Illinois gaming executive resigns

JOLIET, Ill. -- Joseph J. Canfora, president of Horseshoe Gaming Holding Corp., has resigned, effective immediately.

Canfora, 41, left to pursue other interests, Horseshoe said in a statement Friday.

Canfora was named president in December 1999 after the company acquired the Empress Entertainment Corp. riverboat casinos in Joliet and Hammond, Ind.

Horseshoe said a successor to Canfora had not been named yet. In the interim, it said, Roger Wagner, Horseshoe's chief operating officer, would fulfill the duties as Horseshoe's president.

Horseshoe owns a casino in Bossier City, La., and has applied for Louisiana's 15th riverboat casino license.

Horseshoe principal Jack Binion last month was denied a gaming license by Illinois regulators, but he plans to appeal.

In 1997, Canfora resigned abruptly as Midwest operations president of Station Casinos Inc. He had been in charge of Station casinos in Kansas City and St. Charles, Mo.

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