Foxwoods Friday

Foxwoods Tanger Outlet Project's Groundbreaking Delayed by Winter Weather
Harsh weather has delayed the start of construction for the outlet mall developers plan to build at Foxwoods Resort Casino. Groundbreaking had been expected by the end of last month.

"We didn't break ground in February due to hard winter conditions," the source said. "We had a historical snowstorm and the ground is still snow-covered."

Barring anything else unforeseen, groundbreaking will take place this spring, and the mall, which will connect Foxwoods' Grand Pequot Hotel and MGM Grand at Foxwoods, will supposedly open in the summer of 2014.

"Archeological investigations at the site have been completed successfully. Borings have been completed," a source said. "This project is now shovel ready. We're just waiting for better weather."

The mall project, first announced in February 2012, is being developed by Tanger Factory Outlet Centers of Greensboro, N.C., and Gordon Group Holdings of Greenwich, a partnership that also will own and manage the facility.

State economists last year hailed the project as a potential boon to southeastern Connecticut's economy, providing 400 temporary constructions jobs and about 900 permanent full- and part-time jobs once it's built.

When the project was unveiled last year in connection with Foxwoods' 20th anniversary, groundbreaking was supposed to take place in the spring of 2012. The year's delay since then is partially attributable to Tanger's needing additional time to reach deals with mall tenants, according to the source.The 312,000-square-foot mall, Tanger Outlets Foxwoods, will include some 80 stores. However, none of the mall's stores has yet been named. According to documents available on its website, the company's tenant base includes about 400 upscale brands, including Ann Taylor, Banana Republic, Calvin Klein, J. Crew, Nike and Polo Ralph Lauren.

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That's all for now.  Have a royal "snowy day" and be careful on the roads out there.  Remember to take it easy on your way to the casinos. Use extra caution on the roadways, slow down, arrive safe, and, guess what - your bankroll will also stay the same a little while longer!


Binbin

Mass Casino Suitors Unusual Requirements Part 2

A Look at Western Massachusetts Licensees & Their Approach to the Surrounding Communities

The ombudsman for the Massachusetts Gaming Commission told local people Wednesday the state encourages communities surrounding a municipality with the potential to host a casino to speak with casino applicants.

“We encourage all surrounding communities to be in touch with applicants,” John Ziemba told the city’s Casino Commission and the Town Council’s Casino Mitigation Committee.

All Surrounding communities of the Binbin "Yo Eleven" companies will be courted in the upcoming months. Let's look at the Springfield trifecta of Hard Rock, Penn, and MGM:

Hard Rock International and the Bronson Companies would like to develop a $500 million to $800 million resort-style casino at the Eastern States Exposition fairgrounds. Plans call for a 400- to 500-room hotel as well as a parking deck, a performance center and other amenities. Eastern States Exposition Chief Executive Officer Eugene J. Cassidy has said his organization is investigating having a casino on its property because of fears that a casino in Springfield would take entertainment, trade fair and other business away from it. That would threaten the existence of the exposition, he said. Locally, people have expressed concerns that a casino on the fairgrounds, which are off Memorial Avenue, would worsen existing traffic problems, particularly during the Big E annual agricultural fair. The yearly event that New Englanders equate as their "Texas State Fair" is difficult to consider changed by this casino development. I'm sure the Hard Rock's events will close for the weeks it's open, and Springfield traffic is bad enough at those times. An asset or a hindrance to New England's "State Fair?" I say a hindrance. The location is not the best for surrounding communities.

MGM Resorts International and Penn National Gaming, competing to build a casino in Springfield, plan to make new public presentations on March 11, designed to clarify their traffic plans, entertainment and non-casino components. The presentations are scheduled from 2:30 to 4:30 p.m., at City Stage, located at 1 Columbus Center. The presentations, announced by Mayor Domenic J. Sarno, are open to the public.

“It is part of our continuing effort to get as much information out to the public as possible,” said Kevin E. Kennedy, the city’s chief development officer. “Both of these subjects – traffic and entertainment will be integral to a successful application for a gaming commission license.”

