Author Archives: David McKee

About David McKee

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Penn, Pinnacle nuptials in the offing; Connecticut sues Trump administration

Posted on December 1, 2017 by David McKee

To absolutely no one’s surprise, Pinnacle Entertainment and Penn National Gaming formally affirmed that they are in merger talks. Among the upsides, Deutsche Bank analyst Carlo Santarelli cites the alleviation of forced asset sale in Pennsylvania, where the number of … Continue reading →

Posted in Ameristar, Boyd Gaming, Foxwoods, Genting, IGT, Indiana, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, Mohegan Sun, New York, Ohio, Penn National, Pennsylvania, Pinnacle Entertainment, Regulation, Scientific Games, Wall Street | 3 Comments

The Main Event; Macao roars

Posted on December 1, 2017 by David McKee

Monday is the big day: Oral arguments in the Supreme Court over Christie v. NCAA. It’s an understatement to say the gaming industry is getting pretty excited over the hearing, which is expected to lead to a rejection of the … Continue reading →

Posted in Baseball, Economy, history, International, Internet gambling, Macau, Mississippi, Nevada, Problem gambling, Regulation, Sheldon Adelson, Sports, Steve Wynn, Wall Street | Comments Off on The Main Event; Macao roars

Strip loses, locals joints win; Aristocrat hooks Big Fish

Posted on November 30, 2017 by David McKee

Given the robustness of October 2017, last month’s Las Vegas Strip revenues ($529 million) were already facing a difficult comparison and the Stephen Paddock shooting spree didn’t help matters. Gambling revenues fell 6% last month along Las Vegas Boulevard. (Statewide, … Continue reading →

Posted in Aristocrat, Boulder Strip, Churchill Downs, Downtown, Entertainment, Internet gambling, Lake Tahoe, Laughlin, Mandalay Bay Massacre, Mesquite, North Las Vegas, Reno, Technology, The Strip | 2 Comments

Good news for Sheldon and other Case Bets

Posted on November 30, 2017 by David McKee

Singapore‘s casinos are looking at an up year in 2018, according to normally cautious Fitch Ratings analyst Alex Bumazhny. “Singapore [gross gaming revenue] grew by around 10 percent year-on-year in first half 2017, after falling by around 30 percent over 2015 to … Continue reading →

Posted in Ameristar, Australia, Crown Resorts, Genting, Harrah's, International, Iowa, Law enforcement, Mandalay Bay Massacre, Pinnacle Entertainment, Regulation, Sheldon Adelson, Singapore, The Crown 18, Tribal, Wall Street | Comments Off on Good news for Sheldon and other Case Bets

Favorable forecast for 2018; New look at Cosmo

Posted on November 29, 2017 by David McKee

Good news for casinos: “2018 is set to be a good year for gaming operators and suppliers globally amid a strong economic backdrop and a relatively benign new supply environment,” says Fitch Ratings analyst Alex Bumazhny, one of the more circumspect … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, Atlantic City, CityCenter, Cosmopolitan, Economy, Hard Rock International, Harrah's, Macau, MGM Mirage, New York, Sheldon Adelson, Sociedade de Jogos de Macau, Steve Wynn, The Strip, Wall Street | 1 Comment

Day of the Gun

Posted on November 29, 2017 by David McKee

Bellagio needs to get serious about security. As has happened multiple times in the past, an armed robbery was conducted on the premises, this time at the poker cage, at 3:45 p.m. I wouldn’t say casino security stood idly by but … Continue reading →

Posted in Downtown, International, Law enforcement, Mandalay Bay Massacre, MGM Mirage, Politics, Regulation, Reno, The Strip | Comments Off on Day of the Gun

Quote of the Day

Posted on November 28, 2017 by David McKee

“The price of oil has been rising steadily, a fact hardly noted by prognosticators. At some point, higher prices pinch consumer spending power. A shock, whether an exogenous event like war or simply profit-taking gone out of control, could shatter … Continue reading →

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

Case Bets

Posted on November 28, 2017 by David McKee

Council Bluffs, Iowa, isn’t reacting so well to the revival of a 2007 casino plan by the Ponca Tribe of Nebraska to open in nearby Carter Lake. First off, the proposed site was ostensibly intended for an as-yet-unbuilt tribal medical … Continue reading →

Posted in Ameristar, Atlantic City, Harrah's, Iowa, Japan, Mandalay Bay Massacre, MGM Mirage, Regulation, Sports, Taxes, Tribal | Comments Off on Case Bets

Wall Street loves Station; New wine in old bottles

Posted on November 28, 2017 by David McKee

Wall Street has identified one beneficiary of the tax bill currently before Congress: Station Casinos. As how it will affect those sought-after Millennials, well, companies like Station may have to re-do their math. (Pillaging discretionary income for people making less … Continue reading →

