Author Archives: David McKee

About David McKee

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State of the Strip; Air Area 51

Posted on January 10, 2018 by David McKee

Deutsche Bank analyst Carlo Santarelli met with a number of casino companies recently and came away with a sanguine prospect for the Las Vegas Strip. As for the operators, “Overall, we felt commentary pertaining to the LV locals market, regional … Continue reading →

Posted in Affinity Gaming, Ameristar, Atlantic City, Boyd Gaming, Culinary Union, Economy, Eldorado Resorts, Entertainment, Harrah's, Indiana, International, Isle of Capri, Kentucky, Macau, MGM Mirage, Missouri, Penn National, Pennsylvania, Pinnacle Entertainment, Reno, Sports, The Strip, Tropicana Entertainment, Wall Street | Comments Off on State of the Strip; Air Area 51

Beauregard the Buzzkill; Arkansas tries for casinos

Posted on January 9, 2018 by David McKee

Attorney General Jefferson Beauregard Sessions has detected that Americans are enjoying themselves and it’s got to stop, forthwith. He’s declared war on marijuana-friendly laws across this great land, misguidedly making loco weed his department’s top law-enforcement priority. Beauregard is flying … Continue reading →

Posted in Arkansas, Boyd Gaming, Colorado, Dan Gilbert, Eldorado Resorts, Election, Hard Rock International, Law enforcement, Macau, Marijuana, Melco Resorts & Entertainment, Nevada, Ohio, Penn National, Pinnacle Entertainment, Problem gambling, Regulation, Sociedade de Jogos de Macau, Sports, The Strip, Tribal | Comments Off on Beauregard the Buzzkill; Arkansas tries for casinos

Quote of the Day

Posted on January 9, 2018 by David McKee

“There is no ambiguity here. This is an underlying principle of our democracy. We cannot stand silent. We will not allow any president to achieve by intimidation what our Constitution precludes him or her from achieving in court. We need … Continue reading →

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

Revel sold (again); Freeman slams Indiana bill

Posted on January 9, 2018 by David McKee

Glenn Straub wins our Liar Liar Pants on Fire Award hors concours for dissembling about any intentions to sell Revel while negotiating a deal to do precisely that. Give him credit, though, for raising the defunct megaresort’s value: The $200 … Continue reading →

Posted in Ameristar, Atlantic City, Boyd Gaming, Economy, Geoff Freeman, Glenn Straub, Hard Rock International, Indiana, Iowa, Mandalay Bay Massacre, MGM Mirage, Penn National, Pinnacle Entertainment, Politics, Revel, Sports, The Strip, Wall Street | 3 Comments

Unlucky Dragon; Gaughan plays Lady Bountiful

Posted on January 8, 2018 by David McKee

Business at the semi-defunct Lucky Dragon casino must have really been sucking wind if it closed six weeks before Chinese New Year, which one would expect to be the property’s sweet spot. Lucky Dragon management is putting a brave face … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Harrah's, International, Iowa, Japan, Louisiana, Lucky Dragon, Macau, Massachusetts, MGM Mirage, Michael Gaughan, Regulation, SLS Las Vegas, Sociedade de Jogos de Macau, Taxes, The Strip, Wall Street | 1 Comment

Quote of the Day

Posted on January 8, 2018 by David McKee

“The problems may have been exasperated [sic], DeCree said, by the Lucky Dragon’s reliance on the highly competitive market for Asian customers.” — Las Vegas Sun reporter Thomas Moore on the closure of the Lucky Dragon’s casino. If there’s one thing … Continue reading →

Posted in Lucky Dragon, Marketing | Comments Off on Quote of the Day

Case Bets: Maryland, Illinois, New Jersey, The Strip, etc.

