Although he’s buried millions of dollars in New Jersey, having been party to four casino bankruptcies, Donald Trump doesn’t want his carcass interred there. Instead, when he goes to that big sand trap in the sky, he wants to be buried at Trump National Golf Club, in Florida. Think about it: What makes a more logical combination than a golf course with a cemetery? Gives a whole new meaning to “Amen Corner.”
* There’ll be no end-of-February extension for Glenn Straub‘s attempt to buy Revel. Yet, U.S. Bankruptcy Court Judge Gloria Burns left the outcome of today’s hearing equivocal. She’s hold off until next week on whether or not Revel 
is released from its commitment to sell to Straub and whether it can keep its $10 million deposit. (If Revel keeps voiding sales and pocketing deposits, it might finally make money.) However, the silver lining — for Straub and others — is that a third round of bidding might drive the purchase price still lower. Asked Straub attorney Stuart Moskowitz, “If we can buy this for $40 million instead of $95.4 million, why not?”
In the meantime, Revel’s long-suffering tenants are facing the possibility that ACR Energy Partners will level an ultimatum: pay us or we’ll cut your power. They’re also in a legal limbo in which it’s unclear whether they’re covered by Straub’s purchase price or not. There’s also the distinct possibility that, instead of going through a third round of bidding, Revel might face outright liquidation.
* Lawmakers in Idaho are shocked — shocked! — that “instant racing” has so many ramifications they didn’t consider when legalizing it in 2013. True, proponents may have been economical with the truth and the game’s reliance on skill may have been overstated. But it is parimutuel wagering. It seems like the thing for the Lege to do is plug loopholes like the one that allowed racetracks to move their VLTs offsite and then let the games continue.
* Golden Gaming seems awfully big already, owning two-thirds of the Nevada slot-route market (7,600 machines) and holds a 70% oligopoly on Nye County casino revenue. However, that could be just in the beginning. In an investor call, CEO Blake Sartini sketched out a scenario whereby Golden could aggressively pursue 70,000 slot machines in Illinois, Louisiana and several other states. He also indicated that Golden’s acquisition of Rocky Gap Casino Resort in Maryland might not be its last brick-and-mortar purchase, by far. Sartini’s clearly been saving up his nickels and dimes in anticipation of going national and, in Lakes Entertainment, has found his vehicle.
* Casino robber Dell Eugene Warfield III has decided that two years on the lam were enough and turned himself in. In an audacious — and far from flawless — heist, Warfield relieved Primm Valley Resort & Casino of $164,693. The casino’s safeguards were lax and Warfield exploited them to the full. The mystery is why he decided to turn himself after 24 months off the grid. For the moment, though, Warfield ain’t talkin’.
This Revel sale is one big mess ! The lawyers are the big winners. Another delay = more $$$.