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LAS VEGAS, June 27 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ — Ameristar Casinos, Inc. announced it has rebranded the East Chicago, Ind., property it acquired last September to “Ameristar casino Hotel.” The new name marks the completion of a number of enhancements to the facility, including improved food and beverage offerings, a remodeled casino floor featuring a new design and layout, state-of-the-art technology that will bring Ameristar’s Star Awards players’ program to guests and an enhanced mix of games.
Ameristar will celebrate the property’s rebranding with three free, high-profile concerts along the shores of Lake Michigan this summer:
– Academy Award, Golden Globe and multi-Grammy winner Lionel Richie, who has sold more than 100 million records and achieved a string of 13 consecutive top 10 hits, is set to perform July 20.
– Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductee Smokey Robinson, widely regarded as the all-time top purveyor of mainstream romantic soul and one of the country’s most important performers of urban contemporary music, will take the stage Aug. 17.
– Country music sensation and television star Reba McEntire, whose 22 number one hits, multiple-platinum albums and long-running situation comedy have made her one of country music’s most successful crossover artists, will close the series Sept. 13.
“Metropolitan Chicago is the United States’ third-largest commercial gaming market and one in which Ameristar is eager to excel,” said Gordon Kanofsky, Chief Executive Officer and Vice Chairman of Ameristar. “It’s now the seventh market in which Ameristar operates and an important addition to our portfolio of eight properties across the United States. We look forward to providing to the Chicagoland area Ameristar’s exceptional guest service in combination with our high-quality casino, dining and entertainment offerings.”
Among the features guests visiting Ameristar casino Hotel in East Chicago will experience are:
– A remodeled 53,000-square-foot casino offering more than 1,800 slot machines and 76 table games, including a dedicated baccarat room and a 16-table live poker room. In addition, a new bar has been added on each of the casino’s three levels.
– Four restaurants, including the upscale Waterfront Grill steakhouse, Double Down Diner, remodeled All Sports Cafe and remodeled and renamed Heritage Buffet. Heritage Buffet features new menu items and an expanded salad station and dessert bar. All Sports Cafe offers new decor, a larger bar and 20 plasma screen televisions. The property’s entire food and beverage operation is benefiting from Ameristar’s strong emphasis on culinary excellence, which has garnered numerous awards throughout the United States.
– Two lounges, including a new VIP Star Club. The Star Club has been completely refurbished and includes a new food service line that doubles the food offerings available to guests and accommodates chefs’ stations. In addition, it features new menus that provide guests with a rotating variety of culinary options.
– A 15-story, full-service hotel tower, which has 290 rooms, including three junior and seven super suites. The super suites are more than 1,000 square feet in size and offer whirlpool soaking tubs, all-marble baths and surround sound audio systems. The tower is conveniently connected to both the casino and the pavilion and features a fitness facility.
– Direct access from a 1,975-space parking garage, in addition to a convenient, 250-space surface parking lot.
Still to come are more state-of-the-art slot machines and further improvements and additions to the property’s pavilion, including a Starbucks coffeehouse slated to open later this summer.
Forward-Looking Information
This release contains certain forward-looking information that generally can be identified by the context of the statement or the use of forward-looking terminology, such as “believes,”"estimates,”"anticipates,”"intends,”"expects,”"plans,”"is confident that,”"should” or words of similar meaning, with reference to Ameristar or our management. Similarly, statements that describe our future plans, objectives, strategies, financial results or position, operational expectations or goals are forward-looking statements. It is possible that our expectations may not be met due to various factors, many of which are beyond our control, and we therefore cannot give any assurance that such expectations will prove to be correct. For a discussion of relevant factors, risks and uncertainties that could materially affect our future results, attention is directed to “Item 1A. Risk Factors” and “Item 7. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2007, and “Item 1A. Risk Factors” in our Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 2008.
About Ameristar
Ameristar Casinos, Inc. is a leading Las Vegas-based gaming and entertainment company known for its premier properties characterized by innovative architecture, state-of-the-art casino floors and superior dining, lodging and entertainment offerings. Ameristar’s focus on the total entertainment experience and the highest quality guest service has earned it leading market share positions in the markets in which it operates. Founded in 1954 in Jackpot, Nevada, Ameristar has been a public company since November 1993. The Company has a portfolio of eight casinos in seven markets: Ameristar casino Resort Spa in St. Charles (greater St. Louis); Ameristar casino Hotel in East Chicago (Chicagoland area); Ameristar Kansas City; Ameristar Council Bluffs (Omaha, Nebraska and southwestern Iowa); Ameristar Vicksburg (Jackson, Mississippi and Monroe, Louisiana); Ameristar Black Hawk (Denver metropolitan area); and Cactus Petes and The Horseshu in Jackpot, Nevada (Idaho and the Pacific Northwest).
Visit Ameristar Casinos’ web site at
(which shall not be deemed to be incorporated in or a part of this news
release)

Ameristar Casinos, Inc.

