Lincoln, California - A Placer County tribe says the declining economy has forced it to stop construction on a hotel that was planned to complement its casino. Doug Elmets, a spokesman for Thunder Valley Casino, says the United Auburn Indian Community will likely downsize the project when it is re-evaluated in three to six months. Construction was halted with just five of the 22 stories built. The project was estimated to cost USD 1 billion.

James Packer's role in a proposed AUD 1.5 billion casino development in the Philippines now appears to be on a knife edge, following his office's denial of speculation yesterday that a deal was only weeks away from being finalised. The South China Morning Post said Mr Packer, executive chairman of Crown, was in advanced talks with a company called Bloombury to sign a deal to build a AUD 1.5 billion casino resort in the Philippines.