ï»¿Fertitta and Wynn Joining American Gaming Association for 2014

Station Casinos Chairman Frank Fertitta III are going to be joining the American Gaming Association Board of Directors this along with Steve Wynn (Image: renoetahoe.com year)

Simply Take your seats and get ready for some head-whipping interplay between power players: the American Gaming Association (AGA) the Washington, D.C.-based main lobbying arm for the main casino conglomerates in America has some new constituents. It will make for an interesting year ahead as these casinos’ executives determine the course for gambling in the United States, as well as in particular, online gambling.

Wynn Comes Back

Joining this powerhouse organization a group tasked largely with persuading federal legislators to take action where it’s required regarding gaming will be Wynn Resorts Ltd., Station Casinos, and upscale Kentucky Derby racetrack and casino operator Churchill Downs Inc. Each among these companies will then have an official user representing their interests regarding the AGA’s board of directors.

Going back to the organization that he initially founded right back in 1995 will be casino magnate Steve Wynn, chairman of his eponymous company, and obviously one of the gaming industries more invigorated proponents. After he offered his Mirage Resorts to what was then called MGM Grand Corp. back in 1999, Wynn had walked away from the business. Their views on online gaming have been somewhat circumspect, as they push for more federal oversight so it will be interesting to see which way he goes on this board.

Another significant player to think about it board is Frank Fertitta III, whom is Station Casinos’ chairman and therefore clearly on along side it of Internet gambling expansion; his company’s UltimatePoker internet site was the first to go legal online in Nevada, as well as the entire United States. Fertitta is expected to join the AGA Board as well.

Heading up the AGA Board will be MGM Resorts International chairman Jim Murren, who is taking over for outgoing Board chair Richard Haddrill of Bally Technologies.

Hope and Change

It has been a pivotal year for the AGA; the corporation’s first and just president, Frank Fahrenkopf Jr., stepped down this previous Spring and his position was filled by travel industry expert Geoff Freeman. Recent departures by long-time senior management at the consortium have also impacted its makeup products.

Freeman noted that with the participation of these industry that is major, ‘a critical step in the AGA’s development as a representative regarding the entire gaming industry [has taken place].’

But with these new power players may come some divisiveness as well; Fertitta will obviously be within the cheering section for legal Internet gaming, as his Ultimate Gaming now operates online in both Nevada and nj-new Jersey, while long-time member and nevada Sands Corporation Chairman Sheldon Adelson would offer his right arm or at least many of his billions to place the kaibosh on it forever.

All the time. although the AGA itself takes the official stand of being pro-Internet gambling, new president Freeman told GamblingCompliance.com that ‘we’re perhaps not the first association to possess members disagree on an issue…[and while] other associations may not have people utilizing the exact same resources [as Adelson] to express their point of view…this happens in associations’

Revere and Mohegan Sun Strike Casino Deal in Massachusetts

The city of Revere, Massachusetts could benefit financially if Mohegan Sun’s casino ever becomes a reality

There’s no guarantee that Suffolk Downs and the Mohegan Sun will be able to develop a casino in the populous city of Revere, Massachusetts. In reality, the whole project still may seem like a long shot to just about everyone else who isn’t directly involved in promoting it. But should the town and the businesses involved beat the chances, they’ll be exchanging a lot that is whole of into the years to come.

Pay to Play

Mohegan Sun arrived to a contract utilizing the city of Revere that will see the casino firm pay the town $33 million in advance, in exchange for allowing them to operate a casino during the Suffolk Downs racetrack; the billion-dollar task would feature 4,000 slot devices, 100 game tables, and a poker room . That would only be the first of numerous payments, however, as the casino would continue making annual payments to the city starting at no less than about $25 million to $30 million.

‘This agreement is definitely an deal that is extraordinary will assist us continue to make the transformation of Revere a real possibility,’ said Mayor Daniel Rizzo.

The deal reflects the proven fact that Mohegan Sun is the only operator under the existing proposal for the casino on land owned by the race track. Suffolk Downs would serve just as a landlord, instead of running the facility.

If you have been attention that is paying the ongoing saga of the Suffolk Downs casino, you understand that this could be the second effort to build a casino attached to the race track. The very first attempt, which may have built a casino on the East Boston side of the line between Boston and Revere, had been rejected by East Boston voters, also as Revere voters authorized it.

That proposal would happen less lucrative for Revere, which wouldn’t have hosted any of this major buildings attached to your center. Under that host agreement, Revere had been expected to be given a minimum of $9 million each year.