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LAS VEGAS, June 26 /PRNewswire/ — Following the successful launch of its first mega-resort, Planet Hollywood International Inc. today announced that is has created a new division to oversee its plans for international brand expansion. The new branch will work to quickly expand the Planet Hollywood brand as it develops hotel and vacation ownership properties both domestically and internationally. Planet Hollywood entered the hospitality business four years ago when it purchased Planet Hollywood Resort & casino in a partnership that includes Bay Harbour LLC, Robert Earl and Starwood Hotels & Resorts.
As part of the announcement of the new division, Planet Hollywood named William (Bill) Feather the President of Planet Hollywood Resorts Management, LLC. In his new position Feather will be responsible for expanding the Planet Hollywood brand in the hotel and vacation ownership industries and will remain based out of Las Vegas. While taking on his new role, Feather will continue to manage the hotel and food & beverage operations at the flagship Planet Hollywood Resort & casino in Las Vegas. Feather’s first project with the new company will be the launch and management the of Planet Hollywood Towers a partnership between Planet Hollywood and Westgate Resorts, set to open in 2009.
“With the success of our Las Vegas resort, the time is right to move forward with plans for rapid expansion of our brand. Having Bill as the president of Planet Hollywood Resorts Management, allows us to start our newest undertaking with a tremendous advantage,” said Robert Earl, Chairman of Planet Hollywood International, Inc. “His years of experience and standing in the industry make him the ideal candidate to develop the brand both in the United States and internationally. With the upcoming completion of the PH Towers by Westgate, it was the perfect time to begin looking outward and move toward the larger goals we had set in motion. Bill will be a tremendous asset to our organization and we are delighted to have him launch this vision.”
“I am excited to be a part of this experience as we build the Planet Hollywood Hotel portfolio of properties. Planet Hollywood has a long commitment to an exceptional customer experience and I look forward to growing that reputation in the hospitality sector,” said Mr. Feather. “With the expansion and commitment to excellence that are rooted at the core of the company, it is a certainty that Planet Hollywood Resorts Management will be a powerhouse brand in the industry in a very short time.”
Feather, a longtime Starwood Executive with over 25 years of hotel experience including regional responsibilities for Starwood in Dallas, Boston, and Southern California, has most recently been Executive Vice President of Hotel and Food & Beverage for Planet Hollywood Resort & casino in Las Vegas.
For more information, log onto .
Planet Hollywood

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LOS ANGELES, June 24 /PRNewswire/ — bet AWARDS ‘08 lived up to its promise as “the hottest ticket on television,” as bet brought together the best in entertainment, music and sports for its annual “family reunion,” which premiered LIVE from Los Angeles’ Shrine Auditorium on Tuesday, June 24 at 8:00 p.m.*
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Rapper Kanye West was named Best Male Hip Hop Artist and won Best Collaboration for “Good Life” featuring T-Pain. UGK scored the Best Group nod and also earned Video of the Year for “International Player’s Anthem (I Choose You)” featuring Outkast. Alicia Keys was named Best Female R&B Artist, Chris Brown was awarded Best Male R&B Artist, and Missy Elliott landed Best Female Hip Hop Artist honors. bet named The Dream this year’s Best New Artist, while Marvin Sapp won Best Gospel Artist.
Hosted by the always hilarious D.L. Hughley, bet AWARDS ‘08 featured jaw- dropping performances by the hottest artists in the game today - from hip hop to gospel to R&B to soul. Usher opened the show with a sultry rendition of “Love in this Club,” while Ne-Yo’s high-energy performance of “Closer” included tons of impressive choreography and a cameo by Jabbawockeez from MTV’s “America’s Best Dance Crew.”
Young Jeezy and Kanye gave an electrifying showing of “Put On,” and T-Pain performed a colorful, circus-inspired medley of songs, featuring Flo Rida, Rick Ross, Big Boi, DJ Khaled and Ludacris. Girl power was definitely in the house, as Keyshia Cole sang “Heaven Sent” and was joined by Lil’ Kim for “Let It Go,” and Alicia Keys performed “Teenage Love Affair” and then accompanied some of the best girl groups of all time - SWV, En Vogue and TLC - for performances of their hit songs.
Marvin Sapp gave a truly inspirational and powerful rendition of “Never Would Have Made It,” and other show-stopping performances included Rihanna, Lil Wayne, Chris Brown’s sizzling dance with Ciara, and Nelly’s medley with Jermaine Dupri and Fergie. In addition, Jill Scott and Maxwell performed a moving tribute to legendary R&B icon Al Green, this year’s recipient of BET’s Lifetime Achievement Award. Green brought the house down with his own performance of “Let’s Stay Together” and “Love and Happiness.” Quincy Jones, celebrated producer/arranger/composer, was also honored with BET’s prestigious Humanitarian Award for his outreach to young African-Americans through the Listen Up Foundation.
A star-studded line-up of the hottest A-list celebrities made appearances at the show, including LL Cool J, Terrence Howard, Queen Latifah, Diddy, John Legend, David Banner, MC Lyte, Jennifer Hudson, Tyrese, Jordin Sparks, Mel B, Nia Long, Cuba Gooding, Jr., Morris Chestnut, Gabrielle Union, Mary Mary, Lauren London and Kevin Hart.
Encore telecasts of the bet AWARDS ‘08 are set for: Friday, June 27 from 7:30-11:00 p.m.*; Sunday, June 29 from 7:30-11:00 p.m.*; Tuesday, July 1 from 7:30-11:00 p.m.*; Friday, July 4 from 6:00 p.m.-12:00 a.m.; Saturday, July 12 from 7:30-11:00 p.m.*; and Thursday, July 17 from 7:30-11:00 p.m.* (Please note: End time may change depending on final show length.)
The following is a complete list of winners from the bet AWARDS ‘08:

