Dear BCA Pool League Operators, Referees, and Exhibitors:

We have received inquiries from some of you about a Riviera Hotel & Casino Chapter 11 Bankruptcy notice you received in the mail recently.  The following is our assessment of these proceedings, and the bottom line is that we expect no ill effects from the Riviera bankruptcy whatsoever.  On the contrary, the Riviera is expected to come out of bankruptcy much stronger and ready for new challenges.

The Riviera Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas is part of a prenegotiated bankruptcy restructuring filed under Chapter 11 by the Riviera Holdings Corporation.  The restructuring gained the support of more than 75 percent of the debt holders and allows the property to continue operating during the restructuring.  During bankruptcy, casinos rarely experience any interference in their service to customers and events.  Other Las Vegas hotel/casinos are going through the same Chapter 11 restructuring process with no interuption in their day to day business, because their revenue continues to exceed their operating expenses.  Only lenders and stockholders are expected to experience losses.

Questions & Answers:

• Will this bankruptcy hurt the pool championships in any way?  No.  The national championships for both the BCA Pool League and the APA will continue at the Riviera for the foreseeable future, and no effect is expected whatsoever.
• Have the pool championships ever survived prior Riviera bankruptcies?  Yes.  In fact, the national championships of the following organizations actually moved to the Riviera while it was in bankruptcy reorganziation: Valley National 8-Ball Association (VNEA), BCA Pool League (BCAPL), and American Poolplayers Association (APA).
• Why did I receive a bankruptcy notice?  Probably because you either stayed at the Riviera recently, or the Riviera wrote you a check for some reason.
• What should I do with the notice?  Throw it away, unless the Riviera owes you money.  If you get another notice, you can discard it too.

If you have any additional questions, feel free to call David Vandenberghe at the CueSports International (CSI) office, (702) 719-7665.

We look forward to seeing you next May ... business as usual.