MassLive – At least two of the companies looking to win one of Massachusetts’ first casino licenses say the state needs to change how it taxes winnings to avoid discouraging people from playing and cutting into the take for the state and the casinos. Las Vegas-based MGM and Wynn want the state to repeal a provision requiring gambling facilities to report and withhold 5 percent for state income tax on certain winnings over $600. They say casinos in surrounding states all use lower, federal standards for income tax withholding, making them more appealing to regular players, casual day trippers and…

Macau Times – Last week, Lawrence Ho announced to the HK Stock Exchange (HKSE) that his main holding company, Melco International Development, has signed a memorandum of understanding with Veremonte Espana S.L. of Spain. This understanding includes holding talks for the management of at least one casino, which is to be developed as part of the BCN Dream resort being developed by Veremonte near Barcelona, Forbes magazine reported. According to the publication, besides casinos, BCN Dream will include more than 10,000 hotel rooms, an exhibition and meeting center and up to 5,000 residential units. BCN Dream, in turn, is to…

Bloomberg – Mongolia’s government will propose laws to set up a professional horse-racing league and legalize betting to compete for the Chinese gambling market. The government may approach the Hong Kong Jockey Club with a proposal to have jockeys and horses race in Mongolia when they’re not competing in the former British colony, Culture Minister Oyungerel Tsedevdamba said in an e-mail. The Hong Kong horse racing season runs from early September to mid-July. “Our priority is to make the legal environment for a jockey club operation so that we can have a market share” of the Asian jockey business, Oyungerel…

Washington Times – A zip line that swoops riders past the vintage casinos of downtown Las Vegas and under the giant video canopy of the Fremont Street Experience is now open for business. The lower zip lines on the $12 million SlotZilla attraction opened to the public Sunday after 14 months of construction, while a set of higher lines is expected to open a little later this spring. “People are really enjoying it,” said Fremont Street Experience spokesman Thomas Bruny, who pointed out more typical zip lines take tourists over forests and lakes. “This one is unique because nowhere else…

CDG Gaming Reports – State senators voted Friday to outlaw the sale of lottery tickets through a Website or at gas-pump terminals, stripping the Minnesota Lottery of high-tech games they already offer. By a voice vote, senators embraced the ban as an amendment to a separate gambling regulation bill, which passed 55 to 2. The strong vote could put Gov. Mark Dayton in a pinch because he hasn’t declared whether he sides with concerns of legislators or the stance of the lottery director he appointed. A House bill imposing the same curbs advanced through a key committee on Thursday and…

The British government has announced that local councils are to be given more powers to decide whether more UK betting shops should open in their individual constituencies. UK public-service broadcaster the BBC said the new measures would enable councils to refuse planning application if they are concerned about the number of shops in their local area. The Department for Culture, Media and Sport explained that local authorities are becoming increasingly concerned about the “clustering” of betting shops in some areas and the new measures would help to counter the situation. However, bookmakers have previously said that the number of shops…