Thanks to some lavish spending by last year's out-of-town guests, there's a helluva lot more money for locals to love.

The statistics on dollars spent are contained in the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority's 2005 visitor profile, a nearly 90-page document chronicling everything from guests' average trip length to whether they visited a local nightclub.

The report, released Wednesday, suggests that last year's visitors didn't hold back when patronizing area hotels, casinos, restaurants, shows and shopping centers.

Eighty-six percent of the city's 38.6 million visitors said they gambled while in town. Their average casino budget was $626.50 per trip, up 15 percent.

Alan Feldman, an MGM Mirage senior vice president, was not surprised by the findings given the state's recently released record gaming win of $11.6 billion, up 10.3 percent.

Feldman added the convention authority's findings are particularly important because they indicate across-the-board spending increases.

"The community has focused on nongaming attractions for the better part of the last decade, and rightfully so," Feldman said. "This just shows that that effort has brought (Las Vegas) a better gaming customer as well."

Food and drink expenditures averaged $248.40 per trip, up 4 percent from the prior year and 19 percent from 2003.

Tom Bachner, general manager of The Capital Grille at Fashion Show, said restaurant and bar tabs were up in part because restaurants must pass on suppliers' approximately 20 percent price increases for meat, dairy and produce.

In addition, Bachner said he thinks Las Vegas has attracted an older, more sophisticated traveler. That claim was supported by his restaurant's wine sales increase of up to 18 percent.

"Las Vegas is really on people's radar these days," Bachner said. "I've seen a big number of upper-middle class people in their 40s, 50s and 60s who are coming here for the first time."

Authority data show 21 percent of visitors were between 40 and 49, while 20 percent were between 50 and 59. Twenty-seven percent were at least 60 years old.

Overall, visitors' average age decreased from 49 to 47.7 years thanks to a 4 percentage point gain among 30- to 39-year-olds. That group last year accounted for 20 percent of the citywide total.

Twenty-four percent of visitors reported household incomes between $60,000 to $79,999. Twenty-two percent earned more than $100,000 per year, well above that category's prior 13 percent count.

Though too few cared what all the fuzz was about surrounding Wynn Las Vegas' new Broadway transplant "Avenue Q", last year's visitors still spent $2 more on entertainment, averaging $49.43 per trip.

Shopping reported a nearly 10 percent boost to an average of $136.60 per trip.

Other notable findings included:

* Downtown Las Vegas took a huge hit last year. Only 46 percent of travelers said they visited the Fremont Street region, well below the prior year's 57 percent.

Transferring those percentages into actual visitors indicates nearly 3.6 million fewer people went downtown from 2004 to 2005.

* Vacations were the top draw for 61 percent of all guests, while 12 percent cited meetings or conventions.

* Forty-seven percent of travelers arrived by plane, the same percentage as 2004.

* Travel agents continued to play a lesser role in people's plan-making. Only 17 percent said they used such a service, down from 20 percent the prior year and 22 percent in 2003.

Many people have migrated to the Internet when planning a Las Vegas getaway: data showed 40 percent of guests went online before making a trip last year, up from 32 percent two years before.

Demographic data show last year's local visitors were largely married (74 percent), white (83 percent) and employed (67 percent).

Forty-four percent were college graduates, 24 percent retirees. Southern California remained the city's top guest supplier at 29 percent, up from 27 percent a year ago. Arizona held steady at 6 percent.

The percentage of foreign visitors slipped slightly to 12 percent, down 1 point from the prior year.

The U.S. Commerce Department won't release year-end data on specific cities' foreign visitation until this summer. But that data will likely show Las Vegas hosted more foreign travelers in 2005 than 2004 because the city's foreign and domestic visitor counts each expanded last year.

The annual study was prepared by GLS Research, a San Francisco-based polling firm regularly hired by the authority. Its workers conducted approximately 300 in-person interviews each month last year, primarily inside or near Las Vegas hotel-casinos and motels.

Responses were confined to non-Clark County residents ages 21 and up. To ensure people experienced the city before reviewing it, only visitors who planned to leave the city within 24 hours could complete the questionnaire.

The margin of error for the 3,600 respondent sample is plus or minus 1.6 percent at the 95 percent level, which means if the survey were repeated exactly as it was originally conducted, responses would be within 1.6 percent of the original results 95 percent of the time.

