Author Archives: David McKee

About David McKee

Bio

Quote of the Day

Posted on June 27, 2018 by David McKee

“The casino proposal is not dead. It’s just in a very deep state of hibernation.” — White Earth Nation casino opponent Ty Dayton on a gaming proposal that may be about to taken off life support, following a tribal election … Continue reading →

Posted in Election, Minnesota, Tribal | Comments Off on Quote of the Day

Atlantic City primed for openings; Tokenism at AGA

Posted on June 27, 2018 by David McKee

“Do I think the gaming market ever comes back to close to $6 billion in revenue? No. Not even close,” Hard Rock International CEO Jim Allen said of Atlantic City. “If a brand like Hard Rock fails in Atlantic City, the … Continue reading →

Posted in Arizona, Atlantic City, Bruce Deifik, California, Carl Icahn, Donald Trump, Entertainment, Geoff Freeman, Hard Rock International, Harrah's, Las Vegas Sands, Marketing, MGM Mirage, New York, Pennsylvania, Revel, Rush Street Gaming, Sports, The Strip, Tribal, Trump Entertainment Resorts, Wall Street | 4 Comments

High Sierra; This and that

Posted on June 25, 2018 by David McKee

If you want to get away from it all and gamble at the same time, head north — way north — to tiny and isolated Jarbidge, Nevada. That is the home of the Silver State’s newest casino license, that of … Continue reading →

Posted in Economy, history, Horseracing, International, Macau, Nevada, New York, Racinos, Slot routes, Sports, Taxes | Comments Off on High Sierra; This and that

Brand-new Palace; Slide at Sands

Posted on June 25, 2018 by David McKee

Although we’ve been talking about the $192 million Palace Station do-over for months, it’s finally on display and color us dazzled. Based on the Las Vegas Review-Journal‘s photo essay, we hardly recognize the old gal, looking frisky after her nine-figure … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, DFS, Dining, Genting, Greenwood Racing, Japan, Marketing, New York, Pennsylvania, Pinnacle Entertainment, Problem gambling, Sheldon Adelson, Station Casinos, Taxes, The Strip | 1 Comment

Quote of the Day

Posted on June 25, 2018 by David McKee

“No operator has a clear sense of this process … Another comment we heard was that foreign players/interest will still be meaningful since it may be easier to control foreigners than the local guys.” — JP Morgan analyst Joseph Greff, just … Continue reading →

Posted in Macau, Regulation, Wall Street | Comments Off on Quote of the Day

D-Day for Ocean Resort near; MGM’s tax bonanza

Posted on June 25, 2018 by David McKee

Bruce Deifik really is a gambler: He bought Revel sight unseen, lead investor in the $200 million purchase. If Glenn Straub‘s bizarre interregnum as owner was a lesson in how not to behave in Atlantic City, Deifik has been a … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Bruce Deifik, e-sports, Glenn Straub, Harrah's, Louisiana, MGM Mirage, Nevada, Penn National, Politics, Revel, Sports, Taxes, Tribal, Tropicana Entertainment, Wall Street | Comments Off on D-Day for Ocean Resort near; MGM’s tax bonanza

MGM labor pact approved; Juliano resurfaces

Posted on June 21, 2018 by David McKee

It’s unknown how much of a pay increase the Culinary Union extracted from MGM Resorts International but it was enough to persuade workers to ratify the new contract. As with the Caesars Entertainment pact, workers will be issued alarm buttons … Continue reading →

Posted in Boyd Gaming, Culinary Union, Golden Gaming, Harrah's, Kansas, MGM Mirage, New York, Pennsylvania | 1 Comment

Quote of the Day

Posted on June 21, 2018 by David McKee

“Capitulating to a two-year delay is a pathetic move from a fundamentally weak government. Those who praised the government when the announcement was made will feel badly let down.” — Labour Party Deputy Leader Tom Watson on a postponement of … Continue reading →

Posted in International, Politics, Problem gambling | Comments Off on Quote of the Day

Deluge at MBay; Adelson weighs Vietnam

Posted on June 21, 2018 by David McKee

It was back to business today at Mandalay Bay after a ruptured water main inundated the convention center. At first, a leak in Shark Reef Aquarium was feared before the actual breach, between the first and second floors, was isolated. … Continue reading →

Posted in Arizona, Boyd Gaming, Donald Trump, Hard Rock Hotel, Hard Rock International, Law enforcement, MGM Mirage, Sheldon Adelson, Sports, The Strip, Tribal, Vietnam | Comments Off on Deluge at MBay; Adelson weighs Vietnam

“Cashless casinos” in China; Keeping score in Louisiana

Posted on June 20, 2018 by David McKee

Could Chinese players go for gambling if the winnings aren’t monetary? That’s the wager resort owners on the island of Hainan plan to make if the central government gives them a much-hoped-for exception. Just as players wager for trinkets in … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Boyd Gaming, DFS, Election, Harrah's, Horseracing, International, Japan, Louisiana, Macau, Marketing, Politics, Problem gambling, Racinos, Regulation, Singapore, Slot routes, Taxes, Tourism | Comments Off on “Cashless casinos” in China; Keeping score in Louisiana

