Fla. Senate passes ban on gaming operations (AP) April 4, 2013 at 7:03 pm (Updated) Gary Fineout, Associated Press TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (AP) - Florida legislators voted overwhelmingly Thursday to ban storefront gaming operations, a quick response to a scandal that led to dozens of arrests and the lieutenant governor's resignation. The bill is now headed to the desk of Gov. Rick Scott, who said he will sign it. The operations, commonly called "Internet cafes," would … [Read more...]
Head of track seeking slots license steps down (AP) April 4, 2013 at 1:26 pm PLAINVILLE, Mass. (AP) - The head of the Plainridge Racecourse is stepping down from his post for health reasons as the state's only harness racing facility pursues a slots parlor license. Gary Piontkowski, a former state racing commissioner, founded the Plainville track in 1997. Plainridge is one of four bidders for the sole slots parlor license allowed under the state's casino law. It was … [Read more...]
Soaring Eagle Casino Plans ‘Play For Free’ Website (AP) April 4, 2013 at 6:40 am MOUNT PLEASANT (AP) – The Soaring Eagle Casino is planning a new website that won’t take bets for money unless Congress changes restrictions on online gambling. The casino’s marketing director Raul Venegas tells the Morning Sun of Mount Pleasant that the website will be for marketing and fun. Venegas says the casino has “no intentions to offer real money gaming online, but people can play … [Read more...]
US trial pits Vegas casino, Hong Kong businessman (AP) April 3, 2013 at 10:31 pm Hannah Dreier, Associated Press LAS VEGAS (AP) - Attorneys in a dispute between the Las Vegas Sands casino and a Hong Kong businessman told conflicting stories about the role that personal relationships and favors play in the Chinese gambling enclave of Macau during their opening arguments. Richard Suen says he was hired by Sands to help build relationships with the Chinese government. The … [Read more...]
Bill seeks to ban sports kiosks from bars (AP) April 3, 2013 at 2:24 pm CARSON CITY, Nev. (AP) - The powerful Nevada Resort Association wants to ban small bars and taverns that have restricted gambling licenses from operating sports betting kiosks. A hearing Wednesday before the Senate Judiciary Committee over SB416 was a David and Goliath clash between the state's biggest resorts that have full-service sportsbooks and smaller locations that by law are limited to … [Read more...]
AC casinos profits fell 27 percent in 2012 (AP) April 3, 2013 at 2:22 pm Wayne Parry, Associated Press ATLANTIC CITY, N.J. (AP) - Atlantic City's casinos saw their gross operating profits fall by more than 27 percent last year, even as revenue from non-gambling sources inched upward. The city's casinos collectively posted $360 million in gross operating profits in 2012. They were hurt by having to close for up to a week for Superstorm Sandy. Eight of the 12 … [Read more...]
$1M Powerball ticket sold in NJ about to expire (AP) April 3, 2013 at 12:41 pm TRENTON, N.J. (AP) - A Powerball ticket worth $1 million that was purchased in New Jersey last year will soon expire. New Jersey Lottery officials say the ticket was purchased May 16, 2012 at the Super Stop & Shop supermarket on Route 522 and Summerfield Boulevard in South Brunswick. The winning numbers are 3, 7, 21, 28 and 43 and the Red Ball number is 2. If the ticket isn't claimed by … [Read more...]
W.Va. Senate authorizes new casino near Va. border (AP) April 3, 2013 at 11:25 am CHARLESTON, W.Va. (AP) - The West Virginia Senate has authorized the construction of the state's sixth casino. The casino would be located in Franklin near the Virginia border. Revenues at the state's five existing casinos are expected to fall by more than $200 million this year. The bill's sponsors said that because of its location, the new casino would not take business from them. It would … [Read more...]
