Former monopoly casino operator Sociedade de Jogos de Macau, currently preparing for an initial public stock offering in Hong Kong, saw its gaming revenue decline by 2.3 percent last year in the face of new competition. The downturn came despite the market's overall 11.3 percent growth and SJM opening two new casinos early last year and subsequently expanding several others.

If as Polly Toynbee claimed, the Gambling Act 2005 really was a "green light to addiction", I would not have supported it. Her accusations about "unlimited super casinos" and "doubling the number of addicts" are also untrue. With the Gambling Commission implementing and policing this act, Britain will have the toughest and most protective regulatory regime in the world.

The gaming industry's hopes for more Las Vegas-style super-casinos will be dashed tomorrow when the Conservatives rule out their support for plans to increase the number of properties. Only one super-casino will be built following changes to gambling laws although the government has indicated it would be prepared to increase the number if there were sufficient cross-party support.

New Haven, Connecticut (AP) -- MGM Mirage Inc. has agreed to license its name to the Mashantucket Pequot Tribal Nation for a planned USD 700 million hotel and casino expansion at the Foxwoods Resort Casino. The new hotel and casino will be called the MGM Grand but will be operated by Foxwoods employees. The American Indian reservation already is home to one of the world's most successful casinos.

Liverpool-based gaming group Stanley Leisure's expansion plans are snowballing, with a new venue now planned for Sheffield. The firm, which announced it had also been granted permission for an GBP 8m casino in Liverpool two weeks ago, is to create a 30,000 sq ft venue in Sheffield's St Paul's Place after city magistrates approved the plans.

In its sport betting decision of 28th March 2006 (case-no. 1 BvR 1054/01) the German Federal Constitutional Court (Bundesverfassungsgericht) examined the case exclusively under German constitutional law. Nonetheless, the court pointed out that the examination standards for examining the reasons brought forward for justifying the limitation of basic rights granted by the German constitution and the examination standards for examining the reasons brought forward for justifying the limitation of basic freedoms granted by the EC Treaty were in fact identical. Therefore, the Federal Constitutional Court incidentally affirmed the lack of valid reasons brought forward for justifying the limitation of freedoms granted by the EC Treaty, notably the freedom to provide services, significant for providing betting services within the EU.

San Diego - After nearly five years working the slot floors at some of Las Vegas' most-recognized casinos, Mike Montenez took what he learned to Southern California. A slot host position at the 59,000-square-foot casino that Harrah's Entertainment manages for the Rincon San Luiseño Band of Mission Indians allowed Montenez, 35, to be closer to his family, especially his 11-year-old son, and still work in a career he enjoyed.

Casinos will be closed in the State under plans being prepared by the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform, Michael McDowell. Currently nearly two dozen casinos are operating as members-only clubs in Dublin alone, he said yesterday. Under the 1956 Gaming and Lotteries Act, gambling is illegal in the State unless it is a game of chance, or partly a game of chance.

Atlantic City - If you go into a bar, restaurant or store, New Jersey's week-old ban on indoor smoking is perfectly clear - you're not allowed to do it. But make a visit to one of Atlantic City's gaming halls, and the rule seems to be as murky as the air on the casino floor.

In February, the Liberal Democratic Party formed a team to study the possibility of lifting the ban on casino gambling in Japan. About half of Japan's prefectures, as well as Tokyo Gov. Shintaro Ishihara, have said they want to build casino resorts to attract foreign tourists.

That was the message as the framework on which the resort's new leisure quarter will be shaped was revealed for the first time. A draft planning brief has been produced to give potential investors guidance about how the council wants the Central Station site to evolve and help regenerate the town.

Jackson, Mississippi - Mississippi gambling regulators will allow a New York holding company to buy into the hurricane-damaged Hard Rock Casino & Hotel in Biloxi, a move that could help advance the casino resort's opening. The USD 235 million Hard Rock Casino & Hotel was three days away from opening when Hurricane Katrina severely damaged the casino barge and hotel on Aug. 29.