Gaming briefs for March 24, 2005

Thursday, March 24, 2005 | 11:13 a.m.

Poker tourney director named

Harrah's Entertainment Inc. has appointed Gary Thompson to a new position as director of operations and communications for the World Series of Poker tournament.

Thompson has served as director of external communications for Harrah's since 2000 and is a former reporter for the Las Vegas Sun.

Thompson will work with Senior Vice President of Acquisition Marketing Ginny Shanks, Western Division Vice President of Specialty Gaming Howard Greenbaum and Director of World Series Circuit Events Ken Lambert to boost participation in the tournament and expand business opportunities, including merchandising, for the brand.

Harrah's purchased the rights to the famed tournament in January 2004.

Senator works to block Jena Choctaw casino

NEW ORLEANS -- U.S. Sen. David Vitter says he will explore ways to keep the Jena Band of Choctaws from building a casino in central Louisiana, while Gov. Kathleen Blanco indicated that she might have to at least talk with the tribe about the proposed gambling hall that she has voiced opposition to.

Vitter, R-La., made the pledge in a letter sent late Tuesday to Blanco. The tribe, which has only a few hundred members, is trying to establish a reservation in Grant Parish as a gambling outlet.

The state's junior senator and the Democratic governor have exchanged barbed letters this week -- with copies provided to the media -- over whether Blanco plans to back her campaign pledge in 2003 to oppose expanded gambling. Blanco has said she does.

But the tribe's attorney, Julie Wilkerson, said Tuesday that Blanco is obligated by federal law to negotiate a deal with the Jean Choctaws "in good faith." The state already has three reservation casinos at Kinder, Charenton and Marksville.

Casino bidding reopened

INDIANAPOLIS -- The state will accept new bids from groups interested in operating a casino in southern Indiana's Orange County, but it appears that two of the three original applicants might remain the only contenders.

The Indiana Gaming Commission voted Wednesday to reopen the bid process in an effort to replace Trump Hotels and Casino Resorts, which was awarded the contract last year but dropped its plans for the casino earlier this month. The commission still hopes to award a license by June 22.

Trump's decision came about three months after the company, headed by billionaire Donald Trump, filed for bankruptcy protection. Gov. Mitch Daniels and Ernest Yelton, the gaming commission's new executive director, had raised concerns about the company's solvency and other issues.

Two other ventures, including one involving Indiana Pacers President Larry Bird, still have applications pending before the commission.

Hooters Casino junk bond sale is completed

The company that plans to convert the San Remo Hotel into the Hooters Casino Hotel off the Strip has completed the sale of $130 million in senior secured bonds to finance the renovation.

The Orlando, Fla.-based Hooters restaurant chain sold the seven-year notes through its 155 E. Tropicana LLC affiliate. The debt is rated B3 by Moody's. B- by Standard & Poor's and B- by Fitch Ratings, which are in the middle range of junk bonds.

When the bond issuance was announced last week, Moody's said its junk-bond rating was based on the company being dependent on a single casino, but offset by explosive Las Vegas growth and the strength of the Hooters brand.

The renovation on the 711-room property is expected to be completed by February and will include development of a Dan Marino's Fine Food & Spirits restaurant.