Featured Articles Archive - Page 662

G2E panel: Gamblers will dictate change

LAS VEGAS, Nevada -- Gaming equipment companies are developing a plethora of new technologies for the casino market, such as hand-held or wireless gaming devices, radio frequency identification chips, server-based or downloadable slot machines and electronic table games. But Mark Yoseloff, the chairman of Las Vegas-based Shuffle Master, one of the industry's leading manufacturers, told an audience at the Global Gaming Expo on Wednesday that not every product will survive on the casino floor. Ultimately, the gambling customer will make the final choice, Yoseloff said after participating in an hour-long round-table discussion with other gaming company chief executive officers. "As much as we think we can predict, we always can't predict correctly," Yoseloff said...read more

Notes from day three at the WPF main event

Fan Favorite Farhad finished Seventh The most popular player at the WPF Main Event final table was able to hang on from the short-stack to finish on the World Poker Tour television bubble. Farhad Sinaei, who brought a crew of his friends to the final day at the WPF Main Event, outlasted three players to finish seventh and earn $175,000 in cash...read more

Mimi Tran and Kathy Liebert star at WPF Final Table

Two female players will compete for a regular season World Poker Tour Main Event Championship for the first time Thursday as the final six players battle it out for the Foxwoods World Poker Finals title. Seasoned tournament professional Kathy Liebert and high-stakes professional Thithi "Mimi" Tran are the two females vying for the crown...read more

Global Gaming Expo: Latest vote provides hope

LAS VEGAS, Nevada -- As a former chairman of the Republican National Committee, Frank Fahrenkopf Jr. didn't have much to smile about from the outcome of last week's national midterm elections, where Republicans were swept out of power in both houses of Congress. As president of the American Gaming Association, however, the results were to his liking. The new congressional leadership that is expected to take over in January means the legalized gambling industry may find friends on both sides of the aisle...read more

Fahrenkopf urges bid to make UNR debate site

RENO, Nevada -- American Gaming Association President Frank Fahrenkopf Jr., who also serves as co-chairman of the Commission on Presidential Debates, said Tuesday that he hopes to bring one of the 2008 presidential debates to the University of Nevada, Reno. Fahrenkopf, whose Washington, D.C.-based gaming industry advocacy group is hosting the current Global Gaming Expo at the Las Vegas Convention Center, said the nonprofit, nonpartisan commission that has sponsored and produced the presidential and vice presidential debates since 1988, will soon be taking requests for bids from universities across the country for 2008. Fahrenkopf, a Reno native and a 1962 graduate of UNR, said he would like to see the school win one of the prized nationally televised debates between the Democratic and Republican presidential nominees. In preparation, Fahrenkopf said a technical team from the debate commission will visit the campus in the coming weeks to see if the school has the necessary facilities and capabilities to house one of the debates. "Obviously, I think this would be good for Nevada, Reno and UNR," Fahrenkopf said...read more

New casino games on display at G2E

LAS VEGAS - The annual Global Gaming Expo (G2E) began Tuesday afternoon at the Las Vegas Convention Center with hundreds of exhibitors competing for the attention of casino executives and media. Many of the companies offer a new wrinkle on traditional casino games. Paul Flowers and Jeff Cohen combined forces to create Players Choice Blackjack, giving players the option to bet on the dealer's hand instead of on the player's hand. When a player chooses to bet on the dealer, the player is still dealt a hand, but it is played like the dealer's, hitting on 16 and staying on 17 or better no matter what the dealer shows. "Players get dealt 16 and they're yelling 'Bust me! Bust me!'" Flowers says. If both the player and the dealer bust, a bet on the dealer loses half the bet, resulting in a 4.09 percent house edge...read more

Bally, Aristocrat joining forces

Two slot machine manufacturers believe joining forces is a quicker way to bring the newest gambling technology to the casino floor. Bally Technologies and Aristocrat Technologies said Monday they will unveil a prototype of a server-based gaming system that works with slot machines manufactured by both companies this week at the Global Gaming Expo. Sever-based gaming, also referred to as downloadable technology, conceivably allows casino customers to change games on a slot machine with a few clicks...read more

Mergers and acquistions: New bid for Riviera parent

LAS VEGAS, Nevada -- A New York developer who is spearheading construction of a Strip hotel and condominium project has joined forces with a New York-based asset management firm in an attempt to acquire Riviera Holdings Corp., it was announced Monday. Bruce Eichner, who is building the $1.8 billion Cosmopolitan next to Bellagio, and D.E...read more

Wynn to pay $6-per-share dividend

LAS VEGAS, Nevada -- Shareholders of Wynn Resorts Ltd. will receive a $6 per share dividend on Dec. 4, the company announced Monday. Gaming analysts said the dividend may be related to the company's sale earlier this year of a subconcession to operate a casino in Macau, China...read more

Notes from Day Two at the World Poker Finals

Negreanu Unhappy Daniel Negreanu continues to complain about the structure of the World Poker Finals Main Event, vowing to never play another Foxwoods tournament until they change the format. "Mark my words," Negreanu said late in the night on Monday...read more