Former Encore Boston Harbor prexy Robert DeSalvio didn’t have to cool his heels for long. He’s just (the news broke two hours ago) been named 
president of Genting New York, ousting Ryan Eller. As his title implies, DeSalvio will be overseeing both Resorts World New York and Resorts World Catskills. The former is a great success story, throwing off more revenue than any other slots-only casino and about to open a 400-room hotel. Resorts Catskills is … another story. DeSalvio will have his work cut out for him turning that billion-dollar boondoggle around. We wish him luck. Besides, when DeSalvio headed up marketing for long-gone Sands Atlantic City it had the highest ROI of any casino on the Boardwalk. So maybe he’s the right man for the Catskills posting.
* “We’re trying to build what I would consider to be the greatest pool in the history of the world,” said Derek Stevens with characteristic understatement, referring to his new, rooftop pool at Circa (whose 
round-the-clock construction is keeping nearby hotel guests awake at night). The pool will be temperature-controlled to permit swimming year in, year out and a giant video screen will allow you to watch sports while you do your laps. “This is going to be a great venue to watch sports, a great place to catch sun, a great place to listen to music and a great place for product launches,” Stevens told the Reno Gazette-Journal. “We expect to be able to do 4,000 people a day.” Circa has yet to open but Stevens in certain to go into the history books as one of Downtown‘s most important entrepreneurs.
* Michigan Gov. Gretchen Widmer (D) is still holding out the possibility of a veto of the state’s new gaming expansion. It’s an empty threat, as the bills passed out of both houses on veto-proof majorities. Despite higher taxes, casinos got something valuable out of the package: a five-year deduction of online free play as a promotional expense. Detroit casinos won’t be allowed to offer Internet gambling before tribal ones do. At least those wanting to bet on sports online won’t have to create their mobile-wagering accounts in person.
* Scratch Clint Eastwood‘s Richard Jewell from Oscar consideration. It laid a box-office egg, opening with only $5 million. That, plus the #MeToo backlash from depicting Atlanta Journal-Constitution reporter Kathy Scruggs as a sex-for-sources slut probably dooms any Academy Award love except possibly for Thomas Walter Hauser in the title role. Update your Oscar bets accordingly.
Jottings: Did the New England Patriots really need to spy in order to beat the 1-12 Cincinnati Bengals? … Station Casinos can breathe a sigh of relief. Hedge funds are coming around on the stock, perhaps convinced that the worst is behind us at the Palms. Station still lags 
Eldorado Resorts and Penn National Gaming in hedge-fund ownership but is making up ground … Another Florida gaming-regulation farce: Black-market gambling at Joy’s Internet Casino was allowed by authorities to proceed even after the establishment was robbed and police were called to the scene. Way to go, Sunshine State … Warner Gaming is out of Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Sioux City after selling its half of the property to joint-venture partner Peninsula Pacific Entertainment. No purchase price was disclosed but at least no layoffs are planned. Hard Rock Sioux City gives Peninsula Pacific a powerful hedge against struggling assets DiamondJacks Hotel & Casino in Bossier City and del Lago Resort & Casino in New York State … Things are going slowly for Hard Rock International‘s casino project in Catalonia. The casino-resort has just received a second extension from the government.
