It will be all systems ‘go’ for sports betting at Parx Casino tomorrow if the casino successfully completes a test run today. This would make Parx the fourth Pennsylvania 
casino to offer sports wagering, preceded by Hollywood Casino, near Harrisburg, Rivers Casino in Pittsburgh and SugarHouse in downtown Philadelphia. However, the action could be the heaviest at Parx parent Greenwood Racing‘s South Philadelphia Turf Club, an OTB located near Lincoln Financial Field & Stadium, as well Citizen’s Bank Field. It’s strategically sited to take advantage of those sports fans who want to take in live action but have a flutter beforehand perhaps. “We knew it was going to be a very busy week, based on the appetite we’ve seen in New Jersey and with other operators in Pennsylvania. Now the Eagles will be continuing in the playoffs, we expect to see even more activity,” said Matthew Cullen, Parx’s sports-betting supremo. Pennsylvania casinos are expected to take a big bite out of New Jersey sports wagering but that will happen later rather than sooner, given the relatively slow arrival of entrants into the field.
* The same week that MGM Resorts International announced a massive salary dump, it put out a call for 1,200 seasonal workers at its Las Vegas properties. It’s looking for lifeguards, pool guest attendants, cabana hosts, spa attendants and massage therapists. We’re still a few months away from pool season but I guess it’s never too early to get started. At least you know your job will be safe … until autumn.
* Speaking of jobs, construction gigs will be opening up at the Downtown Grand, which is evidently doing sufficiently well to warrant a third hotel tower. The seven-story massif, to be built on the property’s east side (farewell, surface parking?) will add 495 rooms, including 67 studio suites and 20 one-bedroom suites. We like to see things going the Grand’s way as it’s a classy property struggling with a location off Fremont Street. It’s been through fits and starts but it’s good to see things looking up.
* Genting Group is truly snakebitten these days. Resorts World Las Vegas is embroiled in litigation (and far behind schedule), Resorts World Catskills is performing well below expectations, a theme park at Genting Highlands has gone awry and the company is stuck with land in Miami on which it thought to build a casino megaresort. Now Genting Crown Casino has gone up like a Roman candle. The scarifying fire broke out on the first floor but blazed all the way up the side of the 18-story building. At the present time, it is unknown how many people were trapped in the building, although two casualties were reported. We’ll say a silent prayer for the victims and wait for more details.
* British Prime Minister Theresa May is getting a lot of flack for her handling of Brexit, but her government has done at least one thing right: It is increasing funding 
for problem-gambling treatment. Not only will May order the creation of more National Health Service centers for disordered gamblers around the United Kingdom, funding for such services will be increased to $2.9 billion by 2023-24. Mental-health nonprofit Mind Chairman Paul Farmer welcomed the infusion of money and priority: “We are really pleased to see that mental health is such a key focus in the NHS long term plan and we welcome the £2.3bn set aside for mental health services. This is the kind of sustained investment we need to see to put mental health on an equal footing with physical health and, if delivered, this plan will make a difference to the lives of thousands of people with mental health problems.” It makes a refreshing change from Nevada where, faced with a budget shortfall, then-Gov. “Midnight Jim” Gibbons (R) immediately raided the problem-gambling fund, victimizing those who needed public-sector help the most.
