Skepticism is starting to emerge regarding Union Gaming Group‘s projection of $10 billion a year from Japanese casinos, should they be legalized. Among the reasons given are that “whales” from Japan aren’t a major factor in Pacific Rim casinos. Also, mass-market pachinko is a very low-hold game, unlike slot machines. Lastly, according to some, “Japan – with its distinct culture and low penetration of English language skills – is likely to focus its casino offer mainly on domestic players.” The Japan Restoration Party, a nationalist brainchild of Shintaro Ishihara, the patron saint of gambling in Japan, is proposing its own casino-approval bill. It’s not waiting for the ruling coalition to get its act together. Action in the Diet is expected by Dec. 6.
Irony Alert.: Smiles were supposedly abounding with the closure of the Scientific Games takeover of WMS Industries, to the extent that Scientific COB Lorne Weil was quoted as saying, “Closing the WMS acquisition marks a new chapter for all of us.” That’s especially true for Weil, whose carcass figuratively hit the floor the next morning. Is this what they mean by newfound “synergies”?
Hare vs. tortoise. Hoping that the race in New York State is to the swift — and to force the issue — Tioga Downs owner Jeff Gural is already expanding his racino. Additional parking is Step One. Gural said he could fully convert to slots and table games in three months’ time, giving him a huge head start on most of his rivals. He couldn’t resist a poke at Traditions at the Glen lodge, a newcomer to the fray, saying, “All of a sudden, people are coming out of the woodwork with these great ideas … someone may be stupid enough to invest $150 million and go broke.” ($150 million is Traditions’ budget.) Gural’s not keen to share the Southern Tier with anyone, insisting that two casinos is a recipe for failure.
In Massachusetts, the Mashpee Wampanoags believe they’ve got federal recognition and casino compact approval in hand. Then again,they’ve been playing that golden oldie an awful long time.
Chintz at Penn? A player of my acquaintance tells me they get weekly mailings from Hollywood Casino offering all of $5 in free play. As my correspondent puts it, Penn National Gaming shouldn’t bother with offers that are worth less than a McDonalds combo meal.
