Gaming briefs for March 26, 2004

Friday, March 26, 2004 | 11:18 a.m.

Caesars, MGM MIRAGE eye opportunity

SINGAPORE -- MGM MIRAGE and Caesars Entertainment Inc. are among the U.S. casino companies interested in potentially building a casino in Singapore, should the government approve, the Business Times reported, citing company officials.

Singapore represents a significant opportunity, depending on details of the regulations the government may impose, the paper cited Robert Stewart, a spokesman with Caesars in Las Vegas, as saying.

MGM MIRAGE's employees in charge of development are already reviewing the opportunities in Singapore and may consider visiting the nation, with Chairman Terrence Lanni potentially also making a trip, the paper cited MGM spokesman Alan Feldman in Las Vegas as saying.

Manufacturer's losses widen

A Las Vegas company that manufactures, distributes and rents shuffling machines for casino card games reported a loss for the fourth quarter.

VendingData Corp. on Thursday reported a loss of $3.4 million, or 36 cents a share, on revenue of $390,000. That compares with a loss of $2 million, or 26 cents a share, on revenue of $600,000 for the same quarter a year earlier.

The company attributed its 2003 losses to paying $850,000 in consulting, finance and legal fees associated with raising capital, and legal costs of about $400,000 to defend a trademark lawsuit filed against the company by rival Shuffle Master Inc., Las Vegas.

VendingData Chief Executive Steven Blad said the company made efforts to reduce expenses in 2003 by setting up its manufacturing plant in China, where it will be close to the growing Macau gaming market.

Casino shutdown ordered

KANSAS CITY, Kan. -- The National Indian Gaming Commission has ordered the shutdown of a casino operated by a tribe in downtown Kansas City.

The commission issued a letter Wednesday announcing its decision to the Wyandotte Tribe of Oklahoma, and to the state and local government officials who have been fighting the casino since it opened in September.

The Gaming Commission found the land did not qualify as a site for a casino because -- among other things -- the tribe resides in Oklahoma and does not have a strong historical connection to the site.