LAS VEGAS, Nevada -- Two casinos that weren't around a year ago helped send the quarterly revenues for Las Vegas Sands Corp. soaring more than 81 percent higher during the three-month period that ended June 30.

But costs associated with opening the Venetian Macau last August and the Palazzo in January, along with additional corporate expenses as the company expands its footprint globally, propelled the casino operator to a quarterly loss.

Las Vegas Sands said late Wednesday it had a net loss of $8.8 million, or 2 cents a share, in the second quarter. A year ago, the company reported net income of $34.4 million, or 10 cents a share. Analysts surveyed by Thomson Reuters forecasted earnings of 12 cents a share for the company.

Las Vegas Sands said its revenues were $1.11 billion, an increase of 81.4 percent compared with $612.9 million in the same quarter of 2007.

Still, Las Vegas Sands President Bill Weidner told investors the company was moving forward with an aggressive development pipeline in Macau and is holding its own on the Strip despite a challenging economic environment.

"The fundamentals of our company have not changed," Weidner said. "The market has been soft in Las Vegas, but we have had a very good July."

During a conference call with analysts to discuss earnings, Weidner said table game volume and slot machine play are up at The Venetian and the Palazzo during July compared with preceding months.

Weidner said that while the market is down, Las Vegas Sands is working toward a more efficient operating infrastructure within the Venetian-Palazzo complex, which encompasses more than 7,100 hotel rooms and two casinos that total more than 200,000 square feet.

The two resorts employ 8,100 workers, including 4,000 that were hired for the Palazzo in December and January. Weidner said during the conference call the company was hopeful it could trim 1,500 workers by attrition, but not through layoffs.

Las Vegas Sands spokesman Ron Reese said after the conference call, the 1,500 jobs figure largely includes positions the company had budgeted for and were either not filled or won't be filled.

"When the Las Vegas and the U.S. consumer economy returns like we know it will, we will have a high-quality product that awaits them," Weidner said.

In Las Vegas, cash flow at The Venetian and Palazzo during the second quarter grew 28.1 percent to $106.6 million. However, operating income fell 26.2 percent, which was attributable to the opening of the Palazzo.

With the Palazzo coming online, hotel revenues were $142.4 million, an increase of 52.6 percent, while casino revenues were $126.5 million, a jump of 32.5 percent.

The Venetian Macau, which will celebrate its first anniversary on Aug. 28, had casino revenues of $415.6 million and hotel revenues of $46.5 million. Weidner said the company is focusing on three areas to improve the 3,000-room hotel-casino's performance: better management of the resort's high-end play, increased customer volume through the company's expanded high-speed ferry service and better cost controls. Still, to date, more than 20 million have visited the resort since it opened.

The Sands Macau saw its casino revenues decrease almost 30 percent from the same quarter a year ago, mainly because of competition on the Macau peninsula from the newly opened MGM Grand Macau and the expanded Wynn Macau.

The company said it will open its second project on the Cotai Strip, the Four Seasons Macau, which is adjacent to The Venetian, on Aug. 28.

The company said its development activities remained strong with capital expenditures totaling $966.8 million. In 2009, Las Vegas Sands expects to open four hotel-casinos on the Cotai Strip, its $675 million Sands Bethlehem project in Pennsylvania and the $4 billion Marina Bay Sands in Singapore.

Las Vegas Sands announced earnings after trading on the New York Stock Exchange closed Wednesday. Shares in the company finished up $3.79, or 8.61 percent, to close at $47.82.

In after-hours trading, shares fell $1.83 or 3.8 percent with about 500,000 shares traded by 6 p.m. local time.

Las Vegas Sands Corp., the world's largest casino company by market value, posted a second-quarter loss on expenses to run the new Venetian Macao and the Palazzo in Las Vegas and higher interest costs.

The net loss was $8.8 million, or 2 cents a share, compared with a profit of $34.4 million or 10 cents, a year earlier, Las Vegas Sands said today in a statement. Revenue climbed 81 percent to $1.11 billion from $612.9 million, missing the $1.13 billion average expected by 12 analysts.

U.S. consumers contending with higher gasoline prices and declining home values have curbed trips to Las Vegas since Sands opened the Palazzo in January. Competition has intensified in Macau, the world's biggest gambling hub, where billionaire Chief Executive Officer Sheldon Adelson is building a $12 billion, 20,000-room complex of hotels and casinos.

``In Macau, Las Vegas Sands is going after both the mass market in big way, but also the VIP customers,'' Matthew Jacob, an analyst with Majestic Research LLC in New York, said in a July 21 interview. ``The mass market side of the business is going to take some time to grow.''

Excluding some costs, Las Vegas Sands earned 9 cents a share. Analysts surveyed by Bloomberg estimated 11 cents on average.

Las Vegas Sands fell $1.82, or 3.8 percent, to $46 at 5:40 p.m. after the results were released. Earlier, the shares rose $3.79, or 8.6 percent, to $47.82 at 4 p.m. in New York Stock Exchange composite trading. The stock has plunged 54 percent this year.

Interest Costs

Interest expenses soared 63 percent as it paid more for loans for the Las Vegas, Macau and Singapore developments, Sands said.

The company plans to borrow $5.25 billion ``primarily if not entirely in the Asian bank markets'' to refinance its existing $3.3 billion Macau loan and complete construction on the next phase of that region's development, Chief Operating Officer William Weidner said on a conference call today.

Las Vegas Sands ``will not have liquidity problems,'' Adelson said on today's call. Adelson said he's ``evaluating alternatives'' for additional cash if needed, without elaborating.

Depreciation and amortization charges soared to $119.1 million from $35.7 million because of the opening of the Venetian Macao and the Palazzo.

In Las Vegas, earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, amortization, rent and other items, or adjusted Ebitdar, rose 28 percent to $106.6 million in the second quarter, from $83.2 million a year earlier, boosted by the Palazzo, the casino company said.

Sands Macao

At the Sands Macao, adjusted Ebitdar fell to $54.1 million, from $116.6 million, as less gamblers bet at its casino. The Venetian Macao reported Ebitdar of $140.2 million.

Las Vegas Sands wants to trim Vegas costs by $70 million to $90 million a year and cut about 1,500 Strip employees ``by attrition, not by layoffs,'' Weidner said today. The company is also reducing costs in Macau, he said.

The original Venetian is performing well, considering the ``somewhat softer Las Vegas market overall,'' Weidner said. The Palazzo continues to ``ramp up,'' he said.

The Las Vegas resorts have seen some ``disappointing cancellations'' and are shifting focus to specific sectors for group and convention bookings, Robert Goldstein, senior vice president who oversees the Nevada properties, said on today's call.

``Certain segments within the group market are especially challenging -- auto, financials, freight, transportation,'' Goldstein said. ``However pharmaceuticals, IT, fast food, insurance, biotech all seem to bode pretty well.''

Las Vegas Gamblers

Las Vegas gamblers bet $408.2 million at the tables at Sands' two resorts in the quarter, 45 percent more than last year. They spent $916.1 million on slot machines, a 63 percent rise attributed to the second Strip casino.

Revenue per available room, a measure of rates and occupancy known as Revpar, fell 17 percent to $222 at the Venetian Las Vegas, which filled 90.6 percent of rooms, down from 100.9 percent, the company said.

