 Harrah's
Casinos To Install
"Hollywood Squares" Video Slots
LAS VEGAS -
Harrah's Entertainment, Inc. announced on Jan. 30 its slot customers
will be the nation's first to play the new "Hollywood Squares''(TM)
video slot machines manufactured by WMS Gaming Inc., a subsidiary
of WMS Industries Inc..
WMS has begun installation of the themed participation gaming machines,
based on the popular game show co-produced by King World Productions,
Inc., at Harrah's properties in Iowa and Missouri.
The "Hollywood Squares'' games have also been installed at
the temporary casino operated by the Rincon San Luiseno Band of
Mission Indians near San Diego, California. Harrah's has contracted
with the Rincon tribe to manage a permanent casino that is scheduled
to open later this year.
Pending regulatory approvals, "Hollywood Squares'' is also
expected to debut at 13 additional Harrah's properties in Nevada,
Arizona, Louisiana, Kansas and Indiana next month.
"Hollywood Squares'' branded slot machines will be offered
at Harrah's casinos exclusively for a limited period in all jurisdictions
in which Harrah's operates, pursuant to an agreement announced last
year. The nine-line, nickel-denominated games offer a top jackpot
of 25,000 coins.
"Our goal is to be the first casino operator in the nation
to introduce players to the newest and most exciting slot products,''
said Bruce Rowe, Harrah's Entertainment's Corporate Vice President
of Slot Operations and Research. "We are pleased to provide
our customers with their first opportunity to play 'Hollywood Squares'
gaming machines at Harrah's casinos in each of our markets.''
Licensed from CBS Consumer Products, "Hollywood Squares'''
is modeled after the popular television celebrity game show starring
Whoopi Goldberg as the "center square.''
"Hollywood Squares'' is a five-reel, nine-line video slot available
in 45 coins featuring clever character animation, interactive game
play and bonus rounds. Players reaching the second bonus round are
asked a question and must pick the celebrity they think will answer
it correctly.
Founded more than 60 years ago, Harrah's Entertainment, Inc. operates
25 casinos in the United States, primarily under the Harrah's brand
name.
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Poncas
To Close Casino Temporarily
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PONCA
CITY, OK - The Ponca Tribe's gaming center will have its weekend
blackjack tournament, but the games will stop shortly afterward.
The tribe will close the Blue
Star Gaming Center on Sunday, March 10, in an effort to
appease the National Indian Gaming Commission, which threatened
to force closure of the center if the tribe didn't comply
with federal Indian gaming rules.
Federal regulators claim the tribe failed to perform criminal
background checks on its casino employees. They also said
several other internal controls, such as installing security
cameras and having strict money- tracking policies, haven't
been done.
Federal authorities asked for the closure to be in effect
Friday. But the tribe had already planned a weekend blackjack
and gaming machine tournament. Since its tournament was already
advertised, the tribal council voted to close on March 10,
after the tournament ends.
Federal officials told the tribe that the casino could reopen
soon, but no date has been set.
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