Just when Illinois casinos are trying to stave off another expansion of gambling, May brought a most inconvenient uptick in gambling revenues, albeit only half a percentage point, which can presumably be 
accounted for by the fact that this May had one more weekend day than 2014’s did. Northern Illinois revenues were a mixed bag, with Harrah’s Joliet down 9% and Rivers Casino up 2%. Penn National Gaming saw Hollywood Aurora rise 1% and Empress Joliet gain 5%. In fact, it was a good month all around for Penn, which was up 2.5% at resurgent Argosy Alton. Meanwhile, MGM Resorts International‘s Grand Victoria slipped 1% and Boyd Gaming‘s Par-A-Dice was flat. The novelty factor continues to drive business to Harrah’s Metropolis, up 15% for the month. Casino Queen and Jumer’s Casino Rock Island were flat. Alas, lawmakers are liable to look at these numbers and misinterpret them as a mandate for more, more, more new casinos.
* Iowa had a better month, with revenues increasing 6%, lifting the Isle of Capri Casino flotilla an aggregate 5%. Caesars Entertainment‘s 
two Council Bluffs properties were a bit off the pace, down 1%. Pinnacle Entertainment, however, had a banner month at Ameristar Council Bluffs, seeing revenue rise 8%. The two Boyd casinos, Diamond Jo Worth and Diamond Jo Dubuque, also surpassed analyst expectations with a 7% increase. Hard Rock Casino, in Sioux City, had an above-average $7 million gross. Three of the state’s smaller casinos — Riverside Casino & Golf Resort, Rhythm City Casino (presently being rebuilt) and Grand Falls Casino & Golf Resort — all received permission to consolidate their ownership under the banner of Elite Casino Resorts. Rhythm City boss Dan Kehl will be their CEO.
* If you have money in a Nevada investment fund, be afraid. Be very 
afraid. Gov. Brian Sandoval (R) has signed into law a bill that permits mutual funds based in the Silver State to place sports wagers. Investment is a calculated risk but this is carrying it a little far. Imagine if your mutual fund had bet on the Indianapolis Colts to cover the spread in their 7-45 playoff annihilation by the New England Patriots. Sorry, but I have trouble seeing an upside to this new law.
* Under the pretext of helping their casino industry, Pennsylvania lawmakers are debating a set of pricey quid-pro-quos. As state Sen. Tommy Tomlinson (R) put it, “the thing driving this, more than 
anything, is the need for money to settle a budget, where there’s not a lot of people who want to vote for a tax increase.” Instead, the state is considering permitting alcohol service around the clock and approving midget casinos of 250 slots apiece. A sweetheart provision for Ira Lubert would remove the resort-casino casino restrictions on his Valley Forge Casino Resort in return for a $5 million payment. Not surprisingly, the bigger casinos are opposed to this cushy deal, having paid $50 million for their licenses. Internet gambling is still in the legislative mix but it looks like a long shot at this point.
