Lao Holdings N.V. is after the government of Laos once again.

Last week, the former operator of the Savan Vegas Hotel and Entertainment Complex filed three new legal actions against the Laos government, which it claimed violated the settlement agreement the two parties signed in 2014 over the sale of the casino resort.

If you’ll recall, the Laotian government entered into a joint venture with a consortium consisting of Netherlands-registered Lao Holdings and Macau-based Sanum Investments to run the Savan Vegas. Under the partnership, Lao Holdings owned 80 percent of the casino hotel complex, while the remaining 20 percent was under the control of the Laos government.

The government, however, seized the property in 2012, when it claimed that the operators owed $23 million in back taxes. This led to arbitration proceedings, which were settled in June 2014. The settlement required the two companies to sell their interest in exchange for Laos dropping its tax-dodging and criminal bribery charges.

Lao Holdings N.V. is after the government of Laos once again.

Last week, the former operator of the Savan Vegas Hotel and Entertainment Complex filed three new legal actions against the Laos government, which it claimed violated the settlement agreement the two parties signed in 2014 over the sale of the casino resort.

If you’ll recall, the Laotian government entered into a joint venture with a consortium consisting of Netherlands-registered Lao Holdings and Macau-based Sanum Investments to run the Savan Vegas. Under the partnership, Lao Holdings owned 80 percent of the casino hotel complex, while the remaining 20 percent was under the control of the Laos government.

The government, however, seized the property in 2012, when it claimed that the operators owed $23 million in back taxes. This led to arbitration proceedings, which were settled in June 2014. The settlement required the two companies to sell their interest in exchange for Laos dropping its tax-dodging and criminal bribery charges.

Nevada-based Station Casinos has inked a deal to acquire the Palms Casino Resort in Las Vegas for a total cash consideration of $312.5m.

On Tuesday, Red Rock Resorts Inc – Station’s new corporate moniker following last month’s initial public offering – announced that it had signed a definitive agreement to acquire the Palms from its private equity owners. The deal is expected to close in Q3 2016 and Red Rock said it would disclose more details during its Q1 earnings call on Thursday.

Red Rock VP/CFO Marc Falcone called the Palms “a hybrid gaming property” that appeals to both local residents and tourists alike. Falcone said the Palms would be “a compelling strategic addition” to the Red Rock/Station stable, which now consists of 20 properties, most of which cater to the Las Vegas locals market.

The release accompanying the sale said Red Rock – which “manages and owns a significant indirect equity interest in” Station Casinos – expects the Palms to generate $35m in earnings during its first year under Red Rock’s control, once the “anticipated synergies” are factored in.

Nevada-based Station Casinos has inked a deal to acquire the Palms Casino Resort in Las Vegas for a total cash consideration of $312.5m.

On Tuesday, Red Rock Resorts Inc – Station’s new corporate moniker following last month’s initial public offering – announced that it had signed a definitive agreement to acquire the Palms from its private equity owners. The deal is expected to close in Q3 2016 and Red Rock said it would disclose more details during its Q1 earnings call on Thursday.

Red Rock VP/CFO Marc Falcone called the Palms “a hybrid gaming property” that appeals to both local residents and tourists alike. Falcone said the Palms would be “a compelling strategic addition” to the Red Rock/Station stable, which now consists of 20 properties, most of which cater to the Las Vegas locals market.

The release accompanying the sale said Red Rock – which “manages and owns a significant indirect equity interest in” Station Casinos – expects the Palms to generate $35m in earnings during its first year under Red Rock’s control, once the “anticipated synergies” are factored in.

Mike ‘Timex’ McDonald has beaten Steve O’Dwyer by a single point to take the Season 12 European Poker Tour Player of the Year accolades in the Platinum band; Miguel Silva topped the gold charts, likewise Adam Milewski in the silver category.

Mike ‘Timex’ McDonald has won the Season 12 European Poker Tour (EPT) Player of the Year (POY) award in the ‘Platinum’ category after beating Steve O’Dwyer by a single point.

The Global Poker League (GPL) Montreal Nationals star went into the EPT Grand Final in Monte Carlo with a hairline lead over the 2015 Global Poker Index (GPI) POY. It was a disappointing festival for both players, but every point proved crucial.

[Image Credit: Pocketfives]

Mike ‘Timex’ McDonald has beaten Steve O’Dwyer by a single point to take the Season 12 European Poker Tour Player of the Year accolades in the Platinum band; Miguel Silva topped the gold charts, likewise Adam Milewski in the silver category.

Mike ‘Timex’ McDonald has won the Season 12 European Poker Tour (EPT) Player of the Year (POY) award in the ‘Platinum’ category after beating Steve O’Dwyer by a single point.

The Global Poker League (GPL) Montreal Nationals star went into the EPT Grand Final in Monte Carlo with a hairline lead over the 2015 Global Poker Index (GPI) POY. It was a disappointing festival for both players, but every point proved crucial.

