« Year 2002 Summary

LV casinos eye last-minute New Year's Eve business - 31 December 2002
Showgirls at the airport and packed resorts greeted visitors arriving Sunday to celebrate New Year's Eve on the Las Vegas Strip. Big-name concerts and a $500,000 fireworks show are expected to attract 270,000 people over the holiday.But cost-conscious travelers and the midweek timing of the party have slowed hotel book - read more »

State opposes San Pablo casino - 31 December 2002
The state has criticized plans by a Healdsburg-area tribe to open a Las Vegas-style casino in urban San Pablo and discouraged other tribes from opening casinos in densely populated cities.In a U.S. District Court brief, Attorney General Bill Lockyer said voters in 2000 who approved the creation of casinos on American I - read more »

Jackpot Madness Continues to Set Records - 31 December 2002
Jackpot Madness, the world's #1 cash jackpot destination, is preparing to once again pay out a $1,000,000 lump sum in CASH, as the Major Millions jackpot crosses the $1,000,000 mark. In keeping with tradition, Jackpot Madness is preparing to take the next Major Millionaire who wins over $1,000,000.00 on an all-expense- - read more »

Indiana governor appoints head of new Department of Gaming Research - 31 December 2002
Gov. Frank O'Bannon on Friday appointed Bartholomew County Prosecutor Joseph R. Koenig to head the new Indiana Department of Gaming Research.The department was created by the General Assembly to research and analyze data and public policy issues relating to all aspects of gambling in Indiana.Koenig is completing his si - read more »

World Gaming PLC announces suspension of CEO - 31 December 2002
World Gaming plc (OTC BB: WGMGY), announced today that the Board of Directors of the Company suspended David Craven as the Chief Executive Officer of the company pending an investigation by the Board of Directors into various allegations. The Company's chairman, Nicholas Jackson, will serve as interim CEO during the in - read more »

State approves merger of two Atlantic City casinos - 31 December 2002
The state has formally approved the merger of the Claridge Casino Hotel and Bally's Atlantic City. The Treasury Department certified the deal on Monday, making the Claridge a wing of Bally's. The union of the city's smallest and biggest casinos creates a resort that covers four blocks and employs 7,900 staffers. It has - read more »

Casino workers in pay protest - 30 December 2002
Staff at Melbourne's Crown Casino have ruled out striking on Thursday, but have warned of escalating industrial action if their pay demands are not met.In the meantime, gaming and hospitality staff will wear protest stickers, their union said."We're going to start with a bit of fun, we've made a range of stickers which - read more »

Holiday tourists lift casino spirits - 30 December 2002
The tourist-packed holidays have brought cheer to Mississippi coast casinos after a slow December.December is known as one of the worst months for the gambling industry. Casino winnings this month were running worse than normal, making post-Christmas business crucial to salvaging December, casino officials said."It's a - read more »

Guests call Falls casino a winner at preview - 29 December 2002
The well-dressed woman's jaw dropped Saturday night as she strolled into the front lobby of the new Seneca-Niagara Casino. Her eyes widened as she looked around. "This," she exclaimed to no one in particular, "is Niagara Falls?" The words were music to the ears of Natalie Hemlock, vice chairwoman of the Seneca Nation G - read more »

Push for casino gambling in Nebraska gathering steam - 28 December 2002
There seems to be less debate these days about whether Nebraska should allow casino gambling and more talk about where such gaming will take place.Some say casinos should be built only in Omaha, across the river from the riverboats that offer gambling in Iowa.Others say the Nebraska should allow its four Indian tribes - read more »

Gaming Turnaround Key Vegas Story - 28 December 2002
The year 2002 will be remembered in Las Vegas business circles as the year of the rebound -- the rebound from the 2001 terrorism. Business slowed down markedly in Las Vegas after Sept. 11, 2001, when the terrorism prompted the grounding of the nation's airline fleet and temporarily brought the tourism industry to its k - read more »

Casino executive: Problem gamblers are not welcome - 28 December 2002
Not all gamblers are welcome at the Mohegan Sun casino.William J. Velardo, president, CEO and general manager of the Mohegan Sun, is also an officer of the National Council on Problem Gambling."I think allowing someone to consume the product when you know the person suffers from a gambling disorder is wrong," Velardo t - read more »

Casino Loutraki owners will make €120m exit - 27 December 2002
A source close to the deal between Casinos Austria and the owners of Club Hotel Casino Loutraki, reported two days ago to the Tel Aviv Stock Exchange (TASE), yesterday claimed that, in contrast to a Tuesday “Globes” report, the Casino Loutraki shareholders, Club Hotel and Resido FIBI, are expected to derive substantial - read more »

IGT Sells Colorado Casinos - 27 December 2002
International Game Technology completed an agreement Thursday to sell its Colorado casino operations for $84 million. The company said the sale will let it focus on its core business of manufacturing slot machines. "We determined these assets were not a strategic fit with our core business," said IGT spokesman Ed Rogic - read more »

Pan-European Lotto details released - 27 December 2002
The UK's beleaguered lottery operator Camelot has released details of what could become a Europe-wide Lotto draw.The lottery will first be available to residents of the UK, France and Spain, although expansion into other European countries is anticipated. A jackpot of about 15 million euros ($15.42 million) will be on - read more »

Royal Plaza Casino - 27 December 2002
Royal Plaza Casino has just relaunched with new Microgaming software, and the press release boasts of a “serious makeover”. And in January, Royal Plaza will add another 15 games to its existing 39 games. Which means you have more ways of trying to recoup that post-Christmas budget shortfall! The usual Microgaming featu - read more »

Mohegan Sun head aiding fight against problem gambling - 26 December 2002
It sounds contradictory: The president of one of the world's most successful casinos is an officer of the National Council on Problem Gambling. William J. Velardo, president, CEO and general manager of the Mohegan Sun and treasurer of the gambling council, said the two roles are not in conflict. Just as a bar owner doe - read more »

