General Direction of Games and Draws of the Department of Interior (Segob) is under the investigation of the Superior Auditing Company of the Federation (ASF) and the Secretary of the Public Function (SFP). ASF revises 7/2007 and 8/2007 “with regards to the authorization and granting of modification of licenses to big licensees”, as well as the process of “authorization and issuance of draw licenses”, whose results will be ready this month.

Refusal of permission for a casino at a Leicester landmark could cost the city up to 250 jobs, it was claimed today. A court refused to grant a casino licence for St George's Tower just before Christmas because it felt there was not enough demand. It is believed the applicant, Clermont Leisure, is considering an appeal. Amir Zarbafi, the building's owner, said without the GBP 8.7 million casino, a hotel planned as part of the GBP 33 million redevelopment of the building would employ substantially fewer people.

The Pricipality of Liechtenstein might follow the role model of Gibraltar and offer remote gaming licenses. The head of the government, Otmar Hasler, recently announced that a consulation paper with the draft of a new Casino Act (Spielbankengesetz) will be completed by February 2008 and published soon afterwards. According to Hasler, the Casino Act will also cover remote gambling. Liechtenstein is a tiny, but sovereign state, situated between Austria and Switzerland. However, unlike Switzerland, Liechtenstein is a full member of the European Economic Area (EEA) Agreement.

The Control Commission of the Superior Auditory of the Federation of the House of Legislators will ask the Court to discard the controversy promoted by the Department of Interior (Segob), which will prevent to audit in the same way in which casino licenses were granted. PRI and PRD legislators which take part on such legislative instance regretted that last week a constitutional controversy was held in order to avoid the Superior Auditory of the Federation to hold a Special Development Auditory.

Atlantic City - In a stunning development, the New Jersey Casino Control Commission today denied a license renewal for the troubled Tropicana Casino & Resort, saying that a trustee would operate the Boardwalk facility immediately until a buyer was found. It was only the second time a license renewal has been denied in the 29-year history of legalized gambling in Atlantic City. The Tropicana's attorney, Paul O'Gara, said the casino owner, Columbia-Sussex Corp., would appeal the decision, as soon as tomorrow morning, in state court.

Pittsburgh - Don H. Barden could have scheduled the groundbreaking for his USD 450 million casino on his 64th birthday, Dec. 20, if he wanted. After all, he owns what is projected to be the most lucrative of Pennsylvania’s 14 slots casino licenses. But already irritated by a year’s worth of delays, Mr. Barden, the country’s only African-American owner of a national gambling company, decided against that.

Senators from political parties Revolucionario Institucional (PRI), Acción Nacional (PAN) and Revolución Democrática (PRD) demanded the presence of Roberto Correa Méndez, deputy general director of Games and Draws of SEGOB, to communicate the causes of the increment of licenses for activities of that kind. Senator Felipe González assured that at least 50% of the games and draws held in the country are irregular, because he said his organizers have appeals for protection to work, altough they do not have operating licenses.

The Chilean gambling regulator, the Casino Superintendence (SCJ), has formally approved the participation of South African operator Sun International in Chile’s new casino project, the hotel and resorts company said on Monday. Sun International would now acquire a 40 percent equity interest in local entity San Francisco Investment, which holds a 15-year casino license in Region Six, the premier casino opportunity in Chile.

New Jersey’s casino enforcement agency recommended only a one-year license renewal for Tropicana Casino and Resort, citing mass layoffs and a litany of customer complaints under the troubled ownership of Columbia Sussex Corp. The recommendation by the Division of Gaming Enforcement will be considered by the New Jersey Casino Control Commission when it meets December 12 to make a final ruling on Tropicana’s license and the suitability of Columbia Sussex and CEO William J. Yung III as owners.

Atlantic City (AP) -- State casino regulators extended the Tropicana Casino and Resort's license until next week, when a final decision on whether it should be renewed can be made. The state Casino Control Commission has heard two weeks of testimony on whether to relicense the casino in light of concerns about cleanliness, staffing levels and compliance with state regulations.

As the Tropicana fights to keep its casino license in Atlantic City and its parent negotiates with lenders on USD 2.3 billion in debt, the company's chief financial officer announced yesterday he was resigning to take a job in Ohio. John Jacob, who last week testified about Tropicana's finances in its licensing hearing before the N.J. Casino Control Commission, is the second CFO Tropicana Casinos and Resorts has lost this year.

In order to control the installation of casinos, a proposal will be presented in the Union Congress to take Segob its faculties to issue gambling licenses. Federal representative from PRI political party, Juan Francisco Rivera Bedoya and President of the Security Commission, mentioned that, after the facts registered last Friday, when a casino businessmen saved his life from being executed, it is necessary that local authorities are stricter in order not to allow the installation of this kind of business.