Japan scandal grows; Caesars slammed

Japan‘s 500.com bribery case continues to spread. An additional five Nipponese lawmakers have been implicated, accused of taking $9,249. The notion that Japanese solons would sell their souls for such chump change indicates how desperately they want to get in on the casino gravy train. “Sources told the Mainichi newspaper that some of the five belong to a cross-party group of politicians tasked with promoting international tourism.” The five are unidentified, although one has denied the accusations. Ticking off various casino-related worries that preoccupied the Diet during her tenure there, retired parliamentarian Mieko Nakabayashi added, “The other worry was about bribery, corruption and even the involvement of organized crime groups. That appears to be what we are seeing now.” Nor does she think we’ve seen the last of this scandal, saying “it’s very possible that they are looking to catch some bigger fish, people with more influence. I don’t think this is the end of their investigation.” Neither do we.

* Sports-betting legislation continues to move at a molasses-like pace in Massachusetts. That prompted state Rep. Brad Hill (R) to vent his frustrations in a lengthy and informative interview with Global Gaming Business. Mind you, Hill is under no illusions about the Bay State being on the cusp of a tax bonanza, saying pithily, “It’s a fact that even if you only make a million dollars, it’s a million you didn’t have before.” Agreed.

* As far as the Lake Tahoe market is concerned, Caesars Entertainment seems committed to the Harveys brand. Gordon Ramsay has opened his third-ever Hell’s Kitchen restaurant there, not a move the Roman empire would make lightly. It’s part of a multi-phase, $41 million capex reinvestment in Harveys Lake Tahoe, a project that is going ahead even as the impending Eldorado Resorts takeover puts the brake on other expenditures. “I absolutely fell in love with this area from the breathtaking views of the lake to the amazing skiing nearby,” said Ramsay. The restaurant should open in March. Meanwhile, look for Eldorado to sell Mont Bleu, late of Columbia Sussex, as a means of reducing its Lake Tahoe exposure.

* On the subject of Caesars, we are in receipt of a copy of an e-mail sent to the company. It reads, “I was genuinely shocked—after an hour of completely unnecessary hassle—that Caesars no longer allows me to use the free play I’ve earned for video poker. I’m preparing to cancel upcoming reservations in Atlantic City and Southern Indiana, where I stayed last night. I’ll also no longer consider Caesars in Cherokee, Metropolis or [Las] Vegas. Of course, you were not upfront with your customers about this draconian change. I had to try to insert my card 15 different ways and talk to three employees before I heard the bad news. I was sitting at the machine like a fool trying to activate the free play I had been promised. This is just the latest penny pinching cut that has resulted in Horseshoe Baltimore losing out to competition. When I first started patronizing the casino, there were more food choices and there was a van to get to downtown hotels safely. Nowadays cabs aren’t usually available and I’ve had to make the long walk back downtown at night. I had hopes for the recent minor makeover but have been disappointed—it has done nothing for this failed property. Promotions are rare and I usually never qualify due to some arcane fine print. I’m a Diamond member but I’m lucky to get even a free handful of peanuts at the Diamond Lounge—which is just another bar which offers nothing extra to Diamond members. Now I can’t use ‘free’ play except on confusing tight slots. That’s it. Why in the world would I come to Baltimore just to get jerked around when I can go to MGM’s National Harbor?? You have lost me as a customer forever – and look at my damm account, in the last year I’ve gambled in AC, Vegas, Southern Indiana, Cherokee, Metropolis, IL and most often in Baltimore. I’ve been a chump.” No, it’s the cheeseparing Caesars braintrust that are chumps. Score: MGM Resorts International 1, Caesars 0.