Gaming briefs for July 30, 2004

Friday, July 30, 2004 | 11:07 a.m.

Firm chosen to develop casino

OTTUMWA, Iowa -- The River Hills Riverboat Commission has chosen Wild Rose Entertainment to develop and operate a casino in the Ottumwa area if the Iowa Racing and Gaming Commission approves a Wapello County casino.

The commission disclosed the choice in a news conference Wednesday.

The proposal projects 350 to 400 new jobs with a $7 to $10 million total payroll and a $25 million boost to the local tax base. Plans also call for a 125-room hotel and a restaurant.

The racing commission set a Nov. 10 deadline for new gambling license applications.

Preparing the extensive application will be one of the next steps for Wild Rose and the local riverboat commission.

Officials estimated that if the state approves the Wapello County application, riverboat construction will take about 16-18 months.

Lottery sales break another record, slot take increases

CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- The West Virginia Lottery continues to break records as sales for the 2003-2004 fiscal year jumped by more than 20 percent over the previous year.

Lottery sales exceeded $1.3 billion, breaking the previous record of $1.082 billion set in the previous fiscal year. The state's profit of $512 million also was a record, and was 24 percent higher than the previous fiscal year, Lottery Director John Musgrave told the Lottery Commission on Thursday.

Sales from slots at the state's four racetracks also set a record, increasing 19 percent to $855 million.

Another $242 million in sales was recorded by limited video lottery games offered by bars, fraternal organizations and other adult establishments.

Board OKs sale of gambling license to Isle of Capri

CHICAGO -- The Illinois Gaming Board has approved a plan that allows the bankrupt Emerald Casinos Inc. to sell its license to Isle of Capri Casinos Inc.

The board's decision Wednesday has removed a major hurdle for a casino in Rosemont, despite opposition from state Attorney General Lisa Madigan.

The Gaming Board still must investigate whether Isle of Capri is suitable to run an Illinois casino before a license is approved.

The Mississippi-based company, which bid $518 million for the state's 10th license, was selected over Harrah's Entertainment Inc., which bid $520 million to build in Waukegan, and Midwest Gaming and Entertainment LLC, which bid $476 to build in Des Plaines.