Las Vegas breakthrough; Shoot the messenger

Las Vegas-based Avidium Labs says it has developed a Covid-19 test that has been validated at laboratories in California and New York. Said CEO Evan Louie, “Our team is diligently working on getting our tests to a wide range of healthcare providers such as physician offices, hospitals, and government agencies for rapid results … We have the capacity to manufacture more than 150,000 of our kits per week and have started receiving orders for shipment.” (We’ve no doubt of that.) The test supposedly works in 10 minutes, once a blood sample has been obtained. Avidium says it has compared its tests against others available on the market and has a 97% positive correlation and 100% negative one. It has notified the FDA to be placed on the emergency-use track. Finally, some good news out of Sin City.

*What do you do if your anti-money-laundering program is a dismal failure? Sue the whistleblower who exposed your ineptitude, of course! That’s what ClubsNSW is doing to former employee Troy Stolz. An internal document leaked by Stolz to Parliament says that “Current levels of AML/CTF [anti-money laundering/counter-terrorism financing] compliance are at best at 5-10 per cent for the approximately 770 clubs in [New South Wales] that are full reporting entities.” ClubNSW’s reaction was not to pledge improved compliance but to sue Stolz for a breach of confidentiality. The latter has countersued, “alleging bullying, sham contracting, underpayment and defamation, outlined in a statement of claim filed last month.” The former AML and compliance auditor says he has been blacklisted in the industry, lamenting “I’ve got kids to feed and bills to pay. I can’t even get a job picking up glasses.”

The money laundering supposedly involves depositing large amounts of money into slot machines, playing a small amount, then cashing “clean” money out of the “pokies.” When Stolz took the issue to management, he was allegedly met with a series of browbeatings that continued even after he had been fired. Stolz does have one weapon up his sleeve that could motivate ClubsNSW to call off the dogs: subpoena its financial records. “They’ve got a bigger bank balance than I’d ever have, but I’ve got no choice,” he shrugs. “It is David and Goliath and they’re hoping that I’ll go away. But I’m very confident. I’ve got a point to prove, to clear my name and I’d like this not to happen to someone else.” ClubsNSW should be ashamed of itself.

* When we were given the opportunity to be polled about which state would reopen its casinos first, we chose California. Sure enough, tribal leaders are discussing at least a minimal resumption of operations as soon as Gov. Gavin Newson (D) gives them the high sign. Mono Wind Casino has already floated May 1 as a reopening date. A spur to action has been the casino’s inability to qualify for Paycheck Protection Program monies. “There have been discussion of May 1 to open, but we have yet to determine if that date is viable. Of course, we will take into consideration the governor’s remarks, as well as other agencies to ensure that the health and safety of the guests and employees are protected,” tribal Chairwoman Elizabeth D. Kipp told Global Gaming Business. “The casino is already in a very sanitized and clean environment. We believe it will be a smooth transition to open.”

Graton Resort & Casino, the first California casino to close, isn’t chafing at the restraints. Tribal Chairman Gregory Sarris says “we’ll work something out” and that Newsom “was very good about waiving the revenue share
based on our compact for six months.” When reopening happens, Graton will step up temperature checks and biometric scans, along with locking “down every other slot machine, and beef up security and maintenance. Machines will be wiped down every time someone steps away. We’ll also know any time someone takes off their mask,” Sarris’ stated goal being to open ASAP. “We are describing a brave new world. The irony is it may turn out that casinos will be the safest places to go in Sonoma County … We can afford the kind of health security measures others can’t.”

“I don’t think folks will have the expendable income” to gamble, Sarris says, regardless of ‘pent-up demand,’ adding, “This isn’t about losing money, it’s about losing lives … Or there will be a second wave and we’ll close again. We follow the health mandates so we can reopen and stay open.” Another early mover, Cache Creek Casino Resort, is taking prophylactic measures similar to Graton’s, including repeated disinfecting and spacing out the casino floor to create social distancing. All that’s kept Cache Creek staff sufficiently busy that no one has been laid off. “Our financial losses are staggering,” allows tribal Chairman Anthony Roberts, “but we’re so grateful for the good health of our community. We’ve canceled events, reduced operating hours of our government offices and hit the pause button on projects. But we’ve done that to make certain we haven’t had to reduce services to our tribal citizens now, when they need support the most.” Would that some politicians took their lead from Indian Country.

* Popular Las Vegas eateries The Egg & I and EggWorks are suing their insurance provider. Seems the latter didn’t think Coronavirus-induced closings qualified for business-interruption coverage. (If not, what does?) The chain has tried to keep up business with takeout and pickup service but “neither of which are practicable to meet the high standards for food quality, service, and dining experience,” says the lawsuit. Other, higher-end restaurants in the same pickle include Bouchon (which is suing its carrier), Prime Steakhouse and Jean Georges Steakhouse. If the insurance companies prevail, the collateral damage in Vegas alone will be considerable. Egg Works and Egg & I owner Brad Burdsall may be in a particular pickle because his coverage explicitly precludes “avian influenza viruses.” Does Covid-19 qualify?

Jottings: Wynncore is taking Memorial Day bookings, although Treasure Island is still the outlier with its May 15 reopening date … Coronavirus continues to dog Resorts World Las Vegas as three more construction workers have tested positive … Manila casinos will stay on lockdown through May 15, by order of strongman Rodrigo Duterte, who said “I am now warning everybody and putting the armed forces and police on notice. I might declare martial law and there will be no turning back.” Taking Duterte at his word, Okada Manila is accepting May 18 reservations, Solaire is holding off until June 1, and City of Dreams and Resorts World are taking no bookings … Foreigner-only casino Jeju Dream Tower is planning an early-autumn opening in South Korea. The megaresort has taken four years to build … The Coeur d’Alene Tribe in Idaho will give us our first American glimpse of a post-Coronavirus casino when it reopens May 1. Among the changes, mandatory face coverings for employees and guests … Nothing says ‘healthy environment’ like douchebags + nightclubs. Former casino exec Sean Christie wants to bring new nightlife to the Las Vegas Strip as soon as next year, preferably at Wynncore or an MGM Resorts International property or two.