Man sues casino after gambling away savings - 26 December 2002
A man who gambled away his life savings at a riverboat casino is suing its owners, arguing that they should compensate him for his losses because they knew he was a compulsive gambler. David N. Williams, 53, accuses Casino Aztar of targeting him as a compulsive gambler even after learning he was depressed and suicidal. - read more »

St. Petersburg acted hastily on casino ship - 26 December 2002
While we should all be pleased that the city of St. Petersburg is trying to find a use for the Port of St. Petersburg, perhaps the most under-utilized, wasted asset the city controls, one cannot help but wonder whether allowing Titan Cruise Lines to dock its casino cruise ship at the port is the most appropriate usage - read more »

Suspected gambling operation busted - 26 December 2002
The Drug Task Force, in cooperation with the Sheriff's and District Attorney's offices, executed a search warrant in Bon Air Saturday at what appeared to be a gambling operation set up in a private home.According to assistant District Attorney Barry Matson, no one has been charged in connection with the operation, but - read more »

New Jefferson County board chief opposes Barnhart casino proposal - 26 December 2002
Bringing a casino to Jefferson County is not a sure bet, and the county's new presiding commissioner wants to make sure county officials know that. Mark Mertens will take office next month after he unseated incumbent Sam Rauls last month. His campaign basically consisted of opposing any casino proposal - unlike his fel - read more »

MTR Gaming and Scioto Downs Announce Merger - 25 December 2002
MTR Gaming Group, Inc. (Nasdaq National Market:MNTG) and Scioto Downs, Inc. (OTCBB:SCDO) announced today the execution of a Merger Agreement. Pursuant to the Merger Agreement, MTR has agreed to pay $32.00 per share, in cash, for the 595,767 outstanding shares of Scioto's common stock. Each Scioto shareholder may elect - read more »

Peppermill Affiliate Acquires Silver Smith Casino Resort - 25 December 2002
The Silver Smith Casino Resort in West Wendover reopens today as Montego Bay Casino Resort. The opening follows Wednesday's Nevada Gaming Commission approval of Wendover Casinos Inc.'s acquisition of the Silver Smith Casino Resort. .Wendover Casinos Inc. is an affiliate of Reno-based Peppermill Casinos Inc. - read more »

Romney vows own review of gambling - 25 December 2002
In a setback to efforts to expand legalized gambling, Governor-elect Mitt Romney is promising to give gambling options his own independent review after taking office next week and may set aside an eagerly anticipated report that's expected to offer a favorable view of gambling's impact. Romney's decision to launch his - read more »

Net bettors cash in on Japanese Racing Association - 24 December 2002
The national body organizes the sport but fears gamblers will bet online. The Internet may open doors to new opportunity, but the horse racing establishment in Japan sees only a stable door slamming after the horse has bolted.The Japan Racing Association (JRA) is bridling at the prospect of losing business to a new bre - read more »

Proper Englishman Sought in Colorado Casino Scam - 24 December 2002
Graham Gill is the perfect English gentleman - except he's a con man who has stolen millions of dollars over the past 25 years, officials say. Gill, 71, is wanted in Colorado for allegedly masterminding a scheme to bilk investors in a casino that never was built. He was indicted in October on racketeering charges stemm - read more »

Wynn Planning School in China to Lure Workers - 24 December 2002
Steve Wynn will establish a hospitality school in Macau as part of his effort to recruit and educate workers in the Chinese city. Wynn, chief executive officer of Wynn Resorts Ltd., the developer of Le Reve on the Las Vegas Strip, has begun the process of hiring managers for both the Macau and Le Reve projects. "The wh - read more »

State mulls high-stakes gamble - 23 December 2002
The country had just celebrated its bicentennial, Jimmy Carter was preparing for a single term in the White House, Elton John sang "Don't Go Breaking My Heart," with the even now-unknown Kiki Dee, and Delaware held about 200,000 fewer people. Simpler times 26 years ago? Not for a Delaware with bookies, lawsuits and rig - read more »

Boss Media Launches Online Poker Software - 22 December 2002
Online poker is Boss Media's latest big initiative, aimed at a target group with an estimated market of over 90 million poker players who together form a global multi-billion dollar industry. Internet poker has grown substantially in recent years, both as an amusement and among professional players playing for money.Th - read more »

Mexico no threat to Nevada Gambling - 22 December 2002
Any potential competition Mexican casino gaming may have had to Nevada has been thwarted. Approval of a federal gaming and lottery law by the Mexican lower house has omitted the legalizing of casinos.Mexican President Vincente Fox had proposed legislation to legalize casinos in an attempt to rescue Mexico's declining t - read more »

Senecas ban gamblers under age 21 from casino - 22 December 2002
Seneca officials have decided that people who want to gamble in the Seneca Niagara Casino must be at least 21 years old, a change from the agreement reached with New York state. The compact between the Seneca Nation and the state set the allowable age at 18, and Seneca officials originally said 18-year-olds could gambl - read more »

Inquiry Widens on Gambling at Florida State - 21 December 2002
Florida State linebacker Kendyll Pope received a frantic call from his mother on Thursday after she heard on a radio program that members of the Seminoles' football team were included in a gambling investigation by state and local authorities. "You're not involved, are you?" Pope said his mother asked him. "I'm like: ' - read more »

Report sees gambling benefits: Profit, $200M in taxes noted, but critics call work tainted, weak - 20 December 2002
A pair of casinos and slot machines at the state's four racetracks could generate a $1.1 billion bonanza in gambling revenue, the draft of a soon-to-be-released state report on casinos predicts.Overall, the draft report, a work in progress by a state-appointed panel of political and labor leaders and academics, argues - read more »

6th Annual Multi-Player Blackjack Tournament - 20 December 2002
Omni casinos holiday contest returns for the sixth year. '21 Days of Christmas Multi-Player Blackjack Tournament' offers players the chance to win cash, luxury vacations and many other prizes.21 Days is one of the Internet's most popular online casino contests of the holiday season. On top of any regular winnings made - read more »

