Playboy to open casino in Cancun

Mexico City –  Playboy said its $7.5 million casino in the Mexican Caribbean resort city of Cancun would open this weekend.

The casion, which covers 1,200 sq. meters (12,900 sq. feet) will be inaugurated Saturday with a private party and open to the public the next day.

The casino will offer gaming tables and machines to play roulette, poker, Caribbean poker and blackjack.

A betting parlor will offer sports fans the opportunity to make wagers on American football, soccer, baseball and basketball games, as well as on major international sporting events.

Playboy Cancun selected 25 young women out of 1,500 who applied to be bunnies at the casino.

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Macau tycoon pays 330,000 US dlrs for two truffles

HONG KONG — Macau casino tycoon Stanley Ho paid 330,000 US dollars for two white truffles at a weekend auction, a report said Monday, matching the record price he paid for one of the prized fungi 3 years ago.

The billionaire made his winning bid through representatives at the event held at his own Grand Lisboa hotel in the Asian gambling hub, the fourth straight year he has won the truffle auction, the Standard newspaper reported.

Ho's winning bid bought him a giant truffle from Italy's central Tuscany region that weighed about 900 grams (2 pounds) and a smaller one of about 400 grams, the report said.

The auction in Macau, a former Portuguese colony returned to China in 1999, also saw bidders vie for the delicacy from Rome and London via satellite link, it said.

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Gamblers bet $41.3M on slots at Erie casino

Gamblers wagered $41.3 million on slot machines at Presque Isle Downs & Casino during the week of November 15-21.

The amount returned to gamblers was $37.5 million, the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board reported.

The gross revenue -- the amount of gamblers' losses -- was $3 million, after subtracting $917,664 in promotional free plays. Of that gross revenue, $1.6 million went to the state, and $1.4 million to the casino.

During a comparable week in 2009, November 16-22, gamblers wagered $37.5 million.

Incredible $7.3 Million Slots Jackpot Hit In Atlantic City

A Trenton, Mercer County man is celebrating his unbelievable good fortune after winning a staggering $7,355,381 while playing the slots at Harrah’s Resort Atlantic City.

The anonymous man, identified simply as “Tom”, was playing a progressive $5 Wheel of Fortune machine at 9:05 in the morning, when he hit the enormous jackpot in Harrah’s Diamond Cove slot section.

The $7,355,381 progressive jackpot is linked to a whole network of other similar slots in Atlantic City’s 11 casino and is actually the second biggest ever paid out in the casino’s history.

Harrah’s opened its casino doors on November 23rd, 1980 and “Tom” said he was actually present at Harrah’s Resort Atlantic City on its opening night all those years ago. Amazingly he has now won the huge sum of money on exactly the 30th anniversary of the casino.

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Indians sign Sullivan casino pact

MONTICELLO — Countless failed casino schemes were dismissed and a new path to gambling was risked Monday as another Indian tribe signed another deal for a casino in Sullivan County.

Before a crowd of 200 and beneath the bright lights of several TV cameras, Gov. David Paterson and the Stockbridge-Munsee Band of Mohican Indians signed a compact for a $700 million casino in Bridgeville, off Route 17's Exit 107.

Standing in the same Government Center room where, nearly 10 years ago, Gov. George Pataki signed a law allowing three Indian casinos in the Catskills, Paterson touted the thousands of jobs and billions of dollars this first casino would mean to the state and struggling Sullivan County, with one of the highest unemployment rates in New York.

"A catalyst for great economic development right here in (the Town of) Thompson and all of Sullivan County," said Paterson, flanked by Sen. Chuck Schumer, Rep. Maurice Hinchey, Assemblywoman Aileen Gunther, former Rep. Ben Gilman and other officials.

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Omni Casino Dettori's Bonus

A new slot game has just gone live at Omni Casino. It is Frankie Dettori's Magic Seven. The slot game is based on the renowned jockey Frankie Dettori, who won all seven races at Ascot on a single day. So players, who are horse racing fans and particularly Dettori fans, will love this slot games.

Video clips of all seven magic wins can be activated. And even if players do not know Frankie the new slot is really fun to play. Omni Casino says, "Our slot designers have yet again stepped up and built you a great game packed with bonus rounds and features."

Three or more scatter symbols trigger the Free Games Race in which players will be able to pick their winner in an attempt to be awarded free spins. Up to 35 free spins are up for grabs, all with 7X multipliers. And the icing on the cake is the huge 7,777 coins line bet jackpot.

In order to complement the new slot game Omni Casino has announced that this weekend will be Frankie Dettori's Slot Bonus Weekend. There are 3 bonuses on offer called Win, Place and Show. These bonuses are named after popular racing bets, but again players not familiar with horse racing can claim the bonuses anyway. All three bonuses are available only on Saturday Nov. 20 and Sunday Nov. 21.

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Caesars dealers OK 5-year deal with 18 pct raise

Dealers at Caesars Atlantic City overwhelmingly approved a five-year contract with the casino that will increase salaries by 18 % over the life of the agreement.

