We don’t cover lotteries much but Pennsylvania‘s has fought the state’s casino industry to a draw. The latter would like to see 
iLottery (powered by Scientific Games) immobilized, viewing it as a threat to online casino gambling. The Department of Revenue split the baby by forbidding iLottery from advertising its games as “slot style” or “casino style.” Revenue Secretary C. Daniel Hassell conceded that this method of advertising was erroneous. Casino attorney Mark Stewart, unmollified, wants Pennsylvania to suspend iLottery and “work collaboratively with the gaming industry to develop a lawful iLottery program.” The casinos are also irked that the threshold for playing the lottery is 18 years of age, compared to 21 for casino gambling. “If these same individuals tried to play the same games at our casinos… the players would be prosecuted and placed on the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board‘s exclusion list, while we would face tens of thousands of dollars in PGCB-imposed fines,” he wrote.
According to Stewart, “in virtually every way imaginable, lottery’s iLottery program mimics a casino operation simulated casino-style games,” right down to some of the names of the games, taken from slot machines. iLottery is prevented by law from presenting “interactive lottery games which simulate casino-style games.” It remains to be seen whether the dispute will lead to a class-action suit by the casinos against the Department of Revenue.
* One of the sillier casino lawsuits of recent memory was dismissed with prejudice last month. Casino owner Leon Tsoukernik learned the hard way that the only way to make 
money in a casino is to own the casino. He played poker with $3 million in borrowed money and lost, big time. Basically asking to be protected from his own lack of self-control he sued Aria for letting him gamble while intoxicated. Tsoukernik was also sued by poker pro Matt Kirk, who alleged that Tsoukernik welshed on repaying two-thirds of the $3 million. District Court Judge Linda Marie Bell ruled that gambling debts aren’t enforceable. We’ll see what the casinos have to say about that.
* The newly redone Palms gets a rave review in Forbes. Not only will high rollers be pleased with the made-over Fantasy Suites but the average hotel guest should like what they find in a standard guest room: “all are newly renovated with dramatic views of the neon city through floor-to-ceiling windows, have new design, new custom furniture, curated contemporary art and all new marble 
bathrooms with walk-in showers.” The new room product is being gradually rolled out, with completion targeted for autumn.
If you want a Sky Villa, you’d better have a $250,000 line of credit and/or $25,000 a night in earnest money. “The guest for whom we designed the six Villas at The Palms is better informed, more exposed to global influence, and more sophisticated than previous generations,” said Peter Bentel of Bentel & Bentel Architects, which redid the six villas. “They are more aware of the emotional value of craftsmanship, culture, and quality. When they seek luxury, they look for beauty and wonder that reinforces their ability to love the life they live and share it with their friends. We designed the six Villas to exceed the expectations of this kind of guest.”
After dining at Scotch 80 Prime, the newest steakhouse in Las Vegas, you can take a turn on the casino floor, adorned with artworks by Andy Warhol, Jean-Michel Basquiat, Damien Hirst, KAWS and Jason Revok. It appears that Station Casinos has outdone itself with its new trophy property.
Denis Villeneuve‘s Sicario was a masterpiece, giving its sequel, Day of the Soldado a near-impossible act to follow. Fortunately, screenwriter Taylor Sheridan (Wind River) is back, as are brothers in arms Benicio del Toro and Josh Brolin. Direction, photography and music are off-the-rack but Sicario: Day of the Soldado can still be safely recommended to anyone seeking action filmmaking for thinking people. Bring on Sicario 3, the sooner the better.