Revpar averaged $226 at the Palazzo, which filled 92.9 percent of its rooms.

Macau regulatory changes, including new building license curbs will cause delays in some planned project approvals, executives said.

Next Stages

Las Vegas Sands is ``aggressively'' moving forward with the next stages of its Macau development, Adelson said. Some projects need to be redesigned to lower costs, he said.

The company is trying to attract more VIP gamblers, defined as those who spend more than HK$1 million ($128,000) per visit, by offering junket operators higher commissions and ``prudently'' providing more credit, Weidner said.

Las Vegas Sands is increasing the frequency of its ferry service between Macau and Hong Kong to grow its ``mass-market'' business, executives said today. In July the boats have been running about 70 percent full, and about 90 percent on weekends.

More Chinese gamblers are playing slot machines, Adelson said. Monthly slot income at the Venetian Macau is more than the Venetian Las Vegas, he said.

``It's true that the Chinese will play, and will learn to play more, and that they like it,'' he said. ``We're doing very well on the slots.''

CARROLLTON, Texas - (Business Wire) From regulars to first-time visitors, people go to casinos in search of entertainment and fun. Are the odds in your favor that the signs in your casino or gaming facility promote such an atmosphere? Now more than ever before, consumers are searching for different types of entertainment, and casinos and gaming facilities have a prime opportunity to “cash in” on drawing in new patrons based on the types of signs and graphics that greet them.

“New technology allows casino signage to be fun and attractive without relying on the standard flashing lights and glitter,” said Drue Townsend, senior VP of marketing for FASTSIGNS International, Inc. “Beyond the entertainment value, signs serve an additional purpose to help keep patrons safe and informed—but that doesn’t mean they have to be dull.”

First, the facility should greet and welcome guests before they even reach the entrance. Bright, attention-getting building signage that can be seen at a distance will ignite their excitement from the road and help guide them to the establishment.

Infuse your signage with vivid images and color. There are many creative ways to incorporate the unique personality of your facility into your signage. Instead of using the traditional sandwich board or easel to advertise live entertainment, try having life-size cut-outs of a popular act made and placed in high traffic areas.

Continuous advances in technology make it possible for casino operators to take almost any surface, such as a wall, window or vehicle, and turn it into a vibrant, eye-catching graphic. Surprise guests as they travel between levels by placing graphics within elevators on the interior walls, floors or even the doors.

Gaming facilities’ signs also play an important role in keeping operators in compliance with specific guidelines, such as those set forth by the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and the American Gaming Association’s (AGA) Code of Conduct for Responsible Gaming. For example, AGA members are expected to display responsible gaming awareness signage, bearing a toll-free help-line number that is easy to view and located throughout the facility.

Signs and graphics are vital in the successful function of a casino or type of gaming facility. Whether in need of a few refreshing updates or looking to conduct an entire signage makeover, seek advice from an experienced sign and graphics professional on the best choices for your venue. Make sure the effectiveness of your signs isn’t left to chance.

About FASTSIGNS International, Inc.

FASTSIGNS® sign and graphics centers use innovation and technology to make the sign buying process simple by offering a full range of custom sign and graphic products.

The "sloppy" way a government department handled pokie machine venue applications could lead to the first big test of Manukau City Council’s new gambling venue policy.

Manurewa councillor Daniel Newman says he finds it incredible the Internal Affairs Ministry didn’t bother to conduct an onsite inspection when granting five applications to extend venue licences to the South Auckland Charitable Trust.

"It really is a complete dog’s breakfast to extend the licence to operate pokie machines five times without any site visit," Mr Newman says.

The trust has been operating 19 pokie machines in the Clendon Family Inn at Clendon Park.

It has been applying for extensions to its licence to operate the machines since July last year because the venue at 459 Roscommon Rd "will be demolished and a new premise will be rebuilt in the same location".

Five of the applications were granted by the department "on the understanding that it was redeveloping in the same location".

But the department did not visit the redeveloped site and did not know the inn had relocated about 50 metres away to a new "venue".

Mr Newman was alerted to the lapse in April after the Manukau District Licensing Agency received a new liquor licence application for the same establishment because the physical address and the licensee had changed.

Manurewa MP George Hawkins lodged written questions to Internal Affairs Minister Rick Barker in May about the department’s lapse. In his answer, Mr Barker admitted the department had no knowledge of the problem until it received the questions on May 21.

On May 28 the trust applied for its sixth extension. On June 9, the department refused the sixth application with a caveat that "an onsite inspection was carried out prior to the refusal".

South Auckland Charitable Trust merged with Lion Foundation on June 30. It is not known if the group will appeal to the Gambling Commission over the issue. If they lose the on-licence, they will have to apply for a new one.

But the city council changed its gambling venue policy in December by introducing a continuous sinking lid on new venues in the city. Under the policy no licences for new gambling venues will be issued.

"The policy is to ensure that if any existing venue closes, it will not be replaced with a new licence somewhere else," Mr Newman says. "This may be the first big test of the council’s new gambling policy."

Bally's technology deployed as Seminole Gaming properties become first casinos in Florida to offer Las Vegas-style table games

LAS VEGAS, July 30 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Bally Technologies, Inc. (NYSE: BYI), a leader in slots, video machines, casino management systems, and networked solutions for the global gaming industry, today announced that the Seminole Tribe of Florida will implement Bally's TableView table-rating and player-tracking system at its six casinos in south Florida.

Bally's award-winning TableView allows Seminole casino staff to enter player ratings, request chip fills and credits, and issue customer comps and markers in real time.

The groundbreaking Seminole Tribe of Florida has already implemented the system on 70 tables at the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Hollywood, with plans to ultimately offer TableView on more than 400 tables across six Seminole properties.

Bally's TableView technology, which recently was recognized by Casino Journal as one of the top two 'Most Innovative Gaming Technology Products of 2007,' will seamlessly integrate with the Seminole's high-speed, Ethernet Networked Floor of the Future, which already includes Bally's comprehensive casino management system, bonusing technology, and iVIEW(TM) interactive player-centric network.

"We did an extensive evaluation of TableView and other vendors' technology prior to making a commitment to Bally," said Seminole Gaming Chief Operating Officer John James. "Our users unanimously agreed that TableView is far more user-friendly and is based on solid, current technology. And TableView is a perfect complement to our existing operations because it fully integrates with our Bally casino management system, protecting and enhancing the investment in technology that we've already made."

TableView will allow the Seminole Tribe to track table-game play in a paperless fashion and ensure that their table-game players get the same recognition and rewards as their slot players. The standalone application allows floor operations staff to use touch-screen devices to enter real-time player ratings, request chip fills and credits, open and close tables, issue player comps and markers, and change/roll the table shift. TableView also provides casino personnel with secure and instant access to vital table accounting and financial data.

"We're delighted to strengthen our partnership with the Seminole Tribe of Florida and provide their industry-leading operations with the most cutting-edge table-rating system," said Ramesh Srinivasan, Executive Vice President, Bally Systems.

"We are very fortunate to have a large number of casino operations using a Bally casino management system, and our TableView system is a natural extension to these systems," Srinivasan said. "Our customers have been asking us to provide this comprehensive and integrated functionality, and their requirements have been the primary driver of TableView. We foresee that demand for this product will only continue to grow as casinos seek to increase customer service and run their pits more efficiently."

About Bally Technologies, Inc.

