Gaming briefs for April 20, 2004

Tuesday, April 20, 2004 | 11:13 a.m.

Vegas company renews push for casino

BLOOMINGTON, Minn. -- Caesars Entertainment Inc. of Las Vegas is renewing its push to build a casino near the Mall of America now that Minnesota lawmakers are lining up behind gambling bills.

Caesars hired a lobbying firm and is conducting its own polling to determine how Bloomington residents might feel about a casino in their back yard -- and how they feel about elected officials who might get in the way.

Bloomington-area legislators and the city's leadership oppose the idea of a casino next to the mall -- or at least they support the idea of letting Bloomington voters decide in a referendum.

"I think people in Bloomington need to know this will be money that will be exported out of Minnesota," said Rep. Ann Lenczewski of Bloomington. "But I certainly don't have the money to run a campaign to challenge them on what they claim. The resources at their disposal are enormous to make their case, whether what they say is true or not."

Promotions firm sues over canceled lottery contracts

MINNEAPOLIS -- A St. Paul promotions company has filed a lawsuit claiming that its contracts were improperly canceled after the suicide of lottery director George Andersen.

In the lawsuit filed last week in Hennepin County District Count, Media Rare Inc. argued that the acting director of the lottery, Michael Vekich, lacked the authority to cancel its contracts. The lawsuit seeks unspecified damages exceeding $50,000.

Andersen took a drug overdose in late January after spending 10 hours with auditors who were evaluating his management of the lottery. Gov. Tim Pawlenty appointed Vekich to replace him until a permanent replacement could be hired.

The Legislative Auditor issued a report Feb. 19 criticizing Media Rare's close relationship with Andersen and questioning the value of its promotional work for the lottery. Vekich decided to cancel the firm's contracts five days later.

Treatment fund bolstered

ALBUQUERQUE -- Two Albuquerque-area Indian pueblos have given $71,500 to bolster a statewide fund for gambling addiction treatment that had dwindled.

But the boost from Isleta and Sandia pueblos may not last long, given more than twice that amount was spent from the fund last year to pay for treatment of dozens of gamblers.

Jeff Jojola, an Isleta's responsible gaming coordinator, said his pueblo and the Responsible Gaming Association of New Mexico will both be providing more money for the fund. The association comprises 10 of the state's 13 casino-operating tribes.

Tribes under the 2001 gaming compacts with the state are required to set aside a fraction of slot machine net profits for programs that treat compulsive gambling. The state's four nontribal horse track-casino operations must do the same.

The fund dwindled to less than $29,000 in early December. Isleta then pitched in $21,500 and Sandia added another $50,000 to bolster the fund, according to records.

Without the help, council executive director Kandace Blanchard said the council would have had to resort to looking for counselors willing to work for free.