Peak Online Offer New Payment Options - 20 December 2002
Great news for Peak Entertainment gaming customers. They have expanded the options available to securely deposit or withdraw funds, and also offer increased weekly deposit limits at each of their five online casinos.Peak Entertainment now accepts transactions made through the: NETeller online money transfer service; Fi - read more »

Gambling story refuted - 20 December 2002
Weeks of inquiry have failed to suggest that former Florida State quarterback Adrian McPherson, or any current Seminoles' athlete, has been involved in gambling activities. Various law enforcement agencies Thursday reiterated they have investigated rumors on McPherson, but none of Florida State's football team was incl - read more »

Killeen is named CEO of Internet gaming firm - 19 December 2002
Former Fidelity Investments and Terra Lycos executive Stephen Killeen has been tapped as the new chief executive of WorldWinner, a Newton Internet gaming company. WorldWinner has partner relationships with two of the biggest Internet portals, Yahoo and Lycos. After becoming president of Terra Lycos's US operations in 2 - read more »

Wynn on Casino Opportunities in Eastern States - 19 December 2002
Steve Wynn's keeping tabs on possible moves to bring casino gambling to cash-strapped Eastern states, but the Le Reve developer said he's focusing on his Strip and Macau projects. Recent news stories have reported that Wynn talked to Maryland state officials about prospects for gambling in the Old Line State, and said - read more »

Nevada October Gaming Revenue Up 4.6 percent - 19 December 2002
Nevada's casino revenue numbers were up in October, but state officials and industry insiders were quick to note that the monthly results benefited from comparison with the depressed figures that followed the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks. Nevada's 340 casinos won $807.4 million from gamblers in October, 4.6 percen - read more »

FSU police investigate gambling allegations - 19 December 2002
Florida State football players and others associated with the athletic department are part of a gambling investigation by state and local police agencies, officials said Wednesday.University police chief Carey Drayton said authorities are looking into allegations made against football players, student trainers and mana - read more »

Residents warn against casino at Port of Richmond - 19 December 2002
More than a dozen residents told the Richmond City Council on Tuesday they're dead set against a proposal for an Indian casino on land now owned by the Port of Richmond. Organized by the same group fighting more advanced plans for an Indian casino in neighboring San Pablo, the Richmond residents gave councilmembers the - read more »

Even odds on Pattaya getting a legal casino - 19 December 2002
Government "insiders" have given their backing to a proposal for a casino in Pattaya, says Saen Suk municipality mayor Somchai Khunpluem.Better known as Kamnan Poh, the former kamnan is an influential local and the father of Tourism and Sports Minister Sonthaya Khunpluem who supports the plan.Mr Somchai, casino proposa - read more »

London Clubs sells South African casinos - 18 December 2002
London Clubs International, the debt-laden casino operator, is to sell the Emerald Safari and Resort Casino in South Africa to meet its pledge to repay £100m by September next year. Shareholders are desperate for management to meet the pledge because rival casino operator Stanley Leisure has been courting LCI's main le - read more »

Revised LV Strip monorail plan unveiled - 18 December 2002
The Regional Transportation Commission on Monday unveiled a revised extension of a monorail spur route that would place a station above the Las Vegas Strip between the Riviera and the Stardust hotel-casinos.The route, unveiled in a public meeting, has been endorsed by the two properties.The spur extension would run wes - read more »

Safe bet: Report: Casinos won't hurt Bay State - 18 December 2002
A key state panel is poised to defuse two main arguments against opening Massachusetts to casino gambling.The potential windfall from casinos would outweigh likely social costs and won't crimp the state's lucrative lottery cash cow, the forthcoming report will predict, according to panel members drafting it.The study b - read more »

Gambling backers are spending big in state - 18 December 2002
A pro-casino political action committee continues to outspend its opponents in an effort to legalize casino gambling in Maine, new campaign finance reports show.But it appears Best Bet for Maine, a committee that is backing slot machines at certain harness-racing tracks, is also conducting a financially competitive cam - read more »

Three acquitted of swindling Seminoles out of $2.7 million - 18 December 2002
They indicted his friends, imprisoned his pilot and flew to the Caribbean looking for evidence. They called him a suspect without bringing charges, audited his finances and visited Seminole tribal meetings unannounced, hoping to turn colleagues against him.In all, federal investigators spent three years and a pile of m - read more »

APOLOGY TO WORLD PLAY LTD, HARROFORD DEVELOPMENTS LTD AND GREG KENNEDY - 18 December 2002
An article on our website recently about online gaming referred to World Play Ltd, Harroford Developments Ltd, Greg Kennedy and the web site worldgamesinc.com. It has been pointed out that readers may have understood the article to mean that those companies and Mr Kennedy are under police investigation by Queensland a - read more »

LV tourism counts still lagging behind 2000 levels - 17 December 2002
Visitor volume to Las Vegas, up 4 percent over last year for October, still trails the number of tourists who came to the city in October 2000, the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority said.The LVCVA said 3 million people visited Las Vegas in October compared with 2.9 million in October 2001 and 3.1 million in O - read more »

Anti-online gambling bill gets early approval - 17 December 2002
The battle between pro and anti online gambling interests took another turn last Tuesday, when the House Judiciary Committee approved bill H.R. 3215 by an 18-12 vote, after significant amendments in recent weeks. The bill would effectively ban Internet gambling, and must now be combined with a similar bill passed by th - read more »

Mexico Gaming Prospects Dim - 17 December 2002
The outlook for Mexican casino gaming is not good, at least in the near term, meaning the prospect of competition for Las Vegas from south of the border is just about dead. A congressional committee in the Mexican lower house Wednesday approved a federal gaming and lottery law, but stripped out language legalizing casi - read more »

Billie: I OK'd Internet gambling - 17 December 2002
In what defense lawyers hope will deal a knockout punch to the case against three men accused of embezzlement, Seminole Chairman James Billie on Monday answered the two-week trial's most burning question:Yes, he knew about the Internet gambling operation set up by the three with Seminole money, he said. And yes, he app - read more »