Best Female R&B Artist
Alicia Keys

Best Male R&B Artist
Chris Brown

Best Group
UGK

Best Gospel Artist
Marvin Sapp

Best Female Hip Hop Artist
Missy Elliott

Best Male Hip Hop Artist
Kanye West

Best New Artist
The Dream

Best Collaboration
Kanye West f/ T-Pain “Good Life”

Best Video Director
Erykah Badu and Mr. Roboto

Video of the Year
UGK f/ Outkast “International Player’s Anthem (I Choose You)”

Best Actor
Denzel Washington

Best Actress
Halle Berry

Male Athlete of the Year
Kobe Bryant

Female Athlete of the Year
Candace Parker

bet J Award
Raheem DeVaughn

Viewers’ Choice Award
Lil Wayne f/ Static “Lollipop”
BET once again teamed up with Cossette Productions, the famed producers of the GRAMMY Awards(R) and the seven record-setting bet AWARDS shows, to handle production of the telecast. Stephen Hill, bet Executive Vice President, Music and Programming, along with Lynne Harris-Taylor, bet Vice President of Specials, are executive producers of the telecast.
BET AWARDS ‘08 is sponsored by Dodge, Pepsi, Verizon Wireless, General Motors, P&G, Target, CIROC Vodka and Ford.
Visit BET.com for bet On Blast video highlights, photos and continuous bet AWARDS ‘08 updates at .
*All times ET/PT

About bet Networks

BET Networks, a division of Viacom Inc. , is the nation’s leading provider of quality entertainment, music, news and public affairs television programming for the African-American audience. The primary bet channel reaches more than 87 million households according to Nielsen Media Research, and can be seen in the U.S., Canada and the Caribbean. bet is the dominant African-American consumer brand with a diverse group of business extensions: BET.com, a leading internet destination for Black entertainment, music, culture, and news; bet Digital Networks - bet J, bet Gospel and bet Hip Hop, attractive alternatives for cutting-edge entertainment tastes; bet Event Productions, a full-scale event management and production company; bet Home Entertainment, a collection of BET-branded offerings for the home environment including DVDs and video-on-demand; bet Mobile, which provides ringtones, games and video content for wireless devices; and bet International, an extension of bet network programming for global distribution.

