Taipei (Asia Pulse) - The Executive Yuan approved Wednesday a raft of amendments to the Outlying Islands Development Act during its weekly meeting, but a measure permitting the opening of casinos was not included in the package. Executive Yuan spokesman Shieh Jhy-wey said the government has no plans at present to legalize the gambling industry, due to a lack of social consensus on the issue.

The Senate approved this week a bill that authorizes the opening of an international tender process for the casino operation of Carrasco Hotel Casino. The debate was intense and the opposition remarked that it is a “historical contradition” from the left wing, which now boosts privatizations, something that was against their own ideas. Besides, legislator Jorge Gandini, from Partido Blanco, said he was afraid that this tender is “customized, as part of a series of irregularities in local casinos”.

Harrah’s Entertainment announced this week that it received approval from the Illinois Gaming Board for the proposed acquisition of Harrah’s by affiliates of Apollo Management, L.P. and TPG Capital. The transaction remains subject to approval by other jurisdictions in which Harrah’s subsidiaries operate and other conditions to closing set forth in the agreement and plan of merger entered into on December 19, 2006.

Harrah’s Entertainment announced it received approval from the Indiana Gaming Commission for the proposed acquisition of Harrah’s by affiliates of Apollo Management, L.P. and TPG Capital. The transaction remains subject to approval by other jurisdictions in which Harrah’s subsidiaries operate and other conditions to closing set forth in the agreement and plan of merger entered into on December 19, 2006.

Harrah’s Entertainment announced it received approval from the New Jersey Casino Control Commission for the proposed acquisition of Harrah’s by affiliates of Apollo Management, L.P. and TPG Capital. New Jersey casino regulators on Wednesday approved the proposed USD 31 billion acquisition of Harrah’s Entertainment by two private equity firms. The transaction remains subject to approval by 10 other states’ regulators in jurisdictions in which Harrah’s subsidiaries operate and other conditions to closing set forth in the agreement and plan of merger entered into on December 19, 2006.

Land development plans for the Sands BethWorks casino, hotel and conference center, got final approval from the Bethlehem Planning Commission this week at the conclusion of a six-hour meeting. Las Vegas Sands Corp. will now be able to pursue a building permit to begin construction of its USD 600 million complex with 3,000 slot machines, a 12-story hotel with 300 rooms, an upscale shopping center and an events center with up to 3,800 concert seats. The casino developers hope to have the project built by the middle of 2009.

In order to try and churn out more revenue to provide for a USD 13 billion construction program, the Illinois Senate approved three separate casinos to be built in the state. The expansion was passed with a 37-15 vote in the Senate and will be sent to the House for further deliberation. "Right now, this is about the best option we have to try and provide money for our many projects we have throughout the state," Sen. David Luechtefeld, R-Okawville, said.

Pinnacle Entertainment announced that the Louisiana Gaming Control Board has approved its plans for a hotel and gaming entertainment project on more than 222.5 hectares of land that the company owns or has under contract in Baton Rouge. The master-planned development requires various other approvals, including a local-option referendum in East Baton Rouge Parish, which the company will seek to put on the ballot in February 2008, and adherence to certain conditions imposed by the Louisiana Gaming Control Board.

Hong Kong casino operator Galaxy Entertainment Group announced this week that the company has received government approval to expand its planned development on Macau’s Cotai strip, pitting it against the newly opened Venetian. Galaxy currently runs five casinos in China’s gambling enclave in Macau, including StarWorld, which opened last October. It is also building Galaxy World Resort on Cotai, a reclaimed strip linking two outlying islands...

Hong Kong (AP) -- Hong Kong casino company Galaxy Entertainment Group said Tuesday it has received government approval to expand its planned development on Macau's Cotai strip, pitting it against the newly opened Venetian. Galaxy currently runs five casinos in China's gambling enclave in Macau, including StarWorld, which opened last October. It is also building GalaxyWorld Resort on Cotai, a reclaimed strip linking two outlying islands that Las Vegas mogul Sheldon Adelson hopes to transform into a massive resort that rivals the Nevada gambling mecca.