The ratification vote by the United Auto Workers, which was completed Thursday, marks the second contract the union has reached with an Atlantic City casino, following a pact with the Tropicana Casino and Resort in August.

The union is bargaining with management at Bally's Atlantic City and Trump Plaza Hotel and Casino, but has yet to reach agreement on deals with those gambling houses.

"Everyone is thrilled, just jubilant," said Kyle Noel, a 26-year Caesars dealer. "We have been waiting for this day for 3 1/2 years. Everybody feels like we have job security now and a bright future. Everyone's been smiling a lot for the past few days."

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Sullivan County taking key step toward casino

MONTICELLO — Gov. David Paterson is expected to be in Monticello next week to sign a compact with the Stockbridge-Munsee Mohican Indians that will allow the tribe to operate a casino in the Sullivan County town of Thompson.

The tribe owns more than 330 off Route 17 in Bridgeville.

The governor is expected to sign a land agreement with leaders of the Wisconsin-based tribe spelling out details of a pact with New York.

That doesn’t seal the deal, though, because the tribe still will need federal approval to operate an off-reservation casino, and there has been no policy change since the Interior secretary in the George W. Bush administration, Dirk Kempthorne, nixed such plans.

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Conn. casinos report rising, falling October revenue

The Mohegan Sun says casino revenue in October slid 4 % as fewer gamblers visited due to a drop in concerts. But rival Foxwoods Resort Casino said revenue jumped 4.5 %.

Mohegan Sun in Uncasville said Monday that revenue for the month was $60.3 million, down from $62.9 million in Oct. 2009. It was the third consecutive month that revenue dropped.

Foxwoods said revenue for the month was $57.2 million. However the increase was the second in as many months, Interim President William Sherlock said executives at the Mashantucket casino are wary because of the weak economy.

Mitchell Etess, Mohegan Sun's president and CEO, said 28,000 fewer visitors came to the casino in Oct compared with the Oct. 2009. He says the lower number is a result of fewer concerts.

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Casino antique show starts Friday

Riverside Casino and Golf Resort will host its third annual Antique Show from Friday to November 21 in the casino's event center.

The show will feature 35 dealers from the Midwest offering items including toys, jewelry, books and Indian artifacts.

The event will run from 4 to 9 p.m. Friday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. November 21.

Admission is free.

World's Biggest Casino Owner Set to Raise $532M

Investors will get another chance to roll the dice on the world's biggest casino operator next week. It may be a risky bet, according to some observers.

Harrah's Entertainment Inc. — which will change its name to Caesars Entertainment Corp. by the time its initial public offering closes — plans to raise as much as $532 million.

Its shares will start trading at a financially precarious time for the casino business. Like the rest of the industry, Harrah's and other casino companies hit a wall during the recession as people opted to save their extra cash rather than gamble it. Results for the first nine months of this year suggest casino visitors aren't yet ready to spend the way they used to.

In a recent securities filing, the company said it lost $634.4 million during the nine months that ended September 30. Revenue over the same period totaled $6.7 billion, down from $6.8 billion in the first nine months of 2009.

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Illinois considering casinos in Chicago, Ford Heights

INDIANAPOLIS | Illinois lawmakers again are trying to expand riverboat gaming in the state, including new casinos in Chicago and Ford Heights, even as Gov. Pat Quinn says the plan is dead in the water.

State Sen. Terry Link, D-Waukegan, introduced legislation this week that would boost Illinois' casino population to 14 from 10, permit slot machines at horse tracks, including Balmoral Park in Crete, and allow existing casinos in the state to nearly double in size.

Link estimates the state could bring in an additional $1 billion a year from expanded gaming. Illinois has a $14 billion budget deficit, according to Comptroller Dan Hynes.

But Gov. Quinn is not on board, saying the state can't gamble its way to prosperity.

"I think we have to understand in Illinois that we have some gambling. But do we want to expand it and make Illinois the Las Vegas of the Midwest? Not in my opinion," Quinn said.

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Arizona tribe expands suit opposing casino project

A southern Arizona tribe planning to build a casino resort in suburban Glendale already used up a federal allotment being invoked to acquire the site, according to a new court filing by a tribe that already operates casinos in the Phoenix area.

The Gila River Indian Community has sued to block the Tohono O'odham Nation's project, contending in its original lawsuit that the U.S. Interior Department acted illegally and skirted its own policies when it agreed to take land into trust on behalf of the nation.

In a court filing Tuesday, Gila River asked a judge to accept an updated lawsuit.

It contends that newly discovered evidence indicates that previous Tohono O'odham land purchases totaling 16,000 acres exceeded a 9,880-acre cap set under federal law, before the 2003 purchase of a 135-acre parcel that includes the proposed 54-acre casino site.

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Detroit casinos showing gains

Detroit's casinos Tuesday reported a 3.1 % increase in combined revenue in October compared to the same month a year ago, signaling growing confidence in the economy.

Through the first 10 months of the year, revenue rose 2.7 % at the MGM Grand Detroit, MotorCity Casino Hotel and Greektown Casino Hotel compared with last year's January-October period.

