Category Archives: Casino

Some are even making the pitch that a new gaming hall could help the nations most populous city repair its pandemic-scarred economy.

I believe in New York City. I think we are going to come back. Gaming has a proven potential to be an anchor in that recovery, Soo Kim, chair of the Ballys Corp. who grew up in Queens, said in an interview.

The operators submitted preliminary details in December to the state Gaming Commission on their plans for New York City-area casinos.

They include the Resorts World New York City in Queens, owned by Malaysian conglomerate Genting Group, and the MGM-owned Empire City Casino in Yonkers, just north of the Bronx. Both are horse racetracks with video-lottery terminals and are already among the largest gaming operations in the nation; now they want to become full-scale casinos with table games and slot machines and win two of the three licenses.

We are ready to deliver thousands of new jobs for Westchester and the Bronx while generating $1 billion in new economic activity with a full gaming license, MGM said in a statement. Empire City Casino by MGM Resorts is ready to roar.

In this Oct. 3, 2014, file photo, visitors to the Resorts World Casino at the Aqueduct racetrack play electronic baccarat games, in the Queens borough of New York. It is hoping to become a full-scale casino with live table games and slot machines.|Julie Jacobson/AP Photo

A New York City casino is considered a crown jewel of the U.S. gambling sector the largest untapped market in the largest metropolitan area in the nation, with a population of 20 million people and a steady stream of tourists.

For decades, New York has watched its residents travel to Atlantic City, N.J., or to Native American casinos in eastern Connecticut to gamble, losing out on the tax revenue that would come from gamblers staying closer to home.

But that may soon change and labor unions, real-estate firms and casino giants are eager to go all-in on building out the citys gambling potential.

With a responsible approach to pursuing new casino licenses downstate, we have a unique and timely opportunity to put unemployed hospitality workers back to work while also giving our economy a much needed boost, said Rich Maroko, president of the New York Hotel and Gaming Trades Council, a politically influential labor union thats backing a proposal to turn Resorts World at Aqueduct Racetrack into a full-fledged casino.

In 2013, New York voters approved a referendum to allow seven private casino licenses, and a year later the state Legislature passed a law that ultimately allowed four upstate casinos in the Finger Lakes, Catskills, Albany area and the states Southern Tier, along its border with Pennsylvania. Those casinos were given a five-year exclusivity in New York. The facilities have all struggled since opening, partially due to their limited draw and, now, due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

But state lawmakers seem receptive to opening up the bids for downstate casinos this year rather than wait until 2023 as a way to bolster the states coffers. They would need to overturn the 2014 law.

Each new license would likely include a $500 million initiation fee, plus the promise of major construction projects that would mean thousands of new jobs as the economy tries to recover from the pandemic.

Its going to happen soon enough anyway. If were ready to do it and all the infrastructure is in place and the regulatory structure is in place, why not do it sooner? said state Sen. Mike Gianaris, the chambers deputy leader and a Queens Democrat.

Resorts World Catskills in Sullivan County is one of four upstate casinos in New York. Now the state is considering downstate casinos, including in New York City, about 90 miles away from Resorts World Catskills.|Seth Wenig/AP Photo

In addition to Resorts World in Queens, which is owned by the Malaysia-based Genting Group, and MGM in Yonkers, there are a number of other suitors.

UE Resorts International Inc.; Las Vegas Sands Corp.; Wynn Resorts; Rush Street Gaming; Hard Rock International; Ballys Corporation and the Water Club in Manhattan also submitted proposals. All the details were redacted by the state Gaming Commission.

The companies are all surveying the city for potential locations for Las Vegas-style casino resorts.

Hard Rock Hotel New York is set to open in Times Square in April, and may be interested in a casino in the heart of the tourist district or another part of the city. The company did not respond to requests for comment.

And the new Hudson Yards development west of Penn Station the largest private real estate project in American history could also be a potential target for a posh new casino resort.

While a casino in Manhattan would appear to be a top draw for developers, it would come with intense scrutiny, regulatory hurdles and likely community opposition, industry officials and lawmakers said.

My concern, representing Manhattan and Times Square is the neighborhoods which would be adjacent to any proposed casino and the impact. Casinos can have negative externalities, to put it mildly, said state Sen. Brad Hoylman, a Democrat.

I oppose them strongly and generally have done so in the Legislature. When it is in my Senate district, it is even a greater concern.

Kim, the Ballys chair, also noted issues with a Manhattan casino, saying it would be hard to access for many visitors, despite the tourists that flock there.

And a Manhattan casino could expedite previously failed efforts to put a casino in northern New Jersey.

Hard Rock, for example, has expressed interest in a New York City casino and one at northern New Jerseys Meadowlands Racetrack, near Metlife Stadium, home to the Giants and Jets NFL teams. New Jersey voters would need to approve such a move.

So some bidders are expected to look to the outer boroughs for a casino, where it would be more accessible by car and could face potentially fewer political obstacles than in heavily congested Manhattan.

Sands has reportedly been eyeing land near Citi Field in Queens, home to the New York Mets, in conjunction with the team owner, Steven Cohen, a billionaire hedge fund manager.

Adjacent Willets Point, an industrial neighborhood long sought for redevelopment, might also be a consideration for bidders, as well as state-owned land at Belmont Park on Long Island, just outside the city borders.

Property next to Citi Field in Queens, home to the New York Mets, is a potential location for a New York City casino.|Frank Franklin II/AP Photo

A decision to allow New York City-area casinos would likely would be part of state budget negotiations for the fiscal year that starts April 1.

