Gambling Blog

Slot machines at the Harrah’s Chester Casino & Racetrack in Chester, and PhiladelphiaPark Casino and Racetrack in Bensalem are encouraging local residents to attend horse races.

The two fledgling Pennsylvania casinos are proving incredibly popular with tri-county residents who have spent decades crossing into New Jersey in order to play slot machines.

According to the Cherry Hill Courier Post, residents can now hop across the Delaware River to the casinos, which have been open for a few months, reducing the amount of time the have to spend driving and the amount of gas they use.

The Harrah’s casino and racetrack features 2,700 machines and PhiladelphiaPark has a further 2,200, including both poker and blackjack videogames, as well as bars, live entertainment, buffets, valet parking and restaurants.

Dubbed ‘racinos’, the new developments feature slot machines and horse racing facilities, as table games, such as poker and blackjack, are banned by state law.

Meanwhile, plans for two casinos along the waterfront in Philadelphia have run into problems with the City Council, which is planning to hold a referendum that could scupper the developments.

Developers are planning to build a new casino in South America, with 1,500 slot machines, 80 tables and 300 bingo positions.

Sun International has purchased a share in a licence to build a new complex in Chile, subject to approval by gaming regulators in the country, and intends to create an ambitious development with restaurants, a hotel, sports facilities, a tourist information centre, retail outlets, conference facilities and amphitheatres.

A statement about the plans revealed that Sun International has reached an agreement with the International Group of Gaming and Resorts (IGGR) and the Austrian Novomatic Group of gaming companies for a 40 per cent equity interest in new Chilean business San Francisco Investment.

Chilean business San Francisco Investment has a 15-year casino licence in region six of Chile and the project is expected to cost more than $65 million.

Sun International is South Africa’s biggest hotel and gaming group and the company has reached long-term management and consultancy agreements about the new Chilean development, with the casino scheduled to open in mid 2008.

Chile is a stable country with a fledgling gaming market that has recently introduced a new gambling dispensation and provides ideal opportunities for casino investment and development.

Legislation repealing the US ban on online gambling is in the pipeline, a Massachusetts congressman has revealed.

Chairman of the House of Representatives financial services committee Barney Frank told The Financial Times that details of legislation could be published in the coming weeks, but consultation will come first.

The Democrat representative said: “I’m not ready to give you more details, but I will be by next week or so. We’ll talk more about it later. There’s no urgency on it.”

He went on to make it clear there was still no timetable for a bill to repeal the Unlawful Enforcement Gambling Act, which came into force last October.

He told the Financial Times that the act was “preposterous” and one of the “stupidest” ever passed.

Despite the congressman’s support for an overturning of the ban, support for legislation against online gaming remains strong, both from the casinos and those with religious opposition to gambling.

The 2007 World Series of Poker is expecting a record 10,000 entries to this year’s tournament, 14 per cent higher than last year’s total.

Despite US attempts to clamp down on internet gambling, poker is increasingly popular with both US citizens and the international players and tournament organisers are preparing for a field of 10,000.

The 2006 WSOP field of 8,773 players competing for a $12 million grand prize marked a record for the contest and organisers believe that this year’s main event will be significantly bigger.

Hosted by the Rio casino-hotel in Las Vegas this year, tournament organisers Harrah’s Entertainment plan to create a new structure beside the casino to extend the number of tables to 258.

Around half the competitors in last year’s WSOP were though to have won their seats in online qualifier events operated by poker websites.

More than 3,000 players are expected to take part in the first three days of the 2007 WSOP main event, with prize money exceeding last year’s $12 million grand prize.

Players hoping to improve their all-round game are now able to learn directly from poker legend Phil Hellmuth Jnr through a specially-tailored course available to download onto computers and MP3 players.

Hellmuth’s White to Black Belt Poker Course is available in its entirety, approximately four and a half hours of lessons, for $150, with the individual modules that cover various aspects of the game including odds, psychology, bluffing and positional play, available to buy individually for between $10 and $80 each.

The technology will allow players to learn from arguably the top poker player of our time while on the move or at work, say its producers and distributors, Iamplify.

In addition, the one-off fee also allows students to participate in a live tele-conference with Hellmuth himself, with the often controversial champion also promising to tell personal stories from his playing career, which has seen him acquire ten WSOP gold bracelets.

This launch of this latest online school comes after the recent release of the course on poker psychology by former FBI counterintelligence agent Joe Navarro, which gives aims to give players of all levels an advanced understanding of the psychology of the game.

