Sunday, May 11, 2003
Copyright © Las Vegas Review-Journal

INSIDE GAMING: Bennett in office? Pols say 'Don't go there'

Where'd the dustup over William Bennett's gambling habits come from? Sources tell us the morals czar and his allies had been angling for a top spot in the Bush administration, possibly even joining the ticket with Bush had Vice President Dick Cheney not been tapped for another run last week. The "neo-conservatives" around Bush didn't like the more moderate voice from "Bush I," so they talked up his slot habit in Washington, D.C., salons to see what damage could be done, the sources say.

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More than track history was made when a gelding, Funny Cide, won the Kentucky Derby last week at Churchill Downs. It was the first time Bill Boyd, the principal behind Boyd Gaming Corp., had a chance to attend one of the crown jewels of American racing as a track owner. Boyd's Delta Downs in Louisiana opened Feb. 13, 2002. Word was Boyd had a blast at the race and he charmed Eastern track operators.

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Scuttlebutt out of Wall Street is Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich's proposals for confiscatory gaming taxes and a state takeover of casinos were ruses. Suspicious minds see his endgame as slots at tracks. The state may be hoping to bring casino operators and racing interests to the bargaining table to reach a compromise.

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Tempers fray. American Gaming Association President Frank Fahrenkopf told us Tom Grey, executive director of the National Coalition Against Legalized Gambling, is probably fit to be the Iraqi information minister, but not much else. The two debate the perils of gaming all over the country, and now we're hearing Fahrenkopf has been saying the same thing in public meetings. Ouch.

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Aztar Corp. Chairman Paul Rubeli in a recent conference call with analysts challenged competitors to stop competing. He wants Laughlin competitors of Aztar's Ramada Express to hold the line on room rates and cut out the steep discounting and Atlantic City casinos to join him in cutting summer season promotions. Mandalay Resort Group's Edgewater and Colorado Belle and Park Place Entertainment Corp.'s Flamingo are the culprits, industry insiders say.

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European high rollers love Las Vegas, and Richard Branson, founder of Virgin Airways, is betting they'd pay enough in fares to fly the Concorde into McCarran International Airport. Seems he's interested in buying the supersonic bird to serve the rich who want to beat quick trails to destinations of choice, including Las Vegas. There's one glitch. Branson wants the SSTs for a pound sterling a piece -- just what British Airways paid 40 years ago.

The Inside Gaming column is compiled by Gaming Wire Editor Rod Smith. You can contact him by phone at (702) 477-3893, fax (702) 387-5243 or e-mail at rsmith@reviewjournal.com. Gaming Wire writer Jeff Simpson contributed to this week's column.