More mobile casino games on the way - 17 December 2002
Last month Israeli mobile software company Zone4Play announced a deal with European mobile phone network Orange, and this month they have announced that another big European network is to offer their mobile casino games. Zone4Play are to develop casino games for mobile network mmO2, using Pinpoint's Fuel software platf - read more »

Slots could speed up Pimlico renovation - 17 December 2002
In his first appearance before a General Assembly committee that could soon decide on enormous profits for his company, the head of a Canadian-based racetrack chain said yesterday that he could rebuild Pimlico Race Course within two years if lawmakers authorize slot-machine gambling. Jim McAlpine, president and chief e - read more »

City may dock gambling ship - 17 December 2002
The cruise ship is 20 years old with an unknown past. Its operators, newly incorporated in the Cayman Islands, have no cruise ship experience. The company declines to say how many passengers will be needed to break even. Yet Mayor Rick Baker says a deal to bring the 2,000-passenger ship, to be renamed the Spirit of St. - read more »

King Solomon's Casino Unveils Findings of Player-Profile Study - 16 December 2002
Yielding results sure to raise eyebrows, one of the world's leading online gaming destinations, King Solomon's Casino (www.kscasino.com), today released the findings of its recently commissioned player-profile study. According to the study, online gambling has become a rapidly growing pastime among young, professional - read more »

Massive gaming and hotel deal unveiled - 16 December 2002
South African brewer SAB-Miller and Tsogo Investments have unveiled a R1,9-billion deal to create the country's largest hotel and gaming group.They have heralded it as a milestone for black ownership.The new entity, Tsogo Sun Holdings, would be controlled by black-run Tsogo Investments, while SAB-Miller, the world's se - read more »

Jupiters, UNiTAB talk big gambling merger - 16 December 2002
A major gambling marriage is looming in Queensland with Jupiters Ltd and UNiTAB Ltd, the old Queensland TAB, yesterday revealing they were holding merger discussions.Both companies are apparently keen to start the talks as soon as possible, which are expected to be concluded in the March quarter. While Jupiters has his - read more »

Butler, Carroll split on casino - 15 December 2002
Just a few months ago, two of Northern Kentucky's top developers, Jerry Carroll and Bill Butler, were discussing a joint venture in making a push in Frankfort for legalized casino gambling.But with Mr. Butler's release of his own plan for pursuing a casino and keeping a sizable portion of gambling revenues in Northern - read more »

Binion's plans to launch Internet casino - 15 December 2002
Downtown landmark Binion's Horseshoe introduced a "play for fun" website this week that is intended to serve as a first step to launching a real-money Internet casino for foreign bettors.It might be just one of a few web casinos introduced by Las Vegas casino companies.In late September, MGM MIRAGE -- one of the world' - read more »

Gambling expansion isn't necessarily a sure bet - 15 December 2002
The funny thing about the battle over expansion of gambling is that those waging it most aggressively think there are only two sides: The Indian side and the non-Indian side. For them, gambling is a given, and its expansion is inevitable. The only unresolved issue is who gets what.It has been difficult to introduce int - read more »

Odds improve for good start to New Year in Las Vegas - 15 December 2002
The odds appeared to be stacked against Las Vegas for this New Year's Eve.With the key holiday falling in midweek, leisure travelers still scarce and the prospect of conflict with Iraq, many feared the all-important high-rollers would stay away.But analysts say there is new hope that the holiday would be an improvement - read more »

GOP May Help NCAA Gambling Ban - 14 December 2002
The return to Republican control of the Senate could make it more difficult for the gambling industry to beat back a move to ban betting on college sports, a top lobbyist said. The change in Congress means Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., the leader of the effort to end legalized betting on NCAA sports at Nevada casinos, wil - read more »

Casino Chiefs and Critics Meet - 14 December 2002
A three-day conference between experts on problem gambling and those who offer gambling to the masses has resulted in an accord of sorts. Sponsored by the Harvard Medical School's Institute for Research on Pathological Gambling and Related Disorders, the National Center for Responsible Gaming, and by the Nevada Council - read more »

$100 million and $125 million record jackpots this weekend - 14 December 2002
Florida's Lotto draw and Pennsylvania's Powerball draw both resulted in record rollovers and jackpots Wednesday.In Florida the Lottery jackpot rolled over for a record 11th time when no player matched all six numbers to win the Jackpot prize. The Jackpot for this Saturday's Florida Lotto drawing is the second highest i - read more »

Corporex floats its own casino plan - 14 December 2002
Corporex Cos., one of Northern Kentucky's most influential corporations, is joining the push to legalize casino gambling in Kentucky with a plan that would funnel one-third of gambling profits back into the community. Corporex Chief Executive Officer William Butler said in an interview he believed legalized gambling is - read more »

Another Winning Month in Nevada - 14 December 2002
Nevada casinos won $807.4 million from gamblers during October for a 4.6 percent increase over the same month a year ago - the third straight positive month for the clubs. But Gov. Kenny Guinn said Thursday the win report from the state Gaming Control Board also shows gambling tax collections so far this fiscal year ar - read more »

Station buys land near Indian casino - 14 December 2002
Neighborhood casino operator Station Casinos Inc. has purchased 98 acres of land across the street from its planned Thunder Valley Casino near Sacramento.The vacant parcel, located in an industrial area, was privately owned and wasn't controlled by the United Auburn Indian Community.The sale price wasn't disclosed.Stat - read more »

Gaming duty revised to 6% for 3 operators - 13 December 2002
The government has revised to 6% the pool betting duty payable by three numbers forecast operators (NFOs) - Berjaya Sports Toto Bhd (BToto), Tanjong plc and Matrix International Bhd. The revision is seen as a move to standardise the betting duty paid by NFOs in the country. At the same time, the three NFOs have raised - read more »

