In a victory for the state of Arkansas, voters approved casinos in four locations across the state, 54% to 46%, a convincing mandate by any measure, and a big win for a variety of pro-casino companies that included Warner Gaming and Delaware North. (The latter can start work on that promised $200 million convention center hotel today, if you please.) Loser Jerry Cox of the Family Council Action Committee blamed voters: “We would have 
mounted an aggressive campaign if we had the money, but people didn’t step up and provide the money.” Gov. Asa Hutchinson (R, pictured) also pouted, saying, “I did not support this initiative, and I continue to have great concern over the immediate and negative impact on the state’s budget,” referring to the $86 million less the state stands to collect from a reduction in the tax rate on gambling win. “But the people have spoken, and I respect their will,” Hutchinson continued gloomily, adding, “Time will tell as to what this means for our state, and it remains to be seen as to whether the communities affected will consent to the gambling initiative.”
One of the biggest losers, though, has to be Caesars Entertainment, which tried to shield its Tunica properties from Arkansas competition but waited until the last week of the campaign to wade into the fight. CEO Mark Frissora is certain to be second-guessed for doing too little, too late. And, in a piquant note, voters in Pope County approved 2-to-1 a local initiative on whether to site the casino that Issue 4 granted to Pope. Wouldn’t it be ironic if Pope County approved a casino on November 6 only to reject it when the local plebiscite takes place?
* In Florida, non-Seminole casinos and racinos got absolutely clobbered. By 70%, voters approved Amendment 3, which puts any expansion of gaming into the hands of the electorate, cutting the dysfunctional Florida Legislature completely out of the loop. Any 
new gaming would have to be approved by 60% of the affected locality. Not even a last-minute push by the NFL succeeded in daunting Amendment 3, which polled at 54% support — not enough to pass — but came on strong at the last minute. In an ‘the enemy of my enemy is my friend’ scenario, the Seminole Tribe and Disney Worldwide Services teamed to bankroll Amendment 3, and have succeeded in the mutually desired goal of putting a freeze on future gaming expansion in the Sunshine State. Besides the NFL and private-sector casinos, losers included DraftKings and FanDuel. One of the lingering uncertainties of Election Day is if and how sports betting will be legalized. At present, even DFS is outlawed. Watching the Lege tackle that, if it still can, would be akin to a greased-pig contest, since the lawmakers can never get their arms around anything that involves gaming. The Seminoles, in a subplot, get to keep “banked” card games exclusively and the state receives $220 million that the tribe had held in escrow.
* MGM Resorts International stands to be an indirect loser in Georgia, where anti-casino Brian Kemp (R) eked out a narrow victory over gaming-friendly Stacey Abrams (D). The latter is putting her hopes on absentee ballots and possibly on votes for the state’s Libertarian candidate to deny Kemp 50.01%. This is a major setback for MGM, which had deployed as many as 10 lobbyists to Atlanta in recent years. Even Sheldon Adelson had vigorously kicked the tires on the Peach State, so this has to be a bittersweet moment for him. If Abrams can find enough absentee ballots, the race goes to a December do-over but that’s looking mighty unlikely, especially since she’d have to persuade Kemp voters to switch their loyalty, in any realistic hopes of winning.
* Speaking of MGM, its top Beltway lobbyist, Nevada Sen. Dean Heller (R, below), is out of a job today, defeated in come-from-behind-fashion by Rep. Jacky Rosen (D), a protege of Harry Reid (never count Old Sixty Votes out). No doubt putting Rosen on speed-dial 
will be near the top of Jim Murren‘s to-do list this morning. In an even more improbable victory, Clark County Commissioner Steve Sisolak (D) nipped Attorney General Adam Laxalt (D) at the post to win the governorship. Laxalt’s rural popularity was unable to overcome Sisolak’s Clark County and Washoe County bastions of support. And don’t forget the stoner vote, which I maintain helped put Sisolak over the top. (Speaking of which, Marijuana Advocate #1 Tick Segerblom [D], a friend of organized labor, was elected to fill Sisolak’s seat.) “Frequent political candidate” (™ Las Vegas Review-Journal) Danny Tarkanian got walloped by Susie Lee (D) in a bid for Rosen’s seat, while Steven Horsford (D) routed Rep. Cresent Hardy (R), making the Culinary Union the big winner in the Silver State. Nobody gets the vote out quite like the Culinary, which made phone-bank calls in English, Spanish, Tagalog, Amharic, and Chinese. Adelson, meanwhile, suffered a sore defeat when voters rejected Question 3, which would have made it easier for Las Vegas Sands and other corporate customers to uncouple themselves from NV Energy. The Adelson Kiss of Death continues to be a killer.
* In Wisconsin, Tony Evers (D) ejected Scott Walker (R) from the governor’s mansion. We’ll see if he has a less tormented relationship with the state’s gaming tribes than Walker did. Also, in Pennsylvania, gaming ally Gov. Tom Wolf (D) easily staved off a reelection challenge. Steadfastly anti-gaming/anti-tribal Rep. Bob Goodlatte (R) of Virginia will be gone, but by dint of voluntary retirement.
* Quantifiably, the biggest loser of the evening was Trump supporter Robert Barnes, who flew to the United Kingdom to bet $130,000 that Republicans would keep the House of Representatives. Barnes’ misplaced confidence — and money — will leave him quite a bit lighter in the wallet. Barnes considers himself ‘anti-elite’ but anybody who can have that big of a flutter is definitely a high roller, like it or not.