With a history dating back to 1932, Las Vegas-based Bally Technologies designs, manufactures, operates and distributes advanced gaming devices, systems and technology solutions worldwide. Bally's product line includes reel-spinning slot machines, video slots, wide-area progressives and Class II, lottery and central determination games and platforms. As the world's No. 1 gaming systems company, Bally also offers an array of casino management, slot accounting, bonusing, cashless and table management solutions. The Company also owns and operates Rainbow Casino in Vicksburg, Miss.
About the Seminole Tribe of Florida

The Seminole Tribe of Florida operates Seminole Hard Rock Hotels & Casinos in Hollywood and Tampa, Fla. Five other Seminole Casinos are located in Coconut Creek and Hollywood, Fla., as well as in Immokalee, near Naples, on the Brighton Reservation northwest of Lake Okeechobee and on the Big Cypress Reservation south of Lake Okeechobee. The Seminole Tribe pioneered Indian Gaming with the opening of a high-stakes bingo hall in Hollywood in 1979.

This news release may contain "forward-looking" statements within the meaning of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and is subject to the safe harbor created thereby. Such information involves important risks and uncertainties that could significantly affect the results in the future and, accordingly, such results may differ from those expressed in any forward-looking statements. Future operating results may be adversely affected as a result of a number of risks that are detailed from time to time in the Company's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The Company undertakes no obligation to update the information in this press release and represents that the information is only valid as of today's date.

CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- As its eighth anniversary approaches next month, the state Problem Gamblers Help Line has fielded calls from more than 7,000 gamblers, and helped many reduce or eliminate their gambling habits, a program director said Monday.

"What we do find is most of the people, about 75 percent, are able to stop or significantly cut down their gambling," said Sheila Moran of First Choice Health Systems.

Help line officials Monday released an analysis of its first 6,970 clients, from the program's inception in 2000 through June 30.

Moran said the data show that the typical caller to the help line is a far cry from the stereotypical gambling addict.

"The reality is, it's your mom, it's your sister," she said. "A middle-aged, full-time working woman with a high school degree is the typical caller for us."

During the eight years, the help line has had 3,543 female clients and 3,285 male clients, and most have been between the ages of 36 to 55.

Limited video lottery machines in bars and clubs across the state are by far the most common form of gambling for help line callers, accounting for 4,348 clients.

Racetrack video lottery at the four tracks in the state was second, accounting for 1,124 clients, following by all other forms of state Lottery games, including Powerball and Keno, at 524 clients.

So-called "gray machines" - which were outlawed in late 2001 under the law legalizing limited video lottery - accounted for 258 clients early in the help line's history. Card games are far back, at a total of 141 clients over eight years.

Moran said there has not been a detectable increase in that category since the introduction of table games at the Mountaineer and Wheeling Island racetrack/casinos late last year.
"I don't anticipate a big increase," she said. "It takes longer to get addicted to that type of gambling."

Likewise, Moran said there has not been a discernable increase in calls since the West Virginia Lottery logo was removed from help line advertising this spring, under legislation passed during the 2008 regular session. Critics argued that featuring the logo of the Lottery - which funds the help line - could deter gamblers from seeking help.

Calls to the help line have declined slightly for the past two years, she said.

Meanwhile, she said the downturn in the economy has had mixed impact on gamblers.

On one hand, it may leave many with less disposable income to spend on gambling, but Moran noted that the typical help line client gambles to escape his or her problems - including financial problems.

"Most of our calls are from 'escape' gamblers," she said.

She noted that two recent callers said financial woes - one had a house foreclosed, one lost his job - caused them to gamble more.

"It's like teenagers playing video games - they're trying to take their minds off their problems for a little while," she said.

Omega Commercial Finance Corporation (OTCBB:OCFN) announced today that it has finalized its acquisition of a luxury casino cruise ship with Oceans 21-Miami LLC ("Oceans 21") and its majority shareholder. The casino cruise ship's name shall be changed to the "Omega Royale" and will be deployed in international waters as part of the offshore casino cruise industry.

The Omega Royale will be a 100,000 square foot ultra luxurious resort style casino vessel equipped with a 49,000 square foot, state-of-the-art casino that will include approximately 500 player tracking slot machines and 64 table games consisting of Baccarat, Black Jack, Craps and Roulette. The plush style casino will be spread over four decks, which will be connected via elevators and escalators. A complete Vegas Style Sports Book will afford gamblers the opportunity to wager 24 hours a day on various sport competitions including basketball, baseball, boxing, football, golf, hockey, soccer and horse racing.

Resort style amenities such as multiple lounge venues, a Grand Show Room with headliner & production shows, expansive outdoor decks with several dining options ranging from 'All You Can Eat' buffets, to luxury gourmet 4 star dining with white glove treatment, will adhere to the wide range of gamblers the ship expects to draw. Special attention shall be paid to the ships VIP facilities. The company anticipates including luxury suite accommodations, a VIP lounge, a world-class Asian spa, business conference facilities and retail boutique shops. High Rollers will enjoy the luxury of having the ability to fly in on the vessels VIP heliport.

Omega Royale expects to compete primarily with other gaming operations within a one hundred mile radius. Management believes that their casino operations have a distinct competitive advantage over its primary competitors. Visitors who prefer playing Roulette, Baccarat, Craps, a wider variety of slot games and the ability to wager on sports will have the ability to do so on the Omega Royale.

Additionally, through strategic planning, the company has identified an unprecedented way to turn over its gambling clientele several times a day without the vessel having to leave its international waters. The use of two catamaran shuttles will give the company the ability to transport up to 300 gambler's less than 60 minutes allowing the casino and its operations to run at full capacity virtually 24 hours a day. This unique ability to sustain constant gambling operations mixed with the vessels 2,000 passenger capacity should allow for a consistent revenue stream for the company and its operations.

The anticipated launching of the Omega Royale is scheduled to coincide with the 2009 Super Bowl, one of the foremost gambling days of the year in Tampa, Florida. Omega Royale will cater to the offshore major metropolitan areas and will be located in international waters with its multiple U.S. Flag catamaran passenger shuttles. Additionally, as a "foreign-flagged vessel" the Omega Royale can dock anywhere in the US and abroad.

Jon S. Cummings III, Chairman, stated, "We are extremely pleased with the definitive acquisition of this vessel. This marks our first completed acquisition as a publicly traded holding company. A tremendous amount of effort and negotiations went into this project and we are happy in meeting with our objective of adding strong tangible assets that will undoubtedly produce steady income stream to our balance sheet." Additionally, he stated, "In today's current market conditions, creative and diversified strategies with imbedded values, a strong business model, and the ability to execute is necessary in order to achieve our competitive edge for the foreseeable future and to bring value to our shareholders."

Please refer to the company's latest 8-K filing with the SEC for more information on the acquisition of its luxury casino ship.

About Omega Commercial Finance Corp.

Omega Commercial Finance Corporation, through its subsidiary, Omega Capital Funding LLC offers financing for real estate markets in the United States. The company provides short and medium term loans to borrowers primarily consisting of commercial real estate developers and speculators, business owners, landlords, and owners of core and non-core assets. It focuses on various alternative commercial real estate financing with an emphasis on loans secured by commercial real estate and also on financing non-core assets, including ground up developments and un-entitled land developments, as well as core assets, including office buildings, multi-family residences, shopping centers, and luxury residential estates.

