Daily Archives: April 17, 2022

ELMORE/AUTAUGA NEWS

UPDATE: A huge police presence was still on scene near the front entrance late in the afternoon Saturday, which was blocked. However, customers and staff are saying the casino is not closed, and an alternate route is available. Exactly what occurred is still being sorted out, and we hope to have an update to share soon.

Original: EAN reporter Dale Barnett initially reported that Wind Creek Casino of Montgomery has been evacuated, and law enforcement had the front entrance blocked.

WSFA has reported The Montgomery County Sheriffs Office confirms an on-duty deputy was rushed to the hospital Saturday afternoon in the area of the casino. Maj. Gayle Atchison said the deputy was taken to Baptist East after being exposed to a narcotic. It happened around 3 p.m. near the Wind Creek Casino and Hotel off Eddie L Tullis Road.

The narcotic wasnt specified, but Atchison said the unidentified deputy was given doses of Narcan.

There are numerous state troopers, Montgomery Sheriff officers, and rescue vehicles at the main entrance to the Casino and they were not allowing anyone to enter the main entrance to the property. One State Trooper stated the casino was closed but could not discuss details. There was a tremendous back up of traffic at the toll Bridge coming into Elmore County.

One person leaving the casino said everyone was asked to evacuate, but no reason was given.

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Montgomery Deputy recovering after being exposed to Narcotic in area of Wind Creek Montgomery - Elmore Autauga News

Casino revenue in the state of Illinois reached nine figures in March for the first time in 2022, as its 11 venues combined to generate more than $119 million in adjusted operator revenue, according to figures released by the Illinois Gaming Board.

The new year saw a slow start for casinos in the Prairie State, with Januarys revenue coming in at just $87.8 million before bumping up slightly to $93.6 million for February. But a month-over-month surge in attendance that saw nearly 180,000 more admissions partially attributable to the states mask mandate ending in response to improved COVID-19 conditions, as well as some secondary NCAA Tournament traffic from retail sportsbooks contributed to a 27.3% increase in revenue that was also aided by three extra days of wagering compared to February.

Year-over-year, Marchs revenue figure was 12.8% higher than the $105.7 million claimed by operators in 2021. Through the first three months of this year, casino revenue excluding sports wagering has totaled $300.5 million 43.2% higher versus the first quarter of 2021. The state collected $17.6 million in tax receipts for March, and its three-month total of $39 million is currently $13.7 million ahead of last years pace.

Sports wagering in Illinois generated $101.8 million in adjusted revenue and $15.2 million in state tax receipts during the first two months of the year. Sports betting operators have different submission deadlines for revenue reports, and Marchs numbers have yet to be released.

Located just outside Chicagos city limits, Rivers Casino in Des Plaines reported more than 235,000 admissions for March, an increase of more than 80,000 from February. The result was the Rush Street Gaming-run venue generating more than $44 million in revenue, a 38.5% increase from February.

Rivers accounted for 55.5% of the nearly $29 million in table games revenue from the 10 locations offering that type of action, with its $16.1 million representing a 41.3% month-over-month upswing. And Rivers table games rate of $68.27 per admission was nearly double the state average of $36.75.

Grand Victoria Casino in Elgin was the only other venue to generate more than 10% of the states overall revenue from table games, with its $3.2 million accounting for nearly 11% of the total. It and Harrahs Joliet were the only two other casinos to better the state average of table games revenue per admission at $38.62 and $38.30, respectively.

Table games revenue averaged more than $24 million in the first three months of the year, with the $72 million total nearly $20 million ahead of 2021s total.

The states 11 venues that offer electronic gaming and slots combined to generate nearly $90.2 million in operator revenue, an increase of 25.2% from February. Rivers again paced all operators with just shy of $28 million and was one of three operators to reach eight figures, along with Grand Victoria ($11 million) and Harrahs Joliet ($10.3 million).

Harrahs Joliet also had the highest EGD revenue per admission at $158.60 and highest overall revenue per admission at $196.90. The latter figure topped Rivers by nearly $10 per head, but the overall state average of $151.12 was 7.7% lower than Februarys $163.71 and 6.9% off March 2021s average of $162.34.

