It took New York lawmakers more than a decade to finally approve legislation that resulted in a slots facility opening at Aqueduct racetrack. But, it won’t take them that long to license casinos approved by the state’s voters last November.
At least, not if Gov. Andrew Cuomo has anything to say about it.
Last week, Cuomo said he wanted the new casino operators to be selected by this fall. He plans to have the gaming board in place this month. Then, he said, he expects license applications to be accepted in March.
Bids for the licenses should he submitted by June, he said.
If that timetable is followed, Cuomo indicated, casino construction could begin this year.
Iowa court refuses to stop construction of casino
The Iowa Supreme Court has refused to stop construction of a new Sioux City casino.
A judge’s stay that halted construction of a casino that eventually will replace the Argosy Riverboat casino, owned by Penn National Gaming Inc. (PENN), was later overturned by Justice Brent Appel.
A later review by the high court ended with the announcement it would not prevent the construction from going forward, a move that has been attempted by Penn National.
N.J. Devils and Philly 76ers sign deal with bwin.party
While professional football, baseball and the NCAA have taken strong positions against associating with gambling enterprises, two teams from the NBA and the NHL have struck a deal to sponsor an online gambling company.
Scott O’Neil, CEO of the Josh Harris-owned teams – the Philadelphia 76ers and the New Jersey Devils – signed a deal with Norbert Teufelberger, the CEO of bwin.party digital entertainment, which operates PartyPoker.
Southland Park announces $37M expansion
Once known as one of America’s premiere greyhound racing facilities, Southland Park in West Memphis, Arkansas, has become a major player in the gaming industry, primarily because of its proximity to Memphis, Tennessee.
And, now it’s about to become even more important.
The owners of Southland Park, Jeremy Jacobs’ Delaware North Cos. of Buffalo, New York, announced over the weekend that it will invest $37.4 million to expand the property’s casino-style gambling area. The move is expected to add 60 jobs.
According to the AP’s Chuck Bartels, who interviewed Southland Park’s President and General Manager Troy Keeping, the plans include the addition of 41,000 square feet of space and exterior work to provide a uniform look to old and new areas of the greyhound track and casino.
“The entire building from east to west is going to be completely refurbished,” Keeping said.
Completion of the expansion will allow Southland to accommodate nearly 2,000 games as well as a new restaurant and sports bar. The new jobs will boost the employment level at Southland to 675 workers, Keeping said.
Southland’s location, just a 10-minute drive from downtown Memphis, Tennessee, makes it a major factor in the areas’ gaming industry.
Competition comes from nine casinos being operated in Tunica, Mississippi, about 40 miles away, and from Oaklawn Park, the horse racetrack in Hot Springs. Arkansas.
Ala. Attorney General fights to keep raided slots
Whether the Alabama Attorney General’s office can keep money and slot machines confiscated in a 2011 gambling raid now goes before the State Supreme Court.
A circuit judge ruled last week that the A.G.’s office had waited too long to file correct paperwork seeking forfeiture of the $94,000 and 376 gambling machines taken in the raid of a Greene County gambling business on June 1, 2011. He said the state’s 13-week delay made the forfeiture complaint ineffective.
Obviously, Attorney General Luther Strange disagreed. His office issued a statement saying the ruling would be appealed to the Alabama Supreme Court.
Group to recommend Conn. allow slot machines
Despite concerns expressed by the operators of the state’s two tribal casinos, members of the Connecticut Task Force studying gambling in that state say they plan to recommend the state allow slot machines and video gambling at the three off-track betting centers.
Benefiting will be the off-track betting operations in Bridgeport, New Haven and Windsor Locks.
The task force said the state needs new revenue to make up for a drop in slot machine revenue at the two operating casinos.