BJ21.com Newsletter
May 23, 2008 080523
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Compiled by Al
Rogers
Al@bj21.com
Stratosphere’s
refusal to honor expired ticket gives sports books another black eye
Only the sleaziest of sports books would try to pull a fast one on a
patron by refusing to cash a winning ticket shortly after it had
expired. Yet that’s what officials with the Stratosphere did to Michael
Shackleford of Las Vegas. NOTE: On May 22,
2008, the Stratosphere made payment to Mr. Shackleford.
Organizer’s tactics test limits, even for workers -- Some MGM Mirage
guards object to pictures linking exec, bin Laden
A campaign to organize MGM Mirage security guards has turned ugly, with
the union’s lead organizer comparing casino executives to terrorists
and threatening to bring homeless people and prostitutes to the picket
line to make things unpleasant for the company’s customers.
M Resort reveals
big retail plans -- 1 million-square-foot mall to be part of south
Strip project
When he announced plans to build M Resort south of town on Las Vegas
Boulevard, Anthony Marnell III compared the planned project to Green
Valley Ranch Resort and Red Rock Resort properties -- with a little
something more.
Group
sues government for settlement info
An organization called Public Citizen filed a lawsuit on Monday to get
the United States to release details of the concessions it made to
other nations to settle its online gambling dispute being handled by
the World Trade Organization.
It's
richer at the top, at least at Station Casinos
LAS VEGAS - The Business Press previously reported on a decision by
Station Casinos
executives to lay off 70 workers despite recent Securities and Exchange
Commission filings showing that company officers made tons of money in
2007.
Tropicana's
Chapter 11 reflects changing South Shore economy
LAKE TAHOE - What does the Chapter 11 filing earlier this month by
Tropicana Entertainment - the parent company of Horizon Casino Resort
and MontBleu Resort Casino & Spa - mean in the future?
Illinois
Gaming Board fines casino $800,000
An Aurora casino has been fined $800,000 by the Illinois Gaming Board
for marketing its facility to people with self-identified chronic
gambling problems, officials said.
Teachers
reach deal with casinos
The Nevada State Education Association reached a last-minute deal
Monday night with several major gaming properties in Las Vegas that
will keep the association's petition to raise the casino tax off the
ballot.
Coast Gaming
Revenues Slashed By 10 Percent
BILOXI - For months, coast casinos seemed immune to the area's economic
downturn. Gaming revenues always met or exceeded their previous year's
totals. That changed Monday when the tax commission released April's
gaming report.
Post-9/11
cuts may have gone too far -- Study suggests layoffs at casinos were
overreaction
The study, “Fear and Managing in Las Vegas,” adds to a continuing
debate on how big casinos best manage their huge payrolls, which are
adjusted throughout the year according to business activity.
Senator
wants end to ban on sports bets
TRENTON, NJ — A state senator said Monday he will urge Gov. Jon S.
Corzine to file a federal lawsuit seeking to overturn the federal ban
on sports betting in New Jersey and 45 other states -- and says he'll
file suit himself, if the governor doesn't.
Gambling
debt chases Pacman Jones
LAS VEGAS - The district attorney’s office is seeking a felony arrest
warrant for suspended NFL player Adam “Pacman” Jones for failing to
repay $20,000 in gambling debts to Caesars Palace.
Barkley pays off
debt to LV casino
Former NBA star Charles Barkley has retired his debt to a Strip casino
that sued him after he failed to pay $400,000 in gambling loans.
Betting scandal
cloud lingers -- NBA remains slow at providing answers
A dark cloud of suspicion shadows his game, which was struck last
summer by a crooked referee and a gambling scandal, and the reaction
from NBA commissioner David Stern remains a smug expression of
disbelief.
Lenders
give Herbst Gaming more time to repay debts
LAS VEGAS - Herbst Gaming reached an agreement with lenders this month
that buys the company more time to work out a deal with them and
potentially avoid bankruptcy court despite the company’s worsening
finances.
LAS VEGAS
TOURISM: Holiday blues foreseen -- Economic downturn could mean dollars
won't flow so freely this weekend
Las Vegas, a remote desert town built to indulge Americans' fantasies,
is feeling fiscal pain from the rising cost of mundane commodities such
as gasoline and food.
The Bear Growls: Union organizer compares
casino executives to terrorists
Long-time Las Vegas-based advantage player, casino critic, and frequent
BJ21.com
contributor LVBear offers his opinions on things that sometimes go
wrong in the world of casinos.
Current and past growls can be read and comments posted at LVBear's
website, TheBearGrowls.com
From this
article in the Las Vegas Sun:
A campaign to organize MGM Mirage
security guards has turned ugly, with the union’s lead organizer
comparing casino executives to terrorists and threatening to bring
homeless people and prostitutes to the picket line to make things
unpleasant for the company’s customers.
This is absolutely hilarious. I would love to see this happen. It's
ironic that I equate the security thugs with terrorists more than I do
the casino bosses, though I certainly have no more respect for the
suits than I do the security cretins.
An example of the monstrous conduct casino security "officers" are
capable of: (Mandalay
Bay security guard) ... fabricated charges against skilled casino patron
An example of the sleaziness that MGM Grand executives are capable
of: MGM Grand
& Gaming Control Board conspire to harass patron trying to cash
chips
I don't think I'd want anyone from either group to my home for dinner.
They deserve each other. The overzealous union guy fits right in. You
can't make this stuff up -- absolute comedy.
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