There was a long while where casinos and casino resorts in the United States of America enjoyed unprecedented growth. Las Vegas, Nevada saw a boom that brought some of the most glamourous and innovative casinos resorts to the famed Las Vegas Strip. However, Las Vegas was not the only casino town that enjoyed the robust, spending economy. Local and Native American casinos also reaped the benefits of wealth and were able to expand and prosper. Some of the local casinos even began modeling themselves after the big casino resorts in Vegas. They may not have been able to add all of the glitz, but most became nice, respectable, enjoyable, and profitable casinos, resorts, convention space, and entertainment venues.

The Mohegan Sun Resort and Casino in Connecticut is a great example if local casino making good. There casino floor has a sense of class with waterfalls, upscale bars and lounges, fine dining and shopping, and luxurious hotel rooms all nestled in the beautiful Connecticut countryside. For a while everyone was happy. Expansion was afoot, employees received bonuses and raises, even the employee cafeteria served good food. “The tribe is happy. The employees are happy. It’s a fun place to work. But it’s easy to have a great corporate culture and great morale when things are going great,” commented Chief Executive Office Mitchell Estess.

Sadly, those times dissipated. Competition from nearby Foxwoods’ new MGM Hotel and neighboring states casinos cut into the client base, fuel prices rose, and the economic nose dive effected everyone. The Mohegan Sun Resort and Casino was forced to tighten its built, but the Mohegan Tribal gaming Authority refused to layoff their workers. There workers agreed. Most took pay cuts, and that was the beginning of the cost cutting. Wages were frozen, employee events were reduced, and some of the good cafeteria food had to be forsaken. Through it all Mohegan Sun employees were thankful. They were able to keep their job during a time when unemployment is reaching record highs in some states. There were other cost cutting measures, and casino operators are confident their sacrifices have paid off. They believe they will make it and one day grow again.

The downtown Las Vegas renovation continues. Sure the Fremont experience has been up for years, and it was a vital part of bringing visitors back to the casinos downtown and helping them compete with the glitzy Las Vegas Strip, but that does not mean the work is over. To keep people actually coming into the casinos, owners and operators are still working on updating, renovating, and sprucing up the casinos and the casino hotels themselves. Downtown Las Vegas, is seeing a surge of smaller casino operators buy up the old Las Vegas staples and reinvent them as viable destinations for tourists and locals. Some are keeping their old school Las Vegas feel while others are brining a newer idea of what visitors want who don’t want to deal with the commotion of the hectic Las Vegas Blvd.

One of the casino hotels that is seeing a merge of both worlds is the Lady Luck Casino and Hotel. Originally opened in 1964 the Lady Luck has seen several owners and had a successful run back in the day. Visitors enjoyed its hotel rooms, over 53,000 square feet of casino space, and 22,000 square feet of shops, restaurants and retail. However, the casino was closed for renovation after being purchased the Henry Brent Company. The renovations were supposed to take nine to twelve months, but financing collapsed and the space has been in an empty shell ever since. The Mayor called the Lady Luck a “disaster” and a “carcass.”

In 2007 Cim Group bought the Lady Luck Hotel and Casino, and only just recently announced they will be able to move forward with the renovation. Of course, the facelift will include updates to the hotel rooms. The 634 rooms as well as the casino floor and retail space will put “…to a much higher standard than previously existed, according to a statement. The Lady Luck will also move into the future by taking out some of its hotel rooms to make way for a spa, fitness room meeting space, and new bathrooms. There will also be a pool and deck on the roof of the casino.

The state of Illinois is doing its best to expand its gambling laws. Like most states the state is facing a budget crunch, and like most states they are turning towards their gambling laws to help fill some of their budget gaps. Illinois already has some riverboat casinos that have become popular with not only Illinois residents, but residents of surrounding areas. Last year, Illinois lawmakers in Springfield passed the Video Gaming Act. This is a law that would allow slot type games in establishments that have a liquor license, such as taverns and bars. However, now Illinois lawmakers are looking to expand that law.

