Gaming news briefs for April 1, 2004

Thursday, April 1, 2004 | 11:23 a.m.

Vegas fails to win new flights

The U.S. Department of Transportation today announced that nine airlines have been selected to provide additional service to Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport, but Las Vegas wasn't among the destinations winning new flights.

America West Airlines was the only airline that proposed additional flights to Las Vegas.

The Department of Transportation approved one new round trip for America West among six awarded and that will be for an additional round trip between Phoenix and Washington.

More convention-goers expected in second quarter

Las Vegas is scheduled to host 13 trade shows with a projected attendance of 10,000 or more in the second quarter, according to the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority. The shows are expected to attract nearly 380,000 attendees, a 21 percent increase from the same period a year ago.

For the first time, Las Vegas will host a major trade show with 10,000 or more attendees during each month this year, the tourism authority said.

"We're looking not only at a strong quarter for Las Vegas trade shows but also an unprecedented year," said Rossi Ralenkotter, executive vice president of the tourism authority.

The shows are expected to have a nongaming economic impact of more than $520 million. Year-ago figures weren't immediately available.

Appellate Court removes one obstacle to license sale

CHICAGO -- The Illinois Appellate Court on Wednesday upheld a change in state law that allowed a defunct East Dubuque riverboat license to move to Rosemont.

The ruling at least temporarily removes one obstacle the bankrupt Emerald Casino Inc. faced in its attempt to sell its license to Isle of Capri Casinos, which also wants to locate in Rosemont.

The lawsuit, filed by taxpayer Philip Crusius against the Illinois Gaming Board and others, alleged that Illinois lawmakers violated the state constitution in 1999 by amending the Riverboat Gambling Act to allow Emerald to move the license.

Crusius contended it was illegal "special legislation" designed to benefit only that one license.

The Appellate Court agreed with a lower court ruling that the act was not special legislation.

The gambling act amendment allowed riverboats that were not in operation on Jan. 1, 1998, to apply to the Gaming Board to relocate. While the court agreed the legislation favors a select class of riverboat gambling licensees, it said that classification was warranted, was not arbitrarily narrow and "does not appear to have been designed to benefit a particular group without a reasonable basis."

Casino plan facing delays

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. -- House and Senate committees each have advanced bills that would add an extra hurdle for the town of Rockaway Beach to host a casino.

Residents of the tiny town on Lake Taneycomo already have voted to allow the casino.

But legislation pushed by opponents -- primarily the business community of Branson, about a dozen miles away but still within Taney County -- would require an additional countywide vote for the casino to open.

The House Tourism and Cultural Affairs Committee voted 10-6 Tuesday to send the bill to full House. A similar bill was sent to the full Senate by a 6-1 vote Tuesday of the Senate Financial and Governmental Organization, Veterans' Affairs and Elections Committee.

Even if county voters were to approve, the casino still would need statewide approval of a proposed constitutional amendment in order to operate. That's because the constitution currently limits casinos to the Missouri and Mississippi rivers. Lake Taneycomo is part of the White River.