It’s time to reward those who have been nice and offer appropriate gifts to the naughty. So, without further ado, we play Santa Claus to the casino industry …
American Gaming Association President Bill Miller: A chill pill.
Alabama: A free ride to the 21st century.
Sahara owner Alex Meruelo: Balm for your thin skin.
Atlantic City: A decent grocery store (for once) and continuing prosperity.
Bally’s Corp.: Someone experienced to take that Chicago boondoggle off your hands.
Barstool Sports: A closet from which to emerge.
Boyd Gaming: A return to the Las Vegas Strip. You are missed.
Caesars Entertainment: A credible buyer for the Flamingo. And we don’t mean Vici Properties.
California: Sports betting.
California card rooms: A year without scandals.
Chicago: A savvy casino operator (see: Bally’s Corp.) and a new mayor.
Crown Resorts: Some new brooms. That goes double for Star Entertainment.
Culinary Union: Better luck next viz. Station Casinos.
Dan Lee: Many more Full House Resorts earnings calls. They’re the best in the biz.
Derek Stevens: More casino owners who follow your example.
Downtown Las Vegas: Keep riding the Circa wave.
DraftKings: A business plan.
Fontainebleau: Success.
Genting: Full-resort status for Resorts World New York.
Georgia: Casinos (hey, giving begins at home).
Hard Rock International: A cleaner nose than in 2022.
James Packer: A vacation far, far away from the gaming industry.
Japan: Some remote understanding of this whole ‘casino’ thing.
Las Vegas Sands: A less-feckless partner in New York City.
Macao: More sensible Covid-19 policies from Peking.
Massachusetts: A hobnailed boot with which to kick ‘Stool fool Dave Portnoy.
John “Mattress Mack” McIngvale: What do you give the man who has everything?
MGM Resorts International: A casino megaresort in the Five Boroughs.
Michael Gaughan: A flyswatter to deal with Station Casinos.
Missouri: See “California” … plus honest politicians.
Moulin Rouge site: Give it up already.
Movies: Better ones next year.
Nevada: A good first year from Gov.-elect Joe Lombardo (R).
New York State: Sagacity for choosing the three casino operators for New York City.
Oklahoma: Better state-tribal relations.
Pahrump: Good luck. You’ll need it now that gun-toting Michele Fiore is a Justice of the Peace [sic].
Palms Casino Resort: The secret formula to off-Strip success.
Penn Entertainment. Some class.
Phil Ruffin: A baseball stadium.
Resort fees: A speedy death, if at all possible.
Resorts World Las Vegas: Media availability.
Scott “Woody” Butera: A new job. Sorry about that Fubo Sportsbook thing.
The Rio: A successful solo flight.
Station Casinos: The gift of patience.
The Las Vegas Strip: Affordable hotel rooms.
Tilman Fertitta: Just go on being you.
Steve Wynn: A first-class airfare to Red China. One-way.