Illinois 42,000-plus video gaming terminals (VGTs) statewide outside Chicago where the machines are forbidden by city ordinance also provided a huge boost to state coffers, as they generated just shy of $250 million in Net Terminal Income for March. It was a 23.5% increase from Februarys NTI of $202.1 million, aided by a sharp rise in funds in the amount of money entered by patrons playing at the 7,917 establishments.

Funds in totaled $973.3 million, an increase of 23.5% from February and a 2.3% uptick from March 2021, when $246.6 million in NTI was reported. The state received close to $72.4 million in tax receipts from VGT play this year, with local municipalities claiming an additional $12.5 million.

VGT tax receipts totaled slightly more than $220 million in the first quarter of 2022, outpacing last years first quarter by more than $50 million, as there are 3,599 more terminals in operation versus 2021. Local municipalities have received $32.3 million in tax receipts this year, a 29.7% improvement from the first three months of last year.

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Illinois Casino And VGT Revenue Bounce Back Strongly In March - US Bets

PROVIDENCE More than 70 employees at Ballys Twin River Lincoln Casino Resort are accusing the company of violating federal and state fair labor laws by failing to pay them adequate overtime wages and systematically undercutting their weekly paychecks.

Three employees Rebecca Barton, Timothy Bartholomew and Johan Tapia, all of whom travel to work at the Lincoln casino from Connecticut suedBallys Twin River last month in U.S. District Court, alleging the casino was willfully and repeatedly miscalculating its pay for hourly, tipped workers. Dozens more employees who worked at Twin River in the past three years are seeking to join the class-action lawsuit. Those affected include dealers and servers and other tip-based employees.

We think theres substantial money involved, Chip Muller, one of the lawyers representing the plaintiffs, said Friday.

Twin River, a state-operated casino that is privately owned, has not yet responded to thelawsuit in court. Patti Doyle, a spokeswoman for Twin River, said the company declined to comment because the matterinvolves personnel and pending litigation.

According to the suit, the employees worked more than 40 hours some weeks, but were paid 1 times an hourly rate that fell below the required state minimum wage, which amounted to $10.10 per hour before Jan.1 and $12.25 per hour after. Federal fair labor and state laws require the employer to pay an hourly rate of 1 times theregular rate, which cannot be lower than the state minimum wage, for any overtime hours.

The workers also accuse the casino of failing to notify them thatit was paying them a service wage of $2.13 per hour, while taking a tip credit of $5.12 to bring the company up to the $7.25 federal minimum wage. The law states that an employer cannot apply a tip credit without informing the employee.

In addition, the workers allege that Twin River failed to comply with legal requirements that it factor in tip credits and shift premiums, such as an increased differential for late-night hours, when calculating the employees regular pay rate.

Instead, the suit alleges that the casino simply paid employees 1 times a lower service rate for overtime hours. It also accuses the casino of not accounting for shift premiums in determining overtime pay.

Further allegations include that Twin River relies on a time-clock system that rounds work time to the nearest 15 minutesbut partners that policy with instructions designed to under-count hours worked and prohibits workers from punching in more than seven minutes before their shift starts.

The workers are asking the court to determine whether the casino has miscalculated their overtime wages and whether and what damages they are entitled to for the alleged violations in state labor laws.

They are represented by Muller; Nancy Sheinberg; Benjamin Knox Steffans of Pittsfield, Massachusetts, and Jeffrey S. Morneauof Springfield, Massachusetts.

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Twin River employees accuse casino of failing to pay adequate overtime in class-action suit - The Providence Journal

The 60 day line in the sand for Diamond Jacks Casino is just about over. It now looks like the Bossier City casino could soon have new owners.

The Louisiana Gaming Control Board gave the owner Peninsula Pacific 60-days to get the complex sold or open it back up. There's been no movement to reopen the property, butGaming Control Board Chairman Ronnie Johns says he has received paperwork from the company to sell the property to a Mississippi company.

