All Night Long

All four West Virginia racetracks -- including the three recently approved for casino table games -- will soon operate around-the-clock, The Associated Press reports.

The Lottery Commission unanimously approved 24/7 operations for the track on Thursday.

As AP has noted earlier, three of the tracks are already open 21 hours a day.

MetroNews also reports on Lottery's decision (audio here), and interviews MTR Gaming chief Ted Arneault on the edge it may give his company's Northern Panhandle track as it competes with Pennsylvania slot parlors.

Lottery Commissioner John Musgrave, meanwhile, was rebuffed Thursday in his quest for a hold on the federal ruling that frees up video lottery parlor advertising. AP reports on the judge's refuses to stay his ruling pending appeal.

And at least one parlor owner is seizing on that ruling: former delegate Chris Wakim, R-Ohio. Wakim tells The Charleston Gazette that he will restore the full name of this club from "The Trop" to "The Tropicana," now that parlors can resume employing gambling- and casino-related terms.

Wakim's gambling ties became an issue during his unsuccessful 2006 congressional bid. Wakim has not ruled out a rematch with U.S. Rep. Alan Mollohan, D-1st.