Steve Wynn seemed amused last week when I asked him about recent East Coast news reports that suggested a Wynn Resorts deal with real estate developer and Atlantic City casino mogul Donald Trump was about to take place. "I don't have any deal with anybody in Atlantic City," Wynn said by phone from Macau. "It's an interesting place, and the governor (Jon Corzine) wants to re-energize the Boardwalk. But there are a lot of things that have to happen before we'd be ready to do something."

The casino boat line that helped sink Washington, D.C., super-lobbyist Jack Abramoff may soon help keep the Port of Palm Beach afloat. Port commissioners are scheduled to vote Dec. 1 on a contract with SunCruz Casinos to operate a 600-passenger day-cruiser out of the financially strapped port. The deal comes up as port revenue suffers from the departure of two passenger vessels this year: the Cloud X ferry and the Big Easy casino ship.

Gary, Indiana (AP) - The owners of northwest Indiana's Majestic Star Casino will build a new barge for their gaming operations along Lake Michigan. Former Mayor Scott King, now a consultant for Barden Enterprises, said the new barge would be the centerpiece of improvements at Gary's Buffington Harbor, which also will include homes, businesses and entertainment. "It's a refinement, really, of the plans that have been on the table for some time," King said. "There are some new aspects of the plan as well."

When New Jersey banned smoking in indoor, public places seven months ago, the carefully brokered legislative compromise exempted the floors of the state’s casinos. But officials in Atlantic City are looking to end that exception for cigarette puffers in the state’s gambling mecca.

Up to a dozen full-fledged casinos in Texas’ big cities and on the islands along the Gulf Coast could be in operation within three years under a sweeping proposal filed Tuesday before the legislative session, which opens in January. Senate Joint Resolution 8 by Houston Democrat Rodney Ellis is nearly identical to a measure introduced two years ago that went nowhere, despite its promise to generate as much as USD 2 billion a year for the state treasury.

Technological advancements and the international expansion of gaming dominated the discussion at Wednesday’s G2E keynote panel as international industry leaders gave their insights on what will define the next generation of global gaming. Moderated by American Gaming Association (AGA) President and CEO Frank J. Fahrenkopf, Jr., the panel also discussed the continued importance of responsible gaming initiatives in the industry’s ongoing evolution.

The opening of the casinos has meant a coordinated effort between casino security and state and local law enforcement agencies. As eager gamblers wandered onto the casino floor Wednesday afternoon, making their way among the rows of brightly lit slot machines, Michael Mann stood back away from the gaming action. It was opening day Wednesday at Gulfstream Park Racing & Casino, and the unveiling of the first Las Vegas-style slot machines in Florida.

When the dust settles, what was once lauded by media and industry types as the biggest hotel and condo building boom in Las Vegas history may become the valley's second- or third-largest development wave. It will end up being smaller in scope, yet just as important to the evolution of Las Vegas, than the birth of the megaresort in the late 1980s and early 1990s. This period probably will best be known for the construction of CityCenter, the largest privately funded project in the United States.

The USD 1 billion (AUD 1.3 billion) Nasdaq listing of James Packer's Macau casino interests could go ahead as early as next month. Hong Kong media have reported that the long-expected listing of the Macau casino assets of Packer's Publishing and Broadcasting and the Hong Kong-based Melco could get under way in December. This follows the recent decision by the Hong Kong Stock Exchange to withdraw its objection to Melco's plans.

The European Commission does not see any real possibility that its member states will, in the near future, agree on common rules regulating online gambling, a lucrative business which is also growing at a fast pace in Malta. Speaking during a debate at the European Parliament, Internal Market Commissioner Charlie McCreevy said that although he wishes there would be consensus over the issue, he is also realistic.

On Thursday, Nov.16, the State Duma, lower house of the Russian parliament, gave unanimous approval to the bill that would effectively ban gambling in Russia, except in four special zones, from 2009. The legislation, however, is expected to undergo fairly drastic changes before it passes a second reading, probably later this year.

Uncasville, Connecticut (AP) - Mohegan Sun, already one of the world's largest casinos, unveiled plans Thursday for an estimated USD 740 million expansion that will include the return of poker and a new House of Blues music hall. Tribal gaming officials hope the expansion will help them better serve existing customers and draw in new ones, including people in their early 20s and Asians.