Racinos in Minnesota? Don't bet on it
(MINNESOTA) -- Today at the Capitol, a proposal to build two so-called racinos will get its first committee vote of the 2010 session. It is also, in all likelihood, the bill's last hearing.
Gov. Riley attacks bingo ruling
(ALABAMA) -- Gov. Bob Riley criticized a Jefferson County judge Monday after the judge ruled Alabama's Attorney General has the authority to take over the governor's anti-gambling task force.
Riley says no to Ala. bingo referendum
(ALABAMA) -- Gov. Bob Riley said he opposes a simple statewide referendum on whether to allow electronic bingo gambling because it could open the door to widespread gambling with only a majority vote of the Legislature.
Politics at play in casino funding
(MICHIGAN) -- Let the lobbying begin. At the FireKeepers Local Revenue Sharing Board meeting Monday, Harper Creek Community Schools tried to draft LRSB policy that would protect the district’s share of FireKeepers Casino profits.
The Governor Versus AG Over Gambling
(ALABAMA) -- The gap between the governor and the Attorney General over gambling doesn't appear to be getting any narrower. Despite that the two men are scheduled to meet Wednesday afternoon to try and resolve their differences.
Judge: Ala. AG, not task force, holds legal cards
(ALABAMA) -- Alabama's attorney general has legal authority over the governor's antigambling task force and must take a position in court on its efforts to shut down electronic bingo casinos, a judge ruled.
San Jose council votes to put gambling expansion on the ballot
(CALIFORNIA) -- With San Jose's budget deeply in the red, the City Council voted Tuesday to put a measure on the June ballot that would allow a dramatic expansion of gambling at the city's card clubs, along with higher card-room taxes that could generate $5 million a year.
Temecula council approves deal for payments from Pechanga
(CALIFORNIA) -- The Temecula City Council on Tuesday unanimously approved an agreement with the Pechanga Band of Luiseño Indians that guarantees the city at least $52 million over 21 years to handle the effect the tribe's hotel and casino have on traffic and public services.
Randy Weidner: The public sees the value in racinos
(MINNESOTA) -- When I read Annette Meeks' diatribe against the racino bill ("Let's run the numbers on racetracks," Feb. 27), my first urge was to respond in kind, refuting in detail each of her arguments. But why bother?
2 large Alabama casinos staying closed for now
(ALABAMA) -- Two large electronic bingo casinos are planning to stay closed despite a judge's ruling that the state attorney general has legal authority over a gambling task force that he's criticized.
COMMENTARY: An Impending Gambling Debate
(ALABAMA) -- At a meeting to be held sometime in the not-too-distant future: Gov. Bob Riley: “Thank you all for attending this electronic bingo mediation meeting. I think we can all agree it’s high time the fighting and bickering over this illegal and unethical…
Temecula may get $42 million in pact with Pechanga
(CALIFORNIA) -- Temecula would get at least $42 million over the next two decades to cover the impact Pechanga Resort & Casino has on roads and public services, according to a draft agreement between the Pechanga tribe and the city.
Association of tribes opposes land measure
(ARIZONA) -- The nation's largest association of Indian tribes is opposing an Arizona bill that would allow Glendale to block the development of a resort and casino on planned tribal land.
Kath talks bonding bill, racino at town hall meeting
(MINNESOTA) -- Rep. Kory Kath has not formally announced his plans to run for another term in the Minnesota House of Representatives but he said that is his intention. He will face Republican nominee Brandon Pofahl in November.
VictoryLand reopens;Tyson promises visit
(ALABAMA) -- Customers and press greeted Milton McGregor at the door of VictoryLand casino Friday around 2:30 p.m. “Welcome home, sir,” one man told the face of the state’s embattled gambling industry.
Seminoles all in: American tribe committed to stadium proposal
(SASKATCHEWAN) -- The president of the Seminole Tribe of Florida Inc. said Friday he has signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) to join with Saskatchewan First Nations on a massive proposed football stadium and entertainment complex in Regina.
RI gambling dispute headed to trial
(RHODE ISLAND) -- A $10 million dispute between the Narragansett Indian Tribe and its former gambling partner appears headed to trial after efforts at reaching a settlement failed.