If approved, the state Gaming Commission would then set up a bidding process for casino hopefuls to submit their proposals, and the selections would be made by a task force similar to the process in 2014 when the upstate casinos were picked.

Empire City in Yonkers and Resorts World in Queens would appear to be frontrunners to win two of the contracts because of political support, their existing massive footprints and so-called speed to market, meaning they would easily be able to switch to full-scale casinos. A new casino could take as much as three years to build and open, some officials estimated.

The state could also decide to look elsewhere.

The state is going to look to maximize net new revenues and net new job growth in making the decision on where to locate them, said Clyde Barrow, a professor of political science at University of Texas, Rio Grande Valley who specializes in gaming policy.

Barrow warned about the state and casino developers viewing New York City casinos as a sure bet with huge jackpots awaiting. Unlike many casinos that have limited competition for consumers entertainment dollar, the city has more choices than anywhere in the country.

When you put a casino in the middle of nowhere or in a small city, there are limited alternative entertainment venues competing against it, Barrow said.

But when you put a casino in Manhattan or in Queens, you are competing against every other entertainment, amusement and recreation facility in that city, so it is a vastly more competitive market in which people have lots of other alternatives on how to spend their entertainment dollars.

And he cautioned: It will generate hundreds of millions of dollars, but it wont be anywhere near the revenue generation forecasts.

Meghan Brink contributed to this report.

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The race is on to build a casino in New York City - POLITICO

ANDREW KISERColumbus Telegram

Here are things you should know about betting at racetrack casinos in Nebraska.

When City Administrator Tara Vasicek talked about the many good projects coming to Columbus, she had a long list of reasons why thats the case.

These happenings includethe Columbus Community Building, the Columbus Fieldhouse, downtown improvements, new housing additions and what may be considered the pice de rsistance: the upcoming casino and racetrack.

Its an exciting time in Columbus, Vasicek said.

The casino will take a step forward toward completionlater this month.

The Columbus Planning Commission will discuss a redevelopment plan and preliminary plat for the area located off U.S. 81 north of town at 7 p.m. Monday at its regular meeting. The two measures the redevelopment plan and preliminary plat will then be presented to the Columbus City Council on Feb. 22.

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Last July, Columbus Exposition and Racing announced a partnership with Caesars Entertainment Group. The plan is to have a 1-mile horse racing surface, a 40,000-square-foot casino and sportsbook with over 400 slot machines and 20 table games and space for retail and restaurants. A hotel is also planned.

The redevelopment plan will have to be approved so tax increment financing can be used for the project, Vasicek said. TIF, which allows local governments to invest in public infrastructure and other improvements, needs to be utilized because the area is not served by water or sewer, she said.

Also, 63rd Avenue west of the site will have to be paved, Vasicek said. A traffic study will have to be conducted and, more than likely, traffic lights will have to be installed, she said.

So, they will use tax increment financing for all that infrastructure, Vasicek said.

TIF wont only benefit the project, she added. The remaining land, which will be developed by other entities, will be less expensive to develop because it will have the backbone infrastructure, Vasicek said.

Mayor Jim Bulkley said he believes this casino will be a game-changer for Columbus.

Its going to be a huge addition to our community, Bulkley said. Quite honestly, its potentially a once-in-a-generation type opportunity and development thats coming to Columbus. Im excited about what we have. What I have seen so far is the development of a good-looking concept.

The land was the former home of Wishbones and Columbus Event Center, but that building was torn down.

Nebraskans showed they are in favor of allowing casino gambling at race tracks when 65% of voters approved three ballot measures in the November 2020 general election. One of the measures changed the state Constitution to allow gambling at race tracks. The others included setting up a Nebraska Gaming Commission and creating a 20% annual tax on gambling revenue.

Columbus is one of six Nebraska cities to already have a horse racetrack in place, with Omaha, Lincoln, Grand Island, South Sioux City and Hastings the others.

Support of the casino was seen in Columbus. Vasicek said over 62% of voters in the town were in favor of the measures.

That to me as the city administrator representing the whole community shows me that I need to do my best to make it happen the best way it can happen, Vasicek said.

Bulkley said the project will set Columbus apart from other communities, because it will be one of a select few to have such a facility.

It allows us to grow and bring people to town and offer things that we have never had before, he said.

The Caesars partnership isnt anything to glance over, Bulkley and Vasicek said. The company is one of the biggest bookers of entertainment in the world, they said.

Vasicek said she hopes the Caesars partnership will bring in concerts and entertainment to the area.These are things that we do not have in Columbus right now, she said.

More entertainment has been a major request. Vasicek said the city has conducted surveys that have noted that.

Weve heard over and over again that, We want more entertainment. We want more activities. Were leaving town to go have fun, Vasicek said. So I think this coupled with a lot of good things coming downtown is really going to bring some of that entertainment that our community desperately wants.

The flashing lights, the sirens, the hum of conversation, and the thrill of placing a bet are all part of the allure of casinos. While gambling has been around for centuries, casinos began popping up in Italy in the 17th century. The Casino di Venezia, which opened in 1638 in Venice, is theworlds oldest casino, though it was originally known as Theatre Saint Moses. It offered guests the opportunity to gamble during theatrical production intermissions.