The gains are likely due to increased optimism about the economy and weak 2009 performance, said Tom Nelson, principal with Haslett, Mich.-based Gaming Regulatory Consultants LLC.

Revenue at MGM Grand Detroit last month rose 4.2 % to $46.8 million from $44.9 million in October 2009. MGM, which holds the city's largest casino market share, has experienced the biggest revenue gain this year.

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Sands' Macau casino: quarterly profit doubled

HONG KONG — Las Vegas Sands' Macau unit said Tuesday it more than doubled quarterly profit to nearly 200 million US dollars, after the world's most lucrative gambling hub posted record monthly gaming revenues.

Sands China said it earned 199 million dollars in the third quarter, up from 87 million dollars a year earlier, on revenues of 1.08 billion dollars -- a 27 % year-over-year increase.

The rosy results come a day after rival SJM Holdings, controlled by gambling tycoon Stanley Ho, posted a massive six-fold increase in third-quarter earnings.

SJM said Monday that it earned 867 million Hong Kong dollars (112 million US) compared with 138 million Hong Kong dollars in the third quarter last year.

The company's sales rose 69 % to 14.1 billion Hong Kong dollars, an increase largely credited to growth in its high-roller gaming tables which raked in 9.38 billion Hong Kong dollars during the quarter.

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Government to reconsider proposal for Jemez tribe casino

ANTHONY, N.M. - The U.S. government is taking a second look at a proposal by the Jemez Pueblo Indian Tribe to open a $72-million resort casino - an action that is worrying some and exciting others in this community of 7,900.

The Bureau of Indian Affairs and the Department of Interior said they are reconsidering the application the tribe submitted to build the 48,000-square-foot casino on 100 acres near Interstate 10 about 20 miles north of El Paso.

The casino, if opened, would be a significant boost to the economy and create 950 jobs, according to tribal officials.

That possibility has some people saying the good times are on the way.

"It will be a win-win situation," said Ray Loretto, former governor of the Jemez Pueblo and member of the Jemez enterprise management board.

In 2008, the Department of the Interior rejected the tribe's application.

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City of Dreams casino leads revival at Melco Crown

JAMES PACKER'S Macau joint venture has ''turned the corner'', says his business partner Lawrence Ho.

Melco Crown, which owns two casinos in Macau, has declared its first quarterly profit for 2½ years.

In the 3 months to the end of September it made $US15.8 million, compared with a $US39.5 million loss for the same period last year.

And while a new development in Macau is stalled, the company is still interested in expanding out of the Chinese Special Administrative Region into Japan, Taiwan or the Cayman Islands.

Melco Crown had been weighed down by its City of Dreams casino, which underperformed after it opened in June last year.

But City of Dreams raked in $US504 million in the September quarter, compared with $US288 million in the same period last year.

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On the Call: Wynn Resorts CEO Steve Wynn

Casino company Wynn Resorts Ltd. recorded a loss for its third quarter Tuesday, including the cost of rolling over debt, but it also reported a 23 % increase in revenue in a statement one analyst called "a happy release."

Billionaire CEO Steve Wynn focused in a conference call with investors afterward on the company's plans for expansion in Asia, which produced that revenue jump, and on his frequent claim that the Obama administration has frightened U.S. consumers and business owners.

Wynn said struggling Las Vegas has "seen the bottom" and praised one analyst for asking about what might help things improve in Las Vegas.

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Fiji Looking to Build First Ever Casino

The government of Fiji has announced their interest in having a casino built in the country, one that would be the first ever for the small Pacific island nation. Interested parties have been given a Nov. 30th deadline for expressing their interest in developing and operating the casino.

The announcement by Tourism and Trade Minister Aiyaz Sayed Khaiyum came after a report in The Economist that suggested Fiji may be interested in entering the gambling market. Sayed Khaiyum said that the deadline was made both in the hopes of getting quicker results from international developers, and to give Fijian governmental officials time to look into the track records of any potential partners on the project.

However, not all of Fiji’s citizens are celebrating this move. Fiji’s National Council of Women has come out strongly against the casino, citing concerns about the potential exploitation of women and children in the sex trade. While these problems already exist, the Council said that they fear a casino in Fiji may only serve to make the problem worse.

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Long-Planned Aqueduct Casino Project Gets Underway

Officials finally broke ground Thursday on the long-planned and long-delayed casino at Aqueduct Race Track in Queens.

To celebrate the occasion, hundreds of South Ozone Park residents, labor union members, horsemen and community leaders, including Governor David Paterson, joined the head of Genting New York for a ceremonial groundbreaking for Resort World New York.

Plans call for 4,500 video slot machines, a food court, on-stage entertainment and an outdoor event space.

The first 1,600 video lottery terminals are slated to be open by May, and the entire project should be finished in 18 months.

The casino is expected to generate a million dollars a day in revenue for the state, with the project creating 1,300 union jobs and 800 permanent jobs.

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NYC's big casino gamble begins

Will the planned groundbreaking today of New York City’s first casino ultimately infuse a bit of Las Vegas in Queens?

