STATESIDESTATESIDE
Sharon Harris enjoys the madness of voting in the United States F I Stateside
Sharon Harris asks what can be learned from recent events in Las Vegas
inally, the voting is almost over! The dumb, often vile, political advertisements that bashed and trashed candidates for the 2022 elections have ended. Weeks later, no one knows who will control the Senate because of a Georgia runoff
Wynn called Las Vegas a “target rich” environment in November 2015 and recruited top law enforcement and military
consultants to formulate a security plan
race this month. The Republicans regained the House of Representatives, but a few California districts still lack final tabulations. Each state sets its own rules and California’s extra leniency for deadlines demands almost nothing from voters. By late November, thousands of ballots remained uncounted. They aren’t the only states with ridiculous rules. Need 50 days to vote? No problem in Pennsylvania. Neglect to
t was unimaginable that on the very week our global gaming industry converged on Las Vegas for G2E, the unthinkable could happen. As many had already arrived, or were arriving, a madman shattered the Las Vegas allure on October 1.
While 22,000 were enjoying an outdoor concert
at the chic Mandalay Bay, shots peppered the crowd from the 32nd floor. Within minutes, dozens lay dead and hundreds were wounded, some with lifetime injuries.
With tens of thousands of G2E attendees in town, a
large group probably stayed at the Mandalay Bay. How does one react or prepare for this type of nightmare?
Over time, we have learned this mass shooter, who
killed himself rather than be caught, methodically planned every detail of the carnage. A rich, heavy gambler, he did not fit any “standard“ profile.
Ironically, my
Casino International article in September‘s G2E issue specifically focused on casino crimes. Ex-FBI agent Tom Raftery, one quoted source, warned that many within the gaming industry have not adequately addressed possible onsite terrorism.
Tragically, the
Mandalay Bay learned otherwise and has now hired a
Image: Fannyes/Adobe Stock 8 OCTOBER 2017
write the date or enter the wrong one on a mail-in ballot, despite repeated warnings? No problem either. Accept any mail-in ballot days later with an Election Day postmark? That’s also okay. This delays decisions for weeks and is incompetent management. Many states do it right and have totals on election night.
New York crisis management public relations firm. The lawsuits against them are just beginning to determine possible negligence by security personnel.
It is long overdue for casinos to incorporate Gaming is so all-encompassing that every election
affects its future. For example, California voters rejected two sports betting propositions. As America’s largest consumer market, estimates projected billions in taxes to California’s treasury. California’s Indian tribal governments supported Prop. 26 to legalize sports betting, craps and roulette
terrorism preparedness into employee training. This killer brought guns into his hotel suite and installed cameras that monitored his room and the hallway. He then used heavy-duty hammers to smash the windows and take aim. Not that guests’ luggage or drawers be searched, but dozens of weapons take up a lot of space.
Many question the relative ease in getting such an
arsenal to his suite. Conditions will certainly change since the bar altering our very behavior keeps shifting. So far, gaming has pretty much escaped these events, which is amazing considering these 24- hour businesses have dozens of open doors and entry points that never close.
Stateside
8 DECEMBER 2022
Michael Rolands/Adobe Stock
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