Both the Illinois House of Representatives and Senate passed measures that would alter the language of the Video Gaming Act. The new language would expand the gambling law so that VFW halls and truck stops could also host the video slot games. Illinois enjoys several major United States trucking routes, and the slot games at the truck stops could see hundreds of customers. When VFW halls are added the state could have a 800 new venues for the casino type game. This could possibly give Illinois another 4,000 slot machines.

The gambling bill is predicted to be signed into law by Illinois Governor Patt Quinn. However, it is still to be seen on whether or not the local counties and communities will opt to adopt the Video Gaming Act. Gaming analysts are specifically are watching to see if the Chicago area will opt in. “It is believed that they will, but a decision may not occur until after the election this year,” said Janney Montgomery Scott analyst Brian McGill.

The new gambling expansion could not only prove advantageous for the venues and the tax revenue, but also for slot machine manufacturers. There are several slot game developers who would be able to expand or enter the Illinois market. There is also a bill in the works that would allow slot machines in the state’s racetracks, but that bill is bot enjoying as much support from lawmakers or the riverboat casino operators.

The majority of people who visit casinos play the slot machines. This is true for both land based and online casinos. Slot machines are the most abundant feature in a casino. There are several reasons. First and foremost they are easy to play. Pull the lever (sorry, press the button) and see if you win. However, that is not what keeps players coming back and having fun. The fun comes from the innovative and topical themes and exciting bonus games. Themes can range from goofy characters to board games to super heros to celebrity endorsements to movies and television shows. The movies seem to be the most popular. There are classics like Wizard of Oz and Star Trek. (That’s right I called Star Trek a classic.) There are slot games themed on newer movies like Iron Man and Sex and the City.

Sex and the City there is the seamless segue. The second full length motion picture of the extremely popular cable television show is being released this month. It is already predicted to be a monster hit at the box office. The slot game themed around Sex and the City is already a monster hit at the casino. International Game Technology recently announced the Sex and the City slot game has become the number one stand alone progressive MegaJackpots game.

International Game Technology Marketing Officer, Susan Macke admitted that the Sex and the City has a strong following. That following transferred to the casino floors. “The slot machine is filled with all the fun and fashion we’ve come to expect from Sex and the City, and it’s the perfect accessory to any girls’ night out at the casino.” Of course the Sex and the City casino game also has many ways to win. It typically offers players the chance to score at five progressive jackpots. The game also has four bonus games. Where the infamous Mr. Big cheers players on during the game.

The dispute between Las Vegas casino resort giant, MGM Mirage, and general contractor of CityCenter, Perini Building Company has made some dramatic twists and turns over the past week or so. Perini Building has filed a lien against MGM Mirage over some $490 million that they feel MGM Mirage owes them for the completion of CityCenter. MGM Mirage states that Perini Building did not come all the way through with their contractual obligations and has been withholding the money. Sadly, close to $390 million are owed to the subcontractors, most of who are small southern Nevadan business owners.

Here comes the roller coaster. Perini Building invited some representatives of the subcontractors to meet with Nevada Governor Jim Gibbons. Then, MGM Mirage announced they would have a meeting with all the subcontractors on June 9 to try to find a fair solution. Now, it is being released that the casino resort company met with Governor Gibbons. This meeting was not pre-announced like the other two. The news from this last meeting may be good for the scores of subcontractors who could be in danger of loosing their businesses if payments don’t come soon.

Chief Executive Officer for CityCenter, Bobby Baldwin told the governor, “We will pay the subcontractors in short order.” He stated that he wanted to get the subcontractors paid, “…quickly what they are rightfully owed.” MGM Mirage released a statement that they would meet with the subcontractors on the June 9 date to start the payment process. The casino resort company has stated all along they wanted to pay the subcontractors but the materials provided by Perini Building were, “confusing and disorganized.”