Safe Harbor

This release contains statements that constitute forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. These statements appear in a number of places in this release and include all statements that are not statements of historical fact regarding the intent, belief or current expectations of Omega Commercial Finance Corp., its directors or its officers with respect to, among other things: (i) financing plans; (ii) trends affecting its financial condition or results of operations; (iii) growth strategy and operating strategy. The words "may," "would," "will," "expect," "estimate," "can," "believe," "potential" and similar expressions and variations thereof are intended to identify forward-looking statements. Investors are cautioned that any such forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance and involve risks and uncertainties, many of which are beyond Omega Commercial Finance Corp's ability to control, and that actual results may differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking statements as a result of various factors. More information about the potential factors that could affect the business and financial results is and will be included in Omega Commercial Finance Corp. filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

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Macau's casino revenues rose 48 percent in the second-quarter, driven largely by growth in VIP baccarat play.

The popular Chinese enclave's 30 casinos brought in 28.89 billion patacas (US$3.6 billion) in the three months through June, compared with 19.57 billion patacas in the year-ago period, the territory's Gaming Inspection and Coordination Bureau revealed on its Web site in figures seen Thursday.

Higher VIP baccarat revenues, up more than 52 percent to 20.1 billion patacas (US$2.5 billion) compared with a year ago, were the biggest factor. New casinos such as the Sands' Venetian Macao, which opened August last year, also helped.

Revenue for the three months through June, however, fell 3.1 percent from 29.82 billion (US$3.7 billion) in the first quarter.

It was the first quarter-to-quarter decline since 2005, analysts said.
Fewer visits from mainland Chinese — who account for the majority of Macau's gambling patrons — after the May earthquake in Sichuan province have been partly to blame, analysts said. The 7.9 magnitude temblor killed 70,000 people and left 18,000 missing.

The number of visitor arrivals from mainland China softened from around 1.55 million in May to nearly 1.36 million in June, a decline of around 12 percent, according to Macau's tourist office. Year over year the number of mainland visitors rose in June.

Last year, Macau casinos took in US$10.3 billion, according to the government. In 2006, the former Portuguese colony surpassed the Las Vegas Strip as the world's top gambling center.

Normally, the most vociferous calls for legalizing Internet gaming come from the growing online poker-playing community, offshore gambling site operators, civil libertarians and a handful of select members of Congress.

Add UNLV associate professor Kathryn LaTour to the chorus.

LaTour, who teaches in the William F. Harrah College of Hotel Administration, has co-authored a study that says the legalization and regulation of online gambling in the United States and Canada could help reduce some of the activity's harm. Gambling addiction, she said, could be curtailed while regulation would keep underage gamblers out of the virtual casinos.

"It should be regulated," LaTour said. "When you get deeper into it, it's a battlefield. The integration of online gambling in the home can more easily turn gambling behavior into a component of a consumer's everyday life, like watching television."

The report, "Blackjack in the Kitchen: Understanding Online Versus Casino Gambling," will be published in February in the Journal of Consumer Research. LaTour said it is the first time the publication has included a study about gambling. She co-authored the report with June Cotte, a marketing professor at the University of Western Ontario in London, Ontario.

She was also quick to point out the study was funded by the hotel school, not the gaming industry.

LaTour said that despite the negative elements associated with Internet gambling, she is not opposed to the activity as long as some limits can be set.

The industry is estimated to be generating annual revenues upward of $10 billion to $12 billion, so its elimination seems remote. Online gambling is illegal in the United States. Canadian citizens can gamble online through provincial lottery corporations. North American consumers, however, easily engage in online wagering through Internet companies located offshore.

Both researchers thought regulating the industry could lead to a form of taxation. Rep. Jim McDermott, D-Wash., offered a bill earlier this month that would legalize and tax Internet gaming. The legislation was opposed by Nevada's congressional delegation.

"There are a lot of tax dollars out there that could be collected," LaTour said.

The UNLV associate professor is not a gambler, but said she logged onto different gambling sites to see how they operate. She came across underage gamblers and what she believed to be compulsive gamblers. Chat rooms on the Web sites had graphic conversations and could be used for stalking, she said.

"The legalization of online gambling allows for better regulation, including efforts designed to reduce the number of problem gamblers," LaTour said.

The two researchers interviewed 20 regular casino gamblers and 10 regular online gamblers. The results of the study show that online gamblers wager more frequently and more aggressively. While casino gambling requires travel outside the home and often involves interaction with casino personnel and other gamblers, online gambling can be accomplished wherever the home computer is located.

"Online gamblers are much more prone to suffer from all the negative aspects," LaTour said. "The activity lacks social interaction, which can increase the risk of addiction."

Regulation, the report suggests, could make better use of age checks; cross-check users with lists of pathological gamblers; set wagering and financial limits; make information available about problem gambling and include the availability of an online counselor; set mandatory periods for gamblers to stop wagering; and make win-loss tabulations more central. Both researchers are opposed to flashing, bright graphics that signal winning bets.

In addition to McDermott's proposal, Rep. Shelley Berkley, D-Nev., has called for a one-year study of Internet gambling by the National Research Council of the National Academy of Sciences. Rep. Barney Frank, D-Mass., has proposed legislation that would overturn a ban on Internet gambling and require the Treasury Department to regulate online betting.

The American Gaming Association, which represents the casino industry in Washington, D.C., and is neutral on Internet gambling, has supported Berkley's bill.

Holly Thomsen, a spokeswoman for the association, said the gaming group is seeking a federally funded study to evaluate the effects of online gambling. The organization's board wants to know if Internet gambling can be effectively legalized and regulated in the United States.

"Such an endeavor could evaluate whether legalization, regulation and taxation, on a state-option basis, may be a more viable option than a complete ban on Internet gambling, and would result in recommendations to Congress on the best way to handle the issue," Thomsen said in an e-mailed statement.

LaTour said Nevada, where gamblers can wager most anywhere, including grocery stores, convenience stores and bars, has its share of online gamblers. She would like to see the state collect taxes from the activity.

PALMER - A survey commissioned by the owner of land being eyed for a casino here has found that the majority of Palmer residents favor a resort casino in town.

The casino survey was conducted for Northeast Resorts Group, owner of land off Route 32 and across from the turnpike exit, by the Center for Policy Analysis at the University of Massachusetts at Dartmouth for $6,000.

The Connecticut casino Mohegan Sun has an exclusive development agreement with Northeast to build a casino-entertainment complex on the site. Whether that becomes a reality depends on casino gaming being legalized in Massachusetts and Palmer being chosen for a site.

A vote by the state House of Representatives in March killed a proposal by Gov. Deval L. Patrick to license three casinos in the state. The issue is expected to be revived.

Clyde W. Barrow, director of the Center for Policy Analysis, said 485 Palmer residents were surveyed by phone from July 16 to 20. Results were released Tuesday.

They were asked: "Mohegan Sun has proposed a resort casino in the town of Palmer on a 152-acre site adjacent to exit 8 on the Massachusetts Turnpike (Interstate 90). Do you support or oppose Mohegan Sun's proposal to locate a resort casino at this site, or are you undecided?"

Fifty-five percent of respondents said they support hosting a resort casino, while 25 percent were opposed and 20 percent, undecided. There is a 4.5 percent margin of error.

