Ohio‘s gaming industry continues to experience woes. Former lottery director Pat McDonald claims to have resigned for reasons of health. Gov. Mike DeWine (R) cites “HR irregularities.” Either way, McDonald’s out abruptly. Top members of DeWine’s staff personally escorted him from the building. Now DeWine has to find a Mr. or Ms. FixIt and soon. For the time being aerospace specialist Michelle Gilchrist is the new occupant of the hot seat. We don’t envy her.

Gambling revenues in Illinois were jolted 10% upward last month, hitting $131 million. This was driven by 15% greater visitation, customer spend being 4.5% lower. Most of the increase was driven by new product. Otherwise, the boost would have been only 4%. American Place improved markedly, reaching $7 million in its second month, putting it on par with Hard Rock Rockford ($6 million, +22.5%) but still trailing the rest of the Chicago market. Rivers Casino Des Plaines enjoyed a 9.5% bump to $48 million, while Grand Victoria slipped 6% to $13 million. Hollywood Joliet gained 10.5% to $8.5 million, Harrah’s Joliet slid 11% to $11 million and Hollywood Aurora was flat at $9 million. Full House Resorts seems to be executing on its Waukegan business plan to the extent of creating new gamblers, not so much at drawing business from outmoded rivals.

Well, it didn’t take Nevada Gaming Control Board member George Assad long to stick his foot in it. No sooner had we prophetically called him a regulatory “doofus” than news surfaced of some most-unbecoming conduct during an NGCB hearing. Specifically, he whined at length about how his MGM Resorts International stock had supposedly suffered under the regimes of Jim Murren and Bill Hornbuckle. “[Terrence] Lanni had it up from $7 all the way to $96.40 and then Mr. Murren comes in, the stock price drops into the low teens,” Assad whinged. Why the financial performance of a company’s stock became the NGCB’s ostensible purview is anybody’s guess. Steve Wynn, many years back, opined that regulators should look harder at the financial probity of transactions and companies they approve—and we agree. It would have spared us fiascos like the Caesars Entertainment LBO and the Station Casinos bankruptcy, among many others.