Governor Gibbons reassured the subcontractors in a short statement following the meeting which he called “productive.” This came in sharp contrast to the meeting with Perini Building after which he stated he did not think his office would be able to settle the matter between the contractor and the casino company.

The legal battle between CityCenter owner and operator, MGM Mirage, and the construction company Perini Building Company has been highly publicized. Perini Building is claiming the casino resort empire owns them hundreds of millions of dollars. MGM Mirage has found some fault with the work and is, for now, unwilling to pay their balance. Where this is taking a tragic turn is the work done by and money owed to the subcontractors. Many of the subcontractors hired by Perini Building are local, Las Vegas owned, small businesses. Most of the subcontracting companies have worked on and/or for other MGM Mirage casino projects, and typically have no dispute with them. However, some of the small businesses are saying that if they don’t get paid for their work on CityCenter they will have to close down their business.

Earlier Perini Building invited some of the subcontractors to meet with Nevada Governor, Jim Gibbons. Much was discussed, but little was resolved. Now MGM Mirage wants to hear from the small businesses. This time there will be no government official, but they are asking all of the subcontracting companies who have disputes to come to the table. “We just don’t know who they all are and the total number,” said MGM Mirage spokesman, Alan Feldman. The meeting, which will take place in the Bristlecone Ballroom in CityCenter’s Aria Resort and Casino convention center, will be a chance for the parties involved to discuss the close to $390 million that are in question.

CityCenter’s Chief Executive Officer, Bobby Baldwin will oversee the meeting between the casino giant and the subcontractors. All involved want to see how MGM Mirage plans to settle the dispute with the subcontractors. Both Perini Building and MGM Mirage officials have stated the dispute is between the two major companies. Neither is afraid to fight it out, but neither wants those who worked so hard on the CityCenter project to loose out.

GTECH G2 continually reminds the online casino and gambling community why they are considered to be the industry leader in online gaming software. GTECH G2 just keeps coming out with the latest and, more often than not, the best, products. They are set to announce the rolling out of their latest online casino software update package. The new software update has already been given the eCOGRA Certified Software Seal of Approval solidifying GTECH G2’s reputation. (Not that it needed re-solidifying.) eCOGRA holds those who seek their approval to the highest standards.

The new online casino software update comes with a brand new online slot engine. “The new slot engine means that we can experiment more and add new features to our games,” commented Head of Gaming Products for GTECH G2, Dominic Mansour,. “We can go outside the box and are not so bound to the reel patterns and traditional way we built slot games before.” This is giving online slot game manufacturers more freedom to design then they have ever had.

The first online slot game to be released with GTECH G2’s new online slot engine is a game that is inspired to the hit television show ‘Lost’ which recently had its series finale. The new online slot game is called ‘Mystic Island.’ The new online slot game has come with it all. It has in-game bonus rounds, crazy wilds with multipliers, “Cascading Slot Symbols,” and interactive spin stops. G2‘s Senior Casino Engineer, Mikael Hjalmarson, said the game was “just a taste,” of the future of GTECH G2 online casino game designing. He was very excited about the new freedom the online slot engine is giving him and his team. GTECH G2 is always looking toward the future. It is evident not only in the products they release, but in the attitude of their executives, design teams, and the rest of their employees.

Diceland Online Casino is open and ready for business. They have reentered the online casino community despite of and having learned from some operating problems they have had within the last year. Diceland Online Casino operators ran into some problems with payments that were late or not paid to some of their customers and affiliates. Chief Executive Officer for RomeCasino.com which operate the DicelandOnline.com, Josh Cartu fully acknowledged the problems of the past and stated they were past that and ready to move on. “Rest-assured, we wouldn’t be re-launching this brand using the same Topgame software if we weren’t 110% satisfied that the issues they had last year are resolved,” Mr. Cartu said. He went on to add, “We’ve been back to quick processing and hassle-free withdrawals for months now.

