Implosion of the Riviera could occur as early as June, so doesn’t hesitate to have your picture taken in front of it. However, the timeline could be extended by a number of 
complications. Now that a demolition firm has been chosen, the task of remediating the Riv’s hazardous materials moves to the forefront. Also, the implosion of the Monte Carlo and Monaco towers must be preceded by the bulldozing of some of the Riviera’s 13 discrete structures. Not even the Riviera’s parking garages will be spared from the wrecking ball: They are placed in such a way as to be in the way of the Las Vegas Convention & Visitors Authority‘s purposes, which include (ironically), overflow parking. As for the hazmat removal, that’s going to be especially tricky. The Monte Carlo tower will have to be outfitted with, in effect, a giant condom, in order to effect the removal of asbestos that is embedded within the tower’s stucco exterior. The asbestos issue alone has added $5 million to the cost of bringing the Riv down. It looks like we’ll have to resign ourselves to a prolonged and painful demolition.
* “I think everyone is well served by us starting out on what is the social gaming phenomenon and what are the range of issues,” said Massachusetts Gaming Commission Chairman Stephen Crosby, calling for Penn National Gaming to explain the online games 
it presents from Plainridge Park. While Crosby said it was unclear whether the MGC had jurisdiction over social gaming, he thought it would behoove the group to have a better understanding of the issues. In one corner you have Penn, in the other social-gaming detractors who say that the high win frequency on social games will fool players into expecting similar payouts at Plainridge Park. Penn takes umbrage at the assertions those like National Council on Problem Gaming Executive Director Keith Whyte that “It is the action of gambling that is addictive, not the prizes.” MGM Resorts International and Wynn Resorts have been invited to join the discussion but expect Wynn to be a no-show since it doesn’t offer social gaming.
* Newly introduced to Atlantic City casinos, PokerStars shot Resorts Digital to the top of the market . . . at least for poker. It’s averaging 170 players a day, compared to Party Borgata NJ‘s 95-player average. That provides some much-needed good news for PokerStars parent Amaya Inc., rocked last week by insider-trading charges. Though the latter affair has driven Amaya shares down to $12 a share, that should make the LBO offer of $21/share sound that much sweeter.
* If Cherokee Nation Enterprises can offer a minimum wage of $9.50, why can’t the rest of America do the same?