The project, known as Resorts World New York, is set to make over the aging Aqueduct Racetrack site with a sleek, shiny design. Its owner, Genting New York, plans to install 4,500 video slot machines, the first 1,600 of which will be ready by May, project officials said.

“Upscale, certainly,” said Genting spokesman Stefan Friedman of the concept yesterday. “Definitely not Vegas, though.”

The $325 million construction project includes building a two-story sports bar and lounge, a food court, a high-end Chinese restaurant and an indoor water show to open by the end of next year. A new pedestrian bridge will connect to the Aqueduct subway stop.

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Earnings Preview: Las Vegas Sands Corp.

Las Vegas Sands Corp., the world's second-largest casino company by revenue, reports its third-quarter results after the stock market closes Wednesday.

WHAT TO WATCH FOR: Results in Asia, where the company's Marina Bay Sands resort in Singapore had its first full quarter. Sands, led by billionaire CEO Sheldon Adelson, also has resorts in the Chinese gambling enclave of Macau and plans to expand there.

Investors will also want an update in Las Vegas, where Sands owns the Venetian and Palazzo resorts on the Las Vegas Strip, to see whether things have improved or gotten worse in a destination reeling as consumers have cut back on free-spending gambling getaways.

Sands on Monday announced a licensing deal with InterContinental Hotels Group that gives Sands access to a database of 52 million customers and lets loyal visitors to Holiday Inn, Crowne Plaza and other InterContinental hotels earn and redeem points at Sands' properties on the Strip.

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MGM Resorts Sells $500M Notes; Investor Protections Questioned

NEW YORK (Dow Jones) -- Casino operator MGM Resorts International (MGM) late Monday afternoon sold $500 million of senior unsecured 6-year notes as part of an ongoing effort to refinance existing debt.

The 10% notes due November 1, 2016 sold at a discounted face value of 98.897 cents on the dollar to yield 10.25 percent via underwriters Bank of America Merrill Lynch, Barclays, BNP and RBS, according to a person familiar with the deal, in line with earlier price guidance.

Standard & Poor's on Monday rated the notes CCC+ while Fitch Ratings rated them CCC, both deep in speculative-grade, or junk, territory. Proceeds from the offering will repay part of the $1.2 billion of MGM's senior credit facility still due to mature in October 2011. In February, lenders representing $4.37 billion of the $5.55 billion senior bank credit facility agreed to extend the maturity of their portion to 2014 from 2011.

Some analysts assailed the new note offering for what they said was a lack of investor protections, known as covenants, that are commonly found in other speculative-grade bond offerings.

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Gold Rush Casino will move

After 12 years in one location, Gold Rush Casinos lost their lease and closed their doors October 17. But all is not lost for the casino and at least some of its 138 employees.

This past week Gary and Wini Ledford, owners of the Historic Imperial Hotel and Restaurant, announced that they have leased the casino part of the Imperial buildings to Jim Druck, owner of Southwest Equipment Suppliers LLC and sister company Gold Rush I, LLC, the parent company of the both the Gold Rush and Gold Digger casinos.

The deal is subject to approval by the Colorado Division of Gaming.

“The center of the action in Cripple Creek is now at the corner of 3rd and Bennett and we are excited to relocate the Gold Rush Casinos there,” Druck said in a news release. “The Imperial will be re-branded Big Jim’s Gambling Hall & Saloon... We believe our combined talents will provide a vibrant and fun experience for our guests and will welcome back the Imperial’s loyal players.”

Druck’s corporate offices are in Minnesota. He said he is trying to work out things so that many of the Gold Rush’s employees will still have jobs when the new casino opens.

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Casino on target to open by July

LARCHWOOD, Iowa - South Dakota is expected to come out a big economic loser once a new resort casino opens its doors here next summer, but the $120 million project is giving a boost to some Sioux Falls businesses in the interim.

4 months after ground broke on Grand Falls Casino Resort in Lyon County just across the state line, the exterior walls are 70 % done, and builders say they are on track to finish the outside work by Thanksgiving before moving indoors. The casino should open no later than July 4.

"We're at least on schedule or a little bit ahead," said Greg Sands of Sands Drywall, who will have as many as 80 employees on site. "It's helping a lot. This is a great job to carry us through the winter."

Sands and other Sioux Falls businesses were awarded more than $10 million in contracts for the casino, said the complex's general manager, Sharon Haselhoff.

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Maryland Casino A Huge Hit Among Gamblers In First 4 Days

Maryland gamblers have for years been waiting for the opportunity to stay in their own state when they want to place bets in a casino. Last month, they finally received that wish when the Hollywood Casino Perryville opened to rave reviews and large crowds.

Those crowds have helped the casino exceed expectations in the revenue department. In the first four days, the casino made over $two million. That was good news for lawmakers in the state that were on the fence as to whether the casino would be good for Maryland.

The casino had 1,500 slot machines when it opened on September 27th. The average daily win at each of the slot machines was $346, much more than the projected $210 per day. The best part for Maryland residents is that the money they spent attending the first few days of the casino's existence will be helpful for the Maryland education system.

