The effort to bring casino gambling to Southwest Ohio was being soundly rejected by voters, who were turning down a statewide ballot that would have amended the state’s constitution to allow a new facility near Wilmington. Issue 6, which would have paved the way for legalizing the construction of a USD 600 million casino development near Interstate 71 in Clinton County, was trailing 61 percent to 39 percent – and the Associated Press said it would not pass based on those early returns.

Anti-gambling legislation that would have banned ATMs and any credit extensions from casinos narrowly failed this week. But state Senator Joe McPherson and other gambling critics did get one victory in committee with legislation forcing casinos to also advertise their revenue when touting their large payouts to customers. The issues quickly turned into a debate on the merits of gambling in Louisiana, with most of the discussions focused on the presence of automated teller machines in casinos in McPherson’s Senate Bill 41.

The casino war here may have been won by the city government, which had opposed its operation. However, Cheryl Ann Ruiz Arnold, corporate communications officer of Thunderbird Resorts, said 60 percent of customers of their casino in nearby San Fernando City in La Union come from Baguio. The casino attracts from 1,000 to 2,000 patrons daily, said Arnold. Thunderbird is the same company that wanted to open a casino in Baguio five years ago but the thunder against it was stronger here.

The Nevada Gaming Commission on Thursday unanimously rejected a concept of allowing casino customers to use their debit cards to buy ticket in-ticket out vouchers that can be gambled on slot machines. The proposal, which had been requested through a partnership between Global Cash Access and slot machine giant International Game Technology, was denied by commissioners for several reasons. The most prominent concern by the five-member panel was they didn't see the need for that particular system to be established.

Atlantic City, New Jersey -- Dealers at the Atlantic City Hilton Casino Resort have narrowly rejected a bid to unionize. The dealers voted 316-268 Saturday against joining the United Auto Workers, according to casino and union representatives. "The Atlantic City Hilton respects the informed decision made by our dealers and hopes the UAW will do likewise," Tony Rodio, President of the Atlantic City Hilton Casino Resort, said in a statement issued early Sunday.