TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (AP) - The Florida Lottery reports that more people bought tickets for its scratch-off games last week than ever before in history. Lottery officials said Monday that $78.5 million in scratch-off game tickets were sold the week beginning Feb. 10. That's $4.5 million more than the previous record, which was set in March 2012. The top sellers were the 100x The Cash and the … [Read more...]

ATLANTIC CITY, N.J. (AP) - Internet gambling analysts and casino executives say the increased use of cellphones to place bets could accelerate the growth of the nascent industry in the state. "Mobile applications will play an enormous piece of the puzzle in online wagering, which is why we are so positive and see so much upside in months ahead," said Joe Lupo, senior vice president of the … [Read more...]

Las Vegas would like you to know all is forgiven — at least, unofficially. The Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority launched a campaign over the weekend to let tourists know that what happens here still stays here, and one lucky day out of the year the city will even forgive its visitors for their wild antics with an “official” pardon. The LVCVA has been tweeting since Valentine’s Day … [Read more...]

PROVIDENCE, R.I. (AP) - The chairman of Twin River says the casino company is well-positioned to meet the threat of expanded gambling in Massachusetts, with the addition of table games and the acquisition of a resort casino in Mississippi. Chairman John Taylor cites as key to the company's strategic plan the introduction last year of blackjack, roulette and other table games at the Lincoln … [Read more...]

ATLANTIC CITY, N.J. — Police in Atlantic City say Baltimore Ravens running back Ray Rice was arrested at a casino there after an argument with his fiancee turned physical. Atlantic City police said that Rice and Janay Palmer were both arrested on simple assault charges and were released on a summons after an incident at the Revel Casino early Saturday morning. Both Rice and Palmer declined … [Read more...]

SOCHI, Russia (AP) - When it comes to illegal sports betting at the Olympics, IOC spokesman Mark Adams says they're not playing any games. The IOC is working with Interpol to try to limit the amount of illegal sports betting done. Adams went as far on Monday as to say that officials put betting on par with doping, which is largely considered the greatest threat to competition at the … [Read more...]

When UNLV advertised a job for $47 million worth of arena improvements at the Thomas &Mack Center a little more than a year ago, the inquiries from America’s sports venue construction companies were immediate. “When we put out a (request for proposal), it was bam, a lot of people were interested,” said Mike Newcomb, executive director of Thomas &Mack, Sam Boyd Stadium and Cox Pavilion … [Read more...]

HARTFORD, Conn. (AP) - Once the uncontested heavyweights of the Northeast gambling industry, Connecticut's two tribal-owned casinos are redoubling efforts to establish a presence in Massachusetts as they contend with growing competition. Mohegan Sun and Foxwoods have been losing ground for years, with revenue falling in each of the last six years for Mohegan Sun and the last eight years at the … [Read more...]

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) - Without a Powerball jackpot winner this weekend, the prize has climbed to $400 million. Lottery officials said no one matched all six numbers for Saturday's $330.8 million drawing. The next drawing - worth $400 million or $227.8 million in cash value - is Wednesday. The current jackpot began its ascent at the end of 2013. Changes to the top lottery games have the … [Read more...]

Pinnacle Entertainment CEO Anthony Sanfilippo drew upon his experience in corporate mergers in overseeing his company’s $2.8 billion acquisition of rival Ameristar Casinos in 2013. In the six months since the buyout’s completion, Pinnacle has become a new company under its old name. Las Vegas-based Pinnacle doubled its size. The company controls 14 casinos in nine states and is a regional … [Read more...]

Downtown Las Vegas soon will be a lot cooler. Literally. The Wranglers have agreed to terms with the Plaza to build a new 3,500-seat facility there that will serve as their hockey home, starting in the 2014-15 ECHL season. Team president Billy Johnson said Friday the Wranglers have agreed to a five-year lease with a five-year option for an extension. The permanent structure — which has … [Read more...]

The winner of the 2014 Main Event at the World Series of Poker will collect $10 million to celebrate the tournament’s 10th year at Rio. Caesars Entertainment Corp., which owns the World Series of Poker, announced the 45th annual tournament will kick off after Memorial Day Weekend on May 27. Sixty-five bracelet events will be offered. The $10,000 buy-in No Limit Hold’em World Championship, … [Read more...]

