Adelson vs. lottery; Big weekend at SLS

Proving that gaming is the only taxable udder on which the Nevada Legislature dares tug, Assemblyman Harvey Munford has proposed a state lottery. The purported use of lottery proceeds would be to help senior citizens and support public education. “The Las Vegas Democrat said the resolution would help increase state revenues without burdensome tax increases,” reported one newspaper, but it’s not like Nevadans are sitting on an unlimited pile of money. Whatever goes into a lottery will come out of other sectors of our economy. (To become law, the bill would have to pass two consecutive legislatures and the 2018 election.)

It’s sure as the sunrise that the Nevada Resort Association will pose opposition to the Munford proposal but Las Vegas Sands didn’t wait around for the NRA to get its act together. Sands spokesman Ron Reese was quick to express Sheldon Adelson‘s intent to oppose the bill. As obstreperous as old Sheldon is, he sometimes uses his powers for good and this is one such occasion.

* Strip casinos had two reasons to rejoice today. One is that Celine Dion issued a statement affirming her intent to return to Caesars Palace, although a date certain was not given. Dion has been nursing husband Rene Angelil through a bout of cancer. The other reason to feel upbeat was that SLS Las Vegas finally has some good news to report. President Scott Kreeger‘s changes have included an augmentation of the casino-host staff. That paid off last weekend when an anonymous blackjack player blew $1 million at SLS’ tables. The casino is also bracing itself for a big flow-through when MGM Resorts International brings Rock in Rio to the opposite side of the Strip. “We’re hoping to see upwards of 10,000 a day from the monorail. We’re banking on Rock in Rio. It should be a huge uptick for us and help the city as well,” Senior Vice President of Restaurant Operations Matt Erickson told local columnist Norm(!) Clarke.

* “Unusually lousy weather” is the excuse being given for subpar performance by St. Louis-area casinos last month. Those on the Missouri side of the river (newer properties, on average) were off 5%, while those in Illinois declined 11%, driven by an 18.5% downward spiral at GLPI’s prize property, Casino Queen. GLPI is going to have to decide whether to keep the Queen or not, should its hostile takeover of Pinnacle Entertainment go through. The Federal Trade Commission is certain to frown upon GLPI owning three casinos in the St. Louis market (including River City and Ameristar St. Charles), just as it did when Pinnacle engorged Ameristar Casinos not so long ago.