AGA SmartBrief

Landry's $150 million project to convert the Trump Marina Hotel Casino in Atlantic City, N.J., into the Golden Nugget Atlantic City is drawing praise from city officials and business competitors. Landry's renovations include a new Vic & Anthony's Steakhouse and a Chart House and retail stores. The casino and hotel rooms were remodeled as well. "The pool level is spectacular. They did a tremendous job on the property. They got a real bang for their money," said Elizabeth Cartmell, president of the Atlantic City Alliance. Las Vegas Review-Journal (5/19)

Jeff Hartmann, the interim president of Revel casino resort in Atlantic City, N.J., introduced "a dynamic, new seven-day programming" marketing strategy he said will attract midweek visitors. "As we seek new avenues to drive business growth, we are excited to introduce a number of new amenities and special offers that will better cater to our gaming audience. For a meeting planner, this is a perfect destination," Hartmann said. Las Vegas Review-Journal (5/19)

The New Jersey Superior Court ruled Friday that the Atlantic Club Casino Hotel can terminate its acquisition deal with PokerStars and keep advance payments worth $11 million. The decision allows Atlantic Club to consider offers from other companies and may force PokerStars owner Rational Group to pay a $4 million termination fee. "The provisions to that contract about which plaintiffs now complain are just that -- they are provisions to the contract," Judge Raymond Batten said. The Press of Atlantic City (N.J.) (5/17)

Terrible's Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas is being rechristened The Silver Sevens Hotel & Casino today as part of its $7 million renovations. "We went with Silver Sevens because it has that vintage feel," said David Nolan, general manager. The remodeled property features a bigger bar, refurbished rooms and a new sports book. VegasInc.com (Las Vegas) (5/17)

The dry run operation of Jimmy Buffett's Margaritaville at Resorts Casino Hotel in New Jersey received positive reviews from visitors who were impressed by its atmosphere. The $35 million Margaritaville-themed expansion project includes 160 slot machines, retail shops and an upcoming year-round beach bar, Landshark Bar & Grill. "It's what we've been waiting for for years. We went to the one in Vegas and we said, 'We need one in Atlantic City,'" patron Jeff Puorro said. The Press of Atlantic City (N.J.) (5/20)

California Administrative Law Judge Catherine Frink made a recommendation to revoke the gaming license of Las Vegas-based gaming table manufacturer Galaxy Gaming after CEO Robert Saucier allegedly falsified personal and business information. Saucier said the company is still "confident that after the California Gaming Control Commission examines all of the facts, including our unblemished track record of performance and compliance, we will be granted a finding of suitability as we have been in over 100 gaming jurisdictions. This is still very much an ongoing matter that will ultimately result in our favor." VegasInc.com (Las Vegas) (5/17)

This week the GGB Podcast focuses on the 15th International Conference on Gambling and Risk-Taking and a discussion with Bo Bernhard, the executive director of the International Gaming Institute at UNLV, who helped organize the conference after the death of Bill Eadington, who founded the conference in 1974.

The New Jersey Division of Gaming Enforcement on June 3 will begin taking public comments on proposed Internet wagering rules that currently appear on its website. The proposal includes regulations to prevent underage or problem gambling and keep people on the division's self-exclusion and exclusion lists from gambling. "System software standards for age verification, prevention of fraudulent and criminal conduct and funding limits for patron accounts are also proposed," the DGE said. The Press of Atlantic City (N.J.) (5/17)

The Mashantucket Indian tribe's Foxwoods Resort Casino is expected in to undergo scrutiny by officials and residents of Milford, Mass., next month over its bid to build a $1 billion casino-resort in the area. CEO Scott Butera cited the company's competitive advantage, saying it has "a very good business in ... New England. This is our way of bringing our brand to an area we know very well." The gambling giant wants to establish a resort with restaurants, 350 hotel rooms, 4,725 slot machines and 125 table games. The Boston Globe (tiered subscription model) (5/19)

