Major casino companies are beginning to lose patience with Japan‘s impotent government and are casting their eyes toward South Korea. “This will take leadership. At some point someone is going to have to say ‘this is important to us, let’s push this thing forward’, “I think it does lose the momentum of a significant opportunity… so we would look elsewhere.” said MGM Resorts International President William Hornbuckle. Also reported to be getting antsy is Las Vegas Sands, which had been prepared to invest $10 billion in Japan.
In a desperation move, casino proponents are trying to make an end-run in the Diet. They’ve pondering — yet not actually doing — moving the casino-enabling legislation to the sleepy Land & Transport Committee and away from the high-priority Cabinet Committee. The Land & Transport Committee’s remit, according to Reuters, is “issues like removing unsightly utility poles in favour of underground lines.” Takeshi Iwaya of the ruling Liberal Democratic Party explained, “As long as the ruling coalition can agree and win support, it doesn’t matter which committee it’s submitted to.”
Although Prime Minister Shinzo Abe has the votes on paper to get casinos through the Diet, there remain problems within his own coalition. Abe relies for votes from the Buddhist-oriented Komeito Party, which has never been more than lukewarm on casinos. As Iwaya concedes, “If this bill doesn’t pass the current session of parliament it will be hopeless. I think the time limit will be up.”
* Also hanging upon legislative action is a $1.6 billion expansion of two Seminole Hard Rock hotel-casinos in Florida, one in Hollywood (1,000 rooms for $950 million) and the other in Tampa (537 rooms and an entertainment hall for $$650 million). If Gov. Rick Scott (R, below) or his legislative allies let the clock run out on the portion of the compact that grants blackjack and other card games to the Seminoles, the projects go back in the deep freezer, according to Hard Rock International CEO James Allen. At present, Scott and his buddies appear willing to let the $116 million revenue stream dry up.
According to Seminole General Counsel Jim Shore, the tribe hasn’t heard from Scott in 
over a month. “We will take the time that’s needed to get the best deal for our state,” said a Scott flunky by way of explanation for the governor’s inaction. In the meantime, the tribe is massaging the legislature, which also has to sign off any deal that is reached. They’re not thrilled with state Rep. Dana Young‘s package of gambling bills that was recently introduced. Allen argues, somewhat illogically, that it’s bad policy to allow outside casino companies to develop resorts in Florida. Hard Rock is also not fond of a provision that would remove the Seminole’s exclusive right to banked card games. At least Young’s legislation isn’t a poke in the eye to the Seminoles, unlike Scott’s one-finger salute.
* Connecticut lawmakers are looking at the idea of building three quickie tribal casinos to head off competition from Massachusetts. The legislation will have to be fast-tracked, too, says Speaker of the House Brendan Sharkey, who tells the press that “supporters of the bill still need to identify the locations, secure host community agreements, develop a revenue-sharing policy with the state, and gain the necessary legislative approvals before the end of session in June.” Whew! Nothing to it.
The plan is for the Mashantucket Pequots and Mohegans to jointly develop casinos that interdict the I-91, I-95 and I-84 routes, beguiling customers who might otherwise drive up to Springfield or to nascent casinos in New York. If the bill has to wait until 2016, MGM Springfield is going to beat the tribes to the punch. A recent study shows that the two Connecticut casinos have, in the last eight years, lost $600 million to neighboring states, so the issue is of some considerable urgency.
* Ellis Island has adopted a slash-and-burn approach to player benefits. Jean Scott does the math so you don’t have to.
