Happy days: Here again?; DIY Vdara Death Ray

America‘s casino officially emerged from the doldrums with the release of the American Gaming Association‘s yearly survey, showing a 5% increase in private-sector casino revenue, just $200 million shy of 2007’s record amount. Mind you, we have quite a few more casinos now than we did in ’07, so the pie much be sliced more thinly. Twenty-one were added last year alone. Newer markets, from Maine to Kansas, led the surge. No surprise, New Jersey (-8%) was the biggest loser. Delaware and Indiana, much assailed by new, nearby competition, also had rough years. Despite the increased lucre at the tables, employment was down a percentage point, while tax payments rose 8.5%. New York City, where two, VLT-only racinos raked in $1.32 billion, clearly has explosive potential. Yet, despite all of this, lotteries remain Americans’ preferred form of gambling. After all, when it’s a Powerball jackpot vs. a progressive slot, Powerball is going to win every time.

Unfazed by rejection at the ballot box, Penn National Gaming is going to try, try again for a casino in Prince George’s County, in Maryland. Although voters preferred MGM Resorts International‘s pro-casino push (as opposed to Penn’s disingenuous opposition to gambling) and Penn has pissed off much of the local political establishment, language that was approved last November leaves a narrow pathway for Penn’s Rosecroft Raceway to achieve racino status.

That clever Steve. While city fathers of Everett were dazzled by the upfront money and yearly payments Wynn Resorts promised the Massachusetts city, they failed to notice one little thing. Steve Wynn can increase the size of $1.2 billion resort by a third and not pay the city a penny more. Smooth move, Wynn. Further north, the New Hampshire Lege remains at loggerheads over gambling, seemingly oblivious to the quickly evolving threat from the south. In an attempt to get the state House on board, Millennium Gaming CEO William Wortman is promising to increase spending on Rockingham Park by 33% and turn it into a racino. It’s difficult to visualize how much better Millennium’s offer could get and yet remain realistic. Wortman’s certainly a patient man, having been pushing for this deal for the past six years.

Yes, you too can have your own, domestic version of the Vdara Death Ray as this California couple in the city of Santa Rosa learned the hard way. Fortunately, no one was harmed — human or canine.