MGM Resorts International is targeting Hartford (and five other media markets) with its initial TV spot for MGM Springfield, whose opening is now less than a month away. The ad, which you can see for yourself, has shoutouts to virtually every Las Vegas Strip staple, from slot-playing grannies to nightclubs to hints of Cirque du Soleil. “Each component is meant to capture the energy of the resort and showcase the ‘wow’ moments guests will encounter throughout the destination,” said casino President Michael Mathis. Other markets in MGM’s cross-hairs are Providence, Albany and (of course) Boston. MGM is keeping mum on the cost of the production number, filmed on Springfield‘s Memorial Bridge. The question for casino developers in Connecticut is going to become, once they’ve seen Springfield how are you going to keep them on the farm?
* MGM’s efforts to indemnify itself against lawsuits arising from the Mandalay Bay Massacre sprang a leak this week. A plaintiffs’ attorney accused the company of covering up a prior would-be shooter. The man in question, Kye Aaron Dunbar. He was found in Mandalay Bay with “a scoped rifle pointing toward the Strip, court documents say.” Dunbar pled out to one count of “unlawful possession of a firearm by a felon” and was sentenced to prison. “Victims are pointing out that MGM knew of the risk, and should have taken additional effort to prevent this from happening again,” reads one news report.
* What if they gave a sports book and nobody came? You’d be in Pennsylvania, that’s what. Since May, not a single casino has applied for one, a process that comes with a $100,000 application 
fee, a $250,000 regulation fee and a 36% tax rate. Is it any wonder that Keystone State casinos are focusing on higher-margin Internet gambling instead? Penn National Gaming might take the plunge — but only if the tax rate is lowered. Has Pennsylvania killed the goose that lays (small) golden eggs?
* As was expected, Ellen Whittemore is the new corporate counsel at Wynn Resorts. Job One will surely be to clean up the mess left by predecessor Kim Sinatra, pushed under the bus of the Massachusetts Gaming Commission. Whittemore has copious experience practicing before Nevada gaming regulators, which will come in handy considering that the latter are still investigating Wynn Resorts’ sex scandal. The terms of Sinatra’s golden parachute are still unknown but Elaine Wynn wants it, if not clawed back, at least made public.
* Kudos to Atlantis Casino in Reno for making an environmentally friendly step. It will discontinue the use of plastic straws, unless they are specifically requested. Good on them.
