Springfield: MGM wins again; Barton: Congressman or con artist?

As predicted, voter turnout was low but a victory is a victory, and MGM Resorts International went home a winner yesterday. Springfield voters ratified an agreement between MGM and the city, 58% to 42%. Scarcely had the last vote been counted when “MGM executives were already on the phones with Mayors, Town Managers and heads of regional organizations in the surrounding communities,” according to a company press release. Both Hard Rock International and Mohegan Sun could find themselves outgunned now that MGM is going region-wide: The lion spent $1 million on Springfield alone, so you can imagine what kind of cash it could deploy against West Springfield and Palmer referendums. (It’s not shaping up to be a good week for Massachusetts aspirants Foxwoods Resort Casino and Mohegan Sun: The former lost a big tax case and both casinos saw lower slot win — down 12% and Foxwoods and 8% at Mohegan Sun — although F-Woods CEO Scott “Woody” Butera (right) was ready with another of his “everything is better than ever” pronouncements.”)

MGM’s win wasn’t the crushing sort that Steve Wynn enjoyed in Everett. However, it looks far more solid than the situation in East Boston. There, Suffolk Downs will probably eke out a small majority. At present, voters are divided 49% for and 43% against, as a host-community agreement takes shape. (Undecideds in Springfield, though, broke heavily against MGM.) However, a freakish number of undecided voters would have to break away from

Suffolk Downs. Weak voter support and problems of solvency at Caesars Entertainment could give the Massachusetts Gaming Commission two critical reasons to ixnay a $1 billion racino, even if it passes at the ballot box. When considering Suffolk Downs’ owner, Richard T. Fields, the word “force” doesn’t come to mind. “Farce” would be more like it, considering his interminable and failed attempt to buy the then-Trump Marina. Fields could never get the price low enough to where he could afford it. He’s also experienced the seamier side of Seminole tribal gaming and lived to tell the tale. As the Boston Globe‘s Mark Arsenault describes him, Fields sounds like a relative dilettante and lightweight in the gaming world. It’s good thing Suffolk Downs has strong political ties but its leadership looks like an easy ‘mark.’

There doesn’t seem to be any middle ground on Texas Rep. Joe Barton (R) and his new bill to legalize online poker. The mainstream press, as it is obligated to do, is treating the legislation as thoroughly legit — although the Las Vegas Sun‘s Anjeanette Damon does note that “It appears, however, that [Barton’s] ship has sailed.” States may be hesitant to support, for fear of crimping their own Internet-gambling options. Less charitable views prevail amongst online-gambling cognoscenti. One pundit dismisses Barton’s bill as “the slimmest of reeds.” GamblingCompliance.com‘s North American Research Director Chris Krafchik savaged it, tweeeting that “Another moribund federal Internet gambling bill hardly constitutes momentum. Merely a placeholder to keep lobbying dough flowing.” You may recall that I. Nelson Rose took a similarly skeptical view of Barton’s solicitude toward the casino industry two years ago, chalking it up as a cynical ploy to get casino-industry campaign contributions. Unless there’s something in it for the horsey set, Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY, left) will keep anything remotely meaningful from happening in the upper house, where Majority Leader Harry “60 Votes” Reid (D-NV) can scarcely be said to be making a forceful push. But Barton’s biggest obstacle is the current Congress, on pace to be the laziest and least productive in the history of our republic. Hold a vote for Internet poker? That’s good. Tell me another one.

Over in the corner there, Sheldon Adelson is threatening to sit and hold his breath until he turns blue. Or something of that ilk … while Revel scythed an entire stratum of management (never a bad idea) and, coincidentally, recorded its first profitable week — ever. History’s verdict on Revel is far from being written.