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Dream On...
Sat, Jun 06, 2009
The City of Dreams in Macau opened last week. Located on the Cotai Strip directly across from the Venetian, the performance of COD will be closely watched by competitors and future developers alike.
Vol. 7 • No. 21 • June 8, 2009 - Print This Issue
Cover Story
Featured Stories
WEEKLY FEATURE: G2E Asia: Down but still vital
Sat, Jun 06, 2009
Lower attendance figures didn’t mean less quality, as G2E Asia produced news and featured state-of-the-art technology, education and networking.
EchoHawk Confirmed
Sat, Jun 06, 2009
Larry EchoHawk (l.) was confirmed as the assistant secretary of Indian affairs at the Department of the Interior at a Senate hearing last week, where he got extensive support from Senator Daniel Inouye of Hawaii.
One Up, One Down in Atlantic City
Sat, Jun 06, 2009
Two Atlantic City casinos were the subject of news about new ownership last week: A group of investors including billionaire Carl Icahn secured ownership of the troubled Tropicana Atlantic City, while Trump Entertainment Resorts called off the deal to sell Trump Marina (l.) to a development group that wanted to transform the aging property into a Margaritaville-themed casino, but the operator still wants to sell the casino.
Legalized Video Poker Awaits Illinois Governor’s Pen
Sat, Jun 06, 2009
The Illinois legislature has passed a bill that would allow as many as 45,000 video poker machines in bars, restaurants and clubs all over the state. Now Governor Pat Quinn has to decide whether to sign it. But lawmakers are also looking to expand the number of casinos in the state.
Russian Region To Sell Land
Sat, Jun 06, 2009
At the end of June all legal casino and slot operations in Russia are expected to come to a halt. None of the four designated gaming zones has made much progress—but at least Kaliningrad is ready to start selling land.
FANTINI’S FINANCE: The Thaw Continues
Sat, Jun 06, 2009
As credit frees up, it opens many options for operators that have solid balance sheets and great location.
Isle Of Capri Extends Transition At Bahamas Lucaya Resort
Sat, Jun 06, 2009
The U.S. operator, returning to its roots following less than satisfactory exploits in foreign markets, organizes another orderly withdrawal rather than a headlong retreat.
UNITE HERE Leader Resigns
Sat, Jun 06, 2009
Battle between top union honchos forces one to resign; bad blood remains as Bruce Raynor (l.) joins union’s rival.
Interview with Randy Fine, Managing Director, Fine Point Group
Sun, Jun 07, 2009
This week, the Global Gaming Business Podcast features an interview with Randy Fine, the managing director of the Fine Point Group, one of the hottest consulting companies in the industry.
Columns : ASIAN GAMING
Las Vegas Sands Set To Resume Construction In Macau
Sat, Jun 06, 2009
With signs of a global economic meltdown fading in the rearview mirror, one of the industry’s bigger risk takers is looking to get back to business as usual.
Philippines NLRC Orders Employees’ Reinstatement
Sat, Jun 06, 2009
It took almost two years, but six casino employees in the Philippines are finally going back to work—with back pay.
Settlement ends LV Sands trial
Sat, Jun 06, 2009
A confidential settlement with three businessmen has ended one of three lawsuits against Las Vegas Sands over its entrance into the Macau gaming market.
Columns : EUROPEAN GAMING
Gran Scala Could Start Work In Spain This Year
Sat, Jun 06, 2009
The Gran Scala project is facing its latest challenge, this time from local activist political parties. At least progress at the new airport is proceeding as scheduled.
Casino Buses Ukraine-Style
Sat, Jun 06, 2009
Whatever problems the Ukraine gaming industry is facing, a shortage of creative thinking is not one of them. Slot operators: You’re either on the bus or off the bus.
Columns : GLOBAL GAMING
Victoria, Australia Slot Licenses Up For Bid In 2010
Sat, Jun 06, 2009
The Victoria slot market is set to undergo its own version of decentralization when hundreds of clubs and hotels apply for their own slot licenses.
Australia State Government Keeping Mum On Crown Deal
Sat, Jun 06, 2009
Australia’s massive Crown Casino at Melbourne is about to increase its already huge table game offering by more than 40 percent. What else the deal with the state involves is unknown.
Troubled Passage?
Sat, Jun 06, 2009
New law requiring passport for Americans and Canadians to cross border could hurt tourism in both countries.
Columns : TRIBAL GAMING
Shinnecock Nation Of Long Island, New York, Inches Closer To Federal Status
Sat, Jun 06, 2009
Eastern Long Islanders sure to mount opposition to tribal casino on reservation; Belmont Park racino seen as a possible compromise.
