A TV ad campaign for Oregon state-sponsored VLTs has riled up the Coquille Indian Tribe, not least because it depicts the Lewis & Clark Expedition happening upon video gaming in wilderness that has been ethnically cleansed of Native Americans. Coquille Chairman Brenda Meade characterizes the ad’s vision of Oregon as “a land without Indians — an empty wilderness, ripe for economic exploitation, with no competition from indigenous people. The ads are supposed to be funny, but they drive home the reality that Oregon’s political leaders don’t want to share economic opportunity with Indian people.”
The confrontation comes as Gov. Kate Brown is butting heads with the tribe regarding, asking the Bureau of Indian Affairs to deny it a Class II gaming license in Medford. Brown’s governorship is partly predicated on a promise to “hold the line” against further tribal gambling. But what’s good enough for the state, in Brown’s worldview, is evidently too good for indigenous people.
* Although its endgame is uncertain now that its riverboat has been sold, Penn National Gaming is making one last Hail Mary pass to get back into the Sioux City casino market. 
Taking its case to the Iowa Supreme Court, Penn is offering a threefold argument: “the Court of Appeals misinterpreted the state’s casino license renewal statute, the court incorrectly and inconsistently determined the extent to which agencies are bound by their words and actions, and the court’s ruling damages litigants’ due process rights before state agencies.” If the high court declines to hear the appeal, it’s game over for Penn. Both the Iowa Racing & Gaming Commission (which sounded a bit vexed by Penn’s latest gambit) and so will SCE Partners, owners of Hard Rock Hotel & Casino, Penn’s successor in the Sioux City market. An appellate court had found that Penn’s license-renewal applications in 2012 and 2013 were incomplete, depriving its license of certain protections under Iowa law.
Penn attorney Mark Weinhardt wrote that “agencies in the wake of this ruling are free to make decisions first, based upon whatever rationale they choose, and then ratify those decisions in pseudojudicial proceedings later.” To this, SCE’s Guy Cook replied. “The Court of Appeals ruling was well-reasoned and the right result. None of the grounds for further review apply in this case.” Given its losing streak, Penn’s odds are looking slim, although the real winners in this are the lawyers, racking up all those billable hours.
* Macao has a gaming commission but it hasn’t met in 16 years, back in the days when Stanley Ho held a monopoly on the action. That’s set to change now that Beijing has 
appointed a new casino czar, Wong So Chiak. The move happens at a time when, according to the South China Morning Post, Macao “is set to join basket case failed states such as South Sudan and Equatorial Guinea with the highest percentage year-on-year decrease in GDP this year.” Ouch! Bad company. Although it hasn’t been reported, crime is on the rise in Macao, particularly in the form of loansharking. Chiak’s appointment suggests the central government will continue to exert a firm grip on the future economic course of the casino enclave.
* Although $260,539.30 is a pittance compared to what New Jersey online casinos rake in, it was a record monthly haul for Delaware. States looking to limit their Internet gambling options to i-poker, however, will get a dose of reality when they look at how little it contributed to Delaware’s take: only $37,324 or 14%.
* Concerned with California tribal competition, the City of Merced is literally changing the rules for its two card rooms. No-limit betting will now be allowed, the rooms can operate ’round the clock and the card rooms can double their table inventory, from eight to 16. But what the Merced City Council gives with one hand it might take a way with the other: A gambling tax is being considered for inclusion on the November election ballot.
* Could this be the solution to the vexing Los Angeles-to-Las Vegas commute?
