Online reports have revealed that casino plans are developing in downtown Iowa, with Argosy Casino’s parent company – Penn Natonal Gaming – allegedly wanting to put a new casino in Sioux City.
According to Fox44, Pen National is now desperately looking for at least a 10 acre site downtown in which to develop on. Senior Vice President of Public Affairs and Government Relations for Penn National Gaming, Eric Schippers, said: “What we’re really hoping to do here is invest up to $100 million in what will become a regional destination.”
Sioux City Mayor, Bob Scott, agreed. “It’ll get the traffic downtown rather than on the edge and we hope that will have a positive impact,” he said.
However, the real worry of the future facility lies in an ongoing court battle. The Missouri River Historical Development Group owns the county’s gaming license and is suing Penn National, claiming the company’s keeping MRHD from shopping around for new casino ownership.
“And if we can’t resolve that, then we need to look for another operator,” says Mark Monson, President of Missouri River Historical Development. But whatever does happen in court, MRHD members are apparently in support of a move to downtown.
Across the pond in the UK, one of North England’s most popular seaside towns saw the acquirement of its new casino licence today when it was awarded to the operator of Scarborough’s Opera House Casino, Nikolas Shaw, following rival Apollo Leisure‘s decision to withdraw its application.
According to InterGame, Nikolas and Apollo were the only two operators running for the licence – which was the first of the small licences created under the 2005 Gambling Act.
Project manager for Scarborough Borough Council, Alex Richards, said: “While we are disappointed that Apollo has decided to pull out of the competition, this is still a very good outcome for the town. Opera House Casino is already an excellent facility for Scarborough and is a very popular part of the night time economy.”
Apollo Leisure had planned to develop a whole new entertainment complex in the town, but the reasons for the withdrawal are unknown. Consequently, Nikolas automatically got the green light to go ahead.
Over in an undoubtedly swankier setting of New Jersey’s Atlantic City, the anticipated opening of the Revel Casino Resort brings some controversial news causing mixed reactions. Set to open its doors in less than three months, the casino has announced an employment policy that may piss off anyone who ends up working there.
A report by NBC10 reveals some employees will have time limits on their contract and have to reapply for their jobs after a specific amount of time. The policy will apparently apply to workers who have a lot of interaction with the public, such as car valets, waitresses and casino dealers. Although dealers won’t have to reapply for their position after six years.
A spokesperson for Revel said that the contract policy was implemented to “keep employees on their toes, sharp and at the top of their game.”
However, a casino employee named Linda Robertson said: “I don’t think that’s a good argument.” “When you get a job you expect to be on it as long as possible. You expect long term. How could you get into anything? A house, a car, anything?”
Nevertheless, the policy hasn’t stopped hundred of people applying and agreeing to work under Revel’s terms. NBC10 also exposed that Industry experts say that though Revel is the first to undertake such a policy; it won’t be the last.
