New York legislators want to tap casino gambling for greater revenues, but the requirements of passing a state constitutional amendment make the opening of new casinos unlikely anytime soon. So Governor David Paterson and some lawmakers are considering changing rules for existing video lottery machines and slots at racetracks. Current regulations require racinos to operate no more than sixteen hours a day, or one hundred twelve hours per week.

Two days after it lost its bid to host casino gaming, the Guam Greyhound Racetrack shut down operations and the property is for sale, the Pacific Daily News reports. The racetrack in Tamuning has been an island fixture for 32 years. But owner John Baldwin, who was behind the initiative to open a gaming facility at the track, earlier this week said it had been losing USD 100,000 a month for some time. Guam voters on Tuesday rejected the casino gaming initiative.

The New Mexico Racing Commission awarded the state’s last non-tribal race track casino license to Racing at Raton, rejecting applications for tracks in Tucumcari and at the Downs at Santa Fe. Commission Chairman Arnold Rael said the Raton plan best serves the needs of the racing industry. The developers offered to have a 60-day race season and build 1,500 stalls. The track developers also said they will draw from a five-state area.

Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich, acknowledging his past year’s attempt to get new casinos and racetrack slots past state House Speaker Michael J. Madigan was a failure, now wants to lease out the Illinois Lottery to help fund the governor’s latest capital improvement program. Blagojevich has downsized the planned budget for improving roads, schools and other infrastructure to USD 25 billion.

Quebec racehorse trainer Marc Camirand has a pointed but inspired suggestion for Loto-Québec. Now that the provincial gaming corporation has apparently found a cure for problem gambling with its self-designed "ludoplex" centres at the racetracks in Quebec City and Trois Rivières, Camirand says the socially responsible thing to do would be to also convert the Montreal Casino into a ludoplex.

Anderson - Owners say more than 500 new employees will be needed to operate the soon-to-open casino side of Hoosier Park Racing & Casino -- exciting news for East Central Indiana citizens more accustomed to job losses from the faltering auto industry. "It is a better opportunity for me," said Patricia Moore, a 2-month employee who on Tuesday was among the Hoosier staff dishing up crab cakes, bread pudding and dozens of other selections...

The owners of all four of the state's pari-mutuel race tracks will be among the bidders for the three commercial gaming licenses proposed by Gov. Deval Patrick earlier this week. Raynham Park, Plainridge Racecourse in Plainville, Suffolk Downs in East Boston and Wonderland Greyhound Park in Revere all said they plan to bid for the 10-year licenses, estimated to go for at least USD 200 million.

Sydney (Reuters) - Australia's equine flu outbreak spread to the thoroughbred industry when a horse tested positive at Sydney's premier racetrack and more than 700 horses were confined to stables on Thursday. "Randwick right now is under lockdown," said trainer Anthony Cummings, whose horse tested positive. All racing in Australia has been cancelled since equine flu was detected last week in an attempt to prevent it spreading to the thoroughbred industry.

Hundreds of people waited in line this morning to try their luck at the first slots casino in southwestern Pennsylvania. The Meadows Racetrack and Casino became the fifth gambling parlor in Pennsylvania when it threw its doors open at 8:44 a.m. after a ribbon-cutting ceremony. The opening came a week later than scheduled because of security improvements.

His father was a whale, one of the biggest Las Vegas gamblers of all time. Now James Packer wants to go one better by claiming a slice of casino action in NYC. Mr Packer's Crown Gaming is negotiating to become the casino partner of Australia's Capital Play consortium, one of four groups battling for the 20-year rights to operate horse racing at New York's three premier racetracks, Belmont Park, Aqueduct and Saratoga.

When a casino opened on Street Road in December, thousands of slot machines were supposed to boost business at the adjoining Philadelphia Park racetrack. Many claimed betting on horse racing would spike, the grandstand would be more crowded than ever, and the Bensalem track would regain some of its luster. However, betting on live racing is down almost 25 percent in a year and casino gaming has actually driven customers from the track...