By the 19th century, casinos appeared all over Europe. In the United States, towns like Las Vegas and Reno in Nevada, and Atlantic City in New Jersey, became known for casinos and the infamous ties held to organized crime. Gambling itself had a reputation as a vice that could lead to other bad habits.

Hollywoods own obsession with casinos has a long history as well. Classic film Casablanca features a casino as part of Rick Blaines nightclub. Throughout the next several decades, directors like Robert Altman, Martin Scorsese, and Steven Soderbergh tried their hand at movies about the appeal of gambling and the casinos that supported the lifestyle.

OLBGresearched the history of casinos on screen and put together a list of 20 of the best casino films. To be included, movies had to have important scenes take place in a casino, and the film had to have at least a 6.0 onIMDbor a 65 onMetacritic.

- Director: George Hickenlooper

- IMDb user rating: 6.2

- Metascore: 51

- Runtime: 108 minutes

This fictionalized retelling of a true story stars Kevin Spacey as Jack Abramoff, a corrupt Washington D.C. lobbyist motivated by greed and power. Abramoff and his partner Michael Scanlon stole funds from Native American casinos all while twisting laws for their convenience. In a nod to the 1996 film Jerry Maguire, one scene finds Scanlon and Abramoff screaming, Show me the money! Actress Kelly Preston who plays Abramoffs wife in the film played Maguires former girlfriend as well.

- Director: Steven Soderbergh

- IMDb user rating: 6.5

- Metascore: 58

- Runtime: 125 minutes

The sequel to Oceans Eleven finds Danny Ocean adding a partner to his band of thieves as they work together to pull off several European heists. Steven Soderbergh directed not only this second film in what would be a trilogy, but all three Oceans installments. George Clooney, Brad Pitt, Julia Roberts, Elliot Gould, and Bruce Willis not only starred in the film, but they also had another thing in commonthey were all guest stars on the sitcom Friends.

- Director: Lewis Milestone

- IMDb user rating: 6.6

- Metascore: 57

- Runtime: 127 minutes

Featuring the Rat PackFrank Sinatra, Dean Martin, Sammy Davis Jr., Peter Lawford, and Joey BishopOceans 11, focuses on 11 men who pull off an unbelievable Las Vegas heist. Danny Ocean, played by Sinatra, leads his former World War II buddies in a plan to rob multiple casinos in a single night. This classic film would be remade in 2001 with George Clooney taking over the role of Danny Ocean. Angie Dickinson played Danny Oceans ex-wife in the 1960 film, while Julia Roberts stepped in for the updated version in 2001.

- Director: Guy Hamilton

- IMDb user rating: 6.6

- Metascore: 59

- Runtime: 120 minutes

The seventh film in the James Bond film franchise, which was based on the novels by Ian Fleming, stars Sean Connery as 007. The spy jets off to Las Vegas to investigate diamond smuggling and discovers a wealthy tycoon and a nefarious plot. Connery was the first actor to play James Bond and starred in seven of the films. The Oscar-nominated film was shot on location in Las Vegas at several casinos including The Riviera, Tropicana Las Vegas, and Circus Circus Las Vegas.

- Director: Barry Levinson

- IMDb user rating: 6.8

- Metascore: 80

- Runtime: 136 minutes

This film chronicled the life of notorious mobster Bugsy Siegel and his significant role in building modern Las Vegas. Starring Annette Bening and Warren Beatty, the two would fall in love during filming, marry soon after, and go on to have four children together. The film was nominated for an astounding 10 Oscars and won two. While Bugsy lost for best picture at the Oscars to The Silence of the Lambs, it did manage to take home the Golden Globe Award for best motion picturedrama.

- Director: Robert Luketic

- IMDb user rating: 6.8

- Metascore: 48

- Runtime: 123 minutes

Under the tutelage of a Massachusetts Institute of Technology professor, six MIT students were trained to become card counters and made a killing in Las Vegas in this film, which is loosely based on the novel Bringing Down the House by Ben Mezrich. While many filming locations were in Boston, including the Public Garden, Boston University, and Newbury Street, Las Vegas was also an important filming locale for 21. According to the Nevada Film Office, shooting took place in many Las Vegas casinos, including Planet Hollywood, The Venetian, Caesars Palace, Hard Rock Hotel, and Red Rock Casino.

- Director: Wayne Kramer

- IMDb user rating: 6.9

- Metascore: 69

- Runtime: 101 minutes

An unlucky man is used by the mob to cool things down for high rollers who are on a winning streak at a Las Vegas casino until he gets lucky in love, changing his own luck at the casino. Maria Bello, William H. Macy, and Alec Baldwin star in this film that was primarily shot in Reno, Nevada. Baldwin received both an Oscar and a Golden Globe nomination for best supporting actor for his role as casino boss Shelly Kaplow.

- Director: Steven Soderbergh

- IMDb user rating: 6.9

- Metascore: 62

- Runtime: 122 minutes

The final film in the Oceans Eleven trilogy, Oceans Thirteen finds the gang getting together to pull off another heist after one of the original 11 is double-crossed by casino owner Willy Bank, who is played by legendary actor Al Pacino. One of the lines in the film, You shook Sinatras hand, is a reference to Frank Sinatra who played Danny Ocean in the original version of Oceans 11. The phrase is meant as a sort of moral code or gentlemans agreement.

