Decos Alex Miranda hosts Winterfest black tie ball at Hard Rock Hotel and Casino ahead of Winterfest boat parade this Saturday – WSVN 7News | Miami…

Decos Alex Miranda hosts Winterfest black tie ball at Hard Rock Hotel and Casino ahead of Winterfest boat parade this Saturday  WSVN 7News | Miami News, Weather, Sports | Fort Lauderdale

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Decos Alex Miranda hosts Winterfest black tie ball at Hard Rock Hotel and Casino ahead of Winterfest boat parade this Saturday - WSVN 7News | Miami...

Casino – Wikipedia

Facility which houses and accommodates certain types of gambling activities

A casino is a facility for certain types of gambling. Casinos are often built near or combined with hotels, resorts, restaurants, retail shopping, cruise ships, and other tourist attractions. Some casinos are also known for hosting live entertainment, such as stand-up comedy, concerts, and sports.

Casino is of Italian origin; the root casa means a house. The term casino may mean a small country villa, summerhouse, or social club.[1] During the 19th century, casino came to include other public buildings where pleasurable activities took place; such edifices were usually built on the grounds of a larger Italian villa or palazzo, and were used to host civic town functions, including dancing, gambling, music listening, and sports. Examples in Italy include Villa Farnese and Villa Giulia, and in the US the Newport Casino in Newport, Rhode Island. In modern-day Italian, a casino is a brothel (also called casa chiusa, literally "closed house"), a mess (confusing situation), or a noisy environment; a gaming house is spelt casin, with an accent.[2][1][3]

Not all casinos are used for gaming. The Catalina Casino, on Santa Catalina Island, California, has never been used for traditional games of chance, which were already outlawed in California by the time it was built.[4] The Copenhagen Casino was a Danish theatre which also held public meetings during the 1848 Revolution, which made Denmark a constitutional monarchy.[5]

In military and non-military usage, a casino (Spanish) or Kasino (German) is an officers' mess.

The precise origin of gambling is unknown. It is generally believed that gambling in some form or another has been seen in almost every society in history. From Ancient Mesopotamia, Greeks and Romans to Napoleon's France and Elizabethan England, much of history is filled with stories of entertainment based on games of chance.

The first known European gambling house, not called a casino although meeting the modern definition, was the Ridotto, established in Venice, Italy, in 1638 by the Great Council of Venice to provide controlled gambling during the carnival season. It was closed in 1774 as the city government felt it was impoverishing the local gentry.[6]

In American history, early gambling establishments were known as saloons. The creation and importance of saloons was greatly influenced by four major cities: New Orleans, St. Louis, Chicago and San Francisco. It was in the saloons that travelers could find people to talk to, drink with, and often gamble with. During the early 20th century in the US, gambling was outlawed by state legislation. However, in 1931, gambling was legalized throughout the state of Nevada, where the US's first legalized casinos were set up. In 1976 New Jersey allowed gambling in Atlantic City, now the US's second largest gambling city.[7]

Most jurisdictions worldwide have a minimum gambling age of 18 to 21.[8]

Customers gamble by playing games of chance, in some cases with an element of skill, such as craps, roulette, baccarat, blackjack, and video poker. Most games have mathematically determined odds that ensure the house has at all times an advantage over the players. This can be expressed more precisely by the notion of expected value, which is uniformly negative (from the player's perspective). This advantage is called the house edge. In games such as poker where players play against each other, the house takes a commission called the rake. Casinos sometimes give out complimentary items or comps to gamblers.

Payout is the percentage of funds ("winnings") returned to players.

Casinos in the United States say that a player staking money won from the casino is playing with the house's money.

Video Lottery Machines (slot machines) have become one of the most popular forms of gambling in casinos. As of 2011[update] investigative reports have started calling into question whether the modern-day slot-machine is addictive.[9]

Casino designregarded as a psychological exerciseis an intricate process that involves optimising floor plan, dcor and atmospherics to encourage gambling.[10]

Factors influencing gambling tendencies include sound, odour and lighting. Natasha Dow Schll, an anthropologist at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, highlights the decision of the audio directors at Silicon Gaming to make its slot machines resonate in "the universally pleasant tone of C, sampling existing casino soundscapes to create a sound that would please but not clash".[11]

Alan Hirsch, founder of the Smell & Taste Treatment and Research Foundation in Chicago, studied the impact of certain scents on gamblers, discerning that a pleasant albeit unidentifiable odor released by Las Vegas slot machines generated about 50% more in daily revenue. He suggested that the scent acted as an aphrodisiac, causing a more aggressive form of gambling.[12]

The following lists major casino markets in the world with casino revenue of over US$1 billion as published in PricewaterhouseCoopers's report on the outlook for the global casino market:[13]

According to Bloomberg, accumulated revenue of the biggest casino operator companies worldwide amounted to almost US$55 billion in 2011. SJM Holdings Ltd. was the leading company in this field, earning $9.7 bn in 2011, followed by Las Vegas Sands Corp. at $7.4 bn. The third-biggest casino operator company (based on revenue) was Caesars Entertainment, with revenue of US$6.2 bn.[17]

While there are casinos in many places, a few places have become well known specifically for gambling. Perhaps the place almost defined by its casino is Monte Carlo, but other places are known as gambling centers.

Monte Carlo Casino, located in Monte Carlo city, in Monaco, is a casino and a tourist attraction.

Monte Carlo Casino has been depicted in many books, including Ben Mezrich's Busting Vegas, where a group of Massachusetts Institute of Technology students beat the casino out of nearly $1 million. This book is based on real people and events; however, many of those events are contested by main character Semyon Dukach.[18] Monte Carlo Casino has also been featured in multiple James Bond novels and films.

The casino is mentioned in the song "The Man Who Broke the Bank at Monte Carlo" as well as the film of the same name.

Casin di Campione is located in the tiny Italian enclave of Campione d'Italia, within Ticino, Switzerland. The casino was founded in 1917 as a site to gather information from foreign diplomats during the First World War. Today it is owned by the Italian government, and operated by the municipality. With gambling laws being less strict than in Italy and Switzerland, it is among the most popular gambling destination besides Monte Carlo. The income from the casino is sufficient for the operation of Campione without the imposition of taxes, or obtaining of other revenue.[19] In 2007, the casino moved into new premises of more than 55,000 square metres (590,000sqft), making it the largest casino in Europe.[20] The new casino was built alongside the old one, which dated from 1933 and has since been demolished.[19][21]

the archipelago of Malta is a particularly famous place for casinos in particular the historic casino at the princely residence of Dragonara

The former Portuguese colony of Macau, a special administrative region of the People's Republic of China since 1999, is a popular destination for visitors who wish to gamble.[22] This started in Portuguese times, when Macau was popular with visitors from nearby Hong Kong, where gambling was more closely regulated. The Venetian Macao is currently the largest casino in the world. Macau also surpassed Las Vegas as the largest gambling market in the world.[22]

Machine-based gaming is only permitted in land-based casinos, restaurants, bars and gaming halls, and only subject to a licence. Online slots are, at the moment, only permitted if they are operated under a Schleswig-Holstein licence. AWPs are governed by federal law the Trade Regulation Act and the Gaming Ordinance.

The Casino Estoril, located in the municipality of Cascais, on the Portuguese Riviera, near Lisbon, is the largest casino in Europe by capacity.

During the Second World War, it was reputed to be a gathering point for spies, dispossessed royals, and wartime adventurers; it became an inspiration for Ian Fleming's James Bond 007 novel Casino Royale.

Singapore is an up-and-coming destination for visitors wanting to gamble, although there are currently only two casinos (both foreign owned), in Singapore. The Marina Bay Sands is the most expensive standalone casino in the world, at a price of US$8 billion, and is among the world's ten most expensive buildings. The Resorts World Sentosa has the world's largest oceanarium.

There are 4 legal gaming zones in Russia: "Siberian Coin" (Altay), "Yantarnaya" (Kaliningrad region), "Azov-city" (Rostov region) and "Primorie" (Primorie region).

With currently over 1,000 casinos, the United States has the largest number of casinos in the world. The number continues to grow steadily as more states seek to legalize casinos. 40 states now[when?] have some form of casino gambling. Interstate competition, such as gaining tourism, has been a driving factor to continuous legalization.[23] Relatively small places such as Las Vegas are best known for gambling; larger cities such as Chicago are not defined by their casinos in spite of the large turnover.

The Las Vegas Valley has the largest concentration of casinos in the United States. Based on revenue, Atlantic City, New Jersey ranks second, and the Chicago region third.

Top American casino markets by revenue (2015 annual revenues):[24]

The Nevada Gaming Control Board divides Clark County, which is coextensive with the Las Vegas metropolitan area, into seven market regions for reporting purposes.

Native American gaming has been responsible for a rise in the number of casinos outside of Las Vegas and Atlantic City.

Given the large amounts of currency handled within a casino, both patrons and staff may be tempted to cheat and steal, in collusion or independently; most casinos have security measures to prevent this. Security cameras located throughout the casino are the most basic measure.

Modern casino security is usually divided between a physical security force and a specialized surveillance department. The physical security force usually patrols the casino and responds to calls for assistance and reports of suspicious or definite criminal activity. A specialized surveillance department operates the casino's closed circuit television system, known in the industry as the eye in the sky. Both of these specialized casino security departments work very closely with each other to ensure the safety of both guests and the casino's assets, and have been quite successful in preventing crime.[25] Some casinos also have catwalks in the ceiling above the casino floor, which allow surveillance personnel to look directly down, through one way glass, on the activities at the tables and slot machines.

When it opened in 1989, The Mirage was the first casino to use cameras full-time on all table games.[26]

In addition to cameras and other technological measures, casinos also enforce security through rules of conduct and behavior; for example, players at card games are required to keep the cards they are holding in their hands visible at all times.

