Showing that two can play the press-release game, Elaine Wynn released an open letter to Wynn Resorts shareholders, urging them to vote their gold-colored proxy cards in her favor. Citing her “my immense industry knowledge and expertise, and my role building and promoting the Wynn business and brand through the years,” Ms. Wynn sought to put as little distance between herself and Steve Wynn as possible. “No one at the company, other than our Chairman and CEO, is more knowledgeable about its history, its operations, its customers or its award-winning 
staff,” she wrote before playing the diversity card (the one arrow in her quiver that has caught the board dead-on). The company was sufficiently stung that it had to cite the high executive positions held by international-marketing guru Linda Chen and by General Counsel Kim Sinatra. (They could do a little better on that front, don’t you think?)
Ms. Wynn went on to remind shareholders of her substantial holdings in the company (9.5 shares) before applying a personal touch: “It is clear that my interests are very much aligned with the interests of you, my fellow stockholders.” Raising the spectre of a ‘pet rock’ board, she concluded, “The board’s action to exclude a strong and knowledgeable voice may make for a more homogeneous and compliant board, but I believe that is not at all in the best interests of our stockholders.”
The Wynn bulletin had an educative bonus, as she demonstrated the correct spelling of “toe the line.” Which is something she promises she won’t do — and isn’t doing.
* Florida‘s governor and state Senate are bucking public opinion if they allow a compact with the Seminole Tribe to expire. A poll by Public Opinion Strategies showed Floridians holding an overwhelmingly favorable stance toward the status quo, 61% to 26%. In other words, keep your mitts off my blackjack game, Rick Scott. Meanwhile, the tribe has taken its pro-renewal show on the road, meeting with newspaper editorial boards in Palm Beach, Tampa, Bradenton and Orlando, venturing deep into the heart of enemy territory in that last instance, you’d think, but the Disney empire is taking the Seminoles’ side.)
Despite Scott’s faintheartedness on compact renewal, it’s been a good deal for the state, which made $22 million more than projected off Seminole casinos last year. If Seminole revenue projections hold out, the tribe will pay the state an average of $400 million every year from now until 2030. Yet, surprisingly, many in Florida’s political establishment treat this potential windfall with indifference.
* Except for electronic pull tabs and some subsidies for the horsey set, a string of gaming-expansion measures pulled up lame in the Kentucky Legislature. Better luck next session.
* While on the subject of political failures, Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe has a new excuse — and a new timeline — for casino legalization. Now Abe is staking it on the April municipal elections … provided his ruling coalition can pick up seats. Given that his coalition partner, the Komeito Party, alternately blows cold and lukewarm on casino expansion, 
Abe better win in a landslide. Reports one source, “During the past month, members of the Komeito party have repeatedly raised concerns about gambling addiction and explained that they would rather keep the issue off the agenda.”
One interesting sidelight of the ongoing debate is how badly MGM Resorts International wants a seat at the table. Taking a direct shot at Sheldon Adelson, MGM President William Hornbuckle (left) said his company would build “a landmark destination attraction … uniquely Japanese, not a copy of an integrated resort from Las Vegas or Singapore.” Lately though, Hornbuckle’s patience has shown signs of fraying and, given Abe’s penchant for procrastination, who can blame him?
