Jan Jones, senior executive of US gaming giant Harrah's Entertainment, held talks with representatives of local authorities and NGOs in the Western town of Nova Gorica, where Harrah's plans to build a gaming resort with Slovenian gaming company Hit, Slovene Press Agency reports. Plans for the EUR 750m facility were in the focus of separate talks between Jones and Nova Gorica Mayor Mirko Brulc, with the latter saying he was pleased with the answers he got.

The poor summer season for Britain's seaside resorts has taken its toll on Blackpool as the town winds down for the winter break with 220 hotels and guesthouses, worth a total of GBP 57m, on the market. The resort is looking to reduce bedroom capacity from its current levels of 72,000 after losing the bid for the UK's supercasino - now scrapped by Gordon Brown - and a slow summer.

Even though the Islamic-steeped government of Dubai rejects gambling, there are striking similarities between Las Vegas - specifically the Strip - and Dubai, one of seven emirates making up the United Arab Emirates. It helps explain why Dubai World, a government-owned holding company, wanted to become a partner in MGM Mirage's CityCenter project. "Dubai has a reputation of really trying to develop much the same way Las Vegas has done but without casinos," said Bill Eadington.

Gold Reef Resorts has maintained its positive growth cycle with strong interim results for the six months to June 2007. Robust trade and expansion developments at most of Gold Reef Resort’s casinos boosted revenue 17,9% to ZAR 839,2 million, generating bottom line profitability of ZAR 138,2 million which was 25,4% higher than June 2007. The group earlier this month announced an acquisition offer which may see it acquired and de-listed by a private equity consortium including its own management and BEE shareholders.

Thunderbird Resorts will build four five-star hotels in the cities of Cusco, Arequipa, Trujillo (La Libertad) and Iquitos (Loreto) in the following three years, according to the general manager of hotel chain Las Américas, Pierre Berthier. ast May, Thunderbird Resorts was granted the Peruvian hotel chain Las Américas offering USD 43,501,839, a number that exceded the base price established by its owner, Caja de Pensiones Militar Policial, on USD 40.5 million.

In March, when shares in Trump Entertainment Resorts were trading around USD 20, the company disclosed that it was seeking potential suitors. At that point, Donald Trump even envisioned pocketing USD 500 million (AUD 583 million) from selling at a handsome premium his one-third stake in this company bearing his name. In July, when the company announced that it had not found a buyer despite a three-month search, shares in Trump Entertainment, which operates casino-hotels in Atlantic City, closed the day at USD 10.49. Trump's stake was worth roughly USD 100 million.

A poll has shown that Slovenians are not too enthusiastic about the gaming resort US company Harrah's Entertainment is planning to build in western Slovenia with its local partner Hit, Slovene Press Agency reports. While 38% of those questioned believe such a resort would benefit Slovenia and its tourist industry, while also bringing more competition in the market, 30% think that the arrival of a foreign multinational would bring troubles for Slovenian gaming companies, according to the poll.

Unlike local civil initiatives, the mayors of western Slovenia are in favour of a EUR 750 mln gaming resort that US company Harrah's Entertainment plans to build there with its local partner Hit, provided certain issues they deem vital are tackled, Slovene Press Agency reports. Mayor of Sempeter-Vrtojba Dragan Valencic, who presented positions of the local community, added though that the meeting with Harrah's senior executive Jan Jones did not yield any specific new information on the project.

Tropicana Casinos and Resorts announced that the company is changing the name of its property in Laughlin, Nevada, to Tropicana Express. The change, which aims to leverage the brand awareness of its legendary sister on the in Las Vegas strip, takes effect July 28. It will be ushered in with special promotions for visitors and a player event program.

Perhaps Craig Cozza knows something that Rand McNally doesn't. Mr. Cozza, the developer whose Cozza Enterprises LLP owns Monroeville's Palace Inn, is one of four applicants statewide for the two casinos licenses that have been reserved for resort hotels. The "resort" casinos are permitted to operate up to 500 slot machines, as opposed to the 5,000 that will be permitted at racetrack and stand-alone casinos.