Gambling News by House of Odds

As reported by the Press of Atlantic City: "The buyer of the Sands Casino
Hotel likely will tear down the existing casino to make way for a $1 billion
megaresort that would take about three years to build, according to a gaming
analyst. "Attorneys for the Sands' owner, billionaire investor Carl C.
Icahn, have confirmed that negotiations are under way to sell the casino,
but have not yet disclosed the names of potential buyers. "Gaming analyst
George L. Smith III of Davenport & Co. said Las Vegas-based Pinnacle
Entertainment Inc. appears to be the front-runner for the Sands. Pinnacle
has been looking for other ways to enter the Atlantic City market after
losing out in May to Columbia Sussex Corp. in a $2.75 billion bidding war
for Aztar Corp., parent company of Tropicana Casino and Resort. ".Smith
added that Pinnacle probably would demolish the aging Sands to build a new
casino. Icahn's American Real Estate Partners investment group recently
acquired oceanfront property next to the Sands that could be combined with
the existing casino site for a $1 billion megaresort, Smith noted.
".Demolition of the Sands likely would put most of the casino's
approximately 2,000 gaming and hotel employees out of work while
construction continued for three years on the new resort."

As reported by the Toronto Star: "It's not unusual to have people walk into
the Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corporation office and ask for millions - but
rarely two at the same time. "Anne Gray and her husband Michael Psaki had
alerted the lottery staff that they would be coming to the Dundas St. office
to claim their $10.8 million prize at 11 a.m. yesterday. At the same moment,
unexpectedly, Antonio Arrojado and his family walked into the office with a
winning $9.1 million ticket. "'This is rare,' said Teresa Roncon, the senior
manager of public relations at the lottery corporation. ".Gray, 46, and
Psaki, 54, have known for more than two weeks they were millionaires. On
Aug. 12, their ticket was one of four that split the $43 million Lotto 6/49
pot. "As for Arrojado, 'life is going to be a lot easier, he said. The
winning number was drawn Aug. 19, but the construction worker didn't realize
his Lotto 6/49 ticket was a winner until last Friday. He rushed in yesterday
to collect his prize."

Hungry to release its highly anticipated Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) reality
series, BodogFight, digital entertainment powerhouse Bodog.com has wrapped
filming in the jungles of Central America and the debut episode of the
action-packed weekly series is scheduled to air September 12 on Men's
Network, a Dish Network satellite channel, and online at Bodog.TV. In an
onslaught of head-to-head bouts, Bodog.com's billionaire Founder, Calvin
Ayre, has set the stage for the toughest fighters in the world to showcase
their talents. In the eight-episode series, seven elite modern-day American
warriors will earn the right to represent the United States. As part of
"Team America", the seven fighters will square off against members of the
Russian Red Devil Sports Club, which is known for its fierce roster that
includes world heavyweight champion Fedor Emelianenko. This USA vs. Russia
grudge match will be broadcast live on pay-per-view in November and will
include three Superfights. Viewers will get a behind-the-scenes look at the
secret training regimen of the elite Russian squad as well as the individual
training programs and lifestyles of the American fighters all through the
eyes of BodogFight's special agents - rock phenomenon Bif Naked in the
United States and her beautiful Russian counterpart Natalia Vilakova. The
sexy duo will be on a quest to find the toughest, most ruthless Mixed
Martial Arts athletes the two countries have to offer. Plus, audiences are
going to be treated to up close and personal experiences with fighters as
they prepare to enter the ring, and spectacular training and interview
footage shot in the lush Central American jungle and rustic Costa Rican
cities - visuals that will leave no doubt BodogFight has set the new
standard for reality TV.
"As each episode of BodogFight airs, viewers are going to witness firsthand
why we are emerging as a dominant force in mainstream digital
entertainment," says Calvin Ayre, creator of a number of reality television
series and Founder of Bodog.com Entertainment Group. "The footage capturing
the lives, personalities and grueling training regimens of each athlete can
only be described as raw and riveting. Bodog has captured the essence of
Mixed Martial Arts as a sport and lifestyle for the world to see."

Elimination battles, behind-the-scenes training, interviews with fighters,
and lifestyle segments will compose seven of the weekly one-hour
"BodogFight" episodes, with the recap finale leading into the PPV main
event. The three massive super fights and the spectacular USA vs. Russia
event will be produced by the Mixed Fight Championship (MFC) and sponsored
by BodogFight.