Kan. Senate rejects measure to lure new casino (AP) April 2, 2013 at 10:26 pm John Hanna, Associated Press TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) - An attempt to bring a state-owned casino to southeast Kansas failed Tuesday evening when the state Senate rejected a deal to help such a project but also kill off any possibility of slot machines at dog and horse tracks. Senators voted 24-15 against a bill rewriting a 2007 state law authorizing both state-owned casinos and slots at dog and … [Read more...]
Hawaii senators debate gambling definition (AP) April 2, 2013 at 8:22 pm Anita Hofschneider, Associated Press HONOLULU (AP) - Hawaii lawmakers are debating amending the state's anti-gambling law to clarify that it's illegal to sell goods or services that entitle people to play gambling machines. The Senate judiciary committee met Tuesday to debate the bill and plans to vote Wednesday. The committee is considering revising the bill to exempt bona fide business … [Read more...]
Hong Kong man seeks $328M from Las Vegas Sands (AP) April 2, 2013 at 8:18 pm Hannah Dreier, Associated Press LAS VEGAS (AP) - Casino mogul Sheldon Adelson is squaring off for the second time with a Hong Kong businessman who says he's owed $328 million for helping Las Vegas Sands Corp. win a gambling license in the Chinese enclave of Macau. The case turns on whether meetings Richard Suen set up between Sands executives and Beijing officials in 2001 helped the company … [Read more...]
W.Va. Senate moves to lower fees on casinos (AP) April 2, 2013 at 7:54 pm David Gutman, Associated Press CHARLESTON, W.Va. (AP) - As West Virginia casino revenues decline, the state Senate has endorsed giving them a one-time break in fees that would amount to a $4 million annual loss in state revenue. The Wheeling Island racetrack casino has said that it will not renew its table gaming license unless its $2.5 million annual fee is lowered. To avoid the appearance … [Read more...]
Kansas Senate rejects smoking ban for state casinos (AP) April 2, 2013 at 5:51 pm TOPEKA, Kansas (AP) -- The Kansas Senate has rejected a proposal to ban smoking at state-owned casinos as it debates a bill for bringing one to the state's southeast corner. Senators voted 22-15 Tuesday against an amendment from Kansas City Democrat David Haley. State law bars smoking in many public places, and Haley said casinos should face the same rule. Even some senators who liked the … [Read more...]
Pa. slots revenue continued decline in March (AP) April 2, 2013 at 5:09 pm HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) - State gambling regulators say gross revenue from slot machines at Pennsylvania's 11 casinos was down slightly last month compared to the same period a year ago, although it still amounted to the second-highest monthly take on record. The Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board on Tuesday reported $229.3 million in gross revenue from slots in March, down from $233.1 million from … [Read more...]
Minn. lawmakers jump back into Vikings stadium (AP) April 2, 2013 at 5:09 pm Patrick Condon, Associated Press ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) - Minnesota state lawmakers waded back into details of the Vikings stadium project Tuesday, amid building concerns about the reliability of tax revenue from gambling to pay the state's share. The Legislative Commission on Minnesota Sports Facilities, a new House-Senate panel charged with oversight of Minnesota's publicly funded sports … [Read more...]
MTR Gaming president, CEO Jeffrey Dahl to resign (AP) April 2, 2013 at 11:10 am (Updated) Vicki Smith, Associated Press MORGANTOWN, W.Va. (AP) - MTR Gaming Group President and CEO Jeffrey Dahl will leave the gambling company to pursue other business opportunities, officials announced Tuesday. Dahl's resignation from the company's Board of Directors is effective immediately, but Chester-based MTR said Dahl will remain as president and chief executive officer while the … [Read more...]
SE Kan. casino backers to try again to pass bill (AP) April 2, 2013 at 5:00 am TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) - Southeast Kansas legislators hoping to bring a state-owned casino to their area will try again to pass a bill designed to make it happen. But their measure would kill off any chance of slot machines at dog and horse racing tracks. The gambling bill is on the Senate's agenda Tuesday. Southeast Kansas legislators have tried repeatedly in the past to revise a 2007 gambling … [Read more...]
