Opponents of a nearly 30 percent expansion of tribal gambling began turning in petition signatures Friday for what could prove to be latest ballot fight over Indian casinos in California. A group opposing deals between four wealthy Southern California tribes and Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger said it has collected enough signatures to let voters decide if the agreements should be revoked. It said the rest of the signatures will be turned in by Monday to the secretary of state's office.
A complex USD 8.9 billion stock buyout-debt assumption of Station Casinos by members of its founding Las Vegas family and real estate investment firm Colony Capital was endorsed Thursday by the Nevada Gaming Control Board. Under the takeover deal, brothers Frank Fertitta III and Lorenzo Fertitta, top executives of Station Casinos Inc. are joining with California-based Colony to form Fertitta Colony Partners, which will take over Station's 12 casinos in the Las Vegas area and other interests.
New Zealand casino operator Sky City Entertainment Group sees the possibility of more than one bid, as a potential buyer looks at its books over a deal that could be worth around 1.9 billion. Executive Director Elmar Toime told Reuters on Friday that the unnamed bidder's decision to conduct due diligence could spark other bids. "The interest is there, whether the timing is right, or people have the wherewithal is the great unknown," Toime said.
New York (Reuters) - Shares in Trump Entertainment Resorts Inc, which owns three casinos in Atlantic City, New Jersey, rose more than 16 percent on Friday on a report that the company is in takeover talks. The Star-Ledger newspaper, citing three people familiar with the talks, reported on Friday that Trump Entertainment was in preliminary talks with Cordish Co., a real estate development firm that was involved in the development of two Hard Rock-branded hotel casinos.
A Singapore-based company has won the Bureau of Internal Revenue’s bidding for M/V Philippine Dream, a floating casino. Mandaue City Revenue Election Officer Emir Abutasil, chairman of the bidding, said that Aston submitted a bid of USD 1.3 million. The bidding was held at the BIR district office in Lapu-Lapu City as the vessel is anchored along the strait of Mactan. Abutasil said the bureau auctioned the floating casino after its owner failed to pay USD 1.3 million in tax liabilities.
A giant casino set to open in Glasgow has been hit by another delay, but at least it now has a name. The gambling mecca which was due to open in summer 2006, will be called “Alea”, after an ancient Roman term for a game of chance. Bosses of the complex, which will have floor space bigger than a football pitch and be Scotland’s biggest casino, are now recruiting. They want experienced or trainee card dealers, roulette wheel operators and cashiers to fill some of the 250 jobs the venue could bring to the city.
Harrah’s Entertainment announced through its subsidiary, Harrah’s Operating Company, a strategic alliance with Food Network star, Paula Deen, and an approximately USD 45 million renovation of Grand Casino Resort Tunica. The 560 seat, Paula Deen’s Buffet is expected to open in May 2008. In conjunction with the renovation, the Grand Casino Resort Tunica’s name will change to Harrah’s Casino Tunica. The unveiling of the newly re-branded Harrah’s Casino Tunica is scheduled for May 2008.
Crown Casino was fined AUD 35,000 last month for conducting card games without a full deck and breaking the rules of other games conducted at the Southbank complex. The Victorian Commission for Gambling Regulation fined the casino on four breaches of the Casino Control Act 1991. In a statement posted on the commission's website, it outlined the breaches and reasons for the fines, which dated to September, 2006. Games played at Crown that breached the rules included: three games of Texas Hold 'em Poker, a game of Blackjack, a game of Crown Pontoon, and a game of Pai Gow.
Atlantic City - No longer content with building a mere casino, gaming giant MGM Mirage Inc. plans to develop a mini-city of gambling, hotel towers and luxury condominiums that would dramatically redefine the Atlantic City skyline. The estimated USD 4.5 billion to USD 5.5 billion project would mimic the company's huge USD 7.4 billion CityCenter project under construction on the Las Vegas Strip, although on a smaller scale, according to people familiar with the plans.
Buffalo, New York (AP) - The Seneca Nation of Indians on Wednesday unveiled plans for a USD 333 million casino and hotel in Buffalo _ its third in western New York. Called Seneca Buffalo Creek, the project includes a 22-story hotel tower, a 90,000-square-foot casino and a 2,500-space parking garage on a nine-acre site in downtown Buffalo. The casino and hotel complex, thought to be the most expensive private structure ever built in the city, is slated to open in 2010.
Las Vegas (AP) -- Some rooms at the Rio hotel-casino owned by Harrah's Entertainment Inc. are being closed to accommodate overdue safety inspections that should have taken place during renovations done in 2004 and 2005, the company has said. Since Thursday, Clark County inspectors have issued six notices of violation for work on the Ipanema Tower, which underwent the remodeling. "As many rooms will be off-line as needed to facilitate the inspection process," said Jan Jones, Harrah's vice president for communications and government relations.
Businessman George Carney is willing to bet his 100-acre Raynham-Taunton Greyhound Park that he has his competitors beat hands down in the race to build a casino in Southeastern Massachusetts. Carney has a grand vision for his park: Slot machines and gaming tables would fill the big building that overlooks the racetrack. Restaurants and shops would dot the landscape. Down the street, on another 100 acres he owns, could be a golf course.