More men than women supported a casino, 58 percent compared to 52. More women were opposed, 29 percent, than men, 20 percent.

Those with a lower family income or education were more inclined to support a casino.

Individuals with a bachelor's degree or more showed the least support for a casino, with 43 percent in favor, 27 percent opposed and 31 percent undecided. Of those who made $100,000 a year, 46 percent were in favor of a casino, with 18 percent against and 36 percent undecided.

Seventy-six percent of residents with less than a high school education want a casino. Those with an income of less than $25,000 were 58 percent in favor, 22 percent opposed and 20 percent undecided.

Barrow said these results were not surprising.

"It's more about job opportunities than opportunities to gamble," Barrow said Tuesday.

Barrow said he believes the results are important as the casino issue will likely resurface in the next legislation session.

Previous polls have shown majority support for casinos in Palmer.

Ameristar Casinos, Inc. (Nasdaq: ASCA) announced today that Chet W. Koch has been promoted to Senior Vice President and General Manager of Ameristar Kansas City.

Koch had been serving as the property's Vice President and Acting General Manager. He has been an Ameristar Team Member since September 2006.

"Chet has consistently proven himself to be a skilled and respected executive," said Michelle Shriver, Senior Vice President of Operations for Ameristar. "I am very pleased to announce his promotion to the role of General Manager at one of Ameristar's largest properties."

Before being promoted to the Acting General Manager role in August 2007, Koch was the property's Vice President of Finance. Koch -- whose gaming industry career spans three decades -- also previously was Vice President of Finance at Grand Casino Tunica in Mississippi, Regional Vice President of Finance for Caesars Entertainment's Northern Mid-South Region and Vice President of Casino Finance at Windsor Casino Ltd., in Ontario, Canada.

Koch also served in various operational capacities for casinos operated by Harrah's, Claridge, Hilton and Resorts. His expansive experience took him to major domestic and international gaming destinations including Reno, Nevada; Atlantic City, N.J.; Queensland, Australia; and Windsor.

"I am very excited to lead Ameristar Kansas City's Team," Koch said. "I look forward to continuing to work closely with our talented Team Members as we fulfill our pledge to consistently provide Ameristar's high standard of service excellence and product quality."

Koch attended Iowa State University and Stockton State College with an emphasis in business management and accounting. He has been directly involved in opening 13 casinos ranging from small properties to large, land-based destination casino-hotels. Koch received the 1993-94 Promus Companies (Harrah's) Chairman's Award for Expert Skill for his various roles in opening six casinos in less than 18 months.

About Ameristar

Ameristar Casinos, Inc. is a leading Las Vegas-based gaming and entertainment company known for its premier properties characterized by innovative architecture, state-of-the-art casino floors and superior dining, lodging and entertainment offerings. Ameristar's focus on the total entertainment experience and the highest quality guest service has earned it leading market share positions in the markets in which it operates. Founded in 1954 in Jackpot, Nev., Ameristar has been a public company since November 1993. The Company has a portfolio of eight casinos in seven markets: Ameristar Casino Resort Spa in St. Charles (greater St. Louis); Ameristar Casino Hotel in East Chicago (Chicagoland area); Ameristar Kansas City; Ameristar Council Bluffs (Omaha, Neb., and southwestern Iowa); Ameristar Vicksburg (Jackson, Miss., and Monroe, La.); Ameristar Black Hawk (Denver metropolitan area); and Cactus Petes and The Horseshu in Jackpot, Nev. (Idaho and the Pacific Northwest).

New Show To Feature Poker Superstars Interacting With Audience Members In A Live, Daily, High-Tech, Fun-Filled Extravaganza

The Real Deal!, the first ever live, interactive poker-themed stage show, will debut in The Venetian Showroom at The Venetian Resort-Hotel-Casino in Las Vegas this fall, according to a joint announcement by entertainment industry icon Merv Adelson (no relation to Sheldon Adelson, chairman and chief executive officer of The Venetian's parent company Las Vegas Sands Corp.) and the resort. Working in partnership with the world's most renowned poker professionals, the show will introduce a new paradigm in entertainment, establishing a completely original live show format that combines humor, the latest in wireless technology, and abundant prizes in wildly-fun, fast-paced action that will entertain poker enthusiasts and non-players alike.

"The Venetian sets the standard for entertainment in Las Vegas and we are excited to add The Real Deal! to our existing line-up of world-class shows," stated Jason Gastwirth, vice president of entertainment for Las Vegas Sands Corp. "When looking for a new concept to add to our entertainment lineup, we searched for an entirely new experience that would promote audience participation while incorporating well-known personalities that shine beyond the bright lights of the Strip -- we found that in The Real Deal!."

Staged in The Venetian Showroom as part of The Venetian's extraordinary lineup of entertainment offerings, The Real Deal! will empower the audience to participate both on-stage and from their seats through the use of wireless touch screen devices. The Real Deal! will use a revolutionary multi-player platform with interactive content in conjunction with technology from TimePlay Entertainment, Inc. Playing both against and alongside the pros, audience members will earn points to vie for prizes ranging from The Real Deal! logo'd merchandise to spectacular home electronics and more, including a chance to win a $1 million grand prize.

The Real Deal! roster of poker pros represents a Who's Who of the sport and includes the legendary Doyle Brunson, Daniel Negreanu, Phil Hellmuth, Jr., Antonio Esfandiari, Gavin Smith, Eli Elezra, Jennifer Harman, Phil Laak, Scotty Nguyen, and Todd Brunson. The pros will participate in shows each month, taking on Vegas visitors of all poker skills and experience. Combined, the The Real Deal! professionals have won 8 World Poker Tour Championships (WPT) and 35 World Series of Poker TM (WSOP) bracelets, amassing over $48,000,000 in tournament prize money.

"Never before has poker been so integrated with entertainment," said Merv Adelson, the inspiration behind The Real Deal!. "The popularity of poker is unquestioned, as is the viability of live game show experiences in Las Vegas. The Real Deal! will keep guests laughing and give them the unique chance to get into the heads of the world's best pros as they share tips and strategy throughout the fast-paced game. We know it will quickly become a hot ticket."

Casting is underway for the show host, and the producers are talking with well-known comedians who they feel will bring an energized blend of humor and poker information to the audience while keeping the action moving. The chance to take on poker's superstars without having to risk big money is more than enough to drive interest, but The Real Deal! goes far beyond the action on the stage, appealing to both poker aficionados and those who have never thrown a chip in a pot.

Participating audience members will play along during the on-stage game with a wireless handheld console. The large collection of prizes will be awarded to individuals based on their game performance, such as their play of the virtual "ninth hand." However, there will be many other random winning moments! For example, audience members will be able to wager on simple instances that will occur during play, such as the suit of cards dealt on the flop. Every show, audience members will also have the chance to draw for a Royal Flush and win ONE MILLION DOLLARS.

An elimination process will result in the chip-leading pro, the final surviving amateur, and the point leader from the play-along audience, on stage for a three-handed finale.

"Poker fans have been able to view and enjoy professional poker action for years on television," said Doyle Brunson, The Real Deal!'s lead poker professional. "This is different. Everyone in the audience can be in the game and compete with the pros and other guests. It is a one-of-a-kind-poker experience."

