Author Archives: David McKee

About David McKee

Bio

Japan fever; A Rose by any other computer program

Posted on August 22, 2018 by David McKee

“I want to properly nurture the tourism industry in Osaka as one of its pillars,” says Gov. Ichiro Matsui of the prefecture. To that end, Yumeshima island has been set aside for a prospective casino resort. And Las Vegas and Macao … Continue reading →

Posted in Caesars Entertainment, Cosmopolitan, Entertainment, Galaxy Entertainment, Genting, Japan, Las Vegas Sands, Melco Resorts & Entertainment, MGM Resorts International, Regulation, Technology, The Strip | Comments Off on Japan fever; A Rose by any other computer program

Playing the Trump card; Manilow renewed

Posted on August 22, 2018 by David McKee

In his latest newsletter, gaming-law expert I. Nelson Rose looks at the impact, real and potential, of retaliatory tariffs on playing cards. Canada and the European Union have imposed 10% import levies on playing cards from the United States, though … Continue reading →

Posted in Donald Trump, Economy, Entertainment, Greenwood Racing, International, Kentucky, Las Vegas Sands, Lucky Dragon, Macau, New Jersey, Ohio, Paragon Gaming, Pennsylvania, Politics, Sports betting, The Crown 18, The Strip, Westgate LV | Comments Off on Playing the Trump card; Manilow renewed

Horseplay in Nebraska; High art in Springfield

Posted on August 21, 2018 by David McKee

It’s early days for the 2020 election but the Ho-Chunk Nation is partnering with The Nebraska Horsemen’s Benevolent & Protective Association on a petition drive to get racinos onto that election-year ballot. As many as six tracks could be affected. One of the, … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Election, Horseracing, Internet gambling, Massachusetts, MGM Resorts International, Nebraska, Ohio, Penn National, Pennsylvania, Racinos, Rush Street Gaming, Sports betting, Tribal, West Virginia | Comments Off on Horseplay in Nebraska; High art in Springfield

“A quarter to forget”

Posted on August 21, 2018 by David McKee

That’s what JP Morgan analyst Joseph Greff had to say about 2Q18, adding, “The 2Q18 earnings reporting period in late July/early August was one of the worst in recent memory for U.S. Gaming as stocks with strong earnings/outlooks saw modest … Continue reading →

Posted in Boyd Gaming, Caesars Entertainment, Economy, Eldorado Resorts, Environment, MGM Resorts International, Mississippi, Nevada, Penn National, Sports, Sports betting, Station Casinos, Tribal, Wall Street, West Virginia, Wisconsin | Comments Off on “A quarter to forget”

‘Net, sports betting slow to ramp in Pennsylvania; Enter the Dragons

Posted on August 20, 2018 by David McKee

Three casinos in Pennsylvania have been cleared for Internet gambling. Of the trio, tiny Mount Airy Casino may loom the largest, being affiliated with both 888 and also PokerStars, which has  been having a few issues of late. (Interestingly, Presque Isle … Continue reading →

Posted in Alex Meruelo, Caesars Entertainment, Eldorado Resorts, Greenwood Racing, Internet gambling, Macau, Marketing, Pennsylvania, PokerStars, Regulation, SLS Las Vegas, Sociedade de Jogos de Macau, Sports betting, The Strip | Comments Off on ‘Net, sports betting slow to ramp in Pennsylvania; Enter the Dragons

Infamy on the Strip; Baton Rouge obliterated

Posted on August 20, 2018 by David McKee

“Mandalay Bay” is becoming a two-word synonym for infamy. Hotels’ Daily News Service recently bannered a set of dispatches with “What Security Looks Like in post-Mandalay Bay world.” (Subscription required.) As for what Las Vegas looks like in same, well, Lego … Continue reading →

Posted in Boyd Gaming, Caesars Entertainment, Churchill Downs, Economy, Eldorado Resorts, GLPI, Isle of Capri, Las Vegas Sands, Louisiana, Mandalay Bay Massacre, MGM Resorts International, Penn National, Pinnacle Entertainment, Resort fees, Tilman Fertitta, Tourism, Wall Street, Wynn Resorts | Comments Off on Infamy on the Strip; Baton Rouge obliterated

When in Rome …

Posted on August 16, 2018 by David McKee

… don’t advertise sports betting. Actually you can’t, thanks to a new “Dignity Decree” that was the first priority of Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte‘s right-wing government. The provocation was a proliferation of gaming advertising during Italy‘s World Cup games. As a … Continue reading →

Posted in Arizona, Australia, Baseball, Boyd Gaming, California, Eldorado Resorts, Environment, International, Marketing, Nevada, Penn National, Politics, Problem gambling, Regulation, Sports, Sports betting, Station Casinos, Tribal, TV, Wall Street | Comments Off on When in Rome …

Quote of the Day

Posted on August 16, 2018 by David McKee

“To be ninth out of nine in this position, I’m tickled pink. This was a property that for two years had a cloud over its head, people thought it was cursed, and no one thought I’d ever get it open.” … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Bruce Deifik, Revel | Comments Off on Quote of the Day

Good/bad news for Atlantic City; Pennsylvania just bad

Posted on August 15, 2018 by David McKee

On the face of it, the news from Atlantic City is good: Gambling revenues were up 10% last month. But the same-store comparison (i.e., minus Hard Rock Atlantic City and Ocean Resort) has the city down 9.5%. The haul was … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Bruce Deifik, Caesars Entertainment, Dan Gilbert, Detroit, Eldorado Resorts, Greenwood Racing, Hard Rock International, Internet gambling, Las Vegas Sands, Massachusetts, MGM Resorts International, Mohegan Sun, Penn National, Pennsylvania, Pinnacle Entertainment, Racinos, Rush Street Gaming, Sports betting, Tilman Fertitta, Tropicana Entertainment, Wall Street | 1 Comment

