Spurning Nevada and Delaware, the state of New Jersey is exploring an online-poker compact with the United Kingdom. The deal, if consummated, would allow the two entities 
to share players and liquidity. “Even when you discount children and non-gamblers, it gives us access to a market that is very familiar with online gaming. That number is one-fifth of the total U.S. population,” said Division of Gaming Enforcement Director David Rebuck. Online casino games would be foreseeable but sports betting is out of court. However, not all New Jersey i-casino operators — who include GVC and 888.com (the latter is the only operator in the Nevada/Delaware compact) — offer online poker and you’re registered with one of those platforms you’re SOL.
According to Rebuck, “We’d still have to figure out lots of issues: specific regulations, how the tax rate from each jurisdiction would be applied, player ID and geolocation issues, and other things we probably haven’t even considered yet. But you have to start somewhere.” The proposed accord would give New Jersey access to 10% of the European gaming market (or is Great Britain no longer part of Europe since Brexit?), a share that’s growing.
* There’s been a new twist in the Caesars Entertainment bankruptcy, well into its second year. As part of a proposed re-merger of Caesars Acquisition (“Good Caesars”) with Caesars Entertainment Operating Co. (“Bad Caesars”), Good Caesars will reduce its equity share of the reformed company from 38% to 27%. There’s no telling if this will mollify dissident bondholders, who maintain that valuable assets like Harrah’s New Orleans, were stripped from CEOC for discounted value, although history would tend to indicate more acrimony to come.
* “What we’re seeing in Iowa is a very stable gaming market, very predictable,” according to Iowa Racing & Gaming Commission administrator Brian Ohorilko. That stability tends to get Iowa under-covered by S&G. But the Hawkeye State is coming off a revenue-positive June, even though more casinos recorded declines (10) than increases (8). One of the prime beneficiaries was Hard Rock Casino in Sioux City, where business shot up $13 million. (Business at a new fertilizer plant helped.) The new Jefferson casino also helped push the year/year numbers into the black, so we won’t have an apples-to-apples comparison until it’s been open a year. We’re not there yet but we’re getting close.
* Although I haven’t had a chance to try Uber, I’ve taken quite a few rides with Lyft and can endorse it enthusiastically. Not only is the price per ride a tiny fraction of what Las Vegas cab companies charge, the drivers actually know what they are doing. Sin City cabbies in general have a dreadful work ethic, no competitive spirit, an abysmal grasp of English and an even worse one of Las Vegas geography. So is the taxicab industry trying to push back with better service? Of course not! That would be too much trouble. Instead, it’s trying to have politicians impose FBI background checks on ride-sharing drivers. Yeah, real sinister customers, those guys.
* Congratulations to oneLIVE Inc. for placing its mobile bingo slot games in nine MGM Resorts International casinos on the Las Vegas Strip (basically everywhere except Circus Circus).The games can be played for cash not only on mobile devices but laptop computers and at the InteractivePro tables scattered through the casinos in question. In an interesting wrinkle, down among the fine print, it says, “Must be a U.S. resident to play.” Sorry, international customers.
* Whoever said that history repeats itself, first as tragedy, then as farce must have had Revel in mind. In a variation of “the dog ate my homework,” missing paperwork is the latest reason for the casino’s non-opening.
