Pala starts $5 million renovation project
19 February 2015
PALA, Calif. -- (PRESS RELEASE) -- Pala Casino Resort and Spa has started a $5 million construction project that will add new venues to the property and renovate several existing restaurants. It also will add a permanent outdoor stage to Pala’s popular Starlight Theatre. All elements are slated to be completed and open to the public just ahead of the Memorial Day weekend. Specific opening dates will be announced.
The cornerstone will be CAVE, a new 6,000-square-foot, full-service dining experience, bar, lounge, underground wine cave and entertainment complex. CAVE will build on the success of Mama’s Cucina Italiana, the restaurant it will replace. Mama’s popular Italian Chef Luciano Cibelli and his entire staff will remain to ensure the quality of CAVE’s “Mediterranean cuisine with an Italian flair.” CAVE also will offer an extensive wine list from Napa Valley, Sonoma, France, Italy and Australia, a wide variety of wines by the glass and a creative selection of large-format bottles. The CAVE lounge also will provide an imaginative menu of craft cocktails.
The subterranean wine cave will be one of a kind and will provide a unique, elegant setting for wine enthusiasts to enjoy their favorite selection. Atop the wine cave Pala will build a permanent outdoor concert stage which will host a diverse schedule of headline entertainers in the Starlight Theatre. The spring/summer concert series will kick-off Saturday, May 23 with Queen Nation and Zeppelin USA followed on Friday, May 29 with Creedence Clearwater Revisited.
“Chef Luciano’s new CAVE menu will offer many of the authentic Italian dishes for which Mama’s was well- known, but will add many new Mediterranean specialties as well,” said Bill Bembenek, Pala’s chief executive officer. CAVE’s menu will include “small bites” of Beef Tartare, Tuna Crudo, Lamb Carpaccio, Chicken Liver Cognac Pate, Bruschetta and Charcuterie selections of Cured Meats and Cheeses. Appetizers will include Chef Luciano’s family recipes for Octopus, Mussels, Clams, Escargot, Quail and Foie Gras. CAVE will also offer fresh pasta dishes and salads while entrées will include Carbonara with Pancetta, Chef’s Daily Ravioli, Pappardelle with Wild Boar Ragu, Muscovy Duck, Luciano’s Daily Risotto, Prime Filet or Rib-Eye Steaks and daily selections of fresh Fish, Shrimp and Lobster.
In conjunction with the opening of CAVE, Pala also will unveil Luis Rey’s, a new indoor-outdoor entertainment venue with a patio lounge and bar. Luis Rey’s will bring the scenic, mountain views that are unique to Pala into a comfortable, casual patio bar with live entertainment. Its menu will offer a blend of appetizers from around the U.S. and Mexico to include Pala’s famous Street Tacos, Carne Asada Nachos, Taquitos, Empanadas, Grilled Halibut Tacos, Ahi Tuna Carnitas, Ahi Tuna Poke, Oyster Shooters, Dungeness Crab Cakes, Coconut Shrimp, a selection of Sliders, Wings and Specialty Burgers, Fish and Chips, Beer or Chicken Satay, Egg Rolls, Lettuce Wraps, Fried Frog Legs and additional bar appetizers. Luis Rey’s will also feature a wide variety of local craft beers from San Diego and Mexico, craft cocktails and Tequila. Luis Rey’s guests also will enjoy live bands performing on stage during weekend evenings and holidays.
Sunday, February 22, 2015
Friday, February 20, 2015
CEO of Pala Interactive Jim Ryan Concerned Online Gaming Could Be Made Illegal
Sheldon Adelson is throwing a lot of money at various members of Congress doing everything he can to get anti-onling gaming legislation passed. Of course this is completely transparent on Adelson's part. He owns several large brick and mortar casinos which he worries will lose revenue if online gaming becomes legal.
There was once hope a couple of years ago that Congress would legalize all or at least some forms of online gaming. That hope has now faded. Pala Interactive's CEO Jim Ryan thinks there's a good chance anti-online gaming legislation can pass through Congress.
Pala Interactive’s Jim Ryan Says Federal Ban of iGaming Has “A Good Shot of Passing”
By Steve Larson
Pala Interactive CEO Jim Ryan recently expressed strong concerns that the Restoration of the Wire Act legislation could pass in 2015. Mr. Ryan, who is the former CEO of Party Gaming, said that the RAWA has a much better chance of passing in 2015 than it did in 2014.
The gaming executive spoke on a number of subjects, including his own company’s plans for 2015 and the chances of state-level online gaming legislation passing this year. The quotes seized upon by the online gambling community were those involving legislation introduced to the U.S. House of Representatives by Jason Chaffetz of Utah last week.
Jim Ryan Online Gambling Quotes Quotes
Jim Ryan spoke to the website Pocket Fives recently. He said, “I think Adelson’s legislation has a good shot of passing. We have a Republican-controlled Congress and a well-financed political effort to amend the Wire Act. This is the most significant threat we’ve had post-Black Friday.”
Mr. Ryan says that Sheldon Adelson and his congressional allies’ arguments are simply wrong. Ryan said, “They’re worried about underage gambling and terrorism. Why push it into the black market as opposed to regulating it? I would love to get involved in the debate when that point is discussed.”
