2007 March 13 Gambling News, Events and Happenings - Page 5

In the seven years since California voters backed Las Vegas-style casinos on Indian land, gambling in California has ballooned to a $15 billion industry.

Although state gambling regulators recently agreed they wont reopen a debate on whether to issue additional casino licenses until early next year, the planning begins now. Ottumwa, Fort Dodge and Tama are pushing for casino licenses. Ottumwa appears to have the best chance.

LITTLE ROCK The Senate has approved a bill that sets up the rules for established charities in Arkansas to conduct charity bingo and raffle games. Senators voted 24-oh to approve the measure that would place a penny tax on bingo cards and a ten percent tax on the sale of other bingo equipment.

LITTLE ROCK The Senate approved legislation Monday that would set guidelines for legalizing charitable bingo and raffles and defeated a bill to raise the minimum driving age to 15 and place restrictions on other young drivers.

ARVADA Three suspects are still on the loose following a late night robbery of Arvada Bingo on Sunday.

Marge Pittman, a 62-year-old Pemberton Township resident, won a $2.48 million Mega Wheel of Fortune nickel slot machine jackpot Saturday morning at the Borgata Hotel and Casino in Atlantic City.

The Arkansas Senate passed a bill Monday that would implement the states new constitutional amendment to allow for raffles and bingo games run by certain nonprofit groups. (Arkansas Democrat-Gazette Northwest Edition)

The principal change means that software providers ofinterested operators will no longer be required to be members of eCOGRA.However, there will be no reduction in the inspection and monitoring levelsrequired …
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The Stardust is now just a memory. The casino-hotel on the Las Vegas Strip was imploded early Tuesday in a hail of fireworks to make way for Boyd Gaming Corp.’s $4.4 billion megaresort Echelon.