BJ21.com Newsletter
February 10, 2006                                0606

Compiled by Al Rogers
 Al@bj21.com


Casinos told to mind nightclubs

Nevada gaming regulators have reminded the Strip's major casino operators that responsibility for any illegal activity at their popular late-night clubs and entertainment venues falls onto their shoulders regardless of ownership.

Gaming Board to consider carding all casino visitors

Even old, silver-haired gamblers should prepare to feel like they're in their 20s again . . . at least when it comes to entering casinos in Illinois.

Carson Nugget agrees to fine

The Carson Nugget has agreed to pay a $20,000 fine and file monthly reports on its slot machine winnings to settle a complaint by the Nevada Gaming Control Board.

Divided Nevada high court rules against whistle-blowers in tax disputes


A divided Nevada Supreme Court ruled Thursday against a whistle-blower who claimed that slot machine giant International Game Technology filed false tax returns and owed $30 million to $50 million in back state taxes.

Too big, too quick -- Four-casino purchase constricts Resorts International

The four additions to Colony Capital's empire -- the Hilton in Atlantic City, two casinos in Tunica, Miss., and a fourth in Indiana -- lost their footing. In just a few months, those businesses, owned by an arm of Colony called Resorts International Holdings, started performing so poorly the company twice missed its financial targets, violating bank covenants, according to Moody's and others familiar with its performance. Resorts International is more than $1 billion in debt.

Poker icon's employee subpoenaed

The Fort Worth office of the Securities and Exchange Commission isn't bluffing when it says it wants to talk to several parties related to the agency's investigation of poker legend Doyle Brunson's July buyout offer for the company that produces television's popular World Poker Tour.

Strategy to shift staff of Stardust

Boyd Gaming Corp. has developed a plan to retain all 1,899 of its Stardust workers even after it demolishes the resort to make way for its $4 billion Echelon Place project.

Jeff Simpson notes that not all Stardust workers will retain Boyd Gaming jobs

Pity the poor Stardust workers who woke up Friday and read the Review-Journal business story that incorrectly said Boyd Gaming Corp. has developed a plan to retain all 1,899 workers after the property is demolished to make way for the $4 billion Echelon Place.

Ex-Pechanga Official Pleads Guilty to Theft

A former financial officer for the Pechanga Resort & Casino pleaded guilty Thursday to 26 felony counts stemming from the theft of nearly $500,000.

Harrah's, MGM Mirage throw their chips on the table in competing poker tournament tours


It's a long way from the Las Vegas Strip, but an emerging battle between the world's biggest casino superpowers just had its first public skirmish on the felt poker tables of Tunica, Miss.

Company folds hand, ends casino flights


Casino Express, a charter flight program that has brought thousands of gamblers to the small Nevada casino town of Elko for years, is marking an end of an era this week.

Lawyer pleads guilty to casino money laundering


A former fugitive charged with laundering money through an Atlantic City casino has pleaded guilty and faces up to four years in prison.

Critic Attacks Casinos

As a state police lieutenant, Bradley Beecher supervised some of the most sensitive investigations into Connecticut's casinos before going to work for the Mohegan Tribe.

Family footsteps formed career path for Boyd exec

Tevye, the paterfamilias in "Fiddler on the Roof," and Mike Gaughan Jr., the opening general manager for Boyd Gaming Corp.'s new hotel-casino, South Coast, have something in common. Both follow tradition.

Red Rock Station's big ad campaign makes neighbors brace for Strip headaches


The woman in the ad stands naked before the glory of Red Rock, hugging herself in a transport of pleasure. A naughty pleasure, perhaps: After all, the Red Rock Casino, Resort and Spa is, the ad says, "The Garden of Eden Meets Sin City." You know, a magical place of primal innocence -- but with slot machines.

More scrutiny of Indian casino plans

The scandal involving high-powered lobbyist Jack Abramoff and members of Congress is likely to slow the spread of Indian casinos that have rapidly become a $19 billion industry.

Alliance set to switch name, ticker

Alliance Gaming hopes a trip down memory lane will give the slot machine manufacturer a fresh start.

Shuffle Master moves to be first to offer wireless hand-held gambling devices


Shuffle Master Gaming is looking to get a jump on the competition once Nevada gaming authorities approve the rules and regulations governing the use of wireless hand-held gambling devices.

Have the Tables Turned for Online Gambling?

Although online gambling is illegal in the United States, you'd never know it by looking at the numbers. Last year alone 7.8 million Americans logged on to Internet gambling sites.

Reporting gambling winnings, deducting losses

Here's a look at the federal tax forms you'll need to share your good fortune with the Internal Revenue Service. And if you lost a few rounds before your numbers came up, there's a way you can turn those losses to your tax advantage.

Pedestrian Persistence: Go ahead and press the button, but it won't matter downtown, where devices were disabled in '03


The buttons affixed to traffic signal poles are like little beacons of hope, offering a bit of empowerment to the beleaguered Las Vegas pedestrian confronting the city's treacherous traffic. But pressing those buttons in downtown Las Vegas doesn't do anything.

Talk of possible new city in Tunica

A Tunica County supervisor is proposing that the community of Robinsonville incorporate.

Riley, AG propose anti-gaming amendment

Gov. Bob Riley and Attorney General Troy King said Tuesday they want a constitutional amendment to abolish the Las Vegas-like electronic gaming machines beeping at Alabama dog tracks.

Thanks for Green Chip member drumz1 for pointing out this article.

N.H.L. Hires a Prosecutor in Betting Inquiry

The National Hockey League commissioner, Gary Bettman, granted an indefinite leave of absence last night to Rick Tocchet, a former N.H.L. player and a Phoenix Coyotes assistant coach accused of financing a multimillion-dollar, New Jersey-based sports gambling ring.

Reno reinvents itself

For those who wonder what might happen to Atlantic City after slot-machine gambling starts in Pennsylvania later this year, Reno may offer some clues.

Gaming board official's background not thoroughly checked


On a cold, rainy day in March almost six years ago, Ronald Taylor rampaged through Wilkinsburg and shot five people, killing three, before holing up in an office building as police swarmed to the scene.

Tonkawa Casino closed by federal regulators


The Tonkawa Tribe's casino in Tonkawa, Okla., was closed by federal regulators on Tuesday, citing "substantial" violations of the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act, potentially clouding the tribe's efforts to open the Native Lights Casino in Newkirk, Okla.


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The Bear Growls:  Gaming Control Board comedy

Las Vegas blackjack player, casino critic, and frequent BJ21.com contributor LVBear offers his opinions on things that sometimes go wrong in the world of casinos.

By LVBear
LVBear584@cox.net

In a new level of silliness, the Nevada Gaming Control Board continues to waste taxpayer money worrying about nightclubs, while casino employee crimes against skilled patrons go unchecked and unpunished by the Board -- business as usual. Absurdity:

Control Board Chairman Dennis Neilander said there wasn't any particular incident of late that caused the board to send the memorandum, but it was to serve as a reminder that gaming licensees need to be vigilant in preventing illegal activity.

What a ridiculous statement by the head of the agency that refuses to do its job and punish casinos for wrongdoing. I can't decide if Neilander is really as stupid as he sounds, or if he has a really good act.

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