Trying again in Kentucky; Trump Taj goes tits up

Casinos and Kentucky politicians have been like oil and water. But there’s nothing like a pension-fund crisis to focus people’s attention and the Bluegrass State faces a $33 million shortfall on its obligations. Hence a proposal for “limited” casino gambling, although the proposed 10 casinos doesn’t sound particularly limited to us and may be too big of a pill for the churchy set to swallow. State reps Dennis Keene (D) and Rick Rand (D) are behind this latest push. They predict casinos will generate $236 million in taxes a year, which looks mighty optimistic but would be within the realm of possibility, assuming a high levy. (Atlantic City generates that much for New Jersey, even at a much lower rate.) License fees would total $325 million. Rand says he bases his projections on how neighboring states have performed, and some of what Kentucky loses to Indiana and Ohio could certainly be recaptured under the Rand-Keene bill, which not only has to pass the Lege but also a general election.

Kentucky’s seven racetracks would undoubtedly be first in line when the casino licenses are handed out. They would report to the Kentucky Lottery Board, be taxed at 31% and would have to charge patrons $3 a head for admission. Although the casinos would undoubtedly eat the entrance fee, as is the case elsewhere, it’s a bad idea even so, acting as a surtax on the gambling houses. Keene and Rand have a tough road to hoe. In the unlikely event that their bill pass, Gov. Matt Bevin (R, left) has promised a veto. Heck, Kentucky is so conservative that DFS legalization got voted down this year. As with many previous invocations of Kentucky casinos as a revenue panacea, we’ll believe it when it happens and not one day sooner.

* Meanwhile at Trump Taj Mahal, new owner Hard Rock International would like nothing better than to be rid of the Scores AC titty bar. The latter is determined upon staying put, contending that its lease is still in force. Hard Rock ripostes that the lease lapsed in 2015 and Scores is only receiving its due. The matter seems certain to wind up in court, Hard Rock having filed suit accusing Scores of hampering its “ability to open on schedule and operate without impediment or potential denigration of its brand.” As we know from Hard Rock’s wrath toward the Rehab TV series, it jealously guards its public image … to say nothing of its ability to attract the family crowd in off-peak periods. We wish the Hard Rock good luck in keeping the Scores dancers from being implanted in its midst.

* There’s a distinct lack of consensus among Michigan casinos over whether to go online or not. That has not deterred Rep. Brandt Iden (D) from introducing an Internet-gambling bill in the lower house. The Iden bill would tax ‘Net gambling proceeds at 15%, and would restrict licensees to existing casino owners, both private and tribal. With a $3 billion annual gaming industry, Michigan may not feel the urgency to bet on the Net, even if Iden thinks it will happen eventually.

In other Michigan news, Dan Gilbert is going to have to switch out 1,500 signs as he rebrands Greektown Hotel-Casino as Jack Detroit Casino-Hotel, a clunky moniker unlikely to do jack for Greektown’s status as the perennial last-place finisher among Motown casinos. The rebranding and refurbishing are so extensive they won’t finished until next May. Say goodbye to Market District, set to be replaced with fast-food outlets. Elsewhere in the casino there will be an upgrade in at least one culinary respect, with a sushi bar on the way.

* Nevada Gov. Brian Sandoval (R) still has the heebie-jeebies about the legality of pot in the Silver State, particularly as concerns its proximity to gambling. Basically, Sandoval would like to erect a Chinese wall between the nascent marijuana industry and the casino industry. As always, the federal ban on legal weed is the driving force. There’s nothing like the wrath of Jefferson Beauregard Sessions to put the fear of god into a governor. (If I have to keep covering the pot-and-gambling issue I’m going to send my best clips to High Times. They could probably use a gambling columnist.)