The purpose of the presentations is to allow the proposers to present and explain certain refinements in their proposals related to traffic and the non-casino aspects of their proposals developed in response to the city’s requests for clarifications and the updated draft evaluation criteria issued by the Massachusetts Gaming Commission, officials said. While the public may attend, the presentation will not involve a question and answer period for the public. The areas targeted, especially entertainment, dining, and tourism, “really have a significant regional impact,” Kennedy said.

According to a prepared statement issued by the mayor's office, the city expects each proposer to send representatives of their companies to make the presentations in a format that is conducive to the audience in attendance, as well as an audience watching on a live web based video feed and/or television broadcast. The city will arrange for live stream through its website (www.springfield-ma.gov/casino) and has arranged a live feed through MassLive.com and its television partner, CBS 3 Springfield, and it will also be broadcast live on Comcast Channel 293. A recording of the proceedings will be posted to the Springfield Redevelopment Authority webpage. The presentations will be open to the public on a first come basis. CityStage doors will open at 2 p.m. The area seats approximately 400 people. There will be no reserved seating.

Saturday- a look at the Mohegan Massachusetts and an update on the Wampanoag's bid.
Tomorrow is Foxwoods-MGM Friday.

That's all for now.

Binbin

New England Weekend Entertainment

WELCOME TO MY 100th POST!
Not that much happening in CT it seems this weekend!
Check websites for ticket information.
Mohegan Sun Resort & Casino (CT)
The Arena
Friday, March 8th - Matchbox 20 - 7:30pm

Wolf Den
Friday March 8th - 8:00 - Railroad Earth
Saturday March 9th - 8:00 & 10:00 - Herman's Hermits

Cabaret Theater
Saturday, March 9th - Vic DiBitetto featuring Marvin Bell
with special guest Bob DiBuono - 10:00

Foxwoods Resort & Casino (CT)
COMIX One Night Stand
Godfrey - March 7-9 - (3 Shows) - 8:00pm

Twin River Casino (RI)
Twin River Event Center -
Friday March 8th - Regis & Joy Philbin - 8:00

Lighthouse Bar
Friday March 8th - Steve Anthony & Persuasion - 8:30
Saturday March 9th - Great Escape (Journey Tribute) - 8:30

Catch A Rising Star
Friday March 8th - Funniest Comic in New England Contest Winners - 8:00
Friday March 8th - Frank Santos, Comic Hypnotist - 10:30
Saturday March 9th - Josh Rabinowitz - 8:00

Newport Grand (RI)
Grand Cocktail Lounge
Friday March 8th - 9:00 - The Merge
Saturday March 8th - 9:00 - Swerving Cadillacs

Hollywood Casino (ME)
The Sound Stage Lounge
Friday March 8th - Alison Ames Band - 9:00PM
Saturday March 9th - Vinyl Down - 9:00PM

That's all For now

Binbin

Unusual Requirements Continue to Become Part of Mass Casino Process - Part 1

Casino companies in Massachusetts face unusual requirement to negotiate deals with 'surrounding' communities

Casino companies in Western Massachusetts and municipal leaders are preparing for some high-stakes negotiations over impact fees and other measures to alleviate the effects of gambling projects on cities and towns that surround a community that would be home to a casino.

Massachusetts is among many states that require commercial casinos to negotiate contracts with municipalities where the resort would be built. But unlike other states, Massachusetts also requires developers to reach separate, written mitigation agreements with each community that might border or be close to a "host" community, casino executives said.


Below are artist renderings of Western Mass proposals:

Clockwise from upper left, Hard Rock International Resorts in West Springfield; MGM Resorts International in Springfield; Penn National Gaming in Springfield; and Mohegan Sun in Palmer. In the coming days, I will take a closer look at individual proposals.

In Western Massachusetts, that means up to a couple dozen different communities could eventually be negotiating agreements for fees, traffic or sewer improvements, school funds or other ways to offset the impacts of casinos in a nearby city or town.

The Massachusetts Gaming Commission, the powerful five-member state agency that will issue licenses for casinos, would be ultimately responsible for designating some municipalities as "surrounding" communities, authorizing them to negotiate agreements with casinos.

