Gaming briefs for Dec. 2, 2003

Tuesday, Dec. 2, 2003 | 10:35 a.m.

McCarran becomes busiest airport for airline

Las Vegas' McCarran International Airport is now Southwest Airlines' busiest by number of daily nonstop flight operations, the company said today.

The airline, which added nine daily flights to several cities in August, September and October, now has 184 daily nonstops to Las Vegas, one more than the total number offered at Phoenix's Sky Harbor International Airport.

Las Vegas has long been Southwest's busiest city by number of passengers served, averaging close to 1 million people per month.

Casino redevelopment planned

AUCKLAND, New Zealand -- Sky City Entertainment Group Ltd., New Zealand's largest casino operator, may spend as much as A$70 million ($51 million) to redevelop its Adelaide casino in South Australia state over three years.

Construction of the A$20 million first stage, involving new cafes, restaurants, bars, private function rooms and gaming areas including an additional 20 tables and 120 machines, will start this month, the Auckland-based company said in a statement.

Sky City spent more than A$20 million upgrading the casino since its bought the business from the South Australian government in 2000. Last year, Adelaide earnings before interest and tax rose 31 percent to A$15.2 million on sales of A$103 million after Sky City added gaming machines, music concerts and started promotions such as gaming-machine tournaments.

The first stage of the development should be completed by December 2004, the company said.

Company announces merger

iGames Entertainment Inc. and Money Centers of America Inc. have signed a merger agreement that would make Money Centers a wholly owned subsidiary of iGames. The merger was approved and ratified by both companies' boards of directors after iGames approved a recently announced recapitalization plan.

Las Vegas-based iGames makes an anti-slot cheating device that has been approved by Nevada gaming regulators. When the company sought a broader distributor and manufacturer license, company Chief Executive Jeremy Stein was called forward by regulators for an in-depth investigation because of the company's business relationship with a convicted slot cheat who invented the device.

Money Centers, based in King of Prussia, Pa., offers cash access kiosks and other technology services to the gaming and retail industries.