Culminating a summer of special tournaments, prizes and parties, Aces.com
will host a gala Movie Premiere Party in Hollywood October 7th to celebrate
the release of ACES the Movie, the sexy new poker movie sponsored by the
retro-Vegas-style online casino. Tournament and contest winners will win
all-expense-paid trips to the party, and hundreds of L.A. area Aces.com
players will be invited to join the director and cast at Vanguard Hollywood,
one of the biggest dance clubs in Los Angeles. Organized by Hollywood party
producer Alex Quinn, this Aces party is sure to be an A-list crowd. ACES the
Movie, from Rolling Stones video director Daniel Zirilli, is the story of
three sexy college girls that take a high tech cheating scheme to the
underground card rooms of Las Vegas. It will be released on DVD by Warner
Brothers October 3rd but new players registering at Aces.com will receive a
free copy. In all, five lucky players will win an all-expense paid trip to
the gala movie premiere. Two party prize packages were awarded to Wednesday
Night Free Roll Tournament winners in July and another two will be awarded
September 13th and 20th. The winner of the Three-Card Poker Tournament
September 11 - 18 will also win airfare and accommodation to attend the
event.
"It's an incredible time for Aces.com - with the movie and the new
re-designed site, we're really in the mood to celebrate!" said Rene Quesada
Manager of the long-established site that recently underwent a total
makeover. "We've had a lot of fun with the girls from the movie - hosting
our online tournaments and making special appearances at the WSOP last
month. It'll be great to have them all together again in Hollywood!"

Alex Quinn, son of Oscar-winner Anthony Quinn, is known for throwing
exclusive invitation-only Hollywood parties.

"What Alex Quinn has done so far is beyond FAB," says Courtenay Semel,
daughter of Yahoo CEO Terry Semel and Quinn's cohort on the E! reality show
'Filthy Rich: Cattle Drive'. "His parties are glam and chic, not to mention
filled with hotness. They're only going to become more exclusive and the
talk of the town. AQ Presents = tres sass to the millionth degree."

The cavernous 20,000 square foot Vanguard Hollywood is one of L.A.'s
biggest, trendiest dance clubs - the most technologically advanced and
sophisticatedly designed venue in the United States. One Hollywood
party-scene blogger says it has a ".frightening mofo light and FX rig on
ceiling! Massive sound system that will actually compress your brain with
avalanches of bass!"

Tribeca Tables Europe Ltd, the leading providers of comprehensive ePoker
solutions has announced that Sporting Index have joined the Tribeca Tables
Poker Network, the world's largest aggregator of ePoker brands. Sporting
Index, the world leaders of sports spread betting having captured
approximately 70% of the UK market, have chosen the Tribeca platform ahead
of other poker vendors due to Tribeca's long standing reputation and
position in the poker industry. Tribeca represents the best choice of poker
vendor going forward with their in-depth poker knowledge and expertise.
Steve Cook from Tribeca Tables said, "We recognize Sporting Index's unique
position in the spread betting market and many of their customers have a
very close synergy with poker. Sporting Index will be able to take advantage
of the lucrative poker market with their extensive customer base. Everyone
at Tribeca is extremely pleased to welcome them onboard. They are a
significant signing for us and we look forward to their launch around mid
September".
Warren Murphy, Sales & Marketing Director, from Sporting Index said, "Sports
spread betting maximises people's interaction with sporting events and
dominates all other forms of betting in the provision of "in-play or
in-running" betting. The challenge, interactivity and excitement generated
by Poker is a natural extension of our offer. Our partnership with Tribeca
will solidify our reputation as World Leaders in the provision of highly
involving betting and gaming content".

Sporting Index join many prestigious brands in the Tribeca network such as
Paddy Power, Blue Square, Victor Chandler, Golden Palace, Doyles Room, G-Fed
Games, Bowmans and USbets. Tribeca now boosts over 150 poker and lifestyle
brands and they are now considered to offer one of the best poker room
environments. Their impressive client portfolio speaks volumes for its
growing reputation in the poker industry and Tribeca are one of very few
choices left in the market as a poker vendor that do not own or promote any
in-house brands.

The Tribeca poker network frequently has over 12,000 players online
simultaneously and regularly updates the network with new features. Steve
Cook added, "We are constantly adding new software functionality and games.
We are very excited to announce that we will be releasing shortly a new game
designed by Tribeca called "HoldemWarz". A wacky fixed odds shoot-out
betting game for those that need an adrenalin rush! As well, we are
releasing a series of casino side games; foreign language clients, a new
custom avatar feature for players to upload their own pictures, graphics and
text; a new play again STT feature; a seat rotation function and many more
new enhancements. We are also completing our poker software integration with
several other large brands and we will be releasing further details in due
course."

As reported by the (UK) Express: "New James Bond actor Daniel Craig has
added gambling to his range of 007-inspired skills. "The 38-year-old star,
who had to learn how to drive a high-powered car and handle a gun
convincingly for his Bond debut, revealed he has now become a card-sharp.
"Craig was taught to play a plausible hand of poker during the filming of
gambling scenes in the forthcoming 007 movie Casino Royale. "In one casino
scene, Bond has to ruin the arch villain by bluffing him at the poker table.
And Craig enjoyed learning how to play poker so much he has taken to the
game in his spare time as well. "...British card player John Duthie, who has
made £1.5million from poker, was asked to advise on the gambling scenes. He
said Craig not only had to learn the game but also had to look convincing
playing it..."

