Issue 83
April 9 - 15, 2002
Volume 3
page 1

This Issue

Gaming News
Trump 29 Casino Opens

Ray Charles Backs Blind Slot Machines

Kentucky Slot Machine Bill Dies

New York Casino Law Still Faces Hurdles

Online Casinos Will Be Legal in Britain


Show Time

Blink 182, Green Day, and Jimmy Eats World will perform at the Grand Garden Arena at MGM Grand Hotel Casino on April 23

Column
Need A Score, Money Line or Total From 2001?
Erwin's Baseball Insight Annual Has It

Travel Specials

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Trump 29 Casino Opens

/ASSOCIATED PRESS/ - COACHELLA, CA - Casino developer Donald Trump opened a $60 million casino on an Indian reservation on April 2 after failed attempts to work with other tribes.

The Trump 29 Casino (formerly Spotlight 29 Casino) opened on the Twenty-nine Palms Reservation near Coachella, about 130 miles southeast of Los Angeles. It marks the first time in Southern California a tribal casino opened under a non-Indian name.

"When you open your doors, you really don't know if they will come," Trump said. "When they really come, you know it's going to be that way forever. We're going to have a beautiful love fest."

Although the casino opened, Trump still needs to secure a five-year management agreement to run the operation. The pact has not received the required approval of the National Indian Gaming Commission.

Tribal attorney Gene Gambale said he expects Trump's contract to clear any hurdles and be approved shortly.

Trump has tried to woo other tribes but has failed to finish a deal.

Tribal Chairman Dean Mike said that the Twenty-nine Palms tribe selected Trump to manage the casino because of his name recognition and expertise in running casinos.

"It was a giant step (for) the tribe to associate with Trump," Mike said. "We are going to be able to learn from him and grow with him."

Trump 29 Casino
Technifex created the special effects which add drama and excitement to the Trump 29 Casino.

The opening of the 100,000-square-foot casino comes as Trump Hotels & Casino Resorts Inc.'s year-end report revealed the company has financial problems.

The company, which has four other casino ventures, began asking bondholders five months ago to accept lower interest rates and to extend maturity, but the bondholders have not agreed to any debt restructuring.


Ray Charles Backs Blind Slot Machines

Ray Charles with slot machine/ASSOCIATED PRESS/ - LOS ANGELES, CA - Entertainer Ray Charles is coming to a casino near you.

Charles, who is blind, is lending his name to the first series of slot machines for the visually impaired. The Bally Gaming Systems machines, which include audio cues and a Braille button deck, are being shipped this month.

"This makes so much sense because you can do whatever you want by yourself," the 71-year-old singer said in a statement on April 3.

The slot machine models include an "America the Beautiful"-themed machine featuring Charles and "The Paylettes." His recording "America the Beautiful" is 30 years old.

Besides the slot machines, Charles has been featured in 16 state lottery campaigns. In May, he plans to reprise his version of "Georgia on My Mind" for the Georgia state lottery.

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