Gaming briefs for September 24, 2004

Friday, Sept. 24, 2004 | 11:31 a.m.

Shareholders approve buyout

PDS Gaming Corp. shareholders Thursday voted to approve a plan by management to take the company private. The deal is now subject to approval by gaming regulators as well as finding necessary financing.

PDS finances, leases and resells slot machines to casinos.

The company had announced in April that it agreed to a plan by executives Johan Finley, Lona Finley and Peter Cleary to acquire all the company's outstanding stock. The transaction is worth about $10.5 million and the executives also would assume about $120 million in debt.

Workers authorize strikes at three more casinos

MICHIGAN CITY, Ind. -- Workers at Harrah's Casino in East Chicago and Majestic Star and Trump casinos in Gary have joined those at a Michigan City casino in authorizing a strike if contract negotiations fail.

Hospitality workers at Harrah's, Majestic Star, Trump and the Buffington Harbor Pavilion voted 423-33 on Wednesday to authorize a strike. Workers at Michigan City's Blue Chip Casino voted 140-17 on Monday to authorize a strike.

UNITE HERE Local 1 union spokeswoman Clare Fauke said the casino workers were angry.

"They are ready to make improvements on their contract. We understand now it may take a strike to do that," she told the Post-Tribune of Merrillville.

The union represents about 850 workers at the four casino boats.

Wages and health insurance are the primary issues being raised by the union.

Former AC exec named manager at Charles Town track

CHARLES TOWN, W.Va. -- A former Atlantic City casino executive has been named general manager of the Charles Town Races & Slots.

Albert T. Britton, former president chief operating officer of the Claridge Casino Hotel in Atlantic City, will oversee all facets of the Charles Town operation.

The Eastern Panhandle thoroughbred track and casino is owned by Penn National Gaming Inc. of Wyomissing, Pa.

John Finamore, a senior vice president at Penn National, has been handling day-to-day operations on an interim basis since June. That was when James Buchanan, president since 1998, was named senior vice president of government and public affairs.

Britton has more than two decades of experience in the industry, working in various areas at the Claridge from 1981 to 2001. Most recently, he worked at Harrah's Showboat Casino Hotel, also in Atlantic City.

Former casino workers plead guilty to theft

GREAT FALLS, Mont. -- Two Wolf Point women have pleaded guilty to federal charges in the skimming of more than $30,000 from the Silverwolf Casino in 2001.

Former casino bookkeeper Jacqueline M. Moran, 42, pleaded guilty Wednesday to employee theft from an Indian gaming establishment. Prosecutors say Moran padded her timecards or overpaid herself for time worked. They say she also abused vacation pay and took money from the casino's bingo proceeds. The casino is owned by the Assiniboine-Sioux tribe.

Moran has denied all allegations except for the theft of portions of casino checks that she cashed without authorization.

Former maintenance supervisor Lucy A. McGeshick, 47, also pleaded guilty to employee theft. McGeshick said she knew about Moran's embezzlement and accepted up to $4,000 from her.

Moran's sentencing is scheduled for Dec. 30, while McGeschick's is set for Jan. 3.

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