Gaming briefs for July 6, 2004

Tuesday, July 6, 2004 | 10:22 a.m.

Credit card comp deal set

MGM MIRAGE announced a new credit-card reward program today that will allow card holders to redeem points at the company's casino resorts.

Officials said participants will not be able to use credit-card points to gamble but can spend them at restaurants and hotels.

Customers can do more than gamble at the resorts, especially in Las Vegas where live shows, dining and other entertainment generate as much revenue as gambling, said Stephen Moore, an MGM MIRAGE vice president.

"The type of customers we are reaching is different than what it was 10 years ago," he said. "We are targeting other customers outside of the casino."

MGM MIRAGE will partner with Bank One to offer the cards, becoming at least the third U.S. gambling company to create a credit-card reward program.

Newspaper: Non-residents recruited for drive

WASHINGTON -- Allegations that petition signatures in favor of bringing slots to D.C. are being collected by out-of-towners could doom the effort, a slots opponent said Saturday.

Dorothy Brizill of D.C. Watch said only District residents can collect signatures for a District ballot initiative. She said collectors must sign an affadavit affirming they live in D.C. Otherwise, any signatures collected by that person may be invalid.

Slots supporters have until 4:45 p.m. Tuesday to collect nearly 17,600 qualified signatures. The Washington Post reported Saturday that people have been brought in from as far away as Florida to help collect signatures.

Brizill said she wants to see true economic development on the New York Avenue corridor, the site of the proposed slots emporium.

She said casino gambling won't provide that, and will only bring more problems like prostitution and poverty.

Australian casino deal advances

MELBOURNE, Australia -- Tabcorp Holdings Ltd., Australia's biggest gaming company, today appointed Michael Piggott as chief executive officer of Tab Ltd. after taking control of the business in a A$2.2 billion ($1.6 billion) takeover.

The board of Sydney-based Tab and former chief executive Warren Wilson resigned Monday. Tabcorp appointed five people to the empty board, the Melbourne-based company said in a statement to the stock exchange.

Tabcorp's offer of 0.2 shares and A$2.10 cash is conditional on achieving 90 percent acceptances for its bid, the threshold at which it can compulsorily acquire all remaining shares. It has received acceptances for 57.6 percent.

Tabcorp now controls about a quarter of Australia's A$15 billion a year gambling industry, with a chain of betting shops, four casinos and 18,000 slot machines across three states.

Second competing casino opens in Macau

MACAU -- Galaxy Resort & Casino joined Macau's newly liberalized casino scene Sunday, becoming the second casino to open shop in the Chinese enclave after the end of a four-decade gambling monopoly.

The $66 million Galaxy Waldo kicked off business with a traditional Chinese lion dance ceremony. It offers 38 gambling tables, 100 slot machines and 161 hotel rooms.

Galaxy's Hong Kong-based boss, Lui Che-woo, follows on the heels of his co-license holder, Las Vegas gaming mogul Sheldon Adelson, who opened the glitzy Sands Macau in May.