Congratulations are in order to Ellis Island Hotel Casino & Brewery (not in that order of priority) on 50 years in business. What started as two menu items has grown into a beloved locals hangout whose karaoke nights are the stuff of legend. Ellis Island is also renowned for its barbecue — just try to get a table — and is notable for being the only casino I’ve ever been in to have a cement floor. No doubt the cleanup crew appreciates that touch. Its microbrewery is a mainstay (best root beer I’ve ever tasted, bar none) as are its generous pours. Mind you, Ellis Island is not choosing this anniversary to rest upon its laurels. It’s building an outdoor dining/entertainment facility, The Front Yard, a $10 million project that will open later this year. And its video-poker-powered Village Pubs add their 13th location on the April 16, with three more restaurants scheduled to open later in 2018. All the while, Ellis Island retains its family-owned scale and charm. In this era of corporate behemoths, it’s good to see the little guy winning for a change.
* A downturn in business at Parx Casino “would be, I would say, almost catastrophic for us,” remarks Bensalem Mayor Joseph DiGirolamo, who 
would have to cut police and other essential services in such a scenario. Of the significant gaming expansion coming down the pike in Pennsylvania, Hizzoner says, “To me, it’s kind of killing the golden goose that lays the eggs. I don’t know how far they can take gambling. The more they put in, to me, the more it’s going to deplete us here.” Although the Philadelphia Inquirer‘s feature has a certain tone of purse-lipped disapproval, in keeping with the paper’s anti-casino policy, it does highlight some of the dangers lurking for cities that take gaming revenue for granted when making their budgets.
* Is it too early to rebrand Ocean Resort? Owner Bruce Deifik has inked a strategically valuable affiliation with Hyatt. Now if only he can get the Hyatt name onto the marquee …
* At the risk of throwing good money after bad, incoming SLS Las Vegas owner Alex Meruelo is planning nearly $100 million in capital improvements, including a redo of the slot inventory and a brightening of the casino floor. Ironically, one of Sam Nazarian‘s points of pride, the
redesign of the pool area, will be re-redesigned. “The capital investment is something that will make a dramatic impact. Things are already turning around, and I am very optimistic,” Meruelo told the Nevada Gaming Commission. Also, before jettisoning the SLS brand, he will study its name recognition for an additional year. On the basis of the (poor) business so far, we’d say it’s — what’s the technical term? — shitty. It’s also a disappointment to everyone who hoped that the advent of Meruelo would mean an end to SLS and a reversion to the Sahara moniker. One vestige of Smilin’ Sammy Naz that will definitely be leaving is sculpture “Sam by Starck,” better known as “The Happy Blob.” No word as yet on whose front yard it will end up decorating.
Meanwhile, the former owners of SLS are in hot water with 60 Chinese investors who lost their shirts (and their permanent green cards) when the resort turned turtle. They’re suing in Los Angeles for $225 million in damages plus court costs. It’s like one final kick in the pants of Stockbridge Capital Group on the way out the door.
* When Poarch Band of Creek Indians inherits Sands Bethlehem, they will find they have gained a 26-table poker room at the loss of an Earl of Sandwich eatery. Sheldon Adelson knows how to pamper his poker players, providing massages and tableside dining, in addition to 19 
LCD television sets (large-screen, of course) stationed around the room. Now that Sands is no longer restricted to 250 table games (its bread and butter), it will use the old poker room space, which was awkwardly situated in the middle of the casino floor, to add 14 new tables, 29 table-game stadiums and a plethora of new slots. “Beyond the quality of life upgrades, poker players will finally be isolated from the hollers of table game players and the dings of slot machines,” reports Penn Bets. The Poarch Band will find that Adelson is turning over the keys to a very souped-up car.