Wis. casinos bring in less; too many facilities? (AP) April 2, 2013 at 2:08 am APPLETON, Wis. (AP) - Opponents of gambling expansion are arguing a 5 percent revenue drop at Wisconsin's 20 Indian casinos from 2007 to 2011 is evidence the state has reached its saturation point for casinos. But a tribe trying to open a new casino in Kenosha is blaming the economy. Gamblers wagered nearly $16 billion at Wisconsin casinos last year, or $282 million less than the amount wagered … [Read more...]
W.Va. Senate advances bill to build new casino (AP) April 1, 2013 at 5:59 pm CHARLESTON, W.Va. (AP) - As revenues continue to decline in West Virginia's five casinos, the Senate Finance Committee has passed a bill authorizing a sixth casino in the state. The bill would allow a casino to be built on a "rural resort community" in Pendleton County near the Virginia border. Sen. Clark Barnes, one of the bill's sponsors, said that Pendleton County's rural atmosphere would … [Read more...]
Pokagon Band’s Dowagiac casino to open April 30 (AP) April 1, 2013 at 10:38 am DOWAGIAC, Mich. (AP) - An Indian tribe plans to open its third casino in southwestern Michigan at the end of the month. The Pokagon Band of Potawatomi Indians announced Monday that its new Four Winds Dowagiac facility will be open for business on April 30. Dowagiac is in Cass County, about 90 miles southwest of Grand Rapids. The Pokagon Band already operates the Four Winds Casinos in New … [Read more...]
In Indiana, a ‘casino’ by any other name pondered (AP) March 31, 2013 at 8:36 pm Tom LoBianco, Associated Press SHELBYVILLE, Ind. (AP) - In many ways, the differences between playing electronic roulette at the racetrack and playing the wheel at a riverboat casino are akin to reading this column on an iPad or in the paper. There are no chips to lay down on felt tables at the Indiana Grand Casino's electronic roulette tables, but bet $10 on red on the touchscreen and … [Read more...]
Closer Look: Gov skeptical about gaming expansion (AP) March 31, 2013 at 2:02 pm Sophia Tareen, Associated Press CHICAGO (AP) - Lawmakers pushing to expand gambling in Illinois hope the third time is a charm with a more finely tuned proposal that could make Illinois the fourth state to allow Internet gaming. The latest proposal includes some familiar ideas: five new casinos, including one in Chicago; thousands of slot machines, including at Chicago's two airports. But it … [Read more...]
Competing timelines sway Mass. tribe casino bid (AP) March 31, 2013 at 1:19 pm Jay Lindsay, Associated Press BOSTON (AP) - The Mashpee Wampanoag have 12 millennia of history behind them, but whether their history to come includes a Massachusetts-licensed casino depends now on what a state commission believes will happen in the tribe's near future. Lawmakers gave the tribe exclusive rights to southeastern Massachusetts' only casino license, but the Massachusetts Gaming … [Read more...]
Wanna bet? Gambling highlights Nevada Legislature (AP) March 30, 2013 at 6:21 pm Sandra Chereb, Associated Press CARSON CITY, Nev. (AP) - When it comes to national politics, forget political pollsters - Nevada sports books may be where the heavy action is for bettors looking to cash in by predicting elections outcomes. Also, dogs, budgets and English language learner programs will be key topics as Nevada lawmakers begin their ninth week Monday and near the midday point … [Read more...]
Churchill Downs buying Maine casino for $160M (AP) March 29, 2013 at 4:01 pm OXFORD, Maine (AP) - Less than a year after it opened, Oxford Casino is being sold for about $160 million to Churchill Downs Inc., the Kentucky-based gambling company announced Friday. The deal awaits approval by the Maine Gambling Control Board and is expected to close in the fourth quarter of 2013. Churchill Downs Chairman Robert Evans said the acquisition of Oxford continues its focus on … [Read more...]