Over the past few decades, casinos have developed many different marketing techniques for attracting and maintaining loyal patrons. Many casinos use a loyalty rewards program used to track players' spending habits and target their patrons more effectively, by sending mailings with free slot play and other promotions.[27] Casino Helsinki in Helsinki, Finland, for example, donates all of its profits to charity.[28][29]

Casinos have been linked to organised crime, with early casinos in Las Vegas originally dominated by the American Mafia[30][31] and in Macau by Triad syndicates.[32][33]

According to some police reports, local incidence of reported crime often doubles or triples within three years of a casino's opening.[34] In a 2004 report by the US Department of Justice, researchers interviewed people who had been arrested in Las Vegas and Des Moines and found that the percentage of problem or pathological gamblers among the arrestees was three to five times higher than in the general population.[35]

It has been said that economic studies showing a positive relationship between casinos and crime usually fail to consider the visiting population: they count crimes committed by visitors but do not count visitors in the population measure, which overstates the crime rate. Part of the reason this methodology is used, despite the overstatement, is that reliable data on tourist count are often not available.[36]

There are unique occupational health issues in the casino industry. The most common are from cancers[37] resulting from exposure to second-hand tobacco smoke[38][39] and musculoskeletal injury (MSI)[40] from repetitive motion injuries while running table games over many hours.[41]

The Venetian Macau in the Cotai Strip is the largest casino in the world, owned by Las Vegas Sands

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Casino - Wikipedia

Casino (1995 film) – Wikipedia

1995 film directed by Martin Scorsese

Casino is a 1995 American epic crime film directed by Martin Scorsese, produced by Barbara De Fina and distributed by Universal Pictures. It is based on the 1995 nonfiction book Casino: Love and Honor in Las Vegas[3] by Nicholas Pileggi, who also co-wrote the screenplay along with Scorsese. It stars Robert De Niro, Sharon Stone, Joe Pesci, Don Rickles, Kevin Pollak and James Woods. The film was the eighth collaboration between director Scorsese and De Niro.

Casino follows Sam "Ace" Rothstein (De Niro), a Jewish American gambling expert handicapper who is asked by the Chicago Outfit to oversee the day-to-day casino and hotel operations at the Tangiers Casino in Las Vegas. Other major characters include Nicky Santoro (Pesci), a "made man" and friend of Sam, and Ginger McKenna (Stone), a streetwise chip hustler who Sam marries and has a daughter with. The film details Sam's operation of the casino, the difficulties he confronts in his job, the Mafia's involvement with the casino, and the gradual breakdown of his relationships and standing, as Las Vegas changes over the years.

The primary characters are based on real people: Sam is inspired by the life of Frank Rosenthal, also known as "Lefty," who ran the Stardust, Fremont, Marina, and Hacienda casinos in Las Vegas for the Chicago Outfit from 1968 until 1981. Nicky and Ginger are based on mob enforcer Anthony Spilotro and former dancer and socialite Geri McGee, respectively.

Casino was released on November 22, 1995, by Universal Pictures, to a mostly positive critical reception, and was a worldwide box office success. Stone's performance was singled out for acclaim, earning her a Golden Globe Award for Best Actress in a Motion Picture Drama and a nomination for the Academy Award for Best Actress. As of 2017, the film holds the record the most dialogue in a film, with 67,618 spoken words in its screenplay (7-times the amount of the average movie).[4]

In 1972, sports handicapper and Mafia associate Sam "Ace" Rothstein is sent by the Chicago Mafia to Las Vegas to run the Tangiers Casino. Front man Philip Green serves as the casino and hotel CEO, but Sam unofficially runs everything. Sam quickly doubles the casino's profits, with cash skimmed directly from the count room and delivered to the Midwest Mafia bosses. Chicago boss Remo Gaggi sends Sam's childhood friend and mob enforcer Nicky Santoro to protect Sam and the casino. Nicky makes sure everyone is kept in line, but his own criminal activities start drawing too much media and law enforcement attention. He recruits his younger brother Dominick and childhood friend Frankie Marino to gather a crew that specializes in shakedowns, burglaries and jewelry heists. Nicky is eventually placed in the Nevada Black Book, banning him from every casino in Nevada.

Sam meets and falls in love with beautiful hustler and former prostitute Ginger McKenna. In 1969 they have a daughter, Amy, and marry, but their marriage is quickly thrown into turmoil due to Ginger's relationship with her longtime boyfriend, con artist Lester Diamond. Sam has Nicky's crew beat Lester when they catch him accepting $25,000 from her. In the mid-1970s, Ginger's problems intensify as she turns to drugs and alcohol.

In 1976, Sam fires slot manager Don Ward for incompetence. When Ward's brother-in-law, Clark County Commission chairman Pat Webb, fails to convince Sam to rehire Don, Webb arranges for Sam's gaming license to be denied, jeopardizing his position. Sam starts hosting a local television talk show from inside the casino, irritating both Nicky and the bosses back home for making himself such a public figure and bringing unneeded attention. Sam blames Nicky's recklessness for ongoing police and Nevada Gaming Board pressure, and the two argue furiously in the Mojave Desert after Sam tries to tell Nicky to leave Las Vegas.

When the Midwest bosses discover that people on the inside are stealing from their skim, they install incompetent Kansas City underboss Artie Piscano to oversee the operation. Piscano ends up keeping detailed written records of the operation. Additionally, an FBI bug placed in Piscano's store for a separate crime catches him talking in detail about the skim, prompting a full investigation into the Tangiers Casino.

In 1980 Sam seeks to divorce Ginger, who kidnaps their daughter, planning to flee to Europe with her and Lester. Sam convinces Ginger to return with Amy, then overhears her planning on the phone to kill him. Sam kicks her out of their home but later relents and lets her back in. Ginger approaches Nicky to get her valuables from Sam's safe deposit box, and the two start an affair. Sam soon discovers the affair and confronts and disowns Ginger, and ends his friendship with Nicky. Nicky throws Ginger out when she demands that he kill Sam. Drunk and furious, Ginger crashes her car into Sam's in the driveway the next day and retrieves the key to their deposit box. She takes the contents of the box, but is arrested by the FBI as a witness.

In 1982, the FBI closes the casino and Green agrees to cooperate. Piscano dies of a heart attack when FBI agents discover his notebook. The FBI approaches Sam for help by showing him photos of Nicky and Ginger together, but he turns them down. The bosses are arrested and get ready for trial, and start arranging the murders of anyone who might testify against them. In 1983, Ginger dies of a drug overdose, and Sam barely escapes death by a car bomb, suspecting Nicky to be the culprit.

In 1986, the bosses, finally fed up with Nicky's recklessness, order Frankie and his crew to kill Nicky and Dominick. Under the impression that they are attending a meetup in an Illinois cornfield, they are brutally beaten with baseball bats, covered in quicklime, and buried alive in a shallow grave.

With the mafia now out of the casino industry, Sam laments the new impersonal, corporate-run resorts of Las Vegas. He is last seen working as a sports handicapper in San Diego, ending up in his own words, "right back where I started".

Casino is based on New York crime reporter Nicholas Pileggi's book Casino: Love and Honor in Las Vegas. The research for Casino began when news reporter and screenwriter Nicholas Pileggi read a 1980 report from the Las Vegas Sun about a domestic argument between Frank "Lefty" Rosenthal, a casino figure, and his wife Geri McGee, a former topless dancer.[5] This gave him an idea to focus on a new book about the true story of mob infringement in Las Vegas during the 1970s, when filming of Goodfellas (whose screenplay he co-wrote with Scorsese) was coming to an end.[6] The fictional Tangiers resort reflected the story of the Stardust Resort and Casino, which had been bought by Argent Corporation in 1974 using loans from the Teamsters Central States Pension Fund. Argent was owned by Allen Glick, but the casino was believed to be controlled by various organized crime families from the Midwest. Over the next six years, Argent Corporation siphoned off between $7 and $15 million using rigged scales. This skimming operation, when uncovered by the FBI, was the largest ever exposed.[7] A number of organized crime figures were convicted as a result of the skimming.[8]

Pileggi contacted Scorsese about taking the lead of the project, which became known as Casino.[5] Scorsese expressed interest, calling this an "idea of success, no limits."[9] Pileggi was keen to release the book and then concentrate on a film adaptation, but Scorsese encouraged him to "reverse the order."[10]

Scorsese and Pileggi collaborated on the script for five months, towards the end of 1994.[6] Real-life characters were reshaped, such as Frank "Lefty" Rosenthal, Geri McGee, Anthony Spilotro, and Spilotro's brother Michael. Some characters were combined, and parts of the story were set in Kansas City instead of Chicago. A problem emerged when they were forced to refer to Chicago as "back home" and use the words "adapted from a true story" instead of "based on a true story."[9] Real life mobster turned witness Frank Cullotta inspired the character Frank Marino (played by Frank Vincent),[11] served as a technical advisor for the film,[12] and also played an on-screen role as a hitman.[13][14]

They also decided to simplify the script, so that the character of Sam "Ace" Rothstein worked only at the Tangiers Casino, in order to show a glimpse of the trials involved in operating a Mafia-run casino hotel without overwhelming the audience.[9] According to Scorsese, the initial opening sequence was to feature the main character, Sam Rothstein, fighting with his estranged wife Ginger on the lawn of their house. The scene was too detailed, so they changed the sequence to show the explosion of Sam's car and him flying into the air before hovering over the flames in slow motionlike a soul about to go straight down to hell.[9]

Filming took place at night in the Riviera casino in Las Vegas, with the nearby defunct Landmark Hotel as the entrance, to replicate the fictional Tangiers. According to the producer Barbara De Fina, there was no point in building a set if the cost were the same to use a real-life one.[9] The opening scene, with Sam's car exploding, was shot three times; the third take was used for the film.[9] Saul Bass did the title sequence, which was his last work.[15] The total cost for the titles was a whopping $11,316, not including the fees for the Basses. Bass justified the cost to De Fina by noting that creating a continuous explosion from a second shot of an explosion demanded a lot of experimentation, as did getting the flight path of the body exactly right.[16] When first submitted to the MPAA, the film received an NC-17 rating due to its depictions of violence. Several edits were made in order to reduce the rating to R.[17]

The film was shot in the Super 35 format as it allowed the picture to be reformatted for television broadcast. Scorsese said, "I wish I could just shoot straight anamorphic, but the lenses we had in this situation were actually much more diversified. To a certain extent, shooting a film this way can make certain technical aspects more difficult, but to me, anything is better than panning and scanning on TV. We can re-frame just about every shot we did on this picture for video."[18]

Casino was released in theaters in the United States on November 22, 1995.