Maryland is one of several Northeastern states that has expanded gambling in the hopes of helping out the state budget and the education system. Pennsylvania has led the way in recent years, and New York and Delaware have also made strides in expanding gambling. Delaware has actually legalized sports betting last year.

All of the good news for these states has turned out to be miserable news for New Jersey. The state that once held a monopoly on casino gambling in the Northeast, has now seen each of these neighboring states cut into the profits of Atlantic City casinos.

Anne Arundel voters split on state's largest casino

A new poll suggests a ballot measure affecting the future of Maryland's largest planned slots casino could go either way.

Voters in Anne Arundel County will decide November 2 whether to allow a zoning law to stand that is needed for Baltimore-based Cordish Cos. to move forward with a 4,750-machine casino at Arundel Mills mall. Monied interests on both sides are spending millions to influence the outcome.

48 % of registered voters in the county support the measure, known as Question A, while 45 % say they would vote against it, according to the poll by Gonzales Research & Marketing Strategies. Another seven percent are undecided.

The result falls within the margin of error in the poll, which is plus or minus 5 percentage points.

Gonzales notes that "Question A is being propped up by registered Democrats in the county, as a majority of Republicans and independents are against it."

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Tabcorp wants to boost Qld casinos

Gambling giant Tabcorp Holdings has signalled even greater investment in Queensland casinos, saying it wants to lure some of rival Crown Ltd's high-rolling VIP players.

Tabcorp on Monday announced a demerger of its casinos operations from its wagering, gaming and keno businesses.

The company also said it would spend $175 million on upgrading its Jupiters casino on the Gold Coast to create an international entertainment and resort destination.

The upgrade will include refurbishment of the main gaming floor, a new private gaming room, dedicated gaming areas for VIP customers, new restaurants and bars, a nightlife venue, a refurbishment of the pool area and a new spa.

Construction is expected to start in the middle of calendar year 2011 and be completed in 2014.

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Choctaws name casino

The Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians' gaming site in Jones County will be called Bok Homa Casino.

Tribe spokesman Warren Strain said the name means "red creek" in Choctaw.

Strain said construction is ahead of schedule and a job fair will be held for the casino October 22 at Sawmill Square Mall in Laurel. A second job fair will be held October 29 in Biloxi.

Strain says the casino wants to hire more than 300 full- and part-time employees.

The casino will have 722 slot machines, and a quick-serve eatery is planned for the 27,000-square-foot site. It is scheduled to open in mid-December.

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Alberta charities could face cutbacks if casino funding is changed

EDMONTON — Alberta charities have become heavily dependent on money raised at casinos and changing the way gambling proceeds are doled out could lead to major cuts at organizations on the losing end of the stick.

Experts say this is partly why the province on Tuesday shelved a thick report on the future of charitable gambling, which recommended a major redistribution of the nearly $200 million charities bring in every year by hosting casinos.

“There are no funding alternatives for those organizations that will see a shortfall as a result of the change,” said Russ Dahms, executive director of the Edmonton Chamber of Voluntary Organizations.

“You have got to sell a lot of chocolates and kielbasa to make the kind of money you can make at a casino. They will have to cut clients, cut services, cut back — and they’ll point their fingers right at the provincial government.”

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Atlantic City Casinos Watch Gambling Revenue Slip Again

Resorts Atlantic City, the oldest casino in New Jersey, is being sold and transformed with the theme of the 1920'2 in mind. What the casino and the rest of the AC casino industry needs, however, is a return to the seventies and eighties, when AC casinos ruled the gaming world.

September gambling revenue figures were released on Tuesday and it was another disappointing month for the casinos. Revenue dropped 11.6 percent from the same period in 2009, and that is not good considering the 2009 numbers were down as well.

The eleven casinos in Atlantic City all saw revenue decreases in September. The casinos have struggled for the better part of the past two years, and there is nothing to indicate that a turnaround will come anytime soon. The latest revenue figures have officials from the AC casinos again shaking their heads.

Table game revenue at the New Jersey casinos dropped 15.6 percent. That could be a direct reflection of the table games that are now being offered at Pennsylvania casinos. In July, Pennsylvania casinos started offering table games, and they have been taking customers out of AC casinos in the months since.

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Crown casino strike to impact profits

James Packer’s company Crown Ltd’s (ASX:CWN) may lose out on profit generated from the Caulfield Cup in Melbourne this weekend, the Australian Associated Press reporting that workers at the Crown Casino will go on strike because of unresolved pay disputes.

AAP says the casino operator could lose up to $4.3 million in revenue and $1 million in profits per day, while the state government would miss out on $400,000 in tax revenue per day.

The Liquor Hospitality and Miscellaneous Union says the protected strike action will begin this Friday and continue through to Saturday’s Caulfield Cup racing day.

AAP reports union members have not accepted Crown's offer to increase pay by 3.75 % per year. Instead the union members are asking for an increase of around 13.5 % over 3 years, above the Crown offer that equals an increase of around 11 per cent over three years.

