Gaming briefs for Dec. 16, 2003

Tuesday, Dec. 16, 2003 | 11:13 a.m.

Hotel-casino featured in Discovery Channel series

The Discovery Channel expects to begin production in January of a behind-the-scenes look at Green Valley Ranch Station Casino in Henderson.

The show will be called "American Casino" -- the newest installment of the cable network's "American" series after a program called "American Chopper." The first season will include 13 episodes, all focusing on Green Valley Ranch, and is expected to air beginning in June.

" 'American Chopper' and now 'American Casino' are real American success stories about people who are the best at what they do," Craig Piligian, the show's executive producer, said.

"The Fertitta brothers are the hottest hoteliers in town right now," he said, referring to Station Casinos Inc. executives Frank Fertitta III and Lorenzo Fertitta.

Green Valley Ranch, a joint venture of Station Casinos and the Greenspun family, owner of the Las Vegas Sun, is managed by Station Casinos.

The success of "American Chopper," which takes a look at the world of custom-built motorcycles, led to the concept for a casino program, Piligian said.

" 'American Casino' is a look at the hard work, pressure and day-do-day business decisions the owners and managers must make for their operation to be successful," he said.

Lottery giant's profit soars

WEST GREENWICH, R.I. -- Gtech Holdings Corp., the world's biggest supplier of online lottery systems, today said net income rose 40 percent in its fiscal third quarter as the company cut expenses.

Net income rose to $45.9 million, or 69 cents a share, from $32.8 million, or 57 cents, a year earlier, the company said, and includes a $3.3 million after-tax gain from the consolidation of the partnership that owns Gtech's headquarters in West Greenwich.

Revenue for the period ended Nov. 22 fell to $254.9 million from $256.5 million. The company's cost of sales fell to $13 million from $39 million a year earlier.

Son succeeding father as CEO

PARADISE ISLAND, Bahamas -- Kerzner International Ltd., which owns the Atlantis Resort on Paradise Island in the Bahamas, today said Butch Kerzner will succeed his father as chief executive officer to formalize the shift in their roles in recent years.

Butch Kerzner, 39, has been president of the Paradise Island-based company since 1996.