In case you missed it …

Sports betting in Oklahoma? Don’t put money on it. Several hurdles interpose themselves. For one, Gov. Kevin Stitt (R) has to cure his relationship with the state’s Native American tribes, poisoned by his high-handed attitude toward compact renewal. Stitt also has to patch things up with the Lege, irked by his unilateral attempt to grant sports wagering to a few, small tribes that played ball with him. And, most of all, a constitutional amendment would be required. The Oklahoma Indian Gaming Association says it’s in no hurry to resolve the issue. “I guess it could come up next legislative session, but it may not,” shrugged Chairman Matthew Morgan, adding, “It needs to be done correctly. And that’s probably going to take time.”

Stitt’s office is still dangling the sports-betting lure out there, albeit in return for 13% exclusivity fees. We don’t think most of the tribes will bite. State Senate President Greg Treat (R) is also keeping his powder dry, saying loftily, “If an overall compact agreement is reached that is beneficial to all Oklahomans, I will consider it.” One of the reasons tribal leaders aren’t chomping at the bit is the low margin that sports books enjoy. “I don’t like people talking that ‘We’re going to get hundreds of million dollars,’” remarked Morgan. Oklahoma Lottery boss Jay Finks does covet sports betting, telling the Tulsa World, “We have so much gaming here in the state already. It’s kind of logical … it’s the next step.” True that. Admittedly, Finks’ financial projections are rosier than Morgan’s. The latter concluded with a shot across Stitt’s bow: “I think tribal leaders are willing to have that conversation, but it has to benefit everyone. And there has to be respect.”

In the absence of Consumer Electronics Show, room rates on the Las Vegas Strip are imploding, down 76% to an $88/night average room rate. (Can you say ‘desperation’?) Weekend rates are off ‘only’ 39% but midweek ones plummeted 81%. MGM Resorts International is -82% weekdays and -28% weekends, Caesars Entertainment is -75%/-38%, Wynncore is worst off, -89%/-54%, while constraint of supply appears to be working for Venelazzo, -66% midweek but just -4% on weekends.

Jottings: The Red Card is out at Wynn Resorts, replaced by Wynn Rewards. It comes in Red, Platinum and Black tiers. You have to sign up afresh but there are free-play incentives if you do … FanDuel has revamped its West Virginia sports-betting operation, now basing it on Scientific Games‘ OpenBet platform … Harrah’s New Orleans is no more. It’s now Caesars New Orleans. Good call by CEO Tom Reeg. The Caesars brand has been vastly underemployed … Tribal Winds has broken wind: Mohegan Sun and Foxwoods Casino are putting the box of slots away, although they say the change of mind is only temporary. Uh-huh … Look out, Mashpee Wampanoags, here comes the Mattakeeset Masachusett Tribe. It’s a newly enrolled band and it’s dibbing the same ancestral turf for which First Light casino-resort had been planned … Shay Segev, CEO of BetMGM parent Entain believes that the sports-betting service is “firmly on track to be the leading sports operator in the U.S.” Well, that makes one of him.

Afterthought: MGM’s Grand Garden Arena, idle for most of 2020 has been named “Best Casino Arena” for the ill-fated year. Some would call this irony.