While the government in Macao likes to keep casino executives in a state of uncertainty about the future, Singapore is far more sanguine. Between them, Marina Bay Sands and Resorts World Sentosa have committed $6.6 billion to new development. That pleases City Hall, which has extended both concessions 
through 2030. The city-state also has reason to be happy with its recently increased levy upon citizens who want to patronize the casinos, $110/day. If the goal is to discourage gambling by the citizenry, the program has been a roaring success. “Between 2010 and 2018, the number of local visitors to the casinos declined by 50 percent,” said Minister for Manpower Josephine Teo. It’s been a $699 million boon to civic coffers over the life of the policy. Singapore is also collecting $1.7 billion from Las Vegas Sands and Genting Group for the additional land they will need for their newly approved expansions. The destiny of that money is described as “social and community programs.” Very good.
* In a similar vein, casino revenue-sharing in Louisiana‘s Bossier Parish has helped support public education. Now the question is being raised as to why it could not also be dedicated to keeping teacher salaries at parity with 
surrounding parishes. Louisiana Public Safety Commissioner Foster Campbell, father of the revenue-sharing program says, “It goes into the classroom. That’s where the rubber meets the road is in the classroom. They’ve bought computers. They have a speech lab. They have, Parkway has a TV lab, you know, teaching kids how to do what you’re doing.” That’s all well and good but some feel teachers are being left out of the equation. “Listen, the one profession that provides all of the professions in life should be supported financially,” says Laura Evans. However, Campbell, says no one has approached him with that idea and he’s against it all the same. A little flexibility on this issue wouldn’t hurt.
* Surprise, surprise, Rhode Island‘s government is having to cut back on roseate revenue projections from sports betting. The new benchmark is $15 million, a 50% markdown. The early months at the tiny state’s two sports books were apparently a cold dose of reality. This will mean so speedy budget revisions, as it is now thought that initial projections won’t be met until 2024. Online sports betting will go live later this year, which should put a Band-Aid on the wound. In a moment of candor, Lottery Director Gerald Aubin said the state was lucky that neither Massachusetts nor Connecticut had got into sports betting this year. True that.
* New Jersey Attorney General Gurbir Grewal is suing the Department of Justice, suspecting that its flip-flop on Internet gambling was the result of untoward influence by Sheldon Adelson. Grewal has been seeking relevant documents since February, without cooperation—a familiar refrain with this administration. The sands of time are running on the Garden State: The federal ban on ‘Net betting is set to go into effect next June.
