Wynn casino sues Charles Barkley to pay up
Retired NBA star Charles Barkley will face criminal charges if he doesn’t repay a $400,000 gambling debt to a Las Vegas casino, a prosecutor said Thursday.
“We’re in the process of sending Mr. Barkley notice that we’re considering filing a criminal complaint,” Clark County District Attorney David Roger said. “He’ll have an opportunity like anybody else to make restitution to the hotel.”
The story was first reported by the Las Vegas Sun on its Web site.
The posh Wynn Las Vegas casino alleges in a civil complaint filed Wednesday in Nevada state court that Barkley failed to repay four $100,000 casino markers, or loans, he received last Oct. 18 and 19.
“To date, and despite repeated demands, Barkley has refused to repay the $400,000,” the complaint said.
U.S. gambling on the rise, but some signs ominous
Americans spent more money gambling in 2007 than on movie tickets or candy, but the steady growth of commercial casinos in the past decade could take a hit next year because of a slumping economy and setbacks in building new places to play.
The American Gaming Association says 2007 commercial casino revenues in the United States hit $34.1 billion, up 5.3 percent from the previous year.
In comparison, American spent $29 billion on candy and $9.6 billion on movie tickets.
The AGA’s 10th annual State of the States report also noted that gamblers lost a record $5.3 billion at racetrack casinos, up 45.6 percent, as the number of so-called “racinos” jumped to 41 from 36 in 2006.
However, casino jobs were down 2.3 percent, with casinos in Nevada, New Jersey and Illinois cutting jobs, according to the study. The study said commercial casinos lost about 8,500 jobs in 2007, and employed fewer than 361,000 workers in 2007 compared with 369,000 in 2006.
The nation’s top gambling market remained the Las Vegas Strip, at $6.7 billion, followed by Atlantic City, N.J., at $4.9 billion and Chicago, at $2.6 billion.
Despite recent downturns in many markets, “gambling continues to be a popular and acceptable form of entertainment,” said association president and chief executive Frank J. Fahrenkopf Jr.
Higher revenues for the casinos meant more taxes paid to state and local governments. Tax revenue more than doubled nationally, from $2.5 billion in 1998 to $5.7 billion in 2007.
Farhrenkopf acknowledged, however, that 2008 might be the industry’s most challenging year. With the nation’s economy in a tailspin and spending and confidence levels of consumers reaching all-time lows, the nation’s casino companies are feeling squeezed
In addition, the report’s annual public opinion survey found the percentage of Americans who agreed gambling is an “acceptable” activity for others but not for them rose to a record 35 percent from 30 percent a year ago.
Those who said gambling is acceptable “for anyone” fell to a record low 49 percent from 52 percent a year ago.
In March, bids for new casinos were rejected in Massachusetts and Kentucky. Coupled with failed attempts to build casinos in Ohio and Nebraska two years ago, some say rapid expansion of casinos has slowed.
“We’re facing some difficult economic times,” Fahrenkopf said. “People said for years that we were recession-proof. I’ve been saying we’re not recession-proof, we’re recession-resistant.
“There is no question the economy is having an impact on our industry. Airlines are cutting service and gasoline prices are impacting markets dependent on drive-in traffic.”
Fahrenkopf said that tight credit markets - which have led companies to shelve or delay new projects - would likely not affect most of $53 billion in commercial casino expansion expected over the next few years.
The American Gaming Association survey collected data from state regulatory agencies on 467 commercial casinos in 12 states. It did not attempt to track results at casinos run by American Indian tribes. And this survey, of course, does not include any offshore betting such as at WagerWeb.com.
Hey ladies, want to learn poker?
The second annual World Series of Poker Academy for Ladies will be held June 6 and 7 at Caesars Palace in Las Vegas, with experienced poker instructors Annie Duke and Alex Outhred on hand.
FBI “tells expert” Joe Navarro will give a seminar focusing on female specific non-verbal behavior.
The Academy is limited to 100 players, and promises to teach poker skills, strategies and applications through live hand demonstrations, seminars with Q&A and tournaments.
Private WSOP Academy tournament is included in the course, and according to their official website, the top five finishers will be awarded $1000 entries to the WSOP Ladies World Championship event in Las Vegas the following day.
For more information, or to register, visit wsopacademy.com.
Governor vetoes 24-hour gambling in Rhode Island
Rhode Island’s governor, Don Carcieri, vetoed a bill this week that would have allowed the state’s two gambling venues, Twin River in Lincoln and Newport Grand in Newport, to stay open around the clock on weekends and holidays.
The bill would also allow the slot parlors to close at 3 a.m. on weeknights.
Back in November, Lincoln voters rejected a non-binding referendum to allow extended gambling hours at Twin River, and Newport’s mayor has said his city doesn’t support longer hours at Newport Grand.
The General Assembly approved the bill last week in hopes it will bring in more money as the state faces a $568 million budget deficit. Democrats hold a majority in the legislature, and are expected to override the governor’s veto.