No, seriously. Show me the money, Don. Any time now would be great:

"A combination of anxiety and curiosity has built in recent weeks surrounding Don Barden's efforts to secure $780 million in financing for the Majestic Star casino, and it could come to a head at the construction site Monday. The team of more than 20 companies erecting the North Shore casino has not been paid on time for work done in either April or May, according to the primary contractor. They agreed on one extension already at a June 16 meeting with Mr. Barden. They meet with him again on Monday, and will decide collectively what action to take if he cannot provide payment of about $10 million that is owed, said Dan Keating III, chairman of Philadelphia-based Keating Building Corp., the primary contractor."

A combination of anxiety and curiosity -- anxiosity? Curiexity? Whatever it is, dude better find some money soon, because we're at the point of no return -- a few months ago, he could have scrapped the whole thing, but now there's a huge steel skeleton already under construction. The De Lorean is heading down the tracks at 80 miles an hour and the windmill is coming into view. It's future or bust, baby.

... Pittsburgh Business Times: "Still, Keating admitted, if a permanent financing plan isn't agreed to, work could stop, at least temporarily. 'They've got to get paid,' Keating said of contractors and subcontractors. We need a program to get paid and paid in a timely manner. Because of the limited capital, if they burn through their burn-rate, they simply stop. It's no different than hiring a roofer. If they run out of capital, they say, 'I'll continue when I have more money.'"

... The Pittsburgh Trib-Review:

"Even if you've never heard of Apollo Global Management, there's a good chance you've contributed to its $40 billion empire. The New York-based investment firm deals in companies -- such as Las Vegas-based gambling powerhouse Harrah's Entertainment, Norwegian Cruise Line [and] Linens 'n Things, among others. Apollo has taken an interest, too, in the Pittsburgh slots parlor. Don Barden announced last month that Apollo had agreed to put up $150 million from one of its funds for his planned Majestic Star Casino ... Yet Apollo's portion of Barden's $780 million deal could be in doubt, state Sen. Jay Costa, D-Forest Hills, said yesterday. Barden is 'reluctant to bring those guys in,' said Costa, a member of the General Assembly's Task Force on Gaming. 'He's trying to make certain, if he has to go that route' that he doesn't lose too much control. Barden's spokesman Bob Oltmanns declined to say whether Apollo remains part of the mix."

He says he's reluctant now, but I bet he's a lot less reluctant once his wallet is emptied.

Dispatches from the east

Louis DeNaples wants to see reporters' notebooks and cell phone records. Reporters' attorneys would rather not turn them over:

"Calling it an intimidation tactic, attorneys for Times-Shamrock Newspapers will file a motion today seeking to quash a subpoena directing journalist Dave Janoski to testify at a court hearing about alleged leaks during the Dauphin County grand jury probe of Louis DeNaples, owner of Mount Airy Casino Resort. The motion asks the court to release Janoski from appearing at a June 30 hearing in Dauphin County court, or else issue a protective order that he cannot be compelled to testify about information that would reveal a confidential source. Subpoenas also were served on records custodians for The Times-Tribune and The Citizens' Voice. The motion cites protections afforded journalists through the First Amendment and Pennsylvania's Shield Law and the wide-ranging nature of the information sought as among reasons for the court to quash the subpoenas served on Janoski and the records custodians."

Kevin Abbott, a Pittsburgh media and First Amendment attorney, is representing Times-Shamrock.

... Casino workers on the march in Atlantic City, in search of a new contract.

... A Q&A with Jeff Coy, member of the state Gaming Control Board.

Odds and ends

The casino at Presque Isle Downs in Erie is doing well, despite hard economic times ... One in six Pennsylvanians has visited the slot machines in the last year ... Should Indian tribes be able to build casinos on non-tribal land? ... Good news: Greektown Casino in Detroit gets a life-preserver loan ... Bad news: Greektown has to lay off 89 people in the process ... Indiana's casinos aren't doing so well this year.

Wonder if that might have something to do with Don Barden's troubles?