Casino opened in 1,616 theaters and grossed about $10 million in its opening weekend.[2] The film grossed $43 million domestically and $73 million internationally, for a total of $116 million worldwide,[19] on a $4050 million budget.[1]

Upon its release, the film received mostly positive reviews from critics, although their praise was more muted than it had been for the thematically similar Goodfellas, released only five years earlier, with some reviewers criticizing Scorsese for retreading familiar territory.[20] On review aggregator Rotten Tomatoes, the film has an approval rating of 79% based on 70 reviews, with an average rating of 7.2/10. The site's critical consensus reads, "Impressive ambition and bravura performances from an outstanding cast help Casino pay off in spite of a familiar narrative that may strike some viewers as a safe bet for director Martin Scorsese."[21] On Metacritic, the film has a weighted average score of 73 out of 100, based on 17 critics, indicating "generally favorable reviews."[22] Audiences surveyed by CinemaScore gave the film a grade "B" on scale of A+ to F.[23]

Roger Ebert gave the film four out of four, stating that "Martin Scorsese's fascinating new film Casino knows a lot about the Mafia's relationship with Las Vegas. Like The Godfather it makes us feel like eavesdroppers in a secret place." He added, "Unlike his other Mafia movies (Mean Streets and Goodfellas), Scorsese's Casino is as concerned with history as with plot and character."[24]

Philip Thomas of the Empire praised the film while highlighting its similarities to Goodfellas. He gave the film five stars commenting "It may not be Scorsese's greatest work, but this guy feeling a little off-colour is still far, far better than most people on fighting-fit form. It only gets more impressive as time goes on."[25]

The film's critical profile has increased in years after its release, with several critics expressing that, in retrospect, they feel it is a more accomplished and artistically mature work than the thematically similar Goodfellas.[20][26]

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Casino (1995 film) - Wikipedia

Best Online Casinos 2022 | Top 10+ Casino Sites Ranked

Guiding you towards best online casinos

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To be able to recommend high-quality casino sites to our visitors, our independent casino review team with 15+ members goes over each casino online and finds out everything important about it. They follow our detailed casino review methodology to make sure our reviews remain impartial and objective.

Each online casino site is reviewed and rated in terms of size, trustworthiness, customer support, win and withdrawal limits, licenses, fairness of Terms and Conditions, etc. The resulting rating should give you a good idea of how likely you are to have a good, safe, and fair playing experience.

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If not approached carefully, gambling can turn from an entertaining activity to a serious gambling addiction. That is why you should always approach it with responsible gambling in mind, taking precautionary steps to avoid falling victim to problem gambling. You can read more about this in our article about safe gambling.

On top of that, our problem gambling section has many more articles you can read to explore the issue of gambling addiction, including how to get help if you feel things starting to get out of hand. If that happens to you, do not hesitate to look for professional help.

Note: The casino you choose to play at can influence your gambling habits as well. There are reputable sites with a fair approach and reliable responsible gambling tools, but there are also immoral sites that do not hesitate to take advantage of addicted players. Yet another reason why choosing a top rated online casino is crucial.

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Kenner’s Treasure Chest casino breaks ground on $100 million land-based gambling hall – NOLA.com

Officials broke ground Tuesday on Kenners new land-based Treasure Chest casino, a more than $100 million development that will replace the aging riverboat of the same name in early 2024.

Located at the north end of Williams Boulevard at Lake Pontchartrain, the state-of-the-art facility owned by Boyd Gaming will include a 47,000-square-foot gambling hall twice the size of its water-based counterpart and 10,000 square feet of convention space, alongside new restaurants, bars and a FanDuel Sportsbook.

With the new set-up, we anticipate increased revenue to the residents of the city of Kenner, which will aid in capital projects, Mayor Michael Glaser said. "This is a wonderful day in Kenner."

The project is part of a larger push to revitalize Kenners Laketown area into a new entertainment destination. In August, the Jefferson Parish Council set aside more than $2 million to renovate the nearby boat launch on Lake Pontchatrain.

And last year, Las Vegas-based Atlantis Gaming announced plans for a new $450 million, 40-acre total destination resort in Laketown, with shops, condominiums and, possibly, gambling. The status of that development, however, remains up in the air.

Donald Bailey, president and CEO of Atlantis Gaming, said the company is nearing the end of negotiations with the state on securing a lake bottom lease.Much of the project would be built over water on eight specially constructed concrete barges.

Glaser said that during an introductory meeting last month, officials with Atlantis Gaming told him the cost of the project had ballooned to $700 million. He questioned what sort of revenue source could support such an investment.

Nonetheless, local officials were upbeat at Tuesdays Treasure Chest groundbreaking, with Kenner City Councilman Joey LaHatte calling it the "start of the revitalization of Laketown," which also includes the Pontchartrain Center events hall.

Treasure Chest's riverboat casino, which opened in 1994, has generated millions of dollars in revenue for the city and serves as the primary funding source for Kenner's long-term capital projects.

Jefferson Parish Council Member Dominick Impastato noted that the casino's expansion is not only a win for economic development, but also for the city's overall infrastructure.

"Literally every citizen in the city of Kenner benefits from the success of the Treasure Chest," Impastato said.

The Treasure Chest is among the first floating casinos to take advantage of a 2018 change in state law that allowed riverboats to move their operations onto land. Keith Smith, president and CEO of the Nevada-based Boyd Gaming, thanked Ronnie Johns, current chair of the Louisiana Gaming Control Board, for sponsoring that legislation as a state senator. He also lauded city and parish leaders for their support.

"With this project, we'll be taking the Treasure Chest to a new level, and with it, our investment in this great community," Smith said.

Construction on the land-based casino will take 12-15 months, Smith said. The facility will be built on what used to be a parking lot for riverboat patrons. A new parking lot, which riverboat customers can use during construction, is almost complete.

LaHatte, who represents the Laketown area on the Kenner City Council, called the development a "blessing," noting that Kenner residents will no longer need to leave the city for entertainment.

"Everybody's excited about it," LaHatte said. "It's something that the area needs."

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Kenner's Treasure Chest casino breaks ground on $100 million land-based gambling hall - NOLA.com

5 Movies with the Best Casino Scenes – The Movie Blog

One topic that regularly appears in films is the alluring world of high-end casinos. Great productions are able to choose from different themes and casino games and even use the modern innovations in the casino sector as a story, like online casino games and poker tournaments.

However, not every film is made equal. Even with the excitement of casino games which has the ultimate potential for suspense, some films are more memorable than others. Below we will take a look at some of the most memorable casino scenes in suspenseful films.

Casablanca, many would agree, is one of the best films of our time. Even though the theme of romance set against WWII is epic itself, the owner of the popular locale, Rick, hosts roulette games that are equally attractive to immigrants and the locals. One of the iconic scenes takes place beside the roulette tables.

If youre also interested in casino games, classic or modern, there are plenty of options available at reputable casinos. You just need to register on the site, and you can try your luck with online roulette, blackjack, carps, slots, and many other games. Also, there are plenty of safe payment methods to choose from, including pay by mobile casino , PayPal, Skrill, and even cryptocurrencies.

Its one of the best James Bond films and the first one with Daniel Craig. It is his first role in the franchise, and his first mission is to track down a mobster who finances terrorists. He eventually finds it in Montenegro, but a relationship with a beautiful brunette Vesper Lynd (Eva Green), makes the mission more complicated for James Bond. One of the most memorable scenes in the movie is the one in Casino Royale, where James Bond is playing a high-stakes poker game with Le Chiffre, and much to his chagrin, he manages to win a large sum of money.

Indecent Proposal is, at its core, a drama that explores the relationships between luck, skills, greed, desperation, love, and lust. So, it makes sense that the major plot of the film takes place in Las Vegas. It sets the mood for the story before it unfolds. The young couple is determined to test their luck by playing casino games, but nothing goes as planned when a billionaire proposes to Diana to spend a night with him on his yacht for millionaire dollars.

They need to make difficult decisions that can alter the course of their lives. Its one of the best performances of Demi Moore against Robert Redford, and the film is well-paced and draws really draws you in.

The main character Jack(Clive Owen), has a dream of becoming a successful writer, but he needs a day job to make ends meet. In order to sustain himself, he gets a job as a croupier, where he actually meets a set of colorful characters. But his luck changes drastically when one of the guests proposes a heist at the casino. Its directed by Mike Hodges, while Paul Mayersbergs adapted the screenplay, so if youre looking for an underestimated film with a stellar cast and well-written story.

Mollys Game is actually based on real, albeit unlikely, events. Molly ( Jessica Chastain) comes to LA to enjoy her time off after sustaining an awful back injury during a ski competition. She gets a job as an assistant, but unbeknownst to her, her position involves helping her boss to host exclusive high-stakes poker games with famous guests. Well-known celebrities come and go to these poker nights, including Tobey Macguire, Leonardo DiCaprio, and Ben Affleck. She soon learns how to run these games herself but gets into trouble when the FBI makes her a target.

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5 Movies with the Best Casino Scenes - The Movie Blog

LA’s card rooms and tribal casinos at odds over Prop 26 – KPBS

Proposition 26, on Californias November ballot, would legalize sports betting at tribal casinos and at the state's four privately owned racetracks. It would also add a new way to enforce state gambling law in card rooms. Who supports it? Who doesnt? And why? Here are answers to some basic questions on Prop 26.

Sports betting is not legal now in tribal casinos, but one quarter of Californias Indian tribes support the proposition. They say expanding gambling will further increase their self-sufficiency, including their ability to support non-gaming tribes and the local governments where their casinos are located. This expansion of gambling in California has the potential to bring tens of millions of dollars in state funding, according to the nonpartisan Legislative Analyst Office.

Card rooms and the cities where theyre located are opposed to the proposition because of a legal provision in the new law that would allow anyone including tribes to sue them if they operate more like a casino than a card room.

Card room operators say if it passes, it could be used to put them out of business and hit cities that rely on them for their bottom line.

In card rooms, patrons play cards for money, but dont bet against the house like at casinos in Las Vegas. Instead, card rooms hire third-party professionals to sit behind chips at each table and act as the bank.

Tribal casinos have long challenged this practice. They maintain that it isnt legal because state law gives tribal casinos the exclusive right to Vegas-style gambling. Tribes have tried to take card rooms to court over their use of third-party bankers, but those lawsuits never went anywhere.

The new enforcement measure in Proposition 26 would allow anyone, including tribes, to sue card rooms over third-party banking.

The cities where card rooms are located collect a lot of taxes and fees from these establishments. There are 78 cities in the state that rely heavily on this revenue to sustain their budgets, including five in Los Angeles County: Bell Gardens, Commerce, Compton, Cudahy and Hawaiian Gardens.

The smallest city in the county, Hawaiian Gardens, gets over 70% of its revenue from the local card room. That card room is the economic engine that makes our city run, says Shavon Moore Cage, assistant to the mayor of Hawaiian Gardens.

These small cities have joined card rooms in opposition to Proposition 26.

Tribes say their goal with any lawsuit against a card room is to ensure the law is being followed, and to settle the contentious debate over how card rooms operate. Card rooms say this will be abused and put them, tribal casinos biggest competitors, out of business.

