Residents voice casino concerns
(DELAWARE) -- The proposed casino to be built at the Indian River Inlet has sparked controversy and concern among residents and environmentalists who say the now recreational area is no place for large-scale commercial structures.
Hoosier Park exec reassures employees
(INDIANA) -- A Hoosier Park Racing & Casino executive met with company department heads Monday to update them on the racino’s status as parent company Centaur prepares to go through bankruptcy proceedings while Anderson city officials rested easy on the assurance the city still would receive its Hoosier Park tax money.
Should taxpayers pay $300M for casino in Atlantic City?
(ATLANTIC CITY) -- Fresh from using $10 billion in federal bailout money to save itself, Morgan Stanley is now gambling that its investment in a 1,900-room casino-hotel on Atlantic City's boardwalk will hit another type of jackpot.
Casino backers look for investors in Sioux City
(IOWA) -- Developers of a proposed casino and golf resort in Lyon County, Iowa are looking for investors from Sioux City. They made their pitch at a meeting, Monday night, at the Sioux City Country Club.
Gaming Control Board must balance cuts with its reputation, oversight mission
(NEVADA) -- The recession has slashed casino profits and taxes, and it has made the job of regulating Nevada’s casino industry tougher. Many troubled gaming operations simply transfer to new owners rather than go out of business, and manufacturers continue to churn out new products for a global marketplace of increasing numbers of casinos.
U.S. Casino Revenue Tanks in 2009
(NEW YORK) -- U.S. casinos are on a losing streak, as gaming revenue tumbled 5.7% in 2009 across the country. The 12 states that have legal gambling pulled in $30.7 billion, according to a preliminary estimate by the American Gaming Association. This follows a 4.8% decline in 2008.
Icahn executive: Trump name hurts casinos
(NEW JERSEY) -- Carl Icahn, Donald Trump’s bitter rival, may dump the Trump name and undertake a rebranding if he gets control of the Trump casinos in the bankruptcy battle between the two billionaires.
Harrah's tells nightclub to pay rent or leave
(LAS VEGAS) -- Harrah's Entertainment has told the owners of the bankrupt Privé Nightclub and its adjacent Living Room ultralounge inside Planet Hollywood Resort to either pay past-due rent and expenses or leave the company's recently acquired Strip hotel-casino.
Hollywood Casino dominated Southeast Ind. gaming in Feb.
(INDIANA) -- The Hollywood Casino in Lawrenceburg widened its market share during a snow-filled February, claiming 66.2 percent of all revenue dropped by gamblers in Southeast Indiana casinos, according to figures from the Indiana Gaming Commission.
OP/ED: Why video gaming is good for Illinois
(ILLINOIS) -- Last year, Illinois joined California as most at risk of fiscal calamity, according to the Pew Center on the States. Last month, a nonpartisan government watchdog group, Chicago's Civic Federation, reported that every day puts Illinoisans closer to the edge of a financial cliff.
4th casino files for bankruptcy protection
(INDIANA) -- Centaur Gaming, the parent company of the Hoosier Park horse track casino in Anderson, announced Monday it would file for bankruptcy reorganization but vowed to continue its gambling operations without interruption.
OP/ED: Senate is moving too fast on gambling bill
(NEW HAMPSHIRE) -- A bill that would allow the establishment of full-blown casino gambling in New Hampshire may soon pass muster in the state Senate. Thankfully, however, political pundits are doubtful it will get through the House, where such efforts have died before.
Cosmopolitan nixes residences, refunds deposits
(LAS VEGAS) -- Checks are in the mail for Cosmopolitan Resort Casino homebuyers. On Feb. 23, Clark County District Court Judge Elizabeth Gonzales approved a class action settlement refunding partial homebuyer deposits at the $3.9 billion, still under construction Strip development.
MGM Mirage to sell $845 million in bonds
(NEW YORK) -- Casino operator MGM Mirage said Tuesday it will sell $845 million in new bonds due in 2020, looking to build a healthier balance sheet amid a gambling industry slump.
DeLeo pushes back bill
(MASSACHUSETTS) -- House Speaker Robert DeLeo pushed back the release of his gaming bill, discussed casino development strategy, but skirted questions tied to potential gambling state revenue while appearing on WRKO-AM’s Charley Manning show yesterday.
Golden won’t vote on casino
(PENNSYLVANIA) -- Cumberland Township Supervisor Debra Golden announced Monday that she’s recusing herself from voting on zoning legislation that would allow gaming facilities anywhere in the township’s mixed-use district.
Maryland Falling Behind In Gambling
(MARYLAND) -- With each passing day Maryland sees itself falling further behind neighboring states in the area of gambling. Maryland is 15 months removed from the November 2008 referendum election in which voters overwhelmingly approved legalizing slots in the state- to date the process is dragging along with no slots parlors close to coming to fruition.
