CASINO BRIEFS

Richard F. "Dick" Stewart is the new vice president of property marketing for Isle of Capri Casinos.

Stewart, who has more than 30 years' experience in the gambling industry, most recently was vice president of resort operations and director of marketing at Pearl River Resort in Philadelphia. He has also held marketing and management positions in Biloxi and Reno.

Dorothy Washington, who works in the banquets department, is Grand Casino Gulfport's Associate of the Year for 2004. With the honor, she received $500, two round-trip tickets to Las Vegas, a 3-day/4-night stay in the city and VIP parking for a year at the Grand. She and other outstanding casino employees were honored at a Feb. 3 appreciation dinner.

Ben & Jerry's Ice Cream has sealed its deal to open its first shop in Mississippi at the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino. The "Scoop Shop" will be located in the retail promenade of the Biloxi casino, which is slated to open this summer.

"Its unique brand fits perfectly with the Hard Rock philosophy and we think our customers of all ages will love it," said Hard Rock Biloxi's President Joe Billhimer.

Ben & Jerry's has more than 50 ice cream, frozen yogurt and sorbet products. Some are packaged in pints for grocery stores and some in bulk for Scoop Shops. The company has 450-franchised ice cream Scoop Shops and PartnerShops worldwide. They have approximately 300 Scoop Shops in the United States and 150 internationally.

Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Biloxi has announced that it has selected IGT Advantage Casino System to manage its entire gambling operation.

"The Gulf Coast gaming market is highly competitive," said Shannon Oberlies, Hard Rock Biloxi's vice president of marketing. "We chose the IGT Advantage Casino System because it offers the marketing tools that enable us to offer a unique gaming experience and gain a competitive advantage. The Hard Rock franchise and brand is truly unique, and we needed a casino system that helps us deliver our brand by creating an exciting and fun gaming experience."

The casino will also use the EZ Pay Ticket System on its slot machines.

Lyle A. Berman, the chairman and chief executive officer of Lakes Entertainment Inc., is on the agenda for today's meeting of the Mississippi Gaming Commission. Berman, one of the world's top poker players and one of the founders of Grand Casinos, is seeking approval to put a casino in Vicksburg. Lakes Entertainment has development and management agreements with Indian tribes in Michigan and California. It also owns approximately 64 percent of WPT Enterprises Inc., which has the World Poker Tour television series.

The Isle of Capri is spending $16 million to upgrade and renovate one of its two casino boats in Lake Charles.

Jeff King, Isle Lake Charles general manager, said the Crown Riverboat will get new carpet, walls, bars and slot machines. The poker room on the third deck will be upgraded, King said.

This is the same riverboat the Isle had proposed moving to suburban New Orleans in Jefferson Parish last year. It later withdrew its application to relocate the riverboat casino from the State Gaming Control Board because of opposition.

Isle President Tim Hinkley has said the company has not dropped the idea of having a casino along the Mississippi River. King said the Crown will have a "fresh new Isle look."

Atronic, a maker of video slot machines, has announced that it has received approval from the Mississippi Gaming Commission to introduce new games to the state. The games are Deal or No Deal, The Sign of the Zodiac, Angels and Devils and Treasures of Venice. The company said it anticipates having eight other games approved, including Gypsy Fortune, Blastin' Barrels, Magic Woods, Secrets of Africa and Avalanche of Cash.