Top of the Deck

• Chicago could get the casino go-ahead this year, Ill. governor says
  A bill that would allow casino gambling in Chicago could be signed into law within six months, Illinois Gov. Pat Quinn says. Observers believe compromise on the matter of placing slot machines at horse tracks will be necessary to reach a deal. "It's very possible that there could be a gaming agreement," said Illinois Senate President John Cullerton. Chicago Tribune (1/8)     

Industry Update

• Aqueduct racino bolts out of the gate fast, earning $90M in 2 months
  New York Lottery officials say the new Aqueduct racino in Queens is a big winner that's raked in $90 million during its first two months of operation. The state's racinos took in a combined $1.26 billion in revenue for 2011, a 15.8% increase over 2010. Daily News (New York) (1/8)     

• Las Vegas gaming properties earn record revenue on nongaming sales
  Las Vegas casinos had a banner year in 2011, with an overall revenue hike of 34% on nongaming expenditures such as food and beverages. "You're seeing spending patterns changing and becoming much more event-driven," said Nevada Gaming Control Board analyst Mike Lawton. VegasInc.com (Las Vegas) (1/6)     

• Casino operators, suppliers and vendors lining up for online gaming
  Nevada gaming companies may be in the lead when it comes to the legalization and regulation of online gambling, but most observers believe there are plenty of U.S. casino operators, vendors and suppliers lining up for the coming day they can provide online services. "In my opinion, 2012 is going to be known as the year the online gaming industry in America was really born," said U.S. Digital Gaming Chairman Richard Bronson. Reuters (1/6)     

Issues, Trends & Technology

• Adelson antes up $5M for "super PAC" backing Gingrich
  The chairman and CEO of the Las Vegas Sands has contributed $5 million to a "super PAC" that is promoting the Republican presidential candidacy of former House Speaker Newt Gingrich, reports say. While casino mogul Sheldon Adelson is putting his money on Gingrich for the moment, reports indicate he will be willing to contribute additional money to support the eventual Republican nominee. USA TODAY (1/8), Las Vegas Review-Journal (1/9)     

• Job creation a major driver for Northeast casino fever
  Gambling fever seems to have gripped the Northeast as more states consider launching casino-style gambling, while others try to pump up excitement for their existing offerings. The trigger for this epidemic is jobs -- and some much-needed revenue for financially strapped states. "What we see are states trying to get their share of the pie," analyst Melissa Long said. The Bond Buyer (free content) (1/9)     

• R.I. lawmakers pushing for a large casino at Quonset Point
  Faced with a large budget deficit and increasing gaming competition from neighboring states, Rhode Island needs to build a giant Las Vegas-style resort at Quonset Point, some legislators say. "(T)his is a real opportunity. We already have everything we need. I'm talking a world-class casino," Rep. Joseph A. Trillo said. GoLocalProv.com (Providence, R.I.) (1/7)     

• Deadwood casino manager driving for more on-street parking
  The creation of additional parking spots would go a long way toward sparking more business in Deadwood, S.D., a casino manager says. "The issue of the street not being wide enough [for parking spaces] is totally invalid," said Terry Houk, general manager of the Buffalo Bodega casino. "People will feel more of a home-town feeling, being able to park in front of a store and walk in," said Sharon Burns, manager of a business across the street from the casino. The Rapid City Journal (S.D.) (1/8)     

Industry Voices

Tribal Gaming Spotlight

• Tribal town pushes on with Okla. casino plans despite opposition
  Despite push-back from a group that fears a proliferation of gambling establishments around Broken Arrow, Okla., the Kialegee Tribal Town is pushing ahead with its effort to construct a casino there. "It is a widely established fact that employment, purchases and tax payments made by tribal casinos lead to increased business for surrounding communities," said the tribe's town king, Tiger Hobia. Tulsa World (Okla.) (1/8)     

International Focus

• Singapore, Macau casinos thriving during tough economic times
  Casinos in Singapore and Macau are following different paths to high profitability during tough economic times, this article notes. Singapore's casinos are full-scale destination resorts that offer plenty of nongaming attractions, too. Macau, meanwhile, relies on "junkets" to bring VIP and other deep-pocket gamblers to the Chinese enclave. The Vancouver Sun (British Columbia) (1/8)     

Hot Topics

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

• Nev., N.J. parrying to be nation's leader in online gaming (VegasInc.com (Las Vegas))

• Former Las Vegas mayor stakes reputation on "beef, booze, broads" (Las Vegas Review-Journal)

• Atlantic City's Revel resort gets 323 state-of-the-art slot machines (Courier-Post (Camden-Cherry Hill, N.J.))

• Goodbye Las Vegas Hilton; hello Las Vegas Hotel & Casino (Las Vegas Review-Journal)

• Cuomo wants largest convention center, expanded gambling for N.Y. (The Washington Post)

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

AGA & G2E News

• Responsible gaming training for your employees from the NCRG
  Employee training is a key element of any successful responsible gaming program, and EMERGE, a ground-breaking online training program developed by scientists at Harvard Medical School, is the solution to all your training needs. EMERGE is ideal for all levels of employees, and its Web-based design requires no special software or equipment. Learn more about how EMERGE can help your employees succeed.     

• Revisit G2E 2011 with My Show Planner
  Need a refresher on all of the great exhibitors you saw at G2E 2011? G2E My Show Planner will help you to follow up with the exhibitors visited at the show, as well as browse the full exhibitor list to get more information on specific product categories.     

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Knowledge can be communicated, but wisdom cannot. A man can find it, he can live it, he can be filled and sustained by it, but he cannot utter or teach it." --Hermann Hesse, German-Swiss writer and poet