Posted on January 8, 2018 by David McKee

MGM National Harbor goes from strength to strength. Last month, it captured 40% of Maryland market share en route to a $56.5 million gross (for a property record of $1.8 million gross gaming revenue per day). Maryland Live, hanging onto … Continue reading →

Posted in Aristocrat, Atlantic City, Boyd Gaming, California, Churchill Downs, Cordish Co., Dining, Economy, Entertainment, GLPI, Golden Gaming, Harrah's, Illinois, Maryland, MGM Mirage, Neil Bluhm, Penn National, Politics, Sports, Station Casinos, The Strip, West Virginia | Comments Off on Case Bets: Maryland, Illinois, New Jersey, The Strip, etc.

Pennsylvania towns shun casinos; Macao mobbed up

Posted on January 5, 2018 by David McKee

Mini-casinos are as popular in Pennsylvania as an outbreak of typhus. Some 936 towns have ixnayed the idea of hosting slot parlors in their back yards. Extant casino operators will have to bid at least $7.5 million (and have a site … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, California, Charity, Churchill Downs, Economy, Foxwoods, Genting, Internet gambling, Law enforcement, LVCVA, Macau, Mandalay Bay Massacre, Maryland, MGM Mirage, Pennsylvania, Regulation, South Korea, Sports, Steve Wynn, Taxes, The Mob, Tourism, Tribal, TV | Comments Off on Pennsylvania towns shun casinos; Macao mobbed up

Exit the Dragon

Posted on January 5, 2018 by David McKee

In a story broken yesterday by VitalVegas, the Lucky Dragon Casino has abruptly shuttered its casino and restaurants. It will attempt to limp along for six months of ‘reorganization,’ sustained by hotel revenues. Were the Consumer Electronics Show not in … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Boyd Gaming, Dining, Economy, Genting, Golden Gaming, Hard Rock International, Lucky Dragon, Marketing, Movies, Penn National, SLS Las Vegas, Station Casinos, Wall Street | 3 Comments

Caesars gets bigger, Boyd gets smarter

Posted on January 3, 2018 by David McKee

Caesars Entertainment doesn’t have a great history with IPOs. But it also has a considerable debt load that isn’t going away without drastic measures. To that end, REIT Vici Properties is mulling a stock offering that aims to drum up … Continue reading →

Posted in Boyd Gaming, Harrah's, history, Louisiana, Missouri, Ohio, Penn National, Pennsylvania, Problem gambling, Regulation, Tribal, Wall Street | 1 Comment

Where’s the outrage?; Religion and slots mix

Posted on January 3, 2018 by David McKee

Donald Trump‘s move to take tips out of workers’ pockets and put them in managements hands has poked an 800-lb. gorilla, in the form of the AFL-CIO. It was wrong when Steve Wynn did it as business policy and it’s … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Charity, Donald Trump, International, Macau, Pennsylvania, Station Casinos, Technology, The Strip, Tribal, Wall Street | Comments Off on Where’s the outrage?; Religion and slots mix

There’s new life at F-blew; Casinos neglect safety plans

Posted on December 29, 2017 by David McKee

Contrary to some of his early pronouncements about Fontainebleau, new owner Steven Witkoff isn’t sitting on his asset but is pursuing roughly $2 billion of the $3 billion that will be required to finish the eye, er, glittering megaresort. He’s … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Carl Icahn, Fontainebleau, Genting, Golden Gaming, Indiana, Macau, Mandalay Bay Massacre, Nevada, Palms, Politics, Racinos, Regulation, Reno, Sheldon Adelson, Sports, Station Casinos, Steve Wynn, Steven Witkoff, Taxes, Technology, The Strip, Tribal, Tropicana Entertainment, Wall Street | Comments Off on There’s new life at F-blew; Casinos neglect safety plans

Strip’s Thanksgiving turkey; Sports betting overhyped?

