Moscow           Ria Novosti
Gang arrested in Moscow for slot machine hacking

Las Vegas           Las Vegas Sun - Liz Benston
Casinos may face bans on smoking

The American Gaming Association opposes smoking ban in casinos and instead favours establishing a best practices code for ventilation systems.

Las Vegas           Las Vegas Review-Journal
Caesars now primed for poker - Casino to open $12 million card room 
www.suntecsingapore.com

Las Vegas & Singapore           Yahoo/PRNewswire
Harrah's, Keppel Land Team Up With Singapore's Top Convention Center
www.suntecsingapore.com

Las Vegas & Macau           Yahoo/PRNewswire
Las Vegas Sands Corp. and Far East Consortium Move Forward with Cotai Strip Project

Online Poker           Reuters
PartyGaming looks to fuel poker explosion

Las Vegas           Gaming Today
Poker pitfalls! - SEC probes Brunson's WPT 'offer’

Breda, The Netherlands           Hambach Rechtsanwalt/Betting-law.com
Dutch Courts finds the Dutch casino monopoly not compliant with the Treaty of Rome

Miami Beach           Yahoo/AP & Sun-Sentinel
NTSB: Plane Crashed After Wing Fell Off
NTSB says seaplane crashed into sea off Miami Beach after right wing fell off

A Chalks plane on route from Miami to Bimini crashed shorltly after takeoff on Tuesday 20th. All 20 onboard perished.

Miami           Sun-Sentinel - 19th December
Chalk's Ocean Airways survived 86 years of ups and downs
www.flychalks.com

Australia           The Melbourne Age
Aussie poker champ gets lucky again

WSOP Joe Hachem will not have to pay Australian income tax on his A$10 million win in Las Vegas as Poker was classed as his hobby.

Macau           Reuters
Las Vegas Sands joins HK firm for Macau complex
www.fareastconsortium.com.hk

Croydon. London           Croydon Guardian
Century Casinos plans to land at Aerodrome Hotel
www.aerodrome-hotel.co.uk
www.centurycasinos.com

Free State, South Africa           Seattle Times
Peermont begins building Free State casino - Frontier Inn & Casino in Bethlehem.
www.peermont.com

Limpopo, South Africa           News24.com/SAPA
Gang robs Limpopo casino

Yet another S.A. casino robbery. This time involving an armed gang of 20 and customers were alos once again targeteted.

www.meropacasino.co.za

Singapore           Bangkok Post
Singapore betting on who will run its first casino

Sydney. Australia           Sydney Morning Herald
Bugno to head Tabcorp casino business

Mississippi           MSNBC& LVR-J
Biloxi pins its rebuilding hopes on casinos
Harrah's unloads Gulfport casino

Las Vegas           Las Vegas Sun - Liz Benston
Aliante Station to join NLV neighborhood casinos
www.aliantehomes.com

Las Vegas           Yahoo/AP
Shuffle Master Receives OK for Buyout

Biloxi, Mississippi           Yahoo/PRNewswire
Isle of Capri Responds to Illinois Gaming Board Ruling
www.islecorp.com

Illinois           Chicago Business & Reuters.com
IL Gaming Board votes to revoke Emerald's license
Illinois board revokes dormant casino license
 
 

Other headlines... a quick roundup of other stories fround during GF's daily updates. Bookies stung by betting loophole - Australia. Two sought over bookies raid - Downpatrick, N.I. City Council deals blow to gambling in Kenmore - Kenmore, Washington State. Casinos stay open, for now - Tacoma, Washington State.