Voters are being asked to choose sides. A yes vote means anyone, including tribes, can sue cardrooms, and tribes can have betting on sports at their casinos. A no vote leaves things exactly the way they are.

Voter support is polling low just weeks from election day. Proposition 26 has a 31% approval rating, according to a UC Berkeley IGS poll conducted in late September. Proposition 27, which would legalize online sports betting in the state, is at 27%.

Proposition 27 allows sports gambling online in California. That one has nothing to do with card rooms.

The low poll numbers suggest that voters are confused by the two competing measures. With record level campaign spending on both, voters have been bombarded by television ads, some of which has been misleading. And when you've got that, voters tend to just say no, says Kathy Fairbanks of the Yes on 26, No on 27 campaign.

But because sports betting has the potential to be enormously lucrative, even if both fail, the issue isnt going anyway. Theres already talk of a proposition for 2024.

These stories are made possible as part of The California Newsroom a collaboration of Californias public radio stations, NPR and CalMatters.

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LA's card rooms and tribal casinos at odds over Prop 26 - KPBS

Palms officials working to restore disrupted casino website – Las Vegas Review-Journal

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Palms officials working to restore disrupted casino website - Las Vegas Review-Journal

BUNNY IN THE CITY: HUGS’ Masquerade Boo Bash and Casino Night – Connect Savannah.com

While visiting my Greek peeps at their annual festival last week, I was introducing Jesse Blanco to the indomitable Dr. Sandy Bohnstengel when I got a persuasive invite from her to attend Heads-Up Guidance Services Masquerade Boo Bash and Casino Night at Hotel Tybee On October 14.

With Cindy Davis cruising out to the island with me, we arrive to find Sandy checking in guests with Debbie Mamalakis. While waiting for Sandy to take a break, I tell Cindy a little bit about the family medicine doctor. A HUGS board member that has been involved with this non-profit since day one, I remember the first time I met her - she was dancing a west coast swing with a dance instructor from Oklahoma City. After an introduction from our mutual friend Garlana Mathews almost 10 years ago, I have been a fan of this tall, confident doctor ever since!

Sandy takes a break to chat with me about why HUGS means so much to her. They give a hand up, not a hand out. Regardless of money, demographic, having insurance or not, they want to help anyone with a need. From the death of loved ones, PTSD, divorce and bullying - they have a counseling group for you, shares the Michigan native.

Riding the elevator to the third floor, I overhear a couple talking about their recent engagement. Meet Tybee Island residents Stephen Williams and Margaret Iocovozzi - who just happens to be a HUGS board member and on the fundraising committee responsible for tonights event. While talking with Margaret about yoga aka mindful movement and Stephen about his love of surfing and old cars, I see a tall dude in a black jacket and baseball cap walk by.

Its going to be a good night for dining because Chef Kirk Blaine is in the house! Let me give you a crash course on one of Savannahs favorite success stories. Starting in the kitchen of Driftaway Cafe while in the 9th grade, Kirk worked his way up to executive chef before branching out on his own, to owning Castaways and a catering company. After posing him with Cindy, we turn to the table next to us and meet Augustine Ozobia. Kirk recognizes the cleaning company owner from BNI meetings at his restaurant and I recognize his lilting West African accent.

Looking around the room at all the casino tables, I see Authur Davis waving me over. I usually see Arthur at Tourism Leadership Council lunches so Im happy to see the Monte Carlo Productions sales guy who loves to throw parties for a living with Savannah College of Art and Design visual effects grad student Kelsey Nerowitz and Krista Hanson.

Heading downstairs to catch up with Andrea Epting, the HUGS founder and CEO tells me, In our 12th year of counseling the Savannah community, we are grateful to volunteer counselors and community supporters because they make professional counseling possible for all motivated people in the low country. We could not do this without the generous support of Morrison Dental, Truly Nolen, Josh Walker Attorney at Law and Select One Workplace Health.

Slipping by a table filled with bite-sized delights, I snap a pic of David Aaker, Mark Kroll and Dr. Tom Morrison, see my sister from another mister Sherri Forbes and her husband Larry, then run over to hug International Diamond Centers Gary Pinka and his fab wife Pat. Loving that this couple continues to support so many local charities, I love it even more that they ask for a photo with vivacious Lorrian Heard and Hotel Tybees Brett Loehr who graciously donated tonight's venue space.

Next up is Savannahs reigning favorite realtor Chelsea Phillips. Proud to welcome a baby boy in February with her husband, HUGS board member, Nate Synder, the couple shares, We see the difference HUGS in the big issues in our community. Its a multi-faceted non-profit that gives back. They tell me this after they donate four thousand dollars to the call to action fundraising that Renee LaSalle is leading.

With more costumed masked guests arriving, I make a lap around the room and find social butterfly Gaye Reese Holt holding court with her travel buddy Terri Doyle. Amped over by their girls trip to Saint Martin where coffee and spirits shall be sipped while looking at an ocean view, Gaye gives me a hug before I head over to take a selfie with Ellen Bradley.

Ok! I may have taken more pics and videos of Garrett Kaminsky than anyone here tonight but the HUGS volunteer counselor is so gracious that I cant help it! I think talk therapy is an invaluable resource, I dont anywhere else that offers such accessible counseling and I am grateful to be a part of the team, shares the private practice holistic counselor.

With more pics of Savannahs who's who like Tony and Catherine Kiene and A. Joseph Marshall (aka Superman) I make a lap through the crowded casino room and leave happy knowing that this small but mighty counseling crusaders fundraiser will continue to make a difference in the mental health epidemic!

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BUNNY IN THE CITY: HUGS' Masquerade Boo Bash and Casino Night - Connect Savannah.com

Update: Urban One CEO asks Richmond to focus on casino referendum in 2023 instead of this fall – Richmond Times-Dispatch

Speaking at a community meeting in the city district where national media conglomerate Urban One has sought to build a nearly $600 million casino resort, Liggins said he has asked the city to suspend its plan to hold a second casino referendum this year because of the legal situation and uncertainty about whether it could be litigated and resolved before the election process begins next month.

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Alfred Liggins, CEO of Urban One, speaks during a district meeting at Satellite Restaurant & Lounge Thursday, August 4, 2022. Councilmember Reva M. Trammell called the gathering to talk about bringing a casino to Richmond.

After 51% of Richmond voters rejected the casino plan last year, the Virginia General Assembly in June adopted a budget that included a provision prohibiting Richmond from holding another referendum until 2023, and only after the state completes a study about the potential economic impact a casino located in Petersburg would have there, about a 30-minute drive south of Richmond.

This has created a legal conflict and a huge cloud of doubt, Liggins said before an audience of approximately 100 people at the Satellite Restaurant and Lounge on Richmond Highway, about one mile from the proposed casino location at the Philip Morris industrial complex off Interstate 95.

We dont think that a protracted legal battle is in the best interest of the city of Richmond and the state of Virginia, and also would probably not get decided in time for us to have early voting in late September, he said.

In a statement Thursday evening, the city announced it would file a petition to remove the question from the ballot for this years election.

Understanding Urban Ones reason, the city stands ready to move the proposed One Casino and Resort forward in 2023, the statement reads. This temporary delay will not deter Urban One or the City of Richmond from working together to ensure a bright future for our residents.

After last years referendum, several state lawmakers and officials from the city of Petersburg pushed to amend the states new casino gambling law so that Petersburg residents could decide whether a casino should be built there.

The casino law, originally adopted in 2020, authorized only Richmond, Norfolk, Danville, Bristol and Portsmouth to permit casinos with the approval of local voters. Voters in every locality but Richmond have since approved casino plans in their communities.

While legislative efforts to add Petersburg to the list failed earlier this year, Sen. Joe Morrissey, D-Richmond, and other lawmakers sought to block a second Richmond referendum this year through a budget amendment.

Richmond officials said at the same time that they wanted to roll the dice again, often highlighting how $30 million in projected annual tax revenue for the city had been left on the table. Seeking to make the project more appealing to voters in a second vote, Richmond Mayor Levar Stoney also proposed cutting the citys real estate tax by 2 cents if the referendum passes.

Urban One and city officials have contended that the budget provision was unlawful, as the Richmond City Circuit Court had already granted the citys request for another ballot referendum prior to the adoption of the state budget.

In a joint statement after the state budget was passed, both Urban One and the city said they would work together to resolve the issue, potentially through litigation, to still hold the referendum this year.

Carl Tobias, a University of Richmond law professor, said the law is clear that Richmond cannot hold the referendum this fall.

The budget would generally supersede any prior court order, and someone would probably challenge Richmonds efforts to conduct the referendum, if the city decides to proceed, Tobias said in an email Thursday. If there were no court challenge and the referendum passes, a court might nullify it.

Just hours before the meeting Thursday night, Morrisseys office disclosed that he and Del. Kim Taylor, R-Dinwiddie, had sent a letter to Republican Gov. Glenn Youngkin asking him to intervene if the city moves forward with holding another referendum. Both lawmakers districts include Petersburg.

Though Morrissey had supported the One Casino and Resort project in Richmond last year, he has since advocated for allowing Petersburg to hold its own referendum.

In the letter to the governor, the two state legislators said they had contacted Keith Balmer, the citys elections director, to determine whether the city has ordered him to include the referendum question on the election ballots for this year. The letter says they were not provided a definitive answer, as Balmer said the city had not told him what to do yet.

We find this answer unacceptable and shows Richmonds intent to possibly ignore the law, the letter to the governor says. We are respectfully requesting that you direct the Attorney Generals Office to utilize its legal authority to prevent Richmond from placing the above mentioned referendum on the November, 2022, ballot.

Balmer told the Richmond Times-Dispatch in an interview Wednesday morning that he had asked city officials to let him know within the next three weeks, as he must soon print the ballots so that the citys office of elections can be ready to send out mail-in ballots and begin early in-person voting on Sept. 23, in accordance with state election law.

In an interview Wednesday, before he and Taylor sent the letter to the governor, Morrissey said city leaders have been making a mistake in continuing to promote the idea that another referendum could be held this fall.

I dont know what to say. ... Theyre misleading their constituents, he said. It shows complete and utter disregard for the laws of the commonwealth.

Cathy Hughes, founder and chairperson of Urban One, speaks during a district meeting at Satellite Restaurant & Lounge Thursday, August 4, 2022. Councilmember Reva M. Trammell called the gathering to talk about bringing a casino to Richmond.

Alfred Liggins, CEO of Urban One, speaks during a district meeting at Satellite Restaurant & Lounge Thursday, August 4, 2022. Councilmember Reva M. Trammell called the gathering to talk about bringing a casino to Richmond.