As reported by the Yuma Sun: "After more than a year of feeling like the
ball in a political pingpong game, the Quechan Tribe appears on the brink of
securing a new gambling agreement. "The California State Assembly voted 50
to 1 last week to ratify a new compact with the Quechan Tribe that sets
regulations under which the tribe can build and operate a new casino. The
legislation is scheduled to go to the Senate floor today, where it could
receive its final state approval. "After Senate approval, the compact must
be submitted to the U.S. Department of Interior for final approval, which
Felix Montague, chairman of the tribe's construction committee, said he
expects to 'be a formality.' "Quechan Tribal President Mike Jackson Sr. said
on Monday that he's been told by Senate leadership the bill likely will
pass.
"The tribe needs the new compact with the state of California to construct a
proposed casino and resort off Interstate 8 at the Algodones exit."

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As reported by the Rhode Island Providence Journal: "A memorandum of
understanding signed this spring by the Mashantucket Pequots and MGM Mirage,
the publicly traded gaming colossus, lays out a plan for possibly more
casinos in southeastern Connecticut, elsewhere in Indian Country, in
Atlantic City or on the Las Vegas strip. "The Mashantuckets and MGM
envision, in addition to the $700-million expansion already under way at
Foxwoods, the potential for more new casinos on the Connecticut reservation
using MGM brand names and other nongaming, destination-resort development
along Route 2 in North Stonington. "The tribe announced its intention to
partner with MGM in April. The memorandum, released by the state Division of
Special Revenue in response to a Freedom of Information request by The Day,
includes these provisions:
"The Foxwoods expansion, scheduled to open in 2008, will get an MGM brand
name, probably MGM Grand. The Mashantuckets will have access to additional
MGM casino hotel brand names for future expansions.

".MGM and the Mashantuckets will establish a new entity, jointly owned, that
could develop casino resorts all over the country, including the Las Vegas
strip. A specific 14-acre site in Atlantic City now owned by MGM is one
location mentioned as a possibility.

".The National Indian Gaming Commission, which is required to approve
anything considered to be a management contract with an Indian tribe, is
also reviewing the Mashantucket/MGM memorandum, a spokesman said."

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The National Indian Gaming Commission (NIGC) is undertaking changes to its
website to address reliability and security issues. In addition, the NIGC
has recently been the victim of website hackers. This incident has in no way
compromised the content of NIGC's website or our networks and the Commission
is moving swiftly to resolve this issue. The NIGC website was cosmetically
defaced, which means the hackers inserted their materials in front of NIGC's
homepage by breaching NIGC's current hosting company's security measures.
With anticipation of continued increase in usage of the website, the
Commission is in the process of relocating the website to another hosting
company that possesses additional security against such attacks. This
transition should be complete next week.

---
[This E-mail scanned for viruses by Tradebooster Anti-Virus]

As reported by the Argus Leader: "Circuit Judge Max Gors ordered state
officials Monday to add an explanation to November's ballot about the repeal
of video lottery, putting the tax loss of $112 million into the context of
the state budget. "Gors, in a 12-page order, said no one disputes that the
loss of video lottery would cost the state $112 million. But he told
Attorney General Larry Long, who wrote the ballot explanation, to add a
phrase that points out the amount is 11 percent of the state's general fund.
".Long said his office is satisfied with that decision. ".Long is required
to write brief explanations about the purpose and effect of each ballot
measure. Supporters of the gambling repeal complained that Long's inclusion
of the amount of money that could be lost, $112 million, was the equivalent
of sticker shock without some context. "Ending the video lottery case and a
challenge to another ballot explanation that is in the state Supreme Court
will clear the way for ballots to be printed."

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[This E-mail scanned for viruses by Tradebooster Anti-Virus]

As reported by Reuters: "The clean-up is mostly complete and business is
brisk at the beachfront casinos, but a year after the devastation wrought by
Hurricane Katrina, Biloxi is still struggling to get back on its feet. "...A
year of uncertainty over new building codes and the anaemic local economy
have prompted long-time residents to considering leaving the city,
especially since government funds to help rebuild houses have only trickled
in. "...Most of the pre-storm population of about 50,000 has returned, city
officials aid, and the state government has recently begun distributing
federal funds to rebuild homes. "...Mississippi loosened casino restrictions
in the aftermath of Katrina, allowing more land-based facilities to help
replace revenues lost when the storm ravaged the giant floating gambling
barges that once dotted the coast.
"Tax receipts from the casinos, which contributed more than a third of
Biloxi's $50 million in annual revenues, have rebounded to pre-storm levels
in recent weeks, and the city is hoping to more than double the number of
gambling houses to 20 facilities in the next decade.

