Cordish Gaming has broken ground on its Hempfield Township satellite casino in Pennsylvania. The $150 million property will have 750 slots and 30 table games, as well as a 445-seat sports book. The casino will fill the space left by the defunct Bon-Ton department store. The casino is scheduled for late-2020 completion, by which time we should know if the Keystone State is oversaturated with gambling or not.
Jottings: Rutgers University has issued another sky-is-falling report on the Atlantic City market. The study provides ammunition for bipartisan New Jersey lawmakers who want to cap the number of casinos by statute, 
thwarting Bart Blatstein‘s plan to bring gambling back to the Showboat hotel … In other Boardwalk news, Caesars Entertainment just pumped $11 million into the Bally’s Atlantic City sports book, possibly running a cart and horses through Eldorado Resorts‘ presumed desire to sell it … In Arkansas, the Cherokee Nation has applied for permission to build a casino either in Dover or Russellville. The Arkansas Racing Commission will not act on the application until a pair of lawsuits are adjudicated … Mohegan Sun‘s Inspire project in South Korea will be completed—in 12 years. That’s what we call ‘long-range vision’ … The Kentucky Lege will revisit the issue of sports betting this year, a prospect given new life by the election of Gov. Andy Beshear (D) … Las Vegas Sands is pondering wireless gambling in the 40 private suites that will comprise Kamu Ultra Karaoke. The noon-’til-dawn ultra lounge 
debuts early next year. Reports Eater Vegas, “The kitchen serves dishes such as fresh oysters, pizzas, and churro doughnut holes, while bottle service feeds singers who need liquid courage.” … Step back in time with the Golden Nugget Las Vegas, which is hosting a video tour of Frank Sinatra‘s dressing room, still in mint condition … A racketeering lawsuit against Wynn Resorts by the former owner of Suffolk Downs has been dismissed, thank heavens … That didn’t take long: Blackstone Group‘s purchase of Bellagio closed yesterday … It may cost a little bit more to park at McCarran International Airport but, hey, it’s the first fee increase in six years. Wish we could say that about resort fees … Golden Entertainment stock surged 6% on the news that board member Anthony Marnell Jr. had bought 64,100 shares. High leverage and low cash flow have made GDEN 
stock a relative bargain … As if MGM Springfield didn’t have enough problems, Springfield Mayor Domenic Sarno‘s communications director was arrested at the casino for “malicious destruction.” Marian Sullivan was found in a resort elevator, apparently intoxicated after supposedly wreaking havoc in a restaurant and then in the parking garage. Ironically, Sullivan is a former MGM Grand intern. We guess she won’t be getting any job offers from Leo the Lion anytime soon.
Atlantic City: Is there capping of the number of casinos in other states/areas? The “Resort Commercial” zoning on the CRDA Tourism District map goes from the Boardwalk to Atlantic Avenue (or close to Atlantic Ave) and from Ocean Casino to the North and the Stockton Campus area to the South, where the AC Hilton used to be. All those vacant parking lots near the Boardwalk were once financial dreams of the owners. Will Atlantic City compensate every owner for “loss in value” due to taking away the “highest and best use” as a casino? Philadelphia Magazine reported that several years ago, Bart Blatstein sold his signature Philly project “The Piazza at Schmidt’s” to Jared Kushner and friends. It’s too soon to count him out of AC, where he has purchased quite a few parcels of real estate.
Atlantic City: yesterday (11/20) the AC Press reported that Bart Blatstein had his subdivision approved for the several vacant/parking parcels behind the Showboat as he had applied for (no plans stated). Either earlier this year or last year, Mr. Blatstein applied for his personal license to operate a casino. I believe he was approved. As a taxpayer and developer who is trying to do positive things in AC, I doubt the casino people would turn down his request if he wanted to build a casino and provides new jobs in AC.