Trailer trash in Boston; New crisis looms in Atlantic City

Massachusetts lawmakers may have thought they’d settled the question of casinos in the Bay State when they voted to baptize three resorts and slot parlor. However, thanks to a Healeyruling by state Attorney General Maura Healey, a ballot question here and a ballot question there, and voters could put additional casinos pretty much anywhere they want. OK, it’s not quite that easy. The Massachusetts Gaming Commission gets to weigh in on the constitutionality of the casino-to-be and, in this case, Revere has to be persuaded to give the project its blessing. But don’t count out developer and international man of mystery Eugene McCain. He wants to build a slot parlor on the site of a trailer park and compel nearby Suffolk Downs to revive horseracing (the ballot question specifies that the parlor must be within 1,500 feet of a racing oval). The Boston Globe calls this curate’s egg, “one of the most mysterious ballot questions voters have confronted in years.”

Suffolk Downs COO Chip Tuttle, who lost out on a megaresort bid, is even blunter. “We have not and do not plan to support it,” he told the Globe. “And as far as gaming on the … property, we think that ship has sailed, and we are looking at other options.” Revere Mayor Brian Arrigo found the McCain proposal vague and borderline illiterate: “My sense is that it’s just a fly-by-night proposal, and they’re just staying under the radar hoping the rest of the Commonwealth can decide what they want to see happen in the city of Revere.” McCain has to clear two hurdles, first by convincing the voters of the commonwealth in a general election and then getting Revere citizens to ratify him in a special, host-community vote.

McCain claims to have the backing of “a world-class gaming giant” but so far his closest ties appear to be to sleazy casino speculator Shawn Scott and convicted felon Hoolae Paoa, whose casino aspirations in Maine recently got the heave-ho. S&G has gone back and forth on whether to endorse the McCain bid or stay neutral, but Scott and Paoa’s emergence pushes us firmly into the “just say no” camp. Besides, a no-name slot parlor on the doorstep of Wynn Boston Harbor is like an empty tin can tied to the rear bumper of a Lincoln Continental.

* Macao Chief Executive Fernando Chui is predicting an upturn in the enclave’s economy in the next year, as he continues to push for more diversified resort offerings. Sands China is reporting year/year growth in mass-market gambling revenues. But, just to be safe, it’s adding VIP rooms at Parisian. In attempt to right the ship at Studio City Macau, CEO Lawrence Ho is doing the same thing. One doesn’t second-guess Ho and Sheldon Adelson lightly but there’s a faint aura of throwing everything against the wall and seeing what sticks.

* Still, you’d rather have Macao’s economic problems than Atlantic City‘s. Although GuardianMayor Don Guardian (R) has roughly four months — in theory — to stabilize the city’s rocky finances or face a state takeover, the moment of truth may come sooner rather than later. Guardian’s got until Aug. 1 to secure a bridge loan from the State of New Jersey. The loan was approved in May, but city and state are still haggling over the fine print. The mood at Moody’s Investors Service was decidedly glum, with the firm issuing the statement, “Absent receipt of state support, we believe a default would likely set off a series of missed debt payments and revive the prospect of the city filing for bankruptcy.” Gov. Chris Christie (R) won’t get to be vice president but he may have a chance to take out his frustrations on the Boardwalk.

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