Author Archives: David McKee

About David McKee

Bio

Mohegans sue for Wynn casino

Posted on June 4, 2018 by David McKee

Steve Wynn‘s failure to disclose a $7.5 million paternity settlement may have been the best thing that happened to Mohegan Sun‘s hopes in Massachusetts. The tribal megaresort is suing the Massachusetts Gaming Commission for failing to conduct ‘extreme vetting’ of … Continue reading →

Posted in Dan Gilbert, Delaware, Economy, Massachusetts, Mohegan Sun, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Regulation, Rhode Island, Sexual misconduct, Sports, Steve Wynn, Taxes, Wynn Resorts | Comments Off on Mohegans sue for Wynn casino

Caesars, MGM strikes averted

Posted on June 4, 2018 by David McKee

Yesterday the Culinary Union announced that a tentative pact had been reached with Caesars Entertainment, in the wee hours of Friday morning, the first such in the current round of labor talks on the Las Vegas Strip. “The historic new … Continue reading →

Posted in Culinary Union, e-sports, Harrah's, Mandalay Bay Massacre, MGM Mirage, New York, Politics, Racinos, Regulation, Sexual misconduct, SLS Las Vegas, Sports, Steve Wynn, Taxes, The Strip, World Series of Poker, Wynn Resorts | Comments Off on Caesars, MGM strikes averted

Macao disappoints Wall Street; Tribal troubles

Posted on June 1, 2018 by David McKee

Wall Street was expecting 18.5% gaming-revenue growth out of Macao last month. It got ‘only’ 12%, the Street not having taken an abbreviated Golden Week into account. Furthermore, the enclave had a hard act to follow, its revenue having vaulted … Continue reading →

Posted in California, Dining, Economy, Foxwoods, Galaxy Entertainment, Genting, Iowa, Japan, Macau, MGM Mirage, Mohegan Sun, Nebraska, New York, Penn National, Pennsylvania, Politics, Regulation, Sheldon Adelson, Tourism, Tribal, Wall Street | 3 Comments

Strike deadline passes; Delaware first to take sports bets

Posted on June 1, 2018 by David McKee

As of last midnight, 34 Las Vegas casinos are operating without a Culinary Union contract. Negotiations are evidently going well enough for the strike deadline to pass without any picketing. However, just to show that it means business, the Culinary … Continue reading →

Posted in Culinary Union, Delaware, Harrah's, Law enforcement, Mandalay Bay Massacre, MGM Mirage, Racinos, Scientific Games, Sexual misconduct, Sports, Technology | 2 Comments

April is the kindest month

Posted on May 31, 2018 by David McKee

Gaming grosses were up 5% on the Las Vegas Strip last month and locals casinos did spectacularly well, seeing a 14% increase. The statistics are even more impressive when you take into account one less weekend day than in 2017 … Continue reading →

Posted in Bally Technologies, Boulder Strip, Downtown, Lake Tahoe, Laughlin, Mesquite, North Las Vegas, Regulation, Reno, Taxes, The Strip, Tribal | Comments Off on April is the kindest month

Culinary confronts Caesars

Posted on May 31, 2018 by David McKee

If Deutsche Bank analyst Carlo Santarelli is any indicator, Wall Street is sanguine almost to the point of complacency about contract talks in Las Vegas. He calls the chances of a strike “low” although he thinks negotiations could drag on … Continue reading →

Posted in Boyd Gaming, Charity, Culinary Union, Harrah's, Mandalay Bay Massacre, MGM Mirage, Penn National, Sheldon Adelson, Station Casinos, Taxes, Texas, Transportation, Tribal, Wall Street, Wynn Resorts | Comments Off on Culinary confronts Caesars

Quote of the Day

Posted on May 31, 2018 by David McKee

“What we are seeing with the gaming industry in Ohio is a microcosm of how our economy looks when it is working as it’s designed to function. Private investment creates employment opportunities for local workers, including those with disabilities, which … Continue reading →

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

MGM optimistic on Japan; Culinary blasts casino owners

Posted on May 30, 2018 by David McKee

Japan is one big step closer to casino legalization now that its House of Representatives passed a bill putting problem-gambling countermeasures into place. This was a necessary step before the actual casino-implementation law could go before the Diet. “The pace of … Continue reading →

Posted in Boyd Gaming, Culinary Union, Economy, Golden Gaming, Harrah's, Japan, Macau, MGM Mirage, Penn National, Politics, Problem gambling, Regulation, Sexual misconduct, Singapore, Taxes, Tourism, Transportation, Unite-Here, Wynn Resorts | Comments Off on MGM optimistic on Japan; Culinary blasts casino owners

Las Vegas thrives; Palms ad backfires

Posted on May 30, 2018 by David McKee

Yesterday, we spotlit the Debbie Downer view of Las Vegas of one online columnist. And while a lengthy slide in visitation numbers remains a concern, dark and anecdotal snapshots of Sin City are contradicted by the numbers. The latter are … Continue reading →

Posted in Boyd Gaming, Cosmopolitan, Eldorado Resorts, George Maloof, Harrah's, Horseracing, Illinois, Indiana, Laughlin, Macau, Marketing, MGM Mirage, Mississippi, Palms, Pennsylvania, Politics, Racinos, Reno, Sheldon Adelson, Slot routes, Station Casinos, Tribal, Wall Street, Wynn Resorts | 2 Comments

