1979 stories by Steve Bittenbender
Washington State Gambling Commission Tables NRA Foundation Plan to Raffle More Guns
At the urging of the state’s governor, the Washington State Gambling Commission voted last week to table a request by the National Rifle Association (NRA) Foundation to increase its price cap for raffle prizes in the upcoming year. State law allows the...
Ex-Con Vegas Entrepreneur Charles ‘Junior’ Johnson Will Return to Prison for Hiding Casino Funds from Feds
A former Las Vegas entrepreneur who went to prison on federal fraud charges more than a decade ago will return there. US District Judge Danny Reeves ruled last week in Lexington, Kentucky that Charles E. "Junior" Johnson, Jr. violated the terms of...
Horse Racing Round Table Shows Both Industry Leaders, Humane Society Support Key Safety Reforms
Horse racing industry leaders gathered at Saratoga, N.Y. on Sunday for the annual Round Table Conference on Matters Pertaining to Racing, and as it has for almost all of 2019, safety and animal welfare dominated the discussion. The event, organized by The...
Hard Rock Arkansas Developer Cries Foul Over Process to Issue Support Letter for Final Casino in State
The developer proposing Hard Rock Arkansas, one of the five groups seeking a casino license in Pope County, Ark., accused government leaders of unfair practices and claimed another proposal will get the county’s support. The accusation comes as the Pope County Quorum...
New Hampshire Releases Sports Betting RFP, Seeks Established Platforms and ‘First-Rate’ Sportsbooks
Wednesday was a big day for companies interested in getting a share of the soon-to-open New Hampshire sports betting market, as the state’s lottery published its request for proposals (RFP) from interested vendors. The sports betting law passed by the state’s General...
Bricks and Mortar Gets the Spotlight Saturday as Arlington Million Favorite Seeks Sixth Straight Win
One of the top races for older horses happens Saturday evening, as a field of 10 will take to the Arlington Park turf course for the 37th running of the Grade I Arlington Million. When it comes to the casual horse racing...
Parx, Presque Isle Celebrate Opening Their Pennsylvania Sportsbooks
On opposite ends of the state, two Pennsylvania casinos celebrated the grand opening of their retail sportsbooks on Thursday. In Bensalem, near Philadelphia, Parx Casino cut the ribbon to showcase its new $10 million permanent sportsbook just a couple hours before the...
Oklahoma Grandmother Admits to Murder as Boy Died in Hot Car While She Gambled
An Oklahoma grandmother entered a guilty plea to a murder charge last week, admitting responsibility for the death of her 5-year-old grandson while she visited a casino for six hours in June 2018. Alanna Jean Orr, 50, now faces up to life...
Louisiana Mother, Two Others Charged with Leaving Toddler in Car While Hitting Truck Stop Casino
Three people were arrested in Louisiana on Friday evening on charges they left a toddler alone in a car at a truck stop casino. Those arrested include the child’s mother and her apparent boyfriend. According to the St. Landry Parish Sheriff’s Office,...
Hawthorne Plans to Halt Thoroughbred Racing Next Spring While Building Casino at Illinois Track
Hawthorne Race Course has submitted a request to the Illinois Racing Board (IRB) for fewer race dates in 2020. The Cicero track, though, has a good reason for that, as plans are in the works for a casino on the grounds. According...