The creation and production of groundbreaking entertainment is nothing new to Adelson and the members of the production team. Adelson, co-founder of Lorimar Telepictures and former vice chairman of Time Warner, Inc., put together an elite team headed by executive producer Gary Smith, an eight-time Emmy(R) Award winning producer and director of esteemed live shows including the Tony Awards and The Emmy(R) Awards, Producer Bill Nuss, who has written and produced over 300 hours of network primetime television, Chief Operating Officer Gary Adelson, a veteran Hollywood deal maker and producer, and Erick Brownstein, a highly regarded creative strategist and new media marketer, as Director of Technology.

The Real Deal! will entertain six days a week at The Venetian Showroom in Las Vegas, with shows at 4 pm and primetime performances on Tuesdays and Wednesdays. In addition to general tickets, a limited number of VIP packages will be available for each show that include an opportunity to meet the poker stars after the show.
Statements in this press release, which are not historical facts, are "forward looking" statements that are made pursuant to the Safe Harbor Provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements involve a number of risks, uncertainties or other factors beyond the Company's control, which may cause material differences in actual results, performance or other expectations. These factors include, but are not limited to general economic conditions, competition, new ventures, government regulation, legalization of gaming, interest rates, future terrorist acts, insurance, and other factors detailed in the reports filed by Las Vegas Sands Corp. with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

About The Venetian Resort-Hotel-Casino

The Venetian Resort-Hotel-Casino, the largest property in the country to receive AAA's Five Diamond Award and Mobil Four-Star, is one of the world's most luxurious resort and convention destinations. Re-creating Venice's legendary landmarks, the resort offers unmatched service and quality for leisure and corporate guests. Located in the heart of the Las Vegas Strip, The Venetian features The Grand Canal Shoppes, an indoor streetscape complete with gondolas and singing gondoliers, the Canyon Ranch SpaClub, world-class gaming, exquisite restaurants, and a wide variety of entertainment such as Phantom - The Las Vegas Spectacular, Blue Man Group and Wayne Brady on its premises, as well as extensive convention and corporate services.
About The Real Deal!

The Real Deal!, the first ever interactive poker stage show, pits audience members against the world's best poker players in a funny, fast-paced, high-tech, prize-filled event that entertains poker enthusiasts and non-players alike. The show will debut fall of 2008 in The Venetian Showroom at The Venetian Resort-Hotel-Casino in Las Vegas. A "to-go" version of the show is also available as a theme for corporate events worldwide. Events may be held in the Venetian Showroom, or at alternative event locations. Additionally, the production team is preparing to launch an online version of the show.
About TimePlay Entertainment

TimePlay Entertainment is a world leader in creating multiplayer interactive content. The company is capitalizing on the global consumer demand for interactivity through its patented CineLynx platform and unique content. TimePlay has advanced and expanded the existing world of interactive media to larger, more robust and socially engaging venues such as cinemas and casinos. TimePlay's CineLynx platform allows multiple forms of interactivity including player to player, venue to venue and with mobile phones and online- parlaying huge existing audiences and infrastructure into a completely new entertainment experience. TimePlay has operations in the US, UK and Canada.

Gov. Steve Beshear said yesterday that legalizing casinos remains a possibility in Kentucky even though lawmakers rejected the idea earlier this year.
"I don't think that issue is dead," Beshear told about 400 people gathered in a small school auditorium in the heart of the Appalachian coalfields. "I think we will be talking about it a lot more."

Beshear yesterday began a series of 13 town hall meetings that will take him to communities across the state during the next five weeks.

The governor said he is especially interested in suggestions on how state government can continue to provide services under tight budget constraints. The state faces a $900 million revenue shortfall over the next two years.

Beshear, who received a standing ovation when he was introduced, raised the casino issue in a community where support for the proposal is at best lukewarm, said the Rev. John Doug Hays, pastor of Jack's Creek Baptist Church and a former state senator.

"We're a conservative, church-oriented community," Hays said. "I just don't think it's a popular issue here. I understand what the governor says, that it's happening all around us. By the same reasoning, you could say there's prostitution in Nevada. Let's bring in legalized prostitution. We have to draw a moral line in the sand."

Beshear proposed legislation calling for a constitutional amendment to legalize casino gambling. That measure, he said, could have generated up to $600 million a year in additional state revenue.

Beshear said after the meeting that no decision has been made on when he will bring the issue back to the General Assembly.

"We're going to listen to people as we go around the state," he said.

At least one political critic, Republican Party Chairman Steve Robertson, contends Beshear has scheduled the meetings in hopes of improving his image after a dismal start to his young administration. In his first go-around with the legislature, he was unable to get lawmakers to approve his two primary objectives -- the casino amendment and a proposal to increase the state cigarette tax from 30 cents to $1 a pack.

Beshear's latest push should be easier to achieve -- the creation of an "In God We Trust" license plate. He has called on lawmakers to approve the idea when they return to Frankfort early next year.

Robertson questioned Beshear's motive for the proposal, saying the timing "smacks of politics."

Beshear complained about what he called "rank partisanship" in Frankfort.

"People are so interested in fighting each other that they can't get together and do what's right," he said. "It's just been bickering back and forth, arguing back and forth, and getting nothing done."

Ameristar Casinos, Inc. (Nasdaq: ASCA), which has a long legacy of corporate giving in the communities it serves, announced it will donate a new, fully outfitted cargo van to the Food Bank of Northwest Indiana during a celebration marking the rebranding of its East Chicago, Ind., property on Sunday, July 20. The donation will be followed by a free concert featuring music icon Lionel Richie. (Because of strong demand, all general admission tickets for the free concert have been distributed.)

"Ameristar has a long-standing commitment to giving back to every community in which we operate," said Pete Longi, Assistant General Manager of Ameristar Casino Hotel. "As we celebrate Ameristar's arrival in East Chicago and the rebranding of our property to 'Ameristar Casino Hotel,' we're proud to continue this tradition by making this donation to our deserving neighbor, the Food Bank of Northwest Indiana."

An affiliate of America's Second Harvest, the nation's largest food bank network, the Food Bank of Northwest Indiana provides food to hungry people in Lake and Porter counties through a network of 90 charities. Its service area is home to about 100,000 people who live significantly below the poverty level. With only one vehicle in its current fleet in good operational condition, the new cargo van will significantly improve the food bank's delivery capabilities.

"So much of our operating budget goes directly to purchasing food that our biggest organizational challenge is transportation," said Angelina Williams, Executive Director of the Food Bank of Northwest Indiana. "This van will help us in numerous ways and will directly help many, many people in our community. We deeply appreciate Ameristar making a donation that will improve our entire distribution efforts."

Through its charitable giving program, Ameristar Cares, the Company and its Team Members donate millions of dollars annually to charitable organizations in markets in which Ameristar serves. Team Members are active volunteers in their hometowns, each year giving their time and energy to a variety of causes. Ameristar Casino Hotel plans to partner with the Food Bank of Northwest Indiana on future Team Member philanthropic and volunteer efforts.

The van will be awarded to the food bank in an on-stage presentation at 5:35. p.m. The free, "sold-out" Lionel Richie concert will follow at 6 p.m. It is the first of three free concerts Ameristar is hosting in a temporary amphitheater created especially for the series. Rock & Roll Hall of Fame inductee Smokey Robinson will perform Aug. 17 and country music and television star Reba McEntire will take the stage Sept. 13.

