Staff and wire reports

Casinos report revenue gains

Southeastern Indiana's three riverboat casinos posted an increase in revenues during October, according to figures released Thursday by the Indiana Gaming Commission.

As it does in most months, The Argosy in Lawrenceburg recorded the highest win of $34.4 million and had the most visitors with 317,340. That compares to $30.9 million and 294,949 visitors in October 2002.

Win refers to the amount customers lost and accounts for gross gambling revenue, the amount a casino takes in before paying taxes, salaries and operating expenses.

Grand Victoria in Rising Sun won $12.4 million and hosted 148,739 visitors, versus $10.6 million and 119,193 visitors a year ago.

Belterra in Switzerland County won $11.6 million and had 156,788 visitors, versus $9.9 million and 128,058 visitors.

Cincinnati Bell fights waiver bid

Cincinnati Bell Inc. on Thursday filed objections with state regulators over waivers sought by Time Warner Cable on its plan to package local and long-distance phone service with its cable and high-speed Internet offering.

Bell said the waivers could jeopardize rules to protect consumers and a competitive market.

"No other telecommunications provider has been granted such broad exemption from the rules,'' said Chris Colwell, Bell's vice president of government regulations.

Specifically, Bell said Time Warner's plan to bundle its phone service with its other offerings means if a customer's service is cut off for nonpayment, Cincinnati Bell would remain responsible for maintaining phone service for up to two weeks. Bell said Time Warner's bundling plan would not give customers the required choice of long-distance carriers.

Officials of Time Warner say no decision has been made about when or where to offer phone service in Ohio.