The union’s state secretary Jess Walsh says Crown Melbourne dwarfs other Australian casinos by every measure and needs to attract and retain the best staff.

Crown reported a profit of $292.29 million in the year to 30 June 2010.

EuroPalace Online Casino crowns another big winner

EuroPalace Online Casino has recently crowned another big winner, Maria P, who played the classic Lotsaloot 5-reel game and walked away €28,572.91 richer.

EuroPalace Online Casino, a newcomer to the online casino scene, has previously begun making big ripples in the industry, getting right into the action and exciting rewards.

This exciting new online casino caters predominantly to the European market, giving all new players the chance to start their most enjoyable online gambling experience with a 1,500 Free Bets offer, also  a 100% Match Deposit Bonus up to €200 Free. Many EuroPalace players have taken up these offers, only to find themselves inside the winning track. Maria P played Lotsaloot, hit the jackpot of €28, 572.91. This is what she had to say about her win:

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Non-profits take aim at gambling revenues

A coalition of British Columbia social and arts groups plan to launch a campaign Friday aimed at steering a greater portion of gambling revenues to non-profit groups.

Organizers will also be calling on politicians to make funds for non-profits a condition for zoning changes that would be required for the construction of a proposed new Vegas-style casino next to BC Place.

Arts groups say the provincial government has failed to keep promises that it would steer 33 % of gambling profits to community projects and instead has slashed that allotment to 10 %.

The groups are expected to make their pitch Friday at the B.C. Association for Charitable Gaming Symposium at River Rock Casino in Richmond.

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First casino opens, but Anne Arundel slots in limbo

Gov. Martin O’Malley pulled the ceremonial first slots lever Sept. 30 at the grand opening of Maryland’s first casino, 3 days after Hollywood Casino Perryville’s 1,500 slots opened for business.

A second casino with 750 slots is slated to open in December at Ocean Downs, in Worcester County.

But Maryland’s most lucrative slots site, of the five approved for slots in a 2008 statewide referendum, is stuck in a electoral battle in Anne Arundel County. A county referendum — called Question A — on Nov. 2 will determine whether the casino proposed being built near Arundel Mills mall, licensed for 4,750 machines, gets the go-ahead or the boot.

“It’s the No. 1 proposal for funding vital services like fire and police, and the education trust fund,” said Todd Lamb, the campaign manager for Jobs and Revenue for Anne Arundel County, a pro-slots group. “There is no road map for bringing revenue to our county without going forward with Question A.”

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Poll Indicates Texans Are Ready For More Gambling In The State

The state of Texas is traditionally one of the most Conservative states in the United States, and that certainly holds true with the issue of gambling. For years, gambling proponents have been trying to expand gambling in the state, and for years, lawmakers have closed the door on the idea.

The times, however, are changing, and Texans appear to be changing as well. A recent poll indicated that a large percentage of Texans would be in favor of some form of gambling expansion. The potential voters are split on which type of expansion they would support.

The nonpartisan Texas Lyceum group conducted a poll at the end of September that offered questions on a variety of subjects. Among the questions that were asked were several dealing with gambling expansion. The results show just how far Texas residents have come on the gambling issue.

When asked whether they would support full scale casino gambling in Texas, 29 % of those surveyed said they would support such expansion. 21 % of the respondents claimed they would be in favor of expansion at already existing locations such as racetracks.

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Tioga Downs Casino sees 6.7% increase in net machine income

NICHOLS -- People are spending more money gambling at Tioga Downs Casino, boosting the facility's second-quarter net machine income by 6.7 %.

The racetrack-based gaming center's net win, or net machine income, was $14.2 million from July through September, versus $13.3 million the same period last year, according to the New York Lottery.

Net win equals net revenues after payout of prizes to players. Certain percentages of the net win are then distributed to the State Education Fund, racetrack commission, Lottery administration and to the facility for marketing and capital improvements.

Credits wagered on the machines at Tioga Downs rose 17.4 % to $182.6 million.

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Costly casino confusion

What began as an exciting afternoon at the casino turned into frustration for Claude St. Germain after his bingo ticket worth nearly $600 was swiped by another gambler.

The Lake Louise, Alta., man went to Club Regent Casino on Sept. 24. After playing electronic bingo for roughly 2 hours, St. Germain was up to $590.

He decided to cash out and took the bingo voucher to redeem his winnings, but soon realized a second slip — the actual winning ticket — was still at the machine.

“In the meantime, someone else went and scooped the cash ticket,” he said.

By the time staff realized what had happened, someone had already cashed in the ticket.

Lorne Kletke, communications officer with Manitoba Lotteries, said an investigation has been launched in what is considered a case of theft.

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Hundreds show up for casino’s grand opening

Hundreds of people flocked to Hollywood Casino Perryville on Thursday to celebrate the official opening of Maryland's first slot machine venue in more than 40 years, despite the worst rainstorm of 2010.

