Issue 231
February 14 - 20, 2005
Volume 5
page 1
 

This Issue

Gaming News

Clinton casino looks to the west

Fantasy Springs Casino calls bet

Macau welcomes two new casinos

`I do's' launch casino chapel

Isle of Capri spending $16 million in Lake Charles casino upgrade

Show Time Pam Tillis performs at the Paradise Casino.

Column Keno By Donald Catlin

Check out our entertainment highlights & upcoming tournaments

See the lucky winners

 

Not yet subscribed to the Casino City Newsletter? Sign up NOW!

 

Clinton casino looks to the west

As reported by QCTIMES.com

CLINTON, Iowa - Clinton's Mississippi Belle II casino plans to move its operation from the Mississippi River downtown to a landlocked site on the west edge of Clinton.
.
Mississippi Belle II riverboat casino owners plan to expand local gambling operations on a 65- to 70-acre lot west of Culver's restaurant on U.S. 30, facility manager Neil Narter said Thursday.
.
The $20 million casino, hotel and restaurant project will bring a big boost the city's growing west-end business district. Architects still are working on site designs for the facility, which received preliminary approval from the Iowa Racing and Gaming Commission in October before the location was made public. Earth moving at the site is expected to begin in a couple of months, Narter said.
.
"It's taken far longer than anticipated," he said.
.
State gaming commissioner Diane Hamilton said initial plans for Clinton's new casino project featured building the facility with a manmade body of water running beneath it.
.
Changes in the law
.
That falls in line with a recent change in state law that allows casinos to move off navigable waters, as long as the floor of the casino is over water and "as nearly as practicable, recreates boats or moored barges that resemble Iowa's riverboat history."
.
"When the manager was explaining it to us and showed us a picture, it seemed kind of cool," Hamilton said.
.
The initial design concept also described the project's location as being 1,000 feet away from the high-water mark of the Mississippi River.
.
Clinton casino president Ken Bonnet could not be reached by the QUAD-CITY TIMES for comment, but has said that he hoped to break ground on the project in the spring.
.
Casino management has not filed for city or state permits to begin construction at the site, and it could not be determined whether the property purchase has been finalized.
.
The community has been swirling with speculation about the casino's future location. Many thought the operation might move to the city's north end, where the casino owns riverfront property along Main Avenue. Construction crews moved in this summer to clear the former McEleney Motors car dealership site of buildings and parking lots. That business moved to a new location at U.S. 30 and 67.
.
Staff at the state's gaming board office said Clinton's west-end location was known to commissioners when they gave preliminary approval to the casino project. However, commissioners have not decided yet how many land-based casino licenses they will hand out, and whether those will include Clinton's proposal.


Fantasy Springs Casino calls bet

As Reported by the The Business Press

INDIO, California - A $200 million expansion and the first Native-American-owned Starbucks are only the beginning of an Indio Empire for Fantasy Springs Resort, a top executive vowed last week.

"Fantasy Springs Casino is no MGM Grand or Bellagio," but it appeals to Californians who don't want to spend a lot of money, Chief Executive Officer James McKennon said.

"The area is growing and the casino plans to grow with it. Coachella Valley permitted 20,000 new homes in 2004," he said.

Fantasy Springs plans to add a 300- to 400-room hotel by 2010.

Offices are in the offing. Resort plans include a shopping mall, timeshares, an 18-hole golf course, a day spa and cultural center.

The Cabazon Band of Mission Indians, with 30 members, employs 1,250 workers at Fantasy Springs Casino.

Fantasy Springs was negotiating with Starbucks Coffee Co. in Seattle Jan. 31. The casino will house Starbuck's first Native American coffee franchise, said Kevin Williams, director of hotel operations and sales.

"We just heard the voicemail today that confirmed Starbucks will come here," he said Jan. 31.The Starbucks is slated to open in April.

Fantasy Springs Jan. 13 opened a 12-story, 251-room hotel and a 100,000-square-foot special events center; and added 44 slot machines to max out at 2,000 under its state compact.

The casino added a 24-hour café, buffet and a steakhouse. The casino boasts a 24-lane bowling alley built in 1999.

The events center is designed to handle up to 4,000 people for trade shows, meetings and banquets, Williams said. Meeting rooms are equipped with wireless technology and presentation equipment.

The events center is booked for May with corporate events. More than 15,000 people visited the casino Jan. 14--23 to see "Balagan," a Cirque du Soleil-style show.

"Any new product brings new appeal to the area," said Jane Brady, Palm Springs Desert Resorts Convention and Visitors Authority director of tourism. "The casino brings a different aspect to the areas usual attractions such as golf and tennis. [Fantasy Springs] is a destination because of its entertainment center and hotel. They can go after larger groups now."

But as part of a deal with the county of Riverside, Fantasy Springs Casino will impose a visitors fee on hotel customers, McKennon said.

The county in 2003 agreed to administer a $145 million tax-exempt bond for the construction of the hotel, convention center and parking garage.

In exchange, the tribe paid the city of Coachella $3.4 million for road enhancements at Vista Villa North in Coachella. The tribe also agreed to pay $20 million over 18 years to the county of Riverside with funds generated by a visitors fee levied on hotel guests. The visitors fee is similar to the transient occupancy tax hotels charge guests.

The transient occupancy tax is levied on tourists who stay at a hotel for 30 days or less. In Riverside County the tax is about 10 percent and the casino's visitors fee is about the same. The visitor's fee won't deter business, Cabazon spokeswoman Nancy Conrad said. "The tribe wanted to level the playing field with other hotels not on the reservation because we want to work collectively with local government, keep up good relations and keep competition fair."

"We're here and we're not going anywhere. We're not like most businesses where we can just pick up and leave. We need to help the county of Riverside as much as they need to help us."

Fantasy Springs attracts most of its customers from California, Williams said. The casino generated $28 million in economic impact for the Coachella Valley. That number will increase to $180 million by 2007 because of the expansion, Conrad said.


Tell us what you think about our newsletter. Copyright © 2000-2005 Casino City. All rights reserved Casino City is a trademark of CasinoPromote.com. Please read our Disclaimer of Warranty