Friday, March 05, 2004
Copyright © Las Vegas Review-Journal

Mayor: Poker tourney stays

City Council to vote on Horseshoe licenses

Mayor Oscar Goodman said keeping the World Series of Poker in his beloved downtown, at least through 2005, is a "hill to die for."

Whether Goodman gets his way might influence the Las Vegas City Council's decision this morning on transfer of the liquor and business licenses to the new operator of Binion's Horseshoe, the downtown casino that has held the tournament for the past 34 years.

The mayor's demand has touched off discussions between his office and representatives of Harrah's Entertainment, which will reopen and operate the casino and put 900 back to work. MTR Gaming Group will own the property.

"Hopefully they (Harrah's) will concede that the World Series of Poker will remain downtown at least through the centennial" in 2005, the mayor said at his weekly news conference. "That's critical that it be a component of the centennial."

Harrah's main interest in the deal is to acquire the Horseshoe brand in Nevada and the World Series of Poker.

Harrah's spokesman Gary Thompson said the company plans to hold the 2004 series, scheduled to start April 22, downtown.

"That's assuming the mayor lets it open up," he said. "I love Oscar's passion. I voted for him for mayor, but I didn't vote for him for king."

Harrah's plans to move the tournament, Thompson said, because that is what the participants have asked for. "Whether we move it in 2005, that's being discussed with Oscar. If everyone's reasonable, we'll come to a compromise," he said.

Wednesday morning, the City Council approved transfer of the business license and liquor license, subject to a one-year review.

The condition prompted representatives of Harrah's and MTR to seek a meeting with Goodman at a lunchtime break.

"I told them I had an inkling that the reason this deal was being made in large part was to take the name Horseshoe ... and the World Series of Poker, which has a real significant impact on a successful downtown and remove it from the downtown," Goodman said. "I told them I really would not let that happen."

At the council's afternoon session, Goodman made a motion to reconsider the decision, and the council approved the motion. The council will meet at 9 a.m. today to vote on the matter.

The city cannot compel a business decision. But licensing ordinances give the council latitude to consider the financial viability of a business.

"I'm concerned about the 900 people out of work, but I'm also concerned about a building that doesn't have any distinct identity," Goodman said of the loss of the Horseshoe name and signature event.