Casino Contract Approved By Kansas Lottery Commission

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Penn National Gaming Inc. had been looking for a way to phase their investment for a casino in Southeastern Kansas. The group was hoping the Kansas Lottery Commission would go along with their phasing request.

On Monday, the Commission approved a contract that will allow Penn to build a casino complex in Cherokee County. The deal still needs to be accepted by a review board.

Penn would build the casino complex that would also have a hotel. the company would also run the day to day operations of the complex. The Lottery Commission, however, would own the casino.

The deal that was made would allow Penn National to spread their $225 required investment over twelve years. They will also have to give the state between twenty two and twenty eight percent of the revenue generated from the casino.

Penn National is anchored out of Wyomissing, Pennsylvania. They have casino interests in other states, and now will run the casino in Kansas. If the review board agrees to the contract, Penn would then begin to build the facility.

The Commission was not particularly happy with the agreement to spread the investment over twelve years, but they felt it was the best deal they could get.

Lack Of Funds Makes New York Move Quickly For Racino

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New York is struggling to maintain financial stability just like almost every other state in the country. One way they are trying to raise money intake is to speed up plans for a gambling racino.

Aqueduct thoroughbred track in Queens has been waiting for the state to move forward on allowing them to add gambling machines to their facility. The state, up until now has been slow to move on allowing the gambling.

Now, however, with the economy in a free fall, the state has rapidly picked up the pace to get the gambling at the track. They have begun the process of choosing the developer of the racino.

Three developers have placed bids, and within weeks the state should pick one of them. One of the bidders, Steven L. Green and operators of the Hard Rock Cafe, have vowed to have a temporary facility open by the end of the year should they win the bid.

No table games would be allowed at the new racino. There would be, however, 4,500 video slot machines that would give a boost to the state. Revenue money would go to the state from the machines.

It has been years since the proposed racino has been at the mercy of the state. With the economy struggling, it is no surprise that lawmakers are taking the quickest road towards trying to balance the state budget.

Canada Casinos Join Group Feeling Effects Of Gas Prices

In the United States, many casino operators are turning to the economy as an excuse for their lower than expected revenue money. The U.S. is not the only country where casino operators are struggling due to a variety of reasons.

In Canada, the Casino Niagara and the Niagara Fallsview casino employees are not happy with an memo they recently received from their employers. The memo told employees that there would be a freeze on employee wages.

“After reviewing our wages and salaries to other commercial casinos in Ontario, to similar positions in the local area and to our competition in New York, we believe it is necessary to freeze all wages and salaries this fiscal year,” said the memo.

The reasons were not specified, but rising gas and food prices are speculated to be part of the cause. The management at the casinos still feel that their employees are paid well, and that the freeze should not be a problem.

“Our compensation and benefit package remains the best in Ontario,” said Greg Medulun, spokesperson for Niagara Casinos. The move to freeze wages may once again cause the Canadian Auto Workers Union to increase efforts to unionize casino workers.

American Idol Gambling Down To Final Five Contestants

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On Tuesday, the songs of Neil Diamond will seep into everyone’s living rooms through their television sets. The five remaining American Idol contestants will be singing tunes from the legendary musician.

The gambling odds, which have been missing, have now re-emerged. Two people have an opportunity to win, according to odds makers, David Archuleta and David Cook.

The pair of male vocalists have been nearly flawless for the better part of the competition. They have been rewarded, or cursed, depending on how you look at it, by sports books.

Archuleta is the favorite, and gamblers actually have to lay money to get money back. His odds are -150 at the current time. Cook, is +100, meaning he is virtually a co-favorite.

The other three contestants are considered long shots by bookmakers. Jason Castro is the third choice, but his odds are still 15-1. Brooke White has slipped to 20-1 after being a favorite early in the competition.

Syesha Mercado has been dealing with being an underdog for the whole season so far, yet she has survived every elimination. The odds makers feel her time will soon be up. She is also 20-1.

Tuesday night is the next live show, which will feature Neil Diamond as the contestants’ mentor.

Casino Owners Insulting Our Intelligence With Smoking Exception Please

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In several states, people cannot go out to eat and enjoy their freedom by lighting a cigarette. The smoking ban holds true in all public indoor places in some states.

Casinos, in some of these states where smoking is banned, feel they have the right to be above the law. Much like the Indian tribes that run them, they feel they should be exempt from smoking laws.

They really have no basis for their argument. They are doing their best to scare lawmakers into allowing them to continue to let patrons smoke in their casinos.

In Pennsylvania, there has been actual testimony to how a proposed new smoking ban would hurt the casino industry. Then, in turn, tax revenue money that goes to the state would be down.

“If this legislation to ban smoking is passed without an exception for casinos, it would severely hinder our ability to continue our early success and our role as an economic development engine for Western Pennsylvania,” said Mike Jeannot, Administration Director of The Meadows.

So there you have it. Casinos must be exempt from the smoking ban or else. There is no way any of these casinos will be able to market themselves if not for cigarette smoking.

Smokers will no longer gamble if they are not allowed to smoke. Arguments against casino gambling have long fought that the reason for their opposition is the fear of addiction.

Now, that theory goes out the window. All of those people who were at risk of gambling addiction, have now been healed by a smoking law.

If smoking bans are that affective of a deterrent against gambling, then treatment centers should use the technique. Any smoker who comes for treatment for a gambling addiction, must leave their cigarettes at the door. Then, magically, once inside the treatment center with no cigarettes, they are cured of their gambling problem.

It is not that easy to help problem gamblers, so it makes the argument that smoking is needed to reach maximum revenue, ridiculous.

Casino owners would be better off just saying, “We’re a casino. We’re above the law. Let our patrons smoke.” Then, at least, these owners would not be insulting our intelligence.