Connecticut Governor Rell Proposes Keno
Sat, Jun 06, 2009
Governor M. Jodi Rell has proposed that Connecticut offer Keno, which she believes could raise as much as $60 million to help the state’s budget deficit—without violating the exclusivity compact between the state and the tribes that operates the Foxwoods and Mohegan Sun casinos. But the state’s attorney general is doubtful that is legal.
Columns : UNITED STATES GAMING
At Attention in Massachusetts
Sat, Jun 06, 2009
Governor Deval Patrick and the two leaders of the Massachusetts legislative houses have agreed to move forward on some sort of gaming legislation this fall. That has caused big casino developers, such as Sheldon Adelson, to prick up their ears with interest.
Delay in Aqueduct choice could hurt New York Racing Association
Sat, Jun 06, 2009
NYRA predicts it will hit a financial wall by the end of next year without quick cash from gaming.
Pennsylvania to consider table games
Sat, Jun 06, 2009
A Pennsylvania lawmaker will introduce a bill to add table games to the state’s slot casinos, to meet new competition from Delaware and to close a budget gap.
Station receives fourth extension
Sat, Jun 06, 2009
Bondholders grant gaming company more time to negotiate but no details are available about the deal.
Kentucky Could Legalize Track Slots
Sat, Jun 06, 2009
Budget shortfall may require additional funds from gaming.
Carano Family To Buy Carson Valley Inn
Sat, Jun 06, 2009
The Carano family will purchase the Carson Valley Inn in northern Nevada in a transaction expected to close later this year.
Gambling Off Table in Indiana
Sat, Jun 06, 2009
Lawmakers to focus on budget in special session, avoid deciding on whether a license in Gary can move or if Fort Wayne can bring in a casino.
Penn National Eyes Laurel Park Slots
Sat, Jun 06, 2009
Pennsylvania-based Penn National Gaming ponders whether to make a bid to operate a slot casino at Maryland’s Laurel Park as uncertainty grows over a plan for slots at Arundel Mills Mall.
Smoking Ban Dies in Louisiana
Sat, Jun 06, 2009
Defeat in House likely spells end of efforts to ban smoking in casinos this year.
Video Gaming Could Help New Hampshire Track
Sat, Jun 06, 2009
The Lodge at Belmont, a greyhound racetrack in New Hampshire, is one of the tracks that would benefit if the bill that was passed two weeks ago by the Senate Finance Committee becomes law and allows tracks such as Belmont’s to become racinos. Up to 14,000 slots could be allowed if it eventually passes.
Development Plan Threatens Venerable Hollywood Park
Sat, Jun 06, 2009
A racetrack once haunted by live stars of the silver screen and now is haunted mainly by the their ghosts, Hollywood Park, is facing demolition sometime next year to make way for a redevelopment plan that includes, ironically, a cinema, as well as homes.
West Virginia Could Tap More Funds From State Racinos
Sat, Jun 06, 2009
Move is seen as a way to entice Jefferson County voters to say yes to table games.
High Rollers Rolling Back
Sat, Jun 06, 2009
Baccarat leads the return of some of the city's largest "whales" or ultra high rollers.
Columns : PEOPLE
Columns : GOODS & SERVICES
IGT Launches Electronic Baccarat
Sat, Jun 06, 2009
The leading slot manufacturer has debuted an electronic multi-player version of baccarat, which joins the company’s roulette offering in the “M-P” series of games.
DEQ Announces EZ Baccarat Installations
Sat, Jun 06, 2009
Canada’s DEQ Systems Corporation announced 14 new installations of its EZ Baccarat side-bet system in casino locations in British Columbia and Missouri.
Multimedia’s New York VLT Contract Extended
Sat, Jun 06, 2009
Multimedia Games announced that its contract to provide the central determinant system for New York’s video lottery terminals has been extended for seven years.
Biloxi’s Imperial Palace to Install IGT’s sbX System
Sat, Jun 06, 2009
The Mississippi resort will install IGT’s sbX, a limited-scale server-based setup featuring more than 100 game themes from the IGT library.
Mexico Trade Show Pushed Back To 2010
Sat, Jun 06, 2009
The swine flu epidemic first pushed back the GAMMEX trade show to June. Now it has been postponed to April of next year.
ACE Interactive wins GLI approval and new order
Sat, Jun 06, 2009
ACE Interactive, a subsidiary of Aristocrat, has received GLI approval for its TruServ server-based gaming platform.
Columns : WILD CARD
Loose Slots and Tight Feng Shui
Sat, Jun 06, 2009
A gambler from Taiwan is suing to recover his losses from a Las Vegas casino because he says the casino sabotaged him using bad feng shui.
Focus on Service
Sat, Jun 06, 2009
Customer service is crucial during a down economy but implementing it during those times can be very difficult.
It’s a Thriller
Sat, Jun 06, 2009
Michael Jackson is back with a plan for a new Las Vegas casino—but only after his career is revived.