30th
August Las Vegas Source:
Press releases
In
the run up to the Labor day holiday weekend in the US, casino suppliers
have released news of recent developments.
Mikohn
announced contracts in Louisiana at Harrah's Lake Charles and the Hollywood
Casino Shreveport worth $3 million for the Lighting & Sign division.
Paul-Son
Gaming announced furniture, chip and card orders from established operators
including Foxwoods in Connecticut and the expanding operations in California.
Shuffle Master Gaming also reporting that the Press Your Luck™ video slot
running on a Linux operating system has received GLI approval. The company
also hoping to have more new games on display at the WGCE in October.
30th
August Las Vegas Source:
The Australian
The
Australian has a revealing article on the exploits of Kerry Packer in Las
Vegas during July. Quotes coming from unnamed sources as well as reports
from the Las Vegas Review Journal. The Bellagio apparently being graced
during the period with a similar amount as the MGM Grand was hit for in
1995. Also quoted is Frank "Lefty" Rosental who's story was portrayed by
Robert DeNiro in Casino.
How
the Las Vegas casinos took A$34m revenge on Kerry Packer
29th
August Las Vegas Source:
Press release
Casino
Journal Publishing Group has announced the panel of judges for the
companies annual "Top 20 Most Innovative Gaming Products awards". The five
judges will evaluate the products and services with the winners being announced
at the WGCE on 18th October. The 20 finalists then being showcased in the
January edition of Casino Journal and the overall winner at the American
Gaming Summit 11-12th January at the Bellagio.
28th
August Laughlin Source:
LV Convention and Visitors Authority
Whilst
the days of cheap hotels in Las Vegas may be over. Laughlin, 90 miles south
on the banks of the Colorado river has been listed as one of Americas 10
Best Cheapest cities by Frommers. Gaming revenues in the town, named after
founder Don Laughlin were $532 million in 1999 with more than 4.5 million
visitors.
28th
August Las Vegas Source:
Las Vegas Sun/AP/Reuters
The
Las Vegas Sun has reported on the closure of the Desert
Inn after 50 years of operation. The 715 room property that has been
bought by Steve and Elaine Wynn closed quietly at 2am on the morning of
the 28th.
Frank Sinatra made his singing debut there and in the late sixties the
9th floor was the home of reclusive industialist and casino owner Howard
Hughes. In January this year Cynthia Jay won the present world record jackpot
of $35 million on an IGT Megabucks slot.
Built in 1950 it was the fifth casino on what was then a dusty highway
linking Las Vegas to Los Angeles. The cost - $3.5 million.
DI
is shut down with little fanfare
28th
August Canada Source:
Calgary Herald
Casino
operators in Alberta are expanding their faclities in the midst of an increase
in business that has seen revenues grow to C$865 million in the last year.
There is however presently a moratorium on new licenses with Native Indian
tribes being expected to also become operators shortly. Calgary has four
casinos that operate on a "charitable model" with around 20% of revenues
destined for charities.
27th
August Chicago Source:
Press release
The
third and last of the Detroit casinos - Greektown,
has announced that the first day of business will be the 10th November.
The 2,400 slot and 104 table property has been delayed due to licensing
difficulties. The opening will be dependent on regulatory approvals from
the Michigan Gaming Control Board and will be operated by Sault Ste. Marie
Tribe of Chippewa Indians.
25th
August Las Vegas Source:
Press release
Mandalay
Resort Group has reported 2nd quarter figures well ahead of 1999. Increasing
volumes of visitors to the Las Vegas Strip and a room rate up $9 on the
same period being highlighted in the companies release. Mandalay owns a
large part of the western side of the Strip - Mandalay Bay, Luxor, Excalibur,
Circus Circus and 50% of the Monte Carlo. Revenues from the flagship Mandalay
Bay were up to almost $31 million from $18.6 million in 1999's 2nd quarter.
23rd
August Las Vegas Source:
Press release
High
tech slot manufacturer Silicon Gaming has announced jointly with
MGM
Mirage that they will be co-operating on the development of an Internet
gaming portal showcasing Las Vegas and the MGM properties. Content will
also be provided by Action
Gaming who have property rights for a number of video poker games.
The site, to be run run by new Silicon Gaming subsidiary WagerWorks, Inc.
being expected to go live later this year.
22nd
August Las Vegas Source:
Press release
The
Suncoast Hotel and Casino being developed by Coast Hotels & Casinos
at Summerlin, Las Vegas will have "coinless" slot play on a majority of
machines on the gaming floor. The $185 million property due to open on
the 1st September will be the first in the Las Vegas market to try the
concept. Privately owned Coast Resorts also operate the LV Barbary
Coast, Gold
Coast and Orleans
Casinos.