- Director: Ben Younger

- IMDb user rating: 7.0

- Metascore: 63

- Runtime: 120 minutes

When Seth Davis father, a judge, catches him running an illegal casino from his apartment, he isnt happy. Davis, played by Giovanni Ribisi, goes out and gets a job as a broker in a boiler room, which according to Dictionary.com is, a place where illicit brokers engage in high-pressure selling, over the telephone, of securities of a highly speculative nature or of dubious value. The film was loosely based on the story of Jordan Belfort who was the subject of the 2013 Martin Scorsese film, The Wolf of Wall Street, which was also the title of Belforts memoir.

- Director: Richard Kwietniowski

- IMDb user rating: 7.1

- Metascore: 70

- Runtime: 104 minutes

At the heart of this film is a tale of gambling addiction. Based on the true story of Brian Molony, Owning Mahowny tells the tale of Dan Mahowny, a bank manager, who has access to multimillion dollar accounts that he used to feed his gambling habit. The real-life Molony committed bank fraud by embezzling $10.4 million from the Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce. The film, starring Philip Seymour Hoffman as Mahowny, was filmed in Toronto and Atlantic City, where Molony actually dropped $1.4 million at a New Jersey casino just before his arrest in 1982.

- Director: Mike Hodges

- IMDb user rating: 7.1

- Metascore: 75

- Runtime: 94 minutes

Aspiring writer Jack Manfred gets a job as a croupier, someone who works the tables at a casino and handles bets and payouts. While Jack does not gamble, his father does, and it is he who gets Jack the job at a London casino. Portrayed by Clive Owen, Jack gets caught up in a love triangle and a plot to cheat the casino before the films end. The casino in the film was actually created on a set in Germany.

- Director: Karel Reisz

- IMDb user rating: 7.2

- Metascore: 65

- Runtime: 111 minutes

James Caan stars as high-stakes gambler and English professor Axel Freed, who gets so caught up in gambling that he offers a loan shark his life for collateral against a loan. This crime thriller earned Caan an Oscar nod for best actor. Screenwriter James Toback has plenty of experience with gambling and based the films screenplay on his own addictionthough Freeds gambling appears to be an addiction to the rush and danger rather than to the act of gambling. A 2014 remake of the film starred Mark Wahlberg in the lead role.

- Director: Robert Altman

- IMDb user rating: 7.2

- Metascore: 84

- Runtime: 108 minutes

A casual gambler and a professional become friends and dig themselves deeper into the world of betting in this film starring Elliott Gould and George Segal. In a final desperate attempt to win big, the two characters head to Reno, Nevada, for the poker game to end all poker games. California Split was the first non-Cinerama film to use the eight-track sound system for dialogue, allowing for the recording of eight separate audio channels. The use of this technology solidified Altmans use of overlapping dialogue, which became one of his trademarks as a director.

- Director: Paul Thomas Anderson

- IMDb user rating: 7.2

- Metascore: 78

- Runtime: 101 minutes

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'Once in a generation': Columbus casino project begins to take shape - Lincoln Journal Star

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MATCH52 The Most Entertaining Casino Game You'll Ever Play! - European Gaming Industry News

BOSTON (SHNS) Encore Boston Harbor and its parent company Wynn Resorts will be ready next week to brief the Massachusetts Gaming Commission on its scaled-back plan to develop the land across Broadway in Everett to include an entertainment venue, restaurants and parking garage, a commission official said Wednesday morning.

Three weeks ago, the Gaming Commissions chief of community affairs was prepared to brief commissioners on the plan that was set to include an 1,800-seat entertainment venue, about 20,000 square feet of restaurant space and a garage with about 2,200 spaces. But he said he heard from casino officials early in January that they had decided to pause the permitting process for this development so that they can do some reevaluation on whether the development as proposed is the best use for the site.

Joe Delaney, the community affairs chief, said Wednesday that he got a call recently from Jacqui Krum, Encore Boston Harbors senior vice president and general counsel, saying the casino company was now ready to go. She had indicated to me that they had reduced the size of the theater, the entertainment venue, to under 1,000 seats whether thats 900, 950, 999, I dont know, well be finding that out very shortly with that they said they intend to keep the pedestrian crossing across Broadway and so on, and the exact location of that will depend on whether or not the venue is considered part of the gaming establishment. So well talk about all of those things.

The Gaming Commission was planning to take up that question of whether a development across the street from the casino would be considered part of Encores technical gaming establishment footprint and therefore subject to the commissions regulatory oversight and the provisions of the states expanded gaming law when Encore officials opted to hit the pause button last month.

The presentation at the commissions Feb. 10 meeting will be followed by a commission staff report on the issues at play and a question-and-answer period for commissioners. A public hearing to allow community members or others to present verbal testimony on the development is being planned for later in February and a commission decision is expected in March.

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Everett casino ready to move on nearby development - WWLP.com

Panaji, Feb 6 (IANS): The Congress on Sunday said that it would not be easy to wish away offshore casinos from Panaji, adding that if it comes to power, it would look to regulate the industry to control its "vice" component.

Chairman of the party's Manifesto Committee and former Union Minister of State for Law Ramakant Khalap also said the party would set up a functional Gaming Commission, as an authority to regulate the casino industry in the state.

"Goa is saddled with the issue of casinos. You have seen what has happened to the Mandovi. We are going to take a very holistic approach to this entire thing. It is not possible to just throw them out in the sea immediately," he said at a press conference.

The Congress' take on the controversial casino industry, nearly a week ahead of the state Assembly polls, is a climb down on the party's stated position on the casino industry. Various party leaders had promised to do away with the offshore casinos berthed in the Mandovi river off Panaji, terming them a menace to the state.