About Ameristar

Ameristar Casinos, Inc. is a leading Las Vegas-based gaming and entertainment company known for its premier properties characterized by innovative architecture, state-of-the-art casino floors and superior dining, lodging and entertainment offerings. Ameristar's focus on the total entertainment experience and the highest quality guest service has earned it leading market share positions in the markets in which it operates. Founded in 1954 in Jackpot, Nev., Ameristar has been a public company since November 1993. The Company has a portfolio of eight casinos in seven markets: Ameristar Casino Resort Spa in St. Charles (greater St. Louis); Ameristar Casino Hotel in East Chicago (Chicagoland area); Ameristar Kansas City; Ameristar Council Bluffs (Omaha, Neb., and southwestern Iowa); Ameristar Vicksburg (Jackson, Miss., and Monroe, La.); Ameristar Black Hawk (Denver metropolitan area); and Cactus Petes and The Horseshu in Jackpot, Nev. (Idaho and the Pacific Northwest).

HONG KONG -- Billionaire casino magnate Stanley Ho is planing to proceed with his Macau gambling company's debut on the stock exchange next week after a court on Wednesday thwarted a legal challenge from his estranged sister.

The Hong Kong court has refused to grant Winnie Ho an injunction to stop the listing of "Sociedade de Jogos de Macau", or SJM. In a written decision, a justice rebuffed her argument that regulators should have objected to the listing and the exchange should never have approved it.

Was this the latest twist in a bitter public feud between the two sibling tycoons, who fell out in 2001. She has since gone out of her way to stop his company from listing in Hong Kong, and has filed dozens of lawsuits over the years.

Among her many accusations, Winnie Ho says she's owed dividends from SJM. The listing has been delayed repeatedly.

On Wednesday, SJM praised the courts' decision and said its debut on the stock exchange would go ahead on July 16. Its original debut was scheduled for Thursday but postponed by the legal challenge.
The company was "delighted" by the decision, its chief executive, Ambrose So, said at a news conference.

Stanley Ho "of course welcomed the decision," So said. "He said he's very happy to have this decision and support of all regulators."

A spokesman for Winnie Ho's legal case, Donna Yau, said Ho's lawyers were reviewing their options.

SJM sold a 25 percent stake, about 1.25 billion shares, at the low end of the pricing range. The listing raised about $494 million, most of which the company says it plans to spend on new casino projects.

Stanley Ho, worth more than $9 billion according to Forbes, lost his monopoly in Macau several years ago. Now his 18 casinos must compete with American newcomers like Wynn Resorts Ltd. and Las Vegas Sands Corp.

A national casino operator from Pennsylvania is close to securing an option to purchase Cecil County property near Interstate 95 for use as a slot machine gambling venue if voters this November approve the devices in Maryland.
The company, Penn National Gaming, would purchase the land only if the ballot referendum passes and if it is awarded the license that is guaranteed to go to a Cecil County site. The other four guaranteed locations would be in Baltimore City and Anne Arundel, Allegany and Worcester counties.

In the November referendum, voters will decide whether to amend the Maryland Constitution to authorize 15,000 slot machines. Penn National, which owns Charles Town Races and Slots in West Virginia and several other gambling venues in the United States and Canada, had sought last year to purchase Rosecroft Raceway in Prince George's County until Maryland lawmakers excluded the track from being eligible for a slots license.

"Yes, we are looking at a potential site in Cecil County should the referendum be approved by voters in November," said the vice president of public affairs for Penn National Gaming of Wyomissing,Eric Schippers. "We're hoping to secure a site prior to the referendum."

"The company is wishing to finalize an option to buy land in Cecil County near I-95 before November in order to inform the public about its plans for a slots venue", he said.

"It would allow us to educate voters on the positive benefits in terms of job creation, economic development dedicated revenues to the county and the state. Those things are helpful when people go to the polls," Schippers said.

The company, whose intention was first reported in The Washington Post yesterday, would have to compete to win the license. A major landowner in Cecil County, Stewart Associates, has reportedly expressed interest in using land it owns in Perryville for a slots venue.

The Cecil Whig reported last week that Stewart Associates owns "134 acres at I-95 and Route 222 in Perryville and has hired a land planner to deliver a site plan for the property that includes a visitors center, hotel and conference center, retail shops, and an entertainment complex." The Stewart family is considering slots as part of the facility, according to the newspaper.

The lawmakers of Louisiana have filed their required 2007 financial disclosure forms, the last time they report income from just two sectors: gambling interests and governments.

Started in May 2009, they will be required to report far more personal financial information: salaries, investments, debts and real estate. Pushed by Gov. Bobby Jindal, legislators early this year imposed the new requirements on themselves, top executive branch officials and members of large state boards and commissions.

A majority of the 2007 reports show no proceeds from gambling firms or government, but 62 reported various levels of income they or their spouses received, including salaries from local school boards, proceeds from video poker machines and a multimillion dollar state contract.

Another new ethics law will prohibit state government contracts of the sort reported by Sen. Jack Donahue, R-Mandeville, whose contracting firm won a nearly $7 million competitively bid contract with the Louisiana National Guard.

The legislators who reported 2007 government income they did business with local governments. Donahue's firm won a $4 million contract with the Plaquemines Parish School Board - allowable for a lawmaker under the new rules.

Others reporting local government contracts included:

-Sen. Dale Erdey, R-Livingston, whose insurance company had over $94,225 in income from various Livingston Parish governments.

-Rep. Austin Badon, D-New Orleans, $36,538 in salary from Southern University of New Orleans.

-Freshman lawmakers including Rep. Nickie Monica, R-LaPlace, who had been local elected officials before winning seats in the Legislature. Monica had $81,267 in salary for serving as St. John the Baptist Parish president. Democratic Rep. Robert Billiot received $54,796 as mayor of Westwego.

-Rep. Jim Fannin, D-Jonesboro, whose farm supply business received $7,934 from Jackson Parish governments and high schools.

-Sen. Ben Nevers, D-Bogalusa, whose utility company received $73,371 from government entities including LSU's Bogalusa hospital and the Washington Parish Department of Public Works.

Some had income from governments and from gambling companies.

Rep. Jerry Gisclair, D-Larose, who runs radio stations, reported $23,609 in advertising revenue from government operations including the St. Charles Parish Hospital. His company's advertising revenue from gambling companies included $16,040 from Harrah's Operating Co., plus other proceeds from truck stops.

Others reporting gambling revenue included:

-Rep. Gordon Dove, R-Houma, whose restaurant received $23,329 from a video poker company.

-Rep. Ernest Wooton, R-Belle Chasse, $16,000 from video poker firms. Wooton is chair of the House committee that oversees gambling laws.

-The husband of Sen. Ann Duplessis, D-New Orleans, was paid $43,500 by Churchill Downs Louisiana Horse Racing Co.

All 142 members of the Legislature submitted the disclosure forms by the July 1 deadline.

TORONTO, Ontario's push to allow Las Vegas-style sports gambling in casinos in a bid to boost sagging revenues is an irresponsible move that could deepen a troubling trend of gambling addiction in the province, critics said Thursday.

The casinos from Ontario do have some sports betting but it's limited to the government-run Pro-Line lottery in which the people who are gambling select the outcomes of three, four or more contests on a ``parlay' ticket.

