Playing the China card in Vegas; Fresh scandal in N.Y.

In an escalation of its not-so-cold war with Resorts World Las Vegas, Local 501 of the Operating Engineers is deploying the Commie card against Genting Group. The latter has been playing dirty pool in Local 501’s attempt to organize at Resorts World. In retaliation, the former sent an open letter to Gov. Steve Sisolak (D), highlighting Genting’s chumminess with Red China. “Genting Group has unique relationships with Chinese SOEs that appear to be unprecedented among Nevada gaming licensees. This level of political and economic exposure can adversely influence the operations of Genting, its subsidiaries, and its ownership group,” it warned. Continuing, the union said it had “discovered ties” between Genting and the Chicomms in the form of partnerships with a state-owned enterprise, SDIC Power Holdings, to exploit petroleum and natural gas in the Pacific Rim.

In turn, SDIC is tethered to North Korea. “Additionally, the Washington Post recently found an SDIC portfolio firm selling advanced surveillance technology to Xinjiang‘s Public Security Department which is responsible for detaining over a million ethnic Uyghurs, the Muslim minority of China.” Genting is also alleged to be in bed with Russian/Chinese oil developer Sinopee, which uses slave labor in Xinjiang. “Indeed, recent events have loudly underscored the Chinese Communist government’s willingness to exploit its influence over U.S. gaming licensees (Nevada, specifically) for maligning [sic] foreign policy purposes,” balefully concludes the document.

Rather than seeking the revocation of Genting’s Nevada gaming license, which would be both impractical and unrealistic, Local 501 wants the mega-conglomerate to divest itself of its China interests. That’s a big ask of the Nevada Gaming Commission, which just deep-sixed (and rightly so) an investigation of Resorts World President Scott Sibella and which doesn’t have a great deal of leverage to force such a divestiture. Sisolak’s office told John L. Smith it was taking the letter seriously but punted the matter over to gaming regulators. Resorts World responded that the Operating Engineers’ union had been jilted by the local workforce and the latter had no one but itself to blame for a stymied second election. The union’s end-run to Sisolak is an inspired improvisation but, sadly, likely to go nowhere.

California Republican leadership has formed a rare, united front with Democrats against Proposition 27, the online sports betting ballot initiative backed by all the big dogs (except neutral Caesars Entertainment) in OSB. While not explicitly endorsing tribally backed Proposition 26, the top GOPer in the state Senate, Scott Wilk, made it amply clear which way the wind is blowing: Prop 27, he wrote, “eliminates the sovereign right of California tribes to operate gaming in California. They have proven to be excellent stewards of this responsibility. We should protect this tribal right, which has also benefited all Californians. Vote No on 27.” We’ve been pretty sure that Prop 27 would pass but now we’re beginning to have doubts.

Genting Group has its thumb on the scales of who will get a New York City casino, with the active connivance of Gotham Mayor Eric Adams (D). The latter has appointed Resorts World New York security boss Timothy Pearson to advise him on casino selection. That means not only that Genting will have Adams’ ear but that Pearson will be double-dipping from Resorts World and long-suffering taxpayers alike. The nitty-gritty is behind a paywall but if this isn’t a scandal it sure ought to be and we suspect that outrage—not least from competing casino bidders—will be not long in coming.

New Jersey legislators are getting weak-kneed about banning smoking in Garden State casinos. They don’t lack the votes, just the testicular fortitude. A counter-proposal is circulating in Trenton that would allow for outdoor gambling areas, ones which employees could choose not to work. To say this went over like a lead balloon with casino workers would be right on the money. “The so-called opt-out idea only forces workers to risk their health for a paycheck,” said Borgata dealer Pete Nacccarelli. “It is not a solution at all.” The problem with al fresco gambling + smoking almost always is that some poor slob has to work the games or bring drinks to the slot players. This bill proposal has the casino lobby’s fingerprints all over it and should be rejected like a fastball.

Jottings: There’s a happy ending to the sick saga of the dog that was tortured in the Bellagio parking garage. Duchess, the unfortunate pooch, has found a loving, forever home with a family in Las Vegas. Kudos to the Animal Foundation for making this possible … Whew! This is a relief. Massachusetts Gov. Charlie Baker (R, above) has signed sports betting into law. He kept us in suspense a while … Tribal gambling revenues hit a record amount—$39 billion—in FY2021. That’s 13% more than in fiscal 2019. Those numbers represent 510 casinos, owned by 243 tribes across 29 states. Color us impressed … Shhhhh! Don’t tell Vegas casino owners that the ancient Romans played with asymmetrical dice which skewed the outcome. It’ll be adopted by Big Gaming faster than you can say “triple-zero roulette” … Underdog Georgia gubernatorial candidate Stacey Abrams (D) came out in favor of both casinos and sports betting this week. Whether this helps her flagging poll numbers remains to be seen … Urban One, the casino that wouldn’t go away, will have to sit out the 2022 election cycle. Peninsula Pacific Entertainment had been seeking a do-over vote after getting rejected by the electorate last year. Casino CEO Alfred Liggins went along with the legislative edict grudgingly.