DiamondJacks has filed a petition with the Gaming Board to sell its license to Foundation Gaming. The Gaming Division of State Police and the Attorney General's Gaming Division will now begin to review the suitability of Foundation Gaming.

The gaming board meets Monday and if all of the conditions are met, the board will begin the process to ok this transfer of ownership. This is expected to take a few months.

No details have been released about what Foundation Gaming plans to do with the vacant property in Bossier City. The casino closed at the beginning of the pandemic in the spring of 2020 and it has never reopened.

Lots of great events for the family are planned in our area.

Wanna bring Mom out to eat, here are some of our favorite spots.

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Is Diamond Jacks Casino Going to Reopen in Bossier City? - News Radio 710 KEEL

Norfolk City officials made public a major plan on Tuesday to rebuild five city schools over the next decade using local tax revenue from a new casino.

City officials dont know the total cost of the project yet, but said they plan to take out at least $250 million in new debt for it. That money would be paid back at least in part by local tax revenue from the Headwaters Resort and Casino, a gaming facility set to open near Harbor Park in 2024, according to Norfolk City Manager Chip Filer.

This is a generational change in the facilities of the Norfolk public school system, both through new construction, as well as massive modernization and renovation, Filer said at a Tuesday city council meeting.

The five schools the city intends to replace or renovate are Maury High School, Booker T. Washington High School, Norview Elementary School, Jacox Elementary School and Granby Elementary School.

Maury High School would be first in line for replacement, with construction beginning as soon as 2025, Filer said.

The 1910-era Maury High School has dire infrastructure and repair needs. City and school officials have been discussing the need to replace the school since at least 2014.

The estimated price tag is $180 million, Filer said.

The other school that would be replaced is Norview. Booker T. Washington would be fully renovated, while officials havent decided yet whether Jacox and Granby will be replaced or renovated.

Norfolk City Budget Director Greg Patrick said such extensive school reconstruction will not be possible without tax revenue from the new casino.

The casino is coming online, and it is very rare that we have an opportunity to leverage a new revenue source that is as substantial as we expect the revenue from the casino to be, Patrick told The Virginian-Pilot. And if we can get in front of that revenue coming online and use it for a particular purpose, we can really make a difference.

The city estimates that the Headwaters Resort and Casino, approved by Norfolk voters in a 2020 referendum, will generate between $33 million and $44 million in city tax revenue annually. Of that, Patrick said around $10 million per year would be put toward the debt for the school reconstruction project.

This is an opportunity to make a meaningful generational impact on the Norfolk Public School system, Patrick said.

Norfolk Mayor Kenny Alexander announced the school reconstruction plan during his State of the City address on April 7, calling it a major renovation and construction plan to modernize and revolutionize our schools.

Many details of the plan have yet to be released, however. And whether it moves forward is contingent on approval from both Norfolk City Council and the Norfolk School Board.

Even if city council adopts the plan, Patrick said the school board, which controls the school divisions budget, could absolutely choose a different direction.

School Board Chairwoman Adale Martin could not immediately be reached for comment.

The school board dedicated $147 million to begin replacing or renovating Maury High School in the school divisions upcoming budget, which was adopted on March 16. But the remaining four schools identified for reconstruction by the city are not included in their capital improvement plan.

Councilwoman Mamie Johnson, a former Norfolk Public Schools teacher, said during the work session that she was concerned the school board may not endorse the plan.

We have shown that were committed to the children and their families, to the teachers and all of the employees of Norfolk Public Schools, Johnson said.

But, she said, we do not control how the money is spent.

Daniel Berti, daniel.berti@virginiamedia.com

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Norfolk unveils 'massive' school reconstruction plan funded by casino tax revenue - The Virginian-Pilot

Two D.C. men have admitted to the kidnapping and assault of a victim from a Maryland hotel and casino in February of last year.

Two D.C. men have admitted to the and assault of a victim from a Maryland hotel and casino in February last year.

Anthony Erik Hebron, age 23, and Darius Lawrence Young, age 29, pleaded guilty this week on kidnapping charges for collaborating with three others to lure a victim out of their hotel room at an undisclosed Maryland casino on Feb. 3, 2021. Darius also pleaded guilty to possession of firearms and ammunition by a felon.

