AGA SmartBrief

A new casino owned by the Pokagon Band of Potawatomi Indians, which is being built in Dowagiac, Mich., will replicate the "feel" of the tribe's casinos in New Buffalo and Hartford, but in a smaller form. "We want to continue the same look and feel that people have come to know," said Matt Harkness, who is general manager of the tribe's gaming facilities. Harkness and Tribal Chairman Matt Wesaw said Monday that the gaming facility is expected to open in the spring. MLive.com (Michigan) (free registration) (2/26)

Intermediaries for New Mexico Gov. Susana Martinez and the Navajo Nation have approved the terms of a possible gambling agreement between the state and the tribe. The compact would allow the state to obtain a higher percentage of casino earnings and the tribe to open five casinos in the state. Jessica Hernandez, Martinez's deputy chief of staff and general counsel, said the compact is expected to be submitted to the state Legislature this month. News Times (Danbury, Conn.) (2/25)

The General Affairs Committee of Nebraska's Legislature is considering a constitutional amendment proposed by state Sen. Paul Schumacher, which would ask state voters to authorize the state Legislature to allow casino gambling in the state. "A majority of the people, in a fair election, would likely vote for the removal of the (casino gambling) restriction in the constitution. We need to give them a fair election. This is the only way to do it," Schumacher said. Lincoln Journal Star (Neb.) (tiered subscription model) (2/25)

A majority of Indiana senators voted Monday in favor of a bill that would permit the state's 10 riverboat casinos to move onto land, cut their taxes and allow some table games at horse tracks. The bill now moves on to the state House for its consideration. WISH-TV (Indianapolis) (2/25)

Sun-Fly Poker Chips specializes in manufacturing fully customizable casino-grade ceramic casino chips. Sun-Fly is also one of the largest and most reputable ceramic chip manufacturers in the world, with factories and offices in both Asia and Europe. The main focus of the business is to manufacture chips for live casinos and their tournaments, although the company also offers an array of promotional items that are customizable in full color graphics. The team offers an excellent customer service program for design and support, and it continues to create innovative products to the gaming sector worldwide. For more information on Sun-Fly Poker Chips, please visit www.sunflypokerchips.com. Sun-Fly Poker Chips will exhibit at G2E Asia 2013 May 21-23 at The Venetian Macao.

Friedrich Nietzsche,German philosopher

Meruelo Group, the new owner of the Trump Plaza Hotel and Casino in Atlantic City, N.J., plans to market the gaming property with the Grand Sierra Resort and Casino in Reno, Nev., which it also owns. "We're trying to tie it to the Grand Sierra to keep consistent. You don't want to call it 'Sierra,' but there will definitely be some similarity. It's a great opportunity, and we have the experience of taking a property in Reno and making it competitive. We'll be taking what we've learned from this place and tying it to Atlantic City," said Steve Rosen, general manager of the Grand Sierra casino. Reno Gazette-Journal (Nev.) (2/23)

Wynn Resorts said Marilyn Spiegel, the president of Wynn Las Vegas and Encore, will step down to focus on the design and development of the company's resort projects. The company has appointed Maurice Wooden, the former chief operating officer of Wynn Las Vegas and Encore, to replace Spiegel. "This realignment of our most valuable resource, our people, will help put our company on the path for financial growth in Las Vegas, as well as outside of Las Vegas, for years to come," Wynn Chairman Steve Wynn said. Las Vegas Review-Journal (2/22)

Tourism in Las Vegas improved last year, when 2.1% more visitors came to the city than in 2011. Hotel occupancy increased 0.6%, to 84.4%, and ADR rose 2.8%, to $108.08, the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority says. The number of people driving in from Southern California is also on the rise. "Between hotels coming back online from renovations and new hotels coming into the market over the next 12 to 18 months, Las Vegas will see another 5,000 or more rooms added to the market," said Jim Cady, general manager of the DoubleTree by Hilton near the city's airport. Cady says he doesn't think occupancy will return to 2007 levels until 2015 or 2016. HotelNewsNow.com (2/21)

