Author Archives: David McKee

About David McKee

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Smooth talk in Bridgeport; Sands Bethlehem for sale (again)?

Posted on October 25, 2017 by David McKee

“Sharp dressed, smooth talker” Uri Clinton met with Bridgeport residents in an effort to convince them that MGM Resorts International has their best interests at heart in its pursuit of Bridgeport as a casino site. Perhaps naively, Clinton hopes that … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Downtown Grand, Economy, Foxwoods, Geoff Freeman, Glenn Straub, Internet gambling, MGM Mirage, Mohegan Sun, New York, Pennsylvania, Problem gambling, Regulation, Revel, Sheldon Adelson, Taxes, Tribal, Wall Street | Comments Off on Smooth talk in Bridgeport; Sands Bethlehem for sale (again)?

The future of Caesars; Larry Ellison buys Cal-Neva

Posted on October 25, 2017 by David McKee

Executives from Caesars Entertainment flew to New York to meet with Wall Street analysts and lay out their vision of the company’s post-bankruptcy future. According to Deutsche Bank‘s Carlo Santarelli, internal research “displays a healthy Millenial participation rate, a long … Continue reading →

Posted in Aristocrat, Boyd Gaming, Economy, Entertainment, Golden Gaming, Harrah's, history, Lake Tahoe, Mandalay Bay Massacre, Marketing, MGM Mirage, Regulation, Scientific Games, Station Casinos, Technology, The Strip, Wall Street | 1 Comment

Quote of the Day

Posted on October 24, 2017 by David McKee

“It did rock my world. Reading in every newspaper around the world that Crown [Resorts] was a bad corporate citizen shook me to the core because I had put in so much effort over so many years to ensure Crown … Continue reading →

Posted in Australia, Cosmopolitan, Crown Resorts, James Packer, Macau, The Crown 18, The Strip | Comments Off on Quote of the Day

It’s about time; Pols attack Atlantic City

Posted on October 24, 2017 by David McKee

Twelve years after Hurricane Katrina, Midwest and Bible Belt states still require casinos to be built on the water. Exceptions have been made for casinos on Mississippi‘s Gulf Coast and one of Mike Pence‘s latter acts as governor of Indiana … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, Atlantic City, Election, history, Indiana, Louisiana, Mandalay Bay Massacre, MGM Mirage, New York, Pinnacle Entertainment, Politics, Sports, Tropicana Entertainment | Comments Off on It’s about time; Pols attack Atlantic City

Abe, casinos win; Tournament of Rose

Posted on October 23, 2017 by David McKee

In a snap election, Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and his Liberal Democratic Party posted big gains. The mandate was sufficiently huge to give the LDP outright control over every committee in the Diet. This is a big boost to … Continue reading →

Posted in Australia, Crown Resorts, e-sports, Election, Harrah's, James Packer, Japan, Macau, Regulation, Sports, The Crown 18 | 1 Comment

Examining slot addiction; Dealers win in Baltimore

Posted on October 23, 2017 by David McKee

Researchers at the University of Waterloo‘s Gambling Research Lab are trying to wean gamblers off slot machines, or at least create a more-educated player. They’re focusing on “losses disguised as wins” or LDWs. That’s when you wager $2 and “win” $1.50 … Continue reading →

Posted in Cordish Co., Golden Gaming, Harrah's, International, Mandalay Bay Massacre, Maryland, MGM Mirage, Problem gambling, The Strip, Unite-Here | Comments Off on Examining slot addiction; Dealers win in Baltimore

Crown in hot water again; Wynn and whimsy

Posted on October 20, 2017 by David McKee

Crown Resorts just can’t stay out of trouble. On the first anniversary (roughly) of the arrest of the Crown 18 in China, the casino giant stands accused of rigging video poker machines. Parliamentary lone wolf and anti-gambling crusader Andrew Wilkie … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, Australia, Boyd Gaming, Churchill Downs, Eldorado Resorts, GLPI, Harrah's, Isle of Capri, James Packer, Louisiana, Massachusetts, Pinnacle Entertainment, Regulation, Steve Wynn, The Crown 18, Tilman Fertitta | 2 Comments

Mandalay mystery deepens; Today Vegas, tomorrow the Moon

Posted on October 20, 2017 by David McKee

MGM Resorts International finds itself on the defensive following the Stephen Paddock killing spree. Rachel Sheppard, a California woman who survived three gunshot wounds, is suing MGM for negligence (she’s also going after the maker of the bump stocks that … Continue reading →

Posted in Mandalay Bay Massacre, MGM Mirage, TV | 1 Comment

New MGM ad stirs controversy; Macao heightens security

Posted on October 19, 2017 by David McKee

Among the victims of Stephen Paddock‘s domestic terrorism was MGM Resorts International‘s “Welcome to the Show” ad campaign. The aftermath of a mass murder was hardly the time to be proclaiming that you’re “in the ‘Holy Sh*t!’ business” or to promise … Continue reading →

Posted in Genting, Harrah's, Macau, Mandalay Bay Massacre, Marijuana, Marketing, Maryland, MGM Mirage, Pennsylvania, Philippines, Regulation, Technology, The Strip, TV, Unite-Here | Comments Off on New MGM ad stirs controversy; Macao heightens security

Resorts World a ‘go’; House of Blues a ‘drag’

Posted on October 19, 2017 by David McKee

With a great sigh of relief, we note that Resorts World Las Vegas has gone from being just a logo and some nifty renderings to becoming a living, breathing construction project (video here). Genting Group has hired a construction manager and … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, Entertainment, Genting, Harrah's, Marketing, MGM Mirage, Penn National, Station Casinos, Technology, The Strip, Vdara Death Ray, Westgate LV | Comments Off on Resorts World a ‘go’; House of Blues a ‘drag’