Governor supports more casinos in Iowa
(IOWA) -- In 2009, Gov. Chet Culver took out a loan (for) $850 million. He planned to pay for it with revenue from the casinos. Wouldn't you know it? Revenue went down, so the hoped-for $52 million per year to pay back his loan did not materialize.
Icahn to finalize Tropicana purchase
(NEW JERSEY) -- It took more than two years, nearly $12 million in fees to lawyers and others and a billionaire's bargain-basement bid, but the Tropicana Casino and Resort has been salvaged by its sale to Carl Icahn.
DeLeo says outside panel should choose casino sites
(MASSACHUSETTS) -- House Speaker Robert DeLeo said Tuesday that the areas around the Bay State's four racetracks, including two in his home district, have already accepted expanded gambling and should be granted slot machine licenses rather than putting those licenses up for grabs
North Shore reps open to casino gambling
(MASSACHUSETTS) -- North Shore lawmakers are receptive to House Speaker Robert DeLeo's proposal to build two casinos in Massachusetts and add slot machines at the state's four racetracks.
Caprio: No casino bailout
(RHODE ISLAND) -- On the eve of a critical State House hearing on the fate of the bankrupt Twin River slot parlor, General Treasurer Frank T. Caprio had this advice for state lawmakers: “No big bailout for big banks.”
New life possible for Raynham dog track
(MASSACHUSETTS) -- It may be the best announcement gaming advocates have received since plans were announced for a casino in Middleboro nearly three years ago.
Icahn Looking to Trump Trump
(ATLANTIC CITY) -- The future of Atlantic City is being played out on two venues. One is in a bankruptcy courtroom in Camden, NJ, where billionaires Carl Icahn and Donald Trump are in the midst of a cutthroat battle for control of Trump’s three Atlantic City casinos, where hundreds of millions of dollars are on the line. T
Harrah's Wins Relaxed Terms on $5.5 Billion in CMBS Debt
(WALL STREET) -- Harrah's Entertainment Inc. lenders agreed to amend the terms of about $5.5 billion in loans made to the world's largest casino operator by revenue, including having the option to extend the due date to 2015.
Flint casino: Jobs or trade offs?
(MICHIGAN) -- Once again the topic of brining more casinos to Michigan is making headlines. Two groups are pushing to bring casinos to some of the most cash-strapped Michigan cities including flint.
Southfield Organization Eyes Benton Harbor Casino
(MICHIGAN) -- Benton Harbor Mayor Wilce Cooke wants to bring a casino to the local community. Cooke is the committee co-chair of Michigan is Yours. The organization wants to amend the state constitution to allow casinos in all cities.
Hoosier Park owner seeks to reorganize $680M in debt
(INDIANA) -- Indianapolis-based Centaur LLC, owner of Hoosier Park horse track and casino in Anderson, hopes to restructure $680 million in debt through Chapter 11 bankruptcy reorganization, Chief Financial Officer Kurt Wilson said Monday morning.
DeLeo reignites debate over expanded gambling in Massachusetts
(MASSACHUSETTS) -- Massachusetts House Speaker Robert DeLeo said Thursday he will file legislation within the month to authorize two resort casinos in Massachusetts and an unspecified number of slot machines at the state's four horse- and dog-racing tracks.
Valley View Downs developer files for bankruptcy protection
(INDIANA) -- The Indiana company that holds the license for a planned harness-racing track near New Castle has filed more Chapter 11 bankruptcy petitions, just months after it took similar action to protect two affiliates directly involved in local venture.
Hoosier Park parent company bankrupt
(INDIANA) -- The company that owns Hoosier Park racetrack and casino in Anderson is filing for bankruptcy. Jim Brown, the general manager of Hoosier Park, said Centaur Gaming can't afford to make interest payments on its loans anymore.
Q&A: Randall Fine, Managing Director, Fine Point Group
(CALIFORNIA) -- Randall A. Fine has accumulated a wealth of experience from big-time gaming operators in his eight-year casino career. Fine was corporate vice president of a 40,000-machine slot operations group at Harrah’s Entertainment and its Total Rewards loyalty program.
Pennsylvania: Poker Playing now a Reality
(PENNSYLVANIA) -- Playing poker and even other table games are now a reality in Pennsylvania. The gambling regulators of the state are now asking for funds to pay almost 50 of their employees who are to be especially bought in to oversee the games.
Public servants are big fish in gambling blacklist net
(MISSOURI) -- For years, the crimes that barred gamblers from Missouri casinos read like Mafia movie plots. Men with ties to Kansas City's notorious La Cosa Nostra ran illegal betting rings, threatened witnesses and skimmed money from Las Vegas casinos, according to FBI testimony.
COMMENTARY: Legislation can jump start gambling
(MASSACHUSETTS) -- Over the course of the past year, various state legislators, including me, have filed a number of different bills that would authorize the expansion of gaming in Massachusetts.
