We live in an era of “alternative facts” and “false flag” narratives and, boy, are we the worse for it. It was only a matter of time before the gaming industry was on the receiving end of “false facts” and it’s happening, quite unfairly, to Bally’s Casino in Chicago. No, not the permanent megaresort that’s to go up on the city’s west side. We’re talking about Medinah Temple (above), best known as the former hangout of the Shrine Circus and venue for many of the best-sounding Chicago Symphony Orchestra recordings. What it isn’t—and never has been—is a mosque. But don’t let the truth stop a bunch of casino-hating, Islamic fanatics.
According to PlayIllinois.com, “The Islamabad Times reports that various Muslim-majority country social media groups are taking to the internet to claim Chicago has opened a casino in a mosque—or at least a building that looks a lot like one.” To make matters worse, Medinah Temple features an inscription that reads, “There is none worthy of worship except God and Muhammad is the messenger of God.” That’s a red flag to islamofascists. True, maybe somebody should have thought about this (ahem, Lori Lightfoot) before plunking a casino down in Medinah Temple. Still, logic and the Islamic world rarely inhabit the same planet. Are we going to have to worry about some lunatic smuggling a bomb into Bally’s Casino now? Better step up that security, Soo Kim.
Blame it on those fez-wearing Shriners. As PlayIllinois relates, they built Medinah Temple in 1912, glomming onto the Moorish architecture and theming (a couple of years prior to the birth of Steve Wynn) that would do a Las Vegas casino proud. Way before the ill-fated New Aladdin (now Planet Hollywood Resort), the Shriners were piling minarets atop lunettes, albeit in a stylish fashion that is well worth the preservation it has received. Now we have to worry about its safety, thanks to the credulous fanaticism that runs rampant in Islam. What a lovely way to start the week.
At first blush, it looks like things are back to normal in Louisiana, where August revenues were flat with 2022. Look closer and you’ll see that, when Horseshoe Lake Charles is backed out, the Pelican State is down 4%. (Despite puny handle of $154 million, sports betting operators grossed 87% more than last year: $18 million, on 12% hold, which sure didn’t hurt.) The overall casino gross was $179 million. We start with Lake Charles, where Horseshoe made a last-place $7.5 million, enough to pull business from all three rivals. Least affected (-1%) was Golden Nugget, besting L’Auberge du Lac with $27 million. L’Auberge did $24 million, a 10% plunge, while Delta Downs grossed $13 million, off 5%. In Baton Rouge, top honors went (as always) to L’Auberge Baton Rouge, up 4% to $14.5 million. Belle of Baton Rouge finally stanched its bleeding, flat at $1 million, while rethemed Queen Casino isn’t exactly coming on strong, falling 13% to $4 million.
New Orleans saw all casinos shed business, even Harrah’s New Orleans, down 7% to $18 million. Boomtown Bossier took in $9 million (-8%), Treasure Chest did $7 million (-8%) and Fair Grounds racino cantered in with $3 million (-5%). Boyd Gaming‘s two rural properties went in opposite directions. Amelia Belle (above) sank 6.5% to $3 million whilst Evangeline Downs galloped +5 to $6 million. Just when it looked like Horseshoe Bossier City might retake market preeminence from Margaritaville, it slipped 5% to $10.5 million, as Margaritaville (RIP, Jimmy Buffett, we miss you) ceded 5.5% but grossed $15 million. Newly smoky Bally’s Shreveport coughed up +2.5% for an $8 million haul, while comparably afflicted Sam’s Town dipped 1% to $3 million. That left Boomtown Bossier, down 8% to $4 million and—to close on a revenue-positive note—Louisiana Downs, which gained 6%, to finish with $3 million.
Three fantasy-sports providers in Florida may have been coloring outside the lines. Or so the state claims, in a far-reaching assertion. The Florida Gaming Commission (yes, there is such a thing) has sent cease-and-desist letters to Betr, Underdog Sports and PrizePicks, telling them to lay off laying the points “I am hereby demanding you immediately cease and desist offering or accepting bets or wagers from residents of this state on the results of any contests of skill such as sports betting,” blasted top regulator Louis Trombetta. His fatwa is directed more at DFS than a real-life sports wagering. According to Trombetta, any oddsmaking not covered by a tribal-state compact is forbidden. How then to explain his exception of DraftKings and FanDuel from his jihad? They made their bones on DFS and continue to operate in the Sunshine State. Is Trombetta carrying water for them? Recently, both companies had voiced umbrage at smaller fry who dared to dabble in DFS.
The news also comes as it is disclosed that, by putting their case before the Supreme Court, the owners of Magic City Casino may have forestalled Seminole Tribe sports betting by as much as three years. Wannabe sports bettors in Florida can’t catch a break, can they? Still, this regulatory wrangle is the first we’ve heard of DFS constituting “an illegal lottery,” as Trombetta contends. If the law says it is, fine, but we’d like to see some consistency in its enforcement, not one kind of justice for Mr. Big and another for the little guy. And hey, how about those Miami Dolphins?
Mohegan Sun may have scored an own-goal in its quest for a New York City casino. It has pitched a “massive light installation” for its chosen site, near the United Nations. We can hear the complaints about light pollution already. The installation, which debuts this winter, is promised to be unobtrusive and we don’t doubt it, but this sort of thing plays right into the hands of the NIMBY brigade.
Quote of the Day: “Both teams give off the most mediocre vibes.”—The Athletic, on last night’s Pittsburgh Steelers at Las Vegas Raiders tilt. The Steelers won, 23-18, as Raider QB Jimmy Garoppolo threw for two touchdowns … and three interceptions.