“It’s a lot of crap.” That’s the verdict of one auctioneer, sussing out the surplus merchandise on view at The Rio, site of a big surplus-inventory sale 
by Caesars Entertainment. One doesn’t even have to be there to bid. You could get everything from a 2003 Mercedes-Benz (!?!) to boxes of perfume, saving your wife from ever having to buy any again. These sales are standard industry practice but we like the symbolism of Gary Loveman‘s company offloading a bunch of tired merchandise to scare up some quick cash. Besides, you never know when a six-foot, gold pig might come in handy. It’d be a real conversation-starter. Be the first on the block! Impress your friends!
Labor discontent is mounting in Macao. Residents object to croupiers being recruited from the mainland. One protest already drew 1,400. The latest more than doubled the turnout. The local government has promised a locals-only policy but it doesn’t seem to have convinced the populace.
Florida’s casino fight is proving very lucrative for the state’s 
Republican Party. Casinos are anathema to Disney World, which dropped $225,000 to the GOP. Genting Group retaliated with $250,000 in donations, an amount matched by the Seminole Tribe, which laid bread on the Dems to the tune of $75K. Democrats only got 60 grand but The Mouse laid a substantial number of Disney World comps on them. If I were a Republican politico in the Sunshine State, I’d drag this gambling debate out until the session’s end. Since Disney and Genting are being so “george,” why not milk them for everything they’re worth?
Family get-togethers at the Fertitta mansion are going to be pretty interesting. Station Casinos CEO Frank Fertitta III‘s brother-in-law, executive veep Kevin Kelley exited the company late last month “to pursue other professional professionals interests,” such as finding a new employer. Kelley, a longtime Station veteran, probably won’t be on the market too long and Station had nice things to say about him on the way out, so I guess Kelley can count on them for a favorable reference or two.
Revel Resort, as expected, named Scott Kreeger its new CEO. Now that it’s past the restructuring phase, Revel desperately needs new marketing messages. Kreeger, being a marketing man, will hopefully be just what the doctor ordered.
