Stratosphere Lets the Dogs Out

Korean Gambling Industry Grows 45% in 2001 - /Korean Herald/ - The gambling industry in Korea grew 45 percent last year according to a report by Korea Leisure Industry Consulting (KOLEC). The Korean gambling industry � which includes casinos, the lottery, and betting on horseracing and cycling � jumped from 6.3 trillion won in 2000 to 9.2 trillion won in 2001. "The gambling industry became about 3.5 times larger last year from that of 1995, as new kinds of gambling appeared," says Seo Cheon-beom, director KOLEC. "To minimize the damage caused by the gambling industry, however, we need to devise measures such as establishing a supervisory committee that oversees and regulates the gambling industry." Horseracing recorded the largest sales figure in the gambling industry, marking a 30.1-percent increase to 6.16 trillion won. The second largest market was cycling, with sales increasing 76.2 percent to 2.16 trillion. Lottery sales are expected to have risen 49 percent to 600 billion won. At Gangwon Land, the nation's only casino for Koreans, the total amount bet is estimated to reach 3 trillion won.

Gambling Debate Heats Up in Hawaii - HONOLULU, HAWAII - The president of Sun International Hotels, the company that wants to build a $1-billion casino resort in Hawaii on Oahu at Ko Olina, says he would not mind if local gamblers were excluded from the establishment. Butch Kerzner, president of Sun International Hotels, says he would have no objection to keeping the proposed Ko Olina casino for non-residents only. Kerzner argues that even though Bahamian residents are not allowed to gamble at the company�s Atlantis casino on Paradise Island, the casino has succeeded in revitalizing the entire tourism industry there. "Our model is to go after the resort market. That is a big enough market and we believe we can make it a bigger market," says Kerzner. Hawaii Governor Ben Cayetano continues to support a single casino in Hawaii, saying that state voters should decide the issue of legalizing gambling in Hawaii by a ballot question in the November election. The 2002 legislative session begins next Wednesday, and some leaders are doubtful any gambling measure will be approved. Well over half of the 17 members of the House Judiciary Committee are on the record as opposed to legalizing gambling.