Dustin Hoffman could be coming to TV in an HBO series about the world of horse racing and gambling.

HBO says the two-time Oscar winner will star in “Luck,” a prospective drama series.

Hoffman would portray a career criminal heavily involved in gambling. Hoffman is 72, but has never been a regular in series TV; he did win an Emmy in 1986 for his performance in a TV version of the play “Death of a Salesman.” Dennis Farina, who starred on “Law & Order,” is also in the cast.

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The gaming giant Harrah’s avoids a once predicted bankruptcy by making and extension agreement with their creditors to reduce the companies corporate debt from 6.5 to 5.5 billion dollars. The gaming company also had their return date extended out an additional two years until 2015. Harrahs began chipping away at its CMBS debt in the fourth quarter of 2009.

LAS VEGAS, Nevada — Less than a year ago, many industry observers were certain that Harrah’s Entertainment would need to seek bankruptcy protection to restructure its heavy debt load.

Not anymore.

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The CEO of The Hard Rock Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas was found dead from a gunshot wound. Police Officer Bill Cassell says police responded just before 10 a.m. to a report of a man dead of a gunshot wound at a home in northwest Las Vegas. The individual was later identified as Randy Kwasniewski (pictured left with Vegas Mayor Oscar Goodman and Doyle Brunson), who joined Morgans Hotel Group (owners of the Las Vegas Hard Rock Hotel and Casino) in October 2006.

He had worked in the hotel industry for approximately 30 years. Prior to joining Morgans, he served as Senior Vice President of Starwood Capital Group where he played an integral role in the acquisition and operational aspects of Starwood hotel portfolios including the Societe du Louvre and Le Meridien. Prior to joining Starwood Capital Group, he was the Vice President of Operations for the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas, Nevada where he oversaw all Hotel, Food & Beverage, Retail, and Facilities staffs and operations.

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We all know that a giant pile of money sitting on a table could be considered a target for a robbery attempt. This is usually why you see six to eight large shotgun wielding security guards ushering the money out to the table. However this was apparently not the case during an European Poker Tour even, where the tournament was robbed during the filming of play. The original article appears below.

I’m no Butch Cassidy, but I have a pretty solid theory as to which circumstances are most likely to be in place upon an armed robbery: lots of cash and/or lax security. Banks fit the former, convenience stories the latter.

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$380 million Casino Offers More than 2,100 Slots, Non-Stop Gaming Action

ST. LOUIS, Missouri, March4, 2010—River City Casino, the first casino complex in south St. Louis County, opened its doors at 2 p.m. Thursday, bringing a new level of gaming action, tempting restaurants and sizzling nightlife to the area. The casino, owned by Pinnacle Entertainment, Inc. (NYSE: PNK), represents an investment of approximately $380 million, one of the largest private investments in the St. Louis region. River City Casino welcomed the public with a lively atmosphere that echoes the look and feel of a Missouri riverboat town at the peak of the steamboat trade on the Mississippi River—historical, yet fresh and new. Hundreds of eager visitors got their first glimpse of River City’s 90,000-square-foot casino featuring more than 2,100 of the most popular slot machines, from classic favorites to the latest new games.

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Beau Rivage made headlines when Abe Lincoln was apparently sighted on the casino floor. It Seems he could’nt resist the penny slots, with over 800 -  including a large number of brand new machines - Who could blame him? Mr. Lincoln seems to be enjoying himself at the Beau Rivage, scores of people have seen him living it up from the casino floor to the dance floor.

Plus he’s been sharing his adventures on his facebook page and giving away some great prizes to his fans. Check it out at www.facebook.com/abeatbeau

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Paula Deen, the culinary queen of the south has formed a partnership with Harrah’s Cherokee Casino & Hotel. The partnership will entail the opening of Paula’s Kitchen Restaurant, a retail store, and many other elements to this partnership that is sure to be mutually beneficial for both sides.

Harrah’s Cherokee Casino & Hotel announced on Wednesday, Mar. 3 its partnership with Paula Deen Enterprises and the opening in late 2010 of Paula Deen’s Kitchen, the property’s first new restaurant to be introduced as part of a $633 million, three-year expansion program.

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St. Louis is home to the newest Pinnacle Casino, The River City opened its doors at 2:00pm on March 4th, featuring a 90,000 square ft complex, the single story gaming site is looking to make its impact on the gambling industry going forward.

LAS VEGAS, March 5 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ — Pinnacle Entertainment (NYSE:  PNK) today announced that its newest casino, River City, opened to the public on Thursday, March 4 at 2 p.m. (Central) in the south St. Louis County community of Lemay. The casino represents an investment of $357 million, excluding operating cash, non-cash rent accruals and capitalized interest, and created approximately 600 construction-phase jobs and 1,200 permanent jobs for the region.

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Trying to severely reduce their substantial debt, Black Gaming LLC has filed for Chapter 11 Bankruptcy.Nevada While closing many of its non essential gaming installations, Black Gaming hopes to restructure itself and make a strong push in the future.Mesquite casino operator Black Gaming LLC filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy late Monday, a move the company foretold to investors just before Christmas.

