Gaming briefs for August 26, 2005

Friday, Aug. 26, 2005 | 10:43 a.m.

Year-end reporting delayed again

Alliance Gaming Corp. delayed the release of its fourth-quarter earnings for the second time in a month Thursday.

The Las Vegas-based gaming equipment manufacturer and the owner of a Mississippi casino initially scheduled the release of year-end statistics on Aug. 9, but delayed reporting until this week.

On Thursday, the company said it would provide a further update no later than the week of Sept. 5, again citing a delay in the completion of an audit.

Analysts expressed concern after the first delay. Today, Alliance stock was down fractionally to $11.74 a share in early trading.

Property opens poker room

The Silverton Casino Hotel has introduced a new poker room with six tables and five plasma-screen TVs broadcasting sports and entertainment programs.

The room offers low-limit and no-limit Texas hold'em games, and can also spread Omaha high games if customers want to play.

The poker room is smoke-free and offers free poker lessons Monday through Friday.

Resort president to apply for gaming license

CHAMPION, Pa. -- Seven Springs wants to offer more than summer golfing and winter skiing. The popular Laurel Mountains resort wants to become a gambling destination, too.

Seven Springs President Scott Bender said Thursday he will apply to the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board for a license for as many as 500 slot machines.

"We think we can be a very strong candidate with what the state expects to do with gambling," he said.

State lawmakers last summer legalized slot machines and created the state Gaming Control Board to issue 14 gambling licenses: seven to racetracks, five to stand-alone sites, and two limited licenses to resorts. Of the stand-alone sites, two are slated for Philadelphia and one for Pittsburgh, leaving the rest of the state to compete for the other two.

Legislators designated the two resort licenses, which will cost $5 million each, to go to facilities that have at least 275 guest rooms.

Criticism aimed at gambling study

DES MOINES, Iowa -- An $87,000 state study on the social effects of gambling has some gambling opponents wondering if it was worth the money.

Anti-gambling groups requested the study, which was conducted by the University of Northern Iowa. They said they hoped for a detailed report on what effect expanded gambling would have on Iowa families and communities before state regulators approved more casino licenses.

State Rep. Danny Carroll, R-Grinnell, a gambling opponent, said the study may have fulfilled the requirements, but he found it lacking.

"Whether it was worth $87,000, I don't know," Carroll said.

The study's research team was led by Professor Deepak Chhabra of UNI's School of Health, Physical Education and Leisure Services.

State patrol confiscates illegal gambling devices

LINCOLN, Neb. -- The Nebraska State Patrol seized more than 40 illegal gambling machines and about $3,000 in cash after searching businesses across the state on warrants and in premise inspections.

The patrol said in a release Thursday that troopers confiscated 35 machines and nearly $3,000 on Tuesday from seven businesses -- four in McCook, and one each in Indianola, Holdrege and Wauneta.

On Wednesday, the patrol, along with the state's department of revenue, searched a business and residence in Friend, along with one in York County. The patrol confiscated items related to gaming devices, such as faceplates, redemption tickets and counters, along with phone lists, paperwork and gameboards.

Six machines and $100 were seized from four businesses, one each in Schuyler, Dakota City, Craig and South Sioux City, during inspections on Aug. 17, the patrol said.

The reports would be sent to Attorney General Jon Bruning's office, the patrol said.

South Bend VFW denied liquor license after gambling found

SOUTH BEND, Ind. -- A Veterans of Foreign Wars Post where authorities found evidence of video gambling and illegal tobacco sales has been denied its request to renew its liquor license.

The St. Joseph County Alcoholic Beverage Board's 4-0 decision not to renew VFW Post 9733's license essentially shuts down the post, which had similar problems at its former location.

Board officials said they were trying to get out the word to bar operators that illegal gambling will not be tolerated.

According to testimony Wednesday, a Feb. 27 excise police raid at the post found evidence of liquor sales to nonmembers, illegal video gambling, illegal tobacco sales and possession of stolen or pirated movies on DVDs.

Post Commander Roger Sartin acknowledged problems but said efforts were being made to correct them.

Club leaders did not know the video gambling machines were illegal when they ordered them and that they were removed immediately after the raid, Sartin said.

The post has been operating only a few days a week since last winter and is strapped financially because of its small membership of about 56 veterans, he said.