Straub: Name my casino!; RAWA breathes its last … for now

Glenn Straub has either thrown up his hands over the task of renaming Revel or is feeling the spirit of democracy. Either way, he’s taking suggestions from the Twitterverse as to potential new monikers, with a $10,000 for the winning entrant. (We don’t think it will go to the person who nominated “Crapsino.”) We could get behind “Straub Mahal,” though and — as the keeper of four cats — we definitely like the pitch for a feline-themed casino. Straub’s capacity to surprise certainly shows no signs of abating.

Resorts Casino Hotel President Mark Giannantonio, meanwhile, struck a baleful tone at a discussion of the ballot initiative to put two casinos in northern New Jersey. “Mark it down in your pads today: It’s going to happen,” he said of his prediction that as many as five Atlantic City casinos would close if the referendum passes. “The second these two new casinos open in north Jersey, New York City will retaliate violently,” Giannantonio added. Indeed, given the amount it will take to build two north-Jersey megaresorts, there will be a narrow window of opportunity before the five boroughs of the Big Apple become eligible for additional casinos. Supporting Giannantonio, Assemblyman Chris Brown (R) asked sarcastically, “We are in an oversaturated market, and the way we’re going to help Atlantic City is to build another casino to compete with it?”

The would-be north-Jersey moguls weren’t taking this lying down. Reebok founder Paul Fireman proposed to bleed NYC dry with a $5 billion resort dominated by a hotel tower as high as 80 stories, supplemented by a golf course and nine restaurants. Meadowlands Racetrack owner Jeff Gural also jeered at the Boardwalk’s defenders: “Are they serious saying three to five casinos would close? Seriously? That’s crazy. The people that do those studies are the same ones who decided it would be a good idea to open Revel.”

In a surprise move to help Atlantic City, Assemblyman Mark Eustace (D) is proposing a constitutional amendment to allow slot machines at Atlantic City International Airport, through which pass over a million passengers per year. Eustace’s bill is so broad that it leaves wide discretion for the number of slots and doesn’t specify who would benefit from their revenue. The South Jersey Transportation Authority was taken so off guard it had no official comment, although member James “Sonny” McCullough said, “This is the first that I’m hearing about it. I think it’s a terrible idea.” “As for creating revenue, I just don’t see it,” added retired transportation executive Anthony Marino. “Most of the people who are using the airport are locals going on vacation. If they want gamble they will go to Atlantic City.” We’d call Eustace’s proposal a legislative long shot.

* Sen. Lindsey Graham‘s attempt to sneak an Internet-gambling ban through the Senate is as good as dead, now that a companion provision has been withdrawn in the House of Representatives. Rep. Charlie Dent (R) tried appending Restore America’s Wire Act [sic] to an appropriations bill but finally withdrew the provision. Pro-RAWA forces are now trying to stick their fingers back in the crumbling online-gambling dike by proposing a two-year federal moratorium, under the guise of “studying” the issue. We doubt that will fare much better than RAWA did but they’re welcome to attempt it.

* The Plaza Hotel has finally found a successful way to reposition its roof as a recreational space. In additional to the traditional amenity of a swimming pool, there will be a hot tub, gaming positions … and a food truck, of all unlikely things. A crane will hoist the latter into place, which surely will be a sight to see. The tennis and basketball courts have been retained, and the Plaza had added something called “pickleball,” which I gather is quite the rage these days. The whole new shebang is scheduled to open on July 2.

* Prairie Meadows racino in Iowa, the state’s top-grossing gambling venue, is crying foul over an IRS audit that would revoke the track’s nonprofit status. Prairie Meadows will make the audit public in a month but, in the meantime, they’re appealing the ruling. If it loses, Prairie Meadows would still be considered a nonprofit under Iowa law but its charitable donations would plummet from 20% of gross revenues a year to 3%. Among the causes that might be left out in the cold under that scenario are the Central Iowa Homeless Shelter and the DMARC Food Pantry. For all those who claim that gambling preys on the poor, note that the indigent would be the first to suffer is the IRS ruling is allowed to stand.

* “It was like finding a Corvette in a barn,” says former MGM Resorts International executive Mike Young about the discovery of a cache of old Studio 54 relics — banished from MGM Grand in favor of Hakkasan — sitting at a recycling facility, exposed to the elements. Teaming with veteran party animal Joshua Greenrock, the duo bought up the discarded treasures, including giant vinyl photos of Studio 54 celebrity clients. When MGM had renovator’s remorse and wanted the items back, it was too late. Among the beneficiaries of Young and Greenrock’s largesse will be the Neon Museum, which will receive a dance floor sign. It’s nice to see nostalgia flourishing in oft-amnesiac Sin City.

* Treasure Island has entered the online-poker industry, albeit with a subscription-only site. Prizes include Mystere tickets and three-night stay at Phil Ruffin‘s Strip resort.

* Congratulations to Kaw Gaming, newest recipient of the Tribal Gaming Visionary Award from the National Center for American Indian Enterprise Development. Kaw was lauded for its creation of job opportunities for Native Americans through such tribally owned businesses as its South Wind Casino. “Our goal at the National Center is to create opportunities for Native-owned businesses to thrive in Indian Country and work with progressive tribal nations whose leadership understands the importance of Native-to-Native business, which creates commerce and jobs while protecting tribal sovereignty. Kaw Nation is an excellent example of this,” said NCAIED board member Margo Gray.

* Congratulations also to SugarHouse Casino, in Philadelphia, which had its license renewed for an additional three years. During the time it has been open, SugarHouse has grossed $1.5 billion, $600 million-plus of which has gone to the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania in tax payments.