In a deft bit of regulatory jujitsu, the Nevada Gaming Association has ruled that casinos can hold marijuana-related conferences, provided that they refrain from doing business with the marijuana industry (a 
somewhat vague directive, admittedly) nor directly involve themselves in loco-weed business. After all, no matter what Jefferson Beauregard Sessions might wish, there’s no crime in talking about wacky weed, provided nobody lights up a doobie. It’s good to see that the casino industry will see some benefit, however indirect, from Nevada‘s new status as the capital of legal reefer. Admittedly, it’s more of a boon to residents, as tourists can neither smoke in public nor in your hotel room, so pot tourism would seem to be a non-starter.
One gaming exec was put off by the NGC’s hair-splitting. “Hosting a convention for marijuana business at a casino actually provides the perfect venue for money laundering by those attending the convention,” grumbled Mesquite Gaming veep Richard Tomasso. However, Nevada Gov. Brian Sandoval (R) doesn’t see it that way, telling one TV station that the ruling “made the absolute distinction that none of our licensees can participate in the marijuana industry, nor can they do business with anybody within the marijuana industry.” Since Sandoval opposed legalizing recreational pot, we don’t expect to see him keynoting any of the newly approved conferences.
* Perhaps it’s just as well that marijuana is illegal in casinos because it’s hard enough to clean up after regular smoking is banned. According to a new study, “Over years of smoking, layers of smoke residue stick to 
surfaces and penetrate deep into materials.” Thus the telltale aura of cigarette and cigar smoking remains present for months afterward. San Diego State University psychology professor Georg Matt said, “If you work at a casino that allows smoking or are a guest, you already know you inhale secondhand smoke every time you breathe. Because the tobacco smoke residue remains long after a smoking ban, you will continue to get exposed even after the secondhand smoke has disappeared.” We don’t like the sound of that.
The SDU boffins took carpet, furniture and wallpaper samples from a Redding casino and found levels of “thirdhand smoke” higher than in private homes or other venues where smoking is permitted. “Tobacco should never be smoked indoors unless you are prepared to pay the price for extensive clean up,” said Matt. That means get those vacuum cleaners and shampoo machines out, and even be prepared to replace some of that drapery and drywall. It’s the price you pay for years of noxious fumes.
* Illinois gaming revenue is coming close to scraping bottom, dredging up only $104.5 million last month. Foot traffic dropped 14%, somewhat ameliorated by 8% more spending. The Penn National Gaming portfolio took a 9% hit, with Argosy Belle down 9% to $4 million, Hollywood Aurora falling off 7% to $9 million and Hollywood Joliet sliding 10.5% to $9 million. None of those casinos was slammed as hard as Par-A-Dice, which tumbled 11.5% to $6 million. MGM Resorts International‘s co-owned Grand Victoria slid 9% to $12.5 million.
* As though Hard Rock Rocksino wasn’t beating the pants off the competition, a new bus service will harvest customers from northeast Ohio. There will be one direct line and several indirect lines, the latter 
being rotated among various Buckeye State towns depending on the day of the week. The bus service, dubbed the Rocksino Express, will start picking up gamblers at 7:30 a.m., deliver them to the racino around 10 a.m., then take them home four hours later. (Did midday business need a bit of jolt?) The $10 fare will be amortized with $20 free play, as well as loyalty-club membership. Somebody just built a better Ohio mousetrap.