The province is urging Ottawa to amend the Criminal Code to allow casino ``sportsbooks', a section of the facility where gamblers could make bets on individual games, government officials confirmed.

Former Infrastructure Minister David Caplan, who was recently shuffled to the Health and Long-Term Care file, made the request last year in a letter to federal Justice Minister Rob Nicholson, said Caplan's former spokeswoman Amy Tang.

``There was a letter that came back from Minister Nicholson's office, saying `Thank you for the letter' and that was it,' said Tang, who works for newly-minted Energy and Infrastructure Minister George Smitherman.

``(He said) he was going to give it some consideration.'

The "Toronto Star" has reported that Nicholson, who represents Niagara Falls, is receptive to the idea and the two levels of government are quietly co-operating, although no timeline has been set.

However,Tang said she didn't know nothing about any kind of talks.

``We're hopeful that they're going to make that change,' she added. ``That would then allow us to investigate this as a possibility for an overall provincial gaming strategy", she said.

Darren Eke, a spokesman for Nicholson, wouldn't confirm whether talks were underway.

``The minister is aware of the views of the Province of Ontario with respect to single sport event betting,' Eke wrote in an e-mail.

``This government has put forth an extensive legislative justice agenda of which some legislation still remains in Parliament; we intend on continuing to take action on issues within the Justice portfolio in due course.'

Progressive Conservative Leader John Tory slammed the proposal as just another distraction concocted by the governing Liberals to draw attention away from the province's current economic troubles.

``We should have a discussion about sportsbooks at our casinos because they're in trouble,' he said.

``But at the end of the day, what problem is this going to solve? Is it going to fix the economy? Will it fix C. difficile or long-term care, or will it fix even the government's revenues? No, it won't.'

But Conservative finance critic Tim Hudak said he's urged Nicholson and Smitherman to move quickly on the proposal.

``I do believe that this would be helpful to our casinos, to bring patrons back,' said Hudak, who represents the riding of Niagara Falls-Glanbrook.

Expanding gambling at a time when the government barely has a handle on its problem gamblers is an ``incredibly irresponsible' move, said NDP critic Peter Kormos.

``What this does illustrate is that it's the province who has the real gambling addiction, the real gambling dependency, because it's looking forward to those new revenues,' he said.

If Ottawa agrees to the changes, the province could see sportsbooks in two Niagara Falls casinos, Casino Rama near Orillia and the new Caesars Windsor facility, as well as racetracks.

At the moment, Canadian gamblers skirt the law by betting with sportsbooks in the Caribbean, the United Kingdom, and a slew of other countries.

North American sports leagues have traditionally opposed sportsbooks, one reason why Las Vegas is not home to a major league team.

Phil Hellmuth Jr. prompted his parents to make an impromptu trip to Las Vegas on Tuesday to see him compete in the $1,500 H.O.R.S.E. final table.
He woke up Tuesday morning at his home in Wisconsin expecting it to be just another ordinary day in the life of a retiree.

"I was planning on going for a swim and then going out to dinner with my wife," he says.Instead, Hellmuth and his wife Lynn got a call from their oldest son just after 7 a.m. asking them to come to Las Vegas. Phil Jr. was sitting in second place of the $1,500 H.O.R.S.E. event heading into Tuesday's third and final day and wanted his parents to come out and see him make a run at a 12th World Series of Poker bracelet.

"We usually come out at least once during the World Series to see him play and since he was right there in the running for this one we decided to catch a flight and get here as fast as we could," Mr. Hellmuth said of he and his wife's impromptu trek to the Strip. "It's always fun to come here and see him go to work."

Unfortunately for the Hellmuth cheering section – which included Phil's wife Kathy – there was no victory to celebrate. Hellmuth, who at one point in the day was the chipleader, fell back into the pack and was eventually ousted by Tommy Hang, some 10 hours after Day 3 play began. The third-place finish helped Hellmuth pocket $93,168, but leaving the table without that elusive 12th bracelet was still a bitter disappointment.

Nonetheless, the elder Hellmuth was happy to be there for his son.

"Heck, he takes good care of me," said the elder Hellmuth laughing, who at 6-foot-4 bears a strong resemblance to his oldest son, who stands in at around 6-foot-5. "It's the least I could do", he said.

If you're looking for the classic case of a proud father, this is it. But once you start talking to him, you realize that Phil Jr. isn't the only member of the family that has given good reason for his parents to beam with affection.

"All five of them hate to lose and it comes from watching Phil all of their lives because he was the oldest," Mr. Hellmuth explains. "It's that confidence in themselves and that fierce competitiveness that has helped them achieve the great things that they have done with their lives."

Mr. Hellmuth begins listing off all of his kids' achievements and with each explanation his face glows brighter and brighter. There's David, the highly acclaimed founding partner at Hellmuth & Johnson Attorneys at Law in Minnesota. Then there's Molly, a research scientist at the Institute for Climate and Society at Columbia University, and her sister Kerry, a former professional cyclist in Italy who is now a full-time mother.

Mr. Hellmuth seems to get the most pleasure when he mentions his daughter Ann, a former Special Olympian who won 12 gold medals and competed in two World Games. She currently works for a childcare center in Wisconsin.

"All five of them have reached the top in whatever they have decided to do," he says, once again with a great sense of pride. "Phil just happens to be the most famous."

So famous that when Mr. Hellmuth, a former Associate Dean of Liberal Arts at the University of Wisconsin, goes back once a year to conduct a seminar for the Management School, the first thing he does is tell the class that he is Phil Hellmuth Sr., not the poker player junior.

"I always get a few students who tell me they were kind of hoping to see my son instead of me when they walked in," Mr. Hellmuth says with a laugh.

As he watches his son, sitting 10 feet behind him, Mr. Hellmuth is calm, cool and collected. Mr. Hellmuth has done this before many, many times during the course of his son's 20-year career as a professional poker player that has seen him win more bracelets and land more cashes (67) than any other player in WSOP history. Overall, Phil Jr. has accumulated more than $5 million in career earnings.

Mr. Hellmuth is asked if he gets a kick out of seeing maniacal poker fans cram the rail just to get a glimpse at his son, whose star shines brighter than nearly anybody else in the game today.

"I used to back in the day, but I'm kind of used to it now," he says. "What I enjoy now is seeing the younger players get to a final table and then watch their parents or wife or friends get so much joy out of it. It brings me back to when that's how I would react when Phil was first starting out. It's fun to watch."

Mr. Hellmuth says the biggest misconception about Phil Jr. is that people "buy into that whole 'Poker Brat' mystique that he conveyed back in his younger days."

"That's not Phil, but I realize it's all part of the show," he says. "But what bothers me is you take a guy like John McEnroe in tennis. He was obviously at the very top of his game, just like Phil. But he was never really accepted by the fans and the media because of his antics on the court. I think unfortunately that's what's happened to Phil."

After Day 3 that lasted more than 10 hours, Mr. Hellmuth is asked if he and his wife will remain in Vegas for the Main Event, which begins Thursday.

"No, I'll be back in November for the final table," he replies.

"So, you're assuming that Phil will be at that final table," he's asked.

"Oh yeah, most definitely," he smiles. "You don't think small when you're walking around with 11 bracelets on your wrist. You think big."

Suddenly, it becomes crystal clear exactly where Phil and his siblings inherited that confidence and competitiveness that helped make them so successful.