Saskatchewan auditor finds problems at aboriginal casinos again - 13 December 2002
Saskatchewan's auditor chastised the province's aboriginal gambling authority Thursday in his fall report, saying problems he identified two years ago have yet to be rectified. "I think if this came out in the private sector and they had to report it, I think there would be a lot of trouble," provincial auditor Fred W - read more »

Casinos' Future Involves More than Just Gambling - 13 December 2002
For an industry that has prospered since the Revolutionary War, gaming finds itself looking for ways to survive for another century or two. A competitive, economically challenged and war-looming environment is forcing casino bigwigs to look elsewhere for support. That's what top industry leaders indicated Wednesday on - read more »

Banker arrested over bad checks to casinos - 13 December 2002
A former banker who allegedly wrote $1.4 million in bad checks to Las Vegas casinos was arrested in southwest Florida. Carl Harnish, the former Naples branch president of US Trust, was arrested on a fugitive warrant Monday. Harnish wrote the nine bad checks on an account at First National Bank of Naples to Caesars Pala - read more »

Reno Aims to Clean Up Casino District - 12 December 2002
The city of Reno is putting a new cleanup plan in place intended to rid the downtown casino district of drug dealers, prostitutes and chronic panhandlers. The city council adopted a package of more than three dozen initiatives Tuesday, including a prohibition on new liquor stores in the area and a new policy that would - read more »

Teens caught in school gambling ring - 12 December 2002
Administrators at Springman Middle School have uncovered a gambling ring students allegedly ran for about a month over the Internet at home, on the phone and at school, officials said. The bets - believed to all have been on professional sports - ranged from $2 to $10, and involved as many as 25 students, Brett Clark, - read more »

1st Pacific Congress on I-Gaming - 12 December 2002
The River City Group has announced the first Pacific Congress on Interactive Gaming. The event is to be held on February 24-26, 2003 in Alice Springs. Main theme at the event is to be “The Road Ahead.”The Pacific region is home to some of the oldest and consequently more sophisticated online gambling sites in the world - read more »

Engler encouraged to negotiate casino - 12 December 2002
Over the protests of some western Michigan residents, the state House on Tuesday approved a measure that would encourage Gov. John Engler to negotiate a compact to build a tribal casino in Allegan County.The House voted 58-47 to approve the resolution to encourage Engler to negotiate a compact for a casino with the Mat - read more »

Court rejects casino airplane petition - 12 December 2002
The High Court of Justice on Wednesday rejected a petition by a company that sought to operate a casino airplane, enabling Israelis to gamble outside Israeli air space so that they would not violate local law, which prohibits gambling, the Itim news agency reported. The court accepted the state's argument that the casi - read more »

The Legal Quagmire of Online Gambling - 12 December 2002
Regulations on E-gaming in the Virgin Islands will give two companies the master license right to operate gambling sites. The move comes after the U.S. court of appeal maintained that federal law does not prohibit virtual casino gaming.The Virgin Islands stalled passing regulation after the Nevada Gaming Commission was - read more »

California Lawmakers Back Request for Gambling Commission Audit - 12 December 2002
Three state lawmakers backed Indian tribes' call for a legislative investigation into the state's gambling regulatory commission. Each of the three accepted tens of thousands of dollars in contributions from gambling tribes within the last election cycle, campaign records show. The criticism of the California Gambling - read more »

Illinois Officials Question Deal with Emerald - 11 December 2002
Illinois gambling officials said Monday they have serious concerns that the operators of Emerald Casino are not complying with a settlement that forces the casino company to sell its license and lets state regulators put the casino where they choose. Illinois Gaming Board members said Emerald, which was ordered to file - read more »

Station executive to head Nevada Resort Association - 11 December 2002
Lorenzo Fertitta, president of Station Casinos Inc., on Monday was named chairman of the Nevada Resort Association.The NRA is the main lobbying group for the Nevada hotel-casino industry. Fertitta succeeds former Park Place Entertainment Corp. Chief Executive Thomas Gallagher.Fertitta, who served as vice-chair, was sel - read more »

Moulin Rouge Stage Version Aimed At A Casino - 11 December 2002
A Las Vegas casino is the target venue for a stage version the Baz Luhrmann's Oscar-winning movie, "Moulin Rouge," a picture about risk, music, hijinks, hedonism, sex, death and showstoppers - Vegas in miniature.Luhrmann told Variety the Paris-set show is going into a casino, but nothing else was reported. Luhrmann tol - read more »

Tampa Bay Downs looking at expanded gaming - 11 December 2002
When Tampa Bay Downs opens its practice golf facility in the next few weeks, it will be the first golf establishment in the United States to offer legalized parimutuel wagering."The golf facility is part of our overall strategy to make this a major entertainment alternative for fans in the Tampa Bay area," said track g - read more »

British Bookies Challenged by Gaming Board - 11 December 2002
Britain's bookmakers are to be taken to court by the gaming board. Their right to provide customers with electronic betting machines is to be challenged.Proving astonishingly popular the lucrative machines have been an innovative investment for high-street bookies. Ladbroke has over a 1,000 installed in its shops with - read more »

King Neptune Expands with Second Casino - 11 December 2002
Enter Trident Lounge Casino - the newest offering from the venerated Trident Entertainment Group - and prepare to be pampered.A sister of the famed and respected King Neptune's Casino, Trident Lounge Casino (TLC) invites players to lounge in the lap of luxury while enjoying the level of gaming quality that is unique to - read more »

Researchers, Casino Execs Talk Problem Gambling - 11 December 2002
The quality of gambling research and funding for it must be increased significantly if effective treatment and preventive programs are to be developed to counter the growing problem of gambling addiction, public health experts said Tuesday. 'I'm concerned about gambling as a potential public health hazard,' Howard J. S - read more »

Huge Lotto jackpot brings out gambling critics - 11 December 2002
Millions of Floridians bought Lotto tickets Wednesday in hopes of winning the $78 million windfall, but critics say the frenzy created by such whopping jackpots could push some gambling addicts overboard.Blinded by the opportunity for instant wealth and an easy life, many are tempted to spend their rent, mortgage or ca - read more »

