Gaming news briefs for February 19, 2004

Thursday, Feb. 19, 2004 | 11:15 a.m.

Caesars Entertainment rooms to be offered on Internet site

Hotel rooms at Caesars Entertainment Inc.'s five Las Vegas properties will be offered through Orbitz, the nation's No. 3 Internet travel booking company, the companies said today.

The companies signed a merchant hotel partnership agreement that will enable Chicago-based Orbitz to sell rooms at Caesars Palace, Bally's, Paris Las Vegas, the Flamingo and the Las Vegas Hilton.

Caesars spokesman Robert Stewart said today the deal is consistent with the company's goal of achieving greater room inventory control because the deal is structured so that Orbitz can't sell rooms for less than what's offered on Caesars' Internet sites.

Orbitz, owned by a group of major U.S. air carriers, specializes in packaging room transactions with airline ticket sales.

Orbitz has similar merchant agreements with the Mandalay Resort Group and MGM MIRAGE.

Legislators revise slot plan

ANNAPOLIS, Md. -- A Senate committee began work Wednesday on a major overhaul of Gov. Robert Ehrlich's slot machine bill that would authorize slots at Ocean Downs racetrack and add a third off-track slots emporium in the Interstate 95 corridor.

Under a revised bill presented to the Budget and Taxation Committee, the number of slot machines would remain at 15,500. But the number of machines set aside for the three big racetracks -- Laurel Park, Pimlico and Rosecroft -- would be reduced from 10,500 to 7,500.

The bill also would revise the way slot machine revenue is distributed and could result in the state retaining more money for public schools.

After spending about three hours listening to an explanation of the proposed changes, the committee scheduled a voting session on the bill for today.

James "Chip" DiPaula, Ehrlich's budget director, said the governor "is happy with the progress the committee is making in finding a funding source" to help pay for a $1.3 billion school aid plan.

Expansion measure advances

DES MOINES, Iowa -- A bill that makes significant changes to the state's gaming laws and calls for up to five more casino licenses was approved by two House committees Wednesday and is scheduled to be debated next week.

The bill limits the number of racetrack casinos allowed at the current three but permits the Iowa Racing and Gaming Commission to approve up to five more floating casinos. It does not automatically lift the current moratorium and leaves that decision to the Iowa Racing and Gaming Commission.

A new 22 percent tax rate would be set for all casinos under the bill, which would increase the rate to 26 percent for racetracks offering table games and for casinos on boats that convert from floating riverboats to barges.

Racino measure advances

OKLAHOMA CITY -- After hearing warnings that Oklahoma's horse industry is on its last leg, the state Senate voted Wednesday to let some horse racetracks operate electronic games now played only at Indian casinos -- turning the tracks into racinos.

The measure, which would raise more than $70 million for education, was approved on a 30-18 vote and now goes to the House for consideration.

Approval came after Senate President Pro Tem Cal Hobson, D-Lexington, called on senators to "step up and do your job" and save the state's horse industry and its 50,000 jobs.

The vote came before a gallery packed with about 300 horsemen and tribal members who lobbied for the bill.