"More important are the 15,000 jobs the casinos generated before the storm.
Nearly 10,000 of those jobs have returned, and the re-opening of the Beau
Rivage scheduled for the August 29 anniversary of Katrina will add more than
1,000 to that..."

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As reported by the Associated Press: "Clark County Sheriff Bill Young is
pushing for the gambling industry to install and manage an expanded
surveillance camera system on the Las Vegas Strip that could film robberies,
fights and other crimes and alert police immediately. "'For a very
reasonable investment, I think we can provide a much more secure net to
encompass the entire tourist corridor,' Young told the Las Vegas
Review-Journal. "Young estimated it would cost about $3 million to get the
program involving about 120 surveillance cameras up and running, not
including operational costs. "'The idea would be to expand on what they have
now. None of the cameras would be on public property; they would all be on
private property,' he said, adding, 'We'd all benefit from it.' "Several
casino companies said they wanted more information on Young's proposal..."

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[This E-mail scanned for viruses by Tradebooster Anti-Virus]

As reported by the Yuma Sun: "After more than a year of feeling like the
ball in a political pingpong game, the Quechan Tribe appears on the brink of
securing a new gambling agreement. "The California State Assembly voted 50
to 1 last week to ratify a new compact with the Quechan Tribe that sets
regulations under which the tribe can build and operate a new casino. The
legislation is scheduled to go to the Senate floor today, where it could
receive its final state approval. "After Senate approval, the compact must
be submitted to the U.S. Department of Interior for final approval, which
Felix Montague, chairman of the tribe's construction committee, said he
expects to 'be a formality.' "Quechan Tribal President Mike Jackson Sr. said
on Monday that he's been told by Senate leadership the bill likely will
pass.
"The tribe needs the new compact with the state of California to construct a
proposed casino and resort off Interstate 8 at the Algodones exit."

---
[This E-mail scanned for viruses by Tradebooster Anti-Virus]

As reported by the Rhode Island Providence Journal: "A memorandum of
understanding signed this spring by the Mashantucket Pequots and MGM Mirage,
the publicly traded gaming colossus, lays out a plan for possibly more
casinos in southeastern Connecticut, elsewhere in Indian Country, in
Atlantic City or on the Las Vegas strip. "The Mashantuckets and MGM
envision, in addition to the $700-million expansion already under way at
Foxwoods, the potential for more new casinos on the Connecticut reservation
using MGM brand names and other nongaming, destination-resort development
along Route 2 in North Stonington. "The tribe announced its intention to
partner with MGM in April. The memorandum, released by the state Division of
Special Revenue in response to a Freedom of Information request by The Day,
includes these provisions:
"The Foxwoods expansion, scheduled to open in 2008, will get an MGM brand
name, probably MGM Grand. The Mashantuckets will have access to additional
MGM casino hotel brand names for future expansions.

".MGM and the Mashantuckets will establish a new entity, jointly owned, that
could develop casino resorts all over the country, including the Las Vegas
strip. A specific 14-acre site in Atlantic City now owned by MGM is one
location mentioned as a possibility.

".The National Indian Gaming Commission, which is required to approve
anything considered to be a management contract with an Indian tribe, is
also reviewing the Mashantucket/MGM memorandum, a spokesman said."

---
[This E-mail scanned for viruses by Tradebooster Anti-Virus]

The National Indian Gaming Commission (NIGC) is undertaking changes to its
website to address reliability and security issues. In addition, the NIGC
has recently been the victim of website hackers. This incident has in no way
compromised the content of NIGC's website or our networks and the Commission
is moving swiftly to resolve this issue. The NIGC website was cosmetically
defaced, which means the hackers inserted their materials in front of NIGC's
homepage by breaching NIGC's current hosting company's security measures.
With anticipation of continued increase in usage of the website, the
Commission is in the process of relocating the website to another hosting
company that possesses additional security against such attacks. This
transition should be complete next week.

---
[This E-mail scanned for viruses by Tradebooster Anti-Virus]

As reported by the Argus Leader: "Circuit Judge Max Gors ordered state
officials Monday to add an explanation to November's ballot about the repeal
of video lottery, putting the tax loss of $112 million into the context of
the state budget. "Gors, in a 12-page order, said no one disputes that the
loss of video lottery would cost the state $112 million. But he told
Attorney General Larry Long, who wrote the ballot explanation, to add a
phrase that points out the amount is 11 percent of the state's general fund.
".Long said his office is satisfied with that decision. ".Long is required
to write brief explanations about the purpose and effect of each ballot
measure. Supporters of the gambling repeal complained that Long's inclusion
of the amount of money that could be lost, $112 million, was the equivalent
of sticker shock without some context. "Ending the video lottery case and a
challenge to another ballot explanation that is in the state Supreme Court
will clear the way for ballots to be printed."