BET

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WASHINGTON, June 25 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ — The American Banker published an editorial yesterday, “Viewpoint: Blocking Web gambling Rules Would Be Mistake,” by Rep. Spencer Bachus (R-Ala.) that uses incorrect information to argue for the continued prohibition of Internet gambling. Rep. Bachus’ opinion piece comes as the House Committee on Financial Services is scheduled to vote today on a bill, the Payments System Protection Act (H.R. 5767), that would prohibit the Department of the Treasury and Federal Reserve System from proposing, prescribing or implementing any regulations related to the current ban on Internet gambling, as required by the Unlawful Internet gambling Enforcement Act of 2006 (UIGEA).
“It is unfortunate that Rep. Bachus is using scare tactics to argue for the continued prohibition of Internet gambling,” said Jeffrey Sandman, spokesman for the Safe and Secure Internet gambling Initiative. “The reality is that regulated Internet gambling, which is clearly working in the U.K. and other parts of the world, can utilize technology to offer strong consumer protections to combat underage and vulnerable gamblers in the U.S. Currently, prohibition leaves millions of Americans susceptible as they continue to gamble in an underground, uncontrolled marketplace without such guaranteed protections.”
UIGEA Has Not Lead to a Decrease in Internet Gambling
Statement: “Since the law was passed, gamblers and businesses engaged in Internet gambling have been deterred by the fear it would be enforced.”
Fact: Publicly traded foreign online operators left the U.S. market - privately held companies did not. The Global Betting and Gaming Consultants, a U.K. based organization that provides economic research on worldwide gambling activities, found that there was a short-term dip in Internet gambling in North America right after the law was passed due to the consequences of the regulated companies pulling out, leaving the market to unregulated ones. Over the past year, online gambling has increased by 10 percent. Millions of Americans continue to gamble online, despite the attempt to prohibit Internet gambling.
Leading Financial Institutions Do Not Support UIGEA
Statement: “The law (UIGEA) passed with the support of a broad coalition that included…the American Bankers Association…”
Fact: Representatives from the American Bankers Association, Financial Services Roundtable, Wells Fargo & Co. and Credit Union National Association unanimously opposed regulations proposed to implement UIGEA in testimony to the House Committee on Financial Service’s Subcommittee on Domestic and International Monetary Policy, Trade, and Technology on April 2, 2008. They all questioned the fundamental approach taken by Congress in enacting legislation to force financial institutions to police online gambling.
“The UIGEA and the Proposed Rule do not provide a rational path towards halting unlawful Internet gambling,” said Wayne Abernathy, American Bankers Association’s executive vice president of financial institutions policy and regulatory affairs. “The path leads to an increased cost and administrative burden to the banks and an erosion in the performance of the payments system, but it will not result in stopping illegal Internet gambling transactions. Imposing this enormous unfunded law enforcement mandate on banks in place of the government’s law enforcement agencies is not likely to be a successful public policy.”
Regulation Does Not Lead to Increase in Problem Gambling
Statement: Internet gambling lure young people who “by the tens of thousands are becoming compulsive, addicted gamblers.”
Fact: A report released in September 2007 by the U.K. gambling Commission, which regulates Internet gambling in Britain, reveals that the prevalence of problem gambling has not increased over the last eight years despite the advent of Internet gambling. The British gambling Prevalence Survey 2007 found that the rates of problem gambling were 0.6 percent and 0.5 percent of the gambling population, the same percentage of problem gamblers as reported in the last gambling participation survey conducted in 1999.
Internet gambling Can be Effectively Regulated to Protect Consumers
Statement: “The UIGEA was necessary because enforcement tools were so inadequate.”
Fact: Top experts have testified before Congress that a regulatory framework for Internet gambling would protect consumers and ensure the integrity of Internet gambling financial transactions. Leaders in the fields of internet payment processing, identity identification and online safety described how existing systems and technology have proven successful in combating underage and compulsive gambling and protecting against money laundering, fraud and identity theft.
Rep. Barney Frank (D-Mass.) introduced the Internet gambling Regulation and Enforcement Act (H.R. 2046) last year, which establishes a regulatory and enforcement framework for licensed gambling operators to accept bets and wagers from individuals in the U.S. It would include a number of built-in consumer protections, including safeguards against compulsive and underage gambling, money laundering, fraud and identity theft. States would also have the right to control what, if any, level of Internet gambling is permissible within their borders and could apply additional taxes and restrictions.
About Safe and Secure Internet gambling Initiative
The Safe and Secure Internet gambling Initiative promotes the freedom of individuals to gamble online with the proper safeguards to protect consumers and ensure the integrity of financial transactions. For more information on the Initiative, please visit . The Web site provides a means by which individuals can register support for regulated Internet gambling with their elected representatives.
Safe and Secure Internet gambling Initiative

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LAS VEGAS, June 24 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ — Pinnacle Entertainment management will present today at the Wachovia Securities Nantucket Equity Conference in Nantucket, Massachusetts. A copy of the presentation is accessible at the Investor Relations section of the Company’s corporate website, .
About Pinnacle Entertainment
Pinnacle Entertainment, Inc. owns and operates casinos in Nevada, Louisiana, Indiana, Missouri, Argentina and The Bahamas and has significant insurance claims related to a hurricane-damaged hotel and casino complex previously operated in Biloxi, Mississippi. The Company opened Lumiere Place, a $507 million casino hotel in downtown St. Louis, Missouri, in December 2007. Pinnacle also has a second casino development project under construction in the St. Louis area, which opening is dependent upon final approval by the Missouri Gaming Commission. Pinnacle is currently developing a second casino resort in Lake Charles, Louisiana, to be called Sugarcane Bay; is developing a casino resort in Baton Rouge, Louisiana; and has submitted a proposal for a casino resort in Kansas City, Kansas, subject to various approvals. Additionally, Pinnacle owns a casino site at the heart of the famed Boardwalk in Atlantic City, New Jersey, on which it plans to build a major new casino resort.
Pinnacle Entertainment, Inc.

