Gulf Coast casino revenues grew 15% last month, topping the $100 million mark for the first time in eight years. Newbie Scarlet Pearl Casino is getting the credit for growing the market in such a dramatic 
fashion. Despite a decline in the number of visitors to the coast — 14.6 million last year versus 20.7 million in 2004 — gamblers are wagering more, with revenues up 6% in 2015. Scarlet Pearl is the first casino to be built in compliance with a new Mississippi edict that casino resorts must have at least 300 hotel rooms and a signature amenity. (Silver Slipper Casino added a hotel and Island View Casino redid a hotel tower.) The timing of the news could hardly be better, coming as it does when Alabama, Florida and Georgia are all flirting with new or expanded gaming.
* New York‘s Oneida Indian Nation is staying on the sidelines of a fight between Oneida and Madison counties over gambling revenues the tribe collects at its Madison County gaming facilities. In addition to an annual $3.5 million stipend from the tribe, the county wants 25% of what the Oneida pass on to the state from its Yellow Brick Road Casino and slot machines at two gas stations. Although the bill passed the New York Assembly with only four votes in opposition and now heads to the state Senate, Oneida County is fighting it with all its might and main, noting that a 2013 settlement of outstanding tax payments to the state could only be amended by the agreement of all parties — Oneida County included. Last year, the county received a $2.5 million stipend plus $14 million in revenue sharing. It’s unlikely Madison County could see anywhere near that much money — nor improbable that this dispute is going to wind up being settled in the court system.
* Sheldon Adelson got a reprieve from Macao‘s government, which allowed him to push back the opening of The Parisian from April to November. This gives Sands China extra time to wait for the Macanese 
economy to improve before rolling out its newest trophy property. Sands had decided as early as May 2015 that it would be unable to meet the April deadline and applied for relief. As it tends to do, the Macao regime took its own sweet time replying to Sands but, fortunately, it was in a clement mood. Adelson may not take advantage of all the extra months, however. He’s toying with a September opening or perhaps one earlier still. No doubt eager to wring some cash flow from the $2.7 billion resort, Adelson may go for a soft opening rather than wait until November.
