‘We’ll see you in court.’ That was, in effect, attorney Joshua Garick‘s response to Encore Boston Harbor after the latter was exonerated of alleged cheating by 
the Massachusetts Gaming Commission. Garick is irked that the MGC’s investigation lasted all of a day and was conducted without any input from the plaintiffs: “If the Commission’s goal is to ensure gaming in Massachusetts is conducted with integrity, we question why Encore representatives sat with the [Investigations & Enforcement Bureau] investigators and participated in the presentation, while we were not contacted or invited to participate in any way.”
Calling the lawsuit “false and unfounded,” casino President Robert DeSalvio added, “Every customer gets every penny that they deserve at Encore Boston Harbor, and never would we engage in a practice that would actually keep any of our customers’ money.” That being said, Encore didn’t post signage explaining its rounding-down policy of slot payouts until it had been caught with its hand in the cookie jar. Management was playing slot patrons for rubes and trying to add a few cubits to the bottom line by making slot payouts a hassle for players. The fact that similar policies are practiced elsewhere is no excuse. From Wynn Resorts we expect better.
* Speaking of expecting better, Red Rock Country Club has been called before the Nevada Equal Rights Commission. It is alleged that a white member of the club permitted discrimination against a former employee’s black and biracial children. The NERC “will hear the charge that alleges that staff discriminated against the female employee by terminating her employment and refusing her the use of the day care services used by other company employees.” A case like this takes Nevadans back to the days when the Silver State was “the Mississippi of the West.” We’ve evidently not made as much progress as we thought.
* Philippines despot Rodrigo Duterte‘s on/off policy toward new casinos may 
soon be “on” again. Political observers are parsing recent Duterte remarks, including an exhortation to regulation body (and sometime, bumbling operator) Pagcor to “push for more gambling.” When asked if this meant new casinos, Duterte spokesman Salvador Panelo said, “That would be the logical consequence of what he said.” Still, given the uncertainty that latterly has swirled around casino development in the archipelago, developers would be well advised to proceed cautiously.
* Great news for Fluffy: Cat whisperer Jackson Galaxy is bringing his Cat Camp to Las Vegas this November. “The weekend will be packed with adventure where cat lovers can shop for swag, have fun mingling with fellow 
cat aficionados, and—most importantly—become inspired to be better cat guardians, lovers and advocates,” reads the official announcement. Launched two years ago, Cat Camp is—like a litter of kittens—growing fast. “Cat Camp was created to bring together the country’s first community defined by their passion for helping America’s most popular companion pet, and has now trained over 9,000 people from all over the US and other countries to become more involved in their community to save lives. By using the momentum built over the past three years, the goal of this expansion to the west coast is to give even more of the country access to the immersive event in order to inspire even more people to celebrate cats, connect with their community and cultivate advocacy.” Two paws up.
* As advance peeks of the Oscar movies trickle out, head over to Atlantic City and put some coin down on Tom Hanks, who plays Fred Rogers in a A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood. The trailer has left everyone from the Daily Kos film critic to my wife decidedly misty-eyed and—as Rami Malek and Gary Oldman could tell Hanks—playing a familiar historical figure is an express train to the Oscars. Time to clear some shelf space, Mr. Hanks.
* Aqua is the new “in” color for hotels. Seminole Hard Rock Casino in Hollywood, Florida (you know, the one shaped like a guitar) has already caught the wave. Note to MGM Resorts International: Aqua is popularly associated with wellness. Just a thought for your wellness centers.
