Plains, Pennsylvania — In three weeks, when the first visitors walk through the main entrance of the new casino at Mohegan Sun at Pocono Downs, they will pass a sculpture that starts as a hunk of coal at its base. Slowly, as it spins toward the ceiling, fist-sized black chunks morph into clear rocks and finally into polished diamonds. When the USD 208 million expansion opens July 17, it will reflect the Pennsylvania coal country where it sits and how the Mohegan Tribal Gaming Authority...

It is hard to believe the scale of Foxwoods Resort Casino. By floor space, it is the largest in the world. Its gaming rooms, hotels, theatres and shopping malls tower over thickly wooded forests in this once sleepy corner of New England. It is a shining city upon a hill, to which 40,000 people a day flock - from New York, Boston and beyond - to play on more than 7,000 slot machines and gamble at hundreds of tables.

San Jacinto, California -- The National Indian Gaming Commission has warned a Riverside County Indian band that its casino could be closed in a "worst-case scenario" if violence continues, it was reported Sunday. "Closure of the facility might be necessary" if violent incidents continue near the Soboba Casino, Gaming Commission Chairman Phil Hogen told the Riverside Press-Enterprise.

Middleborough - Reports that Governor Deval Patrick was poised to begin negotiating a contract, or compact, with the Mashpee Wampanoag for a casino in Middleborough caused some ripples of concern across Southeastern Massachusetts this week. According to the Statehouse News Service, Patrick on Monday had said that, although he expects no additional casino legislation to be forthcoming this session...

A Rohnert Park group has filed suit against the federal government, challenging its ability to take into trust land for a proposed Indian casino. The suit was filed by Stop the Casino 101 and contends the Department of Interior violated the U.S. Constitution when it took into trust 254 acres of land for the Federated Indians of Graton Rancheria. “The federal government is powerless to create a new state or sovereign nation within an existing state without the consent of the state,” said Stephan Volker...

The Oregon Court of Appeals has ruled that a community organization can challenge the governor’s approval of a casino in Florence. The ruling could have ramifications for tribal casinos throughout Oregon. KLCC’s Rachael McDonald reports. People Against a Casino Town, or PACT, has been fighting the Three Rivers Casino since 2003 when the governor signed a compact giving the project the go-ahead.

A proposed casino and hotel near Remington Park in Oklahoma City would have "devastating consequences” to the state's economy and should not be built, state Treasurer Scott Meacham is telling federal officials. "A new Shawnee (Tribe) casino in Oklahoma City would clearly result in reduced gaming revenues for Remington Park and the central Oklahoma tribes,” Meacham wrote in a letter sent Monday to the U.S. Bureau of Indian Affairs.

Boston (WBZ) - Massachusetts is prepared to negotiate a casino compact with the Mashpee Wampanoag tribe that would clear the way for a massive full scale casino in Middleboro. "We are prepared to negotiate within the parameters we have under existing law," said Massachusetts Governor Patrick on Monday. Even though his proposal for three casinos died in the legislature, it's a good bet casino gambling is coming to the Bay State.

Ledyard, Connecticut (Reuters) - Most of the past 400 years have been miserable for the Mashantucket Pequot. Almost annihilated by English settlers and the smallpox, the survivors were enslaved and scattered. Reduced to just a few dozen members by the 1970s, they grew lettuce and tapped maple syrup, living in poverty in trailers on a scrap of Connecticut woods. Gambling has changed all that.

The Seminole Indians are proceeding with plans to make South Florida an even bigger tourist attraction than it already is. While involved in legal battles over their expansion, the Seminoles are still moving forward with expanded gambling plans for their casinos. Late this week the Seminoles held a press conference to map out their plans for bringing blackjack to their Hollywood Hard Rock Casino. The blackjack will become a reality on June 22nd.

Pompano Park's Isle Casino is suing to keep the Seminole Tribe from offering so-called banked card games at its Hard Rock Casino in Hollywood, claiming the games violate the federal Indian Gaming Regulatory Act. In November, Gov. Charlie Crist signed a 25-year compact with the Seminole Tribe that allows it to operate Las Vegas-style slot machines and card games in seven existing facilities on tribal lands, including Tampa, in exchange for minimum annual payments of USD 100 million to the state.

Oklahoma City - The Shawnee tribe hopes to build a casino and hotel in Oklahoma City about two miles away from Remington Park. The tribe says it will bring extra tax revenue to Oklahoma City, but opponents say it would put Remington Park out of business and hurt education. A state law enacted in 2004 gives some profits from Remington Park to the state’s education fund. Park executives say the program has produced USD 19 million so far.