Gaming briefs for July 7, 2004

Wednesday, July 7, 2004 | 11:07 a.m.

CEO's salary detailed

Las Vegas-based slot-machine maker Alliance Gaming Corp. will pay its incoming chief executive, Richard Haddrill, a base salary of $980,000 a year, according to a regulatory filing Tuesday.

In the Securities and Exchange Commission filing, the Las Vegas-based company also said it issued Haddrill 500,000 stock options and 377,030 restricted stock units.

Haddrill will succeed Robert Miodunski as chief executive on Oct. 1.

Slot backers submit petitions

WASHINGTON -- Supporters of a planned casino in the nation's capital submitted their petitions Tuesday, hoping to get the issue onto the November ballot.

With barely 40 minutes to spare before the deadline, they lugged four cardboard boxes into the downtown offices of the District of Columbia Board of Elections and Ethics.

"The number is a little above 50,000" signatures, said Pedro Alfonso, a D.C. businessman who is among the project's backers. "The next process is getting it on the ballot and taking it to the people. The citizens of the district will have a voice and be able to decide."

The proposed casino would have up to 3,500 video lottery terminals. There wouldn't be any Las Vegas-style table games or traditional slot machines. The $510 million project also includes a hotel, stores and restaurants in a rundown portion the city, about 3 miles northeast of the U.S. Capitol.

Firm invests in Wash. market

RICHMOND, British Columbia -- Great Canadian Gaming Corp., the biggest contributor to a campaign to expand gambling in Washington, is raising its stakes in the state by as much as $5.4 million.

The casino company based in this Vancouver suburb said today its subsidiary, Great American Gaming Corp., will acquire the second half-interest in Evergreen Entertainment Corp. for $350,000 and take over the Grand Central Casinos in Tukwila and Lakewood.

The U.S. subsidiary also plans to acquire the remaining interests in Grand Central properties in Algona, Everett, Tukwila and Tacoma, Wash., for $1.5 million, plus future payments of as much as $3.5 million depending on Evergreen's performance.