Issue 178
February 9 - 15, 2004
Volume 4
page 2
 

Erie lawmakers back slots bill
As reported by The Erie Times-News

Gov. Ed Rendell's latest push for slots legislation is playing well among most state legislators who represent Erie County.

Erie, Summit Township or a dark horse candidate, McKean Township, would get the gambling rights as part of a planned horse racing track that would create about 800 jobs.

Rendell has sought a vote this month on a bill, but most Erie-area lawmakers see that timetable as overly optimistic. They say a vote is more likely in March, or even in May or June.

All five state House members from Erie County said they would support Rendell's newest slots proposal. But in the other chamber, state Sen. Jane Earll, R-Fairview Township, is undecided, and Sen. Mary Jo White, R- Franklin, is opposed.

Support for the slots bill cuts across party lines in the House delegation from Erie County.

Rendell's proposal would legalize slot machines at up to 12 venues - eight at racetracks, including the planned Presque Isle Downs in Erie County, and up to four nontrack sites. Those nontrack sites would be in Pittsburgh, two in Philadelphia and at another location that a new gaming board would decide.

MTR Gaming Group already has a thoroughbred horse racing license for a site in Summit Township, but it's strongly considering building instead at the defunct International Paper Co. plant on Erie's east side.

The $80 million Presque Isle Downs complex could include up to 3,000 slot machines under Rendell's proposal, though the company has said it would start with up to 2,000 slots. Each site could add 2,000 more slots after one year of operation.

Evans said the proposal is close enough to one that the House approved in summer 2003. That bill would have approved slots at nine racetracks and two nontrack sites, one each in the Philadelphia and Pittsburgh areas.

Evans said it doesn't matter whether the track is built in Summit or Erie. Either site would provide not only permanent jobs, but also hundreds of construction jobs, spin-off jobs from new businesses, more agricultural jobs and employment for veterinarians.

 

 

 

Trump Comes Up Aces In Nevada
As reported by The New York Post

Donald Trump is ready to roll the dice in Las Vegas.

The megabuilder won unanimous support this week from Nevada state regulators to become a gaming operator.

Trump told The Post he is considering real-estate deals and casinos in Nevada and expects to announce plans in six months to a year.

"People have been wanting me to come to Nevada for a long time," he said.

Trump for years has been eyeing Nevada, a natural extension of his Atlantic City empire.

Nearly 20 years ago, he reportedly tried to buy land near the Vegas Strip from Howard Hughes' company. But he was blocked when casino king Steve Wynn built the Mirage on the site.


MGM Mirage, Macau gaming firm
in JV talks
As reported by The Reuters

Hong Kong - U.S. casino operator MGM Mirage is in talks with Macau's gaming mogul Stanley Ho to set up a new casino in the city, famed for its lucrative gambling industry, a Hong Kong newspaper said on Sunday, citing sources close to the deal.

Company officials from MGM and Ho's casino group, Sociedade de Jogos de Macau (SJM), were not immediately available for comment but the South China Morning Post quoted an SJM executive as saying an announcement about the MGM-SJM joint venture "would be made in due course".

Ho's 42-year-old gaming empire lost its monopoly in Macau in 2002 when the former Portuguese colony auctioned three gaming concessions.

The three winners, apart from Ho's SJM, were Wynn Resorts, headed by Las Vegas gaming magnate Steve Wynn, and Galaxy Casino, led by Sheldon Adelson. MGM, operator of a dozen casinos in the United States and Australia, including the Bellagio in Las Vegas, finished fifth among the 21 local and foreign bidders, the newspaper said. Details of the MGM-SJM venture were being kept under wraps but sources said the deal was "as good as done", the paper reported.

Mamma Mia!
Luciano Pavarotti

Caesars Palace: Luciano Pavarotti, the world's most popular opera star, performs at The Colosseum at Caesars Palace. Pavarotti will be accompanied by a 66-piece orchestra conducted by Maestro Leone Magiera.

Date: February 28, 2004

Price: from $125

Time: 8:00pm

 

For more information please call: (888) 731-8410

 
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