Suncoast
to open in Las Vegas with cashless slots
21st
August Quebec Source: Montreal
Gazette
Casino
de Montreal operated by Loto Quebec is now offering players Craps for
the first time. Two tables have been installed and went into operation
on the 17th. Craps and dice games had been previously banned in Canada
under an 107 year old section of the Criminal code. Casino Windsor and
Niagara in Ontario have had the game since the act was amended in March
1999.
20th
August Las Vegas Source:
Electronic Telegraph
The much heralded opening of the $1.3 billion Aladdin turned into a Friday
morning soft launch after a myriad of last minute problems. The fireworks
were cancelled and invited quests in stretch limos were ferried to Caesars
Palace. 1,000 culinary workers also demonstrated outside what will be a
non union operation. The Telegraph reports on how the Aladdin project could
make or break London Clubs
International who now have a 40% stake in the venture. The company
could also be planning to float the Aladdin to cut down exposure to debt.
The casino has 2,800 slots and 87 tables.
Aladdins
Desert Storm
LCI
plans to float new casino in the US
19th
August Las Vegas Source:
Press release
The
Mississippi Gaming Association released figures from a Department of Economic
and Community Development report detailing the effects of the gaming industry
on the state. Casinos now employ some 40,000 people and pay taxes to the
state and local governments of $310 million annually. The number of hotel
rooms in the state also doubling since casino gaming was legalized in 1992.
19th
August Las Vegas Source:
Press release
Shuffle
Master announced on the 17th that third quarter results were the best in
the companies history. Machines on lease grew to 2,807 up from 2,174 and
revenue from sales and service also increased over the same period in 1999.
The number of leased table games is now 933. Sales of the Chipper Champ
and other products as part of an agreement with TCS also totalled $490,000.
17th
August Chicago Source: Press
release
Williams
Industries, parent company of slot manufacturer Williams
Gaming has announced that they have entered into an agreement with
Hasbro Inc. to develop, manufacture and market gaming machines based on
the still popular and now 60 year old board game, SCRABBLE®.
This is the latest in a series of licensing agreements announced by the
company that now includes MONOPOLY® and JUMBLE®. It is also the
latest in a continuing trend among manufacturers familiar and well know
brands and develop them for play in slot format.
WMS
Industries to Manufacture Scrabble Branded Gaming Devices
WMS
Gaming to Establish Technology Campus At Chicago Facility; - 25th
August
17th
August Detroit Source: Press
release
The
MGM
Grand Detroit that opened on 29th July 1999 has announced that they
have welcomed their 5th Millionth quest. This translates into a average
daily attendance of some 13,000. The casino has 86 tables and operates
at the moment in competition with the MotorCity Casino and Casino
Windsor just over the border in Canada. The third of the proposed Detroit
casinos Greektown
has not as yet opened due to licensing problems.
16th
August Atlantic City/Louisiana
Source: Dow Jones/AP
July
results from the 12 Atlantic City casinos and the 13 riverboats, plus the
New Orleans casino in Louisiana have now been released.
Gaming win in AC was $429.3 million up 3% over 1999. Tables games contributing
$122.2 million. The slot to tables win ratio city-wide being 72% to 28%.
In Louisiana gaming win for the month was $155.3 million. The riverboats
steamed in with $131.8 million and $23.5 million came from the New Orleans
casino. Casino win per visitor on the boats being $52.71 compared to $36.70
in New Orleans.
N.J.
Casinos' July Gaming Win Rose 3.1% To $429.3 Million
Louisiana
casinos win $155.3 million in July
16th
August Las Vegas Source:
Press release
Casino
Journal Publishing Group that publishes magazines for the trade and
player, and also organizes three North American trade shows has announced
record 2nd quarter results. Profits were $440,000 on turnover for the period
of $3.3 million.
The companies publications include Casino Journal and National Gaming Summary
for the industry and Casino Player and Strictly slots aimed at the consumer.
The next trade fair for the group being the Northern Gaming Summit in Detroit
12-13th September.
15th
August Las Vegas Source:
Press release
The opening of the 30 table London Club inside the Aladdin on the 17th
is receiving a great deal of publicity. Even more so with the potential
arrival on the Gaming floor of a $10,000,000 plaque. The denomination is
thought to be the largest in value ever made. French chip Manufacturer
Bourgogne
et Grasset being chosen to produce a range that also includes $5 million,
$1 million, $500,000 and $100,000 denominations. The big question at the
$1.4 billion resort is will the plaque see any action.?
14th
August Las Vegas Source:
The Times
Bob
Stupak who built the Stratosphere
Hotel & Casino on the site of Vegas World and is a member of the
Gambling Hall of Fame could be planning a return to the city. According
to the Times the Titanic will be the theme of the new casino project, complete
with funnels that will serve as blocks of hotel rooms. The location proposed
being at the northern end of the strip opposite the Sahara.
