H


Stateside


Sharon Harris looks at… well, pretty much everything in North America.


appy New Year. Here’s to a happier, healthier and more prosperous 2021. Good riddance to 2020. Let’s hope that Covid-19, unknown to us 12 months ago, will finally be under control.


Here is some interesting news to begin 2021. Many years ago, Rahm Emanuel, former Chicago mayor and Bill Clinton Administration official, stated that politicians should “never let a crisis go to waste.” His meaning? Use chaos and confusion to promote legislation. Emanuel was, and is, cynical, but was probably right since who benefits depends on who wins the conversation. After the American casino industry, and their state


governments, endured catastrophic economic losses last year, several states are mitigating those losses. Take sports betting. What my former Governor Chris Christie spent years, and millions in court battles, to legalize is becoming commonplace as a revenue source to replenish depleted treasuries. In November’s election, Louisiana, Maryland, Nebraska and South Dakota voters strongly supported legalizing sports betting, mostly for financial reasons. Some aimed to counteract competition from neighboring states. For others, months of lockdowns and closures had motivated them to take some fun risks on their computers and phones while watching their favorite teams. Coupled with online gaming where allowed, casinos and


states hope to cultivate newer customers. Once we return to a life that most of us took for granted, these same folks may want to play in person. I cannot imagine any state treasurer agreeing to revert back to a pre-pandemic mindset and forfeit that additional tax revenue. The other “social issue” on five state ballots, including mine in New Jersey, was the legalization of recreational


10 JANUARY 2020


marijuana. Most voters in all five states said “yes.” Some analysts project a $9 billion industry once regulations are written. How will pot impact gaming? Years ago, domestic and


international gaming operators wouldn’t have touched marijuana issues out of concerns it could jeopardize their license applications. Now, the easing of marijuana for medical purposes in 36 states and for recreation in 15 states has clouded the lines of demarcation. It may not matter while Covid-19 continues its deadly


march. Almost all casino operators have retrofitted their gaming floors to separate players and require masks at all times. This makes any smoking difficult. Only a few years ago, smoke-free casinos faced criticism and initially saw revenue declines. Many reinstated tobacco smoking, but only at specific areas and tables. Times have changed so much that Democratic Senator Nicholas Scutari, prime sponsor of New Jersey’s 200-page recreational marijuana bill, claims legislators barely considered the intersection of gaming and cannabis. He believes marijuana regulations will mimic tobacco and


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