Author Archives: David McKee

About David McKee

Bio

Wynn: “The End of an Era”

Posted on February 7, 2018 by David McKee

That’s how Deutsche Bank analyst Carlo Santarelli headlined his investor note alerting stockholders to the news that Wynn Resorts CEO/Chairman Steve Wynn has opted to step down. One can only speculate, but Carrie Geer Thevenot‘s long-buried Las Vegas Review-Journal report … Continue reading →

Posted in Current, George Maloof, history, Macau, Massachusetts, Nevada, Regulation, Sexual misconduct, Sheldon Adelson, Steve Wynn, Wall Street | 5 Comments

Vici victorious on the Street; Macao monopoly threatened

Posted on February 6, 2018 by David McKee

MGM Resorts International is definitely going to have to sweeten its offer for Vici Properties after the latter had a hugely successful IPO, hitting $1.2 billion. Shares of the REIT were sufficiently in demand that Vici is going to enlarge … Continue reading →

Posted in Australia, Harrah's, International, Internet gambling, Macau, MGM Mirage, Wall Street | Comments Off on Vici victorious on the Street; Macao monopoly threatened

Quote of the Day

Posted on February 6, 2018 by David McKee

“Everything we do around e-sports is going to be mainstream. E-sports are getting more popular. Traditional sports are becoming less relevant. If you look at the PGA Tour, the average age of a fan [is] 69 years old. Major League … Continue reading →

Posted in e-sports, Sports, Technology | Comments Off on Quote of the Day

Illinois anemic; MGM flexes pecs in Maryland, Washington, D.C.

Posted on February 6, 2018 by David McKee

Thank God. There is nothing new about Steve Wynn in this morning’s headlines, so we can talk about some good, old-fashioned gambling. Illinois last month saw a 5.5% drop-off for a somewhat anemic gross of $105 million. Foot traffic was … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Boyd Gaming, Cordish Co., Donald Trump, Economy, Foxwoods, GLPI, Golden Gaming, Harrah's, Illinois, Marketing, Maryland, MGM Mirage, Mohegan Sun, Neil Bluhm, Penn National, Pennsylvania, Politics, West Virginia | Comments Off on Illinois anemic; MGM flexes pecs in Maryland, Washington, D.C.

Kentucky legislators try again; Del Lago: The dog ate our revenues

Posted on February 5, 2018 by David McKee

Kentucky is resuming its off-again/on-again flirtation with casino gambling. The reasoning was predictable. “The reason this idea has been on the radar for years is that we know we’ve been headed towards very bleak budgets. Well, we’re there now,” said state … Continue reading →

Posted in Iowa, Kentucky, Nebraska, New York, Pennsylvania, Politics, South Dakota, Taxes, Tribal, Wall Street | Comments Off on Kentucky legislators try again; Del Lago: The dog ate our revenues

Quote of the Day

Posted on February 5, 2018 by David McKee

“The main thing is the game itself. If only you knew how it carries one away.” — Fyodor Dostoevsky on the subject of gambling, his greatest weakness.

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

Wynn: Brain bleach, stat!

Posted on February 5, 2018 by David McKee

Today, I was going to file my quota of one Steve Wynn story per every 24 hours, but what to make of this? Another court filing against Wynn has surfaced, as well as the disclosure that the Las Vegas Review-Journal … Continue reading →

Posted in e-sports, Massachusetts, MGM Mirage, Sexual misconduct, Steve Wynn, The Strip | Comments Off on Wynn: Brain bleach, stat!

Steve Wynn makes his case; Gambling stalemate in Florida

Posted on February 5, 2018 by David McKee

It’s no longer enough for employees of Wynn Resorts to reflect well upon the company. No, now Steve Wynn wants their gratitude. His confidential pep rallies have had all the watertight integrity of a colander. By reminding workers that the … Continue reading →

Posted in California, Detroit, DFS, Dining, Donald Trump, Election, Entertainment, Florida, Galaxy Entertainment, Genting, Harrah's, Internet gambling, Macau, Massachusetts, Melco Resorts & Entertainment, MGM Mirage, Movies, Politics, Regulation, Seminole Tribe, Sexual misconduct, Sheldon Adelson, Steve Wynn, Taxes, The Strip, Wall Street | 1 Comment

Wynn in a corner; Delaware may cut racinos some slack

Posted on February 2, 2018 by David McKee

Things have gotten so bad for Steve Wynn that he’s been reduced to asking his employees to support him in Sexgate. “In a family, people look after each other … They take care of the people they serve” he said, a … Continue reading →

Posted in Ameristar, Delaware, Dining, Genting, Indiana, Massachusetts, New York, Pennsylvania, Pinnacle Entertainment, Racinos, Regulation, Sexual misconduct, Steve Wynn, Taxes, The Strip | 1 Comment

Macao is back; Steelman predicts the future

Posted on February 1, 2018 by David McKee

Gross gaming revenues in Macao blew away Wall Street analysts’ estimates of 19% growth, posting a 36.5% gain. Deutsche Bank analyst Carlo Santarelli still advised caution for the near future, writing, “While [Chinese New Year] generates a lot of hype, the … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, Atlantic City, Galaxy Entertainment, Genting, Hard Rock International, Internet gambling, Macau, Massachusetts, Revel, Steve Wynn, The Strip, Tilman Fertitta, Wall Street | Comments Off on Macao is back; Steelman predicts the future

