Gaming briefs for Sept. 23, 2003

Tuesday, Sept. 23, 2003 | 11:06 a.m.

Casino opponents start website

PAOLI, Ind. -- Opponents of a proposed casino in Orange County have started a website in hopes of raising resistance in time for a referendum in November.

The Orange County Coalition Against Legalized Gambling's website, www.No-Casino.org, is intended primarily as a source of information for people who are against the casino.

"We put together the website so people can go to one source and find out more about what they can expect if a casino is built in Orange County," Robert Hoyt, a spokesman for the group, said.

Voters in the southern Indiana county still must approve the casino by referendum Nov. 4. Five companies submitted applications last week to operate the casino, including an investor group involving Indiana Pacers President Larry Bird and another led by casino magnate Donald Trump.

Lottery CEO begins job early

NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- Rebecca Paul began as director of the Tennessee Education Lottery Corp. more than a week early on Monday, meaning the first scratch-off games could be available for sale ahead of schedule.

Paul, who was hired away from the Georgia Lottery on Sept. 8 to run Tennessee's startup operation, was supposed to begin her new duties Oct. 1. Instead, she spent Monday pitching the games and their benefits to a Nashville civic group.

One of the potential takers was Steven Greil, president of the Tennessee Performing Arts Center. After Paul's speech, Greil told her he would pursue selling lottery tickets at the center's box office, in the heart of the downtown office district.

Greil said he was persuaded by the 6.5 percent commission retailers are paid.

Winner sues racetrack for withholding jackpot

ALTOONA, Iowa -- A Des Moines man has filed a lawsuit against Prairie Meadows Racetrack and Casino because it has withheld a $10,000 jackpot he hit last December.

A Prairie Meadows spokesman said 34 jackpots worth $94,111 have been withheld since July 2002 because the winners had signed forms and had their names added to a secret list of people who can face criminal charges if they are ever caught in the casino again, the Des Moines Register reported in a copyright story today.

Leo Waters, 71, was on the troublesome list when he hit the jackpot. Casino officials say they don't have to pay Waters anything, because the gambler had lost all legal privileges following a June 1997 incident that included profanity and a physical confrontation.

Waters' attorney, John Fatino, said his client was acquitted of a misdemeanor trespassing charge that stemmed from the Dec. 6 visit during which he won the jackpot. Polk County officials apparently couldn't prove Waters had ever signed papers that involuntarily banned him from the casino.

Groups launch petition drive

LINCOLN, Neb. -- Veterans groups have launched a petition drive to legalize video slot machines in bars across the state.

Veterans groups, charities and property taxpayers would share the profits from the machines, under the proposal.

"With casino gambling, the money goes out of the state. With this proposal, the money will go to nonprofit organizations and the veterans," said Dwaine Wilson of the Veterans of Foreign Wars.

Voters must approve a constitutional amendment for any expanded gambling, and the Legislature "has not seen fit to offer a gambling amendment," said Jim Cada, a Lincoln lawyer and a veteran active in the petition drive.

The proposal, drafted by veterans, would give the state veterans agency control over video slot machine gambling and provide extra revenue for veterans' homes and cemeteries.

The veterans' proposal would allow electronic gambling machines in any bar or restaurant with an on-sale liquor license, including veteran's clubs. But a nonprofit organization would sponsor the machines.

The profits, after a 90 percent payout, would be divided four ways. Half would go to the business, 20 percent to the sponsoring charity, 25 percent to the county for property tax relief and 5 percent to the Department of Veterans Affairs.

That agency would use the money to oversee the gambling and for veterans projects, including veterans' homes and cemeteries.