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NEW YORK, June 23 /PRNewswire/ — Rihanna, Ne-Yo, Keyshia Cole, Usher, Lil Wayne, Alicia Keys, Chris Brown, Kanye West, Nelly, Marvin Sapp, and Young Jeezy are all on board to perform at bet AWARDS ‘08. In addition, LL Cool J, Samuel L. Jackson, Ice Cube, Terrence Howard, Jennifer Hudson, Gabrielle Union, Mary Mary, Lauren London and Kevin Hart will be on hand as presenters, and Jill Scott will perform a special tribute to legendary R&B icon Al Green, who is receiving BET’s Lifetime Achievement Award. Quincy Jones, celebrated producer/arranger/composer, is also being honored this year with BET’s prestigious Humanitarian Award for his outreach to young African-Americans through the Listen Up Foundation. Hosted by actor and comedian D.L. Hughley, bet AWARDS ‘08 premieres live from Los Angeles’ Shrine Auditorium on Tuesday, June 24 at 8:00 p.m.*
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Tagged as “the hottest ticket on television,” bet AWARDS ‘08 brings together the biggest stars in music, sports and entertainment for an electrifying evening. For the past seven years, the bet AWARDS has boasted unforgettable moments such as Michael Jackson’s surprise appearance during James Brown’s tribute; Rick James in his final duet with Teena Marie; Will Smith presenting Muhammad Ali with the first-ever Humanitarian Award; Prince onstage backing Chaka Khan; Stevie Wonder, Yolanda Adams and India Arie in a powerhouse tribute to Rufus’ first lady of funk; Destiny’s Child’s steamy lap dance; the reunion of one of hip hop’s most beloved trios, The Fugees; and last year’s touching opening performance with Jennifer Hudson and Jennifer Holliday.
BET has once again teamed up with Cossette Productions, the famed producers of the GRAMMY Awards(R) and the seven record-setting bet AWARDS shows, to handle production of the telecast. Stephen Hill, bet Executive Vice President, Music and Programming, along with Lynne Harris-Taylor, bet Vice President of Specials, will executive produce the telecast.
BET AWARDS ‘08 will be sponsored by Dodge, Pepsi, Verizon Wireless, General Motors, P&G, Target, CIROC Vodka and Ford.
Log onto BET.com for bet On Blast video highlights, photos and continuous bet AWARDS ‘08 updates at .
*All times ET/PT

About bet Networks

BET Networks, a division of Viacom Inc. , is the nation’s leading provider of quality entertainment, music, news and public affairs television programming for the African-American audience. The primary bet channel reaches more than 87 million households according to Nielsen Media Research, and can be seen in the U.S., Canada and the Caribbean. bet is the dominant African-American consumer brand with a diverse group of business extensions: BET.com, a leading internet destination for Black entertainment, music, culture, and news; bet Digital Networks - bet J, bet Gospel and bet Hip Hop, attractive alternatives for cutting-edge entertainment tastes; bet Event Productions, a full-scale event management and production company; bet Home Entertainment, a collection of BET-branded offerings for the home environment including DVDs and video-on-demand; bet Mobile, which provides ringtones, games and video content for wireless devices; and bet International, an extension of bet network programming for global distribution.

BET Networks

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WASHINGTON, June 20 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ — On June 24, 2008, the House Committee on Financial Services will mark up legislation, H.R. 5767, that would prohibit the Department of the Treasury and Federal Reserve System from proposing, prescribing or implementing any regulations related to the current ban on Internet gambling, as required by the Unlawful Internet gambling Enforcement Act of 2006 (UIGEA).
“Congress has studied this issue and heard from the financial services community and federal regulators that the current ban on Internet gambling is burdensome and doomed to fail. Now it is time for Congress to change course and find a way to protect the millions of Americans that are continuing to gamble online,” said Jeffrey Sandman, spokesperson for the Safe and Secure Internet gambling Initiative.
H.R. 5767 was introduced by Reps. Barney Frank (D-Mass.) and Ron Paul (R-Texas) on April 11, 2008. The introduction followed a hearing entitled, “Proposed UIGEA Regulations: Burden without Benefit?” in the House Committee on Financial Service’s Subcommittee on Domestic and International Monetary Policy, Trade, and Technology. Reps. Frank and Paul stated in their press release accompanying the introduction of H.R. 5767, “it was clear at the hearing that the regulations are unworkable for the financial services industry, and this bill would, therefore prohibit their implementation.”
Representatives of the U.S. Department of the Treasury and Federal Reserve System acknowledged at the hearing the challenges U.S. financial institutions will face in attempting to comply with UIGEA. Testimony was also heard from representatives from the Credit Union National Association, Financial Services Roundtable, American Bankers Association and Wells Fargo & Co., who spoke about the unnecessary burden they would face given the ambiguity of UIGEA and the potential confusion with the chance of multiple interpretations of what may or may not be illegal activities.
Last year, Rep. Frank introduced the Internet gambling Regulation and Enforcement Act (H.R. 2046) that would regulate Internet gambling. The bill requires Internet gambling operators licensed by FinCEN to put in place safeguards to protect against underage and compulsive gambling and ensure the integrity of financial transactions while at the same time reinforcing the rights of States to control what, if any, level of Internet gambling is permissible within their borders.
A companion piece of legislation to the Frank bill introduced by Rep. Jim McDermott (D-Wash.), the Internet gambling Regulation and Tax Enforcement Act of 2008 (H.R. 5523), would ensure the collection of taxes on regulated Internet gambling activities. According to a tax revenue analysis prepared by PricewaterhouseCoopers, taxation of regulated Internet gambling is expected to generate between $8.7 billion to $42.8 billion in federal revenues over its first 10 years.
About Safe and Secure Internet gambling Initiative
The Safe and Secure Internet gambling Initiative promotes the freedom of individuals to gamble online with the proper safeguards to protect consumers and ensure the integrity of financial transactions. For more information on the Initiative, please visit . The Web site provides a means by which individuals can register support for regulated Internet gambling with their elected representatives.
Safe and Secure Internet gambling Initiative