Wynn’s disgrace continues; Robots overthrow Las Vegas

Posted on February 1, 2018 by David McKee

It’s getting to the point that one wishes Steve Wynn would just go away quietly and take the saga of his sagging, septuagenarian genitals with him. But the news is rarely convenient like that. Fox News is reporting that the … Continue reading →

Posted in Colony Capital, Economy, GLPI, history, Illinois, Iowa, Massachusetts, Regulation, Steve Wynn, Technology, Unite-Here | 3 Comments

Baccarat slays the Strip

Posted on January 31, 2018 by David McKee

Gaming revenues on the Las Vegas Strip continued to dip in December, down 3% ($571.5 million). Baccarat tore a hole through gaming receipts, with the house plunging 30% on 9% less wagering. Non-baccarat table games fared much better, up 7.5%. … Continue reading →

Posted in Boulder Strip, Economy, Eldorado Resorts, Environment, Illinois, Indiana, Lake Tahoe, Laughlin, Missouri, North Las Vegas, Pennsylvania, Reno, Taxes, The Strip | 1 Comment

New investigation of Wynn; Eldorado on the prowl

Posted on January 31, 2018 by David McKee

After several days of uncertainty, it’s definitive: The Nevada Gaming Control Board will investigate the allegations of sex abuse against Steve Wynn. In the past the NGCB has been only too willing to look the other way when prominent Nevada … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Colorado, Downtown, Eldorado Resorts, Entertainment, Florida, history, Isle of Capri, Louisiana, Macau, Massachusetts, Mississippi, Missouri, Regulation, Reno, Sexual misconduct, Station Casinos, Steve Wynn, Wall Street | Comments Off on New investigation of Wynn; Eldorado on the prowl

Case Bets

Posted on January 30, 2018 by David McKee

When Las Vegas casinos sit down with the Culinary Union this year expect wireless “panic buttons” to be on the table. Labor unions have been pushing for these as a means of summoning security when their members are assaulted by … Continue reading →

Posted in Culinary Union, DFS, Foxwoods, Harrah's, MGM Mirage, Missouri, Mohegan Sun, Sexual misconduct, Sports, Station Casinos | 1 Comment

Wynn loses big-time

Posted on January 30, 2018 by David McKee

Since the Wall Street Journal broke the cone of silence around Steve Wynn‘s sex life, shares of WYNN have fallen 19%. That means that the Wynn Resorts CEO is $463 million the poorer, being so heavily invested in his own … Continue reading →

Posted in Donald Trump, Macau, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Politics, Regulation, Sexual misconduct, Steve Wynn | 1 Comment

MGM Cotai gets rave review; Cracking the Millennial code

Posted on January 29, 2018 by David McKee

MGM Grand Cotai continues to miss opening deadlines, the latest obstacle being the government’s continued failure to issue a hotel license. “The licence application for the opening of the five-star hotel MGM Cotai and establishments inside the property is still … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, CityCenter, Genting, Golden Gaming, Harrah's, Macau, Marketing, MGM Mirage, New York, Regulation, Technology, TV | Comments Off on MGM Cotai gets rave review; Cracking the Millennial code

Wynn: The fallout

Posted on January 29, 2018 by David McKee

It’s still early in the apparent downfall of Steve Wynn but already there’s heated pressure being put on both Democrats and Republicans to disown his largesse. Rep. Karen Handel (R) was out in front, giving $2,700 Wynnbucks to “a charity in … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, Donald Trump, Galaxy Entertainment, Japan, Macau, Massachusetts, Nevada, Politics, Regulation, Sheldon Adelson, Steve Wynn, Wall Street | Comments Off on Wynn: The fallout

Quote of the Day

Posted on January 29, 2018 by David McKee

“It was always just billionaire ego bullshit. Like, ‘Haha, my building is a couple feet taller than your building.’ That kind of thing.” — anonymous Donald Trump campaign official describing the relationship between Steve Wynn and Trump.

Posted in Donald Trump, Steve Wynn, The Strip | Comments Off on Quote of the Day

Steve Wynn: Time’s up

Posted on January 27, 2018 by David McKee

Yesterday, the penny dropped on Steve Wynn, as multiple reports of sexual predation made the news. According to the Wall Street Journal, we’re not talking about one or two accusers but “dozens,” over a period of decades. Without diminishing the … Continue reading →

Posted in Animals, CityCenter, Current, Dennis Gomes, Donald Trump, Election, Harrah's, Japan, Lucky Dragon, Massachusetts, MGM Mirage, Nevada, Politics, Regulation, Sheldon Adelson, Steve Wynn, The Strip, Wall Street, Wisconsin | 2 Comments

Adelson: Big is more; MGM misses important deadline

Posted on January 26, 2018 by David McKee

Wall Street analysts expected Las Vegas Sands to post cash flow of $718 million last quarter but it blew through the ‘stop’ sign and checked in with $731 million. Even though recovering from three cracked ribs, CEO Sheldon Adelson had … Continue reading →

Posted in Ameristar, Architecture, Cordish Co., Galaxy Entertainment, GLPI, Greenwood Racing, Illinois, Internet gambling, Law enforcement, Macau, Massachusetts, MGM Mirage, Missouri, Penn National, Pennsylvania, Politics, Problem gambling, Regulation, Sheldon Adelson, Steve Wynn, Taxes, Tropicana Entertainment | 1 Comment