From Herald Online – The Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community, Gila River Indian Community, the Fort McDowell Yavapai Nation and the Pueblo of Zuni applaud the bipartisan action of the U.S. House National Resources Committee who, today, approved H.R. 1410, the Keep the Promise Act. By a vote of 35 to 5 the Committee acted swiftly to reaffirm the commitments made to Arizona residents who voted “yes” on Proposition 202 — the Indian Gaming Preservation and Self-Reliance Act of 2002. Importantly, the action of the Congressional committee clears the way for the legislation to be considered by the full body of…

From Macau Daily Times – Despite the Macao Monetary Authority’s earlier revelation that the VIP segment is losing its share to the mass market, the Chief Executive Officer of SJM (Sociedade de Jogos de Macau) pointed out that the transition to the mass gaming market is a trend. Speaking on the sidelines of a graduation ceremony, veteran casino operator and SJM CEO Dr. Ambrose So said that local economic growth could not be judged based on the figures of the past few months alone. Instead, he is optimistic about development prospects in the long run. The Monetary Authority stated in…

From iGaming Business – Tracie Stevens, chairwoman of the National Indian Gaming Commission in the United States, has revealed that the Indian gaming industry generated record total turnover of $27.9bn (€21.1bn) in 2012. The figures represent the third consecutive year of growth for the industry. “In 2012, the Indian gaming industry saw its largest gross gaming revenues ever,” Stevens said. “For those who judge casino spending as an indicator of increased discretionary spending and economic recovery, 2012 revenues certainly display economic encouragement.” The gross gaming revenues of $27.9bn represented a 2.7% increase on $27.2bn in 2011. The organisation’s associate commissioner,…

From NJ.com – It’s getting harder not to think of the Revel casino as the American Dream project of Atlantic City. Revel may be prettier to look at than the pile of mismatched bricks in the Meadowlands. But just like that vast retail and entertainment project once known as Xanadu, Revel was dogged by false starts and enabled by generous state subsidies. Unlike that kaleidoscope in the swamp, Revel opened for business in 2012. But it has yet to live up to the high expectations of investors and state cheerleaders. And now, to make matters worse, Revel is gambling with…

From The Epoch Times – Even as Italy’s economy slumps in recession, its gambling industry stays strong. The toll of gambling on mental health has received greater attention following the July 4 suicide of a teen on the Italian island of Ischia who had gambled away his family’s savings. The region of Lombardy has the most per capita spending on slot machines; 40 Lombardy mayors took a stand against gambling last week, calling for limits on the industry, in spite of the short-term economic benefits. The gambling industry employs more than 120,000, making it the third largest employer in Italy….

Macau casino workers are to be a centerpiece in a microfilm that features their real working conditions and status, according to the Macau Gaming Industry Laborers Association (MGILA). They have teamed up with local producer, Free Dream Production Studio, to make the film. “Although gaming is the leading industry in Macau, affected by the traditional views and inadequate understanding towards casino workers, both local residents and tourists associate the gaming sector with pornography and narcotics to some degree. They even label gaming-related work as an improper occupation, which hinders the casino workers’ self-esteem and mental health,” stressed the organizer yesterday…

From Hotel News Now – If all goes according to plan, ground will break before the end of this year for Europe’s first gaming mega resort, with investors envisaging a $6-billion project covering almost 1,500 acres with six casino-hotels totaling 18,000 rooms. Dubbed BCN World, the project, which is an hour’s drive south of Barcelona on the Mediterranean Sea, is expected to open in 2016. It is just the latest of a number of mega resorts planned around the world over the next few years, including one in Madrid. “Mega resorts are nothing new except in Europe,” said Ivar Yuste,…

A federal appeals court has ruled that the tribal slot machines leased by the Mashantucket Pequot Tribe of Connecticut from non-tribal businesses can be taxed. The ruling by the 2nd Circuit Court of Appeals on July 15 reversed a decision by a federal district court judge that said states and their subdivisions cannot tax property on Indian land regardless of who owns it. The Nation has the option of asking for a rehearing or filing a petition with the United States Supreme Court to review the appeals court ruling about the tribal slot machines tax, but no such decision has…