Empire State scramble; Stalemate in Kentucky; Too cozy in Ohio?

GearanCasino expansion continues to speed along in New York State, where college president Mark Gearan (right) has been formally installed as New York State Gaming Commission chairman, filling out the five-member body. Prior to taking office, he was presented with some bedtime reading by legislator Liz Krueger (D): the 317-page Inspector General’s report on the scandal-plagued initial award of the Aqueduct Race Track casino license (which was subsequently rebid and became Resorts World New York). Cautioned to focus upon the potential economic impact of his decisions, Gearan agreed that “is a key driver. I respect that.” Those words don’t resonate favorably for Cordish Gaming and Penn National Gaming, whose attempts at obtaining a Woodbury casino have drawn loud cries of protest from Sullivan and Ulster counties. Ulster County Executive Mike Hein has thrown his support to the Nevele Resort project, arguing that the legislative intent of allowing casino gambling in the state was to help economically endangered communities such as Ellenville, which has Ulster County’s highest unemployment rate.”

Nevele CEO Michael Treanor (who could use an operator like Cordish or Penn) returned Hein’s favor, saying, “The prospect of an Orange County casino in the I-87-84 area is not just an economic threat to Ulster County but to other parts of the region, including the Capital region.” Treanor has successfully drawn most media attention to Nevele, throwing a cloud over The Granit, managed by Eliot Spitzer (not that Eliot Spitzer). Now called Hudson Valley Resort, The Granit has a casino operator on board but is keeping it under wraps for now.

StumboLegislators of both houses continue to say “After you,” when it comes to amending the Kentucky constitution to permit casino gambling. Three amendments are in various forms of gestation, the newest and broadest being the handiwork of Speaker of the House Greg Stumbo (“nothing in this section shall preclude the General Assembly from authorizing other forms of gaming by general law“). The horseracing industry wants a guaranteed cut of the action, which only Senate Majority Caucus Chairman Dan Seum‘s SB 33 would give them. Stumbo (left) is unperturbed: “Now some won’t like that, but they haven’t been very successful in their quest, and so I’m going to try it my way.” Good luck with that, considering that the GOP caucus is at odds with itself over the Seum bill.

Inside job?  From the pages of the Columbus Dispatch: “The state would buy the new machines over a two-year period, with $9 million in the current fiscal year and $12.9 million in the upcoming year. The machines are to be manufactured in Mason, Ohio, by Intralot. The company has six registered Ohio lobbyists, including Robert Klaffky and Doug Preisse, both political confidantes of Gov. John Kasich.”

Now that pool season is (already?!?) upon Las Vegas, it’s time somebody identified the saddest pools in town. Thankfully, Vegas Tripping is up to the task. The winner may surprise you.

Just a gigolo. Let it not be said that we don’t have grand aspirations around here.

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