AGA SmartBrief

Caesars Entertainment is planning to spin off its online gambling business to help the company manage its debt and boost its equity. "We believe it will further improve our liquidity and credit profile, enhance our distribution network and provide additional support for potential new ventures," Caesars Chief Executive Gary Loveman said. The Wall Street Journal (2/27)

Matt Hulett, the president of mobile game firm GameHouse, said the company is shifting its focus on its social casino games. This week, the firm is debuting two casino games. Its GameHouse Casino is being introduced on Facebook, while its GameHouse Slots is being launched on the iPhone. "This is not an off-strip lobby. Our big bet is to build a high-class casino experience where you feel like you are at the big hotel. We feel we can bring a lot of innovation to these games," Hulett said. VentureBeat (2/27)

Gaming revenues of the 460 tribal casinos across the U.S. increased 3.4% to $27.427 billion in 2011, according to Casino City's annual Indian Gaming Industry Report. "Despite a sluggish economy in 2011, Indian gaming sustained a modest growth to bring it above its pre-recession gaming revenue level," economist Alan Meister said. Las Vegas Review-Journal (2/27)

Australian billionaire James Packer, who is seeking to globally expand his casino business, met with ministers of Sri Lanka this week to talk about investment options in the country. "They have not finalized the area and the amount they are going to invest. The government has asked them to come up with a proposal. The government proposed (for) them to invest in a large city hotel in Colombo and go to (the eastern city of) Trincomalee to look into possible investment opportunities," said Lakshman Yapa Abeywardene, the Sri Lankan investment promotions minister. Reuters (2/27)

MGM China Holdings said business from VIP gamblers has perked up since the Lunar New Year festival, which ended Feb. 17. Meanwhile, MGM China said no signs of a clampdown on junket operators has been seen yet. "There's never any real, concrete indication or direction from the government. Although the growth rate of VIP business may slow, I'm not aware of any crackdown," said MGM China Chairman Pansy Ho. Bloomberg Businessweek (2/28)

The United States Playing Card Company is the World's largest producer of premium playing cards. Producing cards since 1867, the company's flagship brand, "Bee," is recognized throughout the world and carries with it the most advanced card security features in the industry. "Bee" factory pre-shuffled cards are fully automated, pre-shuffled cards with GLI certification. The "Bee" intelligent, electronic baccarat shoe provides secure and accurate performance. For more information on the United States Playing Card Company, please visit www.usplayingcard.com. United States Playing Card Company will exhibit at G2E Asia 2013 May 21-23 at The Venetian Macao.

Francis Bacon,British author and statesman

New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie signed a bill into law Tuesday making New Jersey the third state in the U.S. to legalize gambling on the Internet, behind Nevada and Delaware. "This was a critical decision, and one that I did not make lightly. But with the proper regulatory framework and safeguards that I insisted on including in the bill, I am confident that we are offering a responsible yet exciting option that will make Atlantic City more competitive while also bringing financial benefits to New Jersey as a whole," Christie said. The Washington Post (2/26)

Hollywood Casino Perryville in Cecil County, Md., has received approval from the state Lottery and Gaming Control Commission to operate table games. According to Bill Hayles, the casino's general manager, the gaming facility plans to offer those games starting next week. Meanwhile, the Maryland Live! Casino in Anne Arundel County said it will offer table games beginning April 11. American City Business Journals (2/26)

Casinos in Deadwood, S.D., which had reported an increase in January revenues, continue to see favorable gaming numbers. "The slots are simply holding their own ... . Table games continue to enjoy great increase due entirely to the increased bet limits that went into effect last summer," said Tom Nelson, Deadwood Gaming Association executive director. The Black Hills Pioneer (Spearfish, S.D.) (2/26)

Casino Aztar in Evansville, Ind., said it will change its name to Tropicana Evansville in June. The gaming facility will rebrand itself to bear the name of Tropicana Entertainment, which acquired it in 2010. WISH-TV (Indianapolis) (2/26)

June 25 is the date Springfield, Mass., city councilors and their consultants hope to hold a public referendum casino plans. "It's going to be very tight, there's not a lot of room for error. ... We're shooting for that date, we think it's obtainable assuming nothing goes wrong, so it's got to hit just right" said casino consultant Sid Froelich. WSHM-TV (Springfield, Mass.) (2/26)

The Florida Legislature, which is planning to conduct a comprehensive study on gambling in the state, has decided not to pass any gambling legislation this year. Some casino officials at the Florida Gaming Congress held this week at the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel said Tuesday they support the legislature's decision. "We're not doing anything. We're not going to promote it nor dissuade it. But the mission should be first do no harm," said Virginia McDowell, Isle of Capri Casinos' president. Sun-Sentinel (Fort Lauderdale, Fla.) (2/26)

The Massachusetts Gaming Commission is scheduled next week to choose the director of an initiative aimed at studying the effects of gambling in the state and helping combat problem gambling. "Nobody will have done anything like this. That's not exaggerating on my part. That's really true. We'll be spending more money to address problem gambling on a per capita basis than any other jurisdiction in the United States," Commission Chairman Stephen Crosby said. Boston Herald (2/26)

Massachusetts Gov. Deval Patrick said he and the Mashpee Wampanoag Tribe have come up with a "framework" of a new casino compact to replace an earlier agreement turned down by the federal government. "We've got a model we're trying to work through with the tribe, and we have a hope -- I think it's either by the end of this week or early next week -- to be able to go down to the Bureau of Indian Affairs and show them the framework so that we can get some preliminary feedback from them and we don't go through the process we did the last time of thinking we had a deal that was going to satisfy them," Patrick said. The Republican (Springfield, Mass.) (2/26)

Kurt Lewin,German-American psychologist

The Casino Commission and the casino mitigation committee of the Town Council of West Springfield, Mass., will meet with Hard Rock International and the Bronson Companies on Wednesday to discuss details of a proposed casino at the Eastern States Exposition fairgrounds. Meanwhile, Palmer and Springfield will each hold public meetings this week regarding the proposed casinos for their cities. The Republican (Springfield, Mass.) (2/25)

The Horseshoe Casino Cincinnati, which will open next week, said it has agreed to partner with 10 restaurants in the city for meals. "We are excited to offer access to a selection of unique and nationally acclaimed local restaurants through our Total Rewards loyalty program," said Mike Warren, the casino's vice president of marketing. Cincinnati.com (2/25)

The National Register of Historic Places has listed the El Cortez Hotel and Casino in downtown Las Vegas, joining other sites such as the Moulin Rouge. "We are thrilled to become one of the beloved properties across the nation recognized on the prestigious National Register of Historic Places. Our hotel represents not only the treasured memories of our city's history but also embraces the future of downtown," said Alex Epstein, the hotel's executive vice president. Las Vegas Sun (2/25)

Zynga CEO Mark Pincus said the company, which is the maker of some of the most successful social games around, is focused on bringing real-money gambling to a mass market in the U.K. "We're not the company to win the hardcore real-money gamers. But we think we are for the mass market audience," Pincus said. CNET (2/25)