The $97.5 million facility opened Monday, 3 days ahead of the official grand opening and a month earlier than originally projected by Wyomissing, Pa.-based casino owner Penn National Gaming.

"This is a big day for Cecil County, Perryville, the state of Maryland and people who live in the area and enjoy casino gaming," general manager Himbert Sinopoli said.

He later told the audience that the casino has attracted 21,200 visitors in its first three days of operation.

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Casino sod-turning set

Officials will turn the sod on Manitoba’s third aboriginal-owned casino Thursday while announcing a partnership with an American Indian band.

At 10 a.m. Thursday, dignitaries with shovels full of dirt will mark the start of construction of the Spirit Sands Casino.

The gaming palace will be built on Highway 5, about 15 km south of Carberry and adjacent to Spruce Woods Provincial Park, on land owned by the Swan Lake First Nation.

Plans for the $40-million casino include 300 slot machines, 5 gaming tables, food and beverage services, and likely a hotel at some point in the future.

Rob Ballantyne, an economic development business analyst with the Assembly of Manitoba Chiefs, said Thursday will be an exciting day when years of planning will come to fruition

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Sparks fly as councilors question officials on casino deal

FALL RIVER — Kenneth Fiola, the city’s point person on developing 300 acres envisioned for a tribal casino resort and marketing an alternative biomanufacturing area, told the City Council the prospects of a $500 million investment with 4,500 good-paying jobs over 3 to 5 years made this a gamble the city couldn’t and shouldn’t pass up.

“In the short term,” the casino’s a game changer. ... Clearly no one project ever represented the possibility of 4,500 jobs for all segments of our labor force,” Fiola, who’s headed the Fall River Office of Economic Development for over 20 years, told the council Tuesday night.

For 2½ hours of intense questioning by several councilors, Fiola, Corporation Counsel Steven Torres and Redevelopment Authority Chairman William Kenney explained and defended decisions made since the spring that some saw as negating progress.

It was the most public dialogue with key officials of Mayor Will Flanagan’s key casino players since he announced the controversial sale of the 300-acre envisioned biotechnology park near Route 24.

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Aqueduct Casino Work to Begin Soon

"All along, I have said that securing this deal and moving ahead with the project at Aqueduct is critical for the future of New York," Gov. David Paterson said in a statement. "The state, in partnership with Genting, has the opportunity to create jobs for the community and to revitalize this area. After almost a decade of delay, this project is finally becoming a reality and all New Yorkers will benefit."

Genting New York officials, after turning over $380 million in licensing fee payments to the state, said they’re prepared to quickly start construction on the Aqueduct casino project.

"We are planning to make this a very impressive entertainment destination for all of New York," said Michael Speller, president of the company that is owned by a Malaysian-based casino corporation.

Speller said construction will begin "almost right away" after final environmental permits are issued for the project, which will feature 4,500 slot machines. He said 1,600 of those devices will be turned on by sometime next spring, with the rest up and running 6 months later. The full project development, which will include restaurants and entertainment space, will come within 18 months later.

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First slots parlor gets state license, will open earlier

Maryland's first slots casino is officially cleared to open its doors to the public Monday — 3 days ahead of schedule — after state officials issued the Hollywood Casino of Perryville an operating license.

Maryland Lottery Director Stephen Martino signed the license Sunday evening allowing Penn National Gaming, the owner of the casino, to begin operations after a successful trial run of the facility on Saturday.

"Everything is a go and we will open at 8 a.m.," said Marc DeLeo, director of marketing at the casino. "We’ll open our doors as the first casino in the state. We passed all the tests, and they gave us the go ahead."

Hollywood Casino was originally scheduled to open Thursday, and still has plans to hold grand opening events that day. Monday's "soft" opening is slated for 8 a.m.

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Casino shows and concerts

Bally's Atlantic City Park Place & The Boardwalk, Atlantic City; 609-340-2000. www.ballysac.com. Karaoke Night. 9/30.

Borgata Hotel & Casino 1 Borgata Way, Atlantic City; 609-317-1000. www.theborgata.com. Elaine Paige. $55-$65. 9/25. 9 pm. The Bay-Atlantic Symphony: Classical Mystery Tour. $35-$65. 9/26. 3 pm.

Comedy Stop at the Trop Brighton & the Boardwalk, Atlantic City; 609-822-7353. www.comedystop.com. Kozak the Magician. $23. 9/24. Sid Davis. $25-$29. 9/24. Anton Shuford. $25-$29. 9/27.

Harrah's Atlantic City 777 Harrah's Blvd., Atlantic City; 800-342-7724. www.harrahsresort.com. Dennis DeYoung. $40-$50. 9/25. 9 pm.

Resorts Atlantic City 1133 Boardwalk, Atlantic City; 609-344-6000. www.resortsac.com/. La Rumba Latin Nights. 9/30. Boogie Nights. $10 Fri.; $20 Sat.. 9/24. Jeff Foxworthy. $99-$146. 9/25. 8 pm.

