*Blog postings do not necessarily reflect the views of Fantini Research*

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By Steve Norton
CEO, Norton Management

I admire Carl Icahn and his involvement in Atlantic City and Las Vegas casino gaming. He thinks like the investor he is. He saved Tropicana and would have saved the Taj Mahal if the Union was more interested in its membership's jobs instead of trying to look powerful in asking for unreasonable contractual terms. They rolled the dice with the wrong billionaire.

Atlantic City and New Jersey have made some unfortunate mistakes after our monopoly was compromised by the Pennsylvania slot casino in 2006. Not only did we lose Eastern PA and Philadelphia as major markets, these slot and later full casinos, were closer to North and Central New Jersey residents, then Atlantic City.

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By Steve Norton
CEO, Norton Management

Brandt Iden’s Fight for Legal iGaming in Michigan

My comments:

Michigan's attempt to add casino games and sports betting on the internet seems an over the top gaming effort, like Illinois and Pennsylvania. Michigan already has 23 tribal casinos and 3 commercial casinos in Detroit. Think of the negative impact online gaming and sports betting will have on their revenues and employment if a Michigan resident can bet on his smartphone or computer, at home, work or anywhere.

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Caesars stock rose 6.21 percent to $8.89 after the New York Post reported Tilman Fertitta could make another run at CZR with the help of the company’s new largest shareholder, Carl Icahn.

Fertitta’s proposed reverse merger with his Golden Nugget was rejected by CZR in November as it would have saddled the company with too much debt and didn’t create shareholder value, CZR said.

Fertitta still doesn’t have a cash partner but would need to buy significantly less of CZR now as Icahn has increased his stake to 28.5 percent, the Post reported.

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By Steve Norton

CEO, Norton Management

What Should Harrah’s Owe for License Renewal? More Than $146M House Called for Study Says

My comment:

Louisiana should be interested in Caesars investing the necessary amount to create a destination casino resort that will help New Orleans attract more and larger conventions and trade shows, that primarily book mid-week days and nights, and would appeal to a larger number of tourists, that prefer weekends.

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