p12 Stateside 16/1/09 08:24 Page 12
STATESIDE
Stateside
Sharon Harris reviews 2008 and apportions cheers
and jeers to those that deserve ’em.
Y
oung people believe they can change and they recently blew it by imposing a record $157,500
improve the world. I remember my own fine against Bally’s Atlantic City for violating
teenage idealism, frequently arguing with underage gambling laws. A 20-year-old had played on
my father. He had long since put aside an 18-day gambling binge.
romantic dreams, instead focusing on his How tough is it to distinguish 20 from 21? As
business and providing a stable family environment. Atlantic City casino employment dropped below
As we age, uncontrollable circumstances are 40,000 – a 20-year low – how many salaries could
frequently beyond our grasp. However, events also $157,500 pay?
result due to bad decisions, incompetence and greed.
Sadly, in the end, we all suffer. Gaming has not Cheers to the always evolving American political
escaped the drastic impact of both domestic and system, where democracy’s orderly strength stops
international conditions this year. people from rioting and rampaging through the
To celebrate 2008, I offer – in no particular order streets if their chosen candidate loses. The country
– a gaming cheers and jeers list: accepts the winner for its future good.
I know numerous Barack Obama voters. I also know
Cheers to those who grabbed the American Dream plenty of John McCain voters who still dislike Obama,
and still aim high. Hundreds of casino executives but will hope for his success.
began as waiters, dealers or secretaries, and worked
hard to move up. Many remember their roots, Jeers to the American political system for not
agreeing to lower salaries and bonuses in 2009. requiring that people do more than breathe, have no
In 1989, gaming icon Steve Wynn’s Mirage criminal record and be old enough to vote. With such
introduced uniqueness in Las Vegas. Despite a high stakes, electing someone who is “an awesome
sagging economy and the largest airport passenger dude” or “the right religion, ethnicity, age, color, etc”
dip in since 2001and 2002, he boldly opened the is no criteria. If we must know the basics of driving a
Encore, his elegant counterpart to the Wynn resort car, shouldn’t voters at least know something about
on the Strip, in December 2008. their candidates’ views and plans?
Cheers to those
While giants MGM Mirage and Harrah’s let 5,000 In the immortal words of American Gaming
who grabbed the
people go in 2008, Wynn created 5,000 jobs from Association President Frank Fahrenkopf Jr’s father,
100,000 applicants. He promises to lower room Frank Sr, “vote for the guy, not the party, since there
American Dream
prices before eliminating positions. are ‘turkeys’ on both sides”.
and still aim high.
Jeers to the mainstream media, who demonstrated Cheers to higher education all over the US for
documented blatant bias during the election season. making gaming a part of the community. Universities
Quality American journalism is dying a painful death. in gaming states like Nevada, New Jersey, Louisiana
Many of these same losers are now trivializing the and Mississippi have committed resources to creating
gaming industry’s economic struggles, ignoring that college curriculum programs that teach gaming
gaming affects potentially millions more than dozens courses in preparation for future careers.
of other industries getting bailed out.
Jeers to those Wall Street thieves and sleazy
Cheers to casinos for being good citizens. In early politicians whose greed and negligence have
December, Harrah’s four Atlantic City properties devastated the American economy for years. I would
hosted 25 wounded Iraq War veterans for three days. love to see them serve long prison sentences.
Officials and executives wined and dined the soldiers. Plunging casino stock prices have risked future
For years, the industry’s leaders have also addressed solvency. Harrah’s Chairman Gary Loveman spoke at
compulsive gambling, educational and community the G2E “State of the Industry” seminar, lamenting
needs in those jurisdictions where they operate. that the industry created a public expectation of
grandeur. The megaresort era has screeched to a halt.
Jeers to government agencies when As Loveman said, “A billion dollars really is a lot of
counterproductive. I like New Jersey’s regulators, but money”. Don’t we all know it.
12 FEBRUARY 2009
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