Birmingham & Las Vegas           icBirmingham/Birmingham Post
US casino firm gags council
Casino - now it's anyone's bet

LVS  is apparently threatening a High Court injunction to prevent The Birmingham Post from publishing financial and contractural details of their deal with Birmingham City Football Club.

www.lasvegassands.com

Camberley, Surrey           Camberley News and Mail
Casino bet is still running
www.lakesidecomplex.com

Bowling, Dunbartonshire           Glasgow Evening Times
Bid launched to build new super-casino . . . in Bowling 

Wallingford, Connecticut           Yahoo/PRNewswire
TransAct and JCM Formally Combine Gaming Sales Efforts
www.transact-tech.com
www.jcm-american.com

Las Vegas & Mississippi           Yahoo/Business Wire & AP, LVR-J
Harrah's to Sell Grand Casino Gulfport Assets to Gulfside Casino Partnership
Harrah's to Sell Grand Casino in Miss.
www.thecopacasino.com
www.harrahs.com/hurricane

Las Vegas           Yahoo/Business Wire
Station Casinos and the Greenspun Corporation Enter into Agreement to Develop Hotel and Casino in Aliante Master Planned Community
www.americannevada.com
www.aliantehomes.com
www.stationcasinos.com

Las Vegas & Europe           Las Vegas Business Press - David McKee
Size doesn't matter in Europe, experts say

Sydney           News.com.au & AFR
Aristocrat boss nabs 28pc pay rise
Oneile gets $475,000 pay rise
www.aristocrat.com.au

Gaming Investments           Reuters/Barrons
Some investors bullish on Macau gaming
 

Las Vegas           Las Vegas Business Press - David McKee
Downtown casino sale hits a snag - Financial disputes hold up new management for Plaza and three other properties
www.barrickgamingcorp.com

Sheffield           BBC.co.uk
Cards on table over casino scheme

Deauville, France           LaVieFinanciere.com
Hotels et Casinos de Deauville : timide rebond de l'activité au quatrième trimestre
www.lucienbarriere.com/localized/en/casi/deau/casi_casino.asp

Estonia & Latvia           Olympic Casino - Press release
Olympic Entertainment Group acquired Latvia's second-largest casino operator
www.olympic-casino.ee
www.balticgaming.lv
www.casino.lv | www.tower.lv | www.bumerangs.lv | www.megalats.lv

Freeport, Texas           TheFacts.com
Casino boat could be taking wagers soon

The Texas Star is the latest ship to be introduced to Freeport. The owners have scheduled a 15th January opening date. The Texas Star is the former Millionaires Casino that operated out of Savannah, Georgia.

London & Colorado Springs, Colorado           Yahoo/PRNewswire
Century Casinos Announces UK Casino Project
www.aerodrome-hotel.co.uk
mapquest.co.uk - Croydon CR9 4LT
www.centurycasinos.com

London           Daily Telegraph & The Times
Gaming giants held merger talks
William Hill and Rank talks 'fail'

Las Vegas           Las Vegas Sun - Jeff Simpson
On South Coast -- Poised to take its place among the valley's top locals casinos

Las Vegas           Las Vegas Review-Journal - Howard Stutz
Coast Casinos sticks to successful theme for newest property

The South Coast casino will open at 7pm on 22nd December with an 80,000 sq. ft casino containing 2,400 slots, 60 tables, 300-seat race and sports book and a 600-seat bingo room. There will also be a 64-lane bowling center and a 16-screen cinema.

www.coastcasinos.com
www.southcoastcasino.com

Singapore           Reuters & Yahoo Singapore/Dow Jones Newswires
Taubman to back Harrah's-KepLand Singapore casino bid
Taubman Joins Harrah's,Keppel In Singapore Bid
www.taubman.com

Singapore           Channel News Asia
Harrah's, Keppel Land rope in new retail partners in integrated resort bid 
 

Britain           The Sunday Times
Dice start to roll for UK’s Las Vegas

London           L.A. Times
L.A. Firms Aim to Transform London Dome

Online Gambling           The Morning Call
Internet gambling at colleges 'verging on crisis'

The case of bank robbing student Greg Hogan is going national in the U.S. with Good Morning America, the Today Show and the Oprah Winfrey Show all requesting interviews.

Australia           ABC News
Adults-only rating sought for gambling games

Las Vegas & Europe           Las Vegas Business Press - Dave McKee
Harrah's tilts at Spain, Slovenia as part of global strategy

Excellent look at Harrah's recently announced plans to develop casino resorts in Spain and Slovenia.