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NEW YORK, June 19 /PRNewswire/ — On Wednesday, June 25 at 8:00 p.m.* bet News premieres the second installment of its popular town hall series, HIP HOP VS. AMERICA II: WHERE DID THE LOVE GO?, a no-holds-barred discussion focusing on music videos, misogyny within the hip-hop culture, race vs. gender, the strained relationships between black men and women and the media’s role in shaping the perception of African Americans. Hip-hop culture and controversy have always made for familiar bedfellows, and with this special, bet News provides viewers with a forum to address some of the most pressing issues facing the Black community today.
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Hosted by bet News correspondent Jeff Johnson and hip hop pioneer MC Lyte, this primetime special provides a platform for a heated debate that aims to uncover the cause and effect of relationships between Black men and women. This three-part special features a passionate, lively and opinionated debate that tackles many sensitive issues, including:
— the images of women on television, particularly in music videos;
— sins of sexism;

– a segment about “What’s love got to do with it?” to explore if this current climate further erodes the familial structure;
– a segment “Am I my sister’s keeper?” featuring an all-female panel that cuts across generational, socioeconomic and cultural lines;
– race vs. gender; and
– the role the media plays in shaping American and international perceptions of Black women.
Here’s what some of the panelists had to say:
” … if you watch The Bachelor and you check them out, they’re not only still married, they are expecting a child, and they’re respected as having a serious relationship. However, when we did it, and I found my mate in that household,
it was looked at as though it was ‘toony’ or it was a joke … “
- Deelishis London Charles, Winner, Flavor of Love 2

“I will say this to all the women: If you want to change what’s going on -

pick better mates. In most cases, with these men, you know what type of men
they are when you lay down with them. You have to make a decision for
yourself to pick a better mate. If you want to change this society, close
your legs.”
- David Banner, rapper

“An artist’s job is to voice the struggle to inspire a generation of leaders. It is wrong to put the job of raising children on the artist when it comes in
the home first.”
- Talib Kweli, hip hop recording artist

“We need to see more female video directors, we need to see more female

executives and we need to just diversify really what we’re looking at. Its
just one type of man that seems to be running the business of hip hop.”
- Kim Osorio, author

Participants in HIP HOP VS. AMERICA II include David Banner (rapper/producer); Lil X (director); Talib Kweli (hip hop recording artist); Lyfe Jennings (R&B recording artist); Lola Ogunaike (journalist); Allison Samuels (Newsweek magazine); Nelson George (author/director/producer); Kevin Powell (writer/cultural critic); Michael Eric Dyson (author/professor, Georgetown University); Deelishis London Charles (winner, Flavor of Love 2); Angel Lola Love (video model/actress); Kim Osorio (author); Fershgenet Melaku (video model/actress); Michaela Angela Davis (journalist); Esther Armah (BBC journalist); Eugene Rivers (Christian activist); Clayton Gavin (hip hop artist/activist); Marc Lamont Hill (professor, Temple University); Melissa Harris Lacewell (professor, Princeton University); Lavonne Alford (recording artist); Beverly Bond (founder, Black Girls Rock, Inc. / hip hop DJ); Moya Bailey (activist/actor); Byron Hurt (filmmaker); Henry Bonsu (journalist); Akosua Anobil-Dodoo (journalist); LaShawna Stanley (President/CEO, Ethnicity Models); Ali LeRoi (producer/writer/director); M1 Dead Prez (hip hop artist/activist); and San Francisco District Attorney Kamala Harris.
Part I premieres Wednesday, June 25 at 8:00 p.m.* with the second hour airing on Thursday, June 26 at 8:00 p.m.* The third episode with additional exclusive footage will be available on bet ON BLAST, the network’s broadband channel (), immediately following Part II’s airing.
Selwyn Seyfu Hinds is executive producer of HIP HOP VS. AMERICA II: WHERE DID THE LOVE GO?.
For up-to-the-minute and archival press information including releases and photographs, visit BET’s press-only Web site at .
*All times ET/PT

