Not only has the Iowa Supreme Court not ruled on Judge Elizabeth Ovrom‘s ruling to close Argosy Sioux City, it hasn’t decided whether 
or not to hear the case. However, it still has kept the Penn National Gaming riverboat on life support. It could just be a matter of days — or one of months. All depends on whether the high court chooses to hear Penn’s appeal of the Iowa Racing & Gaming Commission‘s closing order. Considering that it has been allowed to keep the Argosy open for a year unlicensed under a clause called “operation of law,” Penn’s fate could have been far worse than its current predicament would indicate.
* Kudos to the surveillance staff at Sands Bethlehem. They spotted and helped Pennsylvania state police arrest alleged casino cheat Jubreal Chahine, wanted by the Nevada Gaming Control Board on multiple felony counts. Unable to post bail, Chahine is in the cooler. The moral of this story is that if you’re a casino cheater on the run, the worst place to lay low is at another casino.
* Elsewhere in Pennsylvania, license renewal of Parx Casino by both Bensalem and the state gaming board seems assured. “This has absolutely been a grand slam for Bensalem Township,” said state Rep. Gene DiGirolamo, and his comments were echoed by the local state senator, Bensalem’s mayor and its director of public safety. Generally the highest grossing-casino in Pennsylvania, Parx is as deserving of state license renewal as any casino in the commonwealth.
* Massachusetts‘ Mashpee Wampanaogs have been through a dramatic history of downfall and recovery. Complicating the next step in that drama — being granted a casino — Chief Vernon “Silent Drum” Lopez is admitting to mixed emotions about the prospect: “If they handle it right, I think it might be good for the tribe. Of course, it’s going to take a long time before they can show a profit on it.”
Furthermore, “[Lopez] He said he supports Cromwell and the council in its bid for Project First Light, as the proposed casino is known, and it could help future generations of the tribe. But he does worry it could leave the tribe in debt or be a corrupting influence.” Although Lopez’s position is purely ceremonial, the sentiments of this D-Day veteran could further complicate Chairman Cedric Cromwell‘s push for Project First Light, still firmly ensconced in Taunton while a rival Foxwoods Resorts Casino project bounces around the southeast part of the state.