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"He also talked about the heavy political pressure on him and his administration since he took office but emphasized that he had never bowed to pressure and intimidation.

"But Ghoraieb criticized the Finance Ministry for 'unjustifiably slamming 30 percent in tax on the gross revenues of slot and poker machines although the contract clearly stipulates that the government collects LL1,000 a year from each slot machine.'

"The chairman, heaped praise on President Emile Lahoud for supporting his work and vehemently denied allegations that the casino was tucking away some of its revenues for nefarious purposes.

"…According to a 30 year contract with the casino, 30 percent of gross revenues go to the Finance Ministry. But the casino administration stressed that the 30 percent only applies to roulette tables, back jack and other table games.

"The Finance Ministry and the Central Bank control 48 percent of Intra Investment Company and the remainder is divided among Gulf and Lebanese shareholders…"

"Sen. Blanche Lincoln, D-Ark., said she was undecided on the idea.

"The effort by the United Keetoowah Band would hurt the state's poor and flies against a 2000 referendum in which Arkansans voted against allowing casino gambling in the state, the lawmakers said.

"…The Tahlequah, Okla.-based tribe, one of three federally recognized Cherokee tribes, on Tuesday filed a trust application with the Oklahoma branch of the Bureau of Indian Affairs to develop the 10-acre site into a 250-room hotel and casino.

"In their application, tribal officials are setting out to show that the Arkansas land lies within the historic treaty boundaries of the Cherokee Nation.

"…If approved, the application would allow the tribe to use a provision in the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act that lets tribes operate gambling facilities on land held in trust.

"A bill that was approved by the Senate Indian Affairs Committee on Wednesday would limit the ability of tribes to open casinos off their reservations.

"But it would allow landless tribes like the Keetoowahs to establish casinos under certain circumstances where they could show they have historical ties to the property…"

"But as expected, Miami federal court judge Paul Huck stayed the sentences for 90 days so Abramoff and Kidan can continue working with authorities in a potentially widespread bribery and influence peddling investigation on Capitol Hill. Huck has the discretion to lower their prison time once their cooperation is evaluated.

"…Kidan, 41, added that he's accepted full responsibility for his role in the wire fraud scheme, an apparent shot at Abramoff, who recently filed a court motion that not only asked for leniency but also blamed Kidan for much of the bank fraud scheme to purchase the Dania Beach-based SunCruz Casinos gambling ships.

"…In addition to potential prison time, Assistant United States Attorney Lawrence D. LaVecchio said that the men owe $21,701,015.45 to Foothill Capital Corp., the financing firm in the $147.5 million sale of the Dania Beach-based SunCruz Casinos. It proved an ill-fated deal, ending with possible prison terms for Kidan and Abramoff, who raised more than $100,000 for President Bush's re-election campaign. Six months after the sale, the floating casinos' founder, South Florida entrepreneur Konstantinos 'Gus' Boulis, was murdered.

"The bank fraud case revolved around a stipulation in Foothill Capital's $60 million loan that Abramoff and Kidan pay Boulis $23 million of their own money at the closing. But when they couldn't come up with the down payment, Abramoff and Kidan came up with a plan to have Boulis sign promissory notes and then the three of them faked a wire transfer showing the $23 million had been paid…"

"A nod to Class III gaming, as slots are classified, is the first of several required steps outlined in the federal Indian Gaming Regulatory Act, which gives a federally recognized American Indian tribe the right to open a casino.

"And with one recognized tribe already in Massachusetts -- and possibly more in the pipeline -- approving slots is essentially a green light for casinos.

"…But with another slots vote scheduled in the House for April 5 -- and with many gambling supporters claiming to have the majority this time -- the possibility of an Indian tribe pursuing a casino could be more real than ever. Last October, the Senate overwhelmingly approved a bill that would grant licenses for up to 8,000 slot machines in the state.

"Rep. Charlie Murphy, D-Burlington, who opposes legalizing slots, said most lawmakers realize a vote in favor on April 5 opens the door to casinos…"

"The Board of Aldermen approved a resolution to send letters to developers with the intent to entice them to build a facility that would include a casino in the city of just under 700 people.

"Mayor Tom Strom estimated that 86 percent of the city's population still wanted to pursue the building of a riverboat casino. He also said he felt that developers would still be interested in coming to the area.

