Bravo to Hard Rock International and Seminole Gaming for stepping up to partner with Clean the World (which was covered in this space last week) to help victims of Hurricane Michael. According to CasinoBeats.com, “An immediate donation of 30,000 containers of soap, shampoo, shower gel, body lotion and conditioner are available for distribution to victims, emanating from the Seminole Hard Rock Hotels & Casinos in Tampa and Hollywood, plus the Seminole Casino Hotel Immokalee, located east of Naples.” Nor is this a one-shot deal. Hard Rock has signed on with Clean the World to continue the latter’s mission of helping devastated areas, especially in the Third World.
“As a socially responsible hotel and casino company, we are committed to improving the lives of others and protecting the planet. Recycling hotel soap and other in-room amenities is the right thing to do,” said Seminole Gaming Senior Vice President of Purchasing Tracy Bradford. The new partners are especially convenient for Clean the World, one of whose four recycling plants is located in Orlando.
* MGM Resorts International and Eldorado Resorts are paying far more than lip service to Atlantic City. Both made “george” donations to the local Boys & Girls Clubs, especially MGM, which plunked down a cool half-million toward the Teen Center for 
Economic Development & College Readiness. Said Executive Director Michelle Carrera, “Today we support about 1,900 youth a year. This center will not only help about 400 more kids, but it will expand our services to provide them with the skills and tools necessary to break the cycle of poverty,” thanking MGM by name. And why not? The company has put the Boys & Girls Clubs 25% of the way toward its $2 million fundraising goal. STEM education and SAT preparation will be among the classes offered by the school, when complete.
Closer to home, MGM is new launching a new program to conserve water at Bellagio. The technology is being provided by Apana. “It compliments MGM’s recognized energy data analytics platform so that we can identify critical areas of water conservation by turning 
data into meaningful actions,” said Vice President of Sustainable Facilities Chris Magee. Pools, cooling towers and, yes, the fountains have been identified as top-priority areas for conservation. The Southern Nevada Water Authority played matchmaker between Apana and MGM. Said SNWA’s John Entsminger, “While the resort sector is among the most water-efficient industries in Southern Nevada—consuming only three percent of our water supply while employing 22 percent of our local workforce—we are asking all sectors of our community to do more to conserve water.” Kudos to MGM for doing its part.
* None of the bars mentioned in this survey are casino-based. That’s an area in which the industry could do some remedial work. F&B executive Tobias Peach is a man after my own heart: “Sure, you have to be prepared for and accommodate the tired hotel guest who has been traveling all day and just wants their dirty martini. In that case, we just make them the best one they have ever had.” Mix one for me, please.
* Atlantic City got a different sort of boost from its sports books, which saw revenues leap sequentially, concurrent with the start of NFL season. They went from a $96 million handle in August to $184 million in September. One can only speculate how large the number will be when all casinos in the city have sports books, not just six gambling houses. Internet gambling, meanwhile, jumped 26% to $26 million. The revenue wasn’t confined to the Boardwalk, either: The Meadowlands grossed $7 million and Monmouth Park $2 million.
* Former footballer and full-time asshat Terrell Owens joined Caesars Entertainment CEO Mark Frissora to open The Linq‘s new race and sports book, called (strangely enough) The Book. Hey, look on the bright side: They could have called it The Booq.
