Moving rapidly, the Arkansas Racing Commission unanimously granted a license to the Quapaw Tribe to build a casino in Jefferson County. (The tribe 
responded that it would be equally prompt in building $350 million Saracen Casino Resort. In the meantime slots in a box will fill the gambling gap.) They were not so clement, however, to applicants in the Pope County area, where support from local political powers is negligible. Five supplicants received a refund of their $250K application fee. The docket for the Racing Commission was pretty full, as it also included approval for Hot Springs‘ Oaklawn Racing Casino Resort to add sports betting. That Pope County casino always seemed like a long shot and Big Gaming looks like it will be shut out of the state.
* Speaking of which, Nevada is trending toward a deep shade of blue, thanks in large part to the composition of casino workforces and the high-intensity politicking of the Culinary Union. Some Big Gaming money is following suit. True, Republicans will always have a loyal friend in Sheldon Adelson at Las Vegas Sands. However, MGM Resorts International 
CEO Jim Murren has already thrown the company’s lot in with Joe Biden, saying, “On the issues we care deeply about at a corporate level — diversity and inclusion, sustainability, community engagement — we have found more of an alignment with the current Democratic officials.” MGM’s money is also getting bluer—$404,690 went to Democrats since, double the amount spent on Republicans. Over at Caesars Entertainment it’s a similar story, with $700,799 going to Dems over the last six election cycles versus $449,821 to the GOP. Then there are the casino PACs. MGM’s slightly tilts Democratic, $1 million to $579,280 and Caesars $1 million against $825, 291. Bloomberg even found Wynn Resorts tipping “modestly” blue, despite ex-CEO Steve Wynn‘s constant jeremiads against anything Democratic, the highlight of quarterly analyst calls. (Neither Wynn Resorts nor its founder wanted to comment on the disclosure.)
Rep. Dina Titus (D), despite being held in disfavor by the gaming industry, says its shift makes sense. “You start talking about building walls and Muslim bans and that starts to cut into their growing market, which is based on 
international tourism,” she told Bloomberg. Mind you, the contributions of MGM and Caesars are but a couple of drops in the bucket compared to the ultra-largesse of Adelson, who poured $206 million into conservative coffers in just two election cycles. While the Sands PAC isn’t lavish—$344,132 since 2009—only $8,500 went into Democratic pockets. As for Caesars, it has backed both GOP winners (Gov. Brian Sandoval) and losers (ex-Sen. Dean Heller). “We’re able to work effectively across both sides and we’ve found politicians on both sides are supportive of our issues,” said Richard Broome, company spokesman.
The most politically connected CEO in gaming isn’t Adelson but Full House Resorts‘ Dan Lee, who is married to Rep. Susie Lee (D), the freshman member of Nevada’s congressional delegation. She doesn’t take her electoral success for granted, saying, “Nevada voters are not shy about switching votes if they believe there’s a candidate who’s going to deliver for them.” She’s been wooed by Sen. Kamala Harris, Biden, Beto O’Rourke and Sen. Elizabeth Warren but is keeping her powder dry.
* The new-look Palms isn’t just for high rollers now. On June 29, owner Station Casinos will be throwing the doors open to the Universal Domino League‘s Las Vegas Summer Classic. Who knew dominos could pave the way to big casino winnings? Prize money totals $50,000 and a 2019 Harley Davidson motorcycle is also up for grabs. Politics intrudes even here: The winner gets to choose the charity that will benefit from a celebrity five-domino face-off between Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton. May the best charity win.
