Las Vegas business briefs

sgreen@lasvegassun.com

Friday, Oct. 2, 1998 | 11:53 a.m.

RIO SAYS UNDERAGE GAMBLING IS INTOLERABLE -- Rio hotel-casino officials largely declined comment on a Gaming Control Board complaint alleging the resort does not do enough to prevent minors from playing slot machines or loitering in casino areas. Rio President Jay Barrett did say, "It is absolutely intolerable to us to have minors in the casino." The Rio will not comment further until it officially responds to the board complaint, Barrett said. The board alleges that on July 18, two 20-year olds were observed playing slot machines at the Rio by undercover agents. On the same day, juveniles aged 15, 16 and 18 were observed loitering in casino areas. Nevada regulations prohibit minors under 21 from gaming areas. The board is seeking a fine of up to $500,000 against the Rio.

MGM GRAND OPENS CASINO IN SOUTH AFRICA -- MGM Grand Inc. of Las Vegas announced today the opening of its temporary casino in an upscale suburb of Johannesburg, South Africa. It's in Gauteng Province, which has nearly 7 million people and is South Africa's most prosperous province. The temporary casino has 1,700 slots and 50 table games. Planning for the permanent casino in Johannesburg is under way with an anticipated 30-month construction period. The permanent resort will be designed with an Italian-Mediterranean theme incorporating a casino with approximately 2,000 slot machines and 75 table games. This is the third casino to be managed by MGM Grand on behalf of its partner in South Africa, Tsogo Sun Gaming & Entertainment.

NEW LV STORE WELCOMED WITH UNION PROTEST -- Members of the United Food and Commercial Workers, joined by building trades workers, set up an informational picket Thursday at the grand opening of King Ranch Supermarket at Decatur and Washington. UFCW Local 711 President Roberta West said the union wants the community to know the store is non-union and that other big grocery stores in Las Vegas have union workers. The 17,000-square-foot store is independently owned, said manager William Miguel.

VENETIAN CONDEMNS ELECTION-SEASON UNION PROTEST -- About 500 members of various unions staged a rally Thursday in front of the yet-to-open Venetian hotel-casino to raise awareness of casino developer Sheldon Adelson's political activity. Glen Arnodo, political action director for the Culinary Union, said Adelson is a threat to working families. He pointed out Adelson's backing of the failed "paycheck protection" proposal, failed recall efforts of Clark County Commissioner Yvonne Atkinson-Gates and his donations to opponents of pro-union candidates. Venetian officials called the rally a "cheap election year stunt" and said the resort is being built with union labor.

LV CABLE SYSTEM TO CARRY NEW PAX TV NETWORK -- Paxson Communications Corp. said its new television network will be carried by Cox Communications Inc. Cox will distribute Pax TV in markets such as San Diego and Las Vegas where Paxson either doesn't own a broadcast station or lacks an affiliate. Paxson launched its network Aug. 31 with family-oriented programming such as "Touched by an Angel."

To contact Sun Business Editor Steve Green, call 259-4083 or e-mail sgreen@lasvegassun.com