So, the Florida Lege commissioned this $400,000 study of casino expansion and nobody can agree on what it means. Spectrum 
Gaming Group, which performed the survey, is having to explain why it projected so much more revenue when Genting Group was planning a super-casino (pictured) in Miami. (Answer: Genting was planning to market heavily to international players.) What solons are learning — undoubtedly to their chagrin — is that the economic effects are now seen as “moderate” and largely derived from Florida citizens, not tourists. Spectrum forecasts one scenario whereby the industry would gross $5.4 billion a year — a tad higher than Atlantic City at its zenith, which seems reasonable. However, that’s predicated upon a wide-open gambling expansion not only at the state’s parimutuels but also into Orlando. (Like that’s gonna happen.) This plan for six resort casinos and an unspecified number of racinos would lift Florida into sixth place in the U.S. in terms of casino product. The Occam’s Razor Prize goes to state Sen. Gwen Margolis (D), who suggested lifting all limits on Seminole Tribe gambling — in return for a bigger slice of tribal revenue, no doubt. While geographically constrained, Margolis’ proposal has the virtue of simplicity, not to mention that it could be the fastest to implement. If that deal gets put on the table, the Seminoles might not even wait until 2015 to renegotiate their compact.
In Delaware, tax relief is on the table for the state’s fast-ailing racino industry. Only Dover Downs is operating in the red but all three operators cited a variety of declines in appealing for legislative assistance. Darrell Baker, attorney for proposed State Line Casino, scoffed at the figures, saying the existing operators hadn’t saved for a rainy day. (That would not appear to be the case.) Regardless, the state is being sapped by Maryland, all of whose casinos posted revenue gains last month.
In a major coup, executives from MGM Resorts International have lured the Los Angeles Lakers from the Thomas & Mack Center to the MGM Grand Garden arena … a possible prelude to the opening of MGM’s third arena, south of CityCenter. Due to the Grand Garden’s significantly smaller seating capacity, tickets will be higher-priced, but who didn’t see that coming? The cross-marketing synergies look every bit as good as MGM says they are and it’s a heckuva PR coup to be hosting the NBA’s marquee franchise on the Las Vegas Strip. As an afterthought, MGM Grand President Scott Sibella mentioned an ongoing relationship with the Los Angeles Clippers … but the Clippers are always an afterthought, aren’t they?