The attorney general of Queensland, Australia, has authorized Crown Ltd. to increase its stake in Echo Entertainment Group from 10% to up to 25%. Crown's move is in line with owner James Packer's plans to build a hotel and casino along the Sydney Harbor, using a design that Packer said would be "instantly recognizable around the world." Packer aims to grab a share of the gaming market in New South Wales, where Echo's Star Sydney Casino exclusively operates now. Bloomberg (5/17)

Marie von Ebner-Eschenbach,Austrian writer

Ren&eacute Descartes,French mathematician and philosopher

Tim Maland, president of Hard Rock Hotel & Casino New England, said the company would shoulder the costs of additional police and fire services in West Springfield, Mass., if its $800 million resort casino is built in the city. "Hard Rock is there to compensate the city for the additional costs," Maland said. Hard Rock said it would also offer a training program for bartenders and transportation services for guests as part of security measures for the casino. The Republican (Springfield, Mass.) (5/15)

Greenwood Racing is making an unexpected bid to build an $800 million hotel casino in Fort Washington, Md. The proposed resort, which would include 4,750 slot machines, 170 gaming tables and a 250-room hotel, would be similar to Greenwood's Parx casino near Philadelphia. Greenwood CEO Anthony Ricci said that the company is "very strong on community outreach and diversity" and assured that it would be a "good neighbor" to the community. The company is the third to make a pitch for the chance to build a resort in Prince George's County, after MGM Resorts International and Penn National Gaming. The Examiner (Washington, D.C.) (5/15)

Revel Entertainment Group's reorganization plan, which was recently approved by the U.S. Bankruptcy Court, has obtained clearance from the New Jersey Casino Control Commission and is now appealing to its customers to do the same. "Everybody deserves a second chance. We're looking for a second chance. We are trying to listen to and respond to customers," said Jeffrey Hartmann, Revel's interim CEO. The Philadelphia Inquirer (5/15)

Boxborough, Mass., selectmen decided against holding talks with Cordish Companies regarding its proposal to convert the Holiday Inn Boxborough into a slots parlor. Selectman Frank Powers said that residents should have had a chance to express their views on the matter. Wicked Local (5/15)

Officials of World Series Poker said the company hopes to get clearance from the Nevada Gaming Control Board so it can launch its real-money gambling website, WSOP.com, during the WSOP tournament, which begins May 29. It would become the second legalized pay-to-play site in the U.S. "We intend to be in this business 100 years from now so for us, it's not about when we start. We just have a lot of boxes to check off to meet the requirements, which is fine and it won't be too much longer," said WSOP spokesman Seth Palansky. VegasInc.com (Las Vegas) (5/15)

The Massachusetts House Committee on Economic Development and Emerging Technologies, led by Rep. Joseph Wagner, said it wanted assurances from Gov. Deval Patrick and the Mashpee Wampanaog tribe that a revised compact to build a $500 million casino would gain federal approval. The revised compact includes a provision under which the tribe would pay 17% of its revenue from its proposed Taunton casino to the state, provided it is the only casino in the southeastern region. The Boston Globe (tiered subscription model) (5/15)

Crown Resorts Chairman James Packer named Wilkinson Eyre Architects, designer of Singapore's Garden by the Bay project, for construction of a planned $984 million Crown casino at the Barangaroo site in Australia. "This was my personal preference. It wasn't even, from my perspective, close. I think the curvature of this building is sympathetic to Sydney Harbor and unique to Sydney Harbor," Packer said. Bloomberg (5/16)

SJM Holdings executives Ambrose So and Ng Chi Sing are selling 20 million of their shares in the company in a bid to raise up to $57 million. The company's stocks surged after receiving final land approval from the Macau government to build a casino resort on the Cotai Strip. The planned casino resort would include an estimated 1,000 slot machines, 700 table games and a 2,000-room hotel. Bloomberg (5/15)