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Bill Priest Named Casino City Person of the Year
No, "you" isn't the casino city person of the year. We don't sell out that much, we actually make decisions. And yes, we're attractive enough to make unpopular decisions.
This is why Bill Priest was the Casino City of the Year personality in 2006.
Bill Priest - former Senate Majority Leader
The most influential figure on internet gambling was Congressman Bill Priest in 2006. Priest put an illegal internet gambling enforcement law on the Safe Port Act, which must be passed as Senate Majority Leader. Compelling U.S. banks and financial institutions to block electronic transactions for internet gamblers, the bill passed Congress easily at the end of the final session before the midterm recess. President Bush signed it only a few weeks later.
After the law became official, Party Gaming, 888.com and other public companies stopped accepting American players.
Several reports say Priest was using the law to win the favor of Representative Jim Leach (R-Iowa), who has been pursuing an internet gambling ban for years. Leach could have been a strong ally in the presidential race in the early Iowa caucuses. But Priest, who is not running for reelection, decided not to pursue the presidency after Republicans lost badly in the midterm elections.
While most legal experts believe the bill itself doesn't do much to change the legitimacy of online gambling, there's no doubt it changed the landscape of the industry. And without Bill Priest, UIGEA wouldn't have passed the 109th Congress.
the rest of the top 10
Priest wasn't the only one who influenced the gambling world in 2006. Here are Casino City's top 10 people of the year.
2. 2. David Carruthers - BetOnSports.com 전 CEO
Carothers, who was arrested at Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport, signaled that internet gambling executives could safely get through the United States. Carothers, who was removed from his post at BetOn Sports shortly after his arrest, is still awaiting trial on charges of racketeering, conspiracy and fraud. Carothers, an outspoken critic of the U.S. attempt to ban internet gambling, argued about Leach in the Wall Street Journal before his arrest.
3. Jeffrey Pollock - world series of poker commissioner
The World Series of Poker made huge strides when it decided to hire its first commissioner. Pollock, who helped create NASCAR's brand, did the same for WSOP, building a corporate relationship, and cementing ESPN's relationship with the tournament series. WSOP added a series of circuit events at Harah's properties across the country, raising interest in the 50,000 H.O.R.S.E. championship, and now if he can get his tournament staff to color their chips accurately next year...
4. Lou White - Falkirk CEO
You may never have heard of White, but you've probably heard of his poker pro table. White invented the concept of an electronic poker table, and built the first poker table in his cellar. The poker tables started creeping up on the casino floor, and can even be found on Carnival Cruise ships. While others are starting to enter the market, PokerTek has maintained its lead by adding Omaha to the mix and even building a head-up table. The question for White over the next few years is whether PokerTek can compete with prominent industry veterans like Shuffle Masters.
5. Mitch Garver - CEO of party games
While Bill Priest must have had the biggest impact on internet gambling in 2006, the party game's decision to abandon the U.S. market would have had the second biggest impact on the industry. As a market leader, the party game's decision likely influenced decisions made by publicly traded internet gambling companies and privately owned internet gambling companies, which also decided to block U.S. players.
6. Steve Wynn - owner, Wynn Las Vegas, Wynn Macau
Our top 10 obviously have a very high internet and poker share, but Win's impact on the gaming world is undeniable. Win's entry into Macau heralded a new major market for the game, and his decision to seek advice from dealers at his Las Vegas casino is still making headlines.
7. Daniel Negrianu - professional poker player
Negreanu has had an impressive year with nearly $2 million in tournament wins, but he made the Casino City list for his influence in the poker world. Negreanu was one of the few professional players to publicly criticize UIGEA. And he defended full-contact poker's decision to switch software providers after UIGEA so that American players are still acceptable. He also believes in the addition of a $50,000 H.O.R.S.E. tournament at WSOP and boosting innovation within the game while captaining one team in a new professional poker league.
8. Jim Leach - former congressman, R-Iowa
Richie, the author of UIGEA, has been trying to get a bill to pass Congress on internet gambling for years. While it finally succeeded in the late 109th Congress, this session also turned out to be his last. The 15-term congressman was one of several Republicans who lost their reelection bid this November. And while President Bush's declining approval rating and the ongoing war in Iraq were cited as the main reasons for the GOP's loss of control over Congress, a study by the Poker Players Alliance concluded Richie's participation in UIGEA brought about his downfall.
9. CRISPHINE RACER - LAWS JAMIE GOLD FOR $6 MILLION
Even Jamie Gold admits he wouldn't have won the WSOP without Crispin Leyser. Bodog brought Gold into the event in exchange for procuring celebrities to wear bobok clothes at the competition. Gold's lawyers admitted that racers helped procure the celebrities. 파워볼사이트 추천
10. 10. Pamela Anderson - PamelaPoker.com
This blonde bomber backed a short-lived PamelaPoker.com that debuted just a few months before UIGEA passed. Anderson withdrew his support shortly after the law was passed, and now the site is automatically headed to Doyle's room. OK, there are a lot of people who deserve to be in the top 10 ahead of Anderson this year, but how can you not have Pam Anderson in the top 10? Plus, it helps optimize your search engine. Texas Holdum Poker players play Texas Holdum tournaments online without internet restrictions, and they get paid real money. Poker.
