Big win for Wynn; Murren in the spotlight; Lies, damned lies and Sheldon Adelson

In a disappointing but entirely predictable result, the Nevada Supreme Court ruled that Nevada law permits employers to confiscate and redistribute tips received by employees (euphemistically referred to as “tip sharing”). Now, if a I stuck a gun in your face and took all your money, is that “income sharing,” even if I gave some of it back? The Supremes placed their stamp of approval upon Labor Commissioner Michael Tancheck‘s specious reasoning that, since Wynn Resorts confiscated the money but didn’t keep it, that was A-OK. However, since the redistributed tips were used in lieu of giving pit bosses a pay raise, one can argue that the money was indeed “kept” and put to a different use.

Anyway, the bulk of this endless litigation has been remanded to district court for resolution of two other aspects of the suit. The salient issue is a settled matter. But dealers Daniel Baldonado, Joseph Cesarz and Quyngoc Tang are to be applauded for standing up to The Man and fighting the good fight. It cannot have been easy but it needed to be done. If S&G had a Hall of Fame, they’d be in it.

Despite a revenue-negative quarter, MGM Resorts International CEO James Murren waxed sanguine on a wide variety of topics with Rick Velotta. Among the items covered were Murren’s prediction of record Las Vegas visitation levels in 2014. Also, he’s gone cold on Internet gambling so long as it’s only poker. And he thinks Dustin Pedroia looks like “an evil elf.” (I agree.) As far as Massachusetts is concerned, has some words of wisdom from which Steve Wynn and Gary Loveman might benefit: “I don’t have the desire to have any emotion in this process because I don’t think it’s productive … We’ve learned to roll with punches in this industry.”

Ever wonder why Borgata remains the top casino in Atlantic City, month in and month out, after 10 years? Its not-so-secret weapon? Loose slots, the loosest ones in New Jersey or Pennsylvania, at 8.3%. Only Harrah’s Atlantic City‘s hold (a tenth of a percent tighter) is quite as good. The tightest holds (10%) are to be found at Showboat. The slots at Revel Resort are a full percentage point tighter than Borgata‘s. You might want to re-think that, guys.

Continuing to be a vocal leader of the American Gaming Association, President Geoff Freeman has pushed back against the New York Times in its own editorial pages. Freeman’s defense comes as the public debate finally heats up. Attacks on Proposal One are coming from the left and the right, while centrist defenders make the argument that the upstate economy desperately needs the relief.

Las Vegas Sands has issued another poll. This one concentrates upon Florida and finds that — surprise! — a majority of Floridians support the exact same business model as Sheldon Adelson. Given some of the “push” wording in the poll, perhaps we should take its specific findings with a grain of salt.

Yet another player had pleaded guilty in a 2006-07 scheme to defraud the Palms from inside the sports book. The jiggery-pokery whereby Jeffrey and Michael Jelinsky won the connivance of employees to rig the payouts on horse races is worthy of an Elmore Leonard novel, especially with its aura of seedy, fringe characters trying to make a big score.