Gaming briefs for July 1, 2003

Tuesday, July 1, 2003 | 11:14 a.m.

Mississippi casino to be sold

Harrah's Entertainment Inc. of Las Vegas announced plans Monday to sell its Harrah's Vicksburg Hotel & Casino in Vicksburg, Miss., to Columbia Sussex Corp.

Terms weren't disclosed and Harrah's said it expects no material gain or loss on the transaction.

The casino operator said the sale is expected to close by the fourth quarter. Columbia Sussex is a hotel, resort and casino operator based in Ft. Mitchell, Ky.

"We are very excited about this opportunity and are planning significant changes and upgrades to the property, including adding the latest in ticket-in, ticket-out technology, same-day cash-back bonuses and a new parking facility located conveniently adjacent to the vessel entrance," said Joe Yung, director of development for Columbia Sussex.

Harrah's opened the Vicksburg casino in November 1993. The operation includes 117 hotel rooms and suites, as well as more than 700 slot machines and 15 table games.

Reserve judge to hear dispute

MADISON, Wis. -- A reserve judge will make a recommendation on whether the state Supreme Court should directly hear a lawsuit filed by Republican lawmakers challenging Democratic Gov. Jim Doyle's power to sign gaming compacts, the justices said in an order Monday.

The Supreme Court ordered the parties in the lawsuit to file briefs with the reserve judge, who will then hold any necessary proceedings to determine legal and factual issues in the lawsuit.

The reserve judge will then submit a recommendation by Aug. 15 on whether the justices should take up the case directly or require it to go through the circuit court first. The justices will then decide whether to accept the case.

Republicans who control the state Legislature filed the lawsuit after Doyle signed a compact with the Forest County Potawatomi earlier this year allowing the tribe to offer new games such as craps and roulette. It also removes some restrictions on its casinos, including the number of slots it can offer. In return, the tribe expects to pay the state an estimated $340 million over the next 10 years.

The lawsuit claims the Potawatomi compact violates a 1993 amendment to the state constitution restricting gambling expansions.

Republican lawmakers contend the Supreme Court should take up the lawsuit directly because the compacts presented a pressing issue. But Doyle argues there is no emergency and the case should first be heard by the lower courts.