Atlantic City protest fizzles

Even more of a relief, the threat of a 300-thug motorcycle-gang incursion was a complete no-show. Patrick Jeanty Jr., a BLM regular, was ambivalent about the protest, telling the newspaper, “Shutting the city down can mean different things depending on the context. But Steve Young has a history of saying something at inappropriate times.” Had Young succeeded, added County Executive Dennis Levinson, the economic hit would have fallen upon those who could least afford it. Really. What’s to be gained by putting an economic hurt on a casino industry when the front-line workers are always the ones to feel the hurt?

Speaking of the casinos, they reopened in ‘dry’ fashion: without beverage service. Really, Gov. Phil Murphy (D), how is one to gamble properly without getting sloshed? Worse still, for smokers, they had to go cold turkey (we foresee a run on nicotine patches in Atlantic County). Mincing few words, Murphy added, “Unfortunately, the national [pandemic] scene compounded by instances of knucklehead behavior here at home are requiring us to hit pause on the re-start of indoor dining for the foreseeable future.” He added that he felt “comfortable” in his split-the-baby measures for casinos.

Hard Rock Atlantic City President Joe Lupo pronounced himself “disappointed” with Murphy’s strictures while Borgata simply canceled its reopening altogether. Although the governor’s orders fell hardest on food and beverage servers, Murphy found an unlikely ally in Unite-Here President Robert McDevitt, who said “I really don’t even think [they] should open. Why would they? This is like Catholic school: A handful of people misbehave, and the entire class gets punished.” The gubernatorial cutbacks meant that 70% of McDevitt’s constituents were idled, instead of the expected 40%. Speaking for the rank and file, Hard Rock International CEO Jim Allen countered, “People are really desperate for a job and a paycheck,” Phil Murphy, Bob McDevitt and Steve Young be damned.

As though Station Casinos wasn’t already in a world of hurt itself, company President Richard J. Haskins was killed in a boating accident on Independence Day, while taking it easy in Michigan. CEO Frank Fertitta III called Haskins “a trusted advisor, a brilliant strategist, a steady hand in good times and in bad and most important – a friend to all. It is very hard to imagine Station Casinos being the Company it is today without Rich. He will be sorely missed by all who knew him.” We are saddened by the news and our thoughts are with the Haskins family in this time of sorrow.

Jottings: Trying to get a fetlock up on the competition, Plainridge Park in Massachusetts is reopening July 8, ahead of Encore Boston Harbor (July 12) and MGM Springfield (July 13). Given that MGM and Encore will be unable to offer poker, craps and roulette, slots-only Plainridge suddenly has a near-level playing field … As Coronavirus spirals into the stratosphere in Florida, casinos in the Miami area (except for tribal ones, who are at their own devices) have been ordered to close … PointsBet is the newest sponsor (and sports-betting partner) of the Detroit Tigers … M Resort‘s William Hill sports book was closed last Friday after an employee tested positive for Covid-19.