AGA SmartBrief

MGM China CEO Grand Bowie said his company, which is focused on its casino project in Cotai, Macau, is "unlikely" to invest in any project in the Philippines at the moment. The company began construction on its $2.6 billion Macau casino last month. MacauBusiness.com (3/21)

The New Hampshire House has voted to reject a bill that would have allowed two casinos in the state. However, another bill was preserved, making it possible the House will pass its own gambling legislation. The state Senate last week passed a bill that would authorize one casino with up to 150 table games and 5,000 video slot machines. Gov. Maggie Hassan supports that measure. The preserved House bill would not permit table games. The Boston Globe (tiered subscription model) (3/21)

Texas state Sen. John Carona has filed a bill that would significantly expand gambling in the state. Carona's legislation would allow for the creation of a Texas Gaming Commission and authorize destination casinos and slot machines at horse and dog tracks. Austin American-Statesman (Texas) (free registration) (3/21)

Global Gaming Women (GGW) was launched by the AGA to nurture emerging female leaders in the international gaming industry by fostering stronger relationships between top female executives and promising managers. GGW creates opportunities for women in the industry to learn from each other, share ideas, discuss best practices and take advantage of mentorship opportunities. For more information about upcoming events or to get involved, visit the GGW website.

Since February 1999, Winner Sporting Goods Co. Ltd. has been one of the leading professional casino table manufacturers in China. With more than 15,000 square meters of factory space, the company specializes in producing a full line of high quality baccarat tables, blackjack tables, roulette tables, craps tables, card tables and other casino gaming tables with solid wood, piano finish and/or MDF with Formica high-pressure laminate material. The company also supplies accessories at the same time. For more information on Winner Sporting Goods Co. Ltd., please visit www.winnercasinosupply.com. Winner Sporting Goods Co. Ltd. will exhibit at G2E Asia 2013 May 21-23 at The Venetian Macau.

Bertrand Russell,British philosopher, mathematician and historian

Workers are now preparing roulette, poker and craps tables at the Maryland Live! Casino in Anne Arundel County, Md. The casino looks to launch the table games on April 11. "This is the first pit they're setting up here. The rest of the pit will be blackjack," said Neal Sloane, vice president of table games at the casino. WJLA-TV (Washington, D.C.) (3/20)

MGM Resorts International, which owns and operates the Luxor in Las Vegas, has teamed up with HBO to promote its television show Game of Thrones at the property. "The show's got 10.4 million viewers per episode. It's globally a hit," said Jim Holborow, director of event marketing and promotions with MGM Resorts. Guests will see different advertisements of the show at the hotel casino -- including on key cards and blackjack table tops -- until the end of this month. VegasInc.com (Las Vegas) (3/20)

MGM Resorts International Chairman and CEO Jim Murren said the company's casino in Detroit is proving to be profitable. He also said the company is considering hiring more workers at the casino over time. "We're thinking of doing some expansion, but you're limited by Michigan law in terms of how big your casino can be and there are other constraints. ... I think we'll hire a few hundred people more over time but it's not like big buckets of expansion," he said. MLive.com (Michigan) (free registration) (3/20)

The number of visitors to New Jersey rose 5% in 2012, according to a new report released by the state Wednesday. According to The Economic Impact of Tourism Report, visitor spending in the state also increased nearly 3% despite Hurricane Sandy's disruption. "New Jersey really is coming back," Gov. Chris Christie said at the New Jersey Conference on Tourism at the Golden Nugget in Atlantic City. The Press of Atlantic City (N.J.) (3/21)

The number of people who are against Internet betting in New Jersey has dropped sharply, according to a Fairleigh Dickinson University PublicMind poll. According to the survey, 46% of respondents are against state lawmakers' decision to legalize online betting, compared with 67% recorded two years ago. "Voters may be accepting the inevitable, or have acquired new information that brought about a change of heart, given the heightened exposure any new legislation brings with it," said Krista Jenkins, a professor of political science at Fairleigh Dickinson and the poll's director. The Press of Atlantic City (N.J.) (3/20)

The Viejas Casino near San Diego is hoping to become a destination now that its $36 million hotel is complete. "The primary focus is as an amenity for our current gaming customers. Casinos are quite often associated with certain things -- buffets, hotels, entertainment -- and so we've been working toward creating the fully fledged resort destination," Viejas spokesman Robert Scheid said. San Diego Union-Tribune (3/20)

The Philippine unit of Melco Crown Entertainment is looking to raise $400 million from a share sale. The company, which has signed a deal with Belle Corp. to develop a $1 billion casino resort in Manila, plans to sell up to 1.2 billion shares. Reuters (3/20)

A House committee in Indiana has amended a gambling bill to remove provisions that some viewed as promoting gambling expansion and to provide funding guarantees for host communities. In arguing for a provision that would have allowed horse tracks to hire live dealers, Centaur Chief Operating Officer Jim Brown said that a "quirk in the law today is costing Indiana over 600 full-time, good-paying jobs -- jobs that each full time employee working in them will earn an average of over $40,000 a year and qualify for comprehensive health care benefits." Evansville Courier & Press (Ind.) (free registration) (3/20)

With changing trends and technologies in the gaming industry, iGaming and Security & Surveillance have become the main area of focus at G2E Asia as they open their own pavilions. Check out the G2E Blog for more information and remember to save the date for G2E Asia 2013, taking place May 21-23 at the Venetian Macao.

Henrik Ibsen,Norwegian playwright

Angel Management Group, developer of the Hakkasan Las Vegas at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas, has announced that the $100 million restaurant and nightclub will open April 18. "After more than two years of hard work and intricate planning, we are thrilled to open the venue and see our guests' reactions," said Neil Moffitt, Angel Management's CEO. Las Vegas Review-Journal (3/19)

William Hill's new sports book at the Plaza Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas officially opened Tuesday. The William Hill Race & Sports Book includes 75 TV screens, 37 carrels, 25 tables with seating and 12 digital display boards. "I'm totally confident it's the nicest sports book downtown. We look at the William Hill as our flagship downtown," said Dan Shapiro, director of marketing for William Hill. VegasInc.com (Las Vegas) (3/19)

The New Jersey Casino Control Commission has approved Jeffrey Hartmann to serve as the interim CEO of Atlantic City's Revel casino, replacing Kevin DeSanctis. "I am delighted to officially transition into this new role. As the premier resort destination in the Northeast with expanding dining, gaming, and entertainment options and employees dedicated to providing guests a signature Revel experience, I see substantial opportunity, working with our Revel professionals, to drive growth," Hartmann said. The Philadelphia Inquirer (3/19)

WMS Industries said its shareholders will vote May 10 on Scientific Games' offer to buy out the slot machine manufacturer for $1.5 billion. The Federal Trade Commission approved the acquisition plan last week. Las Vegas Review-Journal (3/19)