There was big action this week as both Ben “Bttech86” Tollerene and Viktor “Isildur1” Blom won over a million dollars! Tollerene finished as the.. @pokernews.com

Several one-time charges and costs associated with the opening of a hotel-casino in Baton Rouge, La., caused regional gaming operator Pinnacle Entertainment to suffer a net loss in the fourth quarter. @pokerati.com

Pinnacle Entertainment board member John Giovenco, who served as the regional casino companys interim chief executive officer for five months, retired from his position last week. @pokerati.com

Texas lawmakers will again take up the issue of gaming expansion during the state’s biannual legislative session that begins next week. And, as in previous years, a gaming bill has as much chance of passing through both Lone Star State legislative houses as the Dallas Cowboys have of winning the Super Bowl with Tony Romo.. @pokerati.com

In a move that significantly increases their viability in the gaming industry, Pinnacle Entertainment announced on Friday plans to purchase the Ameristar Casinos portfolio of properties. @pokernewsdaily.com

On Friday, casino giant Pinnacle Entertainment (NYSE: PNK) agreed to buy Ameristar Casinos (NASDAQ: ASCA) for $869 million, more than doubling its number of casino properties. @cardplayer.com