"In 2004, Rockaway Beach attempted to convince state voters to change the Missouri constitution to allow a riverboat casino on Lake Taneycomo in Rockaway Beach. Currently, the state only allows casinos along the Missouri and Mississippi rivers…"

"The center that officially began taking patients earlier this month said its intensive outpatient program is filled. Operators hope to raise $250,000 to offer another daily session.

"Based on a nonprofit Las Vegas gambling addiction treatment center, the Problem Gambling Center in Reno has been operating since November, but didn't advertise services until March.

"After the intensive six-week treatment, which requires four group meetings a week, patients get one year of weekly 'aftercare.'..."

Entries are evaluated on a before-and-after basis and assessed on the resulting impact on strategic organizational goals and target markets. "We always go the extra mile to achieve that critical blend of design and business strategy essential to achieving market objectives," said Jon Cato, Object 9 CEO and partner. Object 9's creative team rejuvenated Casino Rouge's corporate brand and graphic identity, including the design and execution of a new corporate Web site, direct mail, booth displays, merchandising booklets and promotion collateral. The full list of winners is located at www.rebrand100.com.

"Casino Rouge tapped Object 9 to help us overcome growing threats from larger, destination-style casinos. We needed an upscale presence that reflected a bigger and better casino that also incorporated our signature red color," stated Mike Odom, strategic marketing director for Casino Rouge. "Redesign efforts contributed to an increase in awareness, market share and response to promotions. Additionally, we were successful in moving more players into our top tier database."

"Under Sherlock's tenure, Foxwoods has added more than $300 million in value through expansions and upgrades. The casino also broke ground in November on a $700 million expansion.

"Sherlock started at Foxwoods in 1997 at chief operating officer and was promoted to his current position in 2000…"

Here's a look at the tournament results to date:

- Round 1: 22 underdogs in 32 games covered. 68.75%

- Round 2: 10 of 16 underdogs covered. 62.50%

- Round 3: 5 of 8 underdogs covered. 62.50%

- Elite 8: All 4 underdogs won and covered: 100%

- Total: 41 underdogs in 60 games have covered. 68.3%

Since PicksPal.com members did not need to pick all of the games before the tournament started, they have adjusted their picks and gone with the underdogs. They were not surprised this past weekend as a large percentage of PicksPal.com members picked the underdogs (with the points) in three of the four Elite 8 games: LSU (67%); UCLA (59%); George Mason (55%).

"In any sport, if anything is trending more than 55 % in any direction it is a true anomaly and Las Vegas is the beneficiary," said Tony Karpinski, Director of Odds for PicksPal.com. "Many of our game players noticed this trend early and have been riding the wave of underdogs to tremendous success in the PicksPal.com Hoops 1001 bracket game."

At PicksPal.com, fans don't just pick the winners: they can accumulate additional points by picking against the point spread , over/under, and thousands of fun props and exotic picks. Members can select from up to a dozen prop picks for each game. The Hoops 1001 Contest also features live in-game picks that add an interactive element never experienced in the history of tournament brackets , as well as special picks for the second half based on first-half action.

Rather than attempting to pick every winning team from the beginning of the tournament, PicksPal.com gives players 5,000 points at the start of each round. Fans can also join the Hoops 1001 Contest after they are eliminated from their traditional bracket game. The member with the most points at the end of each round wins an iPod, while the overall champion is awarded a 42-inch flat panel HDTV.

"Per capita, Austrians spent 177 euros last year gambling online, more than four times as much as Germans did (40 euros) and almost five times as much as the Swiss (36 euros).

"…According to Goldmedia's analysis, the limited offer of legal gambling in Germany and Switzerland has led to an extremely large share of foreign providers on the online markets there…"

"The Big Lagoon band had been locked in a legal battle with the state for six years over not being allowed to build a casino on their ancestral land, which was considered too environmentally sensitive. Los Coyotes Band of Cahuilla and Cupeno Indians Schwarzenegger struck a deal wherein Big Lagoon would build its casino in Barstow alongside a casino proposed by the Los Coyotes Band of Cahuilla and Cupeno Indians, whose ancestral land is also more than a hundred miles from the proposed casino resort site. Opponents call the tactic of seeking federal recognition for non-ancestral lands to use for gaming 'reservation shopping.'…"

The UK bingo game utilises advanced technology to provide a game specifically designed to replicate the atmosphere of the traditional bingo club experience. Realistic graphics and UK-specific chat sounds give the game an authentic UK bingo hall quality. UK bingo uses 90 numbers and has rules uniquely different to the 75 number US version where cards are sold as 'tickets' and 'books' are sold to a series of games known as a 'session'.