Airbus may host casinos - 10 December 2002
Soon you may be able to spin the wheel at roulette or shoot a game of craps at 16,000 feet. Or Walk around a shop, dine in a restaurant, sleep in a private cabin even visit the gym. Apparently, in-flight casinos are one of the ideas being considered by airlines as ways of making premium passengers feel more at home in - read more »

U.K. Gaming Law Invoked Over Machines - 10 December 2002
The gaming board is set to take Britain's bookmakers to court to challenge their right to offer customers access to lucrative electronic betting machines. The board believes that the fixed odds betting terminals, which offer a number of games including roulette and bingo, should be reclassified as gaming machines and t - read more »

Casino Foes Raise $350,000 For Cause - 10 December 2002
Arming for a fight over future casinos in Connecticut, a group pushing repeal of the state's Las Vegas Nights law says it has raised $350,000 in cash and in-kind contributions to oppose "millionaire casino entrepreneurs."The showdown may come soon, because legislative leaders said Monday they will bring the matter up w - read more »

Group, Blumenthal call for end to casinos - 10 December 2002
State Attorney General Richard Blumenthal and a group opposed to new casinos in Connecticut called on the legislature Monday to repeal the state's Las Vegas night law as soon as possible. Repealing the statute would block new Indian casinos in the state because federal law confines tribes to types of gambling legal in - read more »

Online Gambling Encourages Opening of New Casinos - 09 December 2002
Gambling may be set to expand in Massachusetts. Yet whilst lawmakers debate whether to permit the opening of casinos some residents warn that gambling has already caused enough damage.Spokesman for the Massachusetts Gamblers Anonymous, Bob D: 'I used to gamble $200 a day at the horsetrack. I have a disease. Now I sit a - read more »

Gaming law invoked over machines - 09 December 2002
The gaming board is set to take Britain's bookmakers to court to challenge their right to offer customers access to lucrative electronic betting machines. The board believes that the fixed odds betting terminals, which offer a number of games including roulette and bingo, should be reclassified as gaming machines and - read more »

Legislators favor gambling - 09 December 2002
Mexico's congress plans to legalize casino gambling, opening the way for poker, roulette and slot machines to appear in hotels at beach reports from Acapulco to Ixtapa, El Universal newspaper reported on its website.The lower house's Interior Affairs Commission today plans to unanimously approve the text of the bill, t - read more »

Harrods to reopen its online gaming casino - 09 December 2002
Harrods is poised to reopen its online casino. Top people will be able to play blackjack, roulette, baccarat and take their chances on the slot machines over the internet in the new year. Harrods had to close the casino last month when the agreement with its gambling software platform provider ended. Without appropria - read more »

Will Kenmore gamble on cardrooms? - 09 December 2002
Tim Gilchrist went into Kenmore Lanes & Casino cardroom in August 2001 to play a few hands of blackjack, having recently discovered the thrill of days and nights soaked in the adrenaline of chance. During the next year or so, Gilchrist said he lost $20,000 - at least some of it at Kenmore Lanes - maxed out eight credit - read more »

Friends, foes pack casino hearing - 08 December 2002
Casino boosters and opponents turned out in force yesterday for the first hearing by a state commission weighing whether the Bay State should roll the dice on Vegas-style gambling.Wampanoag Tribe leader Beverly Wright was among several casino backers who urged the 19-member panel, appointed by acting Gov. Jane Swift, t - read more »

New casinos to fly - 08 December 2002
Imagine lounging in a bar or gambling on board an aeroplane. Walking around a shop, dining in a restaurant, sleeping in a private cabin, showers, massages and even a gym.Far-fetched futuristic fantasy?Prepare yourself Australia - it could be heading this way.Several airlines - including Australia's own Qantas Airways, - read more »

Casino Critics Getting Tough - 08 December 2002
Emboldened by the federal government's decision to deny recognition to the Schaghticoke Tribal Nation, a coalition of anti-gambling groups will now seek to erect new legal roadblocks to new Indian casinos in Connecticut.Monday, an expanding alliance of business leaders, legislators and citizen activists will unveil two - read more »

Casino King Shows His Cards in Meetings With Lawmakers - 08 December 2002
Las Vegas casino king Steve Wynn waltzed into Annapolis last month and had no problem lining up face-to-face meetings with four of the General Assembly's top leaders to make his pitch for bringing more gambling to Maryland.Wynn struck out, however, in his bid to gain an audience with perhaps the biggest proponent of br - read more »

Gamblers sue over addiction - 08 December 2002
In his first gambling experience, Constantin Digalakis amassed more than $10,900 in winnings over two days at Casino Windsor, a Canadian gambling parlor only minutes from downtown Detroit. On the third day of his 1997 spree, however, he lost it all, plus an additional $6,400. Five years later and after being diagnosed - read more »

West Sacramento Delays Planned Indian Casino - 07 December 2002
A proposed Indian casino in West Sacramento faces opposition from Yolo County, California and the state. Both Yolo County and the state have approached the federal court to take active intervening roles.Plans by the Upper Lake Band of Pomo Indians to build a $200 million casino and hotel on 67 acres near Interstate 80 - read more »

Vegas Brands look to expand online - 07 December 2002
Online gambling has proven so successful in the US that major Las Vegas brands want in on the act. Led by MGM Mirage, the Vegas ‘set' is finally investing in the potential of the Internet. With brand recognition, an existing customer base and a wealth of information stored in databases attuned to their customers' favou - read more »

Reno Casinos Cancel New Year's Fireworks - 07 December 2002
Fireworks will not explode from the rooftops of six downtown buildings this New Year's Eve because the sponsoring casinos have decided the display was not worth the expense. One casino executive, however, is angry at the decision to ditch the popular show inaugurated for the Millennium celebration. 'If people are going - read more »

Court told of handshake that cost high roller $2.2m - 07 December 2002
While others signed on the dotted line, Crown's top players enjoyed special rules, writes Leonie Lamont. The special status of the Chinese property tycoon Li Pei Ye as a high roller meant that employees of Melbourne's Crown Casino did not rush him to sign documents.This was the case even when the documents authorised a - read more »

