Pennsylvania communities are scrambling to reach voluntary revenue-sharing accords with the casinos they host after the Legislature left the issue in limbo. Rather than address the host-community fee on its own, the House of Representatives tacked on approval of Internet gambling and regulation of daily fantasy sports — a Christmas tree crammed 
through the door at the last minute and irreconcilable with the Senate’s flat-fee solution. Said senatorial lawyer Drew Compton, “We did what we did on gaming — and I think that’s all we plan on doing for the rest of the year.” Efforts were being made in Delaware County (home of Harrah’s Philadelphia) and Pittsburgh (host to Rivers Casino) to sidestep the Lege and reach independent fee arrangements. State Rep. Tommy Tomlinson (R) signaled that an accord was near between Parx Casino and Bucks County, along with the city of Bensalem. Delaware County City Council Chairman Mario Civera cut to crux of the matter, telling the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, “The city can’t afford to lose even a penny there.”
The House’s impulse to try and force the Internet-gambling issue (as well as add slot routes at six airports) is understandable given Gov. Tom Wolf‘s promise to deliver an extra $100 million via increased gaming revenue. But by garlanding a straightforward bill with extraneous features lawmakers had no more time to address, it ensured doom for the host-community provision, barring some kind of resumption of business between now and Nov. 30. “The House should have voted it clean,” said state Sen. Sean Wiley (D). “I don’t know what the support in the Senate is like for [online] gaming, but to jeopardize the tens of millions of dollars flowing into host communities I feel is irresponsible.” State Rep. Pat Harkins (D) said, “There were some things I wasn’t thrilled with. But you have to take what you can get sometimes.” Or, in this case, more than you can get.
* Although the ink is barely dry on the accord to build Sheldon Adelson a football stadium, already the mogul may be trying to wiggle out of some of his financial commitment. While traveling in Israel, He Who Must Be Obeyed was quoted as saying he 
wanted the [your city here] Raiders to up their financial contribution toward the stadium. Team owner Mark Davis tried to paper the matter over, calling it a “non-story” while Las Vegas Sands lobbyist Andy Abboud told Adelson’s Las Vegas Review-Journal his boss had been quoted out of context.
Judge for yourself. According to Reuters, Adelson said he instructed his minions, “Tell them I could live with the deal. Tell them I could live without the deal. Here’s the way it’s going to go down. If they don’t want it, bye-bye.” With the stadium a fair accompli, Democratic lawmakers are now spearheading a pushing to have 75% of stadium-related jobs go to veterans, minorities and other underprivileged groups. Adelson’s people aren’t committing to any specific numbers but promise the jobs will pay well.
* Wynn Boston Harbor‘s final design has been green-lit by the Massachusetts Gaming Commission. It can’t have been difficult: This is the fifth time Steve Wynn has used the curved-skyscraper model. Then again, it’s an improvement on the butt-ugly design he originally submitted. Is DeRuyter Butler losing his touch? Wynn Resorts has fallen behind the curve in resort design.
* One company that’s staying on the curve is Golden Entertainment. It’s introducing electronic table games to eight of its P.T.‘s-branded taverns in the Las Vegas area. The Starbar ETGs are the progeny of game developer Interblock and will eventually be broadened to other Golden properties, according to the R-J.
* Any new idea can’t hurt at struggling Hollywood Casino Perryville. To that end, operator Penn National Gaming is asking Maryland regulators for permission to build a patio for smokers with 14 outdoor slot machines. (This is definitely a coming trend in the casino biz.) The concept has been given preliminary approval and is expected to be given the final go-ahead.