Alfred Liggins, CEO of Urban One, speaks during a district meeting at Satellite Restaurant & Lounge Thursday, August 4, 2022. Councilmember Reva M. Trammell called the gathering to talk about bringing a casino to Richmond.

Alfred Liggins, CEO of Urban One, spoke during a community meeting at Satellite Restaurant and Lounge on Thursday.

Alfred Liggins, CEO of Urban One, listens to Councilmember Reva M. Trammell speak during a district meeting at Satellite Restaurant & Lounge Thursday, August 4, 2022. She called the meeting to talk about bringing a casino to Richmond.

Alfred Liggins, CEO of Urban One, speaks during a district meeting at Satellite Restaurant & Lounge Thursday, August 4, 2022. Councilmember Reva M. Trammell called the gathering to talk about bringing a casino to Richmond.

Cathy Hughes, founder and chairperson of Urban One, speaks during a district meeting at Satellite Restaurant & Lounge Thursday, August 4, 2022. Councilmember Reva M. Trammell called the gathering to talk about bringing a casino to Richmond.

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Update: Urban One CEO asks Richmond to focus on casino referendum in 2023 instead of this fall - Richmond Times-Dispatch

2 wounded in ambush of armored vehicle at Hustler Casino; suspects at large – KTLA Los Angeles

Two guards were wounded during in the brazen robbery of an armored van at the Hustler Casino in Gardena Thursday morning, officials said.

The guards were ambushed as they were getting out of the vehicle, Gardena police Lt. Christopher Cuff said during a news conference.

Gunfire was exchanged and at least two suspects got away with an unknown amount of cash.

One guard was shot in the leg and is expected to survive, police said in a news release. The other guard suffered cuts and lacerations, Cuff said.

Video shared with KTLA showed one of the injured guards being looked after by two people before first responders arrived.

Witnesses described seeing a suspect run toward the nearby Loyal Order of Moose, but no one was found after an extensive search of the area.

No arrests have been made.

The shooting resulted in a massive law enforcement response to the area, as police and fire crews set up a crime scene perimeter around the casino, located at 1000 W. Redondo Beach Blvd.

Aerial video from Sky5 showed casino employees and patrons were evacuated.

A truck was getting ready to come in and next thing I know they start pulling out guns, Alvin Spencer, a patron of the casino, told KTLA.

He described the scene as chaotic.

Thats all I was doing, running, because they let off shots, so I had to get the hell out of there. Thats what I did, Spencer said.

A business owner across the street from the casino said he heard 12 to 15 shots.

My initial reaction was hit the floor, the business owner said. He eventually made his way outside and saw a man running from the scene.

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2 wounded in ambush of armored vehicle at Hustler Casino; suspects at large - KTLA Los Angeles

From an HVAC tech to a casino facility director: Eric Daniels from Spuyten Duyvil makes his move to Empire City – The Riverdale Press

By Gary Larkin

Eric Daniels career took a circuitous route that started out on an Alaska Air Force base, included pit stops at apartment buildings and a large hospital and wound up at one of the largest gaming floors in the country.

For the Detroit native, his Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery test he took back when he was in high school turned into a successful career as a HVAC technician. And after 20 years working with heating and air conditioning systems and the like, Daniels has been promoted to director of facilities at MGM Resorts Empire City Casino in nearby Yonkers.

As a major cog in the wheel of the ever-expanding casino, Daniels, who now lives in Spuyten Duyvil, is responsible for the maintenance of the entire physical plant, infrastructure, operating systems and grounds. He worked his way up from facilities manager at MGM Detroit and MGM Springfield, Massachusetts.

My responsibilities have definitely grown, Daniels said. As a facilities manager, I was just managing and overseeing the staff. His job calls for him to work with plumbers, electricians, HVAC engineers, carpenters and painters.

And with the Empire City Casino slated to grow once again as it awaits approval of a gaming license for a sports book, Daniels will add even more to his list of everyday tasks. The anticipated project is expected to be an economic boon for the region encompassing Westchester and the Bronx, delivering over $1 billion of economic activity, generating nearly 2,500 new positions at Empire City and creating an additional 10,000 indirect and induced new jobs in the region.

There will be some construction that will take place, he said. That would grow my role even more. There is a lot more I oversee. There are the construction projects and compliance of the casino.

If Empire City lands any of the three gaming licenses to be offered by the state, Daniels expects a lot more construction projects.

Empire City is already one of the largest entertainment and gaming destinations in the Northeast with harness racing at Yonkers Raceway and nearly 4,700 slot machines, electronic three-card poker, blackjack, craps, roulette, baccarat and sic bo table games. MGM Detroit is a 147,000-square foot casino that includes a sports book and 30,000 square feet of flexible event space.

Daniels represents the level of opportunity for leadership, growth and career development offered by MGM Resorts, as he continues to rise through the ranks of our global company with this well-deserved promotion, said Ed Domingo, senior vice president and general manager for Empire City Casino.

Daniels also represents MGMs commitment to creating quality career opportunities for those who have served, and also giving back to our veterans customer base through unique programs that highlight our ongoing and longstanding commitment to our countrys heroes.

For Daniels, he started out in a Detroit neighborhood where his father was communications technician for AT&T and his mother was a nurse working nights. He knew his decision to join the Air Force was one that would lead him on a fruitful career.

My ASVAB showed I was strong in a couple of areas, said Daniels, who was a young Air Force recruit when he took the test. It put me in civil engineering. It was the closest area to architecture.

That was one area he really liked while attending Finney High School in Detroit. In high school, I had a drafting class, he said. I thought it was cool to design things.

Daniels learned the HVAC trade while stationed at Elmendorf Air Force Base in Anchorage between 1998 and 2002.

After the military, an HVAC background has kept me gainfully employed, he said. I became a maintenance tech for apartments.

He even worked at a major hospital where he recalls a situation where he certainly got troubleshooting and managerial training on one specific night. We had sewer ejection pumps, Daniels said. The system used (switch) pumps. The switch failed that night.

There was an electrician on call. So, I called him and we had to jump out the switch. I had to jump out the sewage manually. It was one of the most unforgettable moments for me.

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From an HVAC tech to a casino facility director: Eric Daniels from Spuyten Duyvil makes his move to Empire City - The Riverdale Press

Caesars’ Isle Casino opens up as rebranded Horseshoe Black Hawk property with a ribbon-cutting ceremony in Colorado – Yogonet International

Isle Casino Hotel Black Hawk in Denver has now reopened under the Horseshoe brand following Caesars Entertainment's process of rebranding announced in March, whose completion was celebrated Friday with a ribbon-cutting ceremony. The property is now known as Horseshoe Black Hawk.

The venue features a renovated exterior and "reimagined" casino floor. Even though refurbishment is not yet over, and the casino will continue to make changes in the fall, Horseshoe Black Hawk will remain open through the rest of the process.

The property consists of a 42,400-square-foot gaming complex, with more than 900 slot machines. The existing Roxy Restaurant and Bar will soon be joined by Brew Brothers later this year, among other planned changes.

"The transformation into the iconic Horseshoe brand will only enhance the experience for our guests," Horseshoe Black Hawk senior vice president and general manager Norris Hamilton said, according to The Denver Post. "We couldnt be more excited to bring this legendary brand to Colorado and continue to offer unparalleled and elevated experiences.

Horseshoe is one of many brand names operated by Caesars Entertainment, with Caesars Palace, Harrah's, Planet Hollywood and more also among them. At more than 50 resorts, Caesars is considered to be one of the biggest companies within the casino and entertainment industry in the US.

Black Hawk, a former mining town, is west of Denver and is home to around a dozen casinos. Its Mayor David Spellman said referred to Horseshoe as a "legendary casino property and a legendary name," and added: "It fits in the Rocky Mountains, it fits in Colorado and it fits in the city of Black Hawk."

In keeping with Horseshoes style, the design team in charge of the venue's transformation will incorporate handcrafted feeling with tooled leather, colors and the brands signature gold horseshoe iconography. The poker room will also undergo a transformation into a newWSOP-branded amenity.

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Caesars' Isle Casino opens up as rebranded Horseshoe Black Hawk property with a ribbon-cutting ceremony in Colorado - Yogonet International

Best Online Casinos in Canada: Reviewing the Top 20 CA Casino Sites Online – News 3 WTKR Norfolk

Disclaimer: This is a sponsored content. All opinions and views are of the advertiser and does not reflect the same of WTKR.

The best online casinos in Canada have got the best games, the most exciting bonus offers for Canadian players, and they're 100% safe and legit.

Our team of iGaming experts have been hard at work updating and expanding their list of the best CA online casinos that are available right now. We applied a set of criteria that all online casino sites had to meet in order to make the list.

If a casino came up short? It didn't make the cut.

And while Jackpot City Casino is our absolute top pick, we've got at least 20 online gambling sites for you to take a look at today.

Lets get right to it.

Best Online Casinos in Canada

1. Jackpot City - Best Canadian Online Casino Overall

Jackpot City

Pros:

Cons:

Jackpot City has been around for over 20 years. During that time, its paid out millions in jackpots, added a high-quality mobile app - and essentially given its customers the all-star treatment that makes iGaming so much fun.

Today, it continues to excel, and its our best Canadian online casino overall. Lets see why.

Casino Games: 5/5

One of the reasons Jackpot City is so popular as an online casino in Canada is because its home to some of the worlds biggest-paying jackpot games.

These include Mega Moolah, which has a C$1,000,000 minimum jackpot win, and Wheel of Wishes, which has a current jackpot of over C$14,000,000.

As well as progressive jackpots and online slots, you can also play all the classic table games, as well as live dealer games and bingo games.

In total, there are around 500+ games here.

Bonuses and Promotions: 4.8/5

Another reason Jackpot City is so popular is its generous welcome bonus. As it stands, new players can claim a C$1,600 welcome offer that covers your first four deposits. Each deposit bonus is a C$400 matched offer, but its up to you whether to opt-in to all four.

Wagering requirements are a tad steep but you do at least get a few days to play through them.

Other than that, the main focus at Jackpot City when it comes to boosting your bankroll is on the jackpot games.

However, there are daily and weekly specials that change frequently, as well as a loyalty program that rewards you over the long term.

Payment Methods: 4.9/5

Jackpot City pretty much covers all the bases when it comes to Canadian payment methods. The likes of Interac, EcoPayz, InstaDebit, and PaySafeCard are all here, and you can also pay via iDebit, electronic checks, and - of course - VISA and MasterCard.

Occasionally, Jackpot City will request the ID of a new player before a withdrawal can be made for the first time.

