AGA SmartBrief

Zynga and other social gaming companies that are seeking to join the online gambling frenzy in states such as New Jersey and Nevada, where gambling on the Internet is now legal, will likely be required to team up with existing casinos to enter the business. "If we are talking about the social-gaming companies, then we are talking about mergers or working agreements," American Gaming Association President Frank Fahrenkopf said. Bloomberg (3/1)

The Wilton Rancheria tribe will present its plans for a casino near Galt, Calif., to the Galt City Council on Tuesday. Leaders of the tribe, which reportedly has found a development partner, first suggested their intentions of building a casino in 2009. "It's good they're taking time to communicate with local governments," Sacramento County Supervisor Don Nottoli said. "I get the sense they're being thoughtful in moving forward." Lodi News-Sentinel (Calif.) (3/2)

Macau's gaming revenue for February rose 12% from 2012 to $3.4 billion, according to the Macau Gaming Inspection and Coordination Bureau. The numbers "were encouraging" after a slow start to the Chinese New Year festivities, according to RBC Capital Markets gaming analyst John Kempf. "It is likely that VIP volumes increased post Chinese New Year as the players avoided the crowds and extended their holiday past the typical seven to 10 days," Kempf said. Las Vegas Review-Journal (3/1)

Since 1992, Three Like Co. Ltd. has specialized in the manufacturing of reflective and light-diffusing materials. The company produces light-diffusing materials for LED products on game machines that eliminate pinpoint bright light, improve light output and reduce the number of LEDs required, which results in higher cost savings for customers. For more information on this company, please visit www.threelike.co.jp. Three Like Co. Ltd. will exhibit at G2E Asia 2013 May 21-23 at The Venetian Macao.

Henri Frédéric Amiel,Swiss philosopher, poet and critic

Poker, which has proved to be one of the biggest gambling trends in the casino industry in recent years, could be losing its momentum as some gaming facilities are increasingly switching out their poker tables for slot machines. However, larger casinos, including Caesars Entertainment, the Bellagio and the Venetian, are still investing in poker. Caesars now has a progressive jackpot, and the Venetian's poker room installed 17 additional tables. The Washington Post (2/28)

Boyd Gaming has sold its Dania Jai Alai in South Florida to Dania Entertainment for $65.5 million. The deal should be completed in May. "Our company's primary focus is on strengthening our balance sheet, and the sale of this nonstrategic asset is another significant step toward that goal," said Boyd Gaming CEO Keith Smith. Las Vegas Review-Journal (2/28)

Rock Ventures CEO Matt Cullen said Thursday at the Detroit Policy Conference that the community surrounding Detroit's Greektown Casino could be tied into the gaming facility in order to revitalize the area. "We think you can re-energize Greektown in a significant way. It's all about connectivity," said Cullen, who along with Rock Gaming announced an interest in purchasing a majority stake in the casino's parent company last month. MLive.com (Michigan) (free registration) (2/28)

The construction of a $20 million hotel near Pinnacle Entertainment's Boomtown Casino in Harvey, La., will begin immediately, according to officials. The company, parish leaders and gaming board officials participated in a groundbreaking ceremony Thursday for the five-story facility. "There's nothing as exciting as a new hotel. It will rev up the West Bank," Boomtown vice president and general manager Harold Rowland said. The Times-Picayune (New Orleans) (2/28)

NBCSports.com (3/1)

Las Vegas Review-Journal (3/1)

So far, Nevada, Delaware and New Jersey have legalized online gambling, and analysts are expecting that the next step for states interested in capturing a piece of the profitable venture is to work together to be able to offer bigger jackpots and attract more gamblers. "I would be shocked if within a few years there aren't multiple states cooperating," said attorney Tom Goldstein, who has represented online gambling firms. Reuters (2/28)

An Iowa Senate subcommittee approved a bill Thursday that would allow state casinos to operate Internet poker games. The measure, which supporters say is needed for gamblers' protection and to help the state's casino industry keep up with technology, would also authorize players to create an account for online wagering deposits. The bill now goes to the state Senate State Government Committee. The Des Moines Register (Iowa) (tiered subscription model) (2/28)

California Gov. Jerry Brown has signed an agreement allowing a casino on the reservation of the Fort Independence Indian Community of Paiute Indians. The compact, which includes protection of patrons and employees among other provisions, permits up to 800 slot machines. San Jose Mercury News (Calif.) (free registration) (2/28)

Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker said all of the state's 11 tribes must agree to a new off-reservation casino in the state before he approves it. "Consensus doesn't mean 10 yes and one no. Consensus means everybody says yes," Walker said. Lisa Waukau, vice chair of the Menominee tribe, said Walker's standard is unachievable. "That's never going to happen. It's unrealistic for the governor to even say that," Waukau said. The Menominee tribe wants to place a casino at a former greyhound track in Kenosha. Milwaukee Journal Sentinel (tiered subscription model) (2/28)

Sir Arthur Conan Doyle,Scottish-born writer

The Ohio Casino Control Commission and about 15,000 guests were expected to be present at the Horseshoe Casino Cincinnati for its rehearsal run that took place Wednesday. The $400 million gaming facility, whose opening is planned for Monday, will be the last of four casinos approved by state voters to open. "Slots, table games, the work in the cashier cage, the counting room, the main bank -- we're looking at all these sensitive areas to make sure they're complying with the rules and regulations. All aspects of the casino's operations are important to us," said Matt Schuler, the commission's executive director. The Washington Post (2/27)

The Bellagio casino resort in Las Vegas said it has completed a $40 million refurbishment of its 928-room Spa Tower. The renovation, which began last summer, includes three new suites. "The completion of the Spa Tower remodel marks a significant milestone in the evolution of the Bellagio guest experience," President and CEO Randy Morton said. Las Vegas Sun (2/27)

The Resorts Casino Hotel in Atlantic City, N.J., will celebrate a milestone Friday with the placement of the last beam for its LandShark Bar & Grill, part of the resort's $35 million Margaritaville-themed expansion. The casino resort and singer Jimmy Buffett are partners in the project. The Press of Atlantic City (N.J.) (2/28)

John English, Gaming Arts' senior vice president of business development and public relations, said the Las Vegas-based company is marketing an electronic keno kiosk it has developed. The EZ Keno Kiosk, which allows keno players to print their own tickets, will undergo field tests at a Reno casino hotel owned by Gaming Arts' parent company. "The response to the kiosk has been amazing. We designed it to be easy to use, as well as an added convenience for the customer that takes up less space for the operator," English said. Las Vegas Review-Journal (2/28)