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November 10, 2009

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Mini-Venetian pitched in Omaha

Monday, Oct. 14, 2002 | 11:11 a.m.

OMAHA, Neb. -- Las Vegas casino executive William Weidner of The Venetian came to Omaha on Friday and made his pitch for a gambling resort to business and political leaders, the Omaha World-Herald reported.

The newspaper said Weidner pitched the idea of The Venetian being the exclusive casino license holder in Omaha and that the resort could bring important conventions to the city. It would have upscale amenities similar to those at Sheldon Adelson's Venetian on the Las Vegas Strip: spas, entertainment, shopping and dining.

"It's like the field of dreams," Weidner said, the newspaper reported. "Build it, and they will come."

In an effort to prepare for the coming battle to expand gambling in Nebraska, Weidner came to Omaha to offer a miniature Venetian, one that offers more than slot machines and table games. He said it would be a regional destination resort as opposed to locals' oriented riverboat casinos in neighboring Iowa.

The Nebraska Legislature is expected to take up expanded gambling next year, with a constitutional amendment possibly on the 2004 ballot.

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