What’s possible when closely cooperating with a local partner was proved once again at the ENADA trade show in Rome from 12 to 15 October. The outcome for MERKUR GAMING and their partner “International Games Trade“ (IGT) from San Marino was outstanding. “Like in Bologna in September, Rome, too, confirmed the excellent acceptance of the reel machines by our customers,“ thus Axel F. Pawlas, CSO of MERKUR GAMING, was more than satisfied. “MERKUR GAMING is currently still the only manufacturer to continuously develop new reel machines for Italy.”

London (Reuters) - About half of the casino owners who rushed in applications for additional venues ahead of new regulation in April 2006 have already cleared the first hurdle, Britain's Gambling Commission said on Thursday. The Commission -- the first hurdle the casino hopefuls must pass -- told Reuters it had so far dealt with 29 applications for new venues and approved all 29 of them.

Cape Town - Sun International's newest casino complex, which opened yesterday in the country town of Worcester, 110km from Cape Town, was expected to boost tourism and employment in the Breede River valley, according to general manager Felicia Roman. Built at a cost of ZAR 151 million, the Golden Valley Casino was granted Western Cape's fifth and final licence.

Four Chinese nationals and an Australian citizen have all received jail sentences for their involvement in a sophisticated AUD 750,000 casino gambling scam. Four men - Songtao Zhao, 35, Haibin Shao, 40, Zhigang Liu, 35, and Jianwen Liu, 40, all Chinese nationals and residents - and one woman, Wei Shan Liu, 43, an Australian citizen who resides in China, were all found guilty by a District Court jury in Brisbane of committing fraud on May 17 last year.

New York (Reuters) - Casino operator Boyd Gaming Corp. may be the next takeover target following a private equity-led bid for Harrah's Entertainment Inc. worth roughly USD 15.5 billion, BusinessWeek said in its Dec. 4 issue. Texas Pacific Group and Apollo Management offered in October to buy Harrah's, the world's No. 1 casino company, leading to speculation among investors about who could be next.

Las Vegas - Six months after acquiring the 1,907-room Flamingo Laughlin hotel-casino here for USD 170 million, American Casino & Entertainment Properties has completed a USD 40-million repositioning of the property and will officially re-introduce the asset this Friday as Aquarius Casino Resort. The Flamingo Laughlin is the largest gaming resort in Laughlin, located 100 miles south of Las Vegas on the Arizona border.

Harrisburg -- PITG Gaming LLC has ditched plans for a temporary slots parlor on the North Shore and instead will seek to build a permanent casino in 14 months if awarded the Pittsburgh license. Detroit businessman Don Barden, who heads PITG Gaming, told the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board yesterday the move will enable his company to generate more slot machine revenue faster for the state than either of his two competitors, Isle of Capri Casinos Inc. and Forest City Enterprises.

Ft. Mitchell, Louisiana - Columbia Entertainment announced today that the Louisiana Gaming Control Board has unanimously approved the company's plan to use bank loans and a subordinated debt offering to acquire Aztar Corp.. The favorable vote, combined with recent regulatory approvals including last week's approval of the acquisition by the Nevada Gaming Commission, means that Columbia now has the necessary regulatory green lights to proceed with its purchase of Aztar for USD 2.75 billion.

BACTA provide industry back-up / Industry heavyweights help pack ICE / Breaking the ICE

An angry councillor has blasted government bosses for throwing out Paisley’s bid to win backing for a Las Vegas-style casino. The Department for Culture, Media and Sport rejected the proposals which would have pumped GBP 5 million into the local economy and created 100 jobs after deciding Renfrewshire wasn’t as well placed as other areas across the UK to house the new gambling venue.

Nottingham could become the poker capital of Europe with the opening of a new club. Robert Yong is spending GBP 4m to transform a derelict site in Lenton into the continent's biggest dedicated poker hall. Dusk Till Dawn will accommodate 500 players - double Europe's next biggest club in Vienna. It will have 50 poker tables, a restaurant/bar, and a VIP lounge with a 'high rollers' area.

Four armed robbers in ski masks hit the jackpot when they pushed their way into a Franklin Square poker tournament and made off with cash, wallets and cell phones, Nassau police said. The men entered the Veterans of Foreign Wars hall at 68 Lincoln Rd. in Franklin Square about 10:30 p.m. Saturday, police said. About 80 guests were inside, participating in a Texas Hold 'em poker tournament.