The filing with the U.S. Bankruptcy Court in Las Vegas, where Black Gaming is headquartered, will allow the company to continue operations under current management. Payments to vendors will continue without interruption, company officials said.
The bankruptcy filing covers nine entities, including the three Mesquite casinos — Oasis, CasaBlanca and Virgin River — and other operations, including the Oasis golf course.

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Florida State Representative Joseph Abruzzo has filed a bill that looks to legalize online poker in his home state.

Titled the “Internet Poker Consumer Protection and Revenue Generation Act of 2010″, Abruzzo claims that 900,000 Floridians already gamble at sites run by operators outside of Florida and that state legalization would result in $200 million in revenue the first year.

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The Wynn organization moves east to take over Foxwoods Casino, the Las Vegas mainstay will move to take over the South Columbus Boulevard Resort and bring a known gaming commodity to the city. The deal comes at a critical junction for Foxwoods as partners were in jeopardy of losing their licesnse and needed a new parter that could bring money and leadersship, like Wynn.

Las Vegas impresario Stephen A. Wynn has agreed in principal to take over the delayed Foxwoods Casino project in South Philadelphia. Wynn Resorts has signed a non-binding agreement, outlining the terms and conditions for assuming control of the project from local investors and the Mashantucket Pequot tribe.

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While experiencing a downturn in revenue during the 4th quarter of 2009, Harrah’s Entertainment, the worlds largest game operation in the world has managed to maximize profitability throughout their operation by cutting costs across the board, reversing their huge losses from the year before.

Harrah’s Entertainment isn’t the flashiest gaming operation in the world, but it’s the largest, with more than 40 casinos across the U.S. and others overseas. Held primarily under ownership of Apollo Management LP and Texas Pacific Group Capital, Harrah’s provides a casebook example of how casinos make money in down markets.

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While places further in Southern Louisiana, especially New Orleans, are known more for their famous ‘vampire lore” it is Shreveport and Monroe, that is receiving a nice boost in recognition due to the popular HBO show, True Blood, drives people to these cities looking for Bon Temps from the show.

For a tiny pocket of a place, Bon Temps is a mighty interesting corner of Louisiana. It’s got a country bar, old farmhouses and at least one sweet telepathic barmaid with Southern manners and a sense of hospitality no matter how strange the company.
And it’s got vampires.

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LOS ANGELES (February 23, 2010)- More than 100 celebrities and industry VIPs took on poker’s biggest players at the tables last weekend for the 8th Annual World Poker Tour® Invitational.  Kicking off Saturday night with red carpet arrivals at Commerce Casino in Los Angeles, the three-day Texas Hold ‘Em tournament pulled a record-setting field of 567 players and raised $109,700 for Chrysalis (www.changelives.org), a non-profit organization dedicated to helping economically disadvantaged and homeless individuals become self-sufficient through employment opportunities.

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Evansville, IN (February 24, 2010)

Now in its eleventh year, Casino Aztar’s Club 55 has become much more than another tier in Casino Aztar’s Rewards Club.  Ask most any Club 55 member what they like about it and the number one answer is, “All the wonderful friends I’ve made!”  It’s true.  These seniors don’t spend their retirement sitting at home and watching television.  This active group keeps the excitement and entusiasm in their lives by meeting regularly, making new friends, and participating in activities designed specifically for them.

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While Tunica has become one of the gambling mainstays in the south, the neighbors to the east in Alabama, have done everything possible to raise their level of casino establishments and cement themselves as one of the gambling powers of the south.

SHORTER, Ala. - Alabama casinos are making a $500 million bet that luxury hotels, celebrity restaurants and big-name entertainment will give southbound tourists an alternative to Mississippi’s Gulf Coast gambling destinations.

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Between the sometimes dwindling revenues of the Florida Casinos and the constant battle with the state government, there has been a big push to to lobby the Florida legislature, to side with the gaming companies to expand gaming, and overall increase profits in the state

Some big spending is going on in Florida to influence how this fast changing market will tax, regulate and no-doubt expand gambling.2009 marked the highest spending on record with tribal compacts, statewide racetrack casinos and the creation of a Gambling Commissin being debated.

State filed reports indicate that the industry spent just under $5 million dollars to lobby Florida legislature.

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While the debate continues over whether Indiana will eventually move from riverboat casinos to land based operations continues a recent vote from the 12 participating gaming entities in Indiana 8 voted against a move pointing to the attempts for some to expand vessels, and the $50 Million fee to let casinos move inland by senators in the state.

Feuding among Indiana’s gambling operators led a panel of lawmakers to scrap a proposal that would have let the state’s riverboat casinos move onto land, according to Indystar.com

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Washington, DC (February 23, 2010) –The Poker Players Alliance (PPA), the leading poker grassroots advocacy group with more than one million members nationwide and over 25,000 members in Massachusetts, will testify today before the Massachusetts State Legislature’s Joint Committee on Economic Development and Emerging Technologies as the committee considers H4069, which would classify poker as a game of skill in the state of Massachusetts. 

The Poker Players Alliance  is a nonprofit membership organization comprised of over 1,000,000 online and offline poker players and enthusiasts from around the U.S. who have joined together to speak with one voice to promote the game and to protect poker players’ rights.

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