Several, possibly dozens, of you are wondering where the Casino Journal has been for the past week. That's frankly none of your business, but to dispel any rumors, we just wanted to say for the record that the Casino Journal definitely is not mixed up in Michael Vick's dogfighting operation. Supposing it exists. Cock fighting, now that's a different story. Who hasn't enjoyed an early-morning cockfight every now again? I believe even the Seinfeld foursome once took in a cockfight. But no, not dogfighting. What do we look like, a bunch of savages?

... Onto the news: Busy week, casino-wise. The city has approved Don Barden's designs for a North Shore/Side casino, even though there are a few more hurdles left to clear:

"Don Barden claimed a big victory this week in securing city master plan approval for his $435 million North Shore casino, but his battle to build it is far from over. Even if the Steelers and Carnegie Science Center decide against an appeal of the planning commission's master plan approval, Mr. Barden still could face significant hurdles in getting his slots emporium up and running in summer 2008. Over the next five months or so, he and his company, PITG Gaming LLC, must secure the commission's approval for the design of his two-story casino, lighting and landscaping, and signs. Problems at any stage could jeopardize Mr. Barden's ambitious timetable."

... Bob Smizik wonders why the Rooneys, the Most Powerful Men in the American Football Universe, would go fishing for cash from Don Barden's pocket: "The Rooney family always has been a tough negotiator in protecting its investments. But it's hard to believe it really wants to chase the casino off the North Shore. It's too late for that, and such an extreme position is out of character for them."

... To the south, The Meadows in Washington County is postponing its opening date.

"One week after they set Tuesday as the opening for southwestern Pennsylvania's first casino, officials from The Meadows and Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board announced yesterday the debut would be postponed. No new premiere date was scheduled, but it could still be in early June. Invitation-only test operations benefiting nonprofit groups tomorrow and Sunday will also be delayed," reports the P-G's Gary Rotstein.

... Further south (or is it farther? I think it's farther. Editor's note: It's farther. Distance is "far."), a referendum on table games -- blackjack, roulette and so on -- has been delayed in West Virginia.

Arms escalation
This is getting to be like The Butter Battle Book:

"Calling it the second chapter in Pennsylvania gambling, a powerful state lawmaker will introduce legislation next month to allow table games -- from blackjack to roulette -- to operate side by side with slot machines at state casinos. But even the sponsor of the legislation, House Majority Leader Bill DeWeese, acknowledges that it might take years to take gambling to the next level. Only four of the 14 authorized Pennsylvania slots parlors have even opened yet, and the bill would have to overcome two hulking hurdles: a General Assembly that has grown more conservative since the state legalized slots three years ago, and Gov. Rendell, who six months ago said he believes it's too soon for table games." (Via the Inky.)

Bill DeWeese, who says a lot of things, has said this sort of thing before, for those without a scorecard.

Yossarian sez ...
How does that Catch-22 work again? You can't get treatment without telling people you have a problem. But most people who have a problem don't realize it -- and if you do realize it, your very awareness means you don't have a problem:

"Since slots parlors arrived in Pennsylvania in November, gambling addicts haven't exactly been rushing to sign up for a state program that allows compulsive gamblers to in effect ban themselves from casinos," reports the Associated Press. "People who sign up for the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board's self-exclusion program could be ejected from casinos or have their winnings forfeited. Excluded gamblers also are kept from receiving targeted mail promotions or players club perks. But only 52 people have signed up for the program, officials said. An estimated 124,000 people in Pennsylvania -- or 1 percent of the state's population -- are 'pathological gamblers,' according to the National Council on Problem Gambling."

Dispatches from the east
More on the labor union's travails in AC:

"Despite two recent defeats in its efforts to organize table game dealers here, the United Auto Workers union hopes for a win this Saturday among Bally's dealers. On Friday, dealers at the Atlantic City Hilton Casino Resort turned down UAW representation in a 316-268 vote."

Ya hate to drop three in a row. That's when losing disease sets in (Latin terminology: Pittsburius Piratitis ).

Dispatches from the west
Illinois already has a handful of casinos. But will the Land of Lincoln take the Big Plunge, putting a casino smack dab in the middle of Chicago?

"Legislators face billion-dollar demands for mass transit, public schools, and pensions. Tax increases are not getting much support, so some Democrats are backing a multi-billion dollar gaming proposal that would put one casino in Chicago, three more in nearby suburbs and expand gaming at existing casinos and race tracks."

Philadelphia, when its casinos open, will be the largest American city population-wise to be home to a casino. That changes if Chicago gets one.

Odds and ends
The Tribune-Review offered a two-part package this week on the Pittsburgh area's long history of dice, poker machines and illegal numbers games ... Joey Porter is fined $1,000 for throwing a punch at a Levi Jones at a Las Vegas casino two months ago (Joey Porter picks his teeth with thousand-dollar bills, but whatevs) ... The Michigan Supreme Court rules on the side of an Indian tribe that wants to open a casino in the state ... The New Frontier hotel and casino on the Las Vegas strip is closing ... Place your bets, ladies and germs, on how the whole arms race will play out: "The only questions appear to be how much and who will be left standing when the dust clears. After all, there's only so much money to go around," says a piece in The Kansas City Star.

Who'll be first to lose his shirt? Will you or will he?

I don't know, says I. We'll see. We shall see.