Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker (R) has managed to bring Democrats and Republicans together — in opposition to his decision to nix a proposed Menominee Nation casino. Lawmakers 
cited the $250 million bond posted by the Menominee and the tribe’s promise to indemnify the state against any action by the Forest Lake Potowatomi as reasons to go forward. “Fear of litigation — or the risk of losing litigation — should not be a factor in your decision,” 10 legislators wrote. Walker replied that, since his decision was on file with the Bureau of Indian Affairs, the point was moot. He also reiterated that the prospect of $100 million in near-term losses to the Potowatomi (and potentially millions more) was too great a risk to run.
Kenosha residents were the picture of dejection, stung by the loss of prospective jobs and investment. “In this economic time, it seemed like it was the right thing at the right time …. You’ve got Milwaukee to the north and Chicago to the south, Lake Geneva to the west, we’re in the best location in the country for something like this,” argued Kenoshan Pam Tlany. Between legislative pressure and a petition drive in Kenosha, we’re not going to hear the last of this dispute until Feb. 19, the drop-dead date for the casino application.
* Bits and pieces continue to fall off SLS Las Vegas, where the elite are intended to 
meet. Griddle Cafe is kaput, to be replaced on Feb. 1 by more-traditional Northside Cafe. Griddle owner Jodi Hortze called her time at SLS “a great learning experience,” which is something of a backhanded endorsement of her time slinging hash for Sam Nazarian. “While breakfast will still be served around the clock, more salads, burgers, sandwiches, street tacos, pastas, steak and seafood will be added. French-press coffee, fresh juices and cocktails remain,” reports Susan Stapleton. She adds that Jose Andres‘ Ku Noodle may be on the chopping block as well. Every new resort has its growing pains but SLS’ have been somewhat more public than most. A promised reopening of the buffet, for instance, has yet to happen.
* What could America look like if Sheldon Adelson gets his way and has Internet gambling banned? A recent German court case provides a chilling foretaste.
* James Packer suffered a major setback in Sri Lanka, where President Maithripala Sirisena‘s administration ixnayed three major casino projects, including a $400 million Packer-backed resort. The casinos fell victim to a wave of Buddhist-led opposition, on the grounds that legalized gambling “could lead to a boom in prostitution and damage values and culture in the mainly Buddhist island nation.” The developers can still build the hotel and condo components of their projects, just not the casinos. It’s not the end of gambling in Sri Lanka, although government spokesman Rajitha Senaratne said future casinos would be restricted to one area. The silver lining for Packer is that, if such an area is approved, it is likely to be the D.R. Wijewardena Mawatha district, where Crown Resorts covets a casino site.
