Possible Las Vegas-Style Casino for
Mall of America
As reported by The Las Vegas Review-Journal

Park Place Entertainment Corp. joined a Minnesota state legislator Wednesday in proposing a Las Vegas-style casino at the Mall of America that could generate revenues of $1 billion a year.

"We believe the Mall of America would be a very attractive market, but I can't emphasize strongly enough it's up to the Legislature and the people of Minnesota if they want more gambling in their state," said Park Place spokesman Robert Stewart.

Stewart said Park Place is confident the casino would contribute jobs and other economic benefits to Minnesota while being a very attractive opportunity for his company.
Park Place, which operates Caesars Palace casino in Las Vegas and Caesars Atlantic City, released an economic analysis of a proposed Mall of America casino prepared by Ernst & Young.

The national accounting firm estimated that the proposed 160,000-square-foot casino with 5,000 slot machines -- a size that would make it one of the largest casinos in the United States -- would raise more than $1 billion a year in revenue.
The market impact was based on potential visitor interest, with Mall of America's 40 million visitors a year leading Orlando, Fla.'s 38 million, Las Vegas' 35 million and Atlantic City's 32 million.

The proposed casino would be owned by a new state corporation and leased to a gaming company such as Park Place, which is the leading candidate based on its association with Simon Property Group, which operates the Forum Shops at Caesars and Mall of America.

 

Markham in new talks for a casino
As reported by The Journal Gazette and Times Courier

Markham officials are in preliminary talks with a new Native American tribe regarding development of a bingo hall that could eventually become a casino.

The city council recently gave Mayor David Webb authority to turn over up to 60 acres of city-owned land to the Ottawa tribe of Oklahoma.

The property, northwest of the interchange of 159th Street and the Tri-State Tollway, was previously eyed by Wisconsin's Lac du Flambeau tribe for a Native American-operated casino. But the city couldn't come to terms with the Lac du Flambeau tribe on a development agreement.

While opening a bingo parlor would be a relatively easy process, the Ottawa would face obstacles should they expand the operation to include slot machines and table games.

The tribe would need state approval for a casino but would not require a state-issued license as existing casinos now do. Gov. Rod Blagojevich, who by law must approve any Native American casino in Illinois, has steadfastly opposed an expansion of casino gambling in the state.