Turns out there was more contaminated soil at the Riviera site than originally estimated … 23 times more. According to the Las Vegas Review-Journal, what was originally estimated 
to be 430 tons of toxic dirt turned out to be 9,980. If you’re worried about asbestos issues (a major consideration in demolishing the Riv), don’t be. The tainted soil was in the vicinity of a several diesel-oil-storage tanks. This unpleasant discovery will up the cost of tearing down the Riviera by $1.6 million, to $44.6 million. The Las Vegas Convention & Visitors Authority has approved the additional expenditure but may still be on the hook for the extra funds: The final determination will be made by the Nevada State Petroleum Cleanup Fund. The latter has a budget that tops out around $9 million, so crossing the palm of the LVCVA with an extra $1.6 million takes a big hunk out of the fund’s remedial cash.
* In a little-covered ballot question, voters in Florida‘s St. Lucie County “strongly” approved adding slot machines to jai alai frontons and parimutuels. Don’t pack your bags for the Sunshine State just yet: The question was advisory and would need to be ratified by the Legislature. The latter has shown little appetite for gaming expansion and the last thing Gov. Rick Scott (R) needs in his negotiations with the Seminole Tribe is further dilution of the Florida gaming market, giving the Seminoles less incentive to be generous with the state. St. Lucie joins a long line of Florida counties — Palm Beach, Brevard, Gadsden, Lee, Hamilton and Washington — the have voted in vain for slot machines. All might get their wish if Gretna Racing prevails in a lawsuit against the state, arguing that the will of localities supersedes that of state government.
* As we said yesterday, Donald Trump‘s presidential win was a setback for bookies — 
none more so than Paddy Power. The online-wagering giant prematurely called the election for Hillary Clinton, paying out $1 million ahead of time. To make matters much worse, Paddy Power is on the hook for $4.5 million in wagers placed that Trump would win. However, that hasn’t stopped the company from taking early bets on Trump being impeached (10/1) or even painting the White House gold (100/1 — we think the odds are a lot shorter than that). Paddy Power took the setback with good humor, stating, “We’ve been Trumped. A late FBI investigation dealt Hillary’s campaign a late blow and now Paddy Power has some very expensive political egg on its face.”
* Since the Navajo Nation is culturally averse to the idea of competition (see the film Shiprock), it came as a surprise to us when the Navajo went into the casino business. Has it really been eight years since the first of four Navajo casinos, Fire Rock Navajo Casino opened? It has. Time sure flies. Congratulations to the Navajo Nation for becoming players in the New Mexico and Arizona gaming industries.
