Former casino operator and regulator Richard Schuetz has some very stern words for his former colleagues and their (slow) response to Coronavirus. Sample: “The point is, in many of our gaming states, there was little concern about the employees of the casinos. No one had their backs. Not the politicians, not the regulators, not the gaming academics, and certainly not the newspapers.” No they didn’t.
One of the companies Schuetz lauds for a proactive stance is Wynn Resorts, which is launching major anti-viral measures in Las Vegas 
and more modest ones in Boston. In Sin City, Wynncore donated “240,000 N95-equivalent CDC-approved respirator masks, 600,000 surgical masks, 500,000 pairs of medical gloves, and thousands of medical gowns to … area hospitals.” Law enforcement and nursing homes are also beneficiaries of Wynn largesse, as are myriad Vegas-area nonprofits. Wynn employees have reached into their pockets to donate 25 grand to Bread of Life in Massachusetts and another $100K to Three Square. The company has also set up “virtual volunteering” opportunities for employees who would otherwise be cooling their heels. Keep up the good work.
Jottings: Casinos in Nevada may be idle but gaming doesn’t stand still. The Silver State Lege just OK’d betting on e-sports, a national first … Macao‘s government is projecting a 50% decline in gaming revenue this year. Sands China is already prepping for disaster, asking lenders “to waive some financial covenants.” The move is to stave off a potential default … When the 
sale of the Tropicana Las Vegas was announced we predicted “Cost cuts are coming.” Global Gaming Business confirms that “tens of thousands” of Penn National Gaming employees are going to get the axe. Free rent at the Trop is expected to buy Penn an extra two months of survival time … Gaming REITs may have caught a break from the CARES Act. A little-noticed provision enables real estate investors to take tax write-offs on paper-only losses. Hundreds of green eyeshades are being donned even now … Covid-19 is just what the doctor ordered for underperforming online poker. “The coronavirus is shining a very bright light on online 
poker. I think it will be as big as it’s allowed to be; we’re seeing that window of opportunity to shine that bright light on poker availability online,” says Poker Central prexy Sam Simmons … Nevada jobless claims hit 92,298 for the week ending March 21, the most in Silver State history, exceeding Jan. 10, 2009 … Pechanga Resort Casino near Temecula is our “george” of the week. Despite an anticipated wave of April 1 layoffs, Pechanga will extend health benefits through the end of the month. April isn’t always the cruelest month … One more blow to sports bettors: Irish horse racing has been suspended through April 19 … Add Zimbabwe to the list of countries legitimizing gray-market Internet gambling. Already the country is host to the largest number of terrestrial casinos in Africa.
Bonus quote: “I want our life back again.”—Donald Trump. Is there anyone who doesn’t feel that way?
