Gaming briefs for September 8, 2004

Wednesday, Sept. 8, 2004 | 10:36 a.m.

Venetian owner eyes Chinese resort

HONG KONG -- Las Vegas Sands Inc., which recently opened a casino in Macau, said today that it has proposed a resort development on a nearby Chinese island, but without any casinos because they are illegal in the mainland.

Las Vegas Sands, owner of The Venetian, wants to develop parts of Hengqin Island, which is mainland Chinese territory connected by a bridge to Macau's Taipa Island, company president William Weidner said.

Weidner said his company had submitted a proposal to the government in Zhuhai, the mainland city just across from Macau that is in charge of Hengqin Island.

Weidner would not say whether his company wants to build one resort or more.

Media have reported here that Las Vegas Sands wants to develop three resorts, including hotels and a convention center, on the mainland island.

The reports said the company told Zhuhai officials that it wants to expand its operations onto the mainland island because Macau is small with little extra land available.

Las Vegas Sands, run by Sheldon Adelson, recently ended a four-decade monopoly on Macau's lucrative gambling industry by opening the first Las-Vegas style casino in the enclave in May.

Lawsuit filed over gambling board appointment

HARRISBURG, Pa. -- The state attorney general's office filed a lawsuit Tuesday asking a court to stop the appointment of a Democratic state lawmaker to Pennsylvania's new gambling commission.

Rep. Jeffrey W. Coy should not have been tapped for the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board because the state constitution prohibits lawmakers from being appointed to paid state government jobs during the terms for which they were elected, Attorney General Jerry Pappert said in the lawsuit, filed in Commonwealth Court.

"Mr. Coy's appointment directly contravenes a clear and unambiguous constitutional provision. Allowing this appointment to stand would render that provision meaningless, something that is unacceptable and cannot be condoned," Pappert said in a statement.

The seven-member state gambling board, whose members earn $145,000 per year, is authorized to grant licenses to operate slot machine parlors, which were legalized this summer by the state Legislature.

The lawsuit seeks an immediate ouster of Coy and a court order barring him from serving on the board.