Gaming briefs for June 10, 2003

Tuesday, June 10, 2003 | 11:23 a.m.

Company to sponsor show

Boyd Gaming Corp. of Las Vegas will be a sponsor at the first annual Great American Motorcycle Experience, a motorcycle event that will feature dirt bikes, "supercross" racers, custom bikes and cruisers.

GAME is expected to be the largest motorcycle event ever held in Nevada when it debuts Sept. 17-21 at the Las Vegas Motor Speedway, the company said.

"GAME is every motorcyclist's dream," said Dan Stark, director of marketing for Boyd Gaming. "We expect the Great American Motorcycle Experience will only continue to grow, becoming one of the most unique experiences ever staged in Las Vegas."

The weekend will include 10 styles of racing competition, including flat track, motocross, freestyle, drags, supercross, side car and road racing. It will also include a five-mile Great American Grand Prix desert racing featuring pro and amateur classes.

Complaint may be dropped

SANTA FE, N.M. -- A Gaming Control Board complaint against racetrack owner R.D. Hubbard for not disclosing his troubles in Indiana to the regulatory panel will likely be dropped, Hubbard's lawyer says.

Hubbard and the board also are expected to settle a dispute over nearly $10,800 in fees and costs the board assessed him for his re-licensing, attorney Billy Blackburn said Monday.

The board in December decided that Hubbard's problems in Indiana did not bar him from being re-licensed to operate the slot machine casino at his track at Ruidoso Downs. The board did say, however, that Hubbard had violated regulations by failing to notify the board in a timely way of the Indiana investigation.

Hubbard agreed last year to give up his Indiana gambling license, pay a $740,000 fine, and sell his stock in his company, Pinnacle Entertainment, after regulators alleged that prostitutes were flown in to entertain gamblers playing in a golf tournament Hubbard hosted, and that the casino provided cash, chips and tokens to golfers before proper paperwork was completed.

Tax hike to cut into earnings

WYOMISSING, Pa. -- Penn National Gaming Inc. said today that higher casino taxes in Illinois will hurt its earnings for the year.

However, the Wyomissing, Pa., company said it is on pace to beat estimates for the second quarter, citing growth at its gaming properties, which include racetracks and slot machines.

The mean estimate of analysts surveyed by Thomson First Call is for full-year earnings, excluding items, of $1.29 a share, and second-quarter earnings, excluding items, of 34 cents a share.

The company said it has started to cut jobs to save money, but did not say how many jobs would be affected. Costs associated with the job cuts will lower earnings, before taxes, by about $1 million, the company said.

Casinos exempted from ban

TRENTON, N.J.-- A proposal to ban smoking in most places where people do business cleared a Senate committee Monday.

The measure heads to the full Senate for consideration.

The plan would prohibit smoking in common areas of businesses and other indoor spaces. Those who light up anyway would be fined.

The proposal carries a long list of exemptions. Casinos, bars and nightclubs would allow smoking, as would social, fraternal or religious organizations and private schools. Gatherings closed to the general public would not be covered by the ban, either.

"The act is not about restricting freedom, it's about protecting the health of New Jersey families," said bill sponsor Sen. John Adler, D-Camden. "I don't care if people smoke. I just don't want them to kill other people while they do it."