Tex Adelson rides again

Not unlike Japan, Abboud’s pitch for Texas entails a finite number of “destination resorts” that will “blend into existing infrastructure.” He even called for strict regulation. He said budgets should be in the $1 billion-$3 billion range so that “you absolutely only get the best companies bidding and they are forced by law to build an incredible facility.” Going in Adelson’s favor is a $4.6 billion budget shortfall in Texas that has lawmakers so desperate that they might legalize marijuana, even casinos. Besides, Adelson seeded the 2020 election with $4.5 million in donations to local races. (GOP, of course.) Given this desperate economic environment, Abboud stressed job creation, local investment and—yes—even tax payments. That last part should be music to the Lege’s ear.

However, he still faces an immovable obstacle in the form of stubbornly anti-gambling Gov. Greg Abbott (R), who has cracked the whip in the recent past. That has nixed all but three peripherally located tribal casinos which, thanks to Native American sovereignty, Abbott must suffer. Not only will the horsey set be in Abbott’s camp, so will the state lottery, thwarted by the governor in its attempt to offer sports betting but highly unlikely to welcome outside competition. Already the Texas Baptists Christian Life Commission has sounded off against Adelson, saying he’s trying to pave the way for the flood of casinos that neighboring Oklahoma has experienced. Also, state Rep. Joe Deshotel (D) keeps introducing bills to legalize casinos and keeps getting nowhere.

“We think that the elected members of the Legislature, as in the past, would recognize that this type of opportunity is not economic development and will end up hurting the state more than it would end up helping it,” said TBCLC spokesman Rob Kohler, while Texas Life‘s Jonathan Covey harrumphed, “It’s not good for the economy and it’s not good for families.” Abboud’s response? Let the voters decide. Sheldon Adelson has taken on some huge challenges in the past but, compared to Texas, opening Macao will seem like a piece of cake.

While companies like Boyd Gaming and Station Casinos are retrenching, at least one operator is bullish on the Vegas Valley. Anthony Marnell III wants back into the Henderson market and the city is selling him nine acres near his former M Resort upon which to build a casino-hotel. Although the land is appraised at $6.5 million, Marnell is getting it for two-thirds the price, with Henderson citing economic need to justify the markdown. Not that we disagree. Besides, it would be good to have the Marnells back in the Vegas-area gaming equation.

The District of Columbia has joined New Jersey, New York, Massachusetts, Connecticut, Louisiana, North Dakota, Rhode Island, Mississippi, South Dakota, Illinois and Michigan. In what? Sports betting? No, one Coronavirus death per every 1,000 residents. At times like these, the problems of the casino industry don’t amount to a hill of beans.

Jottings: This column in the Washington Post is must-reading for anyone concerned whether the power of their vote means anything anymore … Las Vegas Raiders reject Vontaze Burfict (who else?) wanted to find the mystery pizza parlor at The Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas. His means of doing so? Put a beatdown on two security guards. Burfict was arrested on charges of misdemeanor battery … Evacuation of Hard Rock Atlantic City at 9:50 p.m. “pandemic hour” was described by a visiting reporter as “almost comic.” Sighed resort President Joe Lupo, “It’s so discouraging. We were doing really well. We were really gaining some ground.” Said one sure-to-be-infected customer, “We’re so over the Covid thing. We’re trying really hard to be normal.” On a happier note, contact tracing of infected casino employees has found almost no ties to their workplaces, as testament to industry vigilance … The American Gaming Associations reports that 116 U.S. casinos are still closed due to Covid-19 issues.