Los Angeles - Prices are more than USD 20 million an acre, but investors are still betting that increasingly scarce Las Vegas Strip properties might be worth accumulating. Business is booming in the popular gambling center. In particular, the success of the year-old Wynn Las Vegas and plans for some big projects are putting the focus on the northern section of the Strip, where several vacant and underdeveloped parcels of land remain.

Sacramento - Gambling revenue at American Indian casinos nationwide grew to nearly USD 23 billion last year, climbing at a rate more than three times faster than traditional gambling operations. California tribes accounted for nearly one-third of the money, according to a comprehensive report on Indian gambling to be released today.

Tiny Macau has not only become Asia's casino capital, but gaming experts say it could soon replace the Las Vegas Strip as the world's largest gambling market in terms of revenue. Macau's gross gaming revenue is already almost on the same level as that of the famous Strip, the 6.5 kilometer string of hotels and casinos in Las Vegas. Official figures show that last year, Macau's casinos had revenue of about USD 5.6 billion, compared with the USD 6 billion the Las Vegas Strip casinos made.

The government gaming firm Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp. (Pagcor) is standing pat on its decision to close down the Legenda Hotel Casino at the Subic Bay Freeport Zone northwest of Manila, citing the company's failure since 2001 to pay the government over PHP 365 million in gaming fees, Pagcor spokesperson Edward King said. "We gave them ample time from 2001 until now," King said. "It is their duty to settle with us."

Sun International today confirmed its offer to Real Africa Holdings (RAH) shareholders at 590 cents per share, following the RAH recommendation to RAH shareholders issued yesterday. Sun International CEO David Coutts-Trotter said that this original offer price of 590 cents per share represented - at the time - a premium to the RAH share price of 14,6% to the RAH market price of 515 cents per share as at March 24 2006 and an 11,9% premium to the 30 day volume weighted average trading price of RAH for the period to March 24 of 527 cents per share.

New Orleans (AP) -- Louisiana's state-licensed casinos continued their post-hurricane surge in May as gamblers left behind USD 220.2 million, compared to USD 199.5 million in May 2005 when more gambling halls were in operation. The boost has been attributed by analysts to a large number of hurricane relief workers in the state with money and Hurricane Katrina's virtual wipeout of the Mississippi Gulf Coast where only three casinos have been able to reopen since the storm.

MGM Mirage might be the largest gaming operator on the Vegas strip -- with properties such as the MGM Grand Las Vegas, Bellagio and Mandalay Bay -- but Chief Financial Officer Jim Murren would rather talk about other real estate opportunities in Las Vegas. "Here is this community that's grown to 1.6 million people and yet we don't have a city (center)," he said. "Billions and billions of dollars over the next 10 years will be injected into this market by ourselves and outside investors. We're going to literally build a new city."

The two companies that joined forces to build Indiana's 11th casino -- under construction in French Lick -- are embroiled in a lawsuit that has been sealed by a judge in Orange County. The lawsuit and a request for an injunction were filed by Cook Group Inc., a Bloomington medical-device manufacturer, against Lauth Resorts and Casinos LLC, its partner in the project.

Steve Wynn had a few reasons for buying out his partner's interest in the Wynn Las Vegas production show "Le Reve." Wynn explained to me last week his reasons for buying "Le Reve" creator Franco Dragone's interest in the show named for his (and wife Elaine's) Picasso painting of the same name, the moniker Wynn had originally slated for Wynn Las Vegas. The reasons were financial and creative, he said.

Stanley Leisure plc ("Stanley") announces that its wholly-owned subsidiary, Stanley Casinos Limited, has acquired Harbour House Casino Limited, which owns the Harbour House casino in Southampton, from Patrick Trant and Razmik Gharibian-Saki.

What is it about the Cape gaming industry that brings out the fight in so many participants? We'd guess that the rather large amounts of profits being spun from Cape casinos - most notably the GrandWest in Goodwood - is a major reason why no-one is keen to give an inch in what increasingly looks like a bun-fight for prospective long term positions.

Summerlin's newest hot spot is cracking down on underage guests. The new Red Rock Casino says starting Friday it's going to enforce a strict curfew for anyone under 21 years old. Several parents we spoke with are applauding the curfew. Many say it will give them peace of mind knowing their kids aren't hanging out at Red Rock Casino after hours.