Mr. Cartu’s statement was back up by other Diceland executives, and others in the online casino and gambling business. The online casino’s affiliate manager, Jodi Nafte, reiterated that Diceland had grown and learned a lot since the launching of the brand. Operators wanted to include as much feedback as they could from both players and affiliates. “We made it through our growing pains and are ready to shake up the online casino world with this bold new concept.” She feels they have a one of a kind online casino.

Steven Corfman of the GPWA seemed pleased about bringing Rome Partners back as Silver Sponsors. He noted that the group seems “very interested in operating responsibly.” He also stated that he had not heard of or noticed any problems like the ones encountered by the online casino last year.

Diceland Online Casino has a bold new look. It is themed on the Lewis Carroll stories of Alice in Wonderland and Alice Through the Looking Glass. Alice is the player’s host and of course there are Cheshire Cats, Mad Hatters, and other familiar characters. Diceland Online Casino hosts a full casino with online slots, blackjack, Roulette, Keno, Poker, and other great games.

Win, win, win! That is why we like to go to the casinos. The possibility that we will come out with more money than we started. “I just go for the entertainment.” Yeah, right. You may think you do, but somewhere in your mind you are hoping this time you walk out with significantly more than you started out. You might even hit one of the elusive progressive jackpots and change your life.

Believe it or not, people actually do win those progressive jackpots. Sometimes they are in the thousands. Sometimes they are in the hundred thousands, sometimes they are in the millions. Some players will play the slightly lower jackpots because they feel those win more often than the million dollar mega jackpots. “I don’t waste my money trying to win million dollar jackpots at other sites,” said a player who enjoys the online casino, Slotland. The Player continued, “…Slotland has a big winner every few weeks, it seems, so I feel like I actually have a chance to win here.”

The online casino player known as YUKON might feel the same way. Recently the Slotland player won a progressive jackpot totaling $163,476. “Of course you always hope you’re going to win a big one someday. After all, that’s why we play!” Yukon said. The player was enjoying one of the online casino’s oldest and most popular online slot games called Golden 8.

Typically six figure progressive jackpots at the Slotland online casino is won every six to eight weeks. However, it had been since early February since a jackpot of this size had been scored. Yukon did not mind the wait as the average progressive jackpot at the online casino usually comes in about $150,000. The winner plans to take parts of the winnings and pay off some debt. Yukon also plans to go somewhere warm for the upcoming holiday.

Next to the Olympics, the FIFA World Cup may be the most anticipated, watched, and wagered sporting events in the world. Forgive the expression, but you can bet that casinos and online casino and sports betting sites are ramping up their World Cup promotions. The online sports gambling site, Centrebet Sportsbook and Racebook, has recently announced their 2010 World Cup promotions. The look to be fun, exciting, and some of them will even keep players from loosing.

“The Bet That Can’t Loose.” What could be more enticing for an online gambler than that? Centrebet’s first World Cup promotion is called just that. For all players who enter the promotional code LIVEWC before placing their first live bet of $20 or more, will receive a free bet of $20 should their initial bet loose. This is just the warm up. The online sports gambling site has more to offer its customers, and more ways for players to keep from loosing their money. “Score Big Money Back,” is giving players the chance to recover loosing Correct Score bets. Should a player incorrectly guess the final score there bet will be refunded if the score is beaten during or after the 88th minute. There are still two more money back promotions regarding goal scorers. Centrebet will be refunding all losing bets placed on first goal scorers should the match end with no goals scored. Likewise, refunds will be issued on last goal scored bets should the player score a goal without scoring last.

The online sports gambling site is also running a promotion during the World Cup that will award players with great prizes. Prizes include $1,000 in free bets, $10,000 in cash, or a trip to London to see the 2011 FA Cup or the Champions League Finals. Centrebet is also offering giving their online affiliates new banner and opportunities to earn 20 to 40 percent revenue shares.