City Approves Lawsuit Against Pechanga Tribe (CA – Pechanga Payment to Temecula)
The Californian (August 10, 2010) In the next couple of weeks, the city of Temecula is expected to file a lawsuit against the Pechanga Band of Luiseno Indians in an attempt to force the tribe to pay millions of dollars to the city to cover the costs associated with the addition of thousands of slot machines at the tribe's casino. The council voted unanimously during Tuesday's council meeting to direct City Attorney Peter Thorson to proceed with that legal action.

Temecula Council Votes To Sue Pechanga Tribe (CA – Pechanga Payment to Temecula)
Press Enterprise (August 10, 2010) Temecula and the Pechanga Band of Luiseño Indians appear headed for the courtroom after the City Council on Tuesday authorized legal action to force the tribe to pay for its casino's effect on city services. With no discussion, council members voted 5-0 to seek a legal remedy to a matter they thought was settled with the council's approval in March of a long-term agreement with the tribe.

Economy Still Hurting Red Hawk Casino (CA – Red Hawk Casino)
Sacramento Bee (August 11, 2010) The weak economy continues to depress results at Red Hawk Casino, the casino's operating company said today. Lakes Entertainment Inc. of Minneapolis said second quarter revenue fell sharply. The main reason was a poor quarter at its Michigan casino, but Red Hawk contributed to the decline as well. Management fees from the Shingle Springs casino, which are based on operating results, fell compared to a year ago.

Ohlones Want A Voice On Hunters Point Project (CA – Ohlone Tribe)
San Francisco Chronicle (August 10, 2010) An Indian tribe held a sunrise ceremony at Yosemite Slough on Tuesday in an attempt to show just how important the sacred sites around the proposed Hunters Point Shipyard/Candlestick Point redevelopment project are to the Ohlone people. "We want to be shown the respect we deserve as the original people of that land," Tony Cerda, chairman of the Costanoan Rumsen Carmel Tribe, said. "We need city recognition."
 
Vista Councilman Was Casino Regular, Sergeant Says (CA – Vista Councilman Gambles in Excess)
San Diego Union Tribune (August 10, 2010) Vista Councilman Frank Lopez has already been investigated for allegedly bouncing more than 600 checks to employees at his restaurant, but that may not be the end of his problems. A report last month in The San Diego Union-Tribune also found that the federal and state governments had filed 15 liens against the couple for $156,000 in delinquent taxes for the restaurant from 2004-09. During the same period, the Lopezes were regulars at several area casinos, Sgt. Mark Varnau of the San Diego County Sheriff’s Department Financial Crimes Unit said Monday.
 
American Casino & Entertainment Properties LLC ('ACEP') Today Reported Financial Results for the Second Quarter Ended June 30 (US – 2nd Quarter Earnings)
Sacramento Bee (August 11, 2010) Net revenues were $86.6 million for the second quarter 2010 compared to $94.1 million for the second quarter of 2009, a decrease of 8.0%.  Primarily as a result of our lower Net revenues, an impairment charge at Stratosphere and increased expenses associated with our restructured debt, ACEP reported a Net loss for the second quarter of $7.7 million compared to a Net loss of $844 thousand in the second quarter of 2009.
 
Jobs Bill Gets Final OK; Sends California $2.5 Billion (CA – Jobs Bill Sends Money to CA)
Sacramento Bee (August 10, 2010) Taking a rare break from summer vacation, the House returned to Capitol Hill today and gave final approval to a huge $26 billion jobs bill that will send at least $2.5 billion to California to help balance the state budget and pay the salaries of its schoolteachers. The 247-161 vote capped a contentious months-long debate over a plan to aid the states by giving them more money for education and Medicaid.

Online Gambling Bill Delayed By House District Work Period (US – Online Gaming Legislation)
USA Players (August 11, 2010) For those who were hoping for a quick resolution to the online gambling bill currently passing through the house, disappointment is on the horizon. On August 9th, the House went into its District Work Period. In a nutshell, the District Work Period is the time of the year in which House Representatives return to their district away from Washington ostensibly to work for their constituents. During this time, the house is not in session, and thus no progress can be made on any legislation passing through the House.
 
Facebook’s Zynga Poker Would Benefit Most From Online Poker Law (US – Online Gaming Legislation)
Gambling 911 (August 10, 2010) While there has been so much talk about the Las Vegas casinos and European online gambling companies jumping into the U.S. online poker market assuming legislation passes in the next few months to legalize the activity, the real winner may be Facebook. It’s Zynga poker game continues to top all other businesses that are part of Facebook.  Zynga boasts a user base of around 60 million daily (for all of its game applications). 
 
NIGC Welcomes New Chief of Staff (US – New NIGC Staffer Selected)
NIGC Press Release (August 9, 2010) Today National Indian Gaming Commission Chairwoman Tracie Stevens announced the selection of Paxton Myers as the Commission’s Chief of Staff.  For the past year, Mr. Myers served as Congressman Dale Kildee’s Native American affairs advisor. Congressman Dale Kildee is co-founder and Chairman of the House Native American Caucus.  As the Congressman’s Native American advisor, Myers played a key role in advising and educating Members of Congress by coordinating briefings and preparing background information on legislation and issues affecting Native American communities.

IGT Wins 16 Awards in Casino Player Magazine's Best of Gaming Reader Poll (US – Casino Player Magazine Poll)
PR NewsWire (August 9, 2010) International Game Technology (NYSE:IGT - News), a global leader in creating the major slot games players love and casino network systems that improve the player experience, announced today its games received 16 awards in Casino Player magazine's Best of Gaming for 2010. Players from around the U.S. voted IGT games as their favorites in every slot-related category. The awards will be featured in the August issue of the magazine.
 
American Gaming Spends $360,605 On 2Q Lobbying (US – American Gaming Lobbying)
Sacramento Bee (August 10, 2010) The American Gaming Association spent more than $360,000 in the second quarter lobbying federal officials about Internet poker and other forms of gambling, among other matters, according to a recent disclosure report. That's more than the $326,000 it spent a year earlier but less than the $430,000 the group spent lobbying in the first quarter.
 
New Jersey Casinos in Talks with Software Providers (NJ – Online Gaming Preparation)
Casino Scam Report (August 10, 2010) The Atlantic City Weekly Newspaper reported last week that Casino operators in Atlantic City have been in talks with online gambling software providers in an effort to get ready for legalized online gaming. Unidentified online gaming software companies are in talks with casino owners in the anticipation that the online gambling market will open up in the US said “Mark Juliano” President of the New Jersey Casino Association.
 
Atlantic City Casinos See 5 Pct July Revenue Drop (NJ – Casino Revenues)
Sacramento Bee (August 11, 2010) Atlantic City casino revenues dropped again in July as competition heated up from the introduction of table games in Pennsylvania and after a weekend air conditioning failure hurt results at two properties. The New Jersey Casino Control Commission reported Tuesday that revenue for the 11 casinos in the nation's second-largest gambling market fell 5 percent in July, to $363.9 million.