31st
March Las Vegas Source:
Press release
Biometrica
Systems a subsidiary of Nasdaq quoted Viisage Technology, announced
on the 29th that including the Mirage in Las Vegas, they now have installed
their 50th casino facial recognition system. The system is used by surveillance
to identify known cheats and undesirables in the Casino Information Database
that is part of the package. A distinct advantage is that it may also be
used to spot VIP's on the Gaming floor who may also have gone unnoticed
by Pit staff or management.
Viisage
Technology and Biometrica Systems Achieves 50th Facial Recognition Installation
at Mirage Resort, Las Vegas
31st
March Las Vegas Source:
Press release
Shuffle
Master have announced that their patented table game "Bahama Bonus" has
been approved by the Nevada Gaming Commission. The game will now be competing
directly with Caribbean Stud in the state. The company also announced three
other new table games including 3 Way Action, also approved by the NGC.
It is a combination of War, Blackjack and Seven Card Stud Poker played
with the same hand.
30th
March Las Vegas Source:
Press release
Casino
Journal Publishing Group have announced 1999 results that show revenues
up from just over $9 million in 1999 to $13.4 million in 1999. There were
increases in each sector of the companies operations, advertising, subscriptions,
trade shows and consulting. Titles in the CJPG group include for the gaming
industry - Casino Journal, National Gaming Summary and Gaming Industry
weekly. For the customer -Casino Player and Strictly Slots.
28th
March Baton Rouge Source:
AP/Yahoo News
The
trial of former Louisiana Governor Edwin Edwards has heard testimony from
the former San Francisco 49'ers owner Eddie DeBartelo Jr. DeBartelo testified
that a day before the license for his Riverboat was unanimously approved
he handed $400,000 in cash to Edwards at San Francisco airport.
The Associated Press has detailed coverage of the story that centers around
illegal payments made to the Governor and family to secure riverboat casino
licenses in the state.
Yahoo
Full Coverage - Edwin Edwards Trial
28th
March Las Vegas Source:
Press release
The
Las
Vegas Visitors and Convention Bureau have released visitor numbers
for January 2000 that show an increase of 7.2% to 2,795,788 compared to
January 1999. Hotel and motel occupancy rates in the city being down 1.1%
to 82.6%. This drop no doubt being as a result of increased capacity
after the 4 recent new openings on the Strip.
28th
March Connecticut Source:
Press release
Trump
Hotels and Casinos have announced that they have entered into an agreement
to develop and manage a casino on behalf of the Paucatuck Eastern Pequot
Tribal Nation in Connecticut. The deal is subject to the tribe getting
federal recognition from the US Department of the Interior.
There are presently two casinos in Connecticut, Foxwoods
(Pequot Tribal Nation) and the Mohegan
Sun, both pay 25% of slot revenues to the state. Foxwoods is the worlds
largest casino with 6,000 slots and 350 table games. The smaller Mohegan
Sun announced in February an $800 million expansion programme and averages
a daily attendance of 18 to 20,000.
27th
March Detroit/Ontario Source:
Detroit Free Press
Ontario's
Casino Windsor has seen a 13% drop in revenues and a 9% drop in visitors
for the last quarter of 1999. The fall follows the openings of the Detroit
MGM Grand and the MotorCity Casino. Windsor presently averages a daily
win of $1.4 million (down from $1.6 million), in a market that has
grown significantly and is presently worth some $4 million per day. Windsor's
daily attendance is around 17,000.
The Ontario Government owns 3 casinos, Windsor,
Niagara & Rama. The average daily attendance for Niagara is 22,000.
New
Detroit casinos hurt Windsor's take
Ontario
Casino Corporation - Performance statistics
24th
March Las Vegas Source:
Press release
Slot
Manufacturer Casino Data
Systems has been awarded a patent on its Automated Tournament Gaming
System by the US Patents and Trademarks office. The system will allow for
slots to be played in regular mode with a countdown to the slot tournament
start. The advantage is that roped off areas whilst organisation is in
progress, that presently results in considerable machine downtime will
be reduced or eliminated.
23rd
March Las Vegas Source:
Press release
Las
Vegas based World Gaming Network that provides pre-screening checks for
US gaming and hospitality companies has announced that it has added several
new services to its portfolio. Among the new products on offer are International
Criminal Record and All-County Criminal Record Searches. Employers may
also make checks on SS Number, wanted persons, employment history, and
the 20/20 criminal records database.
