Gaming briefs for April 15, 2004

Thursday, April 15, 2004 | 11:03 a.m.

Timeshare firm to market developments at Stardust

Las Vegas-based Sunterra Corp. will expand its timeshare development marketing program to a Strip resort.

Andy Gennuso, chief executive of Sunterra USA, said the company is developing a marketing and sales location at the Stardust hotel-casino.

Jack Binion, Don Rickles among honorees

Horseshoe Gaming Holding Corp. Chairman and Chief Executive Jack Binion, comedian Don Rickles and former MGM Grand Inc. Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Fred Benninger will be inducted this year into the Gaming Hall of Fame.

The three men will be honored for their achievements June 11 at the 16th annual Gaming Hall of Fame Charity Dinner, which will benefit the American Gaming Association's National Center for Responsible Gaming. The event will be held at the Green Valley Ranch Station casino in Henderson.

"Each has helped shape this industry in a unique way during the past half-century," American Gaming Association President and Chief Executive Frank Fahrenkopf said.

Benninger, former chairman of movie studio giant Metro-Golden-Mayer, passed away in February and will be inducted posthumously.

Death ruled accidental

ATLANTIC CITY -- The death of a man who forced his way into a casino office and scuffled with security guards earlier this year has been ruled an accident by the Atlantic County medical examiner's office.

But the death remains under investigation by prosecutors, and no decision has been made on whether criminal charges will be filed against the guards.

Lanier Blunt's death certificate says he died from "cocaine-induced excited delirium with physical restraint." That determination was disputed by Blunt's family, which has questioned the circumstances surrounding the death and called for a "more aggressive" investigation into the matter.

Blunt's handcuffed body was found in the lobby of a Sands Hotel & Casino administrative office when police -- responding to a 911 call from casino security -- arrived there Feb. 10. Authorities said the 5-foot-9-inch, 235-pound Blunt appeared disoriented when he forced open a locked door before being forcibly subdued by about five guards in plain view of a surveillance camera.