Quote of the Day

Posted on May 30, 2018 by David McKee

“The studies we saw told us our players were spending significant time at their local bars or restaurants playing VGTs. If that’s the case, we want to be where our customers are.” — Boyd Gaming CEO Keith Smith, explaining why the … Continue reading →

Posted in Boyd Gaming, Illinois, Slot routes | Comments Off on Quote of the Day

MGM: They’ll take Yonkers; Vegas gets flunked

Posted on May 29, 2018 by David McKee

MGM Resorts International‘s pursuit of a casino in Bridgeport has been revealed as the sham that it is. How? Because MGM and MGM Growth Properties just plunked down $850 million for Empire City Casino in Yonkers, putting them squarely in the much-coveted … Continue reading →

Posted in Economy, Genting, LVCVA, MGM Mirage, New York, The Strip, Wall Street | 1 Comment

Paddy Power takes on U.S.; Decision time for Freeman

Posted on May 29, 2018 by David McKee

In a story that, frankly, I just didn’t feel like covering last week, Paddy Power Betfair has hitched its wagon to the hitherto-unprofitable DFS star. It has purchased FanDuel, taking a 61% share of the company. The catalyst, obviously, is … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Bruce Deifik, Charity, DFS, Geoff Freeman, Harrah's, Horseracing, International, Internet gambling, PokerStars, Sheldon Adelson, Steve Wynn, Taxes, The Strip, Vietnam | Comments Off on Paddy Power takes on U.S.; Decision time for Freeman

Quote of the Day

Posted on May 29, 2018 by David McKee

“Indeed, with players clearly enthused by anything that makes their games more realistic and engaging, it seems as though it’s more a case of when virtual slots will happen, rather than if.” — Mobile Marketing Watch, on the inroads being … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | Comments Off on Quote of the Day

The lost generation; Wynn shareholders rebel

Posted on May 25, 2018 by David McKee

Casinos’ fascination with Millennials appears to be a one-way street. A new survey by YouGov found that 47% of respondents ages 18-34 found casinos “depressing.” (I think I know what they mean.) As a matter of fact, older age brackets … Continue reading →

Posted in Internet gambling, LVCVA, Macau, Marketing, Michael Gaughan, Sheldon Adelson, Sports, Stanley Ho, Wynn Resorts | Comments Off on The lost generation; Wynn shareholders rebel

Strip land values skyrocket; Second chance for Margaritaville

Posted on May 24, 2018 by David McKee

In a deal not seen since the giddiness of 2007, someone is expected $34 million an acre for Strip land, for a grand total of $540 million. The property in question is a collection of parcels wedged between Planet Hollywood to … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Foxwoods, history, IGT, Mississippi, Planet Hollywood, Technology, The Strip, Transportation | 3 Comments

Bringing back sexy; They did a bad, bad thing

Posted on May 24, 2018 by David McKee

In search of a novel angle to market Las Vegas, the Las Vegas Convention & Visitors Authority has come up with a new campaign. And. It. Is. Hawt. Because lesbians. Although, if you’re a mushy romantic at heart, this mini-movie is sure to … Continue reading →

Posted in Foxwoods, Internet gambling, LVCVA, Marketing, MGM Mirage, Mohegan Sun, Regulation, Reno, Sports, The Strip | 2 Comments

Wall Street hearts Caesars; AGA does the right thing

Posted on May 24, 2018 by David McKee

One of our favorite investment banks, JP Morgan, has initiated coverage of Caesars Entertainment, providing us with further transparency of the company’s performance. The price target is a lowly $16/share, which presumably reflects the company’s recent, shall we say, financial … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Boyd Gaming, Culinary Union, Geoff Freeman, Harrah's, Marketing, Penn National, Sexual misconduct, The Strip, Wall Street, Wynn Resorts | Comments Off on Wall Street hearts Caesars; AGA does the right thing

Delaware bests New Jersey; New partner for Ho?

Posted on May 23, 2018 by David McKee

Chris Christie may have to eat his words about New Jersey being the first state to capitalize on the Supreme Court‘s sports-betting ruling. According to NJ Advance Media, “Delaware officials said this week they believe they have the laws and infrastructure … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Bruce Deifik, Delaware, Entertainment, Hard Rock International, Lawrence Ho, Macau, Massachusetts, Melco Resorts & Entertainment, MGM Mirage, Philippines, Racinos, Regulation, Sports | Comments Off on Delaware bests New Jersey; New partner for Ho?

Strike!; Memo to Congress

Posted on May 23, 2018 by David McKee

If any casino owners were thinking that the Culinary Union might get complacent or fragment in the face of a good Las Vegas economy, they got a rude wakeup call yesterday. Some 99% of Culinary members voted to authorize a … Continue reading →

Posted in Culinary Union, Current, Downtown, Economy, Geoff Freeman, Harrah's, history, MGM Mirage, Regulation, Sports, Taxes, Technology, The Strip | Comments Off on Strike!; Memo to Congress

Let them skate; Sheldon’s new brainstorm

Posted on May 22, 2018 by David McKee

Nevada State Treasurer Dan Schwartz, the man who would be governor, is a refreshingly impolitic and heterodoxical candidate. He’s made a frequent campaign point that the Silver State has the worst schools in the nation and needs to re-orient its … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, e-sports, Election, Macau, Marketing, Melco Resorts & Entertainment, Politics, Sheldon Adelson, Sociedade de Jogos de Macau, Sports, Taxes, The Strip, Wynn Resorts | Comments Off on Let them skate; Sheldon’s new brainstorm