The Eastern Cape Gambling & Betting Board has rejected objections by the amaMpondo monarchy against the renewal of global hotel group Sun International’s casino licence for the Wild Coast Sun. The board yesterday approved Sun International’s licence, which expires in August. A report on the reasons for the board’s decision will now be forwarded to Finance MEC Phumulo Masualle, who may establish a gambling tribunal to hear further objections.
The king of Pondoland has threatened to block the Wild Coast Sun's bid to renew its gambling licence because of the tiny rent it pays the state for its prime beachfront site and the alleged broken promises of community benefit. Central to the dispute is a 50-year extension of the resort's lease -- granted by the Transkei government in the dying days of apartheid despite corruption charges pending against "Sun King" Sol Kerzner.
New Jersey regulators Wednesday granted new 5-year licenses for the four Atlantic City casinos owned by Harrah’s Entertainment Inc. The Casino Control Commission also approved affiliates of Apollo Management and TPG Capital as owners of the Harrah’s Casinos. Apollo and TPG, two private equity firms acquired Harrah’s Entertainment in January in a USD 17.1 billion deal that includes the Harrah’s Resort, Bally’s, Caesars, and Showboat casinos.
Groupe Lucien Barrière, which has been running the casino of Saint-Raphaël for 18 years, saw its contract being officially renewed by the town. Georges Ginesta, the deputy-mayor of Saint-Raphaël and Jean-Raymond Castaldi, manager of the gambling house, signed the public service delegation for 20 more years. This contract will come into effect on the 1st of June 2008. The Group stated that ”this partnership will increase the role of the Casino Barrière de Saint-Raphaël in the tourist, cultural and economic life of the region.
Trenton, New Jersey - New Jersey legislators on Thursday revived an effort to legalize betting on professional sports in Atlantic City casinos, rejecting claims by the National Football League that the move would risk the integrity of sports. An Assembly committee pushed forward legislation that would ask voters to allow casinos to offer professional sports wagering.
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.
