Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker (R) must have an upbeat disposition. He’s going to try and get representatives of all of the state’s gambling-enabled 
tribes in a room this week. The subject, of course, is the Menominee Tribe‘s Dairyland proposal, which has drawn the ire of an influential minority of aforesaid tribes. Considering that Walker wants a unanimous consensus on the Menominee proposal and that other tribes would have to give up gambling positions to achieve the “no net increase” that Walker says he wants … well, he’s got to be an optimist to attempt to “like to see a win-win.” But give him credit for trying. Walker hasn’t vetoed the Menominee proposal outright and hasn’t put all the onus on the tribes to make it happen or not, as previously appeared would be the case.
“Gambling is just never going to recover. They’re kidding themselves if they think it is. You don’t go from a monopoly to competition and make the same rate of return.” So said James Butkiewicz, chairman of the Department of Economics at the University of Delaware, injecting a needed dose of sanity into the debate over how to salvage Delaware‘s suddenly struggling racino industry. By contrast, Secretary of Finance Tom Cook is in deep denial about an industry whose tax contribution next year is expected to fall to 2004 levels. Delaware needs to live with less revenue or look somewhere else for it — and revisit racino tax rates, whatever path it takes.
Churchill Downs and Turfway Park have not only found a clever way 
to monetize Kentucky Downs. They’ve also worked out how to split the distinction between slot machines and parimutuel racing. Instant Racing machines allow punters to wager on the outcome of old races. Opponents say Churchill is having it both ways and “live racing with dead horses.” True on both counts — and that’s the beauty of it. The dispute lies at the heart of a case that’s gone to the Supreme Court of Kentucky. Unless Churchill’s argument prevails, neither it nor Turfway will be able to liquidate their stakes.
Congratulations to the Denver Broncos for having proven that, in Las Vegas sports books, it’s not whether you win or lose but if you covered the spread.