---
[This E-mail scanned for viruses by Tradebooster Anti-Virus]

As reported by Reuters: "The clean-up is mostly complete and business is
brisk at the beachfront casinos, but a year after the devastation wrought by
Hurricane Katrina, Biloxi is still struggling to get back on its feet. "...A
year of uncertainty over new building codes and the anaemic local economy
have prompted long-time residents to considering leaving the city,
especially since government funds to help rebuild houses have only trickled
in. "...Most of the pre-storm population of about 50,000 has returned, city
officials aid, and the state government has recently begun distributing
federal funds to rebuild homes. "...Mississippi loosened casino restrictions
in the aftermath of Katrina, allowing more land-based facilities to help
replace revenues lost when the storm ravaged the giant floating gambling
barges that once dotted the coast.
"Tax receipts from the casinos, which contributed more than a third of
Biloxi's $50 million in annual revenues, have rebounded to pre-storm levels
in recent weeks, and the city is hoping to more than double the number of
gambling houses to 20 facilities in the next decade.

"More important are the 15,000 jobs the casinos generated before the storm.
Nearly 10,000 of those jobs have returned, and the re-opening of the Beau
Rivage scheduled for the August 29 anniversary of Katrina will add more than
1,000 to that..."

---
[This E-mail scanned for viruses by Tradebooster Anti-Virus]

As reported by the Associated Press: "Clark County Sheriff Bill Young is
pushing for the gambling industry to install and manage an expanded
surveillance camera system on the Las Vegas Strip that could film robberies,
fights and other crimes and alert police immediately. "'For a very
reasonable investment, I think we can provide a much more secure net to
encompass the entire tourist corridor,' Young told the Las Vegas
Review-Journal. "Young estimated it would cost about $3 million to get the
program involving about 120 surveillance cameras up and running, not
including operational costs. "'The idea would be to expand on what they have
now. None of the cameras would be on public property; they would all be on
private property,' he said, adding, 'We'd all benefit from it.' "Several
casino companies said they wanted more information on Young's proposal..."

---
[This E-mail scanned for viruses by Tradebooster Anti-Virus]

The Harrah's casino in Reno expects to see one of its regulars in the next
few days. But this man won't receive the typical welcome when he walks
through the door. Instead, a Harrah's casino manager will approach him and
bring up an unpleasant topic: recent comments the man made to a casino host
about refinancing his house and gambling with his retirement money. After
expressing concern, the manager will give the man a problem-gambling hotline
number and a chance to enter himself into a database that will stop mailers
from being sent to his home, among other self-help services. The
unidentified man is an unwitting participant in a program that casino giant
Harrah's Entertainment implemented several months ago that is believed to be
the first and most aggressive problem gambling effort of its kind in the
country. The "ambassador" program - taking its name from the casino managers
charged with approaching gamblers with information about programs many
casinos have offered for years - has captured the attention of problem
gambling treatment experts normally skeptical of casino efforts to help
compulsive gamblers. Casinos in Nevada and many other states are required by
law to post problem gambling hotline numbers, offer self-help pamphlets and
educate casino workers about warning signs. Harrah's also allows gamblers to
sign up on a "self-exclusion" list that applies to all of its casinos
nationwide. These efforts, which acknowledge problem gambling as a
legitimate mental health disorder similar to alcoholism, require gamblers to
take the first step themselves. The Harrah's program is different, experts
say, because it requires workers such as dealers and cashiers to notify a
manager if they believe a person has a gambling problem. The manager then
calls the "ambassador" on duty to handle the touchy task of sitting down
with the customer.
Competitors say the responsibility to help gamblers already lies with every
rank-and-file employee on the casino floor as part of state-mandated
training programs.

In reality, problem gambling advocates say, workers are being told about the
disease but are rarely taking the initiative to intercept people on the
casino floor.

"Frankly, there's a lot of lip service at the corporate level that doesn't
get translated down to the employees," said Keith Whyte, executive director
of the National Council on Problem Gambling. "I can't tell you the number of
times I've gone into a casino and have found brochures tucked away and
employees who don't know what their responsibilities are. There's a
difference between having a program and making sure employees are
comfortable enough to take action."

Previously, workers didn't feel at ease approaching people who probably
needed help, said Andy Donato, a casino supervisor at Harrah's Reno and one
of about 700 "ambassadors" who have volunteered for the added responsibility
nationwide.

"This program reassures them ¦ that we really believe in this," Donato said.

The program requires employees to take action based on what a person says.
Casinos and some treatment experts believe that unless a gambler's behavior
is over the top, words are a more definitive indicator of a person's mental
state.

There aren't any specific "trigger" phrases - that's left to employees'
judgment. Workers receive several hours of training that includes watching
instructional videos with interactions between employees and distraught
customers.

"We don't want to shoehorn them into a box so that they're thinking, 'If I
don't hear this phrase then I don't need to help the person,' " said
Harrah's spokesman David Strow.