Brian Morgan, Managing Director of RAL Interactive, said: "We are constantly looking at new gaming options to offer our loyal customers and the addition of bingo complements our existing portfolio of games perfectly. BingoTek was the natural choice of partner to team up with, given their track record of success, enthusiasm for product innovation and flexibility in customising their system to suit our requirements."

One of the BingoTek founders and chief consultants Graeme Levin, former founder and operator of the successful gaming portal Gambling.com commented: "We are very excited about this new deal and are confident players will have a most enjoyable experience more in line with what they would experience in a real UK bingo hall."

BingoTek's first licensee, Bingodrome, has proved extremely successful. The popular site has consolidated its position as the best bingo game online by picking up one of the online bingo industry's most prestigious awards, the 'Best Bingo Overall' award from BingoAwards.com for January and February 2006.

"We are delighted at this superb recognition because it is online gamers who have made the voting decision – not industry insiders. We are confident that the bingo site operated by Cyberslotz will be every bit as popular", Graeme said.

About BingoTek

BingoTek is a privately owned holding company located in the British Virginia Isles. The ultimate Bingo software offers unique solutions that cater for all online Bingo requirements.

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Cyberslotz.co.uk is the leading online games website in the UK, allowing its members to play a variety of games from as little as 1p a game. Cyberslotz hosts a selection of unique online fruit machines, bingo and scratch card style games, as well as cutting edge casino classics. Since its launch 4 years ago, Cyberslotz has signed up 1,000s of loyal customers and has paid out over £100 million in cash prizes. Cyberslotz.co.uk is owned and operated by Talarius plc. Under the QuickSilver brand, Talarius operates adult gaming centres and is the market leader in this sector in the UK.

"Attorneys for plaintiffs injured at Santa Clara Pueblo's Big Rock Casino Bowl and at San Felipe Pueblo's Casino Hollywood argued that a provision in gambling compacts between the tribes and the state allows such lawsuits in state courts.

"The provision in the 2001 compacts states that personal injury claims 'may be brought in state district court, including claims arising on tribal land, unless it is finally determined by a state or federal court that (the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act) does not permit the shifting of jurisdiction over visitors' personal injury suits to state court.'

"'This is a sophistic attempt to get past the language that was negotiated,' attorney Paul Kennedy said. Kennedy represents Ivan and Lucy Lopez, who sued San Felipe Pueblo after both of them fell at the pueblo's Casino Hollywood.

"However, a lawyer for the pueblos said while the pueblos waived their immunity from litigation as sovereign entities when they negotiated the compact , they did not give up their jurisdiction over personal-injury lawsuits.

"…Supreme Court Chief Justice Richard Bosson wondered whether pueblos reneged on their gambling compacts with the state.."

"…The new hotel -- The Skagit Ridge Hotel -- will have 4,000 square feet of meeting space.

"'The addition of The Skagit Ridge Hotel expands our range of premium accommodations, which enables us to meet the growing demand by individuals and groups,' said Don Guglielmino, corporate general manager for The Skagit, in a statement."

"Lackawanna College President Ray Angeli, 62, was named to fill the seat on the seven-member board that opened when former member William Conaboy, a Scranton lawyer and businessman, resigned Friday.

"Mr. Angeli will retain his job as college president while taking the $145,000-a-year job as a gaming regulator, said Tess Candori, spokeswoman for Senate Democratic Leader Robert Mellow of Scranton.

"…Under Act 71 of 2004, Gov. Ed Rendell chooses three of the seven gaming board members, and the General Assembly's four top leaders each name one member…"

"Queensland's Unitab and Victoria's Tatterall's companies are planning to merge to create a company with operations in every state and territory.

"Unitab chief executive Dick Mc Ilwain says the two companies complement each other and will generate expected revenue of more than $3 billion.

