30th
September California Source:
Press Release
The increasing trend for ATM machines to be placed on or near casino gaming
floors continued with the announcement that Boyd Gaming Corporation
and four other gaming properties had signed a deal with Global Cash Access.
Boyd will place the ATM's into eleven of its properties on a three year
deal.
GCA was formed in 1998 through a joint venture with Bank of America and
First Date Corporation. According to the release they provide services
to more than 1,200 gaming properties nationwide.
29th
September New York Source:
Press Release
The 13th Annual World Gaming Congress and Expo(WGCE) held in Las Vegas
14th to 16th September has set new attendance records according to organizers
Gem Communications.
Attendance was up 8.5% to just over 25,000. Booth sales were also up 12%
with 708 companies. 82% of the exhibitors signed up for next years event
during the show.
Gem Communications publishes IGWB (International Gaming & Wagering
Business), Casino Executive, Intergaming and Gaming For Africa. Trade shows
in addition to the WGCE include, the California Indian Gaming Summit, the
Western Gaming Congress, Bingo World, the Mid-Atlantic Gaming Congress,
and the Gaming for Africa trade show.
24th
September Las Vegas Source:
Press Release
Alliance
Gaming and IGT
who a few weeks ago seemed to be heading for the courts over disagreements
in New Jersey have announced that they will be working together on various
future projects.
The problems between the two companies before this announcement were over
the exclusive deal that IGT had with operators in Atlantic City, this excluded
Alliances Bally Gaming subsiduary from installing it's trademarked Thrillions
wide area progressive.
Bally had filed an antitrust lawsuit against IGT. That now has been dropped
and IGT will allow the Bally installations to go ahead.
24th
September Mississippi Source:
Sun Herald
Since
the opening of the Beau Rivage by Mirage Resorts, gambling revenues
in the coastal region of Mississippi have been climbing.
In July, revenues were a record $102.6 million up 32% over July 1998. In
August, revenues were $89.3 million up from $73.6 million in the previous
August.
Figures from the Missisipi Gaming Commission show that the 29 casinos employ
some 31,000 employees who take home $752 million annually in wages.
21st
September Detroit Source:
Detroit Free Press
Casino
Windsor tokens are finding their way into the slots of the new MGM
Detroit casino. The current exchange rate means that players are finding
that a Canadian Dollar is worth $1 US in slot play - a gain of some 50%.
Management of the MGM have been quick to point out to customers that if
caught they are commiting a criminal act. The problem is compounded by
the short physical distance between the casinos as well as the many thousands
of daily visitors.
Windsor
tokens in MGM machines
17th
September Las Vegas
Source:
Press Release
Harrahs Entertainment
is likely to become the first American casino company to actually show
people gambling in television advertisements.
The Federal Communications Commission had previously banned images of persons
engaged in actual play. The US Supreme Court ruled that the ban on
showing individuals playing either at the tables or slots violated the
rights to free speech. The Federal government will now not object to ads
that are fair and non misleading even in States where casino gaming is
not currently permitted.
14th
September Las Vegas Source:
Press Release
During
a financial presentation to brokers William P Weidner president and CEO
of Las Vegas Sands Inc. the owners of the Venetian stated that the
casino at the end of August was taking an average of $6.4 million per day.
The figures break down as $2.2 million table drop and $4.2 million slot
handle. At the weekend the table games drop increases to an average of
$3.1 million per day.
Hotel occupancy rates at at the end of August for the 3,000 plus all suite
hotel are currently running at 92% with an average daily room rate of $145.
14th
September Las Vegas Source:
Press Release
Mikohn
that acquired Progressive Games Inc last summer after the company had filed
suit against Shuffle Master Inc. for alleged patent infringements on the
Let it Ride Jackpot game, says it will appeal the decision of a Mississippi
judge to allow the operation of the game in New Jersey.
Progressive Games the owners of the patents for Caribbean Stud Poker were
unhappy about the jackpot features introduced to Let it Ride believing
that the progressive nature of the game was covered by their patents.
Mikohns Cheif Executive stated that when the case goes to court, although
Shuffle Master are temporarily allowed to now operate the game in New Jersey,
if they were to lose the case Shuffle Master would be liable to substantial
damages.
10th
September Las Vegas Source:
Press Release
Shuffle Master
announced that it's Three Stooges branded slots, developed in partnership
with Acres gaming had received approval from the Nevada Gaming Control
Board. The company also said that its new shuffling machine the "King"
had also received approval from the board.
Both products were later on display on the Shuffle Master stand at the
WGCE.
2nd
September Paris,Las Vegas
Source:
Various
The 50 story replica of the Eiffel tower was lit by the great grandson
of the designer of the original structure.
Costing $785 million, Paris, built and opened to schedule by Park Place
Entertainment Corp is considerably cheaper then the other recent mega openings.
Bellagio, The Venetian and Mandalay Bay cost $1.6, $1.5 and around $1 billion
respectively.
The number of hotel rooms in Las Vegas is up by 11,000 since October 98
and is now 120,000, almost double the figure of 10 years ago. Visitors
are expected to top 33 million or an average of 90,000 per day this year.
1st
September Reno Source:
Press release
IGT has
completed its purchase of Sodak gaming for a price of around $230
million. Sodak, based in South Dakota and a major supplier of gaming machines
and equipment to Native American casinos will continue be run as a separate
subsiduary company.
|
