2006 January 12 Gambling News, Events and Happenings

PALM SPRINGS, 4:48 p.m. Jan. 12 (AP): American Indian leaders from around the country on Thursday criticized plans by the U.S. Department of Justice to impose tougher rules on electronic bingo games, saying the changes could hurt their casino profits.

DOVER, Del. - State officials are proposing to allow Delaware’s slot-machine casinos to operate 24 hours a day in an attempt to lessen the economic impact of casinos opening in neighboring states.

November was another big month overall for Nevada casinos. With the exception of one group, downtown Las Vegas casinos have seen profits decline in seven of the last eight months. In November, they saw a 5-percent drop.

Sports betting: Andy Roddick looks a good each-way bet for the Australian Open title, argues Dan Roebuck.

Cocke County Sheriff D.C. Ramsey is named in federal court documents about an ongoing FBI investigation of illegal gambling and racketeering activities in Cocke County that were unsealed on Wednesday.

Loretta McKay, Elks Club member and bingo chairperson, said bingo nights will start up again at 7:30 p.m. every Thursday beginning Feb. 2 at the Elks Club, 17111 North Eagle River Loop Road. McKay said the Elks cancelled bingo in November when the larger prizes at the Eagle River Bingo and Casino in the Eagle River Bowl building made it difficult to compete.

Arcadia, CA (Sports Network) - Stevie Wonderboy, winner of the 2005 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile, will begin his road to the Kentucky Derby Saturday. He is the pre-race favorite for the $150,000 San Rafael Stakes at San Anita, which has drawn six starters.

SEEKONK - Seekonk resident Ronald Dillard, 45, one of 24 suspects arrested Jan. 4 in a breakup of a major Providence-area sports gambling ring, was, according to Rhode Island state police, anything but a minor player in the illegal enterprise.

HARRISBURG, Pa. - Conflicts of interest are likely when the state’s gambling regulatory board considers awarding licenses for slot-machine parlors in Pennsylvania, although members say they are confident they will cast impartial votes.