"…Gaming analyst at CCZ Securities Tony Waters says the proposed merger would mean Unitab will not be making a future bid against Tattersall's for Victorian gambling licences…"

Florio will develop and execute strategic sales plans and initiatives for Aristocrat's new multi-station gaming business, focusing initially on Aristocrat's portfolio of Interblock multi-station gaming devices. Aristocrat obtained rights to distribute this line exclusively in North America after acquiring a 50 percent interest in Electroncek, a Slovenia-based manufacturer of electro-mechanical multi-station gaming products marketed under the brand name Interblock. The Interblock portfolio includes Roulette, Dice, Sic Bo, Baccarat, and Bingo/Keno multi-station games. He will also focus on opportunities to place PokerTek's interactive, electronic PokerPro(TM) poker table game into casinos in the Caribbean and Latin America. Aristocrat recently acquired an equity interest in the Charlotte, N.C.-based company.

For the past three years, Florio has served as Aristocrat's Sales Director -- Eastern Region. He and his team have significantly grown Aristocrat's market share in casinos throughout eastern Canada, the eastern United States, and the Caribbean.

"The appointment of an executive of Tommy's caliber reflects Aristocrat's commitment to broaden our product range from slot machines and casino management systems into multi-station table games, offering gaming operators a broader range of gaming solutions," said Gavin Isaacs, President of Aristocrat Technologies, Inc. "Tommy's years of gaming industry experience and strong customer relationships throughout the Americas will be key as we launch this exciting new line of business."

Before joining Aristocrat, Florio served three years as Vice President of Sales for TCS of America, a gaming equipment supply company. Prior to that, he served four years as Director of Sales with Shuffle Master, Inc., a supplier of automatic card shufflers and proprietary table games. Previously, he held various management roles in gaming operations throughout North America including the Argosy's Bell of Sioux City, Trump Maria, the Golden Nugget Atlantic City, Showboat Atlantic City, Golden Eagle Canada, and the Winnavegas Casino.

"The Forbes list ranked the Hotel Lisboa, the Mandarin Oriental and the Sands Macao as the No. 6, No. 7 and No. 9 respectively.

"The magazine dubbed the Hotel Lisboa 'a fixture on the Macao skyline,' with its 1,000 hotel rooms and 18 restaurants.

"The Mandarin Oriental was described as 'a smaller, posher' alternative to the "gargantuan" Hotel Lisboa, according to the Forbes.

"The Sands Macao, the first gaming facility in the region being operated by a western enterprise, was hailed by the Forbes for its themed gaming room, a large number of gaming tables and the effective running..."

The seller of the item, coincidentally named Faith, never considered herself a religious person, but was astonished when she found the image of the Virgin Mary complete with halo staring back at her.

"I was about to chuck this into the wood stove when the image in the center caught my eye," said Faith. "This is an image of the Madonna! I could not burn it. It's even got a halo of lighter colored wood around her head! Nothing short of miraculous!"

The holy image will be right at home amongst the casino's ever-growing collection of religious, paranormal, and generally eccentric items bought on eBay. GoldenPalace.com plans to take these items on tour around the country this summer as part of a traveling museum displaying pop-culture Americana.

Setting the standard in marketing creativity, GoldenPalace.com has devised some of the most exciting and outrageous advertising campaigns in the past few years. Recently, items such as the Virgin Mary Grilled Cheese Sandwich, Britney Spears' Pregnancy Test, and William Shatner's Kidney Stone, have garnered extensive worldwide media attention for the casino.

"It is believed that TVN chairman Harold Mitchell, a close associate of the Packers, decided at a board meeting yesterday afternoon to put the proposal before shareholders — the racing clubs in Sydney and Victoria — later this week.

"Mr Packer's bid for a piece of TVN, which values the company at more than $100 million, signals his intent to take on Tabcorp.

"It would give PBL part ownership of the broadcast rights to Australia's most lucrative thoroughbred races, including the Melbourne Cup.

"It could also provide the group with the foundation for a bid for the Victorian wagering licence when Tabcorp's licence expires in 2012…"

"This summer, £1bn is going to be staked in bets on the World Cup.

"That's the prediction from Professor Leighton Vaughan Williams, a government adviser on gambling and head of the Betting Research Unit at Nottingham Trent University, who says gamblers in the UK are set to gamble an unprecedented amount on this year's biggest sporting event.

"This will be the latest surge in sports betting which, in just five years, has seen the amount gambled in the UK rise from about £7bn per year to £40bn, he says.

"...First of all, the nature of the betting market has changed radically.