Hard Rock Cafe’s Las Vegas hotel and casino complex is to undergo a large-scale expansion and renovation project, the private equity firm DLJ Merchant Banking Partners (DLJMB).

With Klai Juba Architects overseeing its planning, the expansion project will include the addition of a further 950 guest rooms, with the construction of a new 15-storey tower with upgraded amenities.

In addition, the venue’s gaming floor will be expanded by 35,000 square feet, while the award-winning pool the number of retails and food and drink outlets will also be expanded.

“These capital improvements will unlock the value that we’ve seen in the Hard Rock investment from the beginning,” said Steve Rattner, a managing director and the global head of DLJMB.

This latest project is the latest initiative by DLJMB, an investment affiliate of the Morgans Hotel Group (MHG), as it invests $600 million in renovating and expanding the existing Hard Rock venues.

“As each phase of this project is completed, we will be enhancing the Hard Rock’s well-established reputation as one of the most popular destinations in Las Vegas, and we are more excited than ever about its potential,” added Ed Scheetz, president and CEO of MHG.

With the US government having significantly clamped down on online gaming over the past twelve months, several of the industry’s biggest names have failed to make this year’s Forbes billionaire list.

While the founder of the online gaming site and media group Bodog, Calvin Eyre, graced the cover of Forbes just one year previously, the recent introduction of the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act means that he joins his rivals, Ruth Parasol and Russell DeLeon, in losing in his place amongst the nation’s wealthiest few.

In comparison, the success of the more traditional land-based gambling tycoons continued, according to the Forbes list.

Sheldon Anderson, whose gaming empire includes the Venetian casino in Las Vegas was the top-ranked gambling tycoon, with the 75 year-old estimated to be worth about $26.5 billion.

In addition, following his expansion into the Asian market, Steve Wynn was ranked 264th on the list, with his empire estimated to be worth £4 billion, while William Boyd’s $4 billion worth of assets gained him a ranking of 664.

The Herbst Gaming empire looks set to expand further as it received initial approval for its proposed acquisition of the three Primm casinos located on the Nevada-California border and currently operated by MGM Mirage.

Should the deal go through, the new venues would be the largest assets within the Herbst portfolio and cement its reputation as one of the fastest growing operators in the sector.

In a statement given to the Gaming Control Board by Herbst representatives, the firm are looking to acquire Whiskey Pete’s, Buffalo Bill’s and Primm Valley for approximately $400 million at some point in April.

“To a large and successful company like MGM Mirage, these were secondary properties,” Herbst Gaming’s general counsel Sean Higgins said to the board.

“To our company, the Primm casinos will become core assets and be treated as such.”

Herbst also took the opportunity to highlight their plans for the venues, which include upgrading both their gaming and leisure facilities as well as undertaking a substantial marketing drive through its current venues as well as through nearby retail establishments.

The Nevada Gaming Commission is set to make its decision on the matter on March 22nd.

Work has got under way in Michigan City for a new $130 million hotel and entertainment center at the Blue Chip Casino.

With work scheduled for completion towards the end of 2008, the project will include the construction of a 22-storey hotel, several restaurants set within a pavilion area, a nightclub and spa and leisure facilities.

The opening of the new development will coincide with the opening of another venue in the Michigan area, to be operated by the Pokagon Band of Potawatomi Indians.

Comprising of 15,000 square feet of gaming floor, the Pokagon Four Winds casino will be more than twice the size of the existing proposed Blue Chip venue.

In addition, Harrah’s has announced details of its plans to begin a $485 million project in Michigan City that will dwarf the Blue Chip venue.

This latest initiative by Blue Chip comes a year after the company launched a $170 million gaming boat in the region, which has led to increased revenues of 16 per cent.

The New-Jersey based Rutgers University has announced that it is to offer degree courses covering all aspects of gambling, to be held at a new Center for Gambling Studies.

With the state’s economy partly driven by its successful gaming industry that includes the ever-popular Atlantic City, the university has expressed its desire to provide sound and objective expertise for both the gaming authorities and venue operators.

Richard Edwards, the dean of the social work faculty at Rutgers, said: “There is considerable debate and research about gambling, as a policy issue and as a social or personal problem.

“But there aren’t many places in the country that take a multidisciplinary approach to study gambling and its effects on individuals and society.

“We want our center to do that.”

Alongside offering training relating to the social impacts of gambling, students will also be able to analyze sports gambling as well as the online poker industry.

Just recently the US-based Casino College announced that it intends to train up to 100 poker dealers to work in this year’s World Series of Poker.

