Gaming briefs for Nov. 4, 2003

Tuesday, Nov. 4, 2003 | 11:12 a.m.

Trade group adds members

The Gaming Standards Association has added the following new members: GTECH Corp., Casino Technology AD, Hyatt Gaming Services, Loto-Quebec, Octavian International Ltd., BMM North America Inc., Gaming Laboratories Intl., GGS-US Ltd., Molex Inc. and the Multi-State Lottery Association.

The Gaming Standards Association is an international trade group that promotes the development of open standard technology to enable gaming devices to better communicate with one another. It was incorporated in 1998 and has about 57 members, including some of the industry's largest slot makers.

LV firm delays tower project

BILOXI, Miss. -- Construction on a second hotel tower at Casino Magic Casino in Biloxi is being pushed back at least a year while Pinnacle Entertainment of Las Vegas builds a gambling resort in Lake Charles, La.

"The company is concentrating on getting the Lake Charles project up and running," said John Ferrucci, general manager of Casino Magic Biloxi.

Work started on the $325 million Lake Charles casino during the summer. Pinnacle hopes to open the casino, the recipient of Louisiana's 15th and final riverboat gambling license, late next year.

Pinnacle, the parent company of Casino Magic, also is building a 300-room hotel tower at its Belterra Casino Resort in Indiana.

Casino Magic Biloxi, which has 378 rooms, is next to Isle of Capri, which is building a 396-room hotel tower that will open in mid-2005.

The flat growth of the coast casino market and a 2 percent drop in revenue at Casino Magic Biloxi during the first half of the year were also factors in delaying construction of the hotel tower, Ferrucci said.

"The challenge presented to us is to maintain market share," he said. "But the results of this year's numbers don't provide a whole lot of confidence."

State eyes more lottery profits

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. -- Lottery vendors can win prize money from a pot of $200,000 if they generate ideas on how to entice customers to buy more lottery tickets.

Gov. Rod Blagojevich's administration is hoping the move will increase revenue for the state, which has been battling a roughly $5 billion deficit.