“Essentially, Pechanga and its allies see no reason to compromise, even an inch,” wrote California Online Poker‘s Steve Ruddock of the intractable position of the Pechanga 
and Agua Caliente tribes, and their anti-PokerStars allies (who include Sheldon Adelson, meddling in California internal affairs through his Coalition to Stop Internet Gambling PAC). Although compromise after compromise has been struck in the Assembly with the intent of bringing the Pechanga faction into the fold, the latter remains stubbornly opposed, to the point where some are wondering if the real endgame is to squelch i-gaming in California altogether for fear of being also-rans if and when the market opens up.
A recent defector from the Pechanga alliance is the Sycuan Band of the Kumeyaay Nation, which joins Churchill Downs as part of a growing coalition favoring online-poker legislation penned by Rep. Adam Gray (D). Not even the addition of a “bad actor” clause imposing either a $20 million fine or a five-year waiting period was enough to palliate the Pechanga-led forces — even though they’ve been calling for a “bad actor” clause from Day One. Yocha Dehe Wintun Nation Chairman Leland Kinter took a scorched-earth stance, saying, “Companies that have engaged in any form of unlawful or unauthorized internet gaming should be disqualified from licensure.”
Other amendments made prior to moving the bill along to the floor of the Assembly included a sliding scale tax rate that starts at 9% and is capped at 15%. Also, horse tracks wouldn’t get $60 million off the top, as before, but would have to take their place in line behind, among others, California’s general fund. (This bespeaks a highly optimistic view of how much revenue i-poker is going to bring in.) It’s always too soon to be optimistic regarding Internet gambling in the Golden State, but there are signs that legislative patience with the Pechanga coalition is eroding and that momentum might finally be with the pro-gaming tribes.
* Steve Wynn won’t make his desired August 8 opening date for Wynn Palace in Macao after all. Wynn Resorts has conceded that the official opening date has been pushed back to August 22 (which Wynn will surely take out on its general contractor’s hide), with hotel rooms opening the following day. The company’s hand may have been 
forced when casino analysts checked Wynn Palace’s room-booking engine and found no available dates before August 23. “We have also noticed certain local travel agencies promoting the 23 August date. This has been further corroborated by lots of industry chatter on the ground which has recently pointed towards a date of 22 or 23 August,” wrote Union Gaming‘s Grant Govertsen, adding, “While all signs are now pointing to a late August opening, we believe the company is still not where it wants to be in terms of operating labour – a function of waiting on additional work permits for foreign labour (unskilled labour like housekeepers and wait [table serving] staff).” The late-August date will mark the fourth postponement in the project’s history.
* An MGM Resorts International lawsuit to stop Foxwoods Resort Casino and Mohegan Sun from building a no-bid, joint-venture casino got drop-kicked by a federal court. According the U.S. District Court Judge Alvin Thompson, MGM failed to adequately demonstrate injuries to MGM Springfield for the prospective competition. MGM not only plans to appeal, it is using the Schaghticoke Tribal Nation as a stalking horse for a discrete lawsuit to the same end.
* Executives at Penn National Gaming‘s Plainridge Park will eventually develop thick hides, simply from enduring all the criticism that has come in their direction. The 
latest barbs are aimed at Plainridge Park’s social-gaming application, Hollywoodcasino.com. The game is faulted because its winning percentage is allegedly higher than actual slot machines, setting up false expectations. Penn palmed the blame off on maker Scientific Games, describing the application as “an off-the-shelf product.” Scientific defends the game’s winning percentage as being within a realistic 88%-96% range. Penn, for its part, is planning to add redeemable credits for time on device. While the Massachusetts Gaming Commission isn’t sure that social gaming falls within its remit, Chairman Stephen Crosby would like to explore the issue further.
* A group pursuing a pro-casino constitutional amendment in Arkansas is already looking past the election. Arkansas Wins in 2016 has inked a pact with Cherokee Nation Entertainment to manage the proposed Washington County casino. If all goes according to plan, it would be the 10th casino under the Cherokee National Entertainment banner.
* The typo of the week comes in a ArkLaTex.com story on the sale of Diamond Jacks Casino in Bossier City. Reports ArkLaTex, The casino is comprised of a gaming flood [sic] with more than 1,000 slot machines and 20 table games, a hotel of over 500 rooms and suites along with accompanying dining and entertainment venues.” We urge players at Diamond Jacks to be careful and stay dry.