Read Full Article Here-->Pala Interactive’s Jim Ryan Says Federal Ban of iGaming Has “A Good Shot of Passing”
There was once hope a couple of years ago that Congress would legalize all or at least some forms of online gaming. That hope has now faded. Pala Interactive's CEO Jim Ryan thinks there's a good chance anti-online gaming legislation can pass through Congress.
Pala Interactive’s Jim Ryan Says Federal Ban of iGaming Has “A Good Shot of Passing”
By Steve Larson
Pala Interactive CEO Jim Ryan recently expressed strong concerns that the Restoration of the Wire Act legislation could pass in 2015. Mr. Ryan, who is the former CEO of Party Gaming, said that the RAWA has a much better chance of passing in 2015 than it did in 2014.
The gaming executive spoke on a number of subjects, including his own company’s plans for 2015 and the chances of state-level online gaming legislation passing this year. The quotes seized upon by the online gambling community were those involving legislation introduced to the U.S. House of Representatives by Jason Chaffetz of Utah last week.
Jim Ryan Online Gambling Quotes Quotes
Jim Ryan spoke to the website Pocket Fives recently. He said, “I think Adelson’s legislation has a good shot of passing. We have a Republican-controlled Congress and a well-financed political effort to amend the Wire Act. This is the most significant threat we’ve had post-Black Friday.”
Mr. Ryan says that Sheldon Adelson and his congressional allies’ arguments are simply wrong. Ryan said, “They’re worried about underage gambling and terrorism. Why push it into the black market as opposed to regulating it? I would love to get involved in the debate when that point is discussed.”
Read Full Article Here-->Pala Interactive’s Jim Ryan Says Federal Ban of iGaming Has “A Good Shot of Passing”
Monday, February 9, 2015
Sheldon Adelson Continues Push to Stop Online Gambling
National Journal - Congress Revives Sheldon Adelson-backed Plot to Kill Online Gambling
Is the billionaire casino magnate already exerting his influence over the new Congress?
BY DUSTIN VOLZ
House lawmakers Wednesday are reintroducing a bill that would effectively ban betting sites in the U.S.
The Restoration of America's Wire Act, spearheaded by Rep. Jason Chaffetz, would "restore" a decades-old federal ban on some gambling operations by extending it to include Internet gaming. Chaffetz, a Utah Republican, is introducing the bill with six GOP cosponsors and the backing of one Democrat, Rep. Tulsi Gabbard of Hawaii. The three-page measure is the same as the one Chaffetz introduced last year.
An aide for Sen. Lindsey Graham confirmed that the South Carolina Republican also intends to reintroduce a version of the bill, though he said a timetable was unclear. The companion bills debuted last spring but never gained much traction.
The House reintroduction renews a long-standing fight between Internet gambling sites, brick-and-mortar casino owners, and family-values advocates.
Chaffetz told reporters Wednesday that online gambling presents a troubling family-values threat because of the ease with which players can sign up and start betting.
Read Full Article Here ->National Journal - Congress Revives Sheldon Adelson-backed Plot to Kill Online Gambling
Is the billionaire casino magnate already exerting his influence over the new Congress?
BY DUSTIN VOLZ
House lawmakers Wednesday are reintroducing a bill that would effectively ban betting sites in the U.S.
The Restoration of America's Wire Act, spearheaded by Rep. Jason Chaffetz, would "restore" a decades-old federal ban on some gambling operations by extending it to include Internet gaming. Chaffetz, a Utah Republican, is introducing the bill with six GOP cosponsors and the backing of one Democrat, Rep. Tulsi Gabbard of Hawaii. The three-page measure is the same as the one Chaffetz introduced last year.
An aide for Sen. Lindsey Graham confirmed that the South Carolina Republican also intends to reintroduce a version of the bill, though he said a timetable was unclear. The companion bills debuted last spring but never gained much traction.
The House reintroduction renews a long-standing fight between Internet gambling sites, brick-and-mortar casino owners, and family-values advocates.
Chaffetz told reporters Wednesday that online gambling presents a troubling family-values threat because of the ease with which players can sign up and start betting.
Read Full Article Here ->National Journal - Congress Revives Sheldon Adelson-backed Plot to Kill Online Gambling
California Online Poker
UT San Diego - CA to legalize online poker?
By Chris Nichols
By Chris Nichols
SACRAMENTO — Will 2015 be the year California legalizes online poker?
Two lawmakers at the state Capitol are betting big that it will be.
But their competing bills, introduced early this session, show there’s still strong disagreement about which industry players should control and benefit from the popular, and lucrative, business.
Candidates include card clubs, Indian tribes, race tracks and out-of-state gaming companies.
Lawmakers and these groups have failed for nearly a decade to craft rules for who should control state-regulated poker sites and how much they should pay to do so. During this time, thousands of California poker players have migrated to playing online through unauthorized, often untrustworthy sites based overseas, letting industry and tax money slip away.
With hundreds of millions in revenue at stake, potential operators including San Diego County’s Indian tribes want action, not more delay.
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The Pala Band of Mission Indians, based in North San Diego County, established an Internet poker website for New Jersey residents last fall, becoming the first tribe to break into the online gaming market. A spokesman for the tribe declined comment for this article.
While Pala is considered among the most aggressive on the topic, many other tribes are eager to play a hand in online poker.
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