Featured Articles Archive - Page 314

Bally Technologies to unveil "Pawn Stars" slot machine

LAS VEGAS -- The Las Vegas-based reality television series "Pawn Stars" will soon be coming to a casino near you.Bally Technologies, Inc. said Wednesday it will unveil a slot machine based on the History Channel's cable television series during the Global Gaming Expo Oct...read more

Macau gaming revenues climb 5.5 percent in August

Gaming revenues in Macau jumped 5.5 percent in August, the second straight month the Chinese gambling market has experienced a single-digit revenue increase.Macau gaming authorities said casinos collected $3.3 billion from gamblers during the month, the second highest ever recorded for a single month .In October 2011, Macau gaming revenues hit $3.36 billion."This was in line with recent Wall Street expectations of mid- to high single-digit growth," Union Gaming Group principal Grant Govertsen told investors.Govertsen, who is based in Macau, said figures met projections despite a typhoon that disrupted ferry and airline service."This was the third consecutive month that a typhoon of Signal 8 or above has disrupted the region as compared to only one Signal 8 typhoon in 2011," Govertsen said.In July, Macau gaming revenues grew just 1.5 percent, the lowest single month since July 2009...read more

Democratic Platform omits references to Web gaming, poker

The 70-page Democratic platform contains 12 references to the word "Internet" and the plank, "Internet Freedom" under the heading, "Advancing Universal Values."How many of the Internet references pertain to legalizing Internet poker?Zero.How many of the Internet references discuss the issue of Internet gaming?Zero.A week after Republicans approved a platform that called for a "prohibition" on Internet gaming, the Democrats seemingly ignored the issue altogether.Delegates to the Democratic Convention in Charlotte, N.C., gave their support to the party's platform Tuesday in the convention's opening session.The platform promises to ensure that 98 percent of the U.S...read more

Old-style focus, modern success: Customer-centric bent helps Arizona Charlie's casinos thrive

There is something to be said for a casino operation that markets to locals, but lacks movie theaters, bowling centers and high-priced restaurants.Focusing on the gambler is what helped the two Arizona Charlie's casinos survive a crippling recession.And, said the general managers of the casinos -- who combined have almost 33 years of experience with their respective hotel-casinos -- nothing will change as the economy recovers and the local gaming market stages a comeback."Our competition has probably been scratching their heads, wondering how Charlie's still survived through all these tough economic times," said Ron Lurie, general manager of Arizona Charlie's Decatur, who has overseen the hotel-casino for 22 years."I can recognize the fact when we do something right here because the other guys are in here trying to see what we're doing," Lurie said.The "other guys" are managers from Station Casinos LLC and Boyd Gaming Corp., operators that dominate the locals market...read more

Slot route operator United Coin takes moves to distinguish itself

LAS VEGAS -- United Coin Machine Company spent nearly 18 months developing new slot machines and upgrading management systems for its bar, tavern and convenience store route customers.Good thing the company's engineers started early.In February, rival operator Golden Gaming acquired the bulk of Affinity Gaming's slot route business in an asset swap...read more

Steve Wynn, once vocally anti-Obama, goes mum

LAS VEGAS -- Until recently, it appeared Steve Wynn had abandoned politics.Wynn spent three years as the de facto voice of the gaming industry's unofficial anti-Obama coalition, a high-profile membership of two than included Las Vegas Sands Corp...read more

Top-10 ways to add some energy to your home poker game

A home poker game can get a little stale if your group plays the same format week after week. But there's no reason you can't spice things up from time to time by adding a theme or changing the format of the game. If your home game needs a little more pep in its step, here are 10 ways you can inject some new energy into your home game.10...read more

Beware of rule variations: little things can mean a lot

New table games and fresh features or variations on old standbys appear on casino floors occasionally. If you’re tempted by a novel game or modification to something otherwise familiar, it’s OK to go for it. Preferably making small enough bets that you can gain intuition about the ebb and flow of your fortune without getting sandbagged...read more

Plank in GOP Platform urges "prohibition'" of Web gaming

TAMPA, Florida -- A plank in the Republican platform, approved earlier this week at the party's national convention in Tampa, Fla., calls for a "prohibition" on Internet gaming and reversing December's re-evaluation of the Federal Wire Act.The language - listed under the heading "Making the Internet Family-Friendly" - goes against the position taken by most of the gaming industry and of the state's Republican elected leaders.Gov...read more

Financially troubled LVH to get new management

LAS VEGAS -- The financially troubled LVH will gain new management under an agreement reached between the 3,000-room hotel-casino's largest creditor and a court-appointed receiver who has been operating the property since January.Employees of the off-Strip hotel-casino were notified Wednesday through the Worker Adjustment and Retraining Act that a foreclosure sale of LVH would be held in November...read more