The Adams Daily Report

Monday, September 21, 2005

Lawrenceburg location fared better than most in the state

Indiana (results) - Marla Matzer Rose, Cincinnati Enquirer - Riverboat casinos in Southeastern Indiana chugged along in August despite an overall softening of revenues compared to July and the previous August. The drop reflected a statewide reduction in gross gaming revenue for Indiana's riverboat casinos, which were down about 11 percent in August compared to July and off 1 percent year over year. The Argosy Hotel & Casino in Lawrenceburg fared better than most for the month. The largest of the three area riverboats recorded a "win" - the amount of money lost by gamblers - of $38 million for August, down about 9 percent from its July results.

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Council Votes on Casino Proposal

Pennsylvania (slots) - Calvin Hughes, Associated Press - Residents in Bethlehem faced a vote that would have drastically changed the face of their community. City Council will made a historic vote Tuesday evening on a proposal to build a casino on the historic grounds of Bethlehem Steel, which was the nation’s second largest steel producer. Developers proposed building an $879-million casino, shopping, and museum district upon the grounds of abandoned factory.…The City Council voted 4-3 Tuesday against a plan to use zoning to ban gambling at the former Bethlehem Steel plant, a decision that clears the way for developers to seek a license for a slot machine parlor. Councilman Robert Donchez, considered the swing vote, said he went against the ban because the developers agreed to several conditions, including the use of union labor for construction work. More

Mayor urged to apply for slots license

Pennsylvania (slots) - A nonbinding resolution to have the city of Pittsburgh apply for a license to operate a slots casino received final approval from City Council yesterday. The proposal urges Mayor Tom Murphy to submit a casino proposal to the state Gaming Control Board, which will award one license for a slots facility within the city limits. Murphy has expressed skepticism about the idea…The Murphy administration said it was examining the legality of a city slots license bid. Would-be casino owners have until Dec. 28 to apply for licenses. More

FBI says mob eyed casino

Illinois (regulation) - John Chase/ Brett McNeil, Chicago Tribune - The reputed head of the Chicago mob and his half-brother were caught more than two years ago on FBI surveillance videotape discussing organized crime's efforts to infiltrate a casino in Rosemont, the head of the FBI's organized crime unit in Chicago testified Tuesday. A portion of the grainy and muffled videotape, recorded surreptitiously in the visiting room of the federal prison in Michigan where James Marcello was incarcerated at the time, was played openly for the first time. It was part of the Illinois Gaming Board's ongoing public hearing aimed at stripping the Emerald Casino once planned for Rosemont of its riverboat gambling license. But attorneys for Emerald attempted to cast serious doubt about the relevance of the tape and whether FBI Special Agent John Mallul's opinion of what Marcello, the reputed boss of the Chicago mob, and his half-brother Michael were discussing in the coded conversation was accurate. Emerald attorney Robert Clifford also pointed out that the portion of the tape played was only a two-and-a-half minute piece of a five-hour conversation and that the testimony was part of the gaming board's effort to yank Emerald's license by sullying Rosemont's reputation. "Is this fair to produce this?" Clifford said. "I don't think so." According to Mallul's testimony about the discussion, James Marcello asked Michael Marcello what influence and control organized crime would have in a Rosemont casino. They also discussed what role longtime Rosemont Mayor Donald Stephens would have in the casino deal. "Are we gonna be in there at all?" James asks on the tape as he sits next to his half-brother in the crowded visiting room. "I don't ... MGM or one of them companies will wind up with it," Michael responds. "I mean he ain't gonna get it like he wanted it before." More