Titanic
to be raised as a Las Vegas casino
12th
August Nevada Source: Reuters
Gaming
win for Nevada rose 11.3% to $9.46 billion in the year ended 30th June.
The results from the Nevada Gaming Control Board also show that Las Vegas
casinos as a whole won $7.6 billion or 80% of the gaming win statewide.
Casinos on the Las Vegas Strip contributed $4.72 billion up over 15% on
1999 and approximately 50% of the total.
To put this into perspective $4.72 billion for the Las Vegas Strip equates
to a gaming win of just under $13 million per day.
11th
August Chicago Source: Press
release
Williams
Industries the parent of slot manufacturer Williams
Gaming has announced 4th quarter and year end results. Revenues and
earnings per share seeing substantial increases over 1999 and prior quarters.
The company sold 5,721 slots in the quarter at an average unit price of
$8,248. These figures being up 27% and 13% respectively from 1999. The
demand in the US for the Monopoly® series, and popularity with players
continues with 3,374 machines now in situ. Average revenue for the company
produced by leasing arragements being $46 per day per machine.
WMS
Industries Fourth Quarter Earnings Per Share Rise 80% to $0.36 On 44% Revenue
Gain
10th
August Las Vegas Source:
Press release
Anchor
Gaming that supplies and manufactures a diverse range of products from
the Wheel of Fortune Slots® to lottery equipment, software and pari-mutuel
systems has announced end of year results. Revenues for the quarter being
$142 million and $525 million for the full year. The company operates two
casinos in Colorado and a racetrack casino in New Mexico with slot routes
in Nevada & Montana.
10th
August Las Vegas Source:
Press release
Casino
Equipment manufacturer & supplier Paul-Son
Gaming announced a loss of $179,000 for the companies 4th quarter ended
May 31st. Total sales for the period were $5,067,000 and for the financial
year $22,662,000. The company has its main manufacturing facilities in
San Luis, Mexico with the headquarters located in Las Vegas.
9th
August Las Vegas Source:
Press release
Spintek
Gaming announced that at the upcoming WGCE the company will be demonstrating
their new video slot software packages as well as two new table games.
The table games being geared to younger players who perhaps find the traditional
games intimidating. The Las Vegas company also manufactures the AccuSystem™
that weighs and counts slot drops in real time.
9th
August Las Vegas Source:
Press release
World
Gaming Congress and Expo 2000 organizers Gem Communications issued
a press release highlighting the scope of the annual Las Vegas show. The
dates for this years event being 18th - 20th October. 25,000 visitors are
expected to the exhibition itself. Off the floor the educational programme
will have 70 seminars on 13 subjects. The release also stated that there
may also be plans for a competing trade show in 2001.
9th
August Mississippi Source:
Press release
Both
Pinnacle Entertainment and Penn
National Gaming released statements on the 8th that the sale of the
two Casino Magic
branded casinos in Bay St Louis and Biloxi, Mississippi had been completed.
The purchase by Penn for $195 million being part of a diversification strategy
by the company. Pinnacle itself is also the subject of a takeover bid from
Harveys Casino Resorts.
7th
August Las Vegas Source:
Press release
The
quest to reduce lost gaming time due to manual dealer shuffling now appears
to be becoming an increasingly competitive market. Casinovations have announced
that their product the "Continuous Random Ejection Shuffler™" has received
product approval from the Nevada Gaming Control Board. The machine being
available at a rental cost of $395 per month.
4th
August Ontario Source: Press
release
The
Ontario Lottery and Gaming Commission released on the 2nd a report with
an amazing amount of detail into charitable gaming and betting in the provinces
racetracks & casinos.
The three casinos of Windsor,
Niagara Falls and Rama had a combined total of 21 million visits in
fiscal 2000. The three producing gross revenues of $2 billion from a total
of 8,078 slots and 356 table games. Number of employees being a staggering
11,516.
3rd
August New York & Antigua
Source: Press release
Organizers
of the 4th Annual International Symposium on Internet Gambling Law and
Management have announced the line-up of sponsors. They include Cable and
Wireless, Starnet Communications and Casino City. The event is to be held
at the Royal Antiquan Beach and Tennis Resort November 26-28th and is organized
by BioConferences
International, Inc a division of Mary Ann Liebert Inc.
1st
August Antiqua Source: Press
release
Starnet
have announced their 4th quarter and year end results. The company reported
revenues of $5.5 million for the quarter and almost $18 milion for the
full year. Legal costs, restricted cash and development of the Beyond2000
software however took a huge divot out of the bottom line. Starnet like
many online gaming companies is now based in Antigua having moved from
Vancouver after a RCMP raid in August 1999.
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