Comments (26) | Add a comment
Howard Stutz | INSIDE GAMING
Wynn's political voice gets louder
Tools
More Columns
More Blogs
Biloxi Blonde beer returns to Mississippi's Beau Rivage
Push for stand-alone casino in Honolulu appears to be dead
Racetrack operator Churchill Downs acquires poker company Bluff Media
Isle of Capri completes sale of small Louisiana riverboat casino
Hawaii gaming supporter wants to place slot machines at Honolulu convention center
Steve Wynn had more face time on Fox News last week than Glen Beck. He also threw in an appearance on CNBC.
The billionaire chairman and chief executive officer of Wynn Resorts Ltd. criticized President Barack Obama's handling of the economy and health care reform. Wynn was seemingly the spokesman for America's middle class.
During a roundtable on Fox News Sunday with Chris Wallace, and in interviews with Fox's Neil Cavuto and CNBC's Maria Bartiromo, Wynn mixed commentary with pithy sound bites.
"Government has never increased the standard of living of one single human being in civilization's history," said Wynn, who employs 20,000 workers.
He believes Obama isn't focused on job creation.
"Soaring rhetoric and great speeches, with or without a teleprompter, aren't going to change the truth," Wynn said. "The biggest enemy, the biggest obstacle, that working middle-class America has is government spending."
Some of Wynn's rivals don't share his opinions. Harrah's Entertainment Senior Vice President Jan Jones said the administration is making the right decisions concerning the economy. Jones is worried Wynn could unwittingly hurt the re-election of Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, whom Wynn is supporting.
"I really don't understand why Steve is doing this," Jones said.
Divergent views are not new to the industry, which is split on Internet gaming.
American Gaming Association CEO Frank Fahrenkopf Jr. is happy that a casino boss is the spokesman for the private sector.
"It's the normalization of the industry, and that's a good thing," Fahrenkopf said.
Wall Street is puzzled by Wynn's actions. Few question the right to his opinion, but Wynn's views have grown louder and more aggressive.
Some wonder whether his politics are good for Wynn Resorts.
University of Nevada, Las Vegas gaming historian David G. Schwartz said previous generations of casino executives kept their political views hidden.
"We're in an era of celebrity CEOs," Schwartz said.
While critical of Obama, Wynn has also praised the communist Chinese government, even as Beijing took steps to slow growth in Macau, where Wynn operates one casino and is opening a $675 million resort next year.
"He's going out of his way to overly compliment the Chinese," said one observer.
Wynn's Obama remarks won't hurt him in New York. He is one of six bidders seeking to operate a casino at Aqueduct Race Track.
Gov. David Paterson, who will select the winner, had a falling out with the White House recently. There also seems to be an infatuation in some markets with having a Steve Wynn-run casino.
Howard Stutz's Inside Gaming column appears Sundays. E-mail him at hstutz@reviewjournal.com or call 702-477-3871. He blogs at lvrj.com/blogs/stutz.
|
Terms & Conditions
The following comments are provided by readers and are the sole responsiblity of the authors. The reviewjournal.com does not review comments before publication nor guarantee their accuracy. By publishing a comment here you agree to abide by the comment policy. If you see a comment that violates the policy, please notify the web editor. Some comments may not display immediately due to an automatic filter. These comments will be reviewed within 48 hours. Please do not submit a comment more than once.
Totally Conservative wrote on October 27, 2009 11:46 AM:
I viewed the interview with Wynn and Cavuto, and what I thought I saw was commentary that was conservative leaning. What I don't understand is if Mr. Wynn is politically conservative, why does he support "Dingy" Harry Reid?
Between Obama and Reid, is it any wonder why Las Vegas is in trouble, not to mention our country? Vgeas Rock wrote on October 24, 2009 02:01 PM: Wake up people, Chinese gov is not the commi gov in your mind for ages anymore. And plus Mr. Wynn is a biz man anyway and Chinese gov gave him the license to open his casinos, so what do you expect him to say? VegasLover wrote on October 24, 2009 09:47 AM: Steve is right on track!!!! He has always been able to see thru the smoke screens and B.S. It is the greedy, crooked politicians that have created the situation our country is in. I hope he buys the Bellagio back when MGM goes broke. Jerry wrote on October 23, 2009 06:41 PM: Steve Wynn was not born with a silver spoon in his mouth, his father operated a bingo parlor in Pennsylvania, his story of success is unbelievable. When he ran the Golden Nugget he ran it with pride and treated his employees fairly and with respect. Unfortunately he has fallen into the corporate way of thinking that only worries about the bottom line and how much can be made at the expense of his employees. I actually feel sorry for him as he has lost the respect of his employees and many of the small people who put him where he is, but that is the corporate way. Jay wrote on October 22, 2009 10:41 AM: Steve has lost it. It's more than apparent that he's trying to please the Chinese and his Macau investments. Steve cares nothing about the American middle class. Isn't that right, Comrade Wynn? When a businessman praises a communist country, it's time to run that man out of town. Mary wrote on October 22, 2009 10:21 AM: When a person vents disagreement without offering alternate solutions, that person's opinion is worthless. If this guy Wynn offered a working solution to affordable health care, I would read more about his views. As it stands, I'm finished listening or reading what he has to say about anything ... at least until someone tells me he has found a great resolution for a pressing problem. Over a billionare dont speak for me wrote on October 20, 2009 11:50 PM: Really... Really Steve???? "While critical of Obama, Wynn has also praised the communist Chinese government" John wrote on October 20, 2009 04:43 PM: Where does Steve Wynn, or anyone else for that matter think they have the right to speak for me? Daniel Thorne wrote on October 20, 2009 02:21 AM: Just what does Mr wynn not like. Is it the fact that everyone should have health care , or is it that he will have to pay personal income taxes like everyone else. Mabe his feeling of entitlement goes to far. An after all you are just one of us Virtual Dave wrote on October 19, 2009 01:45 PM: Hey Steverino, the economy crashed on Bush's watch. And think now, what if a new health care paradigm reduced your employee benefit costs? You'd be even richer. Do your part. Adjust the payout on all games at all your resorts to the true odds. 0% house edge. You charge enough for your rooms and food service that you really don't need to subsidize them with gambling. Now that would increase the standard of living for some humans. Read More Comments |
RSS
Twitter
Facebook
Comments (26)
Share your thoughts on this story.
Some comments may not display immediately due to an automatic filter. These comments will be reviewed within 24 hours. Please do not submit a comment more than once.
Note: Comments made by reporters and editors of the Las Vegas Review-Journal are presented with a yellow background.