Luxor‘s display of Titanic relics has hit an iceberg in the form of a bankruptcy court auction against owner Premier Exhibitions. It’s likely the collection will be kept intact, not 
dispersed to the four winds, although the latter might be the more lucrative course to steer. Bidders include filmmaker James Cameron, who is presently being topped by would-be owner Daoping Bao, a Chinese fund that already owns $2 million of Premier’s debt. Premier promises to keep the collection in one piece, although that may be out of its hands. (One imagines that Cameron, given his Titanic fixation, would do the same.) The Bao consortium includes Apollo Management, the private-equity fund that has created so much mischief in Las Vegas.
Could Bao break up the collection? “Anything’s possible,” said Alta Fundamental Advisers partner Gilbert Lee. Bao is ready to plunk down $19.5, as opposed to $19 million from Cameron, a consortium of British museums and National Geographic. “These relics belong at home in Belfast and at Greenwich, in the hands 
of an organization that can ensure these artifacts will be around forever,” said Robert Ballard, the man who found the Titanic and we should hope his moral authority (he has opposed harvesting the wreck) carries some weight with the bankruptcy court. Regardless of the destiny of Titanic artifacts, dare we hope that Premier’s present troubles (brought about by incautious expansion) mark the end of the gruesome Bodies exhibit at Luxor? It’s a casino whose prevailing theme is death. As long as MGM Resorts International is rethinking some of its Strip properties, it might want to make Luxor less funereal.
* While on the subject of Las Vegas sightseeing, Sin City is now home to the world’s largest bong, a 24-foot pipe so large one must take an elevator to the mouthpiece. (Going up to get high?) The record-breaking bong can hold 100 gallons of water and a quarter-pound of loco weed — giving new meaning to the term “quarter-pounder.” Quickly nicknamed “Bongzilla,” the Fremont Street attraction is the creation of glass artist Jason Harris: “Las Vegas will be the new Amsterdam of the world. I see it as a big lighthouse and beacon that says, ‘Just smoke me.’” Not so fast.
Public consumption of cannabis isn’t legal in Nevada. Not yet, anyway. Even so, tax collections from marijuana sales in the Silver State far overshot projections, bringing in $70 million. 
That translates into $530 million in total sales. Look out gaming — here comes an entirely different kind of ‘toke.’ Bongzilla already has some prominent boosters, including Mayor Carolyn Goodman (D) and state Sen. Tick Segerblom (D, right), an avowed stoner who’s pushing legislation that would make toking on Bongzilla more than a pipe dream.
* Hollywood Casino at Charles Town Races was set for a Saturday opening of its sports book but Penn National Gaming, chomping at the bit, started taking wagers last Thursday. The 
highest-ranking official Penn could wrangle to place the ceremonial first bet was Delegate Jason Barrett (D), who put down $50 on the Mountaineers. Barrett couldn’t resist patting himself on the back, saying, “We have really done it right in this state and certainly Pennsylvania and others, if it’s going to be successful in their states, they need to look at what we did and model after us.” He’s right, at least as far as the sensible 10% tax rate is concerned. Tax-revenue projections are all over the map, from $5.5 million to $9 million, even $17 million. The Greenbrier will be the next sports book to be licensed, with Mountaineer Racetrack & Casino bringing up the rear. Oh well, Mountaineer was always an underachiever.
As for the continuing pushback against sports-betting ads, Australia has banned them from live streams of sporting events 5 a.m. and 8:30 p.m. They’re already verboten on live coverage of games on radio and TV. Australia Communications & Media Authority Chairwoman Nerida O’Loughlin said, “This brings online services in line with television and radio broadcasting services. It creates a safe zone for children and families to watch live sport across a variety of platforms.” There is a complex series of exceptions but the overriding message is clear: The government wants to see fewer gambling ads on its TV screen or computer monitor.
* In a totally counterintuitive move, U.S. and Macao companies are flocking to Athens in hopes of landing a megaresort concession. This is despite a 50% falloff in terrestrial gambling revenues since 2008, as Grecians show an increasing preference 
for Internet gambling. Companies manifesting interest are Caesars Entertainment, Hard Rock International, Mohegan Gaming & Entertainment, Las Vegas Sands and Melco Resorts & Entertainment. And why not? Whoever wins the bidding process gets a 30-year license. You won’t find that kind of ‘job security’ in Macao. Speaking of Greece, how could the American Film Institute leave The Guns of Navarone off its ‘100 Best’ list? Just asking.
