Wynn makes friends abroad, enemies at home

Steve Wynn has long prided himself on his good relations with the Culinary Union. However, those could soon be a thing of the past if he and front man Jesse Waits continue to extend Wynncore‘s tip-confiscation policies to Culinary-repped workers. By confining this upward redistribution of wealth to casino dealers and their pit bosses, Wynn was able to keep the Culinary on the sidelines. The union can be a formidable adversary and Wynn Resorts could be in for a much less pleasant set of negotiations when the collective-bargaining agreement comes up for renewal.

What Wynn taketh away in Vegas, he giveth in Macao. He conferred a cost-0f-living increase upon rank and file at Wynn Macau. In a fawning statement, he added, “This is our grateful response to the leadership provided by Chief Executive Fernando Chui Sai On and Secretary Francis Tam concerning the rise in the cost-of-living for Macau residents … we appreciate the privilege we enjoy in being able to participate in this wonderful community.” The man knows how to curry favor when necessary. Having Chui’s regime play the stern parent to Sheldon Adelson, Stanley Ho and most recently to casino-less Caesars Entertainment, Wynn rightly judged this to be the moment for a little sucking-up to City Hall.

Wynn’s archnemesis, Sheldon Adelson may have tastelessly trademarked Macao as “Asia’s Las Vegas”™ but the bustling metropolis bears little outward resemblance to Sin City, at least if you’re not hanging out on the Cotai Strip™.