In a way, Charles Barkley has to be happy that all he suffered for refusing to pay $400,000 in gambling debts was a little public embarrassment. There was once a time in Las Vegas where stiffing a casino might have meant a one-way ride into the desert.

You once could bet on casinos' luck holding out even in tough economic times, but things are turning dicey now. St. Louis-area casinos saw a nearly 4 percent drop in business last month, according to figures released this week by Missouri and Illinois ga

Churchill Downs Inc. President Bob Evans pledged to pursue expanded gambling next year in Kentucky, citing Maryland voters' approval of slot machines. A portion of slots revenue would go to boost racing purses.

GRAND LEDGE — The first executive director of Michigan's Gaming Control Board and the author of rules governing gambling at Detroit's three casinos has died. Nelson Westrin, a Michigan State graduate, had suffered an infection due to prostate cancer,

Fueled by a big holiday weekend and arrival of federal tax rebate checks, Louisiana's state-licensed casinos took in a 10.4 percent jump in revenue from gambling in May.