There are currently six offshore casinos on the Mandovi river, while there are nearly 10 onshore casinos functioning out of the numerous five star resorts located along the state's coastal strip.

Khalap now claims that it was not possible to nip the casino industry in the bud just yet.

"But a Gaming Commission, a regulatory body, will be put into place and we shall see to it that Goans are particularly protected from the vice of gambling, vice of drugs, vice of liquor and all sorts of things that are prevalent in Goa, everywhere for asking. We are absolutely concerned with the issues and appropriate steps will be taken," he said.

Asked if the party would shut down offshore casinos if it comes to power in the February 14 polls, Khalap said: "I am not saying they (casinos) will be there in the Mandovi. but the whole thing will have to be examined in a proper fashion. From 2012 till today this menace has been created. Overnight you cannot nip it in the bud like that."

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Cannot nip Goa's casino industry in the bud overnight: Congress - Daijiworld.com

WEST MEMPHIS, Ark. Southland Casino is looking for people for their new casino complex that is opening in the Spring. They will hold weekly job fairs through March 9th and will be immediately hiring for part-time and full-time positions.

Qualifying hires will receive on-the-spot offers given the required licenses can be received.

This is an excellent opportunity to begin your career and be part of an exciting gaming and hospitality operation, said David Wolf, Southland president and general manager. We anticipate opening our new casino complex this spring and the 21-story hotel in the fall of 2022. We encourage everyone in the Mid-South to come and apply for positions in this growing business.

Kevin Goewey, Southland food and beverage director, said: With five new restaurants, including a new upscale Steakhouse & Buffet, and three new bars opening shortly, we want to hire and onboard all of the new positions now. Southland tipped positions start at $10 an hour, and non-tipped positions start at $15, which is significantly more than what other food and beverage establishments offer in this market.

The fairs will be every Wednesday through March 9, 2022 from 10am-4pm at the Southland Casino Racing Kennel Club (located on the 2nd floor racing mezzanine).

Masks will be required for everyone attending and applicants must have two legal forms of identification. Hiring offers will be made at the fair, so it is requested that applicants apply before they attend.

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Southland Casino will be holding weekly job fairs for the next month - WATN - Local 24

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (WOOD) Theyre already planning for the warm summer months at Soaring Eagle Casino & Resort and they recently announced their first outdoor concert of the season!

TheZac Brown Bandis coming to the outdoor venue on July 30th a great idea for a girls weekend! On March 11th, actor, comedian and TV host Joel McHalewill be at Soaring Eagle and tickets are already on sale! Tickets also went on sale last week to seeStyxin concert on March 19th. The first show of 2022 is this Friday, January 21st Air Supply with special guest Orleansat the Entertainment Hall. This a big one comedianChris Rockwill be at Soaring Eagle on February 11th. You can also grab tickets to seeChicagoin concert on April 9th. At the beginning of May, you can enjoyEarth, Wind and Firein concert at the Entertainment Hall. You can check out the full list of concerts and showshere.

Looking for a tropical escape? Its always warm inside theSoaring Eagle Waterpark, which is just a short drive or shuttle bus ride from the casino and hotel. Theyve also got some specials going on right now justclick here. Make reservations for their upcoming themed weekends this weekend the fun centers all around friendship.They also have great Valentines Day specials, justclick here to see what they have going on!

Sponsored bySoaring Eagle Casino.

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Heres whats coming to Soaring Eagle Casino! - WOODTV.com

Rolling the Dice: A look at the impact of casinos on communities, and the politics of the decision-making process.

RICHMOND What was supposed to be a meeting among the Petersburg NAACP chapter, Sen. Joe Morrissey and Del. Kim Taylor to discuss Petersburg casino referendum legislationdescended into chaos over a social-media post that resulted in the Capitol Police being called, a protective order filed by the Petersburg chapter president, and aNAACP representativeissuing an affidavit calling for the chapter presidents removal.

Dr. Lafayette Jefferson, the chapter president who has publicly opposed the casino, and Morrissey, one of the two General Assembly patrons of the legislation, exchanged heated words over a 2019 Facebook post about Morrisseys relationship several years earlier with Myrna Pride, his then-17-year-old legal assistant who is now his wife and mother of his children. Morrissey, then 55years old and a member of the Virginia House of Delegates, was later convicted of delinquencyinvolving a minor and served three months of a 12-month sentence. They have publicly denied having sex before Pride turned 18, even though prosecutors possessed their alleged texts about their sexual relationship.

Last month, then-Gov. Ralph Northam pardoned Morrissey on the conviction.

At one point after the meeting became heated, Morrissey told Jefferson he would rip your f***ing heart out if Jefferson ever postedanything else about his family. The meeting ended with the Virginia Capitol Police being called to address the issue.

"If I don't think I could walk up into General Assembly and actually speak with my representatives without being harassed and threatened by someone that considers themselves a state senator, what kind of actual justice can I expect from the state legislature?" said Jefferson.

Morrissey, D-Richmond, confirmed he made that statement. He also confirmed that prior to the meeting, his legislative assistant gave him a copy of Jeffersons Facebook post.

The meeting Monday night in Taylors office had originally been called to address the issue of Petersburg holding a referendum on the possibility of bringing a casino to town. Last November, Richmond voters rejected a referendum that would have brought a $565 million casino and entertainment complex to the citys southside. Morrissey, whose Senate district also includes southside Richmond, then began pushing to have Petersburg as a potential host city.