Sands Casino Resort 77 Sands Blvd., Bethlehem; 877-726-3777. www.pasands.com. Gene Belletiere Quintet. 9/28. DJ Hot Linh. 9/29. Amadaun. 9/24. Element K. 9/24. 9:30 pm. My Hero Zero. 9/25. 9:30 pm. Blues Brotherhood. 9/26. 8 pm. Play Action Fake. 9/27. 8 pm. Go Go Gadjet. 9/30.

Showboat Casino Hotel Boardwalk & Delaware Ave., Atlantic City; 609-343-4000. www.harrahs.com. Mardi Gras Parade. 9/25.

Trump Marina Huron Ave. & Brigantine Blvd., Atlantic City; 609-441-2000. www.trumpmarina.com. The Disco. 9/24.

Trump Plaza Hotel & Casino Boardwalk at Mississippi Ave., Atlantic City; 609-441-6000. www.trumpplaza.com. Show Time Karaoke With Michael James. 9/29.

Md. casino to open next week

After years of bitter debate and numerous setbacks, Maryland could actually have an operating slots casino this time next week.

Members of a state commission were greeted Wednesday by the sounds of whirring and dinging as they entered the nearly complete Hollywood Casino Perryville in the northeastern corner of Maryland, a 1,500-machine facility scheduled to make its public debut next Thursday.

Technicians scampered among the machines on the gaming floor. Minor construction remained to be done inside the cavernous, art deco structure, where oversize movie posters were suspended from the ceiling. And some major landscaping still must be completed.

But representatives from the casino, owned by Penn National Gaming, insisted they’re on schedule for a grand opening with dignitaries including Gov. Martin O'Malley (D), who has championed the state's slots program and is up for reelection in less than 6 weeks.

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Sands is winning big at the gaming table

The steady flow of buses from New York and New Jersey was a clue; now comes the proof: Table games are a winner for Sands Casino Resort Bethlehem.

The south Bethlehem casino took in $4.3 million on 89 games that include poker, roulette, blackjack and craps. That figure was the 3rd highest in the state for August, behind the $6.3 million taken in by Parx Casino in Bensalem and the $5.9 million brought in at Harrah's Chester Casino and Racetrack in Chester.

The numbers, reflecting the first full month of table game revenues statewide, were released Tuesday by the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board.

Table games opened in Pennsylvania in July, but because the state's nine casinos opened on three different dates, and none was open the entire month, August was the first time revenues showed casino performance on a level playing field.

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Join the Mansion Casino 20k Online Slots Tournament

International online casino site MansionCasino.com are hosting what will be a hugely popular $20,000 online slots tournament where 200 lucky winners will be walking away with cash prizes, not to mention any money made while working their way to 1st place in the slot tournament.

The slots tournament will be hosted at Mansion Casino for 10 days starting at 00:01 on Friday 24th September until 23:59 Sunday 3rd October, you can opt-in for this tournament at their website any time but the earlier you do the more time you will have to collect points.

During this period, players will earn points for this competition as per their usual loyalty scheme (the more you deposit and play, the more points you earn). Once the competition finished, those who’ve earned the most points will be awarded the following:

Place	Prize, $
1	2500
2	2000
3	1500
4	1000
5	750
6 to 10	500
11 to 30	150
31 to 75	75
76 to 120	50
121 to 150	25
151 to 200	10

Both MansionCasino.com also sister site Casino.com will be host to this promotion and you can take advantage of Mansion.com’s 100% new player welcome bonus giving you a great head start to the competition.

New Casino, Sugar House, Soon To Open In Philadelphia

On Sept. 23rd, SugerHouse Casino will open to residents. Established in Philadelphia, this will be the 11th casino to open in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.

SugarHouse, which had been subject of protest by the anti-casino groups within the region, is going to open despite the opposition. The casino will open with 45,000 square feet (Sq Ft) of gaming, including 40 gaming tables as well as over 1,500 slot games.

More than 750 people will be employed by the casino.

Next Thursday the casino will open at roughly 1 PM.

Blackjack, craps, roulette, mini-baccarat, Pai-Gow Poker, and 3 and 4 card poker will all be built into the new casino. SugarHouse will lack a dedicated poker room. A high stakes are will be closed off for high rollers.

The beautifully designed casino will be water front.

Compared to online casinos, SugarHouse will contain as many different slot games, though they will lack a few table games. Pennsylvania online casinos have proven to be a major hit, however.

Atlantic City will take this 11th Pennsylvanian casino as another source of competition.

Coast casino revenue on hot streak

BILOXI — For the first time in more than a year, Coast casino revenue topped $100 million in August — and for the first time since 1994, revenue was higher in South Mississippi than at the river casinos.

The 11 Coast casinos won $101.3 million in August, a 5.6 % increase over August 2009.

Winnings at the 19 river casinos totaled $100.7 million, a 7.9 % dip from August 2009.

Economists had feared the Gulf oil spill would send Coast casino revenue tumbling when tourists stayed away from the beaches.

“The good news is the casinos held their own through this,” said David Butler, director of the International Development doctoral program at University of Southern Mississippi. He said that showed a disconnect for consumers between the casinos and the sand and seafood.

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