23rd
March Las Vegas Source:
Press release
The
acquisition by Harrah's
Entertainment of Players International for $425 million has been completed.
Following the deal Harrah's will have 21 casinos in 17 US different US
markets. The two Players riverboats in Lake Charles, Louisiana and Metropolis,
Illinois will be converted to the Harrah's brand. The Maryland Heights,
Missouri operation will be incorporated into the companies existing St.
Louis operation.
22nd
March Chicago Source:
Press release
WMS
Industries Inc. has announced that Brian R. Gamache will become President
and Chief Operating Officer as well as Chief Operating Officer of the Company's
gaming unit, WMS Gaming
Inc. Effective April 10, Mr. Gamache will assume the Chief Operating
Officer positions from Kevin L. Verner who has served as WMS' Vice President
and Chief Operating Officer as well as Chief Operating Officer of WMS Gaming
Inc.
WMS
Industries Names Brian R. Gamache President and Chief Operating Officer
21st
March Atlantic City Source:
Press release
Players International has announced that the Illinois Gaming Board has
given the go ahead for the company to merge with Harrah's. Players operates
riverboats in Illinois, Louisiana and Missouri.
In December 1999 the Associated Press detailed that Players would have
to pay at least a $7 million fine regarding payments made to former Louisiana
Governor Edwin Edwards to help secure riverboat licenses in the state.
21st
March New Orleans Source:
Press release
Jazz
Casino Company LLC that owns the New Orleans casino has revealed that revenues
for February were $20.4 million a 6% rise over January. The 100,000 square
foot casino opened on October 28th and is managed by Harrah's and employs
approximately 3,000 people. As part of the operating agreement a minimum
payment of $100 million per annum is required to New Orleans parish.
20th
March Las Vegas Source:
Press release
Gamma
the Gaming Manufacturers Association has announced that following its AGM
that operators as well as manufacturers will be represented on the Board.
The organization exists to promote standardization of communication protocols
for gaming equipment and has a total of 33 member companies. During the
year GAMMA also plans to spend $200,000 on increasing the scope of research
and development projects.
14th
March New Jersey Source:
Press release
Visionics
Corp. and Griffin
Investigations have jointly announced that four top casino resorts
including the Mirage and Bellagio have begun using their facial recognition
technology to identify casino cheats and card counters.
The Griffin Gold (Griffin On-line Database) system utilises constantly
updated information from over 30 years of world-wide intelligence &
information on known cheats and their associates. Used in conjunction with
the Visionics' FaceIt® facial recognition software engine, live pictures
can be relayed via the Internet to a remote location for immediate identification
of suspects listed in the database.
14th
March Richmond.BC Source:
Press release
Great
Canadian Gaming have announced that Peter Clark has been appointed
Executive Director of the Casino Management Council of British Columbia.
The council oversees community casinos that have been operating since the
early 1980's. The beneficiaries are charities municipalities and the Province
of B.C.
Presently the casinos employ over 3,500 people and are expected to generate
C$235 during the fiscal year 1999/2000. GCG operate 7 of the 16 member
casinos in the Province.
12th
March Las Vegas Source:
AP/Canadian Press
Some
background on the MGM-Mirage deal. The Associated Press reports the initial
$17 per share offer for Mirage was followed up by Kirk Kirkorian personally
visiting Steve Wynn at the Bellagio and offering $19. Wynn replied with
$21 and the total $6.4 billion deal was virtually concluded. The official
announcement being made on Monday 6th.
Analysts including Jason Ader from Bear Stearns are also predicting more
mergers in the US gaming market. Harvey's Casino Resorts last week also
making a $25 per share bid for Pinnacle, the former Hollywood Park.
Analysts
say more U.S. casino mergers on the way as the big get bigger
11th
March Ottawa Source:
Canadian Press
The
surge in the popularity of casino gambling in Canada is confirmed with
figures released from Statistics Canada. During 1998 casinos contributed
38% of the total gambling revenue. Lotteries stood at 35% and Video terminals
28%. In 1992 lotteries accounted for 90% and casinos just 1%. Gamblers
in British Columbia parting with an average of A$445 per adult during the
year.