Jefferson opposes the casino coming to Petersburg, saying it would promote predatory gambling that would drastically affect low-income families inPetersburg.

Jefferson, accompanied by Petersburg NAACP vice president Chioma Adaku-Griffin and chapter legal adviser Bekura Shabazz, met with Morrissey and Taylor to discuss the legislation.

During the meeting, Jefferson presented a talk sheet he wrotedetailing a casino's potential harm to the community.

"Studies show that casinos targets those who can least afford to lose and earn most of its living from people for whom gambling has become an addiction," it said."For the past several years, the City of Petersburg has ranked last of the 133 municipalities in the Commonwealth of Virginia. The reasons for the last placed ranking are also why Petersburg is attractive to casino owners."

Among the questions he asked was how Morrissey could be makingpromises right now aboutwhat benefits the casino would bring, including the alleged $52,000 annual salary per job.

"I actually spoke with the CEO of the casino company that he was referencing to and he assured me they have made no deals with the city of Petersburg," said Jefferson.

According to Jefferson, Morrissey repeatedly said that there were no downsides or additional expenditures needed in bringing a casino into the locality.

More: What happens when a casino is built? Gambling addiction rises, study shows

Thirty minutes into the meeting, Morrissey unexpectedly showed a Facebook post Jefferson wrote about Morrissey and his wife in 2019. Tempers then began flaring.

Jeffersons post read, "Thomas Jefferson, for all the great things he did and accomplished, he accomplished those things while concurrently and continually raping a 14-year-old enslaved African girl. Joe, educated at Jefferson's home follows closely in Jefferson's footsteps. In a moment of complete transparency, when I think of him as a man 10 years older than I am (51), and then think of his wife who at that time was younger than my daughter (19). I cannot support that."

Jefferson also posted that Morrissey, who was running for the state Senate at that time, is smooth, personable and very polished, but game always recognizes game. Based on the legal issues, Jefferson posted, I will not cast my vote for him, nor would I ever.

Morrissey reportedly asked Jefferson twice if he made the posts. Jefferson looked at him the first time he asked, then confirmed authorship when asked again.

Morrissey then said, 'If you ever harmmy wife or my family again, I'm gonna rip your f***ing heart out your chest!According to Jefferson, Morrissey then got up from his seat and walked towards him while directingprofanities at him. That was when the meeting abruptly ended and authorities intervened.

Taylor, R-Dinwiddie, whose office hosted the meeting, told The Progress-Index she felt the meeting was moving toward its end when the confrontation happened.

The conversation became heated, and I was taken out of the room by a [legislative assistant], Taylor said. At that point, the Capitol Police were called and everyone dispersed.

Taylors office said she would have no further comment.

After the altercation, Jefferson filed a complaint with the CapitolPolice and then got a protective order.

When TheProgress Index asked why the senator would bring up a Facebook post about his wife in a meeting that was meant to talk about the casinos, Morrissey replied,The word family came up (i.e. the casino would be family friendly) and I said something to the effect of speaking of family, did you place these posts on FB about my family.

Morrissey needs to understand this is not me placing his family in a historical context, he placed his family in historical context with his actions, said Jefferson.

The next day, Petersburg NAACP Vice President Chioma Adaku-Griffin, who was present at the meeting, filed an affidavit calling for the resignation of Jefferson as president.

Morrisseys legislative assistant Matt Wheeler wrote the affidavit after takingstatements from Adaku-Griffin.

The document, which was provided by Morrissey's office, reads: "I personally thought Mr. Jefferson's post was extremely rude and offensive. As a result of his posting about Senator Morrissey's wife being raped, I as a member of the Petersburg NAACP am calling for him to immediately relinquish his Chairmanship from the Petersburg NAACP."

"I'm disappointed," said Jefferson, who found out about the affidavit after reading the news. "We called each other cousin because her ancestors are from Nigeria and belong to the Igbo tribe and so do mine."

Adaku-Griffin says that her opposition to Jeffersons leadership also comes from the NAACP Petersburg chapter failing to vote on the issue of the casino before taking a public stance. She says she is personally neutral about bringing a casino into Petersburg.

His objection has been in the name of NAACP. We didnt vote to have that as a campaign issue of NAACP. My stance has always been, let me get more information, Adaku-Griffin said.

Im not stepping down, said Jefferson. Within the bylaws, if I do something wrong or trifling, yeah you could take me out. But I havent done anything like that.

Morrisseys and Taylors casino bills are still being debated in the Senate and House respectively.

Morrisseys Senate Bill 203 passed out of the Senate General Laws & Technology Committee Wednesday and was re-referred to the Senate Finance & Appropriations Committee for further study before possibly advancing to the Senate floor. Taylors House Bill 1134 is scheduled to be debated by the House General Laws Committee sometime next week.

More: State senator says Petersburg casino referendum bill unaffected by Richmond plan to revote

More: Technical amendments to Petersburg casino vote bill could cancel Richmond's plan to revote

Both bills add Petersburg to the list of host cities for future casinos located in strategic points in southwest, central and Tidewater Virginia.

They alsoinclude language that would prohibit any city where a casino vote failed from scheduling any more re-votes for five years from the date of the rejection. Since Richmond was the only one of the original five to not pass the referendum, the bill if passed would not allow a revote until at least 2026.

If the General Assembly approves the bills, Petersburg City Councilwill vote to ask the Circuit Court to approve the referendum for the ballot.

