holder Trump Taj Mahal, Ultimate Gaming has cut ties with the Atlantic City casino and will fold its New Jersey operations. Chairman Tom Breitling (l.) says the company is working with the DGE to wind down operations.

Trump Plaza casino has closed its doors making it the fourth casino to close in the resort this year and putting another 1,000 casino workers out of jobs. But Donald Trump himself (l.)—who controls less than 10 percent of Trump Entertainment Resorts—says he may step in and save the casino as well as the Trump Taj Mahal casino, which is also threatened with closure. Meanwhile, a bankruptcy auction for the closed Revel casino was set for September 24.

“Surprised”—that’s not a word we’d expect to hear when it comes to gaming demand in Macau. But after four straight months of year-on-year revenue declines that’s how sources are responding to strong early bookings ahead of China’s national Golden Week holiday.

In new developments regarding the Tohono O'odham Nation's $500 million casino in Glendale, Arizona, which recently broke ground, a U.S. Senate panel recently heard testimony on a bill sponsored by Arizona Senator John McCain (l.) that ultimately would bar the casino. Also, two groups presented more than 30,000 signatures in petitions to let voters decide on the casino.

Caesars Entertainment is beginning talks with senior bondholders in its effort to restructure the largest portions of its $24.2 billion debt. Chairman and CEO Gary Loveman (l.) believes “constructive discussions” will be held.

Scott Butera, president and CEO of Foxwoods Resort Casino since December 2010, will be leaving that position as of October, the Mashantucket Pequot Tribe has announced.

The fourth resort complex at Manila’s Entertainment City is scheduled to break ground in 90 days and open in 2018. That’s the word from Travellers International, the company behind the planned $1.1 billion Resorts World Bayshore.

Vietnam is so important to Cambodia’s casino market that the prospect of the country opening its casinos to domestic play finds its smaller neighbor considering the same thing. Cambodia’s border casinos—the “Winn” casino in Bavet (l.), a poor imitation of the Bellagio—depend largely on Vietnamese gamblers. A measure currently in the draft stage would also open Cambodia to regulated web gambling.

What do you offer the Macau VIP who has everything? The financier behind the luxury Louis XIII hotel believes he has the answer, and part of it lies with a fleet of custom Rolls-Royce Phantoms that will include some of the most expensive rides the famed automaker has ever built.

The threat of a dealers strike during the busy Golden Week holiday has brought the law down on the founders of two labor groups representing Macau casino workers. Four prominent activists have been questioned by police and could face civil disobedience charges.

Not everyone in Cambodia is happy about the success of Phnom Penh’s monopoly NagaWorld casino (l.)—namely, a group of Buddhist monks who fear the property’s steady expansion is pushing them off their land.

An explosion in betting ads on British TV is raising social concerns the country’s biggest bookmakers have promised to address through formation of a self-policing agency. A range of aggressive commercials aimed at boosting sign-ups and promising “free money” will disappear as a result.

British gaming giant Rank Group is talking to officials in Belfast to gauge their support for a casino in the Northern Ireland capital. It’s strictly a proposal at this point, though, since casinos are illegal in the UK province and that doesn’t appear likely to change any time soon.

The island parliament has OK’d a controversial gaming bill to regulate street corner web shops. The legislation passed 25-7 in the House; it maintains a ban that keeps residents from gambling in local casinos. Prime Minister Perry Christie (l.) believes millions in taxes will be generated.

A subsidiary of global gaming colossus Genting Malaysia Berhad will pay $24.6 million to RAV Bahamas Ltd. for a parcel of land in Bimini. The 16.2-acre plot is adjacent to Resorts World Bimini (l.).

Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corporation will announce the finalists to operate a new 300-plus slots casino in the central bundle in either Wasaga Beach or Collingwood, as well as oversee daily operations at Slots at Georgian Downs and Casino Rama (l.).

Britain’s High Court has agreed to hear a challenge by online operators based in Gibraltar (l.) against the UK’s new licensing and taxation plan. They claim the new rules discriminate against operators that are already licensed offshore and violate EU free-trade guarantees.

Lawmakers in Singapore are considering an online gambling ban that will carry heavy fines and prison terms for offenders, and that includes offshore operators. Provisions also call for ISPs to block sites and banks and financial institutions to refuse related monetary transfers.

New Jersey State Senator Raymond Lesniak (l.), one of the principal players in the state’s efforts to reinvent its gambling industry, says a “major announcement” on gambling is coming. The news seems to involve the arrival of online giant PokerStars in the state’s online gambling market.

Brazil’s online gambling market is massive—and illegal. Legislation has been introduced to regulate and tax it, and that’s a big step in itself, but supporters fear that politics and an interminable review process will delay its chances of becoming law, possibly for years.

A staunch advocate of online gaming in California, Roderick Wright, has resigned from the state Senate after being sentenced to serve time for eight felonies.

Morgan Stanley predicts that the online gambling market could hit $5.2 Billion by 2020 provided that 20 states have instituted online gambling. Right now, online gambling is legal in only three.