"...Now, though it is growing, horse racing is "falling dramatically" as a share of the sports betting market and represents less than half of what's gambled. Taking its place, particularly in internet gambling, has been football.

"Another key factor has been that it is now much easier to bet - through the internet, mobile phones and interactive television.

"...So without leaving your home, you can place an online bet on a football match - predicting the score, the time of the first goal, the goalscorer or the number of corners - and then watch the match live.

"...There's also a trend for continuing to make bets during a match, says Professor Vaughan Williams, with the odds shifting as the game progresses.

"...It also reflects a major social change. When England last won the World Cup, betting shops had only recently been legalised - now gambling is a multi-billion part of the leisure industry.

"...Gambling has also entered the entertainment industry. Punters placed £10m on this year's Oscars, and there was £20m staked on the last US presidential election.

"...But expect to hear plenty more about the latest odds this summer. "There's nothing that moves that you can't bet on," says Professor Williams..."

"I think Thomas Burns is worthy of receiving our Gambler of the Week award. Mr. Burns made an obscene gesture at a construction worker in Pittsburgh. The construction worker reported him to the local authorities, and he was later cited for disorderly conduct. We think that this is a newsworthy situation, but we'll let the public decide what kind of 'gambler' he really is," says Maria Marmo, of Nine.com's Media Relations.

"Burns said he became frustrated with a traffic delay and made the gesture at a construction worker. If I had a citation for every time I made an obscene gesture ... well, let's just say I'd be on the news myself." Mrs. Marmo added, "Fortunately for Mr. Burns, Pennsylvania courts have ruled that the gesture doesn't automatically constitute disorderly conduct, because it is not 'obscene' as defined by the law, unless it is used in a clearly sexual context, which makes Mr. Burns a gutsy fellow for flicking the finger."

"I loved this story from the start," says Mrs. Marmo. "Getting cited for an obscene hand gesture makes you think twice. I just had to name Mr. Burns our gambler of the week for his 'gutsy gesture.' Mrs. Marmo concludes, "As this week's Gambler of the Week, Mr. Burns will receive Nine.com merchandise and gift certificates for use on Nine.com."

Atronic will launch its new Deal or No Deal(TM) series based on the hit TV show. The two Deal or No Deal(TM) games both feature a thrilling bonus where players can select a suitcase and then play against the bank, just like in the popular TV show. Additionally, the games feature jackpots designed to hit frequently, guaranteeing lots of action.

Atronic's stunning new Lady Orleans(TM) series of games features four unique themes, each with a distinctive design and character. The exceptional games combine a free games feature with Atronic's new Mystery Magic(TM) progressive link.

Through an agreement with Universal Studios Consumer Products Group, Atronic's new Miami Vice slots bring the memorable television show to life in two new games, Miami Vice(TM) and True Identity(TM). One of the most visually stunning and stylized television shows of the 1980s, Miami Vice not only rocked our pre-conceived notions of just how far a police drama could go, but changed the face of television forever. The games feature the iconographic brand and unique, scatter triggered jackpots designed to hit frequently, and are being launched in Spring 2006. Additionally, Universal Pictures brings Miami Vice to the big screen in its motion picture debut scheduled for release on July 28, 2006.

The popular Cash Fever(TM) multi-level bonus link will be shown with new game themes and a new configuration designed for pennies. Atronic's successful eMillions(TM) Wide Area Progressive (WAP) will also be featured with new themes, as well as Atronic's penny WAP, Penny Parade(TM).

Additionally, Atronic will launch a library of games, many designed for the extremely popular penny denomination. The Super Play(TM) series features both paylines and scatter play modes and configurations up to 750 credits. The entertaining Super Wiener Dog(TM) and new "win two ways" game Mistress of the Egypt(TM) also feature player selectable, high bet configurations that are ideal for pennies. Other new e-motion(TM) themes to be launched at the show include the comical Tabby Cash(TM), impish Elven Gold(TM), enchanting Three Withes(TM), distinctive Green Goddess(TM), striking Mystery II, and magical Mayan Magic(TM). Atronic Systems will further present its range of solutions and the thrilling Tournamania(TM) tournament product to tribal customers at the show.

"The winning bidder is expected to be announced by the end of the year, the board said in a statement.