Trump goes to bat for Adelson; Connecticut tribes on the rise

Posted on October 18, 2017 by David McKee

Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe had never heard of Las Vegas Sands or MGM Resorts International before Donald Trump told him about them last February. Either that or Abe was politely feigning ignorance. (As long as was using his political office … Continue reading →

Posted in Donald Trump, Foxwoods, Greenwood Racing, Japan, MGM Mirage, Mohegan Sun, Pennsylvania, Politics, Regulation, Sheldon Adelson, Singapore, Taxes, Wall Street | Comments Off on Trump goes to bat for Adelson; Connecticut tribes on the rise

Freeman goes native; MGM hits a three-pointer

Posted on October 18, 2017 by David McKee

American Gaming Association President Geoff Freeman was in Oklahoma City yesterday to talk up the economic benefits of Native American gaming. While one might be tempted to say they speak for themselves, the AGA rolled out some pretty powerful numbers. … Continue reading →

Posted in Alaska, Animals, California, Cosmopolitan, Florida, Foxwoods, George Maloof, Mandalay Bay Massacre, Marketing, Massachusetts, MGM Mirage, Mohegan Sun, Oklahoma, Sports, Texas, The Strip, Tribal, TV | Comments Off on Freeman goes native; MGM hits a three-pointer

Strange bedfellows indeed; Massachusetts responds to Vegas massacre

Posted on October 17, 2017 by David McKee

Ex-Indiana Gov. Mike Pence‘s anti-casino past came back to bite him in the keester this week. A lengthy exposé reveals that, even as Pence was publicly posturing about “no expansion of gaming” in Indiana — although Pence never clearly defined … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, California, Centaur Gaming, Charity, Delaware, Donald Trump, e-sports, G2E, Gary Goett, Indiana, Internet gambling, Mandalay Bay Massacre, Maryland, Massachusetts, Nevada, Politics, Regulation, Sheldon Adelson, Station Casinos, Technology, Tribal | Comments Off on Strange bedfellows indeed; Massachusetts responds to Vegas massacre

Quote of the Day

Posted on October 17, 2017 by David McKee

“To fear the world we have organized and led for three-quarters of a century, to abandon the ideals we have advanced around the globe, to refuse the obligations of international leadership and our duty to remain ‘the last best hope … Continue reading →

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

Culinary clashes with Fertittas (again), girds for Caesars labor talks

Posted on October 16, 2017 by David McKee

Always keeping the pressure on Station Casinos, longtime adversary the Culinary Union has rolled out a new Web site, FertittaMoneyWatch.org. Although its principal mission is to keep tabs on a nascent investment fund, Fertitta Capital, the site also promotes the … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Colony Capital, Culinary Union, Hard Rock International, Harrah's, Japan, Mandalay Bay Massacre, Massachusetts, MGM Mirage, Penn National, Rhode Island, Sheldon Adelson, Station Casinos, The Strip, Wall Street | Comments Off on Culinary clashes with Fertittas (again), girds for Caesars labor talks

Less-than-Golden Week in Macao; Pac-Man devours G2E competition

Posted on October 16, 2017 by David McKee

“Somewhat disappointing” was JP Morgan analyst Joseph Greff‘s verdict on Golden Week numbers out of Macao. “Given that some VIPs visit Macau after the holiday to avoid the crowds, we note that channel checks post Golden Week indicate that gaming … Continue reading →

Posted in Charity, Economy, G2E, GameCO, Macau, Melco Resorts & Entertainment, MGM Mirage, Sheldon Adelson, Sociedade de Jogos de Macau, Steve Wynn, Technology, Tourism, Wall Street | Comments Off on Less-than-Golden Week in Macao; Pac-Man devours G2E competition

Quote of the Day

Posted on October 16, 2017 by David McKee

“Kaepernick obviously not in the NFL because the quality of play at QB is so deep with stars like Hoyer, Bortles, McCown, Hogan, Cutler …” — Kyle Ayers, on reports that blacklisted Colin Kaepernick will sue NFL owners for collusion. … Continue reading →

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

Quote of the Day

Posted on October 14, 2017 by David McKee

“Stephen Paddock was most likely a good player who played close to breakeven, but was probably losing overall and angling for comps. What’s really crazy about this is that the big-loser scenario could still be true. That’s something we won’t know … Continue reading →

Posted in Current, Mandalay Bay Massacre | Comments Off on Quote of the Day

Ex-cons working casino floors?; Kansas casinos set record

Posted on October 13, 2017 by David McKee

You’d think casinos in Massachusetts, where job applicants far outnumber available positions, could get by without hiring convicted criminals. Think again. A bill before the Lege would open a loophole for people with criminal records to hold down jobs in … Continue reading →

Posted in Boyd Gaming, G2E, GameCO, Harrah's, IGT, International, Kansas, Lawrence Ho, Massachusetts, Melco Crown Entertainment, MGM Mirage, Penn National, Politics, Regulation, Steve Wynn, Technology, Tribal | Comments Off on Ex-cons working casino floors?; Kansas casinos set record

Quote of the Day

Posted on October 13, 2017 by David McKee

“Cryptocurrencies scare the devil out of many people. There is a freedom—an anonymity—about them, and that freedom is used by some to stay under the radar while doing the devil’s work. Others view it a way to have the license … Continue reading →

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