Pinnacle Sports will become the latest iGaming operator to withdraw from the U.K. market ahead of new gambling laws targeting offshore operators.

France is reporting that its online gambling revenue fell $27 million in 2013, but that’s still better than the $65 million drop seen in 2012.

High 5 Games has released mobile apps for Android and iOS devices, and has launched a new mobile app for the Facebook social casinos.

The U.K. Gambling Commission has extended the licensing deadline for software providers to give iGaming companies more time to comply with upcoming gaming law changes.

Full Tilt has launched a live dealer casino and expanded its game offerings for its online poker customers.

Caesars Entertainment says it’s a first for the casino industry: a promotional campaign in Atlantic City that promotes both online and land-based gaming. The company is remaining mum about sports betting.

Betfair has launched a new selection of games from Net Entertainment. The launch came quickly after the two companies signed an agreement last month.

iSoftBet announced a new partnership with mobile casino operator CashBet to create mobile apps of its real-money online casino games for PC, iOS and Android devices. The two companies are looking to enter the New Jersey online gambling market.

The seventh and last of Ohio’s racinos, Hollywood Gaming at Mahoning Valley Race Course, opened last week to fanfare and an enthusiastic greeting by the community it will be serving.

MBN Holding LLC, owner of Margaritaville Biloxi, recently closed the property and filed for bankruptcy. Landlords Clay Point LLC said MVB had not paid rent since opening in 2012 and owed $3.8 million in rent and $500,000 in taxes. Singer Jimmy Buffet, who licenses the name, is listed among unsecured creditors and owed more than $56,000.

The acquisition of MTR Gaming Group by Eldorado Resorts was completed last week. The new company, to go by the Eldorado Resorts name, includes casino properties in five states. Gary Carano (l.) will continue as chairman and CEO.

Several South Jersey lawmakers have launched a petition drive to protest the idea of expanding casino gaming to North Jersey. Most experts believe a North Jersey casino is inevitable, and is supported by most North Jersey politicians.

The state panel charged with recommending aid to Delaware’s racinos to the state legislature has reconvened to study possible tax breaks to help the industry. Panel Chairman Tom Cook (l.) warns Delaware could follow the path of Atlantic City.

Ohio’s four casino resorts aren’t performing as well as the voters of 2009 were told that they would, and some doubt that the Horseshoe Casino Cleveland will ever begin its planned “permanent” casino. They suspect the Higbee building will be its permanent location.

In what may be an effort to appease sports leagues, two Atlantic City-area politicians are proposing a small fee on sports bets in the state go to sports leagues to help police their games. New Jersey has ruled sports betting can be legally done in the state, but no venue has begun taking bets.

In a 2013 survey of 1,826 Iowans, 78 percent said they had gambled in the previous 12 months, up from 69 percent two years earlier. Conducted by the University of Northern Iowa for the state public health agency, the survey showed although gambling was up, rates of problem gambling and remained steady.

Licenses for a slots parlor and two out of three casinos have been awarded in Massachusetts, while neighboring Rhode Island considers its options in the face of a projected loss of $150 million, or one-third of its gaming tax revenue, plus 200 or more jobs. Still, Massachusetts voters could put the brakes on the situation in November.

Bills proposed in the New Jersey legislature would halve the amount of casinos one company can own in Atlantic City and bar deed restrictions on properties prohibiting their future use as a casino. The proposed changes are the direct result of four casino closings in Atlantic City this year.

The venerable New Orleans Fair Grounds racetrack and its 11 off-track betting facilities are being offered for sale by Churchill Downs Inc. for $125 million—just months after CDI officials and Louisiana state lawmakers worked out a deal for the company to spend $1 million in track upgrades.

Despite laws designed to regulate or remove them, sweepstakes cafés continue to plague state legislatures and the casino industry. Now a $10 billion industry, sweepstakes cafés stay a step ahead of the law by creating new versions of games, while legislatures take a year or two to pass laws against them.

Ever since competitors opened two years ago in neighboring states, Indiana gaming tax revenue has significantly declined. Last year lawmakers were reluctant to pass needed legislation to help the industry. Now state Rep. Tom Dermody, chairman of the House Public Policy Committee, said he's ready to move forward to help Indiana's struggling riverboats and racinos.

If Colorado voters pass Amendment 68, the city of Aurora and Arapahoe County would have to spend $63 million in road improvements associated with a proposed Arapahoe Park (l.) casino--yet they would receive no gaming revenues. Supporters say a 34 percent tax would raise more than $100 million annually for education.

For years Nevada commissioners have worked to clarify the definition of slot parlors versus taverns that offer slots. The issue is once again on the front burner thanks to Clark County Commissioner Steve Sisolak.

Montgomery County, Alabama Circuit Judge William Shashy said, "It would have been a lot simpler to put 'electronic bingo'" in the 2003 constitutional amendment allowing bingo in Macon County. Shashy presided over the recently concluded VictoryLand casino trial, which state Attorney General Luther Strange hopes will cause 1,615 seized electronic gaming machines to be destroyed.