The legendary Sahara Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas is to be sold after its current owners, Gordon Gaming Corp came to an agreement with an investment group comprising of SBE Entertainment Group and its partner Stockbridge Real Estate.

With the announcement of the sale came details of new owner’s plans for the ageing, Moroccan-themed venue, which came to the world’s attention as a popular hangout of the Rat Pack as well as the setting for the original Ocean’s Eleven movie.

Once the handover is complete, SBE will manage the hotel, including its bars and restaurants, while the venue’s casino will be operated by Larry Woolf’s Navegante Group, under a lease agreement.

Commenting on the deal, Sam Nazarian, SBE’s CEO, said: “The Sahara is one of the last remaining original properties on the Las Vegas strip, and we are thrilled with the possibilities that it presents.”

Originally built in 1952, the Sahara has been operated by Gordon Gaming since it was bought by William Bennett in 1995 for $193 million.

While Mr Bennett then spent more than $100 million upgrading the venue until his death in 2003, SBE have confirmed that they intend to put a substantial amount of capital into refurbishing the Sahara, while also adhering to its traditions.

Bally Technologies, the US games manufacturer has announced that it has completed a deal for the complete management of six Cordere-operated gambling locations in Panama.

Following a review of their current gaming systems, the Alta Corderilla and Hipica de Panama operators turned to the firm to introduce its Bally Casino Management Systems into their venues.

Alta Corderilla controls the Casino Arlequin, Casino Caesar, Casino Colon, Casino Galaxia and the Casino Grande, with Hipica de Panama operating the Hipodromo Presidente Remon Racino venue in Panama City.

The new technology will provide cashless functionality and interactive touch-screen displays for more than 1,400 slot machines.

Commenting on the development, John Connelly, vice president of Bally International, said: “This Bally solution is already the leading casino management system in Europe, and this Codere contract signing further establishes Bally as the primary systems provider in Latin America.”

Bally’s gaming technology is currently integrated into more than 2,000 slot machines in Chile, while the firm also has a strong foothold in the Mexican market.

Western Pennsylvania’s first slot machine parlour has been officially opened, with hundreds of people attending its launch party.

Presque Isle Downs, located in Erie, became the state’s fourth slots venue and has the capacity for 2,000 machines.

Members of the public joined the casino’s 650 employees at the 1920’s themed opening night, while a further 10,000 visitors were expected daily during the first week of gaming.

“What a great day for Erie,” said Ted Arneault, chief executive of MTR Gaming Group Inc who operate the venue.

“It’s just going to be a whole new era of entertainment for Erie.

“The whole concept is to have a good time,” he said.

Also under construction in the region is a horse-racing track, with the $250 million venue to include five bars, a buffet and a restaurant with views of the track action.

The new racetrack is scheduled to open later this year as Erie attempts to strengthen its position as a location of choice for the state’s gamblers.

A high-court judge has ordered a gambler to honour his £2 million debt to a top London casino.

Foud-al-Zayat, a Syrian businessman spent £91 million over a period of 12 years playing at a Mayfair club.

In March 2000, Mr Zayat wrote the casino a cheque for £2 million after he lost the amount during just one session there.

Mr Justice David Steel, who presided over the case, observed: “The scale of both his wealth and his gambling instincts are revealed by the fact that between October 1994 and April 2006 the defendant visited the claimant’s club on over 600 occasions, purchasing gaming tokens to the value of over £91 million and, in the process, losing over £23 million.”

While the casino said it regretted taking the action against such a valued client, nicknamed “the fat man”, it stressed that its position as a publicly owned company would not allow for the debt to go unpaid.

Under UK law, six years is the cut off point for money to be claimed back.

During the hearing, it was revealed that Mr Zayat had previously been sued over unpaid debts by the Ritz club, where he lost almost £10 million between 1999 and 2001.

A jury in London is faced with the decision of whether poker is a game of luck or skill. The online poker industry will be eyeing the landmark case at Snaresbrook Crown Court, where the jury will decide whether the chairman of a private club broke the law by hosting poker games without a gambling licence. In his defence, the chairman is set to claim that poker is a game of skill and therefore does not require a licence under the Gambling Act, reports Poker Gazette. 

Prosecution QC Graham Trembath said: “The essence of this case may well be…is poker a game of skill or is it a game of chance or is it a game combining skill and chance.” An updated version of the UK’s Gambling Act received royal assent in 2005, with the government aiming for it to be fully implemented by September this year.