ATLANTIC CITY, N.J. (AP) - A state senator says the company that bought the former Atlantic Club Casino Hotel wants to make sure it never reopens as a casino. James Whelan, a former mayor of Atlantic City, wrote this week to New Jersey casino regulators complaining about what he says are attempts by Caesars Entertainment to prevent a future buyer from operating the property as a casino. He said … [Read more...]

Las Vegas-based Attack Poker has become the official online gaming partner of Bellator MMA, a Newport Beach, Calif., mixed martial arts promotion company. The partnership’s specific length was undisclosed, though it was called a multiyear deal. Financial terms of the sponsorship were undisclosed. The multiyear alliance will be launched at Bellator’s season 10 debut at Mohegan Sun Casino on … [Read more...]

LAS VEGAS (AP) - Officials at a downtown Las Vegas casino hope to hold the world's largest speed dating event Friday and shatter a record set in Vietnam a few months ago. The D Las Vegas is hosting their free "D Date-a-Thon" Valentine's Day evening in partnership with two speed dating organizations, a radio station and a photography firm. Organizers are planning for 1,000 participants, which … [Read more...]

Look down the corridor between the Flamingo and The Quad, and get a glimpse of the newest adventure in Vegas, coming Feb. 28. Once inside, you’ll pass a Starbucks and The Haute Doggery, a 1,000-square-foot gourmet hotdog restaurant. Both already are open. Next door, the Purple Zebra stocks uniquely shaped daiquiri glasses, including oversized, plastic champagne bottles in shades of lavender, … [Read more...]

HARTFORD, Conn. (AP) - Connecticut's two tribal-owned casinos reported declines Friday of more than 8 percent in slot machine revenue, meaning another drop in the amount they contribute each month to state government. The revenue, or the share of wagers kept by the casinos, fell to $37.1 million in January at Foxwoods Resort Casino from $40.7 million in January of 2013. Mohegan Sun reported … [Read more...]

RENO, Nev. (AP) - A Reno casino faces a $1 million fine after regulators said an employee had been using a special key to gather proprietary information about other casinos' slot machines since at least 2011. A proposed settlement between the Nevada Gaming Control Board and the Peppermill casino in Reno was made public Thursday, and requires final approval from the Nevada Gaming … [Read more...]

Websites for casino giant Las Vegas Sands Corp. remained down for a fourth day on Friday, while company, state and federal investigators trace the origin and effect of a hacking intrusion. The Internet sites of Sands properties including the flagship Venetian and Palazzo in Las Vegas and its Pennsylvania, Singapore and Macau resorts remained inoperative, and company spokesman Ron Reese said … [Read more...]

CLEVELAND (AP) - Declining casino revenue has cut into the take for local governments, and now the growth of racetrack slots gambling is diverting some of that money from cities and counties to schools. The switch has made some local governments wary of allocating uncertain casino money for mandated expenses like courts, elections and jails. Instead, they are using the money for extra items … [Read more...]

Caesars Entertainment Corp.’s interactive subsidiary has acquired an Israel-based social gaming business, the company’s fourth deal in the past few years to expand its presence in the growing free-to-play gaming market. Caesars did not disclose financial terms to acquire Pacific Interactive, which owns the slot machine-style, free-play application House of Fun. Social gaming has become a … [Read more...]

Feb. 14 (Bloomberg) -- Melco Crown Entertainment Ltd., the Macau casino venture of billionaire James Packer and Lawrence Ho, said it will begin paying dividends after posting a profit gain driven by bigger bets from high-stakes mass gamblers. Melco Crown shares headed for the highest price in more than three weeks after the company said “significant earnings and cash flow” allow it to start the … [Read more...]

Owners of the Peppermill Casino in Reno agreed to pay a $1 million fine to state gaming regulators after an employee was caught using a common slot machine “reset” key on games operated by competing Northern Nevada casinos to steal proprietary information. According to a stipulated settlement filed Thursday, Peppermill management condoned the employee’s activities and encouraged him to gather … [Read more...]

MADISON, Wis. (AP) - The Menominee Nation's new chairwoman gently criticized Wisconsin's new school mascot law in an address before legislators Thursday, saying the changes will damage native children. The new law makes it harder to strip public schools of American Indian nicknames, mascots and logos. The law's negative effects on American Indians' collective culture will be "considerable," … [Read more...]