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.
Boston may be left out after casino licenses awarded
It seems to have dawned on Boston’s leadership that when the casino licenses are awarded by the Massachusetts Gaming Commission, the state capital and most populous community will be left out in the cold.
That wasn’t the intention of legislation authorizing three casinos and one slots facility. One license was expected to end up in Boston proper. Early on, the leading applicant, Suffolk Downs with partner Caesars Entertainment Corp. (CZR) had the strong support of popular mayor Tom Menino.
Then that plan began to fall apart.
First, it was the failure of Caesars to receive suitability support from Commission investigators. That was followed by the voters in East Boston, where the racetrack is located, rejecting the proposal.
Since Suffolk Downs’ huge real estate holdings included a portion in the adjoining City of Revere, an effort was made to transfer its license application to that community. But, that is not Boston.
Also, popular gaming tycoon Steve Wynn proposed a $1.4 billion casino complex in the nearby City of Everett. Some have suggested he was encouraged by folks close to the commission. But, again, that is not Boston.
Last week, the Boston Globe newspaper got into the picture with an editorial demanding that because of the locations of both Revere and Everett, sitting on Boston’s doorstep, Boston “Mayor Martin Walsh is right to fight for as much influence as possible over the (casino) plans.”
The Globe said Mayor Walsh had been “dealt a tricky hand” and has been dealing with it but he should have a Plan B to fall back on if his efforts fail.