Judge blocks Codey's removal of casino official

New Jersey (litigation) - Jeff Linkous, Associated Press - A Superior Court judge yesterday blocked acting Gov. Richard J. Codey's attempt to remove New Jersey's top casino regulator from the panel that oversees the distribution of millions of dollars of casino revenue for redevelopment projects in the state. Judge M. Allan Vogelson, sitting in Camden, issued a temporary injunction against bouncing Linda Kassekert from the Casino Reinvestment Development Authority's board and set a Sept. 30 court date to hear the matter. Kassekert, chairwoman of the Casino Control Commission, filed her challenge in Camden County, where she lives. "This is nothing more than an offensive and unprecedented act of political retaliation, attempting to remove a highly respected, competent female leader from a leadership position in government," said Kassekert's attorney, William Tambussi. "It was done without regard to the law and was appropriately thwarted by the court." More

Web site, job fair set up for workers

Mississippi (Katrina) - Tom Wilemon, Biloxi Sun Herald - Employers from throughout the country are trying to recruit Coast tourism workers because of their hospitality skills and work ethic. Roger Dow, president of the Travel Industry Association of America, came to Gulfport on Tuesday to announce the launching of a job placement Web site. The same day, Hard Rock Biloxi said it was opening the second day of its job placement fair to employees of small casinos whose companies have not provided extended severance pay and benefit packages. Casinos and cultural attractions are already making plans to rebuild, but it will be several months before most can rehire workers. "The thing I've learned about the people here is a genuine caring and a feeling of hospitality," Dow said. "It's in their DNA. It's in their blood to take good care of people, to welcome them. They have a can-do attitude." However, the industry also needs plumbers and other skilled workers in addition to the waiters, dealers and other traditional hospitality workers, he said. More

Retailers & Casinos Lead the Decline

National (economy)- Elena Todorova, 123jump - U.S. markets continued to weaken after Hurricane Rita grew stronger as it approached the Gulf of Mexico. That sent front-dated crude oil to $68.27 a barrel. Hurricane Rita of category 4 is expected to hit Texas oil facilities which account for a quarter of the nation’s total oil output. Oil has recently traded at $67.35 a barrel. …Energy stocks are among the best performers in early trading, boosted by rising oil prices. The natural gas space and the oil service sector have risen to multi-year highs, going up 2% and 1.4% respectively. The gold sector also shows strength, rising by 2.2%. Retail stocks post sharp declines on lowered quarterly outlooks, adding to losses posted over the past week and a half. The gaming sector is extending its recent weakness falling down 2.2%. The computer hardware sector is another notable loser, declining 1.4%. More

Gaming official appointed

Arizona/New Mexico (Indian gaming) - Native American Times - The Navajo Nation’s council has confirmed Edward Lockett, Jr., as the first executive director of the Navajo Gaming Regulatory Office. Lockett has a long resume consisting of his work with Indian gaming issues, and he is currently working at the Ak-Chin Tribal Gaming Agency in Maricopa. “I am committed to truth, honesty, strong moral character and integrity,” Lockett told members of the council. “When one speaks of the Navajo Nation, it will be spoken with integrity.” The Navajos have been looking at building multiple casino operations, and officials say Lockett’s appointment means the tribe can now proceed with approving gaming regulations, establishing personnel policies and procedures for the office, select sites for casinos, and develop and implement a revenue sharing formula.
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Poker popularity may spark legislative debate

Iowa (poker) - Associated Press - The growing popularity of a new form of poker may plunge the Legislature into another round of emotional debate over gambling, key lawmakers said on Tuesday. ‘‘I think this is an area that is unclear,’’ said Sen. Michael Connolly, D-Dubuque. ‘‘I think it would help for people to know what’s allowable.’’ At issue is a game called Texas Hold ’Em, a game played in Las Vegas for enormous sums of money. Texas Hold ’Em tournaments are often broadcast on television. While a proposed measure might deal with how much money can be won or lost in a poker game, it also could open up debate to the entire subject of gambling. Joe Diaz, a Division of Criminal Investigation agent who deals with gambling issues, told a legislative oversight committee the game is increasingly popular, both as a fundraiser and as a social event. ‘‘It’s being played everywhere,’’ Diaz said. More