Two other co-defendants in the same case Christopher Young and Lamar Perkins pleaded guilty for conspiracy to kidnapping earlier this year, and are scheduled for sentencing in May.

Hebron and another unnamed conspirator, whom prosecutors refer to as Co-conspirator 1, drove their victim to Southeast D.C. around 7:30 a.m. on Wednesday, Feb. 3, under the false promise that they would get women, a Justice Department news release said.

About an hour later, Christopher contacted Darius and reported that Hebron and Co-conspirator 1 had snatched the victim and were on their way into the District. When they arrived, Darius and Christopher entered the car, where prosecutors say Hebron pointed a gun at the victim.

Four of the co-defendants then stole the victims wallet, phone, hotel room key and watch, forcing the victim to disclose the code to their hotel safe by striking them in the head with a gun.

Hebron and Co-conspirator 1 traveled back to the hotel to burglarize the victims hotel room, while Darius and Christopher led the victim at gunpoint into a Southeast D.C. apartment buildings boiler room. Perkins was instructed to watch for police or passersby, while Darius and Christopher beat and injured the victim, demanding to know their bank account PIN and the location of several items in their hotel room.

According to their plea agreements, Hebron and Co-conspirator 1 gained entry to the victims hotel room and stole property including a gaming console, $1,500 in casino chips and an estimated $6,000 cash.

Law enforcement later witnessed Darius and Christopher leaving the building and found the victim with several injuries, including a broken nose and cuts around the mouth and eyes.

If the court accepts Darius plea agreement, he would be sentenced to between 12 and 13 1/2 years in prison, while Hebron faces 14 years. Their sentencing hearings are set for June 27 and Aug. 8, respectively.

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DC men plead guilty to kidnapping, assaulting victim from Maryland casino - WTOP

Company recognized as top gaming supplier in acclaimed global awards program

LONDON, April 13, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- International Game Technology PLC ("IGT") (NYSE: IGT) announced today that it recently won the "Casino Supplier of the Year" award at the 2022 Global Gaming Awards London. This marks the second year in a row that the Company received the notable honor.

The annual EMEA-focused awards program, led by Gambling Insider magazine, recognizes the gaming industry's strongest performers across the previous 12 months. Winners were selected by a panel of 60 gaming industry executives and announced during an awards ceremony on April 11, 2022.

"Once again, IGT has confirmed its position as the industry's leading end-to-end casino supplier by winning this distinguished award at the 2022 Global Gaming Awards London," said Renato Ascoli, IGT CEO Global Gaming. "This significant recognition is a reflection of IGT's dedicated employees worldwide and our commitment to developing and supplying superior products and services to our customers that drive outstanding results."

"IGT has proven that it continues to lead the industry by providing casinos with exceptional products that create best-in-class user experiences for their customers," saidJulian Perry, Gambling Insider Chief Operating Officer."It is an honor to recognize IGT's position as a leading global casino supplier with this highly regarded award for the second year in a row."

To learn more about the Global Gaming Awards London, clickhere.For more information, visit IGT.com, follow us on Facebook, LinkedIn, and Twitter, or watch IGT videos on YouTube.

About IGTIGT (NYSE:IGT) is a global leader in gaming. We deliver entertaining and responsible gaming experiences for players across all channels and regulated segments, from Lotteries and Gaming Machines to Sports Betting and Digital. Leveraging a wealth of compelling content, substantial investment in innovation, player insights, operational expertise, and leading-edge technology, our solutions deliver unrivaled gaming experiences that engage players and drive growth. We have a well-established local presence and relationships with governments and regulators in more than 100 countries around the world, and create value by adhering to the highest standards of service, integrity, and responsibility. IGT has approximately 10,500 employees. For more information, please visit http://www.igt.com.

Contact:Phil O'Shaughnessy, Global Communications, toll free in U.S./Canada +1 (844) IGT-7452; outside U.S./Canada +1 (401) 392-7452Francesco Luti, +39 06 5189 9184; for Italian media inquiriesJames Hurley, Investor Relations, +1 (401) 392-7190

2022 IGT

The trademarks and/or service marks used herein are either trademarks or registered trademarks of IGT, its affiliates or its licensors.

