California Casino to Open This Summer

Canadian Council Approves Huge New Casino - VANCOUVER, CANADA - A proposal to zone a $65-million casino-and-hotel complex breezed through Richmond council on Feb. 25th by a 5-to-3 vote. "A modern, new casino will bring money to Richmond," said Coun. Harold Steves.

Plans call for 300 slot machines, a 200-suite hotel, a 650-person convention centre and a 1,000-seat show lounge in 336,000 square feet of floor space set to open in a year.

If the proposal passes the public hearing set for March 17, councilors said it will revitalize a 'rundown and filthy' industrial area along the Fraser River foreshore.

Georgia Lawmakers Want Video Poker Ban Lifted - /Athens Banner-Herald/ - GEORGIA – The search for new revenue to lighten the state's $620 million budget shortfall has a bipartisan group of legislators looking to gamble. Introducing a bill in the House on Feb. 27th, they hope to lift the state's video poker prohibition and once again allow the machines to be played for prizes worth up to $5.

At the time of the statewide ban, the Georgia Bureau of Investigation estimated between 15,000 and 20,385 video poker machines were operating in Georgia and bringing in annual gross revenue of more than $1 billion, according to news reports.

Rep. David Lucas, D-Macon, has long championed the value of allowing video poker to remain in Georgia. A member of the bipartisan group behind the bill lifting the machines' ban, Lucas believes the state could generate more than $25 million if the machines were allowed back in and then taxed.

In 2001, the legislature banned video poker machines and other games of chance, such as blackjack and keno.

Though law enforcement agencies had some success in shutting down illegal operations and seizing machines, it came at a price. Many officers complained the stepped up enforcement was draining their departments' resources. And, despite the increased attention, they maintained it was impossible to monitor every machine and catch everyone breaking the law.