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Inside Gaming Column: Nevada Gaming May Soon Add Player

Columbia Sussex Corp. seems to have set its sights on becoming a key player in the gaming industry. The Fort Mitchell, Ky.-based hotel, resort and casino holding company has bids in for the Reno Hilton and possibly the Las Vegas Hilton, sources close to the deal say. It may also bid on other Park Place Entertainment Corp. properties, including the Bally's Belle of New Orleans and and the Flamingo Hilton Laughlin. Columbia Sussex bought the River Palms in Laughlin in September and has a deal pending to buy Harrah's Vicksburg Hotel & Casino in Mississippi, which is expected to close before year's end. Columbia Sussex last year bought the Maxim in Las Vegas for $38 million and owns the Lake Tahoe Horizon Casino Resort.

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A second Las Vegas hotel casino is biting the dust, or at least the sands are shifting under the Palms. It's reminiscent of Mandalay Bay, which required major engineering to shore it back up while it was under construction in 1999. Palms execs, however, say all that's slipping at the Flamingo Road hot spot is the area near the swimming pool. Just hope it doesn't slip under the tower.

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It's not the Hollywood Walk of Fame, but Jimmy Buffett swung by the Flamingo recently and signed his name on the bar at Margaritaville. Construction is ahead of schedule at the hotel's new signature restaurant, which is set to open in December. The restaurant is a joint venture between Buffett and Park Place Entertainment Corp., owner of the Flamingo. Buffett's signature has been sealed under shellac for posterity.

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New statistics show the average Australian spends 3.4 percent of family income on gambling. In the 12 months ending June 30, Australians pumped more than $10 billion into slots, sports betting, casinos and lotteries. That works out to $689.40 for every Australian age 18 or over.

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The Motley Fool didn't think much of "Las Vegas," the TV program. "Twist reality and dramatize it, and you have the makings of quality entertainment." In the show, Danny, the surveillance guy, is friendly with a casino host, working girls at the bar and the parking valet. Anonymous sources told the Fool, however, that casino surveillance personnel are despised as "rats." Still the show may last, especially if it brings in schmaltzy "stars" as did "Vega$," the 1970s-era show it seems to ape. Robert Urich's Dan Tanna was joined by the likes of Sid Caesar, Muhammad Ali, Minnesota Fats, Dean Martin and even Bert Cohen, then the president of Desert Inn, appearing as himself. Supposedly, that "made" the program.

The Inside Gaming column is compiled by Gaming Wire Editor Rod Smith. You can contact him by phone at (702) 477-3893, fax (702) 387-5243 or e-mail at rsmith@reviewjournal.com.

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