Gaming briefs for July 12, 2004

Monday, July 12, 2004 | 10:46 a.m.

Three executives named

David Carroll, vice president of human resources at Horseshoe Gaming Holding Corp., joins Harrah's as Central Division vice president of human resources. Carroll will be responsible for human resources operations in the company's nine-property central region, including Horseshoe's three casinos.

Chris Corrado, previously senior vice president of marketing for Horseshoe Gaming, becomes Harrah's Central Division vice president of marketing, the top marketing position in that region.

Harrah's acquired Horseshoe Gaming, which owns a riverboat each in Hammond, Ind., Tunica, Miss., and Bossier City, La.

Carroll and Corrado will report to Anthony Sanfilippo, president of Harrah's Central Division.

Harrah's also named Michael O'Hagan vice president of Harrah's Operating Co., a company subsidiary.

O'Hagan, a four-year veteran of Harrah's, will report to Jerry Boone, Harrah's senior vice president of human resources.

None of the three executives replaced any employees at Harrah's.

Taverns keeping video poker

SALEM, Ore. -- Bars and taverns seem to be sticking with video poker.

Only nine of the state's 2,158 video-lottery retailers decided against renewing their contracts when the old ones expired late last month. Another 35 have yet to make a decision, said Marcia Hutchins, who oversees retailer contracts for the Oregon Lottery.

The 98 percent renewal rate followed threats of a mass exodus after the Oregon Lottery Commission reduced the compensation that retailers could keep from the state-owned video lottery machines.

Under the prior compensation plan, retailers' average commission was $74,000, or 32 percent of sales. Under the new contract, the average commission is forecast to be $67,000, or 29 percent of sales.

A report commissioned by the Oregon Restaurant Association predicted that 15 percent of bars and taverns would drop video poker if there was any cut in their take.