Posted on December 29, 2017 by David McKee

Despite a neutral calendar (i.e., same number of weekend days) and a 2% increase in baccarat wagers, the Las Vegas Strip managed to plummet 25% in table game win, pulling overall revenue 6% downward. Had it not been for that game, … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Boulder Strip, Delaware, Donald Trump, Hard Rock International, Internet gambling, Lake Tahoe, Laughlin, Lucky Dragon, LVCVA, Mandalay Bay Massacre, Marketing, MGM Mirage, Nevada, North Las Vegas, Regulation, Reno, Sports, Tribal, Trump Entertainment Resorts, TV | 1 Comment

‘Tis the season for buying; Putin drives out Ho

Posted on December 27, 2017 by David McKee

Carl Icahn could make another big score soon: Tropicana Entertainment has been cited as a likely takeover candidate by Wall Street analysts. The combination of saturated markets and low interests has led stock pickers to predict that the industry will … Continue reading →

Posted in Boyd Gaming, Carl Icahn, Cosmopolitan, Eldorado Resorts, Glenn Straub, Golden Gaming, Greenwood Racing, Harrah's, International, Internet gambling, Lawrence Ho, MGM Mirage, Neil Bluhm, Pennsylvania, Revel, Sheldon Adelson, Taxes, Tilman Fertitta, Tropicana Entertainment, Wall Street | Comments Off on ‘Tis the season for buying; Putin drives out Ho

Case Bets

Posted on December 27, 2017 by David McKee

“The Trump administration seems a lot more aggressive on wanting to get this done,” says Ho-Chunk tribal President Wilfrid Cleveland. “This” is a new casino, plus water park and retail mall in Beloit, Wisconsin. Says Cleveland, “The atmosphere is changing. Even in … Continue reading →

Posted in Boyd Gaming, Colorado, International, Internet gambling, Law enforcement, M Resort, Pennsylvania, Politics, Regulation, Tribal, Wisconsin | Comments Off on Case Bets

Reid: The truth is out there; Paddock motive unfathomable

Posted on December 27, 2017 by David McKee

Not only does the Pentagon have its own X-Files unit, there’s a strong Las Vegas angle. The Advanced Aerospace Threat Identification Program was the brainchild of then-Sen. Harry Reid (D) and (officially) ran from 2007 to 2012. However, according the the … Continue reading →

Posted in Donald Trump, Downtown, Florida, Genting, Harry Reid, Law enforcement, Macau, Mandalay Bay Massacre, Melco Crown Entertainment, Philippines | Comments Off on Reid: The truth is out there; Paddock motive unfathomable

Quote of the Day

Posted on December 26, 2017 by David McKee

“It always comes down to the same things: parking spaces, hotel rooms and gaming positions. All of the other things are nice, but if you get those three things right, your money will be well spent.” — Chumash Casino Resort General … Continue reading →

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

Merry Christmas

Posted on December 24, 2017 by David McKee

Las Vegas and Atlantic City (and, yes, Macao, you too) are decidedly more naughty than nice, so we have little choice but to welcome Christmas with the more insinuating, erotic Yuletide song ever penned — with performance to match from … Continue reading →

Posted in Entertainment | Comments Off on Merry Christmas

From our home to yours

Posted on December 23, 2017 by David McKee

Christmas for me is always synonymous with the sultry and yet angelic tones of Karen Carpenter, so I thought I’d share a little holiday cheer with you and yours. May Santa Claus be generous this year.

Posted in Entertainment | Comments Off on From our home to yours

Rethinking riverboats in Louisiana; Santa hearts Boyd; High and dry

Posted on December 21, 2017 by David McKee

Baton Rouge is one of the markets that hews to the archaic practice of mandating that godless gambling be conducted over water. H2O has remarkable cleansing properties on filthy casino lucre, it seems. At any rate, even though L’Auberge Baton … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, Boyd Gaming, Churchill Downs, Current, Economy, Eldorado Resorts, GLPI, Greenwood Racing, Internet gambling, Isle of Capri, Louisiana, Macau, Palms, Penn National, Pennsylvania, Pinnacle Entertainment, Politics, Regulation, Sheldon Adelson, Sports, Station Casinos, Taxes, Tilman Fertitta, Tropicana Entertainment, Wall Street | 1 Comment