Voters Signal Support for Casino Plan
Tribal casinos in Bastow, California, have taken another step toward establishing themselves about 120 miles west of the Nevada border.
Last week, voters in the desert rejected a referendum that would prevent two Indian tribes from building a casino side by side in Bastow, near the tourist-populated Bastow, off Highway 15.
Tribes that have agreements with California's governor and are undergoing additional state and federal approval can begin building twin casinos in late 2007 or early 2008 if all approvals are met.
"We are starting an 18-month process (with the U.S. Department of the Interior)," said Tom Shields, a spokesperson for Michigan-based BarWest, which will run the casino.
Federal approval is required to use the land as an Indian-owned casino. Also, both chambers of the California Legislature must approve contracts with the state.
But rejecting Basto residents' measurement H with an 81% to 19% turnout was the first step in showing support for introducing casino games into the high deserts of San Bernardino County.
Backed by a third tribe lobbying for its own casino site, Measure H would have killed the proposed casino site on Lenwood Road next to Factory Marchants at the Basto Outlet Center.
"What the vote has shown is that Basto residents clearly want this project and the economic benefits it will bring to the community," Shields said. "We think this vote sends a message to lawmakers and others."
Mayor Lawrence Dale Basto said in a statement that defeating anti-casino measures would affect California lawmakers who are scheduled to discuss tribal agreements this summer. 바카라사이트
"It comes at the perfect time because the legislature is ready to adopt the agreement," Dale said. "Our community's support is no longer in question."
According to a plan announced last year, the two tribes - the Los Coyotes Band in San Diego County and the Coupeno Indians and the Big Lagoon Lanceria Band in Humboldt County - will build twin casinos on 47 acres near Barstow's outlet mall.
The tribes signed a deal with Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger in September to allow the state to collect a quarter of the proceeds from casinos. The tribes will be allowed to have up to 2,250 slot machines, each with a table game.
Bastow officials said the twin casinos are expected to provide 3,700 jobs and add at least $175 million annually to the local economy.
The estimated $160 million joint venture is controversial because it will give land for casinos to two Indian tribes with no ties to the Basto region.
The move, which has been called "booking shopping" by critics, is taking place across the United States as it allows landless Indian tribes to have the same opportunities for economic development as those with many bookings.
Hooters Opens Las Vegas Casino
Headquartered in Atlanta, the restaurant used to drive waitresses with spicy chicken wings and hunky-clad waitresses into international chains. Las Vegas Strip presents its first casinos and hotels.
The grand opening begins Thursday evening with a private party and runs through the weekend. It marks the latest move for a "deliciously rustic but unrefined" restaurant that began in Clearwater, Florida in 1983 and has expanded into calendars, merchandise and even airlines.
"Hooters customers are already Vegas-affiliated customers. They're a little funky, a little energetic, and they're looking for somewhere to run. And all of these things fit together," said Ed Droste, one of six men who founded the Hooters. Four of those original partners own a third of the hotel casinos that have been renovated together.
The 696-room property, with nine restaurants/bars, is a makeover of the Hotel San Remo and, despite the makeover, offers 14,000 hotel rooms compared to the 5,035-room MGM Grand at the corner of the street.
First built in 1973, Hotel San Remo has been run by the Izumi family in Japan for the past 17 years, which has maintained a third stake in the rebranding business.
San Remo's revenue and revenue have stagnated over the past five years, dwarfing the shadows of the MGM Grand, New York-New York, Excalibur and Tropicana hotels at the nearest corner.
"San Lemo was a good little business," said Richard Langlois, senior vice president of marketing at Hooters Casino Hotel. "But the property could be better utilized with brands like Hooters."
The operator of Hooters hopes to have an annual customer base of approximately 61 million visitors from approximately 400 restaurants in the United States, Canada, Europe, South America, Asia and the Caribbean.
Information and booking hotlines have been set up at 80 restaurants in the Southwest region, and employees will be offered discounts and free rooms to promote bookings, executives said.
They said talks are underway with Hooters of America to fly customers to Las Vegas on Hooters Air. The Atlanta-based company bought franchises and licensing rights from its founders and later founded the airline in 2003.
Hooters casino operators have rebranded almost every part of the hotel, including using subtly placed borderline gags about its key female form appealing to married men aged 25 to 54.
From the non-disturbing sign that reads 'No knocking' to the nipper pull bar (Droste says it's named after the insects that flock to the Bahamas' famous bar), the brand continues to press its excitement with plausible denials. The Hooters Girl dealer's bobblehead doll has a 'Black Jack 101' cheat sheet under her trademark orange shorts.
More than 200 Hooters Girls, mostly employed at other casinos, will work at the resort wearing tight tank tops and short shorts, while the chain's calendar models will appear monthly to boost sales. Their images will be rotated monthly to decorate gambling tables and chips.
Thursday's "Orange Carpet" opening was set to include the appearance of NFL great Dan Marino, TV star Brooke Burke, and 40 Hooters Calendar Girls.