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Protective order and affidavit: Casino meeting with Petersburg NAACP ends in political chaos - Progress Index

Posted on: February 4, 2022, 10:07h.

Last updated on: February 4, 2022, 02:04h.

Cape Verde doesnt have a very large casino market. In fact, the island nation in the Atlantic Ocean has just one casino. However, its revenue saw a huge year-on-year growth of 122% in 2021.

COVID-19 forced Cape Verde to put the brakes on tourism, just like everywhere else. However, it was able to find new ground last year. The countrys gaming regulator reports that its gross gaming revenue (GGR) in 2021 was 1.06 million (US$1.21 million). Thats a significant improvement over the $547,000 a year earlier.

A small part of that stability can be attributed to the only casino currently active. It is located on the island of Sal, the countrys top tourist island.

In 2019, Cape Verdes GGR was $1.68 million, so theres still room for improvement. With relaxed travel restrictions starting to appear around the globe, 2022 could be an even better year.

Cape Verde is a group of 10 volcanic islands spanning a total of 1,557 square miles in the Atlantic Ocean. It belonged to Portugal until 1975, when it gained its independence. About 420 miles west of the westernmost point of the African continent, it has successfully developed its own economic stability since it became independent.

There are two casino concessions issued in Cape Verde. One covers the Sal gaming zone and the other, the Santiago gaming zone. A total of five gaming zones have been designated in the country, with the other three in So Vicente, Boavista, and Maio. However, none has a casino.

The Ministry of Tourism has begun to develop plans for casinos and resorts as a way to build sustainable tourism in the country.

Gaming is a sector in which we want to continue to invest, respecting all international rules and good practices, because it attracts a type of customer that has a very reasonable purchasing power, Carlos Santos, the Tourism Minister, explained two years ago.

The plan received a lot of attention and enthusiasm. Supporting it was a project that had been in the works, which would become the anchor of gaming across the entire archipelago. However, the future of that project is now in jeopardy.

In 2015, Macau Legend Development (MLD) reached an agreement to build a large, $290-million casino resort in Praia, on Santiago Island. Construction began in 2016 with a simple groundbreaking ceremony. Since then, work has been sporadic, and the project is still incomplete. At the time, the resort had a target inauguration of 2019.

Now, with the recent arrest of Levo Chan, the project may face more delays. Chan was the head of the Tak Chun junket, as well as the CEO of MLD.

MLDs board has stated that its business as usual, despite the Chan scandal. The company had originally made its arrangement with Cape Verde through its founder and cochair, David Chow. However, Chow has continued to reduce his stake in the company.

Its still possible that Cape Verde can realize its dream of increasing its footprint in the global gaming market. For now, with no work being done on the MLD property, it has to rely on its Sal casino to recover lost ground.

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Island Nation of Cape Verde Rebounds in 2021 as Casino Revenue Jumps... - Casino.Org News

High Stakes: Lim Kok Thay stepped down as chairman CEO of Genting Hong Kong last month but still has plenty to cheer about.

TheCrystal Symphony, a luxury cruise liner owned by Crystal Cruises, a subsidiary of Genting Hong Kong,was supposed to arrive in Miami on Saturday, January 22. But at 1 p.m. on Friday, the Captain told the passengers that the ship would instead dock in the Bahamas.

The change of plans was so the Crystal Symphony could avoid seizure by the U.S. Marshals. If the cruise liner had docked in Miami, the authorities wouldve taken the vessel as part of a lawsuit filed by Peninsula Petroleum Far East, claiming the company racked up $4.6 million in unpaid fuel bills since 2017.

On Monday, a second ship, Crystal Serenity, docked in the Bahamas to avoid seizure in the U.S., the Associated Press reports.

The fugitive cruise liners are symptoms of the problems plaguing Genting Hong Kong, which is run by Malaysian billionaire Lim Kok Thay.

In early January, Genting Hong Kongs German shipyard unitMV Werftenfiled for bankruptcy after failing to come to an agreement with the German government and its creditors. A week later, Genting Hong Kong filed a petition to wind up the company. Lim promptly resigned as chairman and CEO from Genting Hong Kong.

Troubled Waters: Two of Genting's Crystal cruise ships have become high seas fugitives over unpaid fuel bills.

One of Malaysias richest men, Lim Kok Thay, has seen his fortune drop 30% since last year. In April 2021, Lim was worth $2.7 billion, making him Malaysias 11th richest person. Today, his net worth is $1.9 billion. His $250 million stake in Genting Hong Kong is now worth zero as it goes through bankruptcy proceedings. The share price in Genting Berhad, which Kim owns a 44% stake in, dropped 15% since June and 8.5% last month alone.

But Lim still presides over the Genting Group, a complex organization his father started in the late 1960s. Genting and its subsidiaries own casinos in Egypt, Malaysia, Singapore, the U.K. and the U.S., as well as palm oil plantations and oil and gas operations.

Despite the troubles at the cruise line, and a battering from the pandemic, Gentings casino empire is on its way out of rough waters.

Erlin Salim, a Singapore-based analyst who covers Gentings properties in Malaysia and Singapore for Fitch Ratings, says Genting Singapore, which operates the resort casino Resorts World Sentosa, managed the downturn quite well.

Thanks to strong demand from local gamblers and cost cutting measures, Resorts World Sentosa is in a positive net cash position and maintains a positive EBITDA of $290 million through the first nine months of 2021.