Casinos
have outstripped lotteries
9th
March Los Angeles Source:
Press release
The
funding for the $21 per share MGM Grand offer for Mirage Resorts will be
provided by Bank of America. B of A have allotted $4 billion for the payment
to Mirage shareholders and as agent for both companies had provided a letter
of commitment in support of the merger.
8th
March California Source:
Press release
Hot
on the heels of the MGM Grand bid for Mirage Resorts comes an offer from
privately owned Harveys Casino Resorts for Pinnacle Entertainment Inc.(formerly
known as Hollywood Park Inc.). The bid at a healthy $25 per share has forced
the company to postpone its annual Shareholder meeting to give the offer
time for consideration.
Pinnacle operates 8 casino properties in the US and two in Argentina that
trade under the Casino Magic name.
7th
March Las Vegas Source:
Press release
Innovative
Gaming Corp. based in Reno that develops and manufactures multi player
electronic table games, has announced sales to Native Indian casinos in
Arizona. Machines on order including the fully trademarked BJ Blitz, Hotshot
Dice and Lightening Strike Roulette. Following negotiations with the state
the games were classed as one gaming device. Casinos will be allowed to
devote up to 2.5% of total gaming floor to the machines.
7th
March Las Vegas Source:
Press release
Mikohn
Gaming has revealed profits for the year ended December 31st of $3.7
million on turnover of $107 million. The company now has 400 of its Yahtzee
branded video slots installed and total contracts for 1,000.
In 1999 the company had previously released two spinning reel slots based
on the popular dice game. The TableLink table game management system has
so far had installations at two major operators. On the table games side,
also in the Mikohn portfolio are the Monopoly Poker Edition and Yahtzee
table game both under excusive contract from Hasbro Inc.
6th
March Las Vegas Source:
Press release
Mirage and MGM Grand announce largest casino merger
ever.
An
upped bid of $21 per share from the original $17 made by MGM
Grand for Mirage Resorts
has been approved by both companies Board of Directors. The deal values
Mirage at $6.4 billion, broken down as $4.4 billion equity and the payment
of some $2 billion in outstanding Mirage Resorts debt.
The closing of the acquisition will be dependent on the approval of Mirage
shareholders and also from gaming and state regulators. MGM will subsequently
have outright control of 5 of the Las Vegas Strip's most desirable and
profitable properties.
In a financial release from Mirage Resorts in mid February the company
showed gross revenues of $2,650 million during 1999 (not including results
from the 50% owned Monte Carlo). This translates to an average daily win
of $7.25 million. The Bellagio is the star performer in the group and during
the year had an average daily win of $3 million. It was followed by the
now 10 year old Mirage that still chips in $1.75 million.
* The previous highest value
deal and another that saw a large consolidation of the ownership of Las
Vegas casinos and hotels was the puchase of Caesars Palace and Caesars
World by Park Place Entertainments from Starwood Hotels in during 1999
for some $3 billion.
3rd
March New Jersey Source:
Press release
Gaming
Laboratories International has announced that Christine Gallo has been
promoted to Director of Quality Assurance. GLI presently has four testing
facilities 2 in the US, Holland and Australia with plans also for South
Africa. The company presently provides more than 30,000 certifications
per year and employs approximately 120 people world-wide.
Gaming
Laboratories International, Inc. (GLI) announces the promotion of Christine
Gallo to Director of Quality Assurance
2nd
March Paradise Island Source:
Press release
The proposed acquisition of the Desert Inn by Sun
International has been terminated by mutual agreement with owners Starwood
Hotels. The former home of Howard Hughes at the north end of the Strip
was originally going to be bought by SI for $275 million. The two companies
have agreed to share any surplus or shortfall on that price 50/50 when
the property is eventually sold. SI being liable to a maximum of $15 million
should the price be on the low side.
2nd
March Texas Source:
Press release
Las
Vegas based Viva Gaming & Resorts has received the go ahead to place
an 860 slot and 50 table day ship at the Port of Corpus Christi.
The company will be initially planning 2 six hour cruises daily and hoping
for passenger numbers of 1,500. The project is expected to create 350 to
500 full time jobs.
2nd
March California Source:
Press release
Global
Cash Access, formed in 1998 as a joint venture between Bank of America
and First Data Corp has announced 9 further contracts for its financial
transaction software and casino based ATM machines. Included in the list
are Foxwoods, Gold Strike in Tunica and the Eldorado Hotel and casino in
Reno. The company operates cash access services in more than 1,200 gaming
locations in the US.
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