The casino law mandates that casino developers reach written agreements with communities where they want to open a resort and then put the details in those agreements up for a vote. Casinos need voter approval before they apply for a state license.

The adjacent or surrounding communities don't get to vote on casinos, but they can negotiate with companies for fees, improvements to roads or other infrastructure and other protections. The agreements with surrounding communities need to be approved before the gaming commission grants a license.

Casino companies must reach mitigation agreements with surrounding communities as part of the process for applying for a state license from the gaming commission.

It's currently unclear what communities will be officially named as "surrounding" communities and allowed to bargain for agreements.

More to follow on this process during the next posts.  Tomorrow will still be Weekend Entertainment Wednesday.  That's all for now.

Binbin

(Feature) Why A Block On Pre-Owned Games Is OK

This feature is my own opinion. While you may disagree with much of what I say in the first part of it, please hold on until I at least explain my views in the second part before making any snap judgments. Thank you and enjoy!

The case of whether or not pre-owned games should be blocked or not is one that is discussed a lot. There is no doubt that both sides of the argument have very valid points, and although while the me of a while back would disagree with any kind of ban, over the past few months my opinion has certainly developed and changed and as a result I have begun supporting the opposite side.

The opinion of not having any kind of block is one held by many gamers. It's an understandable one too. It seems ludicrous to want to restrict someone's ownership of a product in such a seemingly pointless way, all for the sake of, what? Money?

If you ask anyone opposed to this blocking system why they feel this way they will probably rattle off some of the following examples.

First of all, you have the consumers right to do as they wish with their product. Well, I say 'right' but in reality it is more of an imagined privilege. The truth is that this so called 'right' doesn't actually exist. Even if a ban was imposed; if gamers found a way around it they probably still wouldn't be breaking the law. The bottom line is that there is no defining rule here. If publishers or console developers include some way of making the playing of pre-owned games impossible, that is fine. No laws broken there. This instantly negates the fact it is a gamers 'right' to use the product how they wish. In fact, that is like saying you have a right to hack an Xbox 360 console because 'you own it and paid for it'. Well no, you don't. You see you don't actually own the product. You own the console. Not the product. All those terms and conditions you had to agree to when you started using it, they let you know that you are not the boss. Microsoft, Sony and Nintendo are. You don't mess with their product.

It's the same with games. If a publisher wants to limit the use of second hand games released themselves, then they can.
Although, as I said above; if someone found a way around this system and managed to sell their games on and they could still be played, then, so long as no piracy or alteration (hacking, modding etc.) laws were in breach, that would be legal. How so? Well it's like this: if a publisher or a console developer like Microsoft or Sony includes some in console or game device that stops games being played on other peoples consoles, then that is OK, but it isn't really talked about. It's sort of like; this thing exists and you can't play that game on another console and that is the way it is. If you find a completely legal way around that, then that is OK too because all you are, technically, doing is going to extra lengths to sell your game on. Now, on the other hand, if the next Playstation came with a terms and conditions form that forbid the selling or re-using of games on that system then you would be in breach of those.

The thing is, though, they probably won't. Because not allowing games to be re-used is not the type of thing that will have T&C's written up about it. All it would be is a discreet feature that corrects behaviour but doesn't necessarily control it completely.

Let's recover from this digression though. The bottom line is that gamers tend to think they have a right to do as they wish with their purchased game, but they don't. That said, it still angers people when they are confronted with the possibility of having their options limited in the form of not being able to sell their own games.

The second thing that can be used against blocks is how much it will damage highstreet shops. A third of Gamestop's profits are from pre-owned games and I imagine the figures for England's Game shops are similar. Without used games, these well known highstreet chains would suffer like mad; maybe even to the point where closing down would be the only option.

I really sympathise with this point. It is a great shame that so many video game stores are dying out these days and I only want better things to happen for them, not worse. That said, I can still see why this entire point is, also, invalid.

