Massachusetts flattens; Who’s “irresponsible”?

Casinos in the great state of Massachusetts grossed $97 million in October, a flat trajectory from last year but a whopping 23.5% higher than 2019. Encore Boston Harbor led with $62.5 million (flat). MGM Springfield slipped 6% to $21.5 million, led by an 11% slide at the tables. Plainridge Park continued its upward trend, gaining 3% to $13 million. High hold enable sports books to bring in $59.5 million on handle of $556 million. Homeboy DraftKings took home 58% of the revenue, with FanDuel settling for 27%. BetMGM was way back at 7%, followed by Caesars Sportsbook (2%) and two other operators apparently too negligible to mention.

Speaking of sports wagers, books in Arizona reported an 8% climb in revenues in September, to $59.5 million, on handle of $609 million. However, almost half the revenue, $22 million, went right back out in the form of promotions and free play. Still, with 96% of revenue concentrated amongst four operators—FanDuel, DraftKings, BetMGM and Caesars Sportsbook—you have to wonder how much longer the small fry can hack it. FanDuel led in revenue with $22.5 million, then came DraftKings with $20.5 million. Both stole market share from BetMGM ($10 million) and Caesars ($4.5 million). The last gasps of Barstool Sports generated $1 million. BetRivers made almost nothing, as did WynnBet and sundry others.

Betraying their identity as a bunch of corporatist lickspittles, the editorial board of the Las Vegas Sun piously intoned last week that it was “irresponsible” of the Culinary Union to set a strike deadline on the verge of all-holy Formula One Weekend. Tut-tutted the eunuchs at the Sunsert, “the same media spotlight shining on F1 race weekend is also shining on the city as a whole. By thrusting the hospitality and tourism industries into chaos during such a prominent event, Culinary ensures disproportionate damage to the casinos and tourists, all while risking further harm to innocent people and businesses … If the union uses a strike to damage the race, that will be more than a slug in the face to casinos, it’s a slug in the face to every resident in the valley and all the tourists arriving here …. [it] could also dissuade other organizations from trying to stage big events in Las Vegas for fear of the union exploiting them.” Corporations “exploited” by workers? Perish the thought!

Instead, the Culinary was loftily advised to get “moving the strike to a window outside of the race.” Let’s think about that, shall we? What brought the Big Three to the table for a series of last-minute accords? The thought of the Las Vegas Grand Prix being spoilt, that’s what. If the Culinary had waited until after the race, what leverage would it have had? None until New Year’s Eve. That means spending the low-traffic, cold-weather months picketing for offers that might not come, absent an incentive to bargain. And all the while, heating bills would be mounting for strikers, not to mention Christmastime expenses. How do you explain to Little Juan that he can’t have a new PlayStation because Papa and Mama are holding out for a living wage, and for being able to make ends meet without a second job? Who’s really being “irresponsible” here?

“Culinary can strike at any time after F1 and still have a profound impact on the local economy”? Bullshit. The Sun took the tried-and-untrue tack of urging Las Vegas to be a doormat for the world’s tourists, no matter how high the price. That’s a dog that won’t hunt anymore. The indignities visited upon Sin City by Formula One have locals up in arms. Formula One Weekend isn’t an opportunity so much as a flashpoint. By advising the Culinary to bend over and grab its ankles, the Sun betrayed its readership and any claim it might have had to the moral high ground.