Kevin Ortzman, senior vice president of Caesars Entertainment, said the company is working to obtain financing for a planned conference center at the Harrah's Resort in Atlantic City. "I'm cautiously optimistic that we'll be able to break ground in the early to mid-springtime. We're in our final negotiations with financing — just negotiating the final terms to make sure this is viable and continues with the transformation of Atlantic City," Ortzman told New Jersey's Casino Reinvestment Development Authority board last week. The Press of Atlantic City (N.J.) (2/23)

International Game Technology Chairman Philip Satre said young gamblers' decreasing interest in slot machines has spurred the company to invest in the online gaming business. "They won't sit at a machine for two hours or three hours. It is to me one of the biggest single challenges for the gaming industry, having products that are relevant to this new generation," Satre said. Last year, the slot machine maker acquired Double Down Interactive for $500 million. Bloomberg Businessweek (2/22)

Caesars Entertainment, which has ranked fourth best place to work among big companies in the U.S., gained high marks for the salary and benefits it gives to its employees. The casino operator, which has 70,000 employees worldwide, also offers wellness and health programs to its workers. Las Vegas Review-Journal (2/24)

This week the GGB Podcast features an interview with Gavin Isaacs, the president and CEO of SHFL entertainment, on how the company has changed since his arrival more than a year ago, and what he has planned to grow and revitalize the company.

New Jersey lawmakers expect to agree with state Gov. Chris Christie on the revisions he made to an online gambling bill, which could be signed into law as soon as Tuesday. The expected move would make New Jersey the second state to allow interstate online gambling agreements, following Nevada. The Press of Atlantic City (N.J.) (2/25)

Singapore's gaming revenues increased 8% to $5.85 billion in 2012. Las Vegas Sands' Marina Bay Sands reported gaming revenues of $2.94 billion in 2012, while Genting's Resorts World Sentosa Island took in $2.91 billion. Union Gaming Group principal Grant Govertsen said the country's high-end gaming market "seems to be recovering." "With that in mind, we would expect Singapore gross gaming revenue to grow in the low or mid-single digit range in 2013. As such, we would expect Las Vegas Strip gross gaming revenue in 2013 to remain ahead of Singapore," Govertsen said. Las Vegas Review-Journal (2/22)

Slot-Tickets Worldwide is the original OEM approved source for slot machine tickets. Slot-Tickets Worldwide offers high quality tickets at the lowest possible cost and quickest JIT delivery. Annual Contract Programs are available as well. Designed and approved for all EGM ticket-in/ticket out machines and all OEM printers. For more information on Slot-Tickets Worldwide, please visit www.slot-tickets.com. Slot-Tickets Worldwide will exhibit May 21-23 at G2E Asia 2013 at The Venetian Macau.

Anna Masterton Buchan,Scottish writer

Nevada Gov. Brian Sandoval signed a bill legalizing online gambling in the state immediately after lawakers passed the legislation on Thursday. "This bill is critical to our state's economy and ensures that we will continue to be the gold standard for gaming regulation," Sandoval said. Nevada Gaming Control Board Chairman AG Burnett said the state has received about 20 online gambling license applications. The Washington Post (2/21)

Baltimore's Urban Design & Architecture Review Panel has approved a modified design for a casino Caesars Entertainment plans to build in the city. "The large garage has become a building rather than an accommodation, and I think that's very promising," UDARP reviewer Gary Bowden said. A Caesars' executive said permits for the Horseshoe Baltimore, which is expected to open in the summer of 2014, could be obtained within a week. The Baltimore Sun (2/21)

Caesars Entertainment said it will begin charging resort fees at its Las Vegas hotels instead of charging separately for amenities such as wireless connections and fitness centers. "This is in response to the increasing demand from our guests to provide a package price instead of the inconvenience of separate fees. We continue to do all we can to provide our guests with the best value, best products and best experiences in Las Vegas," said Gary Thompson, Caesars' director of corporate communications. Las Vegas Sun (2/21)