Crony capitalism at Sands; Ilani Casino packs ’em in

Rob Goldstein isn’t exactly a pauper these days but a swoon in Las Vegas SandsMacao takings also took a chomp out of Goldstein’s wallet. His compensation in 2016 was 19% lower than the year before. By contrast, CEO Sheldon Adelson saw his pay packet rise a half-million dollars. (Walking-around money if you’re Adelson.) It pays to be a member of the Adelson family. Literally. Sands newbie and CFO Patrick Dumont was paid more than Goldstein. Could it be more than coincidence that Dumont is also Adelson’s son-in-law? Ah, the benefits of crony capitalism. The company also shelled out nearly $3.5 million in security for Sheldon and his family, proving that the mogul’s paranoia can be quantified.

While Adelson was counting his lucre, Legionnaire’s Disease was breaking out at Parisian, with three confirmed cases to date. “One of the infected men remained in critical condition, while another was in serious condition, the Hong Kong authorities said over the weekend. The third person had already been discharged from hospital,” reported GGR Asia. Investigation of the outbreak meant shutting down Parisian’s swimming pool for the nonce, along with “deep cleaning” of jacuzzis and the pipe system. We hope the disease goes no farther and that its victims recover soon.

* Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker (R) finds himself in the middle of a legal war between the Stockbridge-Munsee Band and the Ho-Chunk Nation. The latter is seeking to build a new casino near Wausau but has been hit by a Stockbridge-Munsee lawsuit that also names Walker as a defendant. The Munsee contend that the Ho-Chunk project is an “ancillary” casino and thus unlawful. However, the Walker administration maintains that it is bound by a compact renegotiation by then-Gov. Jim Doyle (D) which defined an “ancillary” casino as one in which gambling occupies more than 50% of floor space.

The $33 million Ho-Chunk project will have an 86-floor hotel, 10 table games and 778 slots. “Rather than engaging in futile efforts to convince State officials that the Wittenberg Project is in violation of the Nation’s Compact and to damage the Nation’s reputation,” wrote special counsel Lester Marston dismissively, “the [Stockbridge-Munsee] Band should invest its resources in making its gaming facility more competitive and, therefore, more profitable.” That’s a burn.

* Ilani Casino Resort has opened in Washington State and it’s already a hit despite having no, repeat no buffet. (Heresy!) However, C-Tran could be regretting its decision not to offer shuttle service to the casino, whose 3,000-space parking lot was quickly swamped on opening, leading to an eight-mile backlog on I-5. C-Tran is trying to paint the situation as aberrant and says things will be better soon.

* What might a Sega Sammy casino in Japan look like? The company’s Paradise City in South Korea provides a strong hint. Think: high art. Not that Paradise City doesn’t have something for everyone: Hotel stay overs come with access to a Sony Play Station Zone.

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