Gaming briefs for Jan. 15, 2004

Thursday, Jan. 15, 2004 | 11:12 a.m.

November visitor volume up

Visitor volume inched up 1.3 percent to 2.85 million people in November despite convention attendance being off for the month.

The Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority said Wednesday that occupancy rates and average daily room rates also were up for the month, though convention attendance was down 8 percent to 507,358 people compared with the same month a year ago.

Convention figures were off due to sub-par attendance at the Comdex computer show. The LVCVA said there were 2,023 conventions and meetings in Las Vegas in November -- 24.6 percent more than the number held in November 2002.

The LVCVA said occupancy levels were up 1.3 points to 82.1 percent month over month, and the average daily room rate in November was $85.47 -- 4 percent higher than in November 2002.

'Hillbillies' casino challenged

CARSON CITY -- Attorneys for J.C. Penney Co. have challenged plans by Max Baer Jr. to build his proposed $54 million Beverly Hillbillies Mansion & Casino in a shopping center he shares with the company and another owner.

In a response to Baer's Carson City District Court petition that claims a legal right to develop the property, the attorneys said restrictions were imposed on its use when a Wal-Mart store was located there.

The restrictions, sought by Wal-Mart and approved in 1993, bar development of a theater, bowling alley, nightclub or other place of recreation or amusement at the mall in Nevada's capital city.

J.C. Penney, Wal-Mart and the third owner, the Glenbrook Corporation, signed off on the restrictions that limit the mall's use to commercial purposes "normally found in a retail shopping center."

Glenbrook Corp. representatives also have said Baer doesn't have the right to develop a casino without the cooperation of his partners.

Plans for the casino include a 200-foot flaming oil derrick, 30,000-square-foot casino with 800 slot machines and 16 game tables, a 240-room hotel and restaurants -- all keying on the "Beverly Hillbillies" TV series in which Baer starred as the doltish Jethro Bodine.

Lottery bill coming back

CHEYENNE, Wyo. -- Another attempt is being made to establish a state lottery in Wyoming.

For the second year in a row, state Rep. David Edwards, R-Douglas, has co-authored a bill to create a state lottery.

"I'm not a gambler," Edwards said. "(But) I feel that there's plenty of support for this."

Edwards has sponsored House Bill 20 with Rep. Wayne Reese, D-Cheyenne.

"My motivation is to stop the drain of money to surrounding states, all of which have Powerball, with the exception of Utah," Edwards said. "People are going to those states by the carload to buy Powerball tickets."

Powerball is a multistate lottery in 28 states, including Colorado, which also has its own Lotto game. While the bill makes no mention of Powerball, that's what Edwards said he has in mind.