"Contenders for the Sentosa project -- expected to cost $2 billion to develop -- include Malaysia's Genting International, US gaming giant Harrah's Entertainment, Bahamas-based Kerzner International and Las Vegas Sands…"

Libra is expected to assist the Company in reviewing possible acquisitions and asset divestitures among other initiatives. The Company indicated that it was premature to estimate when the review would be completed or what potential initiatives, if any, would be undertaken.

H. Thomas Winn, Chairman and CEO of Nevada Gold & Casinos, Inc., commented, ``We believe an experienced financial advisor will benefit, as well as complement, our internal efforts to determine what the next best steps are for the Company in driving long-term shareholder value.'

"It's a tough little Northeastern Ohio village near Youngstown, and like Massillon has been hit hard by job losses in recent years.

"…Enter the Eastern Shawnee Tribe of Oklahoma and the dream of a casino.

"The residents of Lordstown and its Village Council have bought into the shared dream with the Shawnee and believe it can become a reality and benefit the area.

"Lordstown Mayor Michael Chaffee said he's visited the tribe's casino out west, spoke with Chief Charles Enyart and came away impressed.

"…Lordstown passed the intergovernmental agreement 4-2, Chaffee said, and then a referendum initiated by the voters passed 1,000 to 400.

"…There still is uncertainty as to whether Ohio will get gambling, Chaffee explained, 'but it's beneficial to have an agreement in hand. We haven't invested anything if it doesn't happen.'…"

"A report says the casino would be 5,000sq m, with 1,250 jackpot machines, bingo and betting.

"It says: "The economic benefits include an estimated 1,500 full-time equivalent jobs at the casino and up to 6,000 jobs in the local supply chain"…"

"The small print of Gordon Brown's tenth budget confirmed earlier reports that operators will have to pay £5,000 annually for each of the 1,250 unlimited jackpot slot machines in the one resort casino which will be allowed under the new gambling act.

"At the other end of the scale, Blackpool's pinball and video game machines will be exempt from amusement machine license duty (AMLD) altogether.

"…Potential developers have consistently said that any large investment in the UK would rely on cutting the current 40 per cent tax on gambling to 15 or 20 per cent.

"That did not happen in this budget and by next year's budget the council which wins the golden ticket' regional casino license is expected to be inviting formal tenders from potential operators…"

"The two Lake Oswego entrepreneurs backing the project, proposed for east Multnomah County, said they would rewrite the measures and try to qualify them for the November ballot. But critics said they doubt whether financial consultant Bruce Studer and attorney Matthew Rossman have enough time to get any casino measures before voters this year.

"The secretary of state rejected the measures after questioning the legality of linking the two ballot measures, one that would repeal the state's constitutional ban on casinos and another that would direct the state to site a casino at the now-closed Multnomah Greyhound Park in Wood Village.

"Acting on the advice of the attorney general, the secretary of state said it was unconstitutional to make the enactment of one ballot measure contingent on the passage of another. In early February, the state rejected an earlier version of the initiatives for the same reasons.

"Representatives of the Oregon tribes, who have been preparing to wage a multimillion-dollar fight against this new competition for the gambling dollar, cheered the news…"

Rules governing the use of wireless hand-held gaming devices in casinos, after laboring for two years of through the state's legislative and regulatory processes, were adopted Thursday by the Nevada Gaming Commission.

But what form the technology will take is still to be determined.

Conceivably, the gaming commission's unanimous approval gave casino patrons the right to place wagers on hands of blackjack or spins of a roulette wheel from poolside or while waiting in line for the buffet using a device similar to a personal digital assistant.

While technology company representatives, their legal advisers and gaming regulators applauded the end of the regulation drafting process, all agreed more work lies ahead before the first bet is placed.

"It's the beginning of something, but I'm not really sure what that something is," Gaming Commission Chairman Peter Bernhard said. "Over time, we'll see technology introduced that will become a system that is exciting for the public, while at the same time, meets our concerns as well."

Bernhard said an influx of casino patrons raised on technology might find interest in mobile gaming.

Longtime gaming attorney Bob Faiss said the approval marked the beginning of another evolution in the gaming industry.

The matter was one of almost two dozen new gaming regulations approved Thursday, but none of the other changes attracted as much interest as mobile gaming. Regulators commented that New Jersey was also beginning to consider enacting wireless gaming laws.

The hand-held gaming software will include firewalls so the devices can't be used outside of public areas, such as hotel rooms, or outside the boundaries of a particular hotel-casino. Also, safeguards will be used to ensure the devices can't be used by minors.