Recession hits casinos, too
(IOWA) -- Iowa's casino industry generated $967 million for the state's economy in 2009, which was the worst showing since 2005, a new state report shows.
Letters: Resort casino good fit for WMass
(MASSACHUSETTS) -- As our legislators prepare to file and debate a bill on (resort casinos) in Massachusetts, the residents of Berkshire, Franklin, Hampshire and Hampden counties), who are for economic growth and increased job opportunities, must start showing their support for having a resort casino located in Western Massachusetts.
BLOG: Las Vegas Near Top of DUI List
(LAS VEGAS) -- Despite its reputation, Las Vegas did not make the No. 1 spot on the March 2010 list of drunkest cities in the U.S. It did, however, come in 11th, according to Las Vegas Weekly, just falling short of the top 10 for deaths, arrests and binges related to alcohol and alcoholism.
Lynch may be gambling buzz saw
(NEW HAMPSHIRE) -- The attempt to expand gambling in New Hampshire may be building strength in the Legislature, but it could run into a buzz saw elsewhere in the State House.
INSIDE GAMING: Casino partners getting fair deal?
(LAS VEGAS) -- If Station Casinos diverted high-stakes gamblers away from a joint-venture casino to a property where it collects 100 percent of the gaming revenues, it could have industrywide consequences.
Premier Resort Close-Up: Beau Rivage Resort & Casino
(MISSISSIPPI) -- In August 2005, Hurricane Katrina demolished almost ninety percent of the structures within a half mile of the Mississippi Gulf Coast. But exactly one year later, MGM's Beau Rivage Resort & Casino reopened, following a $550-million renovation.
Morgan Stanley Asks New Jersey for $300 Million Toward Casino
(ATLANTIC CITY) -- Financial services company Morgan Stanley is flush enough to repay the federal government billions and give more billions to executives, but wants New Jersey taxpayers to underwrite the completion costs for an Atlantic City casino.
NEVADAN AT WORK: Executive poised to help casinos navigate out of recession
(LAS VEGAS) -- Barry Shier never sought the spotlight. Of course, when you have spent the better part of your career working for casino developer Steve Wynn during the massive growth heyday of the gaming industry and Las Vegas in the 1980s and 1990s, there was more than enough illumination to go around.
Casino Aztar swapping Starbucks for own brand
(INDIANA) -- No more Starbucks for Casino Aztar. Aztar announced late Friday that it has decided to part ways with the popular national chain and operate its own full service coffee shop instead.
Icahn group cleared to buy troubled Tropicana
(NEW JERSEY) -- The New Jersey Casino Control Commission approved the acquisition of the state’s Tropicana Casino & Resort by an entity owned 46 percent by affiliates of Carl C. Icahn, according to a statement released this week.
Underage gambling brings Mt. Airy casino record fine
(PENNSYLVANIA) -- A record $100,000 civil fine was levied Wednesday against Mount Airy Casino Resort for allowing underage patrons to play slots machines and failing to report some of the incidents to state officials.
Participants in gambling talks in Durham feel educated
(NEW HAMPSHIRE) -- For many of the 200 people who participated in last month's community conversations on expanded gambling, it was the first time they engaged in "intensive, facilitated dialogue" around critical public policy, a lead organizer says.
Governor talks taxes and casino
(PENNSYLVANIA) -- Pennsylvania Gov. Edward G. Rendell thinks that the proposed Mason Dixon Resort & Casino in Cumberland Township is “much better” than a previous Adams County gaming project, because it is “located farther away from Gettysburg, and closer to Maryland.”
Controversy a safe bet for Revel Casino project
(ATLANTIC CITY) -- A proposed $300 million tax break for a partially-built Atlantic City casino would lead to lost jobs in the city's service sector, union protesters charged outside Morgan Stanley's offices on Wednesday.
CityCenter: Las Vegas' big gamble
(LAS VEGAS) -- After just a day in Las Vegas' spanking new CityCenter, I was crystal clear about one thing: This was no place for anyone on a budget.
Most of planned Maryland casinos' prospects in doubt
(MARYLAND) -- If everything had gone as planned, Maryland's first slots casino would be opening this spring and four others would be on the way -- with the promise of more than $660 million a year on the horizon for education programs.
Charlotte deputies raid alleged casino
(FLORIDA) -- Sheriff's deputies raided and shut down an alleged casino business in Murdock Friday, arresting the owner and two women. Charlotte County sheriff's detectives say management at the All-In Social Club and Private Lounge, 1700 Tamiami Trail, was reportedly conducting illegal card games.
Charlotte deputies raid alleged casino
(FLORIDA) -- Authorities have arrested six people in connection to Friday’s raid at a local gambling club. Charlotte County sheriff’s detectives say management at the All-In/Magical Players Club, 1700 Tamiami Trail in Port Charlotte, was reportedly running illegal poker games for several months.
