Perhaps the best thing yet to happen for Caesars Entertainment‘s Suffolk Downs project was a gift from the Massachusetts Gaming Commission. The latter’s chairman, Stephen Crosby, said that surrounding-community agreements would play an important role in 
choosing which operator gets the green light. Boston Mayor Thomas Menino has made it clear he would rather perform unnatural acts than allow Steve Wynn to build a casino in neighboring Everett. So if Menino (and his successor) can keep playing the How the Grinch Stole Everett, Caesars’ chances improve significantly. Mind you, Menino’s administration has hedged its bets by holding back-channel negotiations with Wynn’s peeps, though both sides appear far apart.
Closer to home, dramatic progress has been made on Caesars’ Linq Ferris wheel (aka, “The Vegas High Roller,” yuk yuk). Contrary to published reports — including my own — it is crystal clear that the wheel will permit riders a dramatic view of the Las Vegas Strip as they approach the apogee of their ride. You’ll still have to spend 15 minutes, with no bathroom break, looking at the backside of the Westin Casuarina and a bunch of nearby slums, but at least 15 minutes of your journey should afford some quality viewing. One hopes that Caesars will price the High Roller within the reach of casual tourists because it’s difficult to imagine it making its nut strictly on party rentals.
Caesars is also moving fast on Horseshoe Baltimore. Construction is reported to be ahead of schedule, although it’s still eight to 11 months shy of opening. Having $20 billion of debt nipping at your heels definitely provides motivation to get things done.
Despite not being zoned for gambling, Caesars’ Macao golf course is evidently drawing several bidders, with Pearl Dynasty Investments Ltd. emerging as the winner. It’s one of the few contexts in which selling the land at $2.5 million per acre (a 24% markdown) can be counted as a “win.” Union Gaming Research Macau analyst Grant Govertsen speculates that the government will want most of the land to be used for residential development, something that comes at a premium in the enclave. Whatever the case, it’s good riddance to a bad investment.
Steamy weather. A torrid July in the United Kingdom has meant limp business for the Rank Group‘s 55 casinos and also for Ladbrokes‘ gambling operations. This doesn’t bode well either for London Clubs International, the European millstone around Caesars’ neck. What? You mean you wouldn’t want to own a couple of casinos in Egypt right about now?
You can’t cure stupid. But perhaps Boyd Gaming employees at IP Biloxi could have tried a bit harder rather than serving drinks to a brain-damaged patron. If they didn’t get the hint the first time he fell out of his chair, maybe the second fall should have given them a clue before he drank himself to death. Luckily, a Mississippi court has tossed a $75 million lawsuit and absolved Boyd of liability.