Casino board meets today
(MICHIGAN) -- The FireKeepers Local Revenue Sharing Board is expected to continue forming its bylaws in a meeting this morning.
Rev. Jesse Jackson leads pro-bingo march
(ALABAMA) -- The Rev. Jesse Jackson took part in a march Saturday in support of bingo jobs in Alabama, saying the debate is a voting rights issue and a matter of economic justice.
Bingo may get a second chance in Senate, House
(ALABAMA) -- Bingo may not be dead this in legislative session that ends late next month. After the defeat of a procedural vote needed to advance a bingo constitutional amendment in the state Senate last week, attention turns to vastly different partisan measures that may see the light of day before the session ends April 26.
GOP candidates discuss bingo, gambling
(ALABAMA) -- Tim James said he's the only businessman in the Republican primary for governor. James said when it comes to the electronic bingo controversy, the courts should settle it.
Alabama casino towns face gambling crackdown
(ALABAMA) -- The VictoryLand gambling complex in this town of 375 is Macon County's largest employer and biggest taxpayer. It has helped pay for police cars and raises for county employees.
We the people want blackjack
(FLORIDA) -- In Florida's just-opened legislative session, the Bill of Rights looms large. Citing the Second Amendment — which always has preeminence in pandering — legislators rushed to protect the trust fund for concealed weapons permits.
Voters still may get last say on electronic bingo
(ALABAMA) -- At least one prominent lawmaker said the electronic bingo issue is dead for this legislative session. Even though lawmakers will have burned through two-thirds of the session by the end of this week, too much is at stake for there not to be an effort by the sponsors, supporters, and lobbyists for casino operators to revive it.
Protesters: Let us decide on bingo
(ALABAMA) -- They march for bingo. They rally for jobs. And they scream for civil rights. They are laid-off casino workers and bingo supporters, including Reverend Jesse Jackson.
Rev. Jesse Jackson Says Alabamains Have the Right to Vote
(ALABAMA) -- Supporters of electronic bingo held another march and rally in Montgomery on Saturday with a famous special guest. Rev. Jesse Jackson, President, Rainbow Coalition, says, “just as they went back to VictoryLand, you must go back to Country Crossing and test the law.”
OP/ED: Card clubs' secret dealings
(CALIFORNIA) -- The secret card club gang bankrolling the disturbing anti-Indian casino ad blitz in Richmond has failed to acknowledge basic city psychology: It's OK for us to criticize us but it's not OK for outsiders to do it.
Editorial: Go ahead and let the people vote on gambling
(ALABAMA) -- ELECTRONIC BINGO has become a classic three-ring circus. In Ring One: Milton McGregor, reopening the state’s largest bingo casino with support from the Macon County sheriff and district attorney, and daring Gov. Bob Riley and his Task Force on Illegal Gambling to do something about it.
Dignitaries march with bingo vote supporters
(ALABAMA) -- A movement that began because of lost jobs during the ongoing bingo debate found a voice Saturday on the steps of the Alabama state Capitol. The rally for "jobs, justice and civil rights" began at the post office on Catoma Street.
Bingo March Leads To Capitol Steps
(ALABAMA) -- It was by far not the largest crowd to march up Dexter Avenue in downtown Montgomery. Still, one-by-one along with a familiar spiritual refrain, this group of around 60 or so made it clear where they stand on bingo and the mere right to vote on it in Alabama.
Bingo advocates rally at capitol
(ALABAMA) -- Laid off casino workers and supporters of legalizing bingo in Alabama marched to the capitol steps in Montgomery on Saturday for “The People’s Protest for Jobs, Justice, and the Opportunity to Vote” to try, among other things, to get Gov. Bob Riley to stop raids on casinos and to reopen gaming facilities shut down by the Governor’s Task Force on Illegal Gambling.
Fight Over Planned Casino Spreads to Legislature
(ARIZONA) -- A plan by a southern Arizona Indian tribe to build a casino and resort in the Phoenix area has divided tribes, split cities and is now sparking a debate at the Legislature about tribal sovereignty.
Electronic bingo divides Alabama's candidates for governor
(ALABAMA) -- The candidates trying to become Alabama's next governor have views on electronic bingo casinos that range from a desire by some Republicans to shut them down to Democrat Ron Sparks' plan to expand them to every county that wants them.
