MO - St. louis BetOnSports, once among the world's largest online gambling companies, pleaded guilty Thursday in federal court here to a racketeering conspiracy charge. It admitted being part of a "vast" illegal enterprise that included money laundering, fraud and violation of state anti-gambling laws. U.S. Attorney Catherine Hanaway said, "I think it should send a strong message that we can prosecute these cases."
www.stltoday.com / ST. LOUIS POST-DISPATCH / Robert Patrick / 05/24/2007

Music + Politics: Artists Tune In

MO - The week I was researching this article, Linda Ronstadt was ejected from the Aladdin casino in Las Vegas for dedicating a song to Michael Moore and his film, Fahrenheit 9/11.
www.playbackstl.com / Laura Hamlett / 5-25-07

Gaming Commission Approves Isle of Capri Takeover of Caruthersville Casino

MO - The Missouri Gaming Commission has given the green light to Isle of Capri Casinos to take over operations at Casino Aztar in Caruthersville. The Commission had taken on a supervisory role at the casino,
www.missourinet.com / Steve Walsh / Wednesday, May 23, 2007

Casino Aztar moves a step closer to license

MO - Since January, Casino Aztar has been under the management of the Missouri Gaming Commission, pending the licensing of new owners. The commission on Wednesday approved preliminary licensing of Casino Aztar in Caruthersville, Mo., to prospective buyer Isle of Capri Casinos Inc. Commission seized management control of the Caruthersville casino... Attorney General Jay Nixon, who claimed the commission had exceeded its authority but did not challenge it.
www.kansascity.com / The Kansas City Star / RICK ALM / May. 23, 2007

BetOnSports pleads guilty to racketeering

MO - BetOnSports plc pleaded guilty to federal racketeering charges, U.S. Attorney Catherine Hanaway said Thursday, and could now face $500,000 or more in fines. United Kingdom-based BetOnSports plc, a publicly traded holding company that owned a number of Internet sports books and casinos, is the corporate parent of the companies whose gambling operations are described in the indictment.
stlouis.bizjournals.com / St. Louis Business Journal / May 24, 2007

Failure of Loss Limits Repeal Assessed

MO - St. Joseph Senator Charlie Shields was able to get his loss limit repeal past the first round of voting in the senate, but he had to take a killing amendment that raised taxes more than the casinos want them raised. The casinos withdrew their support from the bill.
www.missourinet.com / Bob Priddy / May 22, 2007

GAMBLING: Isle of Capri wins Aztar

MO - Capri Casinos Inc. agreed to buy the... Aztar in Caruthersville... $45 million.
www.stltoday.com / 05/24/2007

Joplin City Council OKs study for sewer project

MO - The Joplin City Council on Monday night approved an ordinance taking the first step toward bringing infrastructure to areas recently annexed by the city. Councilman Richard Russell asked whether the project would be undertaken with the thought of serving a resort casino planned at the junction of the boundaries of Missouri, Kansas and Oklahoma. Officials from the Quapaw Tribe, which is planning the casino venture, have said they have talked to Joplin officials about water and sewer service for the site.
www.joplinglobe.com / Mike Dwyer / May 21, 2007