Reputation: 5/5

Jackpot City is one of the most reputable Canadian online casinos today. It was launched in 1998 and has an unblemished record.

It has consistently paid out huge sums of money to players, and its known for its reliable service.

Its owned and operated by Baytree Ltd. and has a Kahnawake Gaming license.

Misc: 4.9/5

Its well worth mentioning that Jackpot City has a mobile app available, which makes playing online casino games on the move so much fun. Its responsively designed, and theres also a section on the website specifically for mobile games.

Ready to get started at the best online casino site in Canada? Click here to join Jackpot City today.

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2. Spin Casino - Best Slots of all Canadian Casinos Online

Spin Casino

Pros:

Cons:

If you love slots and you live in Canada, you might want to give Spin Casino a spin.

Here, youll find the best online slots here (a total of 400+!), including mega jackpots like Cash N Riches Megaways, while Spin Casino are constantly updating their library with the latest and greatest games.

Casino Games: 5/5

Slots give you the best chances of winning, which is what makes playing at Spin Casino so attractive for so many players.

The likes of Cash N Riches Megaways, Mega Moolah, and Major Millions are all about the jackpots, but there are also classic titles and popular slot games here as well, such as Starburst and 11 Coins of Fire.

That said, Spin Casino isnt just about the slots. Theres also a great selection of live dealer games provided by Evolution here, while a separate Vegas section gives you the chance to choose from even more high-quality games.

Bonuses and Promotions: 4.5/5

Spin Casino has a similar welcome bonus to our top pick, Jackpot City. But because Jackpot Citys offer is more generous in how much you can double your deposit, we have to knock half a point off Spin Casino on this front.

The Spin Casino welcome offer is an up-to C$1,000 package thats spread across your first three deposits. Your first deposit is worth C$400, while your second and third deposits are worth C$300 each.

Other than that, the best way to take advantage of offers at Spin Casino is by entering the 8-tiered loyalty club. As you move up the tiers, youll be rewarded with exciting perks and prizes.

Payment Methods: 4.8/5

Spin Casino accepts 15 payment methods, many of which are popular with Canadian players.

Ways you can fund your account include Interac, PaySafeCard, NeoSurf, iDebit, VISA, and MasterCard.

Once youve requested a withdrawal, you might have to wait until 24 hours have passed, at which point your money will be released from a pending period and the withdrawal will be processed.

Reputation: 5/5

Spin Casino has a reputation for paying out millions in jackpot winnings. Its reliable, SSL-secured, and we had zero issues playing games here (and requesting withdrawals).

And while Spin Casino was launched a little bit later than our top pick, Jackpot City, it still has over 20 years of experience and a high trust rating. Its also fully licensed.

Misc: 4.8/5

Spin Casino works excellently on mobile. We also found the customer support here to be fantastic, and demo games are available.

Want to play the best slots in Canada? Click here to sign up to Spin Casino today.

3. Red Dog Casino - Best New Canadian Casino Online

Red Dog Casino

Pros:

Cons:

Red Dog Casino is a stylish new casino site aimed at Canadian players. It gets you started in the best possible way with a 225% welcome bonus and then treats you to regular reload bonuses that bump up your deposits all week long.

Casino Games: 4/5

Red Dog Casino has a tight selection of just over 200 real money games. These include the usual - slots, blackjack, roulette, and video poker variants - as well as a handful of more niche games like scratch cards and board games.

There are also over 10 live casino games, although you cant see them as a guest.

And while 200+ isnt the biggest selection of games weve seen, theyre all provided by RealTime Gaming, which guarantees smooth gameplay and epic payout potential.

Bonuses and Promotions: 4/5

New players at Red Dog Casino can get started with a 225% welcome bonus. As part of this deal, you also get 35 free spins.

However, not all games are eligible for the welcome offer, so this is something to check before you claim it.

Then, as a regular player, you can claim a reload bonus each time you deposit either $30, $75 or $150. This is a 24/7 bonus, which means its available at any time.

Payment Methods: 4/5

As a new casino site, its no surprise that Red Dog Casino lets Canadians pay with cryptocurrency. The likes of Bitcoin, Ethereum, and Litecoin are accepted, and withdrawals are typically processed within minutes.

If youre playing with Canadian dollars, you can deposit and withdraw using VISA, MasterCard, PayID, bank transfer, and NeoSurf, but withdrawals will take around 8 hours.

Its also worth mentioning that if you make a NeoSurf or Bitcoin deposit and then claim a reload bonus, Red Dog will add on a little extra on top of the regular promo.

The minimum $150 withdrawal, however, is sure to frustrate some players.

Reputation: 4.7/5

Because Red Dog Casino is so new, it doesnt have a strong reputation like some other sites just yet.

On the flip side, its owned by a reputable company, its fully licensed to operate in Canada, and it already has plenty of positive customer reviews.

The fact that its games are provided by RT Gaming is another major seal of approval.

Misc: 4.5/5

Red Dog is constantly innovating with their bonuses. You can spin the bonus wheel to win cash prizes or free spins, and indeed free spins are handed out on the regular here.

And as we mentioned earlier, this is a stylish online casino thats easy to use.

Click here to join Red Dog Casino today.

4. BitStarz - Best Online Casino in Canada for Crypto Players

BitStarz Casino

Pros:

Cons:

Looking to play casino games with cryptocurrencies?

BitStarz is one of the best Bitcoin casino sites that lets you play over 3,800 games. You also get to choose your own welcome bonus and benefit from state-of-the-art software that ensures slick iGaming action and huge jackpots.

Casino Games: 5/5

BitStarz has more choices than most other online casinos when it comes to game selection. Here, you can play thousands of slots, as well as hundreds of classic table games.

Theres a separate section for the live casino games, where the maximum stake exceeds $15,000 on some tables.

BitStarz is also adding new games all the time and has a blog that explains the rules behind their latest picks.

And if youre not sure which game to choose? Theres a Feeling Lucky? tab that chooses games at random for you.

Bonuses and Promotions: 5/5

BitStarz is unusual among the top Canadian online casinos in that theres a no deposit bonus to get you started. This entitles you to 25 free spins, but the catch is that youll need to make a first deposit before you can withdraw any winnings.

Alternatively, you can claim an up to 5 BTC welcome bonus that covers your first four deposits, or you can opt-in from the get-go to the VIP club. If you do this, you can grab a 125% up to 1 BTC VIP welcome bonus instead, which also nets you 100 free spins.

Regular players can then take advantage of 25% cashback each weekend, as well as free spins every Wednesday. Exactly how many spins you get depends on how much you deposit.

Payment methods: 4/5

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Best Online Casinos in Canada: Reviewing the Top 20 CA Casino Sites Online - News 3 WTKR Norfolk

MGM Resorts Expresses Interest in Thailand Casino, Steady on Macau – Casino.Org News

Posted on: August 4, 2022, 07:22h.

Last updated on: August 4, 2022, 07:47h.

MGM Resorts International released its latest financial health report this week, reporting over $2.1 billion in revenue for its Las Vegas operations. In an earnings call on Wednesday, the gaming operator offered insight into its Asia Pacific future, which could hold several changes.

MGM is currently considering become the second US-based operator in Thailand. The country itself is in the process of considering whether or not opening a land-based casino market is viable.

MGM CEO and President Bill Hornbuckle highlighted the companys interest in Thailand during the earnings call, according to Inside Asian Gaming. He also provided a hint about the companys continued interest in maintaining casino operations in Macau.

MGM currently has a lot going on in the Asia Pacific theater. It has long been a part of Macaus gaming market and hopes Japan will approve Osakas integrated resort (IR) proposal later this year.

MGM knows it will have a huge financial commitment if the Osaka project moves forward. Along with its consortium partners, it will need to spend at least $2.5 billion to fund the IR. In addition, it has other financial obligations for the improvement of infrastructure in the area.

However, the company is optimistic about its financial stability. Its recent quarterly financial announcement supports this, as does the almost $6 billion in cash and cash assets it has on hand.

As a result, MGM knows that Japan can be another cornerstone for the company in Asia. The IR would be just one of several possibilities it undertakes in line with continued M&A activity in the global casino ecosystem.

Along with that activity is a consideration to enter Thailand. The country has yet to finalize whether it will develop a casino market. However, Hornbuckle indicated that the company will watch what happens in the country.

Still, he cautioned that Japan may consume most of its resources should its IR in Osaka move forward.

In Macau, where MGM runs its MGM China subsidiary, the SARs casino future has several unanswered questions. Theres little doubt that the company wants to continue to be a part of the market. However, it will keep its options open as the industry changes.

Macaus six licensed casino operators are now beginning to submit their applications for new concessions. Over the next five months or so, a committee will review the applications before the SAR issues new licenses at the end of the year.

Macau is making considerable changes to how it issues concessions, as well as the obligations of the operators. Notably, it wants upfront and continuous financial investments from the operators.

Hornbuckle stated in the earnings call that a significant investment would have to be something MGM China would have to really understand and study. The investments and the 10-year shelf life of the new concessions change the panorama of gaming in the SAR.

The executives comments on Macau dont reflect any desire to exit the market. However, amid ongoing losses and continued COVID-19 issues in the city, expanding operations beyond current capacities in Macau might be off the table.

Still, there is much room within its current structure to fill in some gaps. With the move away from junkets, MGM has dead space where it can incorporate new options, such as activities related to sports and culture. Both are high on the priority list for Macau going into its new era under Chinese rule.

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MGM Resorts Expresses Interest in Thailand Casino, Steady on Macau - Casino.Org News

Blake Shelton to replace Toby Keith for Spotlight 29 Casinos Veterans Day concert – Inland Valley Daily Bulletin

Country music star and TV personality Blake Shelton will be the new headliner of the A Salute to Our Heroes concert at Spotlight 29 Casino.

This event is the second country show that the casino has hosted for veterans. The first was headlined by another country star, Toby Keith, in May 2021. Keith was scheduled to return for this years show but opted out due to health concerns

In June, Keith made a post via social media which mentioned that he had been battling stomach cancer and needed some time to recover and rest.

This years Veterans Day show will be Sheltons first time performing at Spotlight 29 Casino. He is best known for his role as a judge on the reality television competition show The Voice and country hits such as Austin, Boys Round Here and God Gave Me You.

The event will also serve as a charity fundraiser for local organizations such as The American Legion, Independence Fund, Riverside and San Bernardino County Deputy Sheriff Relief Funds, and the CHP 11-99 Foundation.

Tickets for the concert go on sale Friday, Aug. 12 at 10 a.m. on Ticketmaster.com.

