Arnold Schwarzenegger recently joined a group of residents and the county in criticizing an environmental report produced by the Pauma Band of Mission Indians on a planned USD 300 million casino and hotel. An attorney for the governor said in a letter dated September 21 that the tribe’s report is incomplete and not supported by sufficient analysis or evidence. The letter said that the tribe has not adequately addressed the project’s effects on water usage, community aesthetics or police and fire services.

Steve Wynn invited the wrath of Wall Street soon after the 1999 opening of his USD 680 million Beau Rivage in Biloxi, Miss., which earned less than analysts expected. Mirage Resorts' stock tanked, and Wynn, criticized for overspending on the posh property, faced an unwelcome offer the following year from Kirk Kerkorian's MGM Grand - a bid that ended with Wynn's company and his most precious of creations, the immensely profitable Bellagio, being wrested from him.

Bournemouth Council has announced that a casino to be built adjacent to Bournemouth Pavilion will be reduced in size to keep residents happy. The casino will now have a floor area of 38,100sq ft (3,540sq m), of which 14,900sq ft (1,380sq m) will be for gaming – 16 per cent smaller than planned – while new rooftop walkways and outdoor terraces will be built to make the venue more ‘family-friendly’.

„Es war ein kulinarisches Glückserlebnis.“ Die 40 Teilnehmer der zwei erlesenen Genussproben im Casino Bad Oeynhausen waren vollauf begeistert. Und eines stand nach den beiden gelungene Abenden für alle fest: „Wein und Schokolade“ sind wirklich ein Traumduo – wenn sie von Experten kenntnisreich kombiniert werden.

Governor Deval L. Patrick said that he plans to file legislation next week to establish casino resorts in Western Massachusetts and two other parts of the state, and that it will include language calling for local approval of the gambling halls. He said he could not say whether local approval would be decided by binding referenda or through municipal regulatory boards. "What we want to assure is that there is going to be local input in the siting issues, as there is for any other large development," Patrick told reporters after an unrelated speech at the Boston Marriott Copley Place. "How we do that is a question."

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.