About bet Networks

BET Networks, a division of Viacom Inc. , is the nation’s leading provider of quality entertainment, music, news and public affairs television programming for the African-American audience. The primary bet channel reaches more than 87 million households according to Nielsen Media Research, and can be seen in the U.S., Canada and the Caribbean. bet is the dominant African-American consumer brand with a diverse group of business extensions: BET.com, a leading internet destination for Black entertainment, music, culture, and news; bet Digital Networks - bet J, bet Gospel and bet Hip Hop, attractive alternatives for cutting-edge entertainment tastes; bet Event Productions, a full-scale event management and production company; bet Home Entertainment, a collection of BET-branded offerings for the home environment including DVDs and video-on-demand; bet Mobile, which provides ringtones, games and video content for wireless devices; and bet International, an extension of bet network programming for global distribution.

BET Networks

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LAS VEGAS, June 18 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ — Bally Technologies, Inc. , a leader in slots, video machines, casino management systems and networked solutions for the global gaming industry, announced today that one of Europe’s largest gaming operators, Hit Group, has selected Bally’s Networked Floor of the Future systems solutions for its high-speed, Ethernet gaming floors at its gaming and entertainment centers in Slovenia.
Bally will install its full casino management and slot management systems solutions along with its iVIEW network that will ultimately deliver interactive player content to each of the Hit Group’s 3,300 gaming machines. Bally’s product offering to the Hit Group also includes the Company’s new multiple language and foreign currency exchange capabilities. Full execution of the agreement for the Hit Group’s properties is based on successful “go-lives” at multiple properties.
The Hit Group chose Bally after a highly competitive selection process in which they evaluated a number of companies based on the quality of products, systems functionality, and the ability to support international customers.
“For the Hit Group, the introduction of Bally’s system is of key importance for the increased business competitiveness, especially in the field of upgrading the system of relations with guests — CRM,” said Niko Trost, MSc, President of the Management Board of Hit.
“We feel honored to have been selected by the Hit Group after such an extensive evaluation, and look forward to providing one of Europe’s largest gaming operators our Networked Floor of the Future,” said Richard M. Haddrill, Chief Executive Officer and President of Bally Technologies. “This contract reflects Bally’s continued commitment to becoming the global gaming technology leader.”
The Hit Group plans to implement Bally’s award-winning Business Intelligence solution, a data analysis dashboard and data visualization tool that connects player data with individual game data, providing casino and marketing managers with deep insights into how casino patrons interact with the gaming floor.
For its sophisticated marketing initiatives, the Hit Group will use Bally’s robust, player-centric Power Bonusing(TM) tools for coupons, sweepstakes, and other rewards and incentive programs.
Bally has also partnered with the Hit Group and is providing professional and technical services to help the gaming operator develop unique system features and programs for the Slovenian market and its current regulations.
The Company will complete its first installation at the Hit Group’s largest gaming and entertainment center, the Perla Hotel & casino in Nova Gorica, Slovenia, in the first calendar quarter of 2009.
About Bally Technologies, Inc.
With a history dating back to 1932, Las Vegas-based Bally Technologies designs, manufactures, operates and distributes advanced gaming devices, systems and technology solutions worldwide. Bally’s product line includes reel-spinning slot machines, video slots, wide-area progressives, and Class II, lottery and central determination games and platforms. As the world’s No. 1 gaming systems company, Bally also offers an array of casino management, slot accounting, bonusing, cashless and table management solutions. The Company also owns and operates Rainbow casino in Vicksburg, Miss. For more information, please contact Laura Olson-Reyes, Director of Corporate Communications, at 702-584-7742, or visit .
About Hit Group
The Hit Group ranks among the largest entertainment providers in Europe. In operation for more than 20 years, Hit has developed into a solid and promising company, dedicated to its guests and determined to satisfy their wishes by offering top-quality leisure time activities. Hit considers Europe the most challenging of markets, and using an innovative approach, has won a considerable share of the continent’s gaming, entertainment, and tourism sector. Today, the Hit Group consists of nine companies in different countries. The majority of activities are located in Nova Gorica, Slovenia, where Hit operates one of the largest gaming and entertainment centers in Europe, Perla Hotel & Casino. For more information, please visit .
This news release may contain “forward-looking” statements within the meaning of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and is subject to the safe harbor created thereby. Such information involves important risks and uncertainties that could significantly affect the results in the future and, accordingly, such results may differ from those expressed in any forward-looking statements. Future operating results may be adversely affected as a result of a number of risks that are detailed from time to time in the Company’s filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The Company undertakes no obligation to update the information in this press release and represents that the information is only valid as of today’s date.
Investor Contact: Robert Caller Media Contact: Laura Olson-Reyes
(702) 584-7982 (702) 584-7742

Bally Technologies, Inc.