Ricky Thomason: Give me real casino gambling or nothing
(ALABAMA) -- While I'm all for legal gambling in Alabama, I find myself in opposition to this oingo-boingo bingo business. I do not doubt that Milton McGregor can pull enough strings to make his Montgomery Marionettes river dance to whatever tune he calls, and he's calling for Pink Floyd's "Money," and a vote by the people.
LETTER: What’s next, slots for tots?
(MINNESOTA) -- Pawn: One definition is “someone used to further another’s purpose.” Let’s extend, apply these lines to the abuse of children. As a starter, please inform the public, what is added to the esteem of an air traffic control person who brings his children up into the control tower of one of the nation’s busiest airports?
Judge bars task force raid on VictoryLand casino
(ALABAMA) -- A judge has issued an order blocking any raid at VictoryLand by the governor's antigambling task force. Circuit Judge Tom Young of Alexander City issued the order Friday shortly before VictoryLand, the state's largest casino, reopened despite the possibility of a raid.
Steve Wynn Fights For Philly Casino Project
(PHILADELPHIA) -- When Steve Wynn decided to take over the Foxwoods Philadelphia casino project he was hoping it would be a simple matter of a nod and a wave to get the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board to let him proceed with the plans.
Keno, cynical solution to budget woes
(CONNECTICUT) -- Connecticut may be desperate, but not so desperate that it has to plug a considerable chunk of its budget shortfall with a new game of chance.
DeLeo speech stirs pot over gambling expansion
(MASSACHUSETTS) -- Rep. Brian Dempsey voted to reject Gov. Deval Patrick’s proposal to license three casinos in Massachusetts when it came up for a vote in 2008, joining 107 colleagues to sink the plan that the governor promised would bring thousands of jobs and hundreds of millions of dollars in new revenue to Massachusetts.
California May Legalize Online Poker to Raise More State Funds
(CALIFORNIA) -- Donny Chia with Harvard Blogs reported, “Just few days back we discussed about the issue of State Indian Tribes in California demanding legalization of online poker in our blog post, “State Indian Tribes Wish Online Poker Legalized in California!” and to our surprise buzz is going around that California Senate is holding a session to discuss Online Poker issues.
Oneida Nation wins partial court battle
(NEW YORK) -- U.S. District Judge Lawrence Kahn sided with the Oneida Indian Nation on several claims involving the land into trust lawsuit Monday in Albany.
Bingo raids echo ‘Bloody Sunday’ for Jackson
(ALABAMA) -- The Rev. Jesse Jackson met with Gov. Bob Riley and Attorney General Troy King on Friday in preparation for today’s march on poverty over bingo in Alabama, a day before the remembrance of “Bloody Sunday.”
Could casino come after land swap? Critics think so
(OREGON) -- The family that owns the Langdon Farms Golf Course want to put 385 acres of land in trust with the Klamath Tribes. Critics say that would allow them to go around state and local land-use laws - allowing them to build pretty much whatever they would want on that property, including a casino.
Victoryland Reopens
(ALABAMA) -- Just after 1pm Friday afternoon Victoryland reopened in Macon County. Employees and patrons eagerly awaited passing through the doors to satisfy their electronic bingo fix.
Victoryland reopens, Task Force says it will return
(ALABAMA) -- The state's largest casino, VictoryLand in Shorter, has reopened despite the possibility of a raid. Milton McGregor, owner of the complex, closed the casino's 6,400 machines Feb. 1 and the entire complex Feb. 4 to prevent a raid.
VictoryLand claims victory
(ALABAMA) -- There may have been no champagne, or alcohol of any kind, but for VictoryLand President Milton McGregor and VictoryLand employees, it was clearly a celebration.
Outburst At Heated Bingo Rally
(ALABAMA) -- Reverend Jesse Jackson joined hundreds of people to protest the governor's closing of a local bingo hall. But, this rally also brought out people who don't want electronic gambling in Fairfield period.
Legislature taking aim at budget and gambling
(FLORIDA) -- On the agenda in Week Two in the Florida Legislature: Gambling and the budget Less than a week old, the annual lawmaking session already has a big focus on the budget.
