Eyes on Atlantic City; ‘Smart chips’ a health menace?

It’s barely 2020 and already The Press of Atlantic City has identified the Boardwalk’s top five stories of the year. They are: 1) The evolving Eldorado Resorts takeover of Caesars Entertainment. Early indications are that Eldorado will try to keep all four Atlantic City casinos of the merged companies. “Anytime you see mergers and consolidations within an industry, you get concerned about whether or not there will be contraction in terms of things like the number of employees,” added gaming consultant Dan Heneghan. 2) The continued rise of sports betting and Internet gambling. Both are raking it in hand over fist. “Nevada is clearly in our sights,” said Gov. Phil Murphy (D), apropos of sports betting. “We can overtake it as early as [2020].” 3) Expansion of gambling in Philadelphia. [Ever contrary, we think it will result in local cannibalization, not an existential threat to A.C.] 4) More casino amenities, which now account for 47% of overall revenue. “The product is constantly being refreshed by operators, creating a buzz about Atlantic City. That is further strengthening our position as a destination resort and helps to differentiate us from other locations,” said casino boffin Rummy Pandit. 5) Tax incentives from the state to promote diversified development. “You’ve got the mechanism, you’ve got the will and now you just need to identify the plans and put them into practice,” said Spectrum Gaming Group exec Michael Pollock. That seems to cover the bases.

In the meantime, Carl Icahn continues to cling to failed, decrepit Trump Plaza, filing no demolition permits. Perhaps Uncle Carl is hoping against hope (and reality) that the Trump brand will make a Boardwalk comeback. And Tilman Fertitta won’t be happy if Bart Blatstein continues with plans to build a casino on a non-restricted parcel of the Showboat. Fertitta thinks nine casinos is two too many for Atlantic City. A tenth will make him apoplectic.

* Could RFID-chip technology pose a danger to casino workers’ health? Macao labor groups think so and are agitating (well, as close as the placid Macanese come to agitation) for a study of the smart-chip issue. Casino regulator DICJ stated, “Apart from assisting the relevant government departments in conducting regular checks on workplace safety compliance, the bureau also requires casino operators to submit independent, third-party test reports of the gaming facilities when approving such installations.” Workers weren’t mollified, calling for disclosure of aforesaid third-party tests. Casino operators, meanwhile, have received letters requesting a 5% pay hike, a graveyard-shift pay differential and a yearly bonus equivalent to two months’ salary. We don’t know now much of that labor groups are going to get but in a tight casino-worker market they actually can negotiate from a position of strength.

* Massachusetts is shaving revenue—and jobs—from Foxwoods Resort Casino and Mohegan Sun. The latter reported net revenues of $992 million last year, a 7% decline, although outside operations provided a hedge against the vagaries of the Connecticut market. Foxwoods netted $788 million, a 5% dip.

* Mike Pence wouldn’t like this. Not one bit. Table games have come to racinos Indiana Grand and Hoosier Park, something he staunchly opposed when he was governor. Not even “george” political donations from then-owner Spectacle Entertainment could buy his favor. But table games have since been approved and they were rolled out New Year’s Day, with Indiana Pacers star Victor Oladipo placing one of the first bets. “We think people will come from all over the state, where they might not have come before for table games,” said Vice President of Operations Todd Berendji. As thought to confirm him, Gas City resident Herbert Hillman said he’d be diverting his action from Michigan casinos, adding, “A live person is a lot different. You know how to bluff them; you know how they play; computer you don’t. It makes a lot of difference.” Speaking of difference, we’ll see if it puts a spring in Caesars Entertainment‘s step when January revenue numbers emerge.

* How soon will these mobile recliners come to a casino megaresort near you? They will certainly do nothing to arrest our country’s trend toward obesity. Aptly enough, they were unveiled at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas. Which reminds us that Gary Loveman once pitched the idea of moving banquettes that would transport customers around Epicentre, the multi-casino metaresort he dreamed of building before he levitated Caesars into bankruptcy.

Speaking of transportation, electric cars are not perceived as sexy. Solution? Two words: Idris Elba. Problem solved.