I think the fact of the matter is that developers and publishers and the likes of Microsoft and Sony shouldn't have to, and don't need to, tiptoe around highstreet brands. Call me cruel but it isn't really their problem if the likes of Gamestop and Game rely so much on pre-owned games. You can buy all the games, consoles and accessories on Amazon if you want. And why wouldn't you? Is there really any need or point to make sure you don't damage the profits of a type of highstreet store that is no doubt on the way out anyway? I'm sorry, but that is just the way I, and I think a lot of business mined people, see it.

The third point that is very often made, and the one I get the most, is the issue of cost. New games, especially those in the form of triple-A titles, are expensive. They're not cheap. New games in the US cost $60 each and in the UK, or more specifically England, we pay around £40.

Used games are an awesome way of purchasing games, albeit a little while after their release, for cheaper. Games these days are not all that expensive new, though. A month after release and you might be able to pick them up with £10 knocked off and even further down the line you can probably get them for half price. However with this new generation of consoles fast approaching, and the question 'Will games receive yet another price hike?' still not answered, the prospect of having to pay the full, seemingly exorbitant prices, with no inch given in the form of pre-owned games seems daunting.

I have no defence of this point, as it is a very real and very valid one. My only thing to say here is that the price of games, if anything, should be lowered either from the release or at a faster rate. So either bring down the price of games no matter what, or release them full price but bring them down in cost faster than usual. Also, it seems an attractive proposition, to me at least, that games should have their price regulated by how popular they are.

With those often recited points made and noted, I want to now take the time, in this second part if you will, to explain why I think, if anything, a block on pre-owned games would be OK.

First of all let me ask you a question. Do you like video games? Do you like to play video games? Yes? I think so, otherwise why would you be here. So that is settled. You answered, or at least I'm assuming you did, 'yes'.

So I take it you would be sad if video games died? Again, for the sake of conversation, let's say you answered 'yes'.

Now that is a great point as to why used games might, and possibly should, be blocked. The biggest argument that devs and publishers have is that they make no money from the sale of used games. Except maybe a few pounds/dollars here and there for online pass codes.

If pre-owned games weren't there, people would have to buy new instead, thus all the money then goes to the studio(s) behind the game itself.

This might sound like greed, right? Sure, that is easy to get. After all, all of this is about money isn't it? The first thing Activision is thinking when they prompt development of another Call of Duty is about how many bucks they can make off of it.

But if I'm honest, this is less greed and more that the funds to actually make more games are needed. Not every company is EA or Activision. A lot of developers are small time and low budget. Because of this their games a lower budget and less known. This can often mean less pre-orders and day of release buys. Not as much money is then made. People who were somewhat interested in the game but didn't purchase it will no doubt wait for it to come down in price and either by it cheap new or, most likely, pre-owned. Pre-owned sales don't contribute any money to the studio who made the game. The game doesn't make much and no sequel or future games are planned for release. If anything, the developers might even go bankrupt.

What's more; with the mobile app and game market booming like it is, video games are suffering. Proper consoles mainly attract hardcore gamers these days and there aren't as many serious players as there are casual ones.

The games industry is suffering terribly n this area and, to be frank, most developers and publishers need all the money and help they can get. If you love games and don't want them to die, buying your games new instead of used is the best possible thing you could do.

And that is it; the main point as to why blocking pre-owned games is no bad thing. It basically just helps in ensuring that more games in the future can be made.

It is very easy to brush this issue aside, say it isn't true and deny it. But that is just plain stupid and, if anything, ignorant. Think what you like about the guy and his views, but he got one thing right because as he, Cliffy B, recently said: "The games industry is in turmoil" and he is very right.

Sure blocking pre-owned games might seem like a cheap blow; but it is a necessary step in preserving and increasing the life and longevity of video games and the awesome developers behind them. Just look at THQ, the guys behind Darksiders, Saints Row and Red Faction; they're bankrupt and basically dead. It's becoming harder and harder to integrate into the this area of work and even harder to maintain any standing position in it.

In truth, if DLC was scrapped and included on the disc, then a block wouldn't seem anywhere near as bad. Keep games the same price but give the extra content without more needing to be paid and in return pre-owned games are abolished. That, to me, is a good deal. Everyone is, ultimately, a winner.