Printed ads, including photos of Hooters Girl posing behind a blackjack table, were considered too outrageous for the weekly news magazine Time. Time declined to run the ads, arguing that the name "Hooters" would offend readers, but Langlois added that the spot will appear in USA Today this week.
Observers said the company may be opening a niche with low-cost products in more expensive strip areas. 바카라사이트
"You know their market. It's relatively young in blue," said Hal Rossman, a Las Vegas history professor who wrote "Neon Metropolis: How did Las Vegas begin the 21st century?"
"There's really nothing else that satisfies that market," he said.
Michael Green, a history professor at Southern Nevada Community College, agreed.
"I suspect they're not going to attract big high rollers, but I suspect they're going to attract people who say they can stay there and take a quick walk to the giant resort," Green said.
The reorganization was paid for with $125 million in debt. Langlois said it expects to more than triple San Remo's annual revenue to about $100 million and have an operating profit of $22 million to $24 million.
He said the place would do well if the casino held curious visitors on the strip for a day or two.
"We think it's the best place you could have asked for."
MGM Mirage Offers $7.65 Billion Mandalay Resort Group
MGM Mirage announced late on Friday that it would buy Mandalay Resort Group for $7.65 billion, amid what is expected to be the wedding of the gaming giants.
"The combination of these two great companies will provide Mandalay shareholders with a premium price on their shares and provide MGM Mirage shareholders with some strategic benefits," MGM Mirage Chairman Terry Raney said in a prepared statement.
MGM Mirage proposed paying $68 per share in a cash transaction that would include assuming a debt of about $2.8 billion. The offer came a day after Mandalay Resorts reported record quarterly earnings, which saw its net profit jump more than 80% to $87 million.
The merger plan was announced after Friday's market close, but the two companies' shares closed higher by the day.
Mandalay Resort Group rose $5.65, or 10.3%, to settle at $60.27, with 6.4 million shares trading four times its normal volume. MGM Mirage rose $1.50, or 3.4%, to settle at $46.03, with 1.4 million shares trading twice its normal volume.
In a statement released late Friday evening, Mandalay said it had received the offer from MGM Mirage and would evaluate it carefully and respond in due course. The statement also said the company would not comment further on the matter until it was resolved.
However, one analyst explained the impact this deal could have on the gaming industry.
"If it goes through, the deal will make the world's largest gaming company. It will dramatically increase MGM's presence on the strip," said Brian Gordon, a spokesman for Applied Analysis, a financial consulting firm based in Las Vegas.
MGM Mirage is expected to generate more than $4 billion in revenue this year, while Mandalay Resort Group is expected to generate more than $2.6 billion in revenue.
After the merger, the merged company will operate more than half of the approximately 72,000 hotel rooms on the strip.
On the strip, Mandalay Resort Group operates approximately 21,000 rooms at Mandalay Bay Resort, The Hotel, Luxor, Excalibur, Circus-Circus, Monte Carlo, and Four Seasons in Mandalay Bay. 카지노사이트 순위
MGM Mirage operates nearly 17,000 rooms in Bellagio, MGM Grand, The Mirage, Treasury Island, New York-New York and Boardwalk Hotels.
But Gordon said MGM Mirage would add a new dimension to MGM Mirage's business by providing a major convention center that it lacked.
MGM Mirage owns casino resorts in Laughlin and Prim, Nevada, and properties in Biloxi, Miss., and Detroit. It also owns Borgata in Atlantic City in a joint venture with Boyd Gaming Corp.
Mandalay Resorts Group owns properties in Reno, Loughlin, Jean and Henderson, Nevada, and gold strikes in Tunica, Miss. The Group partly owns Riverboat in Elgin, Illinois, and Motor City Casino in Detroit.
Deutsche Bank analyst Mark Falcone pointed out that one of the companies would have to sell his Detroit assets for the deal to work.
Harrah Ranks No. 1 Casino Brand In Quarterly Customer Satisfaction Survey
Market Metrics, LLC named Harrah's Entertainment Inc. No. 1 casino operator in the measurement company's Q1 customer satisfaction survey of 35,000 U.S. consumers.
Other companies recently recognized in the Market Metrics Hospitality Index (MMHI) included Jet Blue Airways, Enterprise Rent-A-Car, Le Meridian Hotels and Resorts, Walt Disney World Resort, and Venice, which was recognized as the largest casino. Haras was listed on the index for three of the past five quarters. 바카라사이트 추천
"The repeated top spot in the survey is clear evidence that Hara's 41,000 employees excel at consistently providing excellent service, building long-term customer loyalty to Hara's brand," said Gary Loveman, president and CEO of Hara's Entertainment. "In addition, the top spot in the website category shows that we have established a strong presence in the online hotel reservation business. Booking rooms online is much more cost-effective and has customer-friendly websites than traditional methods.
MMHI is a quarterly survey of customer satisfaction with hotels, airlines, and car rental companies based on in-depth consumer interviews of 35,000 people. The index ranks the best hospitality brands by industry, and for hotels, by luxury, mid-price, and economy. The index includes 135 hotel brands, 25 airlines, and 11 car rental companies.
