Illinois legislators continue to butt their heads against Gov. Pat Quinn‘s opposition to casino expansion (and a terrible gambling economy). Impervious to reality, state Rep. Robert Rita (D) is introducing yet another bill for five casinos and airport slot routes. Democrats in the Lege won’t be satisfied until existing casinos are driven out of business — and maybe not even then. “I want to make sure this thing is done in the right way,” bloviates Rita, when the right thing would be not to do it at all. It’s surreal to see Rita and his colleagues arguing over how they’ll divide theoretical casino revenue at a time when actual gambling winnings continue to decline. Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel‘s determination to have his city own a casino outright also continues to put the cat amongst the pigeons.
If it ain’t broke … Some uncredited ‘genius’ at Caesars Entertainment has had the notion of taking Jubilee! and “ushering the show into the contemporary age … putting a modern spin on it” (read: going urban). Choreographer Frank Gatson Jr. has been charged with improving upon Donn Arden‘s original. We are assured that “the best of the 
show’s main elements will be preserved as a nod to the past.” This entirely misses the point of Jubliee!, which is that it is of the past and its charm lies in its anachronistic — and sometimes campy — content. Contemporizing parts of it risks winding up with something that is neither fish nor fowl, merely foul. Says Caesars Vice President of Entertainment Kurt Melien, Jubilee!, “has been a must-see show for more than 32 years,” which makes you wonder at the sudden urge to tinker. Considering Gatson’s 15-year association with Beyonce, it looks like we’re going to get a Destiny’s Child knockoff sitting uneasily cheek-by-jowl with old-Broadway-style routines. This has all the makings of a train wreck. Is there nothing on the Strip that Gary Loveman can’t fuck up?
The State of Ohio nearly got taken by a massive cheating ring that hit all four of the state’s casinos. (Since roulette was the targeted game, VLT-only 
Scioto Downs was spared.) Thirteen alleged perpetrators were arrested out of an alleged 70, and nine of them are on the lam. The ring operated out of the New York City area and worked by surreptitiously switching out low-value chips for high-value ones. In most cases, the casino copped to what was happening before serious damage could be done. Only July 21 caper at Horseshoe Casino Cincinnati went undetected until after the fact. Penn National Gaming and Rock Caesars Gaming were predominantly successful in thwarting the cheaters but it wouldn’t surprise me if surveillance hasn’t been upped since. (It’s a heckuva story to break on the day when Penn was announcing quarterly earnings.)
Simultaneously, another cheating story broke in the Far East, at one of Stanley Ho‘s sublicensed casinos, Greek Mythology. VIP room operator Chen Mai Huan allegedly bilked investors of $40 million and was caught trying to flee Macao by helicopter. It’s a story almost too entertaining to be true. Now we’ll see how Macanese authorities dole out justice to accused cheaters.
A proposed, tenth casino in Biloxi is stirring up some controversy, especially as historically casino-free land was rezoned to make room for Biloxi Boardwalk Casino Hotel. Given some of the toes that may get stepped upon here (i.e., nearby residents), this story will merit continued watching.