During the next few months, gaming and technology companies are expected to begin submitting proposed wireless gaming products to the Gaming Control Board for testing.

"We're looking forward to the next step in the process, and it's a process that will go on over a period of months," said Joe Asher, managing director of Cantor Gaming, an affiliate of New York-based financial services company Cantor Fitzgerald.

"It will be up to the Gaming Control Board to determine when they are satisfied with the technology," Asher said. "They will need to get comfortable with the technology."

Cantor Gaming made the initial approach to state lawmakers in 2003 for mobile gaming, lobbying during the session for approval of wireless and hand-held gaming laws. The company believed the technology behind the wireless hand-held devices used by bond and securities traders could be adapted for use in casinos.

"Mobile gaming is the next step of gambling technology because it allows the patron to gamble when he or she wants in the appropriate areas of the casino," Asher said. "There is an entire generation that has grown up with mobile devices. People like to do what they want on their own terms. That's what mobile gaming allows."

For a time, Cantor Gaming was the only hand-held gaming player on the scene. But in the last year, as the regulations were debated, other companies began to step forward. Shuffle Master and Progressive Gaming International Corp. are two Nevada licensees that are planning to submit wireless, hand-held gaming devices for testing.

"We were the ones who started the process, but we always expected others would join the party," Asher said. "The gaming industry is a very mature and competitive environment and we're comfortable where we stand."

Asher said Cantor Gaming has applied for a Nevada gaming license to distribute the devices to casinos. After the products have been investigated, field testing inside casinos would be the next step.

"There has been a high level of interest by the casinos that's only going to intensify after today," Asher said.

Like Cantor Gaming, Diamond I Technologies has filed paperwork for gaming licensing.

"We've got the equipment and the software and we're about 80 percent there," said company President David Loflin, who said he has agreements with some casinos that would be outfitted with the hand-held games.

"Those are the odds an area research analyst is giving Boyd Gaming Corp. of receiving a gaming license from the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board for its slots parlor proposal in Limerick.

"Brian McGill is a gaming analyst for Susquehanna Financial Group, an institutional research, brokerage and trading firm based in Bala Cynwyd. Earlier this month, McGill released a 13-page report discussing the chances for each of the 14 applicants vying for the five available standalone casino licenses across the state.

"With six bids for two at-large licenses, McGill's analysis puts Boyd's Limerick proposal on the outside looking in.

"The odds-on favorite is the Las Vegas Sands proposal (3-2) in Allentown, beating out Aztar Corp.'s Allentown Tropicana proposal (7-1). The favorite in the Scrantonarea is Mount Airy Lodge (3-1), beating out Pocono Manor (7-1). To contrast, Cross Roads Resort's bid in historic Gettysburg has been met with heavy resistance by several groups, thus receiving 99-1 odds.

"…The first region Susquehanna Financial Group foresees getting a license is the Allentown/Bethlehem area, which has struggled to generate economic growth, though 600,000 people live in the immediate area…"

"Melanie Gambler, chairwoman of the Northern Arapaho Gaming Agency, said she has been busy training staff to manage and run games such as blackjack. She said she expects to hear from the U.S. Department of Interior about full expansion to Las Vegas-style gambling within two weeks.

"Jim Conrad, manager of the tribe's Wind River Casino, reported that financing is nearly resolved and should be finalized within two weeks. He said the current operation has 428 electronic gaming machines and 150 employees.

"Gambler said she has met with Fremont County commissioners to discuss their traffic concerns at the current Wind River Casino site just south of Riverton. Commissioner Doug Thompson said the in-and-out traffic from the casino is high, particularly on weekend nights.

"…Edward Wadda, the state's tribal liaison for the Eastern Shoshone, reported that his tribe continues to pursue casino gambling, working with the state on a gaming compact and meeting with the state attorney general two weeks ago…"

"The bill went through with 300 votes in favor and 105 against with one abstention.

"The document lists gambling activities in the country authorized by the government, which include casinos, slot machines, and bookmaker offices.

"The bill also bans unlicensed gambling business, and encourages the consolidation of gambling businesses and regional quoting.

"The bill, proposed by pro-presidential party United Russia, requires establishments to have net assets of at least 600 million rubles ($22 million) and the win percentage of a slot machine to be no less than 80%…"