Gaming briefs for July 9, 2004

Friday, July 9, 2004 | 10:49 a.m.

Firm announces IT promotions

Caesars Entertainment Inc. has promoted two information technology executives as part of an effort to put a greater focus on technology and information systems initiatives.

Senior Vice President and Chief Information Officer Robert G. Conover was named special assistant for strategic initiatives, and Vice President of Information Systems Carol Pride was appointed chief information officer.

In his expanded role, Conover will be responsible for developing strategies for increasing revenue through the use of new technology, such as new database marketing techniques, hotel yield management systems, table game management tools and integrating slot machine data into the company's data warehouse, Caesars officials said. Conover also will lead the slot development group and report to Caesars Chief Executive Wally Barr.

Pride will directly supervise the information systems and information technology organizations across the company and will report to Caesars' chief financial officer. She will continue to serve as vice president of information systems.

Casino revenue up 7.3 percent

CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa -- Revenue at state-licensed casinos and racetracks reached $1.05 billion in fiscal 2004, up 7.3 percent from the previous year.

Figures released Wednesday by the Iowa Racing and Gaming Commission may reflect the seven months of discord at the Meskwaki Bingo casino-hotel near Tama, which may have sent customers to other venues. The Meskwaki casino, unregulated by the state, does not report its receipts.

Prairie Meadows in Des Moines kept its lead as Iowa's largest licensed gambling venue, with $164.3 million in gross receipts, up 9.22 percent.

Poker receipts doubled in 2004, which experts said may have been fueled by interest in poker on cable television.

Licensed venues pay nearly $226 million to the state in taxes, $3.1 million to gambling treatment programs, and $5.2 million each to host cities and counties.

BANGOR, Maine:

Revenue from racetrack-based slot machines grew faster than any other form of gambling during the past decade, a study has found. The California-based Analysis Group reported revenue at so-called "racinos" was up 48 percent since 1994,while American Indian-run casinos were up 16 percent and commercial casino revenue rose 5 percent. The study released Wednesday attributes the growth to the relative novelty of racinos.