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Blake Shelton to replace Toby Keith for Spotlight 29 Casinos Veterans Day concert - Inland Valley Daily Bulletin

Casino mini-games and how to play them – Business Insider Africa

At the moment, this seems like the most favorable option, considering how people prefer to gamble. However, one area in which MyStake impressed us was their mini-games. Because of this, we'll be providing a comprehensive overview of them. Below you'll find a guide to these games and how to play them.

1. Chicken

One of the most popular options on MyStake is their simple, funny, and highly engaging mini-game Chicken. The game itself was created by Upgaming, a well-known casino game developer. As a result, when playing the game requires little brain work.

Instead of being intense and hard to play, it follows a simple game design - like Deal or No Deal, the famous UK game show. The game consists of 25 hidden images: Chickens and Bones. To win, you need to open as many Chicken images as possible. Unfortunately, when you get a bone, it doesn't account for anything. Therefore, when choosing, choose wisely. One bone is enough to wipe the entire stake.

As you can guess, more bones equal bigger winnings. The winning amount will increase when choosing a hidden image with a chicken. When playing this game, the smallest bet is 0.01 USD/EUR, and the largest is 1,000 USD/EUR.

2. Wheel

Another game that users are fond of is Wheel. The Wheel is an excellent game and is seen on most online casino platforms like the non-Gamstop casino MyStake. Arguably, Wheel (aka Spin the Wheel) is one of the more well-known games MyStake offers.

Like Chicken, Wheel comes from a popular game show but from the United States. The game was premiered on Fox by an American comedian called Dax Shepard. How to play Wheel is another simple-to-play game that seems to be the current trend. When playing, a color wheel on the screen will be split into different sections.

The sections are customizable and work similarly to odds the more segments, the higher chances of winning big. For example, with Wheel, the lowest coefficient of the win is 1.20x, and the most significant is 49.5x.

3. Blackjack

If you're into online gambling or gambling, you've heard of or played Blackjack. Worldwide fans love this game. The main reason for this game's enjoyment solely comes from its simplicity. In general, Blackjack provides a good source of entertainment. However, it isn't as simple as many think. The game requires strategic thinking and tests how you perform under pressure.

But after playing it for a little while, you'll quickly understand how it goes. How to play Although the game is simple, there's more to learn than others on the list. The game aims to score 21 based on a pack of cards. If you exceed a score of 21, you lose. However, plan correctly; you'll win.

4. Keno

The last game available on MyStake is called Keno. Keno is similar to a lottery-like mini-game where users can select numbers between one and forty and place bets. When you begin playing, a bright board will appear where there are forty squares in a row.

If your ten-selected numbers are chosen, you will win the bet. How to play Playing this game doesn't require any complicated maths; it's effortless. To start, you'll pick ten of your favorite numbers from one to forty. Then, the game will highlight ten numbers after you click or press the bet button.

If your number match, you'll win. To increase the stakes, you can change the difficulty of the game. For example, on Keno, there are four different games, each offering more or less than the others.

Conclusion

Now you've read this post. It's easy to understand the different games on MyStake. Considering it's a non-GamStop casino, the games available are excellent. They're not only entertaining but simplistic. When you combine each of these elements, gambling-related games become remarkably fun. We recommend playing any of the games above.

Whether new to gambling or a veteran, they're perfect for all experience levels. So to start playing today, check out their website and enjoy some of the fairest casino games available.

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Casino mini-games and how to play them - Business Insider Africa

Saratoga Gaming hopes to close on Magnolia Bluffs Casino purchase in last quarter of this year, official tells Rotarians – Mississippi’s Best…

NATCHEZ Skip Carlson, vice president of external affairs at Saratoga Gaming, introduced himself and his company to members of The Rotary Club of Natchez on Wednesday.

Saratoga Gaming, which owns a hotel, casino and horse racing facility in Saratoga Springs, N.Y., is in the process of purchasing the Magnolia Bluffs Casino in Natchez. Carlson said his company hopes to close on the property in the fourth quarter of this year.

Skip Carlson, vice president of external affairs, Saratoga Gaming.

Carlson spoke virtually to the Rotary Club from his office in Saratoga Springs.

Saratoga Springs, located in upstate New York about 180 miles north of New York City, has a number of similarities to Natchez, Carlson said.

In 1777, one of the biggest battles of the Revolutionary War was fought in Saratoga Springs, he said. The area is very historic. We have a 23,000 veterans buried in a historic national cemetery.

Carlson said he has only visited Natchez once thus far, and was only in the city for about five hours, but I can tell you this: Our customers service/guest service training there will be limited. You people get it.

The casino in Saratoga, Carlson said, has 425 employees. Pre-pandemic we had 600 employees. One of our biggest challenges is finding people to work, he said.

The casino in Saratoga operates 1,200 slot machines and electronic table games. We have no poker, no table games and no sports betting, Carlson said.

The property in Saratoga also features a hotel and high-end restaurant, Mortons Steakhouse. It also operates harness racing 150 days a year.

Carlson said the Magnolia Bluffs property was attractive to Saratoga Gaming because of economies of scale.

We have a lot of things in mind for Natchez, Carlson said. We will need to invest some money in technology to help grow the business. We also have some food and beverage options we can introduce and improve sales.

Dan Gerrity, president of Saratoga Gaming, is very community minded, Carlson said, and described several programs to honor and share funds with different non-profits in Saratoga.

Carlson asked Rotarians what they considered the biggest issues in Natchez and Adams County. It was the consensus of Rotarians present that those issues include education, workforce and employment.

He asked what advice Rotarians have for him when he worked in Natchez.

Dont talk about anybody because everyone knows each other or are related, Rotarians said. And its Natchez, like matches, not Nat-chez. If you call it Nat-chez, everyone will know you are a Yankee.

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Saratoga Gaming hopes to close on Magnolia Bluffs Casino purchase in last quarter of this year, official tells Rotarians - Mississippi's Best...

Billings Women Admit Armed Robbery of Heights Casino – newstalk955.com

According to the District of Montana U.S. Attorney's Office, two women accused of stealing liquor at gunpoint from a Billings Heights casino, firing a warning shot while leaving the scene, and discarding two loaded firearms on elementary school property have admitted robbery and firearms charges.

Taliah Jeneane Ramirez, 22, Billings, plead guilty on Tuesday to superseding information charging her with robbery affecting commerce, possession of a firearm in furtherance of a crime of violence, and possession of a firearm in a school zone. Co-defendant Makyla Shayd Fetter, 28, Harlem plead guilty on July 28th to the same charges.

Both face a maximum of 20 years in prison, a $250,000 fine and three years of supervised release on the robbery crime, and a mandatory minimum of seven years to life in prison, consecutive to any other sentence, another $250,000 fine, and five years supervised release on the crime of possessing a firearm in a crime of violence. In addition, they face a maximum of five years in prison, not to be run concurrent to any other sentence, ANOTHER $250,000 file, and three years of supervised release, on the crime of possession of a firearm in a school zone.

A sentencing date will be set in the future before U.S. District Judge Susan P. Watters, with the court determining any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

According to the release from Justice.gov:

The government alleged in court documents that on March 20, Fetter and Ramirez entered the Magic Diamond Casino in the Billings Heights, and Fetter removed five bottles of Southern Comfort liquor from a shelf. When an employee approached Fetter and asked to see her identification, Fetter pulled out a pistol, pointed it at the clerk and said, heres your (obscenity) ID. Meanwhile, another employee had moved to block the doors. Fetter then pointed the firearm at the second employee, who moved away from the doors. The defendants got into a Buick, and before leaving, Ramirez took out another pistol and fired a round into the air. In a statement later, Ramirez said that Fetter told her to fire a round to prevent people from following them or identifying the vehicle.

The release continues:

The government further alleged that the Billings Police Department responded to the robbery and attempted a traffic stop of the Buick. The car fled at more than 80 mph, and the officer stopped a pursuit after a few blocks to avoid risks to civilians. The vehicle crashed a short time later after going through a fence at Ponderosa Elementary School. Law enforcement officers found the car abandoned with multiple bottles of Southern Comfort on the front passenger floorboard. During a search of the area, officers found Fetter, who was attempting to hide in grass next to a fence. Ramirez had fled. Officers searched Fetter but did not find a firearm. However, officers found a loaded gun that had been dropped in the middle of the playground. The next day, the school principal contacted the Billings Police Department about a second firearm that had been found on the school grounds by a student, who summoned a faculty member. A police officer determined that the second firearm also was loaded. Both firearms were determined to have been stolen.

Over 60% of the wildfires in Montana are human-caused. We can do better. Here are some things that you can do to help prevent wildfires in Montana.

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Billings Women Admit Armed Robbery of Heights Casino - newstalk955.com

Temporary casino in Lincoln could be open in just over 2 months – Lincoln Journal Star

If all goes as planned, Nebraskans could be taking their first pull of a slot machine handle in just over two months.

The Nebraska Racing and Gaming Commission on Thursday gave WarHorse Gaming and the Nebraska Horsemens Benevolent and Protective Association the go-ahead to start work on a temporary casino at the Lincoln Race Course that will have up to 300 slot machines.

A temporary casino could be open at the Lincoln Race Course in just a little over two months.

Lynne McNally, executive vice president of the horsemen's group, said work will include laying out and reconfiguring space in the existing simulcast wagering building and doing wiring for gaming equipment.

The two partners are currently operating under a provisional gaming license the commission issued to them last month, after they became the first entity to officially apply for a casino gaming license.

McNally said that if all goes as planned, the temporary casino will open Sept. 19 at Lincoln Race Course, which is located near U.S. 77 at West Denton Road.

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WarHorse held a groundbreaking on Tuesday for its Lincoln casino resort, which has a projected price tag of $220 million and will include 1,200 gaming stations, a 196-room hotel, event space, spa and several restaurants.

The company also is planning a groundbreaking July 27 for its Omaha casino at Horsemen's Park.

McNally said those groundbreakings are purely ceremonial at this point because WarHorse can't start any work on its permanent casinos until it receives its gaming license, something that won't happen until next month at the earliest.

While WarHorse's Lincoln casino will be the first one to open on a temporary basis, it won't be the only one likely to open this year.

Fonner Park in Grand Island also is planning a temporary casino with about 200 slot machines that it hopes to open sometime in the fall.

Fonner Park CEO Chris Kotulak told the commission Thursday that work on a temporary casino will likely start shortly after the State Fair ends on Labor Day.

And it's possible that a third temporary casino could open this year.

