Gaming briefs for June 3, 2005

Friday, June 3, 2005 | 9:48 a.m.

Mayor wants to revise process for tourism grants

The mayor of West Virginia's largest city says the process used to award state tourism grants should be changed because the system is tilted toward big resorts and the state's four race tracks.

Mayor Danny Jones said he will ask Gov. Joe Manchin to review the process and reorganize the state Tourism Commission that oversees the state's matching grant program.

The grants aim to help tourism ventures defray their ad costs. In its peak year, the commission received $24 million of state video lottery profits for the advertising matching funds. A 2004 law rolled back the amount of available funding to about $11 million a year.

A legislative audit in December uncovered a number of problems with the process, including a lack of auditing of how the grant funds were spent. In response, the commission drafted new legislative rules to address the problems.

Judge: Voters get say in off-track video poker

A judge has ruled that Evangeline Downs must get St. Martin Parish voters' approval before operating video poker machines in its new off-track betting parlor in Henderson, La.

Voters in the parish already have approved video poker and off-track betting in separate elections, but combining the two requires yet another vote, state Judge Gerard Wattigny ruled Wednesday in a lawsuit seeking to block video poker at the Henderson parlor.

"They never approved having all that under one roof, in effect, a mini-casino," said attorney Allan Durand, who filed the lawsuit on behalf of St. Martin Parish resident Michael A. Castille.

Officials with Evangeline Downs, which opened the Henderson location in April, declined to comment on whether they'll appeal the case or push for a new vote.

Lincoln Park's sale before panel

The company seeking to buy Lincoln Park testified before the House Finance Committee on Thursday, saying its purchase will bring money and jobs to Rhode Island.

Executives with BLB Investors said it would invest $560 million in the state through its purchase of Lincoln Park and improvements to the dog track and gambling facility. BLB also said the state would get more than $5 billion over 18 years in video lottery terminal revenues.

The committee is considering a House bill that would allow the state Lottery Commission to enter into a contract with BLB. The bill also stabilizes the new owners' tax rate for 18 years, and includes a parity clause that would require any new gambling centers in Rhode Island to pay at least as much of its gambling revenue shares to the state as Lincoln Park.

Illegal gaming devices found

Three men were cited Wednesday after Utah Highway Patrol investigators said they found illegal gambling devices at three business in Sanpete County.

Patrol investigators cited businessmen Casey Larsen, Kevin Shepherd and Kelly Jacobson with possession of a gambling device, gambling and gambling promotion -- all misdemeanors.

Patrol investigators began an undercover operation about two month ago after receiving citizen complaints about illegal gambling taking place at the Triangle Bar and Casey Cafe in Mount Pleasant and Sno Cap Lanes in Ephraim, said Derek Jensen, a spokesman for the Public Safety Department.