Tribe kicks Tuel off land
(CALIFORNIA) -- The drama between the Tuolumne City Sanitary District and the Tuolumne Band of Me-Wuk Indians has spilled over from the boardroom into local sheriff’s reports.
Speaker would limit casinos
(MASSACHUSETTS) -- House Speaker Robert DeLeo says any more than two commercial casinos in Massachusetts would dilute the product, "dooming them from the start," a restriction that many in SouthCoast fear would close the curtain on prospects of development and job creation in this area.
Mass. speaker's pledge seen as positive step by Mohegan Sun exec
(MASSACHUSETTS) -- A Mohegan Sun official hailed public remarks Thursday by Massachusetts House Speaker Robert DeLeo, who told a business group he will offer legislation to allow two Bay State casinos and the installation of slot machines at four racetracks in the state.
Report: Seminole Tribe in $600M Canadian stadium play
(SASKATCHEWAN) -- One might not connect the Seminole Tribe and Saskatchewan Canada much, other than a few snowbirds who have made the trip, and are potentially enjoying the games at the Hard Rock Casino in Tampa as we speak.
Navajo Nation moving on casino near Flagstaff
(ARIZONA) -- The Navajo Nation plans to break ground this fall on a $180 million resort, spa and casino near Twin Arrows east of Flagstaff. Navajo Nation Gaming Enterprise chief executive officer Bob Winter said he is seeking an architect to design a “green” resort on the north side of Interstate 40, about 30 minutes from Flagstaff.
Thunder Valley Casino to Hire 600
(CALIFORNIA) -- With the hotel and casino expansion on track to open in July 2010, Thunder Valley Casino and Resort is now taking applications for the over 600 new jobs. Applicants can go to www.thundervalleyresort.com and click on Careers to apply.
Casino vote may come in November
(CALIFORNIA) -- Sonoma County may get the chance to weigh in on whether it supports a casino after all, although the vote may come in November rather than June.
Judge's ruling blocks bingo raids statewide, lawyers say
(ALABAMA) -- A temporary restraining order that allowed VictoryLand bingo casino in Macon County to reopen Friday blocks the governor's task force from taking action at any bingo casino anywhere in the state unless the local district attorney requests its assistance, lawyers said.
Day boosts jobs, revenue, racino
(MINNESOTA) -- Bills to allow state-sponsored slot machines at horse tracks were introduced at the Minnesota Legislature Thursday, and former senator and current racino lobbyist Dick Day was in New Ulm and Mankato rallying support for the legislation.
Florida tribe denies part in $1.2B Regina sports complex
(SASKATCHEWAN) -- The American Seminole Tribe, a Florida First Nation touted as the major investor in a proposed $1.2-billion sports and entertainment complex for Regina, has no plans to invest in such a project, says the group's general counsel.
Largest casino in Ala. reopens; judge blocks raid
(ALABAMA) -- Alabama's largest casino reopened Friday, shortly after a judge ruled that the governor's anti-gambling task force could not raid the gambling hall or seize any of its 6,400 electronic bingo machines.
VictoryLand reopens, without liquor license
(ALABAMA) -- Patrons, some shouting “Welcome back!“, flooded the VictoryLand casino floor Friday afternoon for the first time since Feb. 4 as the electronic gaming facility opened its doors to the public.
Racino Bill Introduced
(MINNESOTA) -- Two Minnesota lawmakers have officially introduced legislation to create a pair of so-called Racinos in the state.
Tribe looking in county for gaming facility
(NORTH CAROLINA) -- A gaming facility is a step closer to becoming reality in Cherokee County. On Monday, the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians Tribal Council approved a resolution to look at potential land opportunities and study the financial feasibility of establishing a Class II gaming facility in Cherokee County, Principal Chief Michell Hicks said.
OP/ED: Bedford’s bill dead; solution still needed
(ALABAMA) -- State Sen. Roger Bedford’s bill authorizing a referendum on electronic bingo is dead in the water. If you believe Gov. Bob Riley, that is a good thing. Riley said the bill (and a companion bill in the state House) is “about pure, unadulterated corruption and legalizing a no-bid casino monopoly for a few politically connected gambling bosses.”
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