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INDIANA
Gov. Mitch Daniels signed into law a bill making pull tabs and punch
boards legal forms of gambling in bars and restaurants that sell
alcohol by the drink. Approximately 2,500 bars and restaurants in the
state will be eligible to pay the $250 yearly license to offer the
gaming options. “I sign this bill with misgivings and caution, and
the hope that any Hoosiers who choose to risk their money in these
games will do so responsibly and with extreme care,” Daniels said as
he signed the bill. The law takes effect July 1.
KANSAS
Gov. Kathleen Sebelius approved extending the deadline for the Kansas
Lottery to agree to contracts with prospective developers of a casino
in Wyandotte County until May 27. “This is a more complex process
than anyone envisioned,” said Lottery spokeswoman Sally Lunsford.
After an agreement has been reached, the process for selecting a
casino for the county would go to the Lottery Gaming Facilities
Review Board, which will have up to 60 days to select the winning
proposal. There are six casino proposals for Wyandotte County, each
promising large casinos, deluxe lodging and an array of amenities.
The Bureau of Indian Affairs notified Sedgwick County Commissioners
that it is considering acquiring 11 acres in Park City upon which a
casino may be built. The land being considered is south of the
shuttered Wichita Greyhound Park and has been owned by the Wyandotte
Nation of Oklahoma since 1992. For the immediate future, the tribe is
focused on negotiating a compact with the state for its 7th Street
Casino. That downtown Kansas City casino, which opened last January
after an 11-year court battle, is considered illegal by the state.
KENTUCKY
Gov. Steve Beshear conceded that his plan to legalize casinos in the
commonwealth had no chance of passage in the current legislative
session. The governor’s plan called for a dozen casinos, seven at
racetracks and five free-standing venues that he said could bring in
$600 million a year for the state. House leaders almost immediately
lowered the proposal down to nine casinos, but were never able to
agree whether racetracks should be guaranteed five casino licenses or
simply given the opportunity to compete for five licenses. Beshear
said he does not think the idea of expanding gambling is dead and
that he would work to bring it back in the 2010 legislative session.
Since there is no regularly scheduled state election in 2009, voters
could not consider the issue before 2010.
MICHIGAN
The Island Resort & Casino in Harris unveiled the logo for its
Sweetgrass Golf Club, which is scheduled to open July 1. “While the
name Sweetgrass is rich in tribal legend, the logo embodies many of
the attributes of the golf course,” says Tribal Chairman Ken
Meshigaud. “It’s elegant, yet subtle, all while paying homage to the
Potawatomi Nation.” Measuring 5,000 yards from the forward tees and
stretching to 7,300 yards from the tips, the Paul Albanese-designed
championship course promises to match favorably to every skill level.
NEVADA
The Nevada Supreme Court ruled 6-1 that comped meals provided to
casino patrons are exempt from the state sales and use tax. The
court’s opinion reversed a Washoe County District Court decision in a
dispute between the Sparks Nugget and the State Department of
Taxation. The court noted the state constitution has an exemption
from the sales and use tax for most “food for human consumption.” The
casino contended that the complimentary meals it provides to its
patrons and employees were exempted under this provision because the
uncooked food used to prepare those meals qualified as food for human
consumption at the time of its initial purchase, and no taxable event
occurred thereafter. The court majority agreed. The attorney who
represented the Sparks Nugget in the case said the refund request for
just the Nugget for the period identified in the opinion totals about
$1.3-million. Other Nevada casinos have filed similar requests for
refunds, which were put on hold pending the Supreme Court ruling.
A new study by the University of California-Davis found that Lake
Tahoe is being dramatically altered by global warming, threatening
the lake’s delicate ecosystem and famed clear waters. “What we expect
is that deep mixing of Lake Tahoe’s water layers will become less
frequent, even nonexistent, depleting the bottom waters of oxygen,”
said Geoffrey Schladow of the Tahoe Environmental Research Center.
The study concluded that the changes could turn Tahoe’s famed cobalt-
blue waters to a murky green in about a decade. Researchers are
trying to determine if lowered global greenhouse-gas emissions would
significantly slow the lake’s decline or possibly prevent it.
NEW JERSEY
The New Jersey Casino Control Commission voted to authorize the use
of gold-colored $25,000 chips in Atlantic City casinos. The new chip
bumps the previous top-value yellow $20,000 chip to second place. A
spokesman for the commission said the color of the $20,000 chip will
be altered somewhat to minimize the chance of a $5,000 mistake if the
two get confused. While the new chip will replace the $25,000 plaque,
high-level gamblers will continue to use $50,000 and $100,000 plaques
to place their bets.
The Tropicana Casino & Resort announced plans to create a new slot
environment in Atlantic City. The project is a result of a co-
operative partnership with AC Coin & Slot, which will design and
fabricate this unique environment for the Tropicana. The project will
convert an elevated section of gaming floor into a mixed offering of
IGT slot product and complimentary environment fabrications that will
transform the area into a festive and high-energy experience for
casino guests. The project is slated for completion in late spring.
WISCONSIN
The Ho-Chunk tribe announced it will break ground this spring on a
new ancillary casino just north of Wittenberg in north-central
Wisconsin. The $20-million casino will offer 600 slot machines,
restaurant and bar/lounge. The project is scheduled for completion
this fall.
CANADA
Next month, Casino Windsor, Ontario’s first casino, will change its
name to Caesars Windsor. The name change coincides with the opening
of a $400-million expansion that includes a second hotel tower and a
5,000-seat entertainment center. “We will be the first Caesars
outside of the United States,” said casino spokeswoman Holly Ward.
“Attaching a world-famous name will help Windsor’s casino compete
with three casinos across the river in Detroit.”
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