[Image Credit: Pocketfives]

This wasn’t a good weekend to attempt to cheat Singapore’s two casinos, as evidenced by the arrests of two separate gangs of scofflaws.

In the first instance, Singapore police arrested five individuals accused of cheating at table games in Las Vegas Sands’ Marina Bay Sands property. The arrested individuals include a 23-year-old casino dealer who stands accused of overpaying his accomplices.

Police said they were alerted to the scam by a different dealer on Saturday, leading to them placing the suspects under observation. Apparently discovering all the evidence they needed, police pounced on Sunday and Monday, arresting the dealer, three other men and a woman. The cops also seized cash totaling over $118k they suspect was generated via the scam.

Should they be convicted, all five accused are looking at up to seven years in prison and fines of up to $150k apiece. The dealer, who also faces charges of criminal breach of trust, could be hit with an additional 15 years in stripes.

The US division of UK bookmakers William Hill has added two more Nevada sportsbooks to its portfolio of managed properties.

On Monday, William Hill US announced that it had inked a “long-term” deal with Eldorado Resorts to “significantly upgrade” and operate the race and sportsbooks at the Silver Legacy Resort Casino (pictured) and Circus Circus Hotel Casino Reno, which Eldorado acquired from MGM Resorts last July.

The two parties aren’t strangers, as Hills has operated the Eldorado Resort Casino’s sportsbook since 2012. Hills says it aims to have the Silver Legacy’s all-new 7,200-square-foot sportsbook ready in time for the start of the 2016 NFL season, while the Circus Circus Reno sportsbook will also undergo a major renovation.

Nevada sportsbooks have been on a roll of late, setting a new revenue record for the third straight year in 2015 and starting off 2016 with a string of new monthly betting handle records. The sustained betting surge has local operators projecting total wagering handle of $5b this year, more than twice the sum reported in 2006.

The US division of UK bookmakers William Hill has added two more Nevada sportsbooks to its portfolio of managed properties.

On Monday, William Hill US announced that it had inked a “long-term” deal with Eldorado Resorts to “significantly upgrade” and operate the race and sportsbooks at the Silver Legacy Resort Casino (pictured) and Circus Circus Hotel Casino Reno, which Eldorado acquired from MGM Resorts last July.

The two parties aren’t strangers, as Hills has operated the Eldorado Resort Casino’s sportsbook since 2012. Hills says it aims to have the Silver Legacy’s all-new 7,200-square-foot sportsbook ready in time for the start of the 2016 NFL season, while the Circus Circus Reno sportsbook will also undergo a major renovation.

Nevada sportsbooks have been on a roll of late, setting a new revenue record for the third straight year in 2015 and starting off 2016 with a string of new monthly betting handle records. The sustained betting surge has local operators projecting total wagering handle of $5b this year, more than twice the sum reported in 2006.

Costa Rican authorities say they’re not investigating allegations that locally based online gambling operator 5Dimes engaged in money laundering activity with US sports bettors.

In March, Costa Rican media reported that 5Dimes’ local manager was caught up in an investigation of money transfers between Banco de Costa Rica accounts and companies in Malta and Dubai. The same month saw US Homeland Security accuse 5Dimes of instructing American sports bettors to use Amazon gift cards to fund their online accounts.

On Tuesday, local media outlet La Nacion quoted Alvaro Montoya, deputy prosecutor in Costa Rica’s Office of Money Laundering, saying his department wasn’t investigating 5Dimes or other Costa Rica-based sportsbooks for alleged money laundering because, last time he checked, sports betting wasn’t illegal in Costa Rica.

Montoya said it was fine for certain jurisdictions to investigate allegations of money laundering related to illegal sports betting, but gambling “is not a crime in Costa Rica” and thus it “would not be a source” of justification to investigate money laundering allegations.

Costa Rican authorities say they’re not investigating allegations that locally based online gambling operator 5Dimes engaged in money laundering activity with US sports bettors.

In March, Costa Rican media reported that 5Dimes’ local manager was caught up in an investigation of money transfers between Banco de Costa Rica accounts and companies in Malta and Dubai. The same month saw US Homeland Security accuse 5Dimes of instructing American sports bettors to use Amazon gift cards to fund their online accounts.

On Tuesday, local media outlet La Nacion quoted Alvaro Montoya, deputy prosecutor in Costa Rica’s Office of Money Laundering, saying his department wasn’t investigating 5Dimes or other Costa Rica-based sportsbooks for alleged money laundering because, last time he checked, sports betting wasn’t illegal in Costa Rica.

Montoya said it was fine for certain jurisdictions to investigate allegations of money laundering related to illegal sports betting, but gambling “is not a crime in Costa Rica” and thus it “would not be a source” of justification to investigate money laundering allegations.