Las Vegas           Las Vegas Sun - Liz Benston - 15th December
South Coast is in a hot spot  - Population growth fuels locals casino boom

Boyd Gaming's South Coast Hotel & Casino also opens on the 22nd December.

www.southcoastcasino.com

Dunbartonshire. Scotland           Scottish Sunday Mail
£300M Vegas by the Clyde

Harrah's apparently have applied to the Gambling Advisory Panel for a £300million development on the Clyde that will employ 2,200 staff to be granted regional casino status.

Mapquest.co.uk - Bowling, Dumbartonshire
www.harrahs.com

London           Reuters
Rank and William Hill held merger talks

Reuters commenting on a Sunday Times article today.

Problem Gambling - Chicago           The Post Chronicle
Church business manager charged with $600G theft

Mississippi           wwltv.com/AP
Casino changed decor for reopening

The Imperial Palace, Biloxi will reopen on the 22nd December under the new brand name I-P.

www.ipbiloxi.com

Sweden & Austria           The Independent
PokerRoom founders create PartyGaming rival with €473m deal
www.ongame.com & www.pokerroom.com
www.betandwin.ag

Cardiff           icWales/Western Mail
Protest as Cardiff seeks to link Bay casino to sports village

Austria & Belgrade, Serbia           oe-journal.at
Casinos Austria erhält Lizenz für Belgrad

Casinos Austria with partners Club Loutraki and the Serbian Lottery operator have been awarded the single casino licence for Belgrade.

Washington           Yahoo/Reuters
US House, Senate OK Katrina bill, casinos get break

Washington           Newsday/AP & PokerNews.com
SEC Probes Brunson's WPT Enterprises Bid
SEC Files Action Against Doyle's Attorneys
www.doylesroom.com
www.worldpokertour.com

Nevada           In Business Las Vegas - Liz Benston
Problem gambling: New training offered

Las Vegas           Yahoo/Business Wire
Progressive Gaming International Responds to ISWI Patent Infringement Claim: Meritless
www.progressivegaming.net

Las Vegas           Yahoo/AP
Interactive Systems Files Patent Lawsuit

Karlruhe. Germany           Expatica Germany
Wives win casino case after men lose savings

The courts decision in Karsruhe will probably result in free, unchecked entrance to the slot areas of German casinos coming to an end.

New Orleans           New York Times
Date Set to Reopen Casino in New Orleans
www.harrahs.com/our_casinos/nor

Las Vegas           Yahoo/Business Wire
Global Payment Technologies Announces Fiscal 2005 Fourth-Quarter and Year-End Results
www.gpt.com
 

Las Vegas & California           Las Vegas Review-Journal
Venetian owner files suit - Adelson alleges libel by Las Vegas author
Sharks in the Desert @ Amazon.com

Cardiff           BBC.co.uk
City links casino to sport scheme
www.aspers.co.uk

Birmingham           icBirmingham/Birmingham Mail & Post & HoldtheFrontpage.co.uk
Super-casino decision 'two years away'
Chaos reigns in Council casino decision
Casino bid question prompts record phone poll result

Las Vegas           KLAS-TV.com
Counterfeit Money Ring Busted: Learn to Identify Fake Cash

Las Vegas           Las Vegas Review-Journal
Casinos defend against 'supernotes'  - Fake $100 bills make their way to cages on the Strip

Contains a U.S. Secret service comment that they probably see $50,000 to $70,000 in fake currency per week go through Las Vegas.

