Gaming briefs for November 1, 2004

Monday, Nov. 1, 2004 | 11:08 a.m.

Company plans Vegas-style casino in U.K.'s Blackpool

Hilton Group Plc, which operates Hilton hotels outside the U.S., plans to spend 200 million pounds ($367 million) building a Las Vegas-style casino in Blackpool in the north of England, the Sunday Times said, citing a local government official.

Hilton has attempted to win support from Blackpool's council for the casino, which would take three years to build, according to the newspaper. London-based Hilton needs to know the tax rate on any profit before pursuing the plan, the paper said.

The U.K. government is proposing new laws to allow U.S.-style casinos to be built in Britain. This month Las Vegas-based Caesars Entertainment Inc. announced plans to build a 650 million-pound complex on land around the London suburb of Wembley.

Fraternity poker fundraiser may be illegal

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. -- A fraternity at the University of Tennessee says it plans to hold its poker tournament for the chapter's philanthropy despite indications from a state official the tournament constitutes illegal gambling.

The brothers of Pi Kappa Phi say the money they raise goes to the PUSH America foundation with help from Chris Moneymaker, the 2003 World Series of Poker champion.

Moneymaker is a former member of the UT chapter of Pi Kappa Phi. He gained national notoriety after defeating poker's greats in the 2003 World Series of Poker.

Pi Kappa Phi spokesman Steve Evans said the fraternity got clearance from university officials that the tournament would be OK.

But the director of charitable solicitations for the Tennessee Secretary of State said the tournament is an "unlawful event."

"Poker games would be considered a casino game of chance," Barbara Toms said. "It would be unconstitutional and prohibited."

Greyhound kennel probed

INDEPENDENCE, Iowa -- State greyhound racing regulators have suspended the occupational license of a man who races dogs at the Dubuque Race Track and Casino.

The Iowa Racing and Gaming Commission said it suspended the occupational license of Kenneth Sherrets Jr., of Independence, pending a hearing next week.

Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship investigators discovered 33 dogs without food and water at a breeding kennel owned by Sherrets, said commission spokeswoman Michelle Shaffer.

Hollywood rejects bondholder's bid to buy casino

SHREVEPORT, La. -- Financially troubled Hollywood Casino has filed details of a future bankruptcy filing that will be part of a prepackaged sale of the gambling hall to Eldorado Resorts LLC.

At the same time, the casino, which is operated by a unit owned by Penn National Gaming Inc., is asking that a bondholder's motion to force the casino into involuntary bankruptcy be denied.

Black Diamond Capital Management LLC had given Hollywood until Thursday to accept a bid to buy the casino. Black Diamond has said its plan is better than that offered by Reno-based Eldorado Resorts.

Black Diamond was one of the original losing bidders for the casino, Hollywood said. Black Diamond has said Hollywood kept its reorganization plans in the dark from creditors.

The planned bankruptcy filing will involve Hollywood's operating unit and not Penn National.

Eldorado Resorts owns and operates the Eldorado Hotel & Casino in Reno and is a joint venture partner with Mandalay Resort Group in the Silver Legacy Resort Casino, also located in Reno.