So far, about two to three such conversations have occurred at each Harrah's
property per month. Gamblers don't appear to be resisting efforts to strike
up a conversation, though in some cases, ambassadors find that the best time
to approach them is not right away but after the person has had time to cool
off from his last gambling session.

Some appreciate the information and concern but do not appear to need help,
while others have been referred to treatment as a result of the program,
Strow said.

Donato said he received input from outside problem gambling and human
resources experts on how to approach people in a friendly way without making
them feel defensive or combative.

For example, a Harrah's manager might approach a gambler and suggests a
"timeout" over a drink or a meal.

"I've been with Harrah's almost 30 years, and over the years you hear all
sorts of statements, like, 'My wife is going to kill me when I go home' to
'I'm having a bad day, I never should have come here,' " Donato said. "It's
not easy to evaluate without talking to the person directly whether the
person is serious."

Henry Lesieur, a staff psychologist at Rhode Island Hospital's gambling
treatment program and one of the nation's foremost treatment experts, calls
the effort "one of the most thought-out programs I've seen" from a casino
company.

Lesieur, who co-authored the first definition of problem gambling included
in the American Psychiatric Association's diagnostic manual, said discussing
self-help schemes with gamblers in the casino is an "improvement." However,
he questions Harrah's commitment to maintaining a growing "watch" list
documenting conversations and outcomes involving hundreds, even thousands of
gamblers for years to come.

The program also is not going to catch each gambler who tries to re-enter
casinos after requesting that they be excluded or refused service from
Harrah's properties, he added.

Some problem gambling experts are skeptical that the program will make a
difference for gamblers in the throes of addiction.

Robert Hunter, clinical director of the Problem Gambling Center in Las
Vegas, said Harrah's may have trouble reasoning with addicts in a gambling
environment.

"If someone at a bar has had too many drinks, that's not the time to talk to
someone about their drinking," Hunter said. "I see folks who've already
crossed the line into addiction. For them, this is not going to be much
help. That said, I support any efforts to get people into recovery."

Carol O'Hare, director of the Nevada Council on Problem Gambling, says the
program still represents a "big step" for the industry because it aims to
help people before they hit bottom.

Lesieur says the program is a sign that the industry is willing to face its
Achilles heel head-on rather than be pummeled by critics.

Strow said the effort resulted from a policy of continuous evaluation and
improvement based on new research. It is not a knee-jerk reaction or an
admission of inadequacy of past programs, he said.

Lesieur, though, said the program does not go far enough.

The responsibility to be more proactive lies with state governments, not
Harrah's, he said.

"Harrah's is in the business of making money," he said. "I don't expect them
to have a hard sell. If any education of gambling is to be done, it needs to
be done by the state."

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As reported by the Tulsa World: "State Indians' spending on issues
representation has soared since the start of this decade. "Oklahoma's
American Indian tribes are scoring political points with a significant
increase in spending on federal lobbying. "According to the U.S. Senate
Office of Public Records disclosure statistics, 13 of Oklahoma's 38 tribes
reported that they paid lobbyists a total of about $1.17 million in 2005.
"That's up from five tribes that paid less than $90,000 in 2000 -- at least
a 13-fold increase in Indian lobbying in five years. The Center for
Responsive Politics estimates the total spending on American Indian lobbying
nationwide at $2.2 billion. ".The biggest tribes aren't spending the most
money, however. For 2005, the 16,000-member Osage Nation reported spending
$380,000 on lobbying while the 38,000-member Chickasaw Nation reported
spending $250,000. ".With Indian gaming revenues at a total of $22 billion a
year, the tribes' investment in the mechanisms of politics is skyrocketing.
"The changing political focus of the tribes comes in part from gaming
revenues, but it also has roots in changes made in federal law about 30
years ago, one chief said."

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Research guru Jim Medick doesn't want to rub it in. But it's difficult for
him not to say, "I told you so," after a handful of major gaming companies
have blamed rising gasoline prices for lackluster profit growth at
lower-rent properties frequented by budget-conscious tourists. Tourism
honchos had disputed results of a controversial telephone survey of Southern
Californians that Medick's MRC Group conducted last September showing that
gas prices were closely correlated with trips to Las Vegas. Prior to
somewhat disappointing second-quarter performance figures, gaming giants and
the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority were asserting that gas
prices and other national economic concerns were not affecting business.
Medick's telephone survey of Vegas travelers told a different story, that
rising gas prices were significantly cutting into travel plans over other
activities such as going to the movies or the mall. In fact, close to half
of the respondents said they had cut back on trips to Las Vegas as a result
of higher gas prices. Drivers also were asked at what point they would stop
driving to Las Vegas, a question based on the assumption that most folks
have a limit. About half of drivers said they would stop driving to Vegas if
prices hit $3.50 per gallon and about 80 percent would stop if gas reaches
$4.33 per gallon. With the LVCVA reporting a 2 percent decline in visitor
traffic in June and the state noting a 7 percent drop in Strip casino
revenue for the month - the biggest dip in three years - even Gov. Kenny
Guinn admitted that "an economy based so much on tourism is always at the
mercy of higher gas prices and a slowing of the economy."
What does Medick make of all this?