A bright shining turkey

Posted on August 15, 2018 by David McKee

“We didn’t plan to open until March. So this is, literally, found money. We didn’t even budget for it. Wait and see what happens when we get this engine fully running.” That was the excuse made by a Resorts World … Continue reading →

Posted in Downtown, Economy, Entertainment, Genting, New York, Penn National, Sports betting, Technology, The Strip, Wall Street, West Virginia | Comments Off on A bright shining turkey

Quote of the Day

Posted on August 15, 2018 by David McKee

“It’s really pretty, black with orange spots on it, which makes it somewhat unique in being the largest carrion beetle. If you were to observe it in the wild, you would see it carrying this carcass a small distance before it … Continue reading →

Posted in Animals, Environment, Oklahoma, Tribal | Comments Off on Quote of the Day

Pols slow to move on sports betting

Posted on August 14, 2018 by David McKee

We thought we’d check up on what some of our favorite state legislators are doing about sports betting, now that it’s theoretically legal in their state (well, it’s complicated). In New York, Assemblyman Gary Pretlow (D) intends to introduce a … Continue reading →

Posted in California, Foxwoods, Hawaii, Idaho, Iowa, Kazuo Okada, Louisiana, Mandalay Bay Massacre, Mesquite, Mohegan Sun, New York, Penn National, Politics, Sports betting, Technology, Tourism, Transportation | Comments Off on Pols slow to move on sports betting

Quote of the Day

Posted on August 14, 2018 by David McKee

“I coached in the NFL for nine years and there is a stark difference between working with professionals and working with college kids. I do not feel right giving out medical information of a 19-year-old. I think it’s wrong in … Continue reading →

Posted in Sports, Sports betting | Comments Off on Quote of the Day

Missouri becalmed; Scientific smackdown

Posted on August 13, 2018 by David McKee

One less weekend day was costly to Missouri casinos in July, when their revenue declined 2% to $150.5 million. The Kansas City market had the worst of it, off nearly 4%. Slot revenues ($128.5 million) were down 2% and table … Continue reading →

Posted in Ameristar, Bally Technologies, Caesars Entertainment, Downtown, Elaine Wynn, Eldorado Resorts, history, Isle of Capri, Massachusetts, Missouri, Penn National, Pinnacle Entertainment, Regulation, Scientific Games, Shuffle Master, Technology, Tropicana Entertainment, Wynn Resorts | Comments Off on Missouri becalmed; Scientific smackdown

Wild card; Parx gets one-finger salute

Posted on August 13, 2018 by David McKee

Move over sports books, here comes … Buffalo Wild Wings?!? Yes, the restaurant business known for its trivia games and spicy food wants to get into the sports-betting business. “As the largest sports bar in America, we believe Buffalo Wild Wings … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Bruce Deifik, DFS, Dining, Economy, Galaxy Entertainment, Greenwood Racing, Hard Rock International, International, Japan, Macau, MGM Mirage, Nevada, Pennsylvania, Société des Bains de Mer, South Korea, Sports betting, Technology, Tourism, West Virginia | Comments Off on Wild card; Parx gets one-finger salute

Quote of the Day

Posted on August 10, 2018 by David McKee

“We can’t make good beer without clean water!” — One World Brewing owner Ryan Naylor on the impending repeal of the Clean Water Rule.

Posted in Donald Trump, Environment, Regulation | Comments Off on Quote of the Day

Quote of the Day

Posted on August 9, 2018 by David McKee

“One of the best lessons we learned was from the mistakes that daily fantasy sports made back in 2015, certainly when it came to the issue of advertising responsibly. They got way out ahead of their skis in 2015 with … Continue reading →

Posted in DFS, Marketing, Regulation, Sports betting | Comments Off on Quote of the Day

Indiana comes up short; Too gay for Vegas

Posted on August 9, 2018 by David McKee

One less weekend day made all the difference for Indiana in July, as statewide gambling revenues were 1% down. The statewide gross was $191 million, with refugee players from Chicago helping to lead the way. (Remember, you can still smoke in … Continue reading →

Posted in Ameristar, Boyd Gaming, Caesars Entertainment, Dining, Full House Resorts, Illinois, Indiana, Pinnacle Entertainment, Racinos, Steve Wynn, The Strip, Tribal, Tropicana Entertainment, Wynn Resorts | Comments Off on Indiana comes up short; Too gay for Vegas

My executive assistant

Posted on August 9, 2018 by David McKee
Posted in Animals, Pets | 2 Comments

Take that, Philippines!; NY casino out-brews rivals

Posted on August 8, 2018 by David McKee

Think you’ve got a casino, Landing International? Guess again. Ground had scarcely been broken on a $1.5 billion megaresort, which had been making headlines across the Pacific Rim, when Philippines despot Rodrigo Duterte unilaterally canceled the project. A flunky said Landing … Continue reading →

Posted in Australia, Dining, Election, Entertainment, Genting, Hard Rock International, Las Vegas Sands, New York, Penn National, Philippines, Rhode Island, Singapore, Technology, Tourism, Tribal | Comments Off on Take that, Philippines!; NY casino out-brews rivals