Bloomberg – Lui Che-woo became Asia’s second-richest person by setting up a casino company that within a decade became the world’s third-biggest by market value. The 84-year-old says he’s just hitting his stride. “What can I do if I retire, watch the sun rise and set?” said the chairman of Galaxy Entertainment Group Ltd. (27) who first made his fortune in construction and also owns 13 hotels in the U.S., including seven Hiltons. “I want to do something meaningful. I don’t want to just sit there waiting to die.” Lui, the richest person in Asia after Hong Kong property tycoon…

Southtown Star – Some state lawmakers are betting that Gov. Pat Quinn is more likely to approve casino expansion now that a pension reform bill has been passed. Of course, that presumes that, unlike in recent years, the Legislature can agree on a bill and that Quinn finds it acceptable. State Rep. Bob Rita, D-Blue Island, said he wants to deliver a casino bill, which would add a Southland casino, to Quinn to sign by spring. Rita became the House’s chief sponsor of casino expansion last spring after Rep. Lou Lang, D-Skokie, withdrew after a possible conflict of interest arose….

WDRB – It’s a collision between church and state. One of Kentucky’s largest religious organizations, the Kentucky Baptist Convention, is adding its muscle to the fight over casinos in Kentucky. There are 750,000 Southern Baptists in Kentucky, and their leaders are praying they’ll send a loud and clear message to Frankfort to stop expanded gambling. The Kentucky Baptist Convention has produced a video for churches to play during Sunday services and place on their websites. It is also running ads on Christian radio stations with the same message. “The message is casinos in Kentucky will bring wreck and ruin to the family….

Las Vegas Review Journal – The founders of the social gaming product DoubleDown Casino have left the company, two years after it was purchased by International Game Technology. The news follows IGT’s first-quarter earnings release, in which the slot machine giant said it could see a profit decline this year because of several “acquisition-related expenses” surrounding DoubleDown. Trade magazine Venturebeat.com first reported the departures of DoubleDown founders Greg Enell and Cooper DuBois from IGT. Company spokesman Phil O’Shaughnessy confirmed the exits. IGT acquired DoubleDown for roughly $500 million in February 2012. IGT paid $250 million in cash for the Seattle-based…

Sioux City Journal – After years of trying in vain to legalize casinos in Nebraska, gambling advocates believe their luck is about to change. “In my mind, I think it’s a question of when, not if” expanded gambling wins approval, Ho-Chunk Inc. President and CEO Lance Morgan said. Ho-Chunk, the Winnebago Tribe of Nebraska’s economic development corporation, has a lot riding on the outcome. Ho-Chunk last year unveiled its vision for a $30 million casino and entertainment venue at the site of the former Atokad horsetrack in South Sioux City. Getting the project off the ground requires amending Nebraska’s constitution,…

iGaming Business – A number of Japanese business leaders have pledged their support to a campaign to legalise casino gambling in the country. According to Bloomberg, the legalisation of casinos in the country would open up what is estimated to be the world’s second-largest gambling market. Takeshi Niinami, chief executive officer of Japanese convenience store chain Lawson, and Shingo Torii, executive vice-president of brewing and distillery group Suntory, are amongst those forming a group to support a legalisation bill introduced by lawmakers Submitted by Japan’s ruling party last month, the bill would legalise resorts that combine casinos with hotels and…