Columnist Jon Ralston: Wynn chat steeped in gaming, politics

Wednesday, June 28, 2000 | 9:20 a.m.

Jon Ralston, who publishes the Ralston Report, writes a column for the Sun on Sundays and Wednesdays. Ralston can be reached at 870-7997 or by e-mail at ralston@vegas.com.

Steve Wynn, who shockingly decided to reside in the desert rather than in a mirage, is rarely arid when he agrees to an interview.

So when he sat down for nearly two hours the other day at the soon-to-be extinct Desert Inn, Wynn expounded on a variety of subjects beyond his plans to transform that problematic hotel in a problematic location into a 218-acre mini-city with hotels, a water stadium, villas and who knows what else. He also talked a little politics and gaming. Here are some highlights:

Wynn said Indian gaming will be a "big deal" to downtown Las Vegas, Northern Nevada and Laughlin. He said it's clear that while high-end resorts may be immune, Californians will reduce their trips when they can get the same amenities in Palm Springs or San Diego. Sounds right.

"This is supported by the NCAA," he said. "It is an issue involving young people and gambling, so you can conjure up how this has some kind of sex appeal to it even though it doesn't make sense." He added, though, that it is "not time yet to extrapolate from that aberration and make the giant leap that anything is possible." Maybe. But that congressional nose is getting awfully close to gaming's tent.

He also said he is supporting ex-Rep. John Ensign for the Senate and claimed that Democratic Rep. Charlie Rangel once told him that Ensign was "one of the best young congressmen he ever saw."

Get that Rangel endorsement mailer out quickly, Mr. Ensign.