Casinos in Massachusetts now know when they can reopen … more or less. Gov. Charlie Baker (R) has laid out of one of the toughest reopening 
regimens in the U.S. It will proceed in four phases, each phase—beginning today—lasting three weeks. The movement from phase to phase is predicated on a continued downturn in Covid-19, which has claimed 5,797 lives in the Bay State. Casino reopenings are set for Phase Three, “Vigilant.” At a minimum of three weeks per phase, that means Encore Boston Harbor and its brethren will open no sooner than July 6, five days later than Plainridge Park had been expecting. In the Boston area, mass transit will have already resumed, which is good news for Encore. We’re confident business will return, probably sooner than anticipated, so we have no cavils about Baker’s vigilance. (We’re getting our own Coronavirus test this Friday.)
Across the country, a fissure is developing between Gov. Gavin Newsom (D) and California‘s tribal casinos. Previously the two had presented a united front on casino closings. However, three tribal casinos in San Diego County have announced their intention to reopen this week, despite Newsom’s entreaties to stay the course. We’ll provide further details as we get them.
* While on the subject of political figures, we pause to note that would-be Nevada kingmaker Rep. Stephen Horsford (D) has been caught playing hide the salami with former Harry Reid intern Gabriela 
Linder, known to the Twitterverse as “LoveJones.” Contacted by the Las Vegas Review-Journal, Horsford ‘fessed up but added, “Out of concern for my family during this challenging time, I ask that our privacy is respected.” That horse has already fled the barn, Congressman. He and Linder enjoyed two liaisons, one from 2009-10, another from 2017-19 and, yes, there will be a book. Ironically, Horsford won his current seat because then-Rep. Ruben Kihuen (D) retired rather than face sexual-harassment allegations. Linder thinks Horsford should keep running for reelection but that ship would appear to have sailed too.
* Station Casinos continues to send out mixed messages about the future of the Palms. The casino-hotel proper is closed for the long term and rumor has it that Station is shopping the troubled property, which 
never jibed with the rest of Station’s portfolio. However, Palms Place is taking room reservations, starting June 1. So Station has use for at least some of the Palms complex after all. Speaking of hotel bookings, Las Vegas Strip room rates are coming back faster than expected. Rates for the week of June 7 are down 38%, the downward trend shallowing rather rapidly. The average daily rate is $105 versus last year’s $169. Weekday rates are much healthier (-26%) than weekend ones (-50%), surprisingly. Las Vegas Sands is still officially closed as of June 7 but Wynn Resorts is doing well, down 2% on weekdays but up 6% on weekends. MGM Resorts International slips 13% midweek but rebounds 6% on weekends, while Caesars Entertainment continues to tank, off 36% weekdays and plunging 54% weekends.
Jottings: Derek Stevens has floated the idea of reopening the Downtown Event Center at 15% capacity, says he can make a profit. It’s good to see someone Downtown using their noodle … Speaking of 
which, someone vandalized a Sin City mural depicting Las Vegas Mayor Carolyn Goodman (I) and Oscar Goodman. They are now wearing masks and saying “Get back to work—or die trying.” The olive in Oscar’s martini glass was repainted as a Coronavirus spore … Activist investor Jonathan Litt has liquidated his position in Gaming & Leisure Properties Inc. This puts paid to his push to merge GLPI with Vici Properties, creating a monopolistic gaming REIT … Correction: Nonsensically, reopened casino restaurants (and restrooms) cannot layout paths with tape, making one wonder how they’re supposed to keep patrons off the gaming floor. Wethinks Gov. Steve Sisolak (D) didn’t think this concession to the gaming industry through.
