Larry Flynt continues to be the de facto leader of California‘s card room industry. He’s fighting in court against a Golden State law that prevents card room owners from holding stakes in out-of-state casinos. (Flynt in Las Vegas? Imagine!) When Gov. Gavin Newsom‘s administration moved to dismiss Flynt’s suit, Judge John Mendez said ‘No.’ He also indicated that the law could contravene the interstate-commerce clause of the U.S. Constitution. Flynt has been waging this battle since 2016. He co-owns two card rooms, Hustler Casino (what else?) and Lady Luck, both in Commerce. The law Flynt is trying to overthrow was enacted in 1986, in an attempt to keep Mob influence out of California’s gaming industry. If so much as one slot machine went into Flynt’s Vegas-area strip club, he’d either have to sell the club or his card rooms. For Flynt, that is Sophie’s Choice.
Without ruling on the law in question, Mendez held that it pivoted on whether it impinged upon interstate commerce by favoring in-state businesses over out-of-state ones. However, he noted, if its effect on cross-state commerce was only indirect, it will be up to Flynt to prove that this constitutes “a significant burden.” While not an outright victory for Flynt, Mendez’s ruling appears to ensure he will get his day in court.
Over the weekend Philadelphia Live held a pair of invitation-only, six-hour gambling sessions, with the proceeds going to charity. Starting tomorrow at 4 p.m., the casino begins taking online reservations for regular play. Our Atlantic City bureau reports, “The interesting electronics state when a person picks a slot machine, the adjoining machines will shut down! When the person leaves, the machine will shut down until cleaned and re-set.” Among its myriad eateries is a branch of popular Termini Brothers Bakery. Observes our correspondent, “I would not want to be nearby if they run out of cannoli.”
Jottings: MGM Resorts International has rebuffed Snow Lake Capital‘s demand that it sell down to a minority position in MGM China. This led Snow Lake CEO Sean Ma to declare ominously, “We Chinese people always try peaceful means before resorting to force.” Ma also hinted he could be bought off with a seat on the board … Caesars Southern Indiana could be going to the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians. The North Carolina-based nation is said to be offering $250 million.
Larry Flynt’s two card rooms are in Gardena California, about 8 miles from Commerce… Virtually all the Los Angeles card rooms are close together, Gardena was the original city that allowed card rooms, Commerce was next, then Bell Gardens. The Lady Luck is a remodel of the old Normandie club, which used to be the largest club, now it’s the size of a broom closet compared to Commerce. The Hustler is just an outstanding club, great people, great games, and pretty decent food. When outdoor gaming was a thing the Hustler was bustling with action, I made many friends, when they reopen the clubs I may have to alter my habits because my haunt the Hollywood Park Casino did not offer poker when they did outdoor gaming, a gigantic face plant that will cost them some regulars. I won’t take it out on the dealers, it’s not their fault at all, they wanted to work of course, management proved they want to cater to pai gow and lousy blackjack. I would go 100% Hustler but I care for and love the dealers that have dealt to me for decades…