A sad day

Posted on June 20, 2018 by David McKee

The casino industry has lost Felix Rappaport, CEO of Foxwoods Resort Casino. The longtime industry veteran was taken from us while staying in a Foxwoods suite that he maintained while away from his family home in Las Vegas. This news … Continue reading →

Posted in Current, Entertainment, Foxwoods, Geoff Freeman, history, MGM Mirage, Station Casinos, The Strip | 1 Comment

Quote of the Day

Posted on June 20, 2018 by David McKee

“no comped drinks playing video poker @ a bar…people should be hurling Molotov cocktails back at them. the very essence of Las Vegas is being gobbled up by the bean counterz.” — message from a frequent casino-patronizing friend after reading … Continue reading →

Posted in Current, MGM Mirage, The Strip | Comments Off on Quote of the Day

Overexposed in Macao; Hard Rock firing on all cylinders

Posted on June 19, 2018 by David McKee

If you’re a Wynn Resorts shareholder and you’re following rising trade tensions with China, you’ve a right to be nervous. Wynn derives 69% of its revenue from Macao, giving a certain truth to Steve Wynn‘s old quote that “We’re really … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, Atlantic City, Dining, Donald Trump, Economy, Florida, Hard Rock International, Harrah's, Japan, Lawrence Ho, Macau, MGM Mirage, Politics, Regulation, Seminole Tribe, Sheldon Adelson, Sociedade de Jogos de Macau, Steve Wynn, The Strip, Wynn Resorts | Comments Off on Overexposed in Macao; Hard Rock firing on all cylinders

Penn, Caesars come together; Big bet in smallest state

Posted on June 19, 2018 by David McKee

Penn National Gaming swooped in and bought itself a nice little operating contract in Louisiana, the Margaritaville Casino Resort, for $115 million. Considering that the price translates to 5.5X cash flow, Penn got itself quite a bargain. It’s also a vote … Continue reading →

Posted in Boyd Gaming, Churchill Downs, Eldorado Resorts, GLPI, Harrah's, Illinois, Isle of Capri, Louisiana, Massachusetts, Pennsylvania, Pinnacle Entertainment, Politics, Regulation, Rhode Island, Sports, Taxes, Tilman Fertitta | Comments Off on Penn, Caesars come together; Big bet in smallest state

Quote of the Day

Posted on June 19, 2018 by David McKee

“Americans pride ourselves on being a moral nation, on being the nation that sends humanitarian relief to places devastated by natural disasters or famine or war. We pride ourselves on believing that people should be seen for the content of … Continue reading →

Posted in Current | Comments Off on Quote of the Day

The Doctor is all-in; Morpheus a wake-up call

Posted on June 18, 2018 by David McKee

Sports betting is off and running at Borgata, having been inaugurated by Julius “Dr. J” Erving, who put down $5 on the Philadelphia Eagles to win a second straight Super Bowl. “I got a chance to look at the board … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, Atlantic City, Internet gambling, Lawrence Ho, Macau, MGM Mirage, Racinos, Revel, Sports, Technology | Comments Off on The Doctor is all-in; Morpheus a wake-up call

Caesars agreement OK’d; New focus for Hard Rock

Posted on June 18, 2018 by David McKee

It’s official: Workers at Caesars Entertainment have approved a new collective-bargaining agreement, one that includes (unspecified) pay increases and a succession clause to protect jobs in the (unlikely) event Caesars sells its Las Vegas Strip properties to another operator. Details of … Continue reading →

Posted in Culinary Union, Fontainebleau, Foxwoods, Genting, Hard Rock Hotel, Harrah's, MGM Mirage, Mohegan Sun, Sociedade de Jogos de Macau, Stanley Ho, Wall Street | 1 Comment

Quote of the Day

Posted on June 18, 2018 by David McKee

“It’s obvious that there is little inbound demand for casinos. There is no escaping the possibility their main source of revenues will be from Japanese tourists.” — Constitutional Democratic Party member Kazuma Nakatani, protesting the casino leglislation that just passed … Continue reading →

Posted in Japan, Politics, Sheldon Adelson | Comments Off on Quote of the Day

Quote of the Day

Posted on June 17, 2018 by David McKee

“I also keep thinking of Viktor Orban, the far-right nationalist Prime Minister of Hungary, who has declared the era of liberal democracy to be over. Given the multi-pronged attacks on voting rights in the US, including Monday’s appalling 5-4 Supreme … Continue reading →

Posted in International, Ohio | Comments Off on Quote of the Day

East Windsor, Take Two; MGM, Sands eat Ho’s lunch

Posted on June 15, 2018 by David McKee

“From the start, we pledged to create a world class facility that will be a draw for people throughout the entire region,” said Mashantucket Tribal Chairman Rodney Butler of the tribe’s satellite casino in East Windsor. Nice try, Mr. Chairman, … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, Foxwoods, Lawrence Ho, Macau, Massachusetts, Melco Resorts & Entertainment, MGM Mirage, Mississippi, Mohegan Sun, Problem gambling, Regulation, Sheldon Adelson, Tourism, Transportation, Tribal, TV | Comments Off on East Windsor, Take Two; MGM, Sands eat Ho’s lunch