Money money money

For a recsssion, y'all have a lot of disposable income:

"The casino's first eight days of operations produced one big haul, generating $6.5 million in gross terminal revenue on $73.7 million in wagering. Of the $6.5 million, 55 percent, or $3.6 million, went to the state in taxes. About $2.2 million of that will go for property tax relief. The casino kept $2.9 million."

... Rivers bends on its steep game-day parking fee:

"Gamblers no longer will have to wager at least $80 to get free parking in the Rivers Casino garage during Steeler game days. Now customers who gamble any amount of money will receive free parking at the garage during football games. During Thursday's preseason game, players had to wager at least $80 at slot machines in order to get free parking and avoid a $50 fee. The casino also has decided to drop the garage fee on Steeler game days from $50 to $20 for those fans who don't gamble."

... Day One:

Three hours until the ribbon cutting. Mr. Fasulo is meeting with his senior staff, about 20 men and women, in a second-floor conference room. On the agenda: logistics, scheduling, and nagging computer troubles.

"Is it us, or is it Konami?" he asks. At last week's test run, the casino's tech and finance teams discovered that some of the slot machines weren't properly recording the wagers. Thousands of dollars "disappear," meaning the money isn't showing up on slots machine audits.

Dispatches from the border

Like a broken record, this item:

"Atlantic City casino profits took a dive in the second quarter of 2009, as the resort's gaming halls earned 19.8 percent less than the prior year, according to figures released today by the state Casino Control Commission. Gross operating profits totaled $198.4 million for April to June, down from $247.3 million collected in the same three-month period in 2008."

... High stakes in Delaware: "While officials of Delaware's three horse-track-based casinos say they have spent a combined $12 million upgrading their facilities, the cash-strapped state government has racked up tens of thousands on outside lawyers to fight a fierce legal challenge by the major sports leagues and the NCAA."

... In Ohio, they've settled on wording for the casino referendum, to be placed on the ballot this November.The "proposed constitutional amendment that would allow full-scale casinos in Columbus, Cleveland, Cincinnati and Toledo."