Gaming briefs for May 26, 2004

Wednesday, May 26, 2004 | 10:35 a.m.

Officials expect big weekend

The Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority projects 281,000 visitors over the upcoming three-day Memorial Day weekend, compared with 276,000 visitors a year ago.

The forecast is based on a 95.9 percent hotel occupancy rate, up from 94.7 percent a year earlier.

Visitors this weekend are expected to generate $168.7 million in nongaming spending, up from $166.5 million last year.

The totals are based on visitation from Friday through Sunday, with visitors departing Monday, the authority said.

The increase comes despite news that gas prices won't be coming down anytime soon.

Retail prices for gas are setting record highs on an almost daily basis and experts say there's no reason to expect relief anytime soon, according to a new report from the American Automobile Association.

Neighbors sue to block casino

CHEEKTOWAGA, N.Y. -- A group representing about 5,000 residents has filed a lawsuit to stop a proposed Seneca Indian casino here, arguing that environmental reviews and a public vote are legally required before the project progress.

The Lancaster-based Citizens Opposing New Casinos on Existing Residential Neighborhoods, or CONCERN, has been battling against placing a Seneca casino near residential neighborhoods.

Tim Sherry, a member of the group, said the casino planned near Buffalo Niagara International Airport would be the largest project ever built in Erie County without an independent review of traffic, congestion, safety and pollution issues.

The suit, filed in state Supreme Court, argues that state and town officials must order the environmental studies that are routine for any large building proposal.

The Senecas would operate the casino as a sovereign nation and would not normally fall under such requirements.

Profit declines on recall

TOKYO -- Aruze Corp. shares fell as much as 13 percent today after the Japanese pachinko game machine maker's profit unexpectedly plunged on costs to recall the Gold X, a defective slot machine.

Shares of Tokyo-based Aruze fell as much as 300 yen to 1,980.

Group net income for the business year ended March 31 fell to 156 million ($1.4 million) from 17.6 billion yen a year ago, Aruze said in a statement.

Sales fell to 101.1 billion yen from 138 billion yen a year earlier, 18 percent below Aruze's previous forecast.

Aruze said the Gold XR, a replacement for the Gold X, which was recalled because of an operational fault, didn't gain popularity among customers.

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