"I have a saying: 'Never be afraid to stand up for what you believe in but
always be prepared to duck,' " he said. "With this survey, I was ducking."

. . .

A prime piece of resort land is in play - again - on the Strip.

An investment group including Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Edge
Group, Tristar Capital and RFR Holding picked up 63 acres of land just east
of Interstate 15 and behind Mandalay Bay for about $202 million in May. It's
now on the market for more than $400 million.

Investors say they had plans for a large, mixed-use project on the parcel -
one of the largest assembled on the Strip. It made sense: Development costs
are forcing operators to build projects with large numbers of rooms -
including condos that can be sold upfront to help finance construction.

But it's hardly a slam dunk.

Rising development costs continue to delay major Strip projects, which could
mean more land resold for a quick profit in the months to come as resorts
prove to be less profitable, real estate experts say.

Even well-known groups could have problems trying to pencil out profits and
secure financing for multibillion-dollar projects on the Strip, they say.

"We think people are buying land in the hope that the larger fish are going
to assemble bigger parcels down the road," said luxury residential broker
Bruce Hiatt. "I also think we're going to see a shrinkage of projects, which
we want to see because it changes our supply-demand balance in a favorable
way."

Seller and investment partner Adam Frank of Edge Group, who is building Las
Vegas' first W hotel at Harmon Avenue along with Starwood, says they're not
in the business of flipping land. Rising development costs did not factor
into the decision, either, Frank said.

The Russell Road site was under contract well before the company picked up
25 acres in June next door to its W project, the site of the failed Las
Ramblas condo resort complex, he said.

"To make this work you have to have a lot of density," Frank said. "Now that
we've got 50 contiguous acres, it allows us to do that at the W site. It's
more logical for us to focus all our energy in one place."

. . .

Paging Little Richard, Frankie Avalon and Debbie Reynolds ¦

In an era of rising prices, Coast Casinos regulars are wondering about the
future status of Coast's slot club - a program that lets low-rollers rack up
freebies - as well as its stable of lower-priced vintage acts.

Parent company Boyd Gaming Corp. has made it clear that the company, which
is buying out Coast boss Michael Gaughan in exchange for his purchase of the
South Coast, isn't planning on changing things much at the remaining four
Coast properties that Boyd owns: the Barbary Coast, Gold Coast, Suncoast and
Orleans.

But some Coast-goers remain suspicious of changes on the horizon once Coast
founder Gaughan - who built his reputation on serving "the little guy" - is
out of the picture.

Boyd President Keith Smith says not to worry.

"Michael stepping away from the business really doesn't change anything,
from our entertainment policies to our slot club policies to our promotional
policies," Smith said. "That said, every morning you wake up and the world
has changed. We have no planned changes for how we operate that business,
but maybe there are some opportunities for us to further integrate the
properties."

That could include streamlining purchasing for all properties and, more
important for customers, integrating the Boyd and Coast slot clubs. Boyd now
has separate clubs for each of its non-Coast properties.

Boyd is likely to fold the club for Sam's Town - the only big locals
property Boyd owned outside of the Coast chain - into the Coast club
program.

"That makes the most sense to do quickly," Smith said.

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As reported by the Arizona Central: "Russell Green's wife gave him a hard
time when he whipped out a video camera recently to capture his youngest
daughter's first day of kindergarten. All the parents were doing it. "The
excitement Green felt that day was a far cry from his anxiety a year ago,
when Hurricane Katrina drained his bank account, separated him from one of
his daughters and sent his family hopscotching their way to Arizona from
Louisiana. ".Green, a sous chef, found work at Harrah's Ak-Chin Casino in
Maricopa, which reached out to several families displaced by the disaster. A
couple of people have returned to New Orleans, but about 20 have stayed,
Harrah's spokeswoman Susan Baker said. "He said he hopes improvements will
come soon for people living outside of the French Quarter. ".Cheryl Bernard
agrees. One of Green's co-workers at Harrah's, Bernard visited New Orleans
in February and has no desire to go back. ".Even though she is without her
close-knit family, Bernard said she is happy here. She calls Arizona home."

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As reported by The Korea Times: "A hundred and sixty senior citizens have
launched a nationwide campaign to root out gambling. "The members of the
National Council for Upgrading Korea held a press conference yesterday at
the New Kukje Hotel in Seoul proclaiming a war against gambling, criticizing
the current situation where Korea is being labeled as a 'Gambling Republic'
instead of 'a developed country.' "It has decided to create a citizens'
group with other civil organizations, help gambling addicts and launch a
nationwide campaign to eradicate the addictive habit. "...The council asked
for a clear explanation about the 'Pada Iyagi,' or 'Sea Story' scandal from
the person responsible and also demanded that the government employ powerful
steps needed to remove the stigma of the 'Gambling Republic.'..."

