Gaming briefs for Nov. 7, 2003

Friday, Nov. 7, 2003 | 9:40 a.m.

AC Tropicana reopens garage

ATLANTIC CITY -- Aztar Corp.'s Tropicana Casino and Resort in Atlantic City said it reopened the 600-room West Tower and a parking garage that was closed after an Oct. 30 construction accident.

The pedestrian bridge over Pacific Avenue and another garage remain closed temporarily, the Tropicana said in a statement.

The collapse of a garage last month killed four construction workers and injured 22. Workers were pouring a concrete deck on the top floor of the Tropicana when the collapse occurred. The 2,400-vehicle garage is part of a $245 million expansion that will add 502 hotel rooms, shops and restaurants. The expansion was scheduled to open in March.

Firm subpoenaed in online, offshore gambling probe

SAN ANTONIO -- Clear Channel Communications Inc., the largest U.S. owner of radio stations, said Thursday it received a subpoena from the Department of Justice seeking information about gambling advertisements that ran on its stations.

The subpoena was issued Sept. 9 by the assistant U.S. attorney in St. Louis, the company said in a filing with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission.

San Antonio-based Clear Channel said it was asked to provide information about ads run on behalf of "offshore and/or online gambling businesses." The businesses included sports bookmaking and "casino-style" gambling, the filing said.

Clear Channel said it is cooperating with the Justice Department. Spokeswoman Lisa Dollinger said the company couldn't comment further.

Gtech buying terminal supplier

WEST GREENWICH, R.I. -- Gtech Holdings Corp., the world's biggest supplier of online lotteries, said today it agreed to buy closely held Spielo Manufacturing Inc. for as much as $185 million to add video lottery terminals.

Gtech expects the purchase of the Moncton, New Brunswick, company to boost sales by $95 million to $100 million and add 1 cent to 2 cents a share to earnings, the Rhode Island company said in a statement.