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LAS VEGAS, June 17 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ — The Gaming Standards Association has launched a new program where manufacturers can ensure consistent GSA protocol implementation, and operators can easily search for products that have been tested and certified to meet GSA protocol standards. Under GSA’s new “Protocol Certification Program,” manufacturers can submit their products for testing certification. A list of all certified products will then be posted to a new page on GSA’s website, , where operators can quickly browse the list in search for products they are considering adding to their casino floors.
GSA’s certification program was designed to provide the industry a level of assurance that gaming products correctly implement GSA standards. The primary focus of the program is to ensure consistent implementation of standards to ensure improved interoperability by striving towards “plug and play.” The website will list gaming products that have been successfully tested for conformance to GSA standards by qualified testing laboratories.
GSA Technical Director Marc McDermott said, “GSA’s certification program was designed with the end-user, the operator, in mind. Through the program, operators can be confident that the products they see listed on the new web page will interoperate with the other certified equipment on the gaming floor. Now with the site, operators can easily verify that the products they are considering putting on their floors are certified to work as intended.”
Testing and certification will be conducted by the industry’s leading independent test labs. The labs would be individually accredited by an International Standards Organization (ISO) recognized Accrediting Body to the ISO 17025 standard with a GSA scope. Games, systems, peripherals and other devices will be independently tested and certified by these Labs to ensure they operate in accordance with the protocols. The certifications exclusively relate to protocol communications, and are not certifications as required by regulatory testing guidelines.
As products are added, the new certification page will serve as an information clearinghouse where operators can quickly see a list of all gaming devices and systems certified to work on GSA’s new Game-to-System (G2S) protocol and on the System-to-System (S2S) protocol.
About the Gaming Standards Association (GSA): The Gaming Standards Association (GSA) is an international trade association that creates benefits for gaming manufacturers, suppliers, operators and regulators. We facilitate the identification, definition, development, promotion, and implementation of open standards to enable innovation, education, and communication for the benefit of the entire industry. Since its incorporation on May 6, 1998, GSA has members representing a wide cross section of the global gaming industry.
GSA’s new Game-to-System (G2S) Protocol has been named “Best Productivity-Enhancement Technology” by Global Gaming Business Magazine, one of the “Top Three International Gaming Products” by IGWB Magazine; one of casino Journal magazine’s “Top 3 Most Innovative Products”; and one of casino Enterprise Management’s “Top 10 Slot Floor Technologies.”
Platinum members include Aristocrat Technologies Inc.; Atronic Americas LLC; Bally Technologies, Inc. (BYI); E-Genting Holdings Sdn Bhd; FutureLogic, Inc; Harrah’s Entertainment (HET); International Game Technology (IGT); Konami Gaming Inc.; MEI; MGM MIRAGE (MGM); Progressive Gaming International Corporation (PGIC); Seminole Tribe of Florida; and WMS Gaming Inc. (WMS). Other members include: 3M Touch Systems (MMM); Ainsworth Game Technology, Ltd.; AGMMA - Australasian Gaming Machine Manufacturers Association; American Gaming Systems; Ameristar Casinos, Inc.; Aruze Gaming America, Inc.; Austrian Gaming Industries GmbH; Belatra Co., Ltd.; BMM North America; British Columbia Lottery Corporation; CashCode Company Inc.; casino Technology; Codere, S.A.; DigiDeal Corp.; DigiTech Systems Co., Ltd.; Elixir Group, Ltd.; Euro Games Technology; F2 Systems, Inc.; Foxwoods Resort Casino; GameLogic, Inc.; GameTech International; Gaming Consultants International; Gaming Laboratories International, Inc; Giesecke & Devrient; GGS-US LTD; GTECH Corporation (LTO); Incredible Technologies, Inc.; International Currency Technologies Corporation; Intralot S.A. (INLr.AT); Jofemar, S.A.; Las Vegas Gaming, Inc.; Macao Polytechnic Institute; Money Controls; MotorCity Casino; Multi-State Lottery Association (MUSL); Multimedia Games, Inc. (MGAM); Nanoptix, Inc.; New Wave Automation; Nick Farley & Associates; Nidec Sankyo Corporation; NRT Technology Corporation; Ontario Lottery & Gaming Corporation; Oregon Lottery; Penn National Gaming, Inc.; PokerTek, Inc.; Rocket Gaming Systems; Scientific Games (SGMS); Shuffle Master, Inc.(SHFL); SIQ; Station Casinos, Inc.; Tabcorp Holdings Limited; Transact Technologies (TACT); Unidesa Gaming & Systems; UNLV International Gaming Institute; Video Gaming Technologies, Inc. and Western Money Systems. For more information, visit .
Gaming Standards Association

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