2008 March 04 Gambling News, Events and Happenings

Votes Tuesday as the House, on a 53-42 vote, gave final legislative approval to a bill that would allow taverns to offer pull-tabs and other low-stakes gambling. Voting yes were 14 Republicans and 39 Democrats. Voting no were 33 Republicans and 9 Democrats.

New research by the University of Tasmania has found that problem gambling can affect the health and welfare of family members.

Prime Minister Samak Sundaravej yesterday said casinos would definitely be legalised in Thailand, but Chamlong Srimuang, one of the core leaders of the anti-Thaksin People’s Alliance for Democracy (PAD), came out strongly against the idea.

Aides to Gov. Deval Patrick huddled with members of the Mashpee Wampanoag Indian tribe on Tuesday as they sought common ground over plans to bring casino gambling to Massachusetts, all while the governor ratcheted up his dispute with House Speaker Salvatore DiMasi over the plan.

The former operator of Atlantic City’s Tropicana Casino and Resort is asking a New Jersey appeals court to overturn the loss of its casino license. Tropicana Casinos and Resorts Inc. contends the decision by the New Jersey Casino Control Commission to deny its license renewal was “arbitrary, capricious and unreasonable.” The company is an affiliate of Crestview Hills, Ky.-based Columbia Sussex …

A rising number of teens are developing gambling addictions, and Kevin Stephens thinks that may be due to the explosive growth in online gambling. Stephens, a health and services specialist with Yamhill County’s chemical dependency program, said gambling on Internet websites is incredibly secretive.

The Kansas Lottery Commission asks Gov. Kathleen Sebelius for more time to negotiate contracts with potential casino developers. The commission voted unanimously Tuesday to ask Sebelius for a 60-day extension of the deadlines for each of four proposed casinos. Lottery Director Ed Van Petten is delivering the request Tuesday afternoon to Sebelius. A state law enacted last year allows casinos …

BANGKOK, THAILAND: Thailand’s new prime minister vowed Tuesday (4 March) to open casinos in tourist centers if he completes his four-year term, seeking a share of the billions of dollars that otherwise flows to illegal gambling dens and neighboring countries.

In a move that could accelerate the development of the next wave of high-tech slot machines, International Game Technology is in talks to acquire a small, technology-rich competitor, Cyberview Technology, for $70 million, according to merger documents obtained by the Sun.