Gaming briefs for July 22, 2004

Thursday, July 22, 2004 | 10:56 a.m.

Companies licensed despite mob concerns

ATLANTIC CITY -- Two construction companies said to have a history of associating with members of the Gambino crime family were granted licenses to work in New Jersey casinos Wednesday, against the advice of state investigators.

In a 5-0 vote, the state Casino Control Commission dismissed allegations that Interstate Industrial Corp. and Interstate Drywall, of Clifton, and co-owners Frank and Peter DiTommaso were unsuitable for licensure, saying their associations with members of organized crime through the years were incidental and unavoidable given the mob's infiltration of the New York-area construction industry.

The state Division of Gaming Enforcement, which investigated the DiTommasos and their companies, called the decision a mistake that would impugn New Jersey's reputation for keeping casinos free of mob taint.

"Today was a good day for organized crime and a bad day for strict casino regulation," said Thomas Auriemma, director of the Division of Gaming Enforcement.

Peter DiTommaso, 43, of Staten Island, N.Y., declined comment afterward.

Casino operator's profit declines

MORGANTOWN, W.Va. -- MTR Gaming Group Inc. reported a second-quarter profit of $3 million today as the parent company of Mountaineer Race Track & Gaming Resort and two casinos in the Las Vegas area continued expanding on several fronts.

Net income for the quarter ending June 30 translates to 10 cents per share on revenue of $83.2 million, the company said in a filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. That compares with net income of $3.5 million, or 12 cents per share, on revenue of $75.5 million in the same period last year.

MTR owns the Mountaineer track in Chester, W.Va., which has a casino with 3,220 slot machines. Mountaineer's net win from slots rose 7 percent for the quarter to $67.8 million.

The company also owns Scioto Downs in Columbus, Ohio, and the Ramada Inn and Speedway Casino and Binion's Horseshoe Hotel & Casino in North Las Vegas and Las Vegas, respectively. Harrah's Entertainment leases and runs Binion's.