Christie takes sides in casino fight; Healthy month in Missouri

“I can’t say it won’t ever happen, but by 2018, New York will have approved a casino in Staten Island. It needs to be now because we have the christieopportunity now.” Thus spake New Jersey State Senate President Stephen Sweeney (D), trying to light a fire under opponents of his casino-expansion bill. He picked up two heavyweight supporters over the past week. Not only does Unite-Here Local 54 President Robert McDevitt prefer Sweeney’s bill — no doubt because it restricts new casino development to existing operators and sends more tax money to Atlantic City — so does Gov. Chris Christie (R).

Calling the Lege’s impasse “disturbing,” Christie said, “Inaction should not be an option. Delay puts the expansion of gaming in peril. That is not in the interests of anyone in New Jersey, north or south.” Assembly Speaker Vincent Prieto (D), alluding to Christie’s months on the campaign trail, shot back, “Governor Christie is failing to support the free market system and competitive capitalism. That’s somewhat surprising, considering his current focus.” Prieto’s bill, which allows one out-of-state operator, would be more to the taste of Wynn Resorts, which confirmed its interest in a north New Jersey casino. Quoth Wynn mouthpiece Michael Weaver, “It seems shortsighted to limit the options available for future development of the industry, given that some of the top tier resort companies, such as Wynn, are not operating in Atlantic City.”

If the Sweeney bill actually passes both houses, it could still be tied up for months, even years in litigation. Casino aspirant Jeff Gural, owner of Meadowlands Racetrack, is threatening to sue if he’s not eligible for a casino license. Prieto may have called casino expansion “an easy lift” but it looks pretty weighty from here.

* It’s back to work for lawmakers in Georgia and they’ll have to confront public sentiment that is running in favor of legalized gambling. According to a  poll sponsored by the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, 62% of voters would support casino gambling, although it’s not as popular as medicinal marijuana, which would garner 72%. So does Sheldon Adelson put his megabucks into getting himself a casino or denying Georgians medical pot, as he did to Floridians?

* Attendance at Missouri casinos was marginally less last month but patrons spent 5% more. The entire St. Louis market was flat (remember Ameristar KC-2the face-plant made by Argosy Belle?) but Kansas City was up 6%. Isle of Capri Casinos did 5% better statewide, including 9% increases in Cape Girardeau and Caruthersville. There’s at least one casino defying the malaise currently gripping Caesars Entertainment and that would be Harrah’s North Kansas City, up 5%. Among its rivals, Penn National Gaming‘s Argosy Riverside leapt 9% and Ameristar Kansas City rose 7%.

The most dramatic lift in the St. Louis was at Tropicana Entertainment‘s Lumiere Place, where access problems have presumably been alleviated, as it was up 12% after long months of struggle. Ameristar St. Charles remained the state’s top grosser ($22 million), despite a 4% dip in business. Nearby Hollywood St. Louis gained 3% and its $18 million gross was good enough for the #2 spot. Pinnacle’s River City was up 2%, narrowly edged out by Hollywood St. Louis for the second spot in the Show-Me State.

Meanwhile in Massachusetts, the Mashpee Wampanoag tribe is planning to begin casino construction this spring, bypassing the Massachusetts Gaming Commission. Litigation is expected but none has been filed so far.

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