Grand Victoria is such small potatoes in the MGM Resorts International portfolio that the Elgin riverboat’s management used to be farmed out to co-owner Hyatt Gaming (since succeeded by the Pritzker family’s RBG). The Elgin City Council is hoping that will change with a turnover of ownership. It’s counting on getting a bigger chunk of change if Grand 
Victoria’s performance improves. “Grand Victoria would be a bigger part of the Eldorado‘s portfolio than it is for MGM, so maybe there would be more focus on the property,” said Councilman Terry Gavin. Also not-uninterested is Kane County, which gets 7.5% of Grand Victoria’s net operating income, which goes toward everything from food banks to environmental remediation. The riverboat is a legacy from MGM’s absorption of Mandalay Resort Group, a transaction that left MGM with a number of small-fry properties it has been selling off here and there. Divestiture of Grand Victoria is consonant with that strategy — and MGM doesn’t have to pay Illinois‘ inflated tax rate anymore if the deal goes through.
Elsewhere in the Land of Lincoln, Burr Ridge is wrestling with the question of whether or not to allow slot routes (nine local businesses want them). The town is facing a budget deficit, so the outcome of the debate is probably a foregone conclusion. Village Board Member Zachary Mottl presented it as a painless alternative to increasing taxes and fees. “I am a fan of finding new ways to collect revenue before we go to tax increases to the residents,” he said. “If it doesn’t hurt us but benefit us, why shouldn’t we do it?” asked slot-route advocate John Bittner, touting figures that contended Burr Ridge would see $50,000-$70,000 generated the slots. Burr Ridge would be well advised to bank on the lower end of the range: neighboring Indian Head Park brought in $55,000 but adjacent Willowbrook only $37,000.
* David Copperfield is in the unlucky position of having the secrets of his “Lucky #13” act revealed in court. Seems it wasn’t all that magical for a British tourist. MGM Grand was under renovation and Gavin Cox took a fall while being hustled from the stage to the back of the audience, allegedly leaving my trauma-induced brain lesions. Copperfield has protested having the mechanics of “Lucky #13” revealed in court but the judge took the stance that, since 55,000 people have been ‘transported’ over the years, the secret is pretty much out. Hey, it’s better than having the secret of Copperfield’s hair weave (I’ve seen it up close) disclosed, no?
* Remember when Victorville was going to be the jumping-off point for a mega-train to Las Vegas? Well, who doesn’t want to go someplace so in the middle of nowhere that it’s being overrun by tumbleweeds? It’s man against Mother Nature and, right now, nature is winning.
* The Tohono O’odham Nation is making news again. Having put a beatdown on the State of Arizona, let’s see how they fare against Donald Trump.