Casino developer studies opportunities in Mexico - 07 December 2002
Las Vegas and Chinese gambling-hotel developer Steve Wynn has lined up a partner in Mexico in anticipation that casinos will be legalized in that nation, the Wall Street Journal reported today.The Journal said Wynn plans to go to Mexico in January to scout locations and that he would operate a casino with a partner, Al - read more »

Floating Riverboat Casino under way in Port Richey - 06 December 2002
Plans are underway to open a riverboat casino in Port Richey. The proposal to open the casino, which could hold as many as 3,000 people, is currently under review by Florida legislators.Mollie Kolokithas proposed the plan in a bid to cash in on the possible relaxation of gambling restrictions in the state of Florida. T - read more »

Harrah's touts economic benefits of casino in R.I. - 06 December 2002
Harrah's Entertainment Inc. of Las Vegas says development of a casino could ultimately generate $50 million annually in new revenues for the state of Rhode Island.Gary Loveman, who will become the company's chief executive next month, told a House study commission on gambling Tuesday that such a project could house 3,0 - read more »

Hubbard's license renewed - 06 December 2002
The state Gaming Control Board has granted Ruidoso Downs owner R.D. Hubbard a one-year renewal of his license to operate the track's casino.A license renewal is typically three years, but the board - which has been considering problems Hubbard had with his gaming operations in Indiana - decided Wednesday to renew Hubba - read more »

Mandalay profit up but taxes, losing streak weigh - 06 December 2002
Casino operator Mandalay Resort Group MBG.N on Thursday reported a 42 percent rise in quarterly profit but still lagged initial Wall Street forecasts due to a higher Illinois taxes and a Las Vegas losing streak late in the quarter.Mandalay, which owns the pyramidal Luxor, the Mandalay Bay and other casinos in Las Vegas - read more »

Tribes' gambling profits up 58 percent - 06 December 2002
Wisconsin Indian tribes' gambling-related profits soared 58.6 percent in five years, to a record $428.3 million, state auditors reported Wednesday. State regulators have failed to keep up with the rapid expansion of the gambling industry, the nonpartisan Legislative Audit Bureau said, as it faulted regulators in the De - read more »

Gambling on the budget - 06 December 2002
Should a broke Illinois expand gambling as a means of solving its budget woes? We think not. The latest estimate of the hole in the Illinois budget is $2.5 billion. Some advocates are calling for the state to auction off another casino license, which might bring $500 million. Let us say again that gambling does create - read more »

Seminole Online Gambling Claim - 06 December 2002
The St. Petersburg Times reports that lawyers defending Seminole tribe members Timmy Cox, Dan Wisher, and Michael Crumpton against charges of embezzlement said their clients are “loyal workers, not thieves” and had simply “followed orders” from ex-Chairman James E. Billie to “secretly wire tribal cash first to Belize a - read more »

Harrods Casino Back Online - 06 December 2002
Next month in the New Year the most famous luxury department store in the world, Harrods, in London, England, will re-launch what promises to be one of the most luxury online casinos ever seen, industry experts predict. Harrods has reached an agreement with the prestigious software supplier, Kismet International Studio - read more »

Mexican Legislators Favor Gambling - 05 December 2002
Mexico's congress plans to legalize casino gambling, opening the way for poker, roulette and slot machines to appear in hotels at beach reports from Acapulco to Ixtapa, El Universal newspaper reported on its website. The lower house's Interior Affairs Commission today plans to unanimously approve the text of the bill, - read more »

New Brunswick government not planning to allow casinos to open - 05 December 2002
Finance Minister Peter Mesheau says Verdiroc Holdings can forget about building a casino on its property in downtown Moncton. Casinos are illegal in New Brunswick and Mesheau said Wednesday the provincial government has no plans to change that.Verdiroc, a Toronto-based company, wants Moncton council to help clear the w - read more »

Two Convicted of Loan-Sharking at Foxwoods Casino - 05 December 2002
Two Chinese nationals were sentenced Tuesday for loan-sharking at Foxwoods Resort Casino in south eastern Connecticut. U.S. District Court Judge Janet Bond Arterton sentenced Xiao 'Steven' Chen, formerly of Elmhurst, N.Y., to 57 months in prison. She also handed down a 33-month sentence to Gong Chai Sun of Cal - read more »

Vegas Casino Empire Expands Online - 05 December 2002
Las Vegas casinos are gambling on the Internet. Led by the giant MGM Mirage, the world famous casinos plan to extend their empire into the virtual world. Legal uncertainty over online gambling had until recently put the Vegas casinos off online gambling. Encouraged by the continuing success of Internet betting and conc - read more »

Online Gambling Encourages Opening of New Casinos - 05 December 2002
Gambling may be set to expand in Massachusetts. Yet whilst lawmakers debate whether to permit the opening of casinos some residents warn that gambling has already caused enough damage.Spokesman for the Massachusetts Gamblers Anonymous, Bob D: 'I used to gamble $200 a day at the horsetrack. I have a disease. Now I sit a - read more »

Santa Claus for Gamblers - 05 December 2002
This holiday season BigDollarCasino plays Santa Claus to all online gamblers. In keeping with the traditional Christmas spirit the casino is giving back 15% to all players!Starting this December even unlucky players are guaranteed to win back 15% of their net losses for the month. BigDollar Customer Care Manager Nick A - read more »

Trial on cruise ship gambling begins - 05 December 2002
The former owners of the Palm Beach Princess cruise ship are gambling on a jury to reject claims by the Florida Attorney General's Office that they allowed illegal sports betting in their casino.At stake could be millions of dollars in gambling profits raked in by the passenger ship from October 1995 to December 1998. - read more »

