AGA SmartBrief

Las Vegas Sands President Michael Leven said the company is only interested in building a casino at the site of Toronto's Metro Convention Centre. In a speech to The Economic Club of Canada, Leven said a casino could help improve convention business at the facility. "We think the convention center needs a boost. It needs the activity that will drive more business, more people and more excitement into the downtown community," he said. The Globe and Mail (Toronto) (tiered subscription model) (1/28)

The majority of voters in the Bahamas voted Monday to refuse a two-part referendum that would have allowed the creation of a national lottery and the legalization of taxed underground gambling centers. "The prime minister was clear that his government would be guided by the results of the referendum and the will of the people, notwithstanding the low voter turnout," said Bradley Roberts, chairman of the ruling party. The Washington Post (1/28)

In his February column in Global Gaming Business magazine, American Gaming Association (AGA) President and CEO Frank Fahrenkopf examines the importance of the AGA Code of Conduct for Responsible Gaming on the 10th anniversary of its adoption. He also discusses the AGA's recent release of an updated version of the code that reflects the evolution of the industry and how technology has changed the way gaming companies communicate with their employees and patrons. Read the whole column here.

Florence Nightingale,British social reformer, nurse and statistician

Gambling locations and options in the form of casinos, resorts and entertainment centers are proliferating in the U.S., according to casino industry experts. "The whole industry was staring into the abyss a few years ago. Now, by most every metric and in most every market, gaming is making a comeback," says Roger Snow, chief product officer for SHFL Entertainment. USA Today (1/26)

Springfield, Mass., Mayor Domenic J. Sarno said he delayed a decision on approving casino proposals for the city to give more time for evaluation. "We are making sure we are thorough. We are making sure that we are going to be accurate. It was obvious we needed more time to match up some of the details," said Kevin E. Kennedy, the city's chief development officer. The Republican (Springfield, Mass.) (1/25)

The new Nobu Hotel at Caesars Palace in Las Vegas will be ready to welcome its first guests on Feb. 4. The $30 million hotel has 181 rooms, a retail area and a 327-seat restaurant. "We will have signature services special for the Nobu guest. The Nobu customer has been waiting to experience the property," said Gigi Vega, general manager of the Nobu Hotel. Las Vegas Review-Journal (1/26)

Several casinos in Missouri are beefing up efforts to boost revenues. Last year, the Isle of Capri Casinos opened its $135 million casino in Cape Girardeau, Mo., following Penn National Gaming's rebranding of its Harrah's casino in Maryland Heights, Mo., into a Hollywood Casino. Pinnacle is building a 200-room hotel at its River City casino in Lemay, Mo. "The hotel will help expand the market by drawing gamblers from a wider geographic area," said Neil Walkoff, an executive vice president with Pinnacle. St. Louis Post-Dispatch (1/27)

The Atlantic City Alliance will continue promoting the association's "Do Anything, Do Everything, Do AC" campaign this year with new events, attractions and shows. The events include an airshow, a wine-tasting festival, sports competitions and a film festival. "The nice thing is, we're not seeing any fatigue in the campaign," alliance President Liza Cartmell said. We continue to see improvements." The Press of Atlantic City (N.J.) (1/27)

This week's Global Gaming Business Podcast features an interview with Jim Allen, the chairman of Seminole Gaming and Hard Rock International, on how a small Florida tribe became an international powerhouse in the gaming and hospitality industries.

Richard Oakley, a candidate who is vying for the position held by Mashpee Wampanoag Tribal Chairman Cedric Cromwell, said he favors Middleboro, Mass., over Taunton as the site for the tribe's planned casino. "I can't close the door to Taunton completely. The process has started there, but I really don't think we're getting a good deal. Everything has to be looked at. We can't say we're not going to do the Taunton deal, but I prefer Middleboro," Oakley said. Taunton Daily Gazette (Mass.) (1/25)

The Macau government has given Las Vegas Sands the green light to add 200 more table games to its properties in the Asian gaming hub. According to CLSA analysts Aaron Fischer and Richard Huang, the additional tables will raise the total number of the company's table games in Macau to 1,550. The Wall Street Journal (1/28)

Melco Crown Entertainment is reportedly expected to sign a $1.4 billion loan for its proposed Studio City project on Macau's Cotai Strip. If approved, Melco plans to include up to 500 tables and 1,500 gaming machines at the proposed casino resort. MacauBusiness.com (1/25)

You can still check out 2012 video highlights and interviews from the show floor on YouTube, and www.globalgamingexpo.com. Then, keep up with how G2E is preparing for 2013, and what's going on in the gaming industry today by connecting with us on LinkedIn, Twitter, Facebook and the G2E Blog.

William McFee,British-American writer

Members of the Massachusetts Gaming Commission said they expect to complete background checks on slots parlor license applicants by May. "These are aggressive timetables to complete investigations. We could be looking for early May for slots and late May or June for Category 1," Commissioner Gayle Cameron said. The panel expects to award the license for the sole slots parlor in the state by fall. Taunton Daily Gazette (Mass.) (1/24)

Atlantic City casinos could benefit from out-of-state construction workers who would be part of the effort to repair and rebuild following superstorm Sandy, according to researchers. The phenomenon, which Louisiana experienced after Hurricane Katrina, could also boost gaming revenues at the city's gaming venues if the federal aid gets approved. The Press of Atlantic City (N.J.) (1/24)

Las Vegas Sands President Mike Leven said the company is overhauling its compliance functions to combat money laundering. "The world is changing. There are more people in government concerned about procedures. There are more international funds moving around and more stress about where the money comes from and where it's going," Leven said. The Wall Street Journal (1/24)

The Davenport, Iowa, City Council heard two proposals for a casino, one for an interstate facility and one for a downtown location. Aldermen seemed more in favor of the interstate proposal, which would bring in about $91.3 million in gaming revenue and $11 million in net revenue. It could also draw retail to the area. The downtown proposal would generate about $67.2 million in gaming revenue and $10.5 million in net revenue and would offer less opportunity for expansion. Quad-City Times (Davenport, Iowa) (1/23)

New York State Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver said he would support placing casinos in some parts of New York City but continues to oppose a Las Vegas-style casino in Manhattan. "There are [less densely populated] parts of the city that would qualify for that. Manhattan would not, for example. Central Brooklyn would not. Central Queens would not. But there are places that can qualify as destinations within the city, whether it's Willets Point or Aqueduct or Coney Island," Silver said. The New York Times (tiered subscription model) (1/24)