From Sports Interaction – The island nation of Sri Lanka is making plans to draw in tourism and gambling revenue with multi-million dollar casinos. The country’s economy has struggled through decades of war, but is looking toward a brighter future. In this interest, it legalized gambling in November 2010 and both local and foreign interests are betting that the economy and tourism industry will be turning around and fueling an emerging gambling industry. In the works is a $850 million gambling and entertainment hub being developed by the John Keells group which was given the green light last week. The…

From iGaming Business – Macau recorded an annual 20% rise in gambling revenues for the month of July to US$3.7bn thanks to a boost in stakes and numbers of mainland Chinese visitors to the gambling hub. The amount was the third strongest figure for 2013 and was achieved thanks to a rise in middle-class gamblers visiting Macau who balanced out high-roller activity. Analysts suggested a slowdown in China’s economic growth had kept away some wealthy customers, who often spend up to US$160,000 on a single bet according to local media, but Macau’s gambling venues had benefited from China’s large and…

Two Texas horsemen should be allowed to register cloned horses with the American Quarter Horse Association, a federal court jury said Tuesday, possibly clearing the way for the animals to compete in sanctioned races across the U.S. The jury in U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Texas in Amarillo found in favor of rancher Jason Abraham of Canadian, Texas, and veterinarian Gregg Veneklasen of Amarillo, saying the association violated the federal Sherman Antitrust Act and the Texas Free Enterprise and Antitrust Act. The plaintiffs had asked for $2 million to $5 million in damages, but the jury provided…

Ultimate Poker has announced a 19-event live tournament series that will take place this summer at the Red Rock Casino Resort in Las Vegas. The Ultimate Poker Challenge kicks off Aug. 30 and runs through Sep. 8, featuring buy-ins from $120 to $550, with a $1,100 main event starting Sep. 6. The main event, which boasts four starting days, will guarantee at least $200,000 to the prize pool. The event launched on April 30 as Nevada’s first licensed and regulated online poker room. It then spent the next two and a half months following a trial period of strict guidelines…

From Bloomberg – Australia’s Queensland state is considering a A$4.2 billion ($3.75 billion) casino and hotel project proposed by Hong Kong-based businessman Tony Fung in the state’s north. The state government will look in full at the plan to redevelop 343 hectares (848 acres) of rural land north of Cairns, enabling Fung to avoid seeking separate approvals for different parts of the proposal, a spokesman for Deputy State Premier Jeff Seeney, who asked not to be identified citing department policy, said by telephone. The Aquis Great Barrier Reef resort proposal includes nine luxury hotels, 1,200 apartments and 135 villas, an…

From Casino City Times – I. Nelson Rose “I crapped out” — Meyer Lansky, quoted in T.J. English’s HAVANA NOCTURNE: HOW THE MOB OWNED CUBA…AND THEN LOST IT TO THE REVOLUTION Fidel Castro is gone. He may not be dead. But on a recent trip to Cuba, I was told by both American and Cuban experts that he is beyond retired. His image may be everywhere, but he no longer has a living influence. Fidel has become to Cuba what Mao is to China. His younger brother, Raul, is still alive, but is 82 years old. He has called for…