Revere Will Make Bank

Now, the populous city can expect in order to make at least three times that amount. In addition, Rizzo said that the host agreement language which is expected to be produced public soon could allow the city to get even higher payments in the event that casino manages to become extremely profitable.

The money raised through the payments would be properly used to deliver tax relief for property owners in Revere, as well as to enhance services and facilities throughout the town. Mohegan Sun pointed to these as well as other benefits that are economic once the thousands of jobs that could be developed as reasons why the deal will be a good one for the city.

‘We’re going to operate a vehicle a tremendous quantity of success for this city and lead to a upswing that is huge the economic situation around here,’ said Mohegan Tribal Gaming Authority main executive Mitchell Etess.

But despite the texting, there are people who plan to arrange in opposition to the Revere proposal. No Eastie Casino plan to work with those in Revere who oppose the casino to defeat the coming referendum while Boston’s Mayor-Elect Martin J. Walsh says that he’s unsure if Boston has a legal right to stop the casino move and that he would like to negotiate a surrounding community agreement with the casino developers members of anti-casino group. They are going to be joined with a group from Palmer where Mohegan Sun has already lost a casino vote that claims that the casino company purposely destroyed the referendum there to make certain that it could then take to again in the more lucrative better Boston area.

Mixed Emotions as Judge Okays Atlantic Club Shutdown

The end of an age: Atlantic City’s Atlantic Club are going to be closing its doors on 13 for good (Image: Edward Lea/PressofAC january)

Whenever a veteran casino closes down, for the buyers and vendors, it’s just business. But for the casino’s workers, it is the loss of a task, and sometimes, a career that is life-long. Such is the way it is for the Atlantic Club open for the past 33 years in Atlantic City, and originally produced by iconic casino magnate Steve Wynn which is closing down for good come 13, 2014, per Judge Gloria Burns’ orders of the court january.

Employees Weigh In

As she did so, the packed courtroom reflected the casino’s large workforce, who filled every seat; numerous have been used there nearly since its inception. Take bartender Joe Blatcher, who claims he is witnessing not just the loss of his very own job, but what he sees as nefarious dealings involving the city’s power players.

‘It’s a matter of the entire city wanting to eliminate a few properties so that the remainder can still exist,’ Blatcher decried. ‘It appears extremely suspicious that two gambling enterprises can form teams to take straight down another one. It’s like thinning out the herd to survive.’

They say it is true in nature, so why maybe not among the wildebeests of gambling as well?

While Judge Burns noted there is no concrete evidence of any collusion or fraud during the bankruptcy court hearing for Atlantic Club later a week ago, it’s hard to miss the reality that purchaser Caesars Entertainment already owns four casinos in Atlantic City, snatched it for the fire sale price, and will probably benefit somewhat by having one less casino to compete against in town.

Then again, the other properties in Atantic City probably won’t be crying over losing one of the own, either.

Irrespective, the Atlantic Club employee base in attendance was not convinced.

‘the thing that is worst is they truly are doing it just to end competition,’ said Fran Critch through tears; Critch has been a food server at the home for 29 years, now fears she will have to put her home on the market if she aren’t able to find another task quickly. She is not keeping away a complete lot of hope for that to happen, either.

‘Who’s going to hire a server that is 59-year-old’ Critch wondered aloud.

Some Severance; No Pension Add-Ons

For those facing no jobs in only a little over fourteen days, the prospects are scary; the judge approved a deal that offers all of some 1,600 workers during the casino simply $1,500 in severance pay. And while their pension plans will not be dissolved, they also will receive no further efforts to them; an reality that is unnerving those nearing retirement, no doubt.

As for the remaining portion of the game plan, Tropicana Entertainment has consented to fork over $8.4 million for the property’s slots and gaming tables, while Caesars is having to pay $15 million the cheapest ever paid for an Atlantic myfreepokies.com City casino your can purchase the 800-room hotel itself (although the business does not have any plans to keep it going), and a casino spokesperson said the intent would be to divvy up most of the rest of the equipment among Caesars’ four Atlantic City properties.

The purchase will bring Atlantic City’s ailing casino market right down to 11 properties. New Jersey’s Division of Gaming Enforcement Director David Roebuck says this will be just the fact of in which the beachside resort city are at these days.

‘We understand this can be a difficult time for the employees of Atlantic Club and dozens of who have already been an element of the reputation for their procedure,’ Roebuck said. ‘[But] competition is nothing new for New Jersey and it will be no different in 2014.’