Now that those pesky vacations are out of way, we can get down the business of rambling on and on about what's going on in the world of legalized gambling. In Pittsburgh, construction on the North Shore casino is a go ... almost ... once they figure out how much "decorative screening" will cover the walls of the massive parking garage ... and supposing there are no freak snowstorms in the beginning of December. But trust us, we're really close. Can't you just smell it?

Mmmm. Smells like gin, stale cigarette smoke, senior citizens and all-you-can-eat buffets:

"Mr. Ravenstahl, Mr. Onorato, and others feared the garage, nearly twice the height of the casino, could affect views of the city skyline from Mount Washington, the West End, the Fort Pitt Bridge and other areas. The $450 million casino will be built on the Ohio River waterfront, just west of Carnegie Science Center. The mayor also wanted Mr. Barden to build an environmentally friendly green casino and to prohibit smoking in at least part of the building. As part of [the] deal, Mr. Barden will install decorative screening to the side of the garage facing the river to address concerns, but will not change the size or height of the structure or the casino itself. Last summer, the city's Contextual Design Advisory Panel had recommended the use of screening and an increase in the height of a drum atrium, the casino's centerpiece, to mitigate the garage's impact. Both were rejected by Mr. Barden at the time as being too expensive."

... But the Pee-Gee editorial board wasn't impressed (seriously though, when is it ever impressed about anything?):

"Mayor Luke Ravenstahl asked for changes to the massive garage and a commitment to an environmentally friendly green casino with a prohibition on smoking in at least part of it. How, then, were Mr. Onorato and Mr. Ravenstahl able to smile so broadly Friday when they announced a deal with casino owner Don Barden that accomplishes so little? Mr. Barden has agreed to add decorative screening to the Allegheny River side of the parking garage, which will sit behind the casino. He previously had agreed to have screening on other sides of the garage, a device that improves the structure's appearance. But Mr. Barden continues to reject more drastic modifications to his 119-foot garage, which on the North Shore will be dwarfed only by the highest point of Heinz Field, which is 156 feet."

Still. Unless there are any more delays, we're looking at a groundbreaking during the first or second weeks of December.

... This morning, though, Mark Belko is reporting that we still don't know what the new garage will look like:

"City planning commission members got their first look yesterday at plans for one project, the new $290 million arena, but still are waiting to see the revised design for another, a parking garage to be built as part of the North Shore casino ... Majestic Star casino owner Don Barden had reached agreement with city and Allegheny County leaders nearly three weeks ago over the design of the massive parking garage to be built behind it. [Attorney] Deborah Rouse said at the briefing the south side of the garage -- that facing the Ohio River -- would be dressed with the same perforated metal screening that is being used on the other sides ... Lisa Schroeder, executive director of the Riverlife Task Force, said after the briefing it was difficult to say what impact the screening would have without seeing revised renderings. She added, however, that the agency's main concern has always been the size of the garage and its potential to dwarf the casino on one of the most prominent stretches of city riverfront. Ms. Schroeder said those concerns remain."

Around the state

In case you missed it, Centaur Inc., the default winner of the competition for the final harness racing track license available in the state of Pennsylvania, has officially applied for the license. Because of the Great Beaver Compromise of Aught Seven, Centaur -- which had originally hoped to build in Beaver County -- will be building near the land owned by Carmen Shick, who had hoped to build his own casino and racetrack in Lawrence County.

... The casinos have been open for a year in Pennsylvania. But is Pennsylvania doing a good job of identifying and treating the number, however large or small, of compulsive gamblers who have come though the casino doors thus far?

... Several media outlets have speculated that an Australian publishing group is looking to buy the Harrah's casino in Pennsylvania: "James Packer's Publishing & Broadcasting Ltd. said it was close to agreeing buying a major North American gaming acquisition, and was still considering two other deals. PBL, which has $2.7 billion set aside for the three acquisitions, said today it expected to complete due diligence and contract negotiations on the potential deal in the next two to three weeks. [According] to reports, PBL is in talks to buy Harrah's Entertainment Chester casino in Pennsylvania."

That's from an Aussie newspaper.

Odds and ends

The Hollywood Casino at Penn National Race Course near Harrisburg is scheduled to open in February, and this week, the slot machines began arriving ... The stories of the year in gambling are Harrah's private equity buyout, the Gulf Coast recovery and the emerging Pennsylvania gaming market, according to this publication ... Poker revenues are lifting the bottom line at West Virginia casinos, though the revenues from table games are still dwarfed by the slots money ... Philadelphia has agreed to lease portions of its riverfront to the two casinos that want to build there, over the objections of casino foes ... Should Atlantic City try to legalize sports betting? ... Will Maryland finally, after years of fits and starts, legalize casinos at racetracks?

Short answer: Probably not.