Author Archives: David McKee

About David McKee

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Warm September for Atlantic City

Posted on October 13, 2017 by David McKee

Things continue to look up for the Boardwalk. Last month, Atlantic City casinos showed a 2.5% revenue increase on a same-store basis. Toss the dead weight of Trump Taj Mahal out of the year/year comparison and the growth is an … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Dan Gilbert, Detroit, Entertainment, Glenn Straub, Hard Rock International, Harrah's, Internet gambling, Marketing, MGM Mirage, Mohegan Sun, Revel, Tilman Fertitta, Tropicana Entertainment, Trump Entertainment Resorts, Wall Street | Comments Off on Warm September for Atlantic City

Atlantic Club sold … again; Jackpot Blitz deemed a winner

Posted on October 12, 2017 by David McKee

Late last month, the porte cochere of the Atlantic Club collapsed. As metaphors for the long-suffering property go, you can’t get much better than that. Despite this recent debacle, owner TPM Properties has actually found a buyer for the bounced-around … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Colony Capital, Entertainment, G2E, GameCO, Harrah's, International, Internet gambling, Lake Tahoe, Mandalay Bay Massacre, Paragon Gaming, Technology, The Strip, Westgate LV | 1 Comment

Quote of the Day

Posted on October 12, 2017 by David McKee

“A big fat man wanting to eat you. It’s a scary fairy tale.” — filmmaker Asia Argento on the sexual depravities of studio boss Harvey Weinstein.

Posted in Current | Comments Off on Quote of the Day

Case Bets: Ohio and Indiana

Posted on October 11, 2017 by David McKee

Penn National Gaming had a bonny September in Ohio, up 11% across its four properties. Hollywood Toledo ($16 million) rose 10.5%, Hollywood Columbus ($18 million) gained 9%, Hollywood Dayton ($8 million) was up 12% and Hollywood Mahoning Valley (pictured, $9 million) … Continue reading →

Posted in Ameristar, Boyd Gaming, Dan Gilbert, Eldorado Resorts, Full House Resorts, Hard Rock International, Harrah's, Indiana, Majestic Star, Ohio, Penn National, Pinnacle Entertainment, Racinos, Tropicana Entertainment | Comments Off on Case Bets: Ohio and Indiana

Adverse Golden Week in Macao; Ho, Caesars jockey for position in Japan

Posted on October 11, 2017 by David McKee

Golden Week is an important holiday for Macao casinos and it failed to deliver this year. Visitor traffic was down 1%, causing stocks of both Sands China and Galaxy Entertainment Group to be punished on Hong Kong‘s Hang Seng Index. … Continue reading →

Posted in Election, Galaxy Entertainment, Harrah's, Japan, Lawrence Ho, Macau, Marketing, Sheldon Adelson, Stanley Ho, Steve Wynn, Tourism, Wall Street | Comments Off on Adverse Golden Week in Macao; Ho, Caesars jockey for position in Japan

Boxing creates boom for Nevada bookmakers

Posted on October 10, 2017 by David McKee

Nevada sports books saw an increase of 1,650% in August wagering. (No, that’s not a typo.) It would be an understatement to say that the Floyd Mayweather/Conor McGregor fight helped. $70 million was wagered on it, with the books keeping … Continue reading →

Posted in Donald Trump, Genting, Mississippi, Regulation, Sheldon Adelson, Singapore, Sports, Technology, Tilman Fertitta, Westgate LV | Comments Off on Boxing creates boom for Nevada bookmakers

Wynn backhands MGM security measures

Posted on October 10, 2017 by David McKee

Steve Wynn is having a told-you-so moment in the aftermath of Stephen Paddock‘s shooting rampage. Guesting on Fox News Sunday, the Wynn Resorts CEO said, “The scenario that we’re aware of would have indicated that he didn’t let anyone in the … Continue reading →

Posted in Dining, Law enforcement, Mandalay Bay Massacre, Steve Wynn, Technology, The Strip, TV | 1 Comment

Clean slate at Caesars; Heresy at G2E; Another Revel mystery

Posted on October 9, 2017 by David McKee

“Twenty-five years ago Caesars [Entertainment] was the premier name internationally but they dropped the ball,” said C.G. Anderson Partners analyst Greg Bousquette of the company that must find a way to become relevant after spending years snarled in debt, then in … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Colorado, Economy, Entertainment, G2E, Glenn Straub, Harrah's, Iowa, Japan, Macau, Mandalay Bay Massacre, Neil Bluhm, New York, Pennsylvania, Regulation, Revel, Singapore, South Korea, Technology, The Strip, Wall Street | Comments Off on Clean slate at Caesars; Heresy at G2E; Another Revel mystery

Quote of the Day

Posted on October 9, 2017 by David McKee

“We’re going to let people know that we are strong, and that we’ll be coming through this and coming out of this in a strong fashion. A lot of people spent a lot money and a lot of years building this … Continue reading →

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

Penn, Pinnacle to merge?