So there you have it. That is my view and those are the facts. Don't shoot me down just yet; consider what I have said and remember that this is just my own opinion. Discuss in the comments what your own thoughts on the matter are. This is an issue that affects everyone related to gaming and the industry and needs to be talked about!

Rhode Island Casino News & Information

A State of the Casino in Rhode Island - Where's the News?

Over a year ago, State Rep. Joseph A. Trillo wanted someone to build a "super-casino" in the Quonset Business Park. He said it was a "can't-miss proposition." "Cruise ships could dock at Davisville, bringing visitors from afar to a 7.5-million-square-foot facility that would include such amenities as an indoor amusement park and an aquarium."

Representative Trillo was concerned over the amount of money poured into the site with "zero" revenue out of it. However, "Quonset" has improved it's value in the last year with a business park, events, etc.

But, what if a mega-resort, (that was to be rumored to be connected somehow to the other RI casinos) were built - how would that fit into the New England casino expansion in Massachusetts?

As it is, Twin River continues to coax patrons from CT and MA before the onslaught of the new casinos north with the addition of table games. Their hope is to get a base of loyal patrons that won't go back to CT or go to the new Mass casinos with their loyalty. And then there is Newport Grand, seemingly treading water until 2016 and the "Mass Casino Invasion" into New England.

It's hard for this blogger to find relevant news from the littlest state. I hope this suffices for now:

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Tomorrow is This Weekend's Entertainment Wednesday.  Cya then.


That's all for now.


Binbin

(Series:1 Ep.6) Ultimate Team Player Of The Week

Luis Fuentes

Club: U.N.A.M.

League: Liga MX
Nation: Mexico
Position: CB
Height: 5'7"
Foot: Left
Weak Foot: * * *
Skill Moves: * * * 
Attacking Workrate: Medium
Defensive Workrate: Medium

Average Cost: 2,500-4,000

Card Type: Normal Silver

Base Stats:
Pace: 80
Shooting: 61
Passing: 66
Dribbling: 74
Defending: 70
Heading: 75

Why is he so good?

I was originally interested in Fuentes because he offered a great amount of pace and 3-star skills which, for a centre-back, is very good. Luckily I have found him to be absolutely awesome and a player I would definitely recommend for any silver squads or just any gamers after bad ass players.

His pace and defending kind of go hand in hand in how well he performs defensively, as while his interceptions aren't rated the highest (66 to be precise) his speed allows him to cut out passes and through balls with ease. What's more, he can get back fast. His actual pace, which has a base stat of 80, feels like more due to his low height and weight. He moves very rapidly and doesn't slow down the more he runs but actually speeds up.

He can zoom around the pitch quickly and his workrates don't ever cause him to be out of position either from an attacking standpoint or a defensive one.

While Fuentes's slide tackling can be a little bit lacklustre, his standing tackles are often very precise and he rarely loses the ball after making a challenge. In fact, most of the time he goes in for a tackle he comes out dribbling the ball and ready to pass it out, which is really great.

Surprisingly his shooting is actually above average for a centre-back. His longshots, while often lacking the power that better players possess, are regularly on target and at least trouble the goalkeeper. Meanwhile, his in-the-box finishing is good enough that he can put away chances that fall to him.

Passing wise Fuentes is good. He isn't really at the hub of attacks and when I did use him for passes he was accurate with them. His short and long passing, along with his vision is good enough that he can get them on target, but don't expect many technical bits of play from him.

He is actually the best centre-back I have used in Ultimate Team when it comes to dribbling. His touch is often a little bit heavy but on the ball he manoeuvres really well. This is largely due to his 91 rated agility that is ludicrously high for a player of his position. 

He turns really well, dribbles the ball well and, what's more, he has 3-star skills which allows for some of the best skill moves to be used (although, sadly, no rainbow flick).

His heading took me by surprise too. He can jump high and accurately head the ball. He won't be scoring any goals though, and if he is marking a Falcao or Ibrahimovic then he will be overpowered in this area, but he does a good enough job. 

Overall I really recommend him. I doesn't matter what you use him for as he will perform really well.