Top of the Deck

• Hard Rock unveils $800 million casino proposal for Mass. fairgrounds
  Hard Rock International announced on Friday its proposal to build a casino at the Eastern States Exposition fairgrounds in West Springfield, Mass. The company has already submitted a $400,000 application fee to the Massachusetts Gaming Commission as part of the casino application process. The $800 million gaming facility, which would include a hotel, would house 125 tables games and up to 3,000 slot machines. Boston Herald (1/11)     

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Industry Update

• Wynn Resorts CEO unveils hotel plan as part of Mass. casino project
  Steve Wynn has revealed that his $1 billion casino proposal in Everett, Mass., will include a hotel. The property will include 300 to 500 rooms as well as restaurants, retail stores, meetings facilities and a spa. "It's going to be the fanciest hotel in the Boston area. ... It's going to be a big attraction," Wynn said in an interview. The Boston Globe (tiered subscription model) (1/11), Las Vegas Review-Journal (1/11)     

• Trump Entertainment chairman to step down from board in February
  Trump Entertainment Resorts Chairman Marc Lasry said he is resigning from the company's board of directors effective Feb. 28. Trump President and CEO Bob Griffin will take over Lasry's position. "Trump Entertainment has made marked progress since reorganizing, which provides me with the opportunity to step down as chairman," Lasry said. The Press of Atlantic City (N.J.) (1/11)     

• Boyd Gaming pleased it acquired Peninsula Gaming, exec says
  Officials of Boyd Gaming on Friday took a tour of the Kansas Star Casino in Mulvane, Kan. The permanent building of the gaming facility fully opened last month. "It was the crown jewel of the portfolio and of the acquisition," said Keith Smith, president and CEO of Boyd. Smith also said the company is happy about its $1.45 billion acquisition of Peninsula Gaming. "What made it right was diversity of properties," Smith said. "Markets that we weren't in. So it was a great geographic fit for us." American City Business Journals/Wichita, Kan./BizTalk blog (1/13)     

• Business owners want hotel near Hollywood Casino Columbus
  Owners of establishments near Ohio's Hollywood Casino Columbus say a hotel in the area of the gaming facility would help boost business. Bob Tenenbaum, spokesman for casino owner Penn National, said that there is a plan to build a hotel at the site but that the development has no timetable. "More people stick around with a hotel. Get that area to be a destination as opposed to a three-hour visit," said James Schimmer, Franklin County's economic-development director. The Columbus Dispatch (Ohio) (1/13)     

Issues, Trends & Technology

• Ill. businesses await approval of video gambling licenses
  Establishments in Illinois such as restaurants, bars and veterans' and fraternal organizations continue to wait for their video gambling machines to be licensed by the state Gaming Board. "We could really use the revenue. We're probably looking at some drastic measures in another six months if nothing happens," said Bob Foster, quartermaster of the Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 755 in Springfield. The State Journal-Register (Springfield, Ill.) (1/13)     

Industry Voices

Tribal Gaming Spotlight

• Interior Department to decide on Mashpee tribe's land application
  A federal review of the Mashpee Wampanoag tribe's land trust application, approval of which is a requirement for the tribe's plan to open a casino in Taunton, Mass., will be conducted early this year. "It supports our position toward saying that within the very near future, the Mashpee will have their [reservation], and will begin this destination resort casino," Mashpee Chairman Cedric Cromwell said. The Boston Globe (tiered subscription model) (1/13)     

• New promotion aims to keep customers at 3 Seminole casinos
  The Seminole casinos in Broward County, Fla., have combined their marketing efforts to keep customers lingering at the three gaming facilities. The new cross-casino promotion includes the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel and Casino in Hollywood, Seminole Casino Coconut Creek and Seminole Casino Hollywood Classic. "We talked to them about prizes, and at least in surveys our players answered questions that led us to this strategy of putting the 'Big 3' together," said Jeffrey Hook, the Seminoles' vice president of marketing. Sun-Sentinel (Fort Lauderdale, Fla.) (1/11)     

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Hot Topics

Top five news stories selected by AGA SmartBrief a G2E production readers in the past week.

• Governor considering plan for 3 casinos in upstate New York (WGRZ-TV (Buffalo, N.Y.))

• Don Marrandino leaves post as head of Caesars' eastern division (The Press of Atlantic City (N.J.))

• Founder: AC Slots to shut down its business (The Press of Atlantic City (N.J.))

• MGM looks to improve its Las Vegas properties, says CEO (VegasInc.com (Las Vegas))

• MGM to offer free wireless Internet service at its Las Vegas casinos (Las Vegas Sun)

• Results based on number of times each story was clicked by readers.

AGA & G2E News

• Explore every angle with Gambling Disorders 360°
  Are you interested in learning more about gambling disorders and responsible gaming? Check out Gambling Disorders 360°, the blog for the Institute for Research on Gambling Disorders, where you can find the latest news, issues and research relating to gambling disorders and responsible gaming. Subscribe via e-mail or RSS to stay informed!     

• G2E Asia 2013 exhibitor spotlight: Matsui Asia Ltd.
  Matsui Asia Ltd. specializes in the manufacture and sales of gaming chips and layouts. All manufacturing plants are 100% owned by Matsui and Matsui Chips are fully secured with several security features and made to the highest quality and standards. With its fair pricing policy and easy ordering process, Matsui's service and speed is always market leading in order to save customer's valued time. Matsui Chips are licensed in many jurisdictions including Singapore. For more information on Matsui, please visit www.matsui-gaming.co.jp. Matsui will exhibit at G2E Asia 2013 May 21-23 at The Venetian Macao.     

SmartQuote

You will do foolish things, but do them with enthusiasm." --Sidonie-Gabrielle Colette, French novelist and performer