Harrah’s Atlantic City has announced a major booking for its under-construction Waterfront Conference Center scheduled for October 2015. The center is expected to be one of the largest on the East Coast.

The Riviera on the Las Vegas Strip could benefit from new energy on the northern end of the Strip. The SLS Las Vegas recently opened there, and MGM plans to build an open-air concert venue in the same vicinity.

Although the Nebraska Supreme Court ruled against a measure allowing historical racing wagering due to a technicality, supporters said they will try again to get the issue before voters, possibly through a petition drive or by reintroducing it in the legislature. Lawmakers passed the measure this year with a slim 30-vote margin late in the session.

A crackdown on high rollers in the Chinese gaming enclave of Macau has caused some big spenders to roll the dice in Las Vegas and other markets. The exodus has provided a nice boost for Sin City business.

Officials from Ruffin Gaming and the Quapaw Tribe recently met with leaders from Crawford County and Frontenac, Kansas regarding a joint venture to open a casino at the shuttered Camptown Greyhound Park. The Kansas Lottery Commission will take applications for a casino development in its Southeast Zone through December 19.

The New Jersey Casino Reinvestment development Authority will pay concert promoter Live Nation a $1 million subsidy to bring at least a dozen “Big Name” concerts to the resort. The payment will protect Live Nation from losses.

Past tribal compacts with the Forest County Potawatomi are complicating Wisconsin Governor Scott Walker's decision regarding the Menominee Nation's proposed $810 million, off-reservation Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Kenosha (l.). Walker said those compacts require the state to pay up to $100 million to cover losses at the Potawatomi's Milwaukee casino resulting from the Kenosha development.

The feud that split the Paskenta Band of Nomlaki Indians in Northern California and threatened several times to close the Rolling Hills Casino, appears to be over. A new election has seated a new ruling council with a solid majority.

Does Maine need another casino? Lawmakers asked a consulting firm to study the issue and make recommendations about the potential success of a third gaming hall. The study says there’s room for one more, and maybe even two, and the state’.

The Saginaw Chippewa tribe in Michigan has challenged the National Labor Relations Board in federal appeals court. At issue is tribal sovereignty versus the right of private-sector workers to pursue union representation under the 1930s National Labor Relations Act, which is overseen by the NLRB.

In its efforts to keep the United Keetoowah Band's Tahlequah, Oklahoma casino closed and to prevent the land it sits on from being taken into federal trust, the Cherokee Nation cited sovereignty and constitutional issues in rebuttals presented to Northern District of Oklahoma Judge Gregory Frizzell.

Due to permitting issues with the Federal Aviation Administration, Choctaw Nation officials announced the new hotel at its Choctaw Casino and Resort (l.) in Durant, Oklahoma will be 14 stories instead of 22, as originally planned. The hotel is part of a $275 million expansion which will be completed next summer.

One hundred workers will be needed at the new Japanese restaurant opening at the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Hollywood, Florida, where four job fairs will be held to fill the openings. The restaurant is part of the $100 million expansion and remodeling going on at all seven Seminole casinos.

Boyd Gaming Corporation is parting ways with Chief Operating Officer Paul Chakmak as part of an effort to streamline the company’s management.

JCM Global has named Aquiles Mila de la Roca as sales manager of Latin American gaming, supporting all cash-handling and printing products in the region.

Suzo-Happ announced that Frank Kocik will take on the newly created position of director of OEM supply chain management for the company.

Zynga has appointed Pete Hawley its new vice president and general manager, he comes from a post as CEO of Red Robot Labs.

Clarion Events has named Nick Hares as conferences event manager, with responsibility over conferences including ICE, EiG, GIGSE and WrB.

The Suquamish Clearwater Casino Resort has partnered with mobile technology company Joingo on a new customer app for mobile devices.

Casino Technology is expanding its presence in Panama, as operator Coder places additional installations of the company’s machines in Panama City.

The Puerto Rico Tourism Company has formally adopted GLI 11 technical standards to improve compatibility and interoperability.

Suzo-Happ has completed its acquisition of Comesterogroup, an electronic payment system provider with a complete range of payment products and services.

Bally Technologies has released details on its display of slot, table, system and utility products for next week’s Global Gaming Expo trade show.

BMM Testlabs will use its booth at Global Gaming Expo to demonstrate its complete range of testing services for international casinos.

Gaming Laboratories International will provide attendees to Global Gaming Expo complete demonstrations of all of the company’s services.

Global Cash Access will showcase its entire suite of cash-access, business intelligence and compliance software product at Global Gaming Expo.

Slot-maker International Game Technology has released details on some of the products it will be featuring at the Global Gaming Expo.

TransAct Technologies will demonstrate its complete lineup of printing and couponing products at its Booth 2616 at Global Gaming Expo.

Clarion Events has acquired majority interest in the Slot Academy and Slot Summit events run by veteran casino executive Lucien Wijsman.

Gaming Laboratories International’s Latin American Regulators Roundtable in Lima, Peru, was the most successful since the event began.

Small Nuggets of News

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