Aztar Corp. said it received a buyout offer of more than $1.69 billion from Columbia Entertainment. Aztar owns an attractive lot on Las Vegas Strip, occupied by the Tropicana Casino, and the Tropicana in Atlantic City, and has received offers from three other companies.
Columbia Entertainment is the gaming affiliate of Columbia Sussex Corp., which already owns casinos in Nevada, Missouri and Louisiana and 83 hotels under names like Marriott and Holiday Inn.
Colony Capital Acquisitions, owner of Hilton casinos in Las Vegas and Atlantic City, has offered to buy Aztar Corporation for 1.4 billion dollars cash, in order to create United States’ third biggest casino chain. Besides Hilton casinos, Colony owns Resorts Casino from Atlantic City.
The offer made by Colony, a private firm headquartered in Los Angeles and managed by Thomas J. Barrack Jr.’s real estate company, would quote Aztar shares in 41 dollars each, a little more than the 38 dollar offer presented on May 13th by casino operator Pinnacle Entertainment.
Members of the mobile telephony industry will gather this week in Las Vegas, Nevada, with regards to the 2006 CTIA Wireless, organized by an international organization representing all sectors of wireless communications: cellular, personal communication services and enhanced specialized mobile radio.
2006 CTIA Wireless, one of the most important technology events of the year, is expected to receive more than 40,000 participants.
According to Manuel Lao Gorina, vice-president of Cirsa Group, the group has already invested €162m in their international expansion plan in the period 2003-2006.
Lao said that the casino branch is not the one that earns the most, but the most profitable and the one with the highest growth rates. In last years’ total, the branch earned €288m, almost a 13% higher than the year before, according to the group board.
More than 3,900 million dollars were gambled last year in Argentina, in almost 150 casinos, 60 bingos and more than 31,000 slot machines, according to a recent study. For the current year, the research predicts that the amount would reach 5,000 million dollars.
The study assures that 9 out of 10 slot machine players are women, and 9 out of 10 casino (roulette, blackjack, etc.) players are men. Also, men and women from low spending power classes choose games such as quiniela and jackpot games (Quini 6, Telekino, Loto, etc.).
Along the first quarter of the year, Spain has become one of the most important markets for the gambling exchange company Betfair, one of the casinos world leading firms. This country experimented 150% growth during the last year, and it’s the fastest growing market for these services.
According to online magazine SoloAzar.com, “Betfair has doubled its number of registered users in Spain since the beginning of the current year, becoming the company’s fourth most important growing market”.
The incomes of world online gambling reached $10.900 million dollars during 2005, although it is illegal in many countries, including U.S.A. This represents an increase of 28% compared to 2004 figures. According to eMarketer, 15% of the total of Internet users visited gambling sites at least once a month. However, a report by Harris Interactive showed that about 95% of U.S. residents has never spent money on online casinos or gambling sites.
Kevin P. Mullally, CEO of Missouri’s Gaming Commission for the last 5 years, has decided to resign. According to Mullally, he will resign next month to be able to accept a position as a General Council and Governmental Affairs Director for Gaming Laboratories International Inc., a company established in New Jersey that runs laboratory tests on casino equipment such as slots and Lotto machines.
The Online Casino Goldenpalace.com has hit a lucky strike as the second one managed to break the security at the Winter Olympics, where he wore a GoldenPalace.com logo across his chest.
The first striker had ran out from the crown while the bronze medal contest was taking place last Friday.
Prestigious firms such as WMS Gaming, Atronic, Atronic Systems, Aristocrat, Ainsworth, Unidesa, TCS John Huxley, Fournier, GPI, Hispania, Electro Chance, BS Group, ACE, Digideal, Gold Club, Euro Games Technology, Gamey, Orion Gaming, Rosgame, Zero Labs, Belatra, BCM, Far Systems, Suzo, Atlantic Systems, Smart Games, Dayco, DEK International… will present their latest news to the gaming industry operators.