SOURCE International Game Technology PLC

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IGT Wins Second Consecutive "Casino Supplier of the Year" Honor at 2022 Global Gaming Awards London - PR Newswire

The Trevor Noah "Back to Abnormal" Tour is coming to Hard Rock Casino Northern Indiana's new Hard Rock Live venue on Saturday, August 13. Doors open at 6:30 p.m. Tickets go on sale this Friday, April 15 at 10 a.m. Central Time.

Trevor Noah is the host of the Emmy Award-winning "The Daily Show" on Comedy Central. Under Trevor, "The Daily Show with Trevor Noah" has broken free from the restraints of a 30-minute linear show, producing engaging social content, award-winning digital series, podcasts and more for its global audience. In 2020, "The Daily Show with Trevor Noah" received six Emmy Award nominations, including Outstanding Variety Talk Series and Outstanding Writing for A Variety Series.

Trevor has written, produced, and starred in 11 comedy specials, including his most recent, "Trevor Noah: Son of Patricia," which launched in November 2018 on Netflix. The special touches upon racism, immigration, camping and more. "Trevor Noah: Son of Patricia" received a NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Variety Show, as well as a Grammy Award nomination for Best Comedy Album.

According to Jeff Clayton, Director of Entertainment for Hard Rock Casino Northern Indiana, "We were so pleased to learn that Trevor Noah's "Back to Abnormal Tour' will include a concert at Hard Rock Casino Northern Indiana this summer. Trevor Noah has been called 'a modern master of classic standup'. It will be thrilling to witness his comedic genius on the Hard Rock Live Stage in person."

Tickets for Trevor Noah go on sale on Friday, April 15 at 10 a.m. Central Time. Tickets are $79.50 and up. This show is fully seated. Ages 21 and up. Visit Ticketmaster at https://www.ticketmaster.com/event/05005C87038E5D62.

Hard Rock Casino Northern Indiana is located at 5400 West 29th Ave. in Gary, IN, directly adjacent to the I80/94 Burr Street Interchange. For more information, call 219-228-2383 or visit http://www.hardrockcasinonorthernindiana.com.

Hard Rock Casino Northern Indiana's $300 Million casino and entertainment destination opened to the public on May 14, 2021. Hard Rock's premier 200,000-square foot entertainment complex features over 1600 slots and 80 table games totaling more than 2,100 gaming positions. In addition to the new Hard Rock Live performance venue, Hard Rock Casino's five dining options include Hard Rock Caf, Council Oak Steaks and Seafood, YOUYU Noodle Bar, Fresh Harvest and Constant Grind Coffee Shop and also features a retail shop. For more information, contact https://www.hardrockcasinonorthernindiana.com.

The new Hard Rock Live performance venue is outfitted with state-of-the-art lighting and sound systems. The sound equipment features an L-Acoustics K2 line array system with KS28 subwoofers and KIVA-II front fill. Hard Rock Live has excellent sightlines. Hard Rock Live can seat up to 1,894 with an overall capacity of 2,700 including standing room only.

Photo by Pari Dukovic

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Trevor Noah Is Coming To Hard Rock Casino Northern Indiana - Broadway World

TERRE HAUTE, Ind. (WTHI) - The Terre Haute Redevelopment Commission has an update on a major waterline project.

On Wednesday, the commission came together to discuss a project that has been in the works for several years.

This would increase water pressure and supply to the State Road 46 area. That's near the area where Churchill Downs plans to build the casino.

But with this being near the future casino area, some members were pensive to pass such a hefty project with a big price tag.

They say the project would cost around $975,000.Some leaders say the casino operator can help with some of the financial needs. This would mean it does not all have to come directly from Terre Haute funding. The goal is to be mindful of taxpayers.

The vote has since been tabled and will be rediscussed at a future meeting.

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Major Terre Haute waterline project tied to casino tabled at Redevelopment Commission meeting - WTHITV.com