That game of musical chairs known as industry consolidation has left a lot of fine ladies and gentlemen standing when the melody stopped, included Anthony Sanfilippo, a favorite of ours. However, Caesars Entertainment apparently hasn’t heard of any of 
these people, as it has prevailed upon CEO Mark Frissora to extend his tenure through April, despite reports of tension between Frissora and shareholders. If you’re of a conspiratorial mindset, perhaps Caesars is vamping for time as it positions itself seductively for an MGM Resorts International takeover, which would render the CEO question moot. But Caesars has taken the succession issue seriously enough to hire an outside executive-search firm but, in a typical Caesars blunder, engaged one that has been incapable of locating a replacement for Frissora, despite a target-rich environment. Frissora, meanwhile, was enticed to stay on with a $7 million compensation package. That will buy a lot of Excedrin to make those shareholder headaches go away. Whoever Mr. or Ms. Right turns out to be, one hopes they have a gaming background and won’t repeat such Frissora faux pas as imposing parking fees.
* There’s a chicken-and-egg quality to Gavin Isaacs‘ having left Scientific Games and having almost immediately popped up at SB Tech. It looks like Isaacs left the former for the latter. However, Isaacs says he decided to join SB Tech only after departing Scientific, which implies a whirlwind courtship. SB Tech is ramping up its U.S. 
presence, so one easily sees where Isaacs comes into the picture as non-executive chairman. Even were the company not doing so well, he immediately gives it street cred. Isaacs says, “I was approached by a number of companies since leaving Scientific Games. However, I chose to join SBTech due to its superior technology, high standards across every discipline, entrepreneurial approach and incredible ambition and potential to grow further across a wide variety of regulated markets including the U.S. … The business has already made significant inroads into the newly regulated U.S. sports betting market, and I am extremely excited to be able to help and advise the senior management team to expand that even further across 2019 and beyond.”
Said SB Tech CEO Richard Carter, “This is a huge coup for the business,” and he’s not exaggerating. Having held leadership roles at Scientific, SHFL Entertainment, Bally Technologies and Aristocrat Technologies, Isaacs knows the manufacturing side of the industry like the back of his hand. (He’s a really nice guy, too.)
* Despite one less weekend day in which to conduct business, Illinois casinos were up almost 1% last month. Revenue leader Rivers Casino ($38 million) was flat, as was Harrah’s Joliet ($15.5 million), while Empress Joliet rode a 3.5% gain to $10 
million. Eldorado Resorts continued turning Grand Victoria around (up 1.5%, $13 million), while Penn National Gaming made a dramatic 9% gain at Hollywood Aurora ($10.5 million). Mid-state, Boyd Gaming made a surprising, 3% comeback at Par-A-Dice ($6 million) and Jumer’s Casino Rock Island was up 6% to $6 million. In the St. Louis market, Argosy Belle shot up 12% to $4 million and Casino Queen fell 6% to $8 million. Elsewhere, Harrah’s Metropolis logged $6 million, a 10.5% decline.
* Where is Johnny Avello when we need him? Last night’s Golden Globes narrowed the Oscar race down to a contest between Green Book and Roma (despite Tinseltown aversion to Roma backer Netflix). Best actor and actress contests were complicated by wild cards Rami Malek, Olivia Colman and Glenn Close, the latter forever an Oscar bridesmaid, never a bride. In the meantime, the Academy might as well engrave statuettes for Regina King (If Beale Street Could Talk) and especially Mahershala Ali (Green Book), and put them in the mail. It’s a done deal.
