Don’t make mine Manhattan

That’s the word from key legislators, who have made it clear that Gov. Andrew Cuomo (D) would be putting a casino in Manhattan over their dead bodies. “I believe it would be seriously detrimental to the residential and commercial quality of Manhattan,” said Assemblyman Richard Gottfried. Cuomo’s idea of compromise was to allow Manhattanites to hold their nose and choose where on the island a megaresort would go. Sort of a pick-your-poison deal. But lawmakers said that was spinach and to hell with it. “This got really close. It fell apart in the wee hours of the morning,” a source told the New York Post.

Meanwhile, executives for the three interested companies—Las Vegas Sands, Wynn Resorts and Bally’s Corp.—are waiting until January, when solons may revisit the issue. For Sands, which essentially builds convention centers with ‘big barn’ casinos tacked on, a Manhattan site may be crucial. As for Cuomo, he has sugarplum fairies bearing $1.5 million in licensing fees dancing in his head. In theory, it should be a five-way race for a three full-spectrum casinos but everyone and their brother expects MGM Empire State in Yonkers and Resorts World New York in Queens to be juiced into the first two licenses, leaving Sands and its ilk squabbling over the last one.

Accel Entertainment is a name we don’t hear much about in the gaming sphere. But we should. It dominates the Illinois slot-route market with 33% of all VGTs in play and 32% of revenue. It’s the key player sucking casinos dry. And it’s branching out into Nevada and Montana, through a $140 million purchase of Century Gaming, which in turn engorged the routes of United Coin and Anchor Gaming. Meanwhile, on its home turf in the Land of Lincoln, Accel continues to press for slot routes in Chicago. That seems unlikely but Accel isn’t going away empty-handed. The state’s slot routes are going to six machines per location, which will allow for the installation of newer, higher-yield product, as well as offset the dilutive effects of racino development at horse tracks. And even though there’s no casino gambling in Georgia, Accel is headed that way, buying up a modest amusement-device manufacturer that operates VGTs under the auspices of the Georgia Lottery. To say Accel is poised for growth would seem an understatement.

Smoke ’em if you’ve got ’em. Well, not quite yet. But Nevada is moving quickly towards marijuana-consumption lounges in licensed dispensaries, to be followed by stand-alone Mary Jane lounges “with single-use cannabis products for sale.” In other words, pre-rolled joints will soon be waiting for you. We don’t toke but it’s ridiculous that Sin City has had to wait so long to indulge this minor vice whilst tolerating so many greater ones. Alas, casinos can’t cash in on the trend, as the Nevada Gaming Commission still defers to federal law on pot, pretending that it is illegal in the Silver State when it is anything but. Reefer lounges are expected to arrive (everywhere but in casinos) by year’s end, adding a whole other kind of New Year’s Eve fireworks.

Jottings: Paid parking is back at The Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas, sorry to report. Locals get three hours free but The Cosmo’s really not their kind of place … BetMGM has signed hockey great Wayne Gretzky as its newest brand ambassador. Gretzky’s sort of an expert on sports betting, his wife Janet Jones having been notoriously enmeshed with a gambling ring … Miley Cyrus (remember her?) will be the headliner for the rollout of Resorts World Las Vegas‘ Ayu Day Club. Get ready for some twerking … Railroad fans, take note: Mohegan Sun is incepting shuttle service to the New London station for Amtrak. The trip takes 20 minutes and will run every two hours, starting at 8:40 a.m. We’re stoked … Arizona‘s government hopes that the kickoff of sports betting and DFS in the state will coincide with that of the NFL on Sept. 9. However, the first draft of rules is still being written … Having picked up Bally’s Atlantic City for a song, Bally’s Corp. has announced $90 million in capex upgrades. Bally’s Corp. Executive Vice President Phil Juliano called the current appearance of the property “a disgrace … old and tired.” On the way are a complete room revamp, several new dining options and a FanDuel sportsbook. Concluded Juliano, “It’s going to look spectacular; it’s going to return Bally’s to its glory.”