London           Reuters.co.uk & The Scotsman
London Clubs recovering from July bombings impact
London Clubs says recovering from July bombings

London           UK-Wire.com
London Clubs International plc - Interim Results for the six months ended 25 September 2005
www.lciclubs.com

Lesvos, Greece           eKathimerini
Gambler kills Lesvos woman

Mpumalanga, South Africa           News24.com
Robbers hit jackpot

Yet another South African casino robbery. The 8 strong armed group assaulted security and customers were also apparently targeted.

www.theridgecasino.co.za

Miami           Miami Herald, St. Petersburg Times/AP & CNN.com
N.Y. businessman pleads guilty in SunCruz Casinos fraud case
Ex-Abramoff partner admits fraud in SunCruz case
Lobbyist's ex-partner pleads guilty in casino investigation

Mississippi           NBC 15/WPMI.com
Casinos set to return on Mississippi Gulf Coast

The Imperial Palace Casino will reopen on the 22nd December. The Isle of Capri Biloxi on the 26th and the Palace Casino on the 30th.

www.isleofcapricasinos.com/Biloxi/
www.ipbiloxi.com
www.palacecasinoresort.com

U.K. Bookmakers           Bucks Free Press & Glasgow Evening Times
Armed man strikes twice at bookies - Ladbrokes in Marlow, Buckinghamshire.
Gunmen on run after bookies raid - Ladbrokes in Shettleston, Glasgow.

Vancouver, B.C.           Canada.com/Vancouver Sun
Vancouver ready to host gambling summit in April
www.canadiangaming.com/2006

Pennsylvania           Philadelphia Business Journal
Pa. seeking slots suppliers
www.pgcb.state.pa.us

Pennsylvania           NBC10.com
College Class President Blames Robbery On Gambling Addiction

Karlsruhe, Germany           Frankfurter Rundshau & Ananova
Casinos müssen Spieler kontrollieren
Casino to pay damages to gamblers
 

Singapore           Reuters
Las Vegas Sands joins Singapore firm in casino bid

Singapore & Las Vegas           Yahoo/PRNewswire
Las Vegas Sands Corp., City Developments Limited Join Forces for Singapore Integrated Resort Project
www.lasvegassands.com
www.cdl.com.sg

Free State, South Africa           Business Day
Casino resort for Bethlehem
www.peermont.com

Dortmund-Hohensyburg            Frankfurter Allgemeine
Spieler nicht kontrolliert: Casino muß Geld zurückzahlen

Westdeutsche Spielbanken must repay several thousand Euros to two casino customers who has placed themselves on a barred list and then re-entered the Hohensyburg casino to play the slots.

Erfurt, Thüringen           OstThüringer Zeitung
Thüringen eröffnet als letztes deutsches Bundesland ein Casino
www.westspiel.de

Vienna, Austria           Die Presse
'Rien ne va plus' for 150 employees

Casinos Austria are hoping that 150 staff take golden handshakes and the company are also introducing modified contracts and terms of employment.

Sydney & Macau           The Australian
PBL in $1bn raising for Macau casinos

Kerry Packer's PBL have two projects in Macau with partner Melco International. The Crown Macau is now under construction and plans are being developed for the City of Dreams on the Cotai Strip.

www.pbl.com.au

Guyana           Stabroek News
Hotel, casino proposal for Rupununi
Lots of proposals for casinos - Nadir

Vienna, Austria           Casinos Austria - Press release
Neue Betriebsvereinbarung bei Casinos Austria
www.casinos.at

Atlantic City           Washington Post/AP & The Press of Atlantic City
Trump's A.C. casinos to receive $110M. face lift
Trump to Renovate 3 N.J. Gambling Halls

Atlantic City           Yahoo/Business Wire
Trump Entertainment Resorts Announces $110 Million in Scheduled Renovation Projects
www.trumpcasinos.com

Biloxi, Mississippi           Yahoo/Business Wire
Progressive Gaming Opens New Office in Biloxi, MS

Online Gambling           Marketing Sherpa
Guerilla Marketing Tactics of 3 Top Gambling Web Sites

Calvin Ayre, CEO Bodog.com, Will Griffiths, Director of Marketing BetonSports.com & Mickey Richardson CEO BetCRIS.com.

U.S.           PRWeb
Sidepot Clay Poker Chips Co. To Offer Casino-Grade Custom Clay Poker Chip for Private Players
www.sidepot.com

Atlantic City           The Mercury News
Report: Iverson, casino staff clash over over-payment

Miami           UK-Wire.com
Carnival Corporation & Plc announces four-ship deal