Archive for October, 2009

MECAQ: LONE STAR GONE, OTHERS TO FOLLOW The Chickasaw Indians have received bankruptcy court approval to buy Lone Star Park in Texas, and auctions of MECAQ’s others tracks have been approved. Chickasaw subsidiary Global Gaming submitted the winning bid of $47.8 million at last week’s auction while bidding against Penn National. Other tracks to be sold include... »

Signs are picking up that the long-anticipated upswing in slot machine placements is getting underway. On the WMS conference call, CEO Brian Gamache said that casino operators in all segments of the North American industry are opening wallet to add games. The improvement will start slowly and might return the replacement cycle to its normal seven... »

The Gaming Standards Association, the leading standards-setting organization and standards authority for the worldwide gaming industry, has entered into an agreement with Fantini Research and has named Fantini’s Gaming Report the official U.S. based publication of GSA. Additionally, publisher Frank Fantini will deliver the keynote address at GSA’s Annual Meeting, held during the Global... »

The Fontainebleau is worth less than 60 percent of what is will cost to build it, according to a court filing, the Wall Street Journal reported. The bankrupt project will cost up to $2 billion more than the $1.6 billion already spent to complete it and is only valued at $1.76 billion, something Penn National... »

Penn National and businessman Dan Gilbert have won a major ally in their effort to get approval to build four casinos in Ohio. The Cleveland Plain Dealer, the state’s largest newspaper and opponent of previous gambling referendums, has endorsed Issue 3, the PENN-Gilbert proposal to be decided by voters next month. However, in the battle of... »

The latest statistics indicate that the good times that resumed in September continue to roll in Macau. According to calculations by David Bain at Sterne Agee, visitation during Golden Week would have grown 26 percent in the first four days factoring out National Day, the 60th anniversary of Communist rule in China. Even with the low... »

Yet another effort is being made to allow slots at Minnesota’s two racetracks. Rep. Tom Hackbarth is proposing to amend the state constitution to permit the racetrack slots as a way to raise money for a new Minnesota Viking football stadium. Canterbury Park has tried for several years to get slots but has been beaten back... »

Legislation to be introduced in January likely will call for three casino resorts, according to state Rep. Brian Dempsey. Dempsey has been appointed to head a House committee to devise the legislation. He sees casinos in western and southeastern Massachusetts and at a Boston racetrack. Depending on how it plays out, Dempsey’s plan could benefit the Mohegan... »