Florida‘s Seminole Tribe is taking its case to the people, as its new compact with Gov. Rick Scott (R) faces an uphill slog in the Legislature. The compact is such a Rube Goldberg contraption, with so many moving parts, you might say it has something to offend everyone. Clearly, though, the Seminoles think their chances are better by bypassing the Lege and conducting TV air warfare to win what will be a very difficult battle. It must gall No Casinos prude-in-chief John Sowinski to see the Seminoles making off with his “family friendly” line.
* It looks like Tropicana Entertainment has made a human sacrifice at Lumiere Place, in St. Louis. Former general manager Jeff Babinski has disappeared, replaced by Brian Marsh, plucked from French Lick Resort 
& Casino. (So we know he knows how to turn around a property.) His circuitous route to French Lick took him through Trump Indiana Casino & Hotel (now Majestic Star II), manager of regional gaming operations for WMS Gaming Illinois and director of slot operations for Harrah’s Entertainment. As for Babinski, he put in 14 years working for Pinnacle Entertainment before Tropicana took over Lumiere Place, so maybe there’s a place for him in Pinnacle’s executive ranks, although they’ll probably be shedding a lot of staff if this takeover by Gaming & Leisure Properties goes through.
* “Look, we need revenue. They’re not going to find votes for (higher) taxes in an election year. So I would think gaming will be a component.” So says Pennsylvania state Rep. John Payne (R), trying to talk some 
sense into his colleagues about legalizing online gambling. The issue was on the table during a recent budgetary scrum but now has been punted into the new session, where it may not be heard until July. The potential entry of Pennsylvania into casino games could have massive ramifications, because its population is double that of New Jersey, to say nothing of dwarfing those of Delaware (where i-poker is underperforming) and Nevada.
Then there’s daily fantasy sports and Poker Players Alliance Executive Director John Pappas says, “you’ll see a lot of opportunity to piggyback, if you will, on the debate in those states,” especially something so ripe for taxation. Payne wants the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board to investigate the possibilities for DFS, while his bill is chock-full of goodies for casino operators, including wide-area progressive online jackpots and skill-based slots. Let the lobbying commence!