MotorCity goes Vegas style in $300 million expansion - 05 December 2002
MotorCity Casino is scrapping its original plans to build a relatively staid, biscuit-colored property and is opting for a showier, more Vegas-like design with blue-tinted reflective glass, aluminum trim and neon. The change was a reaction to focus group advice from gamblers and workers. MotorCity, owned and operated b - read more »

Gambler Lost £26,000 of Council Cash - 05 December 2002
A council worker embezzled £26,000 from his employers to fund his gambling addiction, a court heard last week.Dumbarton Sheriff Court was told that James Wallace, 40, of 6 Campbell Avenue, Dumbarton, had since repaid all of the money from his pension fund.Wallace - a council employee for 21 years - worked within the ca - read more »

Congressmen disagree on what to do with Internet gaming - 04 December 2002
Federal lawmakers agree that something must be done with Internet gaming, but there is wide disagreement on what that something should be.United States Representative John Conyers Jr. (D-Michigan) recently introduced a bill that would take steps toward regulating on-line gaming, which would make it legal.Senator Harry - read more »

Legislators move to block Bridgeport casino - 04 December 2002
With a decision looming on whether to uphold the federal recognition of two Bridgeport-area Native American groups, four local legislators have proposed repealing a piece of legislation that allows casino activity in Connecticut.Sen. John McKinney, R-28, and Reps. Carl Dickman, R-132, John "Jack" Stone, R-134, and Cath - read more »

eBay ID fraudster gambled online - 04 December 2002
An Akron man allegedly defrauded eBay customers to fund his Internet casino habit. After losing large sums of his own money, Bernard Felber continued to gamble by using the checking accounts of people who purchased items from him on eBay, police said. Felber, 61, is accused of losing more than $25,000 of other people's - read more »

Stock Exchange to investigate leak of Stanley's casinos bid - 04 December 2002
The London Stock Exchange was yesterday considering launching an investigation into irregular trading in London Clubs International shares after the price roseby 40 per cent in the two weeks before the company received a bid from rival Stanley Leisure.The LSE has been looking closely at the trades, which were much high - read more »

Recent Developments Favor Regulated Internet Gaming - in the U.S. - 04 December 2002
The licensing and regulation of Internet casinos, in the United States, is an issue that's never been more ripe for discussion, thanks to developments in the last two weeks, according to the Interactive Gaming Council."The IGC has long argued that rigorous regulation is the sensible solution for understanding the Inter - read more »

Korean online lottery launch - 03 December 2002
South Korea is to launch a new online lottery on December 2. The official launch was held last Thursday by the Kookmin Bank and the new lottery oerator, KLS consortium. The launch has led to fears about compulsive gambling. Officials from the consortium said that the new lottery business will help iron out the current - read more »

Vegas Forecasts Tempered - 03 December 2002
Like automobile dealers, Wall Street analysts are offering a first look at the line up of gaming companies for 2003, and their reviews, while positive, are tempered with caution. "We're projecting earnings growth of 11 percent for large cap operators next year and 15 percent for small cap operators - riverboats and Ker - read more »

Harrah's renovating, expanding two properties - 03 December 2002
Harrah's Council Bluffs Casino & Hotel in Iowa is planning $8.4 million in renovations at its hotel, including a new marble entryway and new decor in the lobby.Guest rooms will get new furniture, fixtures and 32-inch TVs."We plan to upgrade all aspects of the hotel's public areas, guest rooms and suites," said Peter We - read more »

Gaming Corporation's first Internet casino goes live - 03 December 2002
AIM -listed Gaming Corporation has launched its first online casino following a licensing deal with software developer Boss Media in September.The new casino can be reached via Gaming Corporation's gaming portal Casino.co.uk. Casino.co.uk currently receives more than 75,000 user sessions a month; according to the gamin - read more »

Casino chains talk of tie-up - 02 December 2002
Gaming firm Stanley Leisure has said it is considering bidding to buy London Clubs, one of the UK's most upmarket casino chains. In a statement to the London stock market, Stanley Leisure said it has been watching the circumstances of London Clubs closely It said it views London Clubs as "one of its principal competito - read more »

With gambling a click away, stakes get serious - 02 December 2002
In the quiet of their homes, gamblers are clicking their way ever deeper into debt.Internet-based gambling -- highly controversial, the subject of pending legislation and illegal in many states -- is soaring, said Sebastian Sinclair, president of Christiansen Capital Advisors, a New York-based company that keeps gambli - read more »

£250m London casino carve-up - 02 December 2002
Gambling group Stanley Leisure today admitted it is putting together a bid for troubled rival London Clubs International in a £250m deal that would redraw the capital's upmarket casino industry. Stanley is seeking five of LCI's London casinos, with a sixth, Les Ambassadeurs, going to venture capitalist Hg Capital in a - read more »

State GOP lawmaker supports gaming on tribal land - 02 December 2002
An influential Republican lawmaker is drafting legislation to allow the state's three Native American tribes to engage in the same sort of gaming activities that federal courts earlier this year declared illegal at the Tiguas' Speaking Rock Casino. "The only thing that we would be doing is recognizing the sovereignty o - read more »

In-state casino backers point to Internet betting - 02 December 2002
One sign lures with a twinkling $235,000 poker jackpot. Another uses a flash of playing cards and promises of "more winners more often." As state lawmakers weigh whether to bring casinos and slot machines to Massachusetts, some are pointing out that this kind of gambling is already happening in living rooms across the - read more »

Online Gambling Cleared by US Court - Again - 02 December 2002
Two online gamblers have lost their lawsuit against Internet casinos and credit card companies that they used to gamble online.Larry Thompson and Lawrence Bradley filed the lawsuit in New Orleans, claiming that they lost their wagers due to racketeering by these casinos and credit card companies. A panel of three judge - read more »

Town considers gambling to revive part of its past - 01 December 2002
Wealthy Philadelphians and celebrities once traveled by riverboat to this waterfront community, staying at its grand hotel and walking its tree-lined promenade. It's even rumored Al Capone came for gambling and smuggling operations on the pier.Now down on its luck, Penns Grove hopes to use pieces of its past to better - read more »

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