Sen. Pat McCarran (D) is making more posthumous news. State Sen. Tick Segerblom (D) is renewing his push to rename McCarran International Airport. Since the real–life McCarran was a racist, xenophobe and anti-Semite, the urge to efface his name is 
understandable. However, he also played an important role in the development of commercial air traffic in the United States, even if he is best remembered for the anti-immigrant, anti-Communist McCarran Act, a bill so repressive that President Harry Truman called it a “long step towards totalitarianism.” Were he alive today, McCarran would have a hard time getting his name on so much as a public toilet. But should the Nevada Lege keep it on the airport, in deference to history, or remove it to bring our portal to outside world into an identity more in keeping with current attitudes?
Here at S&G we are certain of one thing: The airport should not be renamed after Harry Reid. Years of accumulating “juice” in lieu of major legislative accomplishment should not be rewarded thusly. We should look toward some of Nevada’s more forward-thinking leaders, such as Richard Bryan (my personal choice), Oran Gragon — so important in the desegregation of Las Vegas — or Grant Sawyer, father of Nevada gaming regulation. Or, if the Lege has a sense of humor, it will rename the airport after the late Chic Hecht, to whom posterity owes the designation of Yucca Mountain as a “nuclear waste suppository.” Preach it, Chic!
* While we’re on the subject of McCarran Airport, it just renumbered its runways. Having viewed B-roll footage of the process, I’d say that it’s as exciting as watching paint except that you actually *are* watching paint dry.
* Japan is looking worse and worse as a casino-expansion market. The Expert Committee on regulation has recommended in favor of baccarat, blackjack, roulette and sic bo. But sports betting, parimutuel wagering and poker would be Out, as would betting on 
shogi and mahjong. Although poker is a minor source of casino revenue overall, would major operators want to be preemptively opted out of it? Masayoshi Oiwane of the Japan Casino School says in poker’s defense, “It’s clear who the winner or loser is and it’s easy to control the flow of money.” The proposed ban on parimutuel betting is especially perverse when you consider how much Japanese love to play the ponies.
* Florida Gov. Rick Scott (R) hit the jackpot by coming to terms with the Seminole Tribe over blackjack exclusivity. State budget analysts project that the Sunshine State’s revenues will grow by $500 million over the next two years on the strength of Seminole revenue sharing. We congratulate Scott on knowing when to say “yes.”
* Although the Boston Globe repeatedly tried to write it off as a failure, Plainridge Park is coming up trumps for both proud papa 
Penn National Gaming and for the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. The former has seen $4.2 billion in wagering and $166 million of that has found its way in Massachusetts’ coffers by way of Penn’s slot hoppers (and race betting). Late last month the racino history when the Spirit of Massachusetts open trot offered the biggest purse in commonwealth standardbred history: a cool $250,000. Such prizes are only possible when slots prop up the ponies.
* Despite higher coin-in last month, Foxwoods Resort Casino saw a 3.5% decline in slot revenue. Not so at Mohegan Sun, where slot revenues grew 8%. Considering that Foxwoods had several years’ head start, the continuing dominance of Mohegan Sun is a tribute to its upstart management team.
* Want to own a piece of Macao‘s Studio City megaresort? Should might soon be able to. Variety has the scoop.
* Happy birthday to S&G reader mike_ch. We hope you’re enjoying it, wherever you are.
