Las Vegas Review Journal – A spokeswoman for Deutsche Bank in New York wouldn’t discuss an Australian press report Monday that the Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas could be sold to a company controlled by billionaire James Packer. Germany’s largest bank, which opened the 3,000-room Cosmopolitan in December 2010 after it foreclosed on the project’s original developer, is reportedly seeking a buyer for the resort. The Cosmopolitan has never turned a quarterly profit. The Brisbane Times reported that Crown Resorts, which is controlled by Packer, was planning to “lodge an expression of interest” for the Cosmopolitan by Tuesday. Bloomberg News recently…

Las Vegas Review Journal – Like much of Nevada, the casino industry is grappling with issues surrounding medical marijuana. So much so that gaming companies and regulators have had little to say publicly about doctor-prescribed pot. Medical marijuana has been legal in Nevada since 2000, but it took state lawmakers 14 years to allow dispensaries to operate. Now, with a state law in place calling for up to 66 potential medical marijuana outlets throughout Nevada, the issue is finding its way into gaming headquarters. No one has suggested Nevada casinos offer medical marijuana dispensaries as part of their retail amenities….

Poker News – PokerNews contributor and East Coast-based attorney Maurice “Mac” VerStandig is an expert on the American gaming scene. Well-versed in casino management from common issues of fraud and theft prevention to the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act and Indian Gaming Regulatory Act, VerStandig has a strong background in bankruptcy work and is also skilled in the strategic valuation and monetizing of complex assets. He applies that knowledge to all areas of his practice, from fraud recoveries to traditional insolvency proceedings. Here, VerStandig takes a look at the Borgata lawsuit against Phil Ivey and offers his opinion on its…

The waiting for High Street Casinos goes on to discover what, if anything, the Government proposes to do next about the addictive, high-stakes roulette and gaming machines which have created several thousand mini-casinos on our high streets. The pushers, however – they used to be called “bookmakers” – appear to be trying to get their retaliation in first. In addition to the sound of a virtual roulette ball dropping into a slot every 20 seconds, and the occasional disturbance caused by a player cursing or even attacking a machine after it has sucked in their last pound, betting shop customers…

Aljazeera – Gambling has been illegal in Pakistan since 1947. But the ban has not stopped the industry from thriving. There are hundreds of illegal gambling shops across Karachi. The punishment for breaking the law include a $10 fine and up to one year in prison. These lax penalties, combined with poor enforcement, allow illegal betting to thrive. LISTEN TO FULL REPORT

Macau Business Daily – International Game Technology (IGT) is expected to launch a new slot machine game at selected casino properties in Macau and Singapore by 2015. The company said in a statement that it already had the licence to develop the new Tokidoki-themed games. Available in additional casino markets throughout the world, they will debut here and in Singapore. “With our strong focus on developing games that appeal to international audiences, based on themes and game dynamics that resonate regionally, we’re very pleased to launch Tokidoki for players in Asia, particularly in Macau and Singapore,” said Joe Sigrist, IGT…

Venture Beat – There used to be a time when typing the word “lottery” into the App Store on iTunes returned strictly gaming apps, like “Slots Elvis Zombies in Vegas” or “Scratchers Free Instant Scratch-Off Lucky Lottery Tickets,” ones that are lottery related, but more than anything are games at their heart of hearts – systematic stuff that may feature gambling terms in the title, but the only monies that they receive are for in-app purchases that don’t return real lottery tickets to buyers. Well, that day has changed. As reported recently by The Chicago Tribune, Illinois is now the…

Spokesman – The Coeur d’Alene Casino is ready to shuffle up and deal. The casino is advertising a May 2 opening date for its new poker room, with executives saying that Idaho’s constitutional ban on poker games doesn’t apply to the tribal-owned casino. But the Idaho Lottery Commission has different views, setting up a potential showdown over the casino’s six poker tables. The Coeur d’Alene Tribe plans to offer Texas Hold ’Em and Omaha at the casino. Those are card games of skill with players competing against each other for stakes and no house bank involved, said Helo Hancock, the tribe’s legislative director. The…