Winds Of Bankruptcy Close Castaways Doors - 2004-02-09
The Castaways Hotel and Casino was forced to close down Jan. 29, the second closure of a historic Las Vegas hotel in less than a month.

Late that afternoon, officials with the company holding the mortgage on the bankrupt Castaways property received approval from the bankruptcy judge to confiscate all assets from the owners, VSS Enterprises. Officers from both companies, along with representatives of the Nevada Gaming Control Board, entered the casino and began shutting down operations. Gamblers in the casino were told to stop and were given their accumulated winnings while guests in the hotel's 450 rooms were told to pack their bags and leave.
Read the full story at KTVU.com

Boyd to Buy Coast Casinos for $820 Mln - 2004-02-09
Casino operator Boyd Gaming Corp. (BYD) on Monday said it would purchase closely held Coast Casinos Inc. for $820 million, advancing its position in the Las Vegas market aimed at local residents.

Boyd will also take responsibility for $460 million in debt as part of the agreement. The company's shares rose by more than 4 percent in morning trading, following the announcement.

``With Coast, Boyd becomes a leader in the highly coveted Las Vegas locals sector. ... The combined company will have promising development opportunities in Las Vegas and throughout the country,'' said William Boyd, chief executive at Boyd Gaming, in a statement.
Read the full story at MSN Money