Man gets 25 years in plot to extort $3 million from casino
(NEW JERSEY) -- David Kilkeary acknowledged loving parents and a supportive wife, but it was the "little devil" on his shoulder that had more influence the day in 2007 when he tried to extort $3 million from an Atlantic City casino, he told a federal judge yesterday.
Supervisor discusses casino bid
(IOWA) -- The casino proposal for Ottumwa received key support on Thursday. Iowa Governor Chet Culver sent a letter to the Iowa Racing and Gaming Commission stating his support for granting a casino license to Ottumwa.
OP/ED: Adding casinos would be risky move for Delaware
(DELAWARE) -- Legislation in the General Assembly that would increase the number of casinos in the state has attracted heated debate. Now that the General Assembly is occupied with crafting a state budget, there is time to consider in a reasoned way, the arguments surrounding casino expansion.
Cleveland casino planning begins
(OHIO) -- Officials planning a new casino in Cleveland still anticipate a groundbreaking as soon as this fall. However, the grand opening has been postponed slightly to early 2013, a few months later than an earlier timeline of fall 2012, said Jennifer Kulczycki, spokeswoman for Rock Ventures.
Slots stumble at the gate
(MASSACHUSETTS) -- House Speaker Robert A. DeLeo’s proposal for two resort-style casinos and the addition of slot machines at the state’s four racetracks is facing opposition in the House and Senate.
OUR VIEW: Don't bet against us
(MASSACHUSETTS) -- If Massachusetts decides to license casinos — a move still fraught with pitfalls — one of them belongs in the southeastern part of the state.
So far, it's no dice for casino plan
(MASSACHUSETTS) -- House Speaker Robert DeLeo is defending his push for two casinos and slots at the state's racetracks, saying it would bring needed revenue to the state and stave off what he calls a "blue-collar depression."
Supporters swamp gaming hearing
(NEW HAMPSHIRE) -- Proponents of expanded gambling yesterday overwhelmed a Senate committee hearing on whether to recommend allowing slot machines and table games in New Hampshire.
Gambling plan would help offset cuts
(NEW HAMPSHIRE ) -- Proponents for legalizing slot machine and casino gambling sweetened the pot Thursday offering to dedicate the first $50 million in taxpayer profit from it to avoid state budget cuts to seniors, the disabled, children and low-income families.
Culver backs adding casinos
(IOWA) -- Gov. Chet Culver urged state gambling regulators Thursday to approve licenses for four additional casinos in Iowa, a move that drew concern from gambling critics.
Casino Aztar swapping Starbucks for own brand
(INDIANA) -- No more Starbucks for Casino Aztar. Aztar announced late Friday that it has decided to part ways with the popular national chain and operate its own full service coffee shop instead.
Sussex looks to address casino zoning
(DELAWARE) -- In response to resident concerns, the Sussex County Council is drafting a proposal for an additional commercial zoning district to include several casinos that may be built in the area.
MJC: More Signatures for Slots Vote Submitted
(MARYLAND) -- The Maryland Jockey Club, as well as community groups, submitted 16,702 additional signatures to the Anne Arundel County Board of Elections March 5 in a push to have citizens of the county vote on a zoning permit for slot machines at Arundel Mills Mall.
Harrah’s secret: Cut costs, back to basics
(LAS VEGAS) -- Gaming giant Harrah’s Entertainment’s ability to steer clear of bankruptcy while carrying massive debt through the Great Recession has many people wanting to know its secret.
CityCenter Las Vegas could be boon for Dubai World
(LAS VEGAS) -- Dubai World’s joint venture partner in the CityCenter complex of Las Vegas, MGM Mirage is anticipating the $8.5billion resort will provide a much needed boost to the company’s bottom line.
House speaker pushes plans for casinos
(MASSACHUSETTS) -- House Speaker Robert DeLeo reignited the debate yesterday over expanded gambling in Massachusetts, proposing to build two casinos and add "a limited number" of slot machines at the state's four racetracks to generate badly needed revenue and create jobs for blue-collar workers.
Why Horsford took on gaming; what’s next?
(NEVADA) -- It was a dramatic showdown. State Senate Majority Leader Steven Horsford, trying to close a nearly $900 million budget deficit, demanded that the gaming industry come to the table and contribute.
Resort ponders suing state over clean-water fund
(LAS VEGAS) -- A Henderson resort is considering a lawsuit over the Legislature's decision to help cover the state budget shortfall with money collected for a proposed wastewater project in the Las Vegas Valley.
Judge to rule in casino loan case
(INDIANA) -- A judge will decide if a Corbin man must repay 75 thousand in loans from a Southern Indiana casino where he claims workers kept serving him drinks while he was drunk.
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