Tuesday, April 18, 2006

As reported by the Detroit Free Press: "Some Greektown restaurant owners are
angry that state regulators have cut off their share of $6 million in annual
complimentary meal coupons from Greektown Casino. "They share the concern
that the state could drive them out of business by requiring that they
qualify as casino suppliers and be licensed to feed gamblers. "We don't know
how the gaming board can ask us to get a license. A license for what? We
have nothing to do with the gamblers," said Steve Georgiou, president of the
Greektown Merchants Association. "We just give them lamb chops or soup or
whatever and get reimbursed by the casino."

"Georgiou, co-owner of Olympia restaurant, had to lay off 35 of his 70
workers in recent weeks after the Michigan Gaming Control Board pulled his
license in February. Business is down by 40%.

"But the gaming control board staff says stringent rules require them to
license anyone doing more than $200,000 worth of business each year with the
city's three gambling houses..."