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The Lotteries and Gaming Authority would like to bring to your attention
that a foreign remote gaming company by the name of Pokerzade.com is
claiming that it is being regulated by 'Malta Gaming Commission Ltd.' The
Lotteries and Gaming Authority which is the only body that regulates
lotteries and gaming in Malta would like to inform the public at large that
the above statement is not true. Pokerzade.com has no connection whatsoever
with the Maltese jurisdiction. The LGA strictly advices the public to play
responsibly with companies licensed with reputable jurisdictions who have
sound remote gaming regulations.

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As reported by the Australia ABC News: "More than $100,000 raised from
poker machines is being distributed to community groups in Griffith and
Wagga this week. "Under the Community Development and Support Expenditure
Scheme, clubs making more than $1 million profit from gaming machines are
required to return money to the community. ".Mission Australia says while
the charities receiving money are certainly worthy, these donations could
not have been made without gambling."

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As reported by the Iowa Times-Republican: "The City of Tama is making a run
at putting a casino riverboat on its recently acquired Cherry Lake near
downtown. "The Tama City Council on Monday approved an agreement with
Signature Management Group to negotiate and develop a casino project after a
representative presented them with a strategic plan to compete for a gaming
license. "Petitions circulating recently had amassed 1,031 signatures by
Thursday in favor of asking voters whether to legalize gambling during this
November's general election. ".Mayor Chris Bearden said he approached SMG in
May about looking at Tama as a possible site for a future casino after
Caraustar Industries donated the 40-acre Cherry Lake and surrounding land
next to their Tama Paperboard mill."

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As reported by the Kansas City Star: "A plan to significantly shorten
Missouri's lifetime self-ban from casinos for troubled gamblers failed to
win approval Wednesday from the Missouri Gaming Commission. But the idea is
not dead. "The shorthanded commission, meeting in Maryland Heights, Mo.,
voted 2-1 for a proposal to allow a minimum two-year ban before gamblers
could apply for reinstatement and admission to the state's riverboat
casinos. ".More than 10,000 Missourians have placed themselves on the list
since it was established in 1996. Those caught violating the ban can be
arrested and prosecuted for trespassing. The ban also forces violators to
forfeit any jackpots they win. "The proposal would have given those on the
list an opportunity to switch to the two-year minimum ban. Under the plan
gamblers could petition the commission to be removed from the list if they
met certain requirements for counseling and self-education. "Missouri's
self-exclusion program was the first in the nation and has been copied by
other states that do offer a menu of self-banning options, which is the
approach favored by the National Council on Problem Gambling."

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As reported by the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review: "State gambling regulators
have joined the chorus of critics calling for changes to Pennsylvania's slot
machine law, saying they will take matters into their own hands to the
degree possible if amendments are not made. "In a letter dated Wednesday to
a dozen state lawmakers, Thomas Decker, chairman of the state Gaming Control
Board, said the board wants 'critical' amendments to the law that would
include: "- Prohibiting public officials from holding up to a 1 percent
interest in gambling companies. "-Banning political contributions from slots
license holders and their immediate relatives.
"- Eliminating blind trusts that the board says are designed to 'circumvent'
the ban on political contributions and other disclosure requirements.

"- Giving the state broader powers to regulate and control gambling
operations.

".The proposals generally echoed changes that Gov. Ed Rendell, one of the
key gambling proponents, recently suggested in his own letter to lawmakers."

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As reported by the Channel News Asia: "Three gaming licences could be
awarded in Japan in 2009, with the projects expected to be completed around
2012, according to some market watchers. "But while that will add to the
growth of the industry in Asia, they say the emergence of the gaming sector
in Japan is not likely have a major impact on Singapore's integrated
resorts. ".Said Sean Monaghan, vice president of equity research at Merrill
Lynch (Singapore), 'In 2008, the government is likely to pass the
legislation. So you probably have tendering in 2009 and the award of around
three casino licenses, probably one in Tokyo, one in Okinawa and one in
another major city on the main island - so three major casino licenses.
Obviously if you have a tender, you will have global focus on it, massive
bidding and probably at least US$10 billion investments for those three
casino properties.'."

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Empire Resorts, Inc. ("Empire") today announced that the New York Racing
and Wagering Board has arbitrated terms of a new contract with the company's
horsemen. The new contract will run through December 31, 2007. As part of
the agreement, the horsemen will receive 8.25% of the first $100 million of
VGM revenue, after which they will receive 9.25%, with a minimum of 200 race
days per year. In addition, for insurance, legal, and administrative
matters, the horsemen will receive $20,000 per month as a direct management
contribution, along with 3.5% of revenue from all sources; in 2007, the
horsemen will receive 4.5% of revenue from all sources. Empire Resorts
continues to review its options and possible avenues of appeal.

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