Posted on October 6, 2017 by David McKee

Writes Deutsche Bank analyst Carlo Santarelli, “according to people familiar with the matter, Penn National has conducted on again off again discussions to acquire Pinnacle Entertainment.” He warns that “a long list of questions, which may or may not make a … Continue reading →

Posted in Ameristar, GLPI, Golden Gaming, Harrah's, Maryland, MGM Mirage, Mississippi, Missouri, Ohio, Penn National, Pennsylvania, Pinnacle Entertainment, Regulation, Wall Street, West Virginia | 2 Comments

So long, Moulin Rouge; Golden merger green-lit

Posted on October 6, 2017 by David McKee

It just got a lot cheaper to buy the Moulin Rouge. The last vestiges of the original complex were pulled down yesterday after yet another suspicious fire ravaged through what once upon a time was Las Vegas‘ first integrated casino. … Continue reading →

Posted in ACEP, Fontainebleau, Genting, Golden Gaming, history, Moulin Rouge, Movies, Regulation, Sam Nazarian, The Strip | Comments Off on So long, Moulin Rouge; Golden merger green-lit

Mandalay Bay mystery a labyrinth

Posted on October 6, 2017 by David McKee

As the clouds of war gather again over our great country, we’re finally gaining some clarity regarding Mandalay Bay shooter Stephen Paddock. He was that seeming oxymoron: a video poker “whale,” one who didn’t blanch at wagering $100 a spin. … Continue reading →

Posted in Boyd Gaming, Cannery Casino Resorts, Cosmopolitan, Downtown, Harrah's, Illinois, Law enforcement, Mandalay Bay Massacre, Massachusetts, Mesquite, MGM Mirage, Philippines, Politics, Problem gambling, Regulation, Reno, Texas | Comments Off on Mandalay Bay mystery a labyrinth

Cuomo’s overreach; Penn punts on Trop upgrade

Posted on October 5, 2017 by David McKee

Genting needs to get worried, very worried about over budgeted Resorts World Catskills. New casinos promoted in upstate New York by Gov. Andrew Cuomo (D) are grossly underperforming. The three already in operation need an incredible 4Q17 to make good on … Continue reading →

Posted in Boyd Gaming, California, Dining, Economy, Genting, Mandalay Bay Massacre, Neil Bluhm, New York, Penn National, Racinos, Taxes, The Strip, Tourism, Tribal, Wall Street | Comments Off on Cuomo’s overreach; Penn punts on Trop upgrade

Quote of the Day

Posted on October 5, 2017 by David McKee

“Their parents did not grow up playing video games and attached to technology since birth like a prosthetic limb.” — Downtown Grand CEO Seth Schorr on Millennials, traditional slots and skill-based slots.

Posted in Downtown Grand, Marketing, Technology | Comments Off on Quote of the Day

Pugilism pays off for Vegas; Ho dissed by son

Posted on October 4, 2017 by David McKee

Those tomato cans Floyd Mayweather and Conor McGregor were very good for business when they battled on August 26. “It could be a while before we see money like this bet on a fight again,” said Betfair‘s Katie Baylis. Indeed. Betfair … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, Australia, Internet gambling, Japan, Lawrence Ho, Macau, Mesquite, Sports, Stanley Ho, The Strip | Comments Off on Pugilism pays off for Vegas; Ho dissed by son

Wynn takes the lead

Posted on October 4, 2017 by David McKee

Steve Wynn has always been a trendsetter in Las Vegas and we hope his decision to equip his security force with handheld metal detectors is another move the rest of the industry will follow. “Las Vegas is a target city. … Continue reading →

Posted in Boyd Gaming, Entertainment, Florida, G2E, Genting, Harrah's, Law enforcement, Macau, Mandalay Bay Massacre, Massachusetts, MGM Mirage, New York, Philippines, Steve Wynn, Wall Street | 1 Comment

Quote of the Day

Posted on October 4, 2017 by David McKee

“Everywhere we build integrated resorts, our mantra is always to build the coolest thing. And Japan will easily be the coolest; we’ll experiment with the latest in technology, latest in building methods, latest in engineering. But in order to do … Continue reading →

Posted in Japan, Lawrence Ho, Melco Resorts & Entertainment | Comments Off on Quote of the Day

“It feels like business as usual”

Posted on October 3, 2017 by David McKee

As we mentioned earlier, Deutsche Bank analyst Carlo Santarelli is in Las Vegas this week. He just released an investor note detailing the atmosphere following the tragic events of October 1. I don’t have much to add, so I will … Continue reading →

Posted in Economy, Law enforcement, Mandalay Bay Massacre, The Strip, Tourism | Comments Off on “It feels like business as usual”

Caesars exits bankruptcy; Station’s California headache

Posted on October 3, 2017 by David McKee

Caesars Entertainment‘s long Chapter 11 nightmare is finally at an end. Regulators in Missouri and Louisiana have signed off on a reorganization that will leave Caesars creditors $10 billion lighter in the wallet. The consummation of the deal is a … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, California, Harrah's, Illinois, Louisiana, Marketing, Maryland, MGM Mirage, Mississippi, Missouri, Regulation, Station Casinos, Technology, Tribal, Wall Street | Comments Off on Caesars exits bankruptcy; Station’s California headache

Quote of the Day

Posted on October 3, 2017 by David McKee

“There were probably some elements of the Chinese government that thought Macao was growing too quickly. Maybe people like [Sheldon] Adelson and the like were getting rich too quickly.”  — Richard McGregor, author of The Party: The Secret World of China’s … Continue reading →

Posted in Economy, Macau, Regulation, Sheldon Adelson | Comments Off on Quote of the Day