Автор: genom

Online gambling in the Commonwealth of Delaware was never expected to be a major revenue producer and the results of the first two months have shown that to be true.
In spades.
The state gaming officials reported that for the months of November and December Internet gambling revenue was a mere $253,000, indicating it will be far short of the projected $5 million that was expected over a full-year basis.
According to the Internet gambling law, the state collects the first $3.75 million of online revenue in any given year. Thus, the three casinos have not yet received a dime of the proceeds.
“It’s still early,” cried Lottery officials responsible for monitoring the online activity.
“In and of itself, it’s not going to be the thing that solves everybody’s financial issues,” said lottery Director Vernon Kirk. “It’s a piece of the puzzle, and it’s got a lot of potential.”

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The news was bad on two fronts last week for the Mashantucket Pequot Tribe, operators of the Foxwoods Resort Casino in Connecticut.
First, the tribe announced it would not appeal an Appeals Court ruling that upheld the state government’s authority to collect property taxes on slot machines.
Then, the officials of Local 2121 of the United Auto Workers announced Foxwoods Resorts executives had informed the union they planned to cut 120 full-time dealers and five assistant floor supervisors.
Casino management would not discuss the layoff, saying instead it was company policy not to discuss matters involving employees.
But, the union did not express any surprise since it has been well-established that the recession, and an explosion of additional gaming facilities along the East Coast, had caused substantial declines in tribal casino revenues.
Union President Billy Shea said volunteers will be sought to accept the layoffs, which, management said, must be completed by March 1.
As for the tax case, a tribal statement charged that state taxes on gambling machines “are an affront to the tribe’s sovereign authority over its territory.”
Foxwoods, and the nearby Mohegan Sun casino, agreed in negotiations with the state to pay 25 percent of its slots revenue in state taxes, provided the state guaranteed the two tribal casinos exclusive right to operate such gaming devices.
At the time, there was no talk of whether the machines would also be taxed.
When the matter was first litigated, a lower court judge ruled in favor of the tribe. That ruling was overturned last July by the 2nd U.S. Court of Appeals that noted a ruling favorable to the tribe would have invited other non-Indian owners of personal property on the reservation to bring similar lawsuits, costing the town of Ledyard hundreds of thousands of dollars annually in litigation costs.
At the time, the tribe indicated it would take the matter up to the U.S. Supreme Court. That idea ended with last week’s announcement.

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Caesars Entertainment Corp. says it plans to replace Las Vegas’ shuttered Bill’s Gamblin’ Hall & Saloon in the spring with a swanky 188-room hotel renamed the Cromwell.
The Old West-style casino closed last year and was to open as the Gansevoort, but Caesars ended its relationship with the Gansevoort Hotel Group in the fall after the state of Massachusetts questioned the partnership.
The Cromwell, located in the heart of the Strip, is expected to have a subtle Parisian theme. It will include a rooftop pool and Drai’s day and nightclubs. Caesars is calling it Las Vegas’ first “luxury lifestyle boutique hotel.”
Caesars had been a partner in a Massachusetts casino bid, but it withdrew in October after Massachusetts Gaming Commission staff raised concerns stemming from a background check.
A commission report, among other things, raised questions about Caesars’ licensing agreement with a subsidiary of New York-based Gansevoort Hotel Group. The report said a Gansevoort investor has been under scrutiny, though not charged, over alleged ties to Russian organized crime.
The renovation of Bill’s cost $185 million. Among other things, Caesars added hardwood floors, black and white tile shower walls, and plush seating to the hotel rooms.
“The Cromwell will bring an exclusive experience to the Las Vegas Strip as a luxury lifestyle boutique hotel focusing on hospitality, amenities and personalized service,” Cromwell general manager Karie Hall said in a statement.

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Delaware lawmakers were concerned about declining revenues at the state’s three casinos, even before approving a full-menu of online gambling, and ordered a complete review of gambling in the Commonwealth.
Following last week’s financial report from Dover Downs Gaming and Entertainment Inc., the legislators involved in the scrutiny became even more concerned.
The company reported net earnings of $13,000 for the year 2013. This was a far cry from the $4.8 million the company reported in the previous year.
Dover Downs officials attributed the decline in large part to intense competition from casinos in neighboring states and a burdensome tax structure. Actually, when the casinos were flourishing, a few years back, lawmakers decided to take advantage of their success by dramatically increasing taxes on gambling establishments.
Then, competition from nearby states expanded to the point where the operating casinos are struggling to make a profit.
The state panel created to find ways to keep Delaware’s three casinos competitive is expected to submit its report by the end of the month.

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The Massachusetts Gaming Commission said it plans to publicly announce the winner of a slots parlor license on Feb. 28.
MGM Resorts International (MGM) will announce its quarterly and yearly financial experience on Wednesday, Feb. 19, before the markets open.
Bally Technologies Inc. (BYI) announced Monday it has an agreement with Boyd Gaming Corp. (BYD) to install its various display and bonusing systems in all Boyd properties currently operating in seven different states.
The Standardbred horse racing industry in Ohio has been revitalized by the addition of video lottery terminals, say state officials. They pointed out that in 2003 there were 2,591 mares bred but the number had fallen in 2010 to 688. Last year, the number of mares bred reached 2,200.
The New Hampshire House last week voted to allow electronic keno games in bars and restaurants that serve alcohol. The vote was 202-141 to send the bill to the Senate.
A New Mexico legislative panel has asked the Navajo Nation and Gov. Susana Martinez to renegotiate a proposed gaming compact. The lawmakers hope a new compact would restrict the state’s largest tribe to their existing casinos rather than allowing an expansion of gambling.
The Four Bears Casino in New Town, North Dakota, has announced plans to build a 4,000-plus seat, multi-purpose events center this year.
Tribal gaming in Arizona will provide the state $13.5 million in revenue for the quarter that ended on Dec. 31, according to state officials.
MTR Gaming Group Inc. (MNTG) announced over the weekend it had terminated the services of Fred A. Buro, the company’s vice president and chief marketing officer.
Dover Downs Gaming & Entertainment Inc. (DDE) has announced the appointment of Timothy R. Horne to its board of directors. Horne serves the company as its chief financial officer.

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Unlike Kentucky, South Dakota voters will be permitted to decide whether to approve a constitutional amendment that would permit Deadwood casinos to offer such games as roulette, keno and craps.
Only one member of the House State Affairs Committee voted against the plan. He said he was deeply troubled by the state’s dependency on predatory gaming revenues.
Amendment approval will not only help Deadwood casinos attract new customers, supporters said, but also will help tribal casinos that would be able to add to their gaming menu.
For several years, efforts by some Kentucky lawmakers to permit voters to address the issue of a constitutional amendment that would permit casino gambling have been rejected.

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