News - Page 1689

Fueled by a surge in table game play on the Strip, Nevada casinos in October recorded their second-best month ever, winning $924.9 million from customers, numbers reported Friday by the state Gaming Control Board show.

In a meeting that ended almost as quickly as it began, shareholders of Las Vegas-based Mandalay Resort Group on Friday approved their company's proposed $7.9 billion sale to local gaming giant MGM Mirage.

A selection of news and views from inside the industry this week.

Longtime casino types remember the days when holiday decor during December at a Strip hotel-casino consisted of a fake Christmas tree in the hotel lobby, a few twinkling lights in the buffet area and silent nights. These days holiday decorating takes on various levels of expense.

The first step toward having a state lottery, the appointment of a seven member Oklahoma Lottery Commission, could be in place by the end of the month, according to Governor Brad Henry.

Las Vegas Sands has again raised the amount of money it expects to get from its initial public offering of stock, saying the company could be worth an estimated $8.2 billion instead of earlier estimates of $6.8 billion.

News Brief: A Kentucky newspaper spent nine months examining illegal video gambling in Kentucky and Indiana. It reviewed hundreds of records in the two states and interviewed dozens of government and industry officials.

Robert Norton has been promoted to vice president of gaming operations for the Isle of Capri Casinos, Inc. Michael Tamburelli has been promoted to vice president and general manager of the Isle of Capri Casinos, Inc. Kansas City, Missouri property.

Since no one correctly matched all six numbers in Saturday's Powerball drawing the jackpot will grow to an estimated $14 million.

There was no jackpot winner, so the Mega Millions jackpot is on the move and estimated at $17 million for the Tuesday, December 14, 2004 drawing.

News Brief: Gambling revenue at Atlantic City's 12 gaming halls dipped 1.1 percent to $375 million in November, according to figures released Friday by the state Casino Control Commission.

News Brief: Today the Oregon Lottery owns nearly as many video poker machines as once had been illegal, raking in $528 million annually for the state's budget. South Carolina took the opposite approach an banned the machines outright.

News Brief: With a strong operating history and growth potential in Las Vegas and in Asia's Macau, Las Vegas Sands could offer a significant payout for those investors willing to play a hand.

Based on a preliminary count by the depositary for the tender offer, 4,704,054 shares of Common Stock and 1,600,000 shares of Class A Common Stock, have been tendered.

With Venus and Mars still in close alignment and now the Sun conjunct Pluto the lingering intensity of Scorpio is persisting.

Star Brooks: In the past year we have seen our gambling environments change with the times.

Mandalay Resort Group reports that this morning at its 2004 annual meeting of stockholders the merger agreement between MGM Mirage and the company was approved by the company's stockholders.

Wynn Las Vegas said it is advising job applicants to complete online job applications by Dec. 31 to be considered for positions at the resort, which is scheduled to open April 28.

Fueled by big baccarat and other table-game action, casinos along the Las Vegas Strip won $491.9 million in October, a 20.3 percent increase from a year ago and the highest monthly percentage gain since November of 1999.

Those in Washington who allege that Nevada's reduced potential as a terrorist target make it less deserving of homeland security funding soon will hear otherwise from the state's congressional delegation, Rep. Shelley Berkley told a Las Vegas audience Thursday.