Robert Livingston, senior vice president of development for Caesars Entertainment, told the commission that the company is looking at opening a temporary casino in Columbus, where its subsidiary, Harrah's, is partnering with Columbus Exposition and Racing on a $75 million casino development.

Livingston said the company hopes to have something open by the middle of November.

The temporary casino would be located in the ballroom of Agricultural Park, the location of the current horse racing track in Columbus.

Plans are very tentative at this point, with many details still to be worked out. For example, Livingston said Caesar's, which recently became the fourth entity to formally apply for a casino license, does not yet have a lease signed for the ballroom space.

Another detail still to be worked out is whether the partners can apply for a license for the temporary site at Ag Park and then transfer it to the new permanent casino site near the intersection of U.S. 81 and U.S. 30, the former site of the Columbus Event Center.

Livingston asked for clarification from commissioners on that issue, but they said they could not provide any guidance.

The two other existing horse racing tracks, in South Sioux City and Hastings, have both announced plans for casinos but have yet to submit applications.

WarHorse, which is developing the South Sioux City casino, has previously said it would concentrate on the Lincoln and Omaha casinos first.

Global Gaming Nebraska, a subsidiary of the Chickasaw Nation of Oklahoma, hopes to operate a casino in Hastings. It has not given any indication on when it plans to move forward.

The company did, however, inform the commission that it no longer plans to move forward with plans for new racetracks and casinos in North Platte and Gering.

The Legislature passed a bill this spring that puts a moratorium on any new operations until the Racing and Gaming Commission completes studies of the horse racing market, the casino gambling market and the socioeconomic impact of tracks and casinos. The deadline for those studies is Jan. 1, 2025.

The flashing lights, the sirens, the hum of conversation, and the thrill of placing a bet are all part of the allure of casinos. While gambling has been around for centuries, casinos began popping up in Italy in the 17th century. The Casino di Venezia, which opened in 1638 in Venice, is theworlds oldest casino, though it was originally known as Theatre Saint Moses. It offered guests the opportunity to gamble during theatrical production intermissions.

By the 19th century, casinos appeared all over Europe. In the United States, towns like Las Vegas and Reno in Nevada, and Atlantic City in New Jersey, became known for casinos and the infamous ties held to organized crime. Gambling itself had a reputation as a vice that could lead to other bad habits.

Hollywoods own obsession with casinos has a long history as well. Classic film Casablanca features a casino as part of Rick Blaines nightclub. Throughout the next several decades, directors like Robert Altman, Martin Scorsese, and Steven Soderbergh tried their hand at movies about the appeal of gambling and the casinos that supported the lifestyle.

OLBGresearched the history of casinos on screen and put together a list of 20 of the best casino films. To be included, movies had to have important scenes take place in a casino, and the film had to have at least a 6.0 onIMDbor a 65 onMetacritic.

- Director: George Hickenlooper

- IMDb user rating: 6.2

- Metascore: 51

- Runtime: 108 minutes

This fictionalized retelling of a true story stars Kevin Spacey as Jack Abramoff, a corrupt Washington D.C. lobbyist motivated by greed and power. Abramoff and his partner Michael Scanlon stole funds from Native American casinos all while twisting laws for their convenience. In a nod to the 1996 film Jerry Maguire, one scene finds Scanlon and Abramoff screaming, Show me the money! Actress Kelly Preston who plays Abramoffs wife in the film played Maguires former girlfriend as well.

- Director: Steven Soderbergh

- IMDb user rating: 6.5

- Metascore: 58

- Runtime: 125 minutes

The sequel to Oceans Eleven finds Danny Ocean adding a partner to his band of thieves as they work together to pull off several European heists. Steven Soderbergh directed not only this second film in what would be a trilogy, but all three Oceans installments. George Clooney, Brad Pitt, Julia Roberts, Elliot Gould, and Bruce Willis not only starred in the film, but they also had another thing in commonthey were all guest stars on the sitcom Friends.

- Director: Lewis Milestone

- IMDb user rating: 6.6

- Metascore: 57

- Runtime: 127 minutes

Featuring the Rat PackFrank Sinatra, Dean Martin, Sammy Davis Jr., Peter Lawford, and Joey BishopOceans 11, focuses on 11 men who pull off an unbelievable Las Vegas heist. Danny Ocean, played by Sinatra, leads his former World War II buddies in a plan to rob multiple casinos in a single night. This classic film would be remade in 2001 with George Clooney taking over the role of Danny Ocean. Angie Dickinson played Danny Oceans ex-wife in the 1960 film, while Julia Roberts stepped in for the updated version in 2001.

- Director: Guy Hamilton

- IMDb user rating: 6.6

- Metascore: 59

- Runtime: 120 minutes

The seventh film in the James Bond film franchise, which was based on the novels by Ian Fleming, stars Sean Connery as 007. The spy jets off to Las Vegas to investigate diamond smuggling and discovers a wealthy tycoon and a nefarious plot. Connery was the first actor to play James Bond and starred in seven of the films. The Oscar-nominated film was shot on location in Las Vegas at several casinos including The Riviera, Tropicana Las Vegas, and Circus Circus Las Vegas.

- Director: Barry Levinson

- IMDb user rating: 6.8

- Metascore: 80

- Runtime: 136 minutes

This film chronicled the life of notorious mobster Bugsy Siegel and his significant role in building modern Las Vegas. Starring Annette Bening and Warren Beatty, the two would fall in love during filming, marry soon after, and go on to have four children together. The film was nominated for an astounding 10 Oscars and won two. While Bugsy lost for best picture at the Oscars to The Silence of the Lambs, it did manage to take home the Golden Globe Award for best motion picturedrama.

- Director: Robert Luketic

- IMDb user rating: 6.8

- Metascore: 48

- Runtime: 123 minutes

Under the tutelage of a Massachusetts Institute of Technology professor, six MIT students were trained to become card counters and made a killing in Las Vegas in this film, which is loosely based on the novel Bringing Down the House by Ben Mezrich. While many filming locations were in Boston, including the Public Garden, Boston University, and Newbury Street, Las Vegas was also an important filming locale for 21. According to the Nevada Film Office, shooting took place in many Las Vegas casinos, including Planet Hollywood, The Venetian, Caesars Palace, Hard Rock Hotel, and Red Rock Casino.

- Director: Wayne Kramer

- IMDb user rating: 6.9

- Metascore: 69

- Runtime: 101 minutes

An unlucky man is used by the mob to cool things down for high rollers who are on a winning streak at a Las Vegas casino until he gets lucky in love, changing his own luck at the casino. Maria Bello, William H. Macy, and Alec Baldwin star in this film that was primarily shot in Reno, Nevada. Baldwin received both an Oscar and a Golden Globe nomination for best supporting actor for his role as casino boss Shelly Kaplow.

- Director: Steven Soderbergh

- IMDb user rating: 6.9

- Metascore: 62

- Runtime: 122 minutes

The final film in the Oceans Eleven trilogy, Oceans Thirteen finds the gang getting together to pull off another heist after one of the original 11 is double-crossed by casino owner Willy Bank, who is played by legendary actor Al Pacino. One of the lines in the film, You shook Sinatras hand, is a reference to Frank Sinatra who played Danny Ocean in the original version of Oceans 11. The phrase is meant as a sort of moral code or gentlemans agreement.

- Director: Ben Younger

- IMDb user rating: 7.0

- Metascore: 63

- Runtime: 120 minutes

When Seth Davis father, a judge, catches him running an illegal casino from his apartment, he isnt happy. Davis, played by Giovanni Ribisi, goes out and gets a job as a broker in a boiler room, which according to Dictionary.com is, a place where illicit brokers engage in high-pressure selling, over the telephone, of securities of a highly speculative nature or of dubious value. The film was loosely based on the story of Jordan Belfort who was the subject of the 2013 Martin Scorsese film, The Wolf of Wall Street, which was also the title of Belforts memoir.

- Director: Richard Kwietniowski

- IMDb user rating: 7.1

- Metascore: 70

- Runtime: 104 minutes

At the heart of this film is a tale of gambling addiction. Based on the true story of Brian Molony, Owning Mahowny tells the tale of Dan Mahowny, a bank manager, who has access to multimillion dollar accounts that he used to feed his gambling habit. The real-life Molony committed bank fraud by embezzling $10.4 million from the Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce. The film, starring Philip Seymour Hoffman as Mahowny, was filmed in Toronto and Atlantic City, where Molony actually dropped $1.4 million at a New Jersey casino just before his arrest in 1982.

- Director: Mike Hodges

- IMDb user rating: 7.1

- Metascore: 75

- Runtime: 94 minutes

Aspiring writer Jack Manfred gets a job as a croupier, someone who works the tables at a casino and handles bets and payouts. While Jack does not gamble, his father does, and it is he who gets Jack the job at a London casino. Portrayed by Clive Owen, Jack gets caught up in a love triangle and a plot to cheat the casino before the films end. The casino in the film was actually created on a set in Germany.

- Director: Karel Reisz

- IMDb user rating: 7.2

- Metascore: 65

- Runtime: 111 minutes

James Caan stars as high-stakes gambler and English professor Axel Freed, who gets so caught up in gambling that he offers a loan shark his life for collateral against a loan. This crime thriller earned Caan an Oscar nod for best actor. Screenwriter James Toback has plenty of experience with gambling and based the films screenplay on his own addictionthough Freeds gambling appears to be an addiction to the rush and danger rather than to the act of gambling. A 2014 remake of the film starred Mark Wahlberg in the lead role.

- Director: Robert Altman

- IMDb user rating: 7.2

- Metascore: 84

- Runtime: 108 minutes

A casual gambler and a professional become friends and dig themselves deeper into the world of betting in this film starring Elliott Gould and George Segal. In a final desperate attempt to win big, the two characters head to Reno, Nevada, for the poker game to end all poker games. California Split was the first non-Cinerama film to use the eight-track sound system for dialogue, allowing for the recording of eight separate audio channels. The use of this technology solidified Altmans use of overlapping dialogue, which became one of his trademarks as a director.

- Director: Paul Thomas Anderson

- IMDb user rating: 7.2

- Metascore: 78

- Runtime: 101 minutes

Hard Eight marked director Paul Thomas Andersons film debut and was based on his short film Coffee & Cigarettes. A professional gambler played by Philip Baker Hall, takes a novice played by John C. Reilly, under his wing. Things go okay until the novice falls for Clementine, a cocktail waitress played by Gwyneth Paltrow. Several casinos in Reno and Sparks, Nevada, served as filming locations, including the Nugget Casino Resort.

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Temporary casino in Lincoln could be open in just over 2 months - Lincoln Journal Star