Gaming briefs for June 26, 2003

Thursday, June 26, 2003 | 11:21 a.m.

NASCAR Cafe settles dispute

The NASCAR Cafe and Gordon Gaming Corp., owner of the Sahara hotel-casino on the Las Vegas Strip, have settled disagreements that led to threats of eviction for the race car-themed restaurant from the Strip property.

In a joint statement on Wednesday, the Sahara and Dyer Ventures, which operates the NASCAR Cafe and an associated roller coaster, said differences over disputed non-monetary lease violations have been resolved.

The Sahara had threatened to evict the restaurant operator by June 23 if alleged maintenance violations were not resolved. Both parties agreed to work out their differences in a June 19 court hearing.

"We had to resolve some philosophical and operating issues," Matt McCaughey, Sahara general counsel, said in the statement. "Dyer Ventures has always met its financial obligations and we're going to put this behind us and promote the Sahara together."

Lawmaker calls for casino vote

PROVIDENCE, R.I. -- House Finance Committee Chairman Paul Sherlock on Wednesday called for a statewide vote next year on whether to allow a casino.

A pending bill calls for a vote this year, before a project and location are chosen. That proposal has been in his committee since a House commission in April issued recommendations on gambling.

Sherlock's amended bill would identify a location where a casino might go and allow for more than one possible host community for a single casino. Voters and local officials in communities that would like to host a casino would also have to give approval.

Sherlock, D-Warwick, expects his committee to approve the reworked bill on Friday.

With lawmakers set to adjourn within the next few weeks, supporters worry there won't be time for the House and Senate to approve the measure.

"The bill seems fine," said Matthew Thomas, the Narragansett Indian Tribe's chief sachem. "Our concern is that the Senate have time to take it up."

The tribe has a deal with Las Vegas-based Harrah's Entertainment Inc. to build a casino in West Warwick. Town officials and the tribe have lobbied for that project to go before voters statewide.

Sherlock, however, said he also wants the state to hear from other developers interested in building a casino.

Under the reworked bill, communities would have to file resolutions with the state by July of next year indicating local support for a casino. Those communities would then be placed on the November, 2004 ballot for statewide consideration.

Voters in potential host communities would also have to approve a separate question supporting a casino in their city or town.

If a casino was supported in one or more community, then a state gaming board would be created to review detailed proposals and issue a single casino license by July 2005.