{"id":308,"date":"2009-06-26T17:49:00","date_gmt":"2009-06-26T21:49:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.lasvegasadvisor.com\/blogs\/dmckee\/index.cfm\/2009\/6\/26\/The-Trop-heist-that-wasnt"},"modified":"2009-06-26T17:49:00","modified_gmt":"2009-06-26T21:49:00","slug":"the-trop-heist-that-wasnt","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.lasvegasadvisor.com\/stiffs-and-georges\/the-trop-heist-that-wasnt\/","title":{"rendered":"The Trop heist that wasn't"},"content":{"rendered":"

"An improvident indictment." That's what New Jersey<\/strong> officials are calling a case that was quietly quashed<\/a> in May. Sacked Borgata<\/strong> veep John Conklin<\/strong> and two other men had been charged with plundering the Tropicana Atlantic City<\/strong>'s database when they were in the Trop's employ (and when the Trop was still owned by Aztar Corp<\/strong>.).<\/p>\n

Closer examination revealed that nothing had been purloined and the data in question was not particularly sensitive, either. All three indictees have been exonerated … but where does John Conklin go to get his career back?<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

Phantom<\/em> redux<\/strong>: Defying the odds, the Venetian's production of Phantom of the Opera<\/em><\/a> celebrated its third anniversary Wednesday night. I jotted down a few observations<\/a> for CityLife<\/em>. (Tina Walsh<\/strong> fans, take note.) Having seen the Broadway<\/strong> production — albeit many years ago — I'll be the first to allow that it actually improves on the original in a respect or two. Oh, and my CityBlog<\/strong> entry misspells choreographer Gillian Lynne<\/strong>'s last name. My apologies.<\/p>\n

Two titans<\/strong> of American popular music "played Vegas" last weekend. Actually, Loretta Lynn<\/strong> was in North Las Vegas<\/strong> and Aretha Franklin<\/strong> all the way out<\/a> in Primm<\/strong> … not remotely near the Strip. What's wrong with this picture? Or this one …<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/strong><\/p>\n

Midnight Jim: taking down Big Oil<\/em><\/p>\n

It's summer<\/strong> and gas prices are — like, duh! — on the increase. Gov. Jim Gibbons<\/strong> doth suspect that dark, foul, untoward schemes are afoot. But Midnight Jim assures us<\/a> he is on the case<\/a>. I feel safer already.<\/p>\n

Gay cowboys<\/strong>. They're queer, they're here<\/a> and they're at The Rio<\/strong> specifically. A straight-gay coalition turned out in force last night<\/a> to celebrate its victory<\/a> over Midnight Jim's benighted opposition to domestic partnerships. (Because that's not how he rolls, y'see.) Speakers included Harrah's Entertainment<\/strong> Vice President Jan Jones<\/strong>, who led the charge on Carson City.<\/p>\n

For all the failings of CEO Gary Loveman<\/strong>'s stewardship of Harrah's, on his watch the company has expanded its already-enlightened attitude on social issues. It's not just a question of being gay-friendly; it's good business.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

Worth -$23 million?<\/em><\/p>\n

Isle of Blight<\/strong>. Is the woebegone Greek Isles<\/strong> casino-hotel worth less than nothing<\/a>? In a sense, yes, since it owes $67 million on a book value of $44 million. Even a resale price at book value seems wishful thinking, considering the Isles' chequered history.<\/p>\n

Asserts the Las Vegas Sun<\/em>, "With its strategic location near the Las Vegas Strip and the Las Vegas Convention Center<\/strong>, the Greek Isles and its associated real estate are seen as having long-term value after the recession ends."<\/p>\n

Yeah, but it's had that "strategic location" for as long as it's been in existence and the Isles' progress has been a steady one from Bad to Worse. I wouldn't give a plug nickel for the place — not with Strip land prices in freefall and vast acreage there lying fallow.<\/p>\n

\"\"Miracles are possible<\/strong>. Work on Marina Bay Sands<\/strong> is, believe or night, a fortnight ahead of schedule<\/a>. Next step: Hold the line on that (already swollen) $5.4 billion budget.<\/p>\n

The waiting continues<\/strong> in the great state of Kansas<\/strong>. Its lottery commission wants another two months to review applications for the Wichita<\/strong> and Kansas City<\/strong> markets. Considering the recent flurry of dropouts (including Vegas' own Golden Gaming<\/strong>), you'd think this would expedite the process. Instead, the coronation is six months away.<\/p>\n

Squeeze play<\/strong>. No time is being wasted as Pennsylvania<\/strong> rushes toward expanding into Class III casinos. Two rival proposals to add table games are presently on the table. Casino lobbyist Steve Rittvo<\/strong> is forwarding a plan that would tax new games at 12%. This is projected to generate $165 million for the Keystone State (assuming that slot play concurrently increases sufficiently to generate a $61 million impost).<\/p>\n

House Whip William DeWeese<\/strong> (D) counters with a 21% tax, combined with a one-time $10 million\/casino fee, for a potential Year One windfall in excess of $300 million. I wish Rittvo luck but fear that solons will — as they so often do — gravitate toward the bigger dollar sign. It's an institutional failing.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

Neil Bluhm, Philadelphia's Sugar[House] daddy<\/em><\/p>\n

On a happier note, Neil Bluhm<\/strong>'s revised design for his Sugarhouse Casino<\/strong>, on the Philadelphia<\/strong> waterfront, has received the green light from the City of Brotherly Love. Barring further legal mischief by sore loser Donald Trump<\/strong>, this means the project can finally move ahead, with a temporary, 1,700-slot casino slated for a Spring 2010 opening. Hallelujah!<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

"An improvident indictment." That's what New Jersey officials are calling a case that was quietly quashed in May. Sacked Borgata veep John Conklin and two other men had been charged with plundering the Tropicana Atlantic City's database when they were … Continue reading →<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[23,60,42,4,97,7,123,45,91,78,95,33,12,108,31,9,100],"tags":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.lasvegasadvisor.com\/stiffs-and-georges\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/308"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.lasvegasadvisor.com\/stiffs-and-georges\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.lasvegasadvisor.com\/stiffs-and-georges\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.lasvegasadvisor.com\/stiffs-and-georges\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.lasvegasadvisor.com\/stiffs-and-georges\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=308"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.lasvegasadvisor.com\/stiffs-and-georges\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/308\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.lasvegasadvisor.com\/stiffs-and-georges\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=308"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.lasvegasadvisor.com\/stiffs-and-georges\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=308"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.lasvegasadvisor.com\/stiffs-and-georges\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=308"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}