MGM Resorts International really kicked over a hornet’s nest when it extended pay-for-parking to locals. Spokesman Gordon Absher (“The sacrificial lamb or the goat staked to the post in Jurassic Park,” in the words of Las Vegas Review-Journal columnist Steve Sebelius) has faced the stings and pinpricks of a zillion social-media gadflies. 
Absher didn’t exactly help his own cause by telling the Los Angeles Times, in essence, that the new policy was undertaken to get even with employees and others who were using McCarran International Airport parking lots in preference to MGM’s own costly facilities. “You wouldn’t believe the number of cars that had been parked there for weeks. People were storing vehicles there, taking taxis to the airport or parking and then walking to the Strip,” he fumed.
So MGM has cut off its nose to spite its face. For locals, paying as much as $16 to park at an MGM property (or at The Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas, which has joined the stampede) suddenly makes an impulse visit or even a night of dinner and maybe a little casino play a proposition about which one has to think twice. As for the idea that MGM, which just spent $1.4 billion on a casino in Maryland and is prepared to commit $10 billion to Japan, couldn’t afford to upgrade its Strip parking — that doesn’t pass the laugh test. Here at S&G, we support the concept of a boycott of The Cosmo and of all MGM properties except Circus Circus. Paying for casino parking may be conventional in some other markets, including Atlantic City (where it’s an even more counterproductive idea) but, given who deep the casino industry’s roots extend into Sin City, this attempt to squeeze blood from a turnip is about as low as the casino industry can go to get the customer’s very last dollar … although now I wouldn’t put it past them to install pay toilets, the absolute nadir of greed.
* On the other hand, maybe it wouldn’t hurt casino customers so much to pay for parking if they cashed in their slot vouchers. According to The Associated Press, since a new law affecting the treatment of slot tickets was enacted, the state has pocketed $35 million: 75% of unclaimed TITO vouchers goes to the state’s general fund while casino companies retain the rest … provided that the tickets aren’t redeemed within 180 days. However, unless you belong to a loyalty program and can prove that the ticket was yours, the chances you can reclaim your winnings are slim.
* Sands Bethlehem having reneged on its commitment to host-community fees in Pennsylvania, District Attorney John Morganelli has found a way to hit Las Vegas Sands where it hurts. As long as Sands doesn’t maintain its (admittedly unconstitutional)
commitment to Northampton County, players who filch casino chips or dishonor markers will be able to get off scot-free.”I would not in good conscience be able to justify the use of my limited resources to help a profitable billion-dollar corporation while the Sands maintains the position they are an island unto themselves,” Morganelli explained. He says he tried to reach an accommodation with Sands but was rebuffed. The D.A. has a reputation for being a hard-liner, so casino cheats can have a field day now that he’s suddenly gone soft. We’ve no love for Sheldon Adelson but he seems to be the victim of selective law enforcement.
Quote of the Day: “Casinos are no different. Sometimes it seems they forget they are in the people business.” — Robert Turner on casino customer service.
On MGM (and Cosmo) parking fees, probably benefits BYD and Station (Red Rock); right? Also, did I hear that Caesars is exploring charging for parking as well? I would not pass it by them. Just like their no resort fees campaign….