Last year, Sentosa generated 55% of pre-pandemic revenue$592 million in gaming revenue, up 16% from the same time last yearand Salim expects the property to generate 75% of pre-pandemic revenue in 2022.

Jennifer Song, a Morningstar analyst based in Hong Kong, says Sentosa is on its way to a recovery because the Singapore government chose to live with Covid. But the recovery will require international gamblers30% of Sentosas gross gaming revenue came from Chinese gamblers and 50% from international visitors.

We think a full recovery will likely be in 2025, she says.

Maybank Kim Eng cuts its net profit forecast for Genting Singapore by 72% for 2022 and 54% for 2023. The firm believes the company will post flattish earnings for another year and face tough competition from Marina Sands, the only other casino in Singapore, for the premium mass market customer.

New Jewel: The $4.2 billion Resorts World Las Vegas opened with great fanfare in June 2021.

Resorts World Genting, which is the groups flagship location perched on a hill outside of Kuala Lumpur in Malaysia, is still struggling to rebound from the pandemic. It was closed between June and September and its revenue is down 78% during the first nine months of 2021 compared with 2020.

The casino has a steep hill to climb. The next six months will be critical as the government decides whether casino and tourism operations can return to normal and if cross-border travel restrictions will stay in place.

We think slower-than expected recovery will be the key credit risk for the Genting group, says Salim. The groups rating is on Negative Outlook, which signals pressure for downgrade in the next 6 to 12 months if it is unable to improve EBITDA meaningfully in 2022.

In the U.S., Gentings strategy is coming into focus but has yet to hit paydirt. In June, Resorts World Las Vegas became the first casino to open on The Las Vegas Strip in 10 years. The sprawling resort, with 117,000-square-foot casino floor, a 5,000-seat concert venue, two clubs, a 70,000-square foot mall, and 40 restaurants, cost $4.2 billion to build.

According to Gentings third quarter results, Resorts World Las Vegas brought in $175 million in revenue and nearly $27 million in profits during its first full quarter in operations. Hotel occupancy rate for the same quarter was 55%, beating the citys average hotel occupancy for the year at 42%, according to a report by the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority.

Colin Mansfield, an analyst from Fitch Ratings, says the Vegas property is impressive, but it has not yet hit its stride.

With big properties like this, in markets that have a lot of competition, you're not going to open your doors on day one, and immediately be hitting your full potential, says Mansfield. It takes a couple of years.

The property should hit 30% cash flow margins by 2024, he says.

Brendan Bussmann,partner and director of government affairs with Global Market Advisors, who covers the gaming industry, says Resorts World isnt benefitting from Sin Citys recovery as much as other properties.

Right now, you see a property that's still evolving as things progress, says Bussmann.

For the time being, theyre doing all the things a global casino operator should, including owning two of the most coveted licenses in the industryNevada and Singapore. They're positioned well for the future, he says.

House Money: Lim Kok Thay plays baccarat at Singapore's first casino, Resorts World Sentosa complex, in 2010.

The Empire State is the heart of Gentings U.S. gambling empire. Resorts World Casino New York City, which is at the storied Aqueduct, the thoroughbred horse track in Jamaica, Queens, has historically been one of the best-performing casinos in the U.S. In 2019, the casino, which only has video slots and video table games in addition to horse racing, brought in $626 million.

In 2021, Resorts World Casino New York City brought in $480 million in revenue, or 77% of pre-pandemic levels. In states like Nevada, casino revenue has peaked above pre-pandemic levels.

Two hours north of the city in Monticello stands Resorts World Catskills, which opened in 2018 and cost $1.2 billion. It is starting to do better after years of lackluster results, says Mansfield.

Today, things have turned around. Despite the pandemic, it is the best performing full casino in the state, according to revenue reported by the New York State Gaming Commission, and is on pace to match or beat pre-pandemic revenue levels.

New York Governor Kathy Hochul has called for the state to award three additional casino licenses, which can be located statewide, including in New York City.Nick Antenucci, a lawyer and lobbyist at Davidoff Hutcher & Citron who has worked in the states gaming industry for years, says Resorts World should have a leg up on the competition.

The Aqueduct facility is a prime candidate to get one of those three licenses, says Antenucci. It should be looked at as one of the front runners simply because it's already there.

While Gentings casino empire is still in recovery mode, Mansfield doubts that it is going anywhere but up.

Theyre here to stay in the global gaming industry, says Mansfield. Genting is a well-established and recognized global gaming operator with successful properties across the globe and is a formidable competitor with traditional bigger players like Las Vegas Sands, Wynn, Galaxy.

At 4 p.m. on a wintery Friday, the crowd is heating up near the video slot machines at Resorts Worlds casino in Queens. Early bird gamblers, mostly older folks, some nursing cocktails, and others being pushed in wheelchairs, tap buttons on the video slot machines.

Carlos, a 73-year-old retired janitor, says hes been coming here since it opened in 2011 but hes been spending a lot more time here since his wife died. One time I won $13,000, took home $7,000 after taxes, but we all mostly lose, says Carlos.

In August 2021, the casino opened a $400 million hotel on the property. When asked how he think Resorts World is doing financially, Carlos nods his head towards the direction of hotel.

Theres so many people losing that theyve built a hotel, says Carlos. This casino is making so much money.

Additional reporting by Jonathan Burgos.

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Billionaire Behind Troubled Crystal Cruises Is Moving Ahead With Bigger Casino Bets - Forbes