Congratulate yourself, Nevadans. Your state has been deemed “most fun” by WalletHub. This is despite only mediocre rankings in movie
theaters and amusement parks per capita (27th and 28th, respectively). Nevada was tops in casinos — big surprise, I know — and 3rd in 
“Variety of Arts, Entertainment & Recreation Establishments.” It also, much to my surprise was “State & Local Direct General Expenditures on Parks & Recreation per Capita,” welcome largesse for a state that has been eking out its existence on starvation budgets for as far much as I can recall (i.e., the Kenny Guinn administration). The news comes just as Las Vegas is riding a winning streak that is pulling casino stocks upward. Waves of conventioneers and tourists are fueling the recovery. Not one to miss an opportunity, “Wynn Resorts has rejiggered its casino floor, putting higher-yielding games in more prominent positions and moving destination games like craps into secondary locations.” Some would call that a gyp but Steve Wynn is not running a charity. Baccarat play is improving and Vegas visitation will probably set another record this year, not least because of the Con-Agg expo. Well done, Silver State.
* The long-suffering Atlantic Club took another step backwards last week with the withdrawal of an investment group that had planned to convert the much-abused resort to a water park. “We were a little 
annoyed they would make an announcement like that without making sure they had their financing,” a TJM Properties exec said of almost-buyer Ronald Young‘s disclosure of his plans for the erstwhile casino. However, TJM says the interest in the property — whose gaming license has been removed — runs high. “We showed the property four times last week, and we have two more parties interested,” said TJM’s Dale Schooley.
Young, meanwhile, promised to be back with a better offer. He even had the gall to ask for public underwriting. We don’t know if he’s noticed but Atlantic City‘s finances are so ropey that the State of New Jersey has taken over its governance. In short, it’s tapped out. If Young doesn’t have the financing to swing this deal, he should bow out in favor of someone who does.
* If you’re inclined to see glasses as half-full, the news that a most-ever $439.5 million was wagered on March Madness in Nevada casinos comes as good news. If, like the American Gaming Association, you see the glass as half-empty, focusing on the $10 billion that was wagered illegally in the other 50 states. AGA prexy Geoff Freeman foresees a move legalize sports betting nationwide, while we think that such a move will happen only as part of a grand bargain by the Trump administration, to entice states to give up Internet gambling. But we wish the AGA good luck all the same. In the meantime, Nevada sports books are happily counting up their win, 92% higher than last year.
* Once I got over my surprise at the existence of a Downton Abbey slot machine (what would the Dowager Duchess [Maggie Smith] say?), my attention was drawn to the newest foothold of skill-based slot machines. Two Gamblit devices have been installed at Harrah’s Resort Southern California. Now, these games have been faulted for requiring multiple players. But for Vice President Bradley Medina that’s part of the attraction. “Young people who grew up playing video games like to socialize, they very much like interactivity and innovation, they want something that uses some skill. This stokes your natural competitive side and it encourages people to bring people with you to play,” he told a reporter.
Harrah’s is moving cautiously, starting with two SKS machines. But the phone is ringing off the hook at Gamblit headquarters. “Our hardware production can’t keep up with the demand; we’re filling orders placed a year ago,” said Gamblit CMO Darion Lowenstein. If the U.S. is moving slowly, foreign markets are jumping in with both feet.
* China has joined forces with the Philippines to eradicate unlawful Internet gambling sites. So far, 99 people have been arrested and the 55 sent back to China are the lucky ones. Filipino gaming mogul Jack Lam is living up to his name, hightailing it out of the Philippines. Lam’s fear is not without good reason, given that President Rodrigo Duterte tends to deal with enemies by dint of summary execution,