Posted in Downtown, e-sports, Economy, Entertainment, Harrah's, IGT, Marketing, MGM Mirage, Palms, Station Casinos, Taxes, Technology, The Strip, Wall Street | Comments Off on Wall Street loves Station; New wine in old bottles

Coming soon to Las Vegas

Posted on November 27, 2017 by David McKee

A fistfight during an Oakland Raiders game? Horrors! Surely you jest! The Aqib Talib–Michael Crabtree slugfest constituted the undercard to a Raiders/Denver Broncos tilt. Las Vegans can look forward to many such fisticuffs a few years hence. (It’ll probably be … Continue reading →

Posted in Current, Sports | Comments Off on Coming soon to Las Vegas

Quote of the Day

Posted on November 24, 2017 by David McKee

“In each of these games, the random number generator will pick essentially a maximum win for the player. So, in the case of Deep Sea Saga, the maximum number of special gems is 10. But, in some games it might … Continue reading →

Posted in GameCO, Technology | Comments Off on Quote of the Day

Happy Thanksgiving

Posted on November 23, 2017 by David McKee

Thanks be to all the newsmakers (yes, especially you, Glenn Straub) who are the gift that keeps on giving. Thanks to Huntington Press, S&G‘s safe harbor for over 10 years. And thanks, most of all, to you the reader, without whom … Continue reading →

Posted in Current | 2 Comments

Curtains for Trump Plaza; Prez “downright dumb” about tribes

Posted on November 22, 2017 by David McKee

It’s dynamite time for Trump Plaza in Atlantic City — and about time. The pertinent question seems to be how owner Carl Icahn is going to get rid of this eyesore or, more specifically, how he’s going to pay for it. Rather … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Carl Icahn, Donald Trump, Harrah's, International, Internet gambling, Minnesota, Politics, Sam Nazarian, Taxes, Transportation, Tribal | 2 Comments

A sensible proposal

Posted on November 22, 2017 by David McKee

Under the right circumstances, driving down the Las Vegas Strip (preferably by night) can be a hedonistic experience. Too often, however, it is a bumper-to-bumper nightmare. Something needs to be done and Clark County Commissioner Chris Giunchigliani (D) has stepped … Continue reading →

Posted in Entertainment, Indiana, Internet gambling, Iowa, Louisiana, Mandalay Bay Massacre, MGM Mirage, Mohegan Sun, Movies, Pennsylvania, The Strip, Transportation, Tropicana Entertainment | 3 Comments

This just in …

Posted on November 21, 2017 by David McKee

Eldorado Resorts has pulled out of a planned sale of Isle of Capri Lake Charles to tribally owned Kicks Entertainment. At least one analyst, JP Morgan‘s Daniel Politzer, sees this as a good thing. For starters, Eldorado pockets Kicks’ $20 … Continue reading →

Posted in Boyd Gaming, Eldorado Resorts, Foxwoods, Harrah's, Isle of Capri, Louisiana, Mohegan Sun, Penn National, Pinnacle Entertainment, Politics, Regulation, Tribal, Wall Street | Comments Off on This just in …

Quote of the Day

Posted on November 21, 2017 by David McKee

“My vision is of Naga as a dragon. It curves around China … and the north-eastern part of Russia, and the north of Mongolia.” — NagaCorp CEO Chen Lip Keong, whose Cambodian casino company is in talks with the governments of … Continue reading →

Posted in International | Comments Off on Quote of the Day

Get well soon

Posted on November 20, 2017 by David McKee

A ferry ride from Macao to Hong Kong proved excessively eventful for Las Vegas Sands CEO Sheldon Adelson. He fell and cracked three ribs, causing him to miss the 10th anniversary of Venetian Macao. The plucky CEO promises to be … Continue reading →

Posted in Macau, Sheldon Adelson | Comments Off on Get well soon

Caesars bets on Hoosier tracks; Trump precedent revisted

Posted on November 20, 2017 by David McKee

Centaur Gaming, benefactor of Mike Pence (not that it did them any good), is back in the news. Caesars Entertainment already owns the two most lucrative casinos in Indiana, is doubling down on its commitment to the Hoosier State. By … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, CityCenter, Donald Trump, Economy, Harrah's, Indiana, Iowa, Nevada, Racinos, Regulation, Tourism, Transportation, Tribal, Wisconsin | 1 Comment

Quote of the Day

Posted on November 20, 2017 by David McKee

“Combined, the state’s legal online casinos now generate enough monthly gross revenue to rank as the fifth-largest casino in Atlantic City. Online gambling has accounted for nearly 10 percent of New Jersey‘s total casino revenue in 2017. And it appears … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Internet gambling | Comments Off on Quote of the Day

Quote of the Day

Posted on November 17, 2017 by David McKee

“The guys at Metal Casino told me that their brand was all about being true, relevant and dedicated to the customer and that really resonated with me. To me, that translated as keeping it real, keeping it original, and doing … Continue reading →

Posted in Entertainment, Internet gambling | Comments Off on Quote of the Day