The acquisition, by Reno's own Eldorado Resorts, of the Casino Aztar riverboat, is playing to the expected hosannas. Interestingly, while 21% of the workforce was pink-slipped by outgoing owner Columbia Sussex, that seems to be the least of players' concerns. An unscientific online poll has that coming in fifth of five priorities, far behind expanding the entertainment options available at the casino. Whatever the case, the prospective owners are accentuating the positive.

Memo to Dawn Gibbons: Don't quit your day job (fourth item).

Tax increases could be life or death to rural Nevada casinos, Bill Bible says, making a compelling argument. Which raises a fairness question: Should the privilege tax be applied at a uniform (i.e., regressive) rate to all Nevada casinos or should it be graduated to better reflect the market disparities between, say, Elko and the Strip? Whatever the case, smaller casinos are between a rock (the lobbying power of their bigger brethren) and a hard place (public support for hiking the privilege tax).

Players or profits? That's a dilemma being faced by Atlantic City casinos as they tighten up on comps. So, if you're a bused-in player and you think you're not feeling as much love as in the past, you're probably right.

Analyst Nick Danna says comp-addicted customers need to get the "just say 'no'" treatment for casinos. As he puts it, "There are certain customers that Atlantic City really shouldn't attract anymore because they're just not profitable." Translation: Retiree players have outlived their usefulness to the Boardwalk and need to make way for bright young things with disposable $$.

That's cold.

A small collection of imperfect shows: The never-ending mutation of Le Reve is chronicled. If you're like me and suspect that Franco Dragone just keeps throwing random junk at the wall until something sticks, this article will only bolster that suspicion. As the headline says,the show "reveals itself slowly." Three years of tinkering and they still haven't got it right? Yeah, you could call that "slow," I guess.

Typo of the Day: In the Las Vegas Sun, "Possible hostage situation diffused." I suppose they mean "defused." I'd sure hate to contemplate the alternative: possible hostage situations spreading throughout the Las Vegas Valley.

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