What do you do when there’s no really big story of the day? Bust out an order of Case Bets, what else. Let the fun begin …
Rivers Portsmouth has already had a come-to-Jesus moment after its pro-smoking stance revolted patrons. (One activist likened the existence of a smoking section in the casino to a “peeing section” in a public pool.) Well sorta. Rush Street Gaming‘s rather lame excuse was to erect signage designating where smoking can and cannot be practiced … as though the smoke itself will obey the signs. And guests continue to complain. The pervasive smoke has contributed heavily to Rivers’ dismal 3.2 rating on Google. “I won’t be back because my post-COVID asthma and congenital heart condition cannot be around smoking,” grumbled one customer.
Gamblers are in a difficult predicament, as Virginia law carves out a casino-wide exemption. Gambling halls can be 100% smoker-friendly if they so choose. If you want to avoid it at Rivers Portsmouth you have to seek refuge in the sports book or a restaurant. Barring a change of heart in Richmond, punters will either have to abstain from gambling, head north Maryland or simply hold their noses.
Chalk up one for enlightenment, albeit in the tiny nation of Liechtenstein. A referendum to ban casinos got shot down at the ballot box, with 73% opposed, in a plebiscite that saw heavy turnout. Voters evidently agreed with the government that banning casinos altogether was an overreaction to disordered gambling. Liechtenstein has six casinos despite covering a tiny fraction of, say, London. And things will continue to stay that way.
Our East Correspondent spent the weekend in Atlantic City, splitting much of his time between Borgata and Bally’s Atlantic City (from the penthouse to the pits, as it were). Boardwalk casinos have a problem with vagrants, as keen be seen in the valet-parking area of Bally’s. Two more were spotted being turfed out of Ocean Casino Resort. (Ocean is even drawing more vagrants than Bally’s.) Meanwhile, Hard Rock Atlantic City has poached Golden Nugget‘s bar band, a very good one, we’re told, and another indignity for the Nugget. And to give Bally’s its due, its host party (below) was described as “a great time, good food, decent bar band and some prizes too.” Keep that up.
the ‘homeless’ come into the casinos to charge their phones, since the feds gave out free phones to anyone who wanted one, including giving the phones out at the homeless shelters.