Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker (R) continues to make inscrutable, sometimes self-contradictory remarks about the hotly disputed Kenosha-area Hard Rock casino proposed by the Menominee Tribe for Dairyland Greyhound Park. What was a timeline of a week or two has now extended into one of months. He also sounds like he might be tap-dancing toward approval of the Menominee project … but he’s fooled us before. From his latest remarks: “What I’ve heard around the state is people really are interested in the potential jobs in the Kenosha area.” (At least he has promised not to take nine years.) The Forest County Potowatomi Community praised the non-decision through gritted teeth.
Walker’s also admonishing both sides in the controversy to tamp down their advertising campaigns, characterizing them as unhelpful. (The ads, not the tribes.) He’s caught in a bit of a bind. State compacts require that existing casinos need to be made whole losses attributable to new competition. Walker says “no new net gaming.” But, lacking an increase in net gambling capacity, where is the money to Potowatomi and Ho-Chunk tribes to come from? Advantage: Menominee.
Walker’s also ordered the Department of Administration to begin dickering with the affected tribes “in an effort to maximize the job creation potential” of a Menominee casino. The governor still maintains that all 11 tribes have to give the Menominee their blessing — but he’s reversed himself before. Who’s to say he won’t find a way around that criterion? I’m not betting against an eventual Menominee victory. Meanwhile, halfway across the country …
Nevele resort developer Michael Treanor isn’t letting any grass grow under his feet now that New York State has expanded casino gambling. He’s setting up meetings with Wall Street and reaching out to potential operators, 
of which there is no shortage. Even when one sets aside those companies that prefer the own-and-operate model, Nevele should have its pick of the cream of the industry. “We know that the two biggest firms in this industry have said the Catskill-Hudson Valley region is not robust enough for them,” said Treanor, implying that Caesars Entertainment and MGM Resorts International have taken themselves out of the running. (or could he mean Las Vegas Sands in lieu of Caesars? The latter would offer to manage a lemonade stand.) “But there are half a dozen others who have expressed interest.”
(The $520 million project will retain Nevele’s cylindrical hotel tower, adding a charming, Vegas-like touch to the project.)
Marxist casinos. Up in Albany, land owner U.W. Marx Construction Co. is being showered with unexpected bids for building a casino on land it holds directly across the Hudson River from the capital city. After struggling for years to launch a multi-purpose development, De Laet’s Landing, Marx just got the first component — an upscale apartment building — underway. Of the three (undisclosed) operators-to-be, at least one is a ‘brand name’ in the industry.
Kudos to MGM Resorts International for its “Boots to Business” program at Beau Rivage. The initiative helps veterans make the transition back to civilian life, giving them new job skills — and hope. We need much more like this.
If only it were possible to move the center of the casino industry to San Diego. It’s got Vegas-quality product, nicer weather and major league sports.
