2006 June 12 Gambling News, Events and Happenings - Page 5

THE number of spread betters could more than double to 1m over the next five years, according to a new report and the World Cup could be the catalyst that kickstarts the trend.

It could be the new taunt of summer: My beach blanket is bigger than yours. Manufacturers and retailers are increasingly rolling out blankets big enough for two often, in a towel-like terrycloth and they appear to be catching on. ABO Gear, a Georgia manufacturer of outdoor supplies, added a 60-by-72-inch Beach Hugger blanket last year, its largest model yet. (It supersedes the Beach Hog,

There’s something about summertime and floating casinos. Locals just have to get in the car, drive to the Hoosier state and drop a few quarters in a slot machine.

Older, wiser and considerably wealthier 10 years after casino boat gambling came to Northwest Indiana, local operations are spending hundreds of millions of dollars on improvements to ensure continued profitability into their second decade and beyond.

Initially earmarked by local officials solely for infrastructure improvements, the casino boat tax money has morphed into a panacea of sorts for cash-strapped municipalities looking to plug budget holes and keep voters happy.

MICHIGAN CITY A vast majority of the more than $100 million casino boat dollars collected the past decade have been used to extend municipal services and other investments in the citys infrastructure.

[chart] ||Argosy|Belterra|Grand Victoria| |Location/Information|777 Argosy Parkway, Lawrenceburg, Ind.; 888-274-6797 www.argosy.com/cincinnati|Ind. 156, Florence, Ind. 888-235-8377 www.belterracasino.com|600 Grand Victoria Drive, Rising Sun, Ind. 800-472-6311 www.grandvictoria.com| |Hours, admission charge|24/7, free|24/7, free|24/7, free| |Size in square feet|78,000 spread over three

Belleville Fairview Heights American Association of Retired People — 1 p.m. today, City Hall, lower level, Fairview Heights. Regular meeting. Bring members and friends. Coffee, cake, bingo.

Built in the 1920s, the Casino Pool was part of Joseph Young’s grand vision for making Hollywood a destination for tourists. These days ‘’casino'’ means gambling, but back then it referred to any place designed for public amusement.