Gaming Partners International Corporation (GPIC) says it will buy back up to 5 percent of the company’s outstanding shares. It’s expected that over time the company will repurchase 410,000 GPIC shares.

North Carolina Gov. Beverly Perdue has agreed to permit the Cherokee Indians to have live dealer table games at the Harrah’s Cherokee Casino and Hotel.

The Hooters Hotel/Casino on Tropicana Avenue in Las Vegas will be sold at auction on Feb. 17, 2012. The properties’ principal debt holder ($178 million) is Canpartners Realty Holding Company IV.

Churchill Downs Inc (CHDN) has raised its annual dividend to $0.60 from the previous $0.50. The dividend will be paid on January 23, 2012, to shareholders of record on Dec. 30.

Sal DiMasi, the former Speaker of the Massachusetts House of Representatives who spent several years as the state’s chief opponent to casino gambling, has begun serving an eight-year sentence in federal prison on corruption charges. He reported to a Kentucky prison just one week after a casino bill was signed by Gov. Deval Patrick.

Work has begun on a casino in Natchez, Mississippi, to be operated by the Premier Gaming Group.

Penn National Gaming Inc. (PENN) has paid $200,000 to the city of Rossford, Ohio, to offset the additional cost the community will incur to provide police and fire protection for a casino that is under construction.

Much has been said and written about casinos licenses for south Florida but legislation still seems far away. The state Senate has agreed to vote on the proposals – two bills have already been filed – but no such agreement has emerged from the House, as yet.

Two executives with MTR Gaming Group Inc. (MNTG) have been promoted. Joe Billhimer is the company’s new executive vice president and chief operating officer while Fred Buro is vice president and chief marketing officer.

International Game Technology (IGT) will host an investor conference in New York City on Wednesday, Dec. 7, to be held between 9 a.m. and 12:30 p.m. Eastern Standard Time.