Author Archives: David McKee

About David McKee

Bio

Revel sold? Sez who?; Wynn loses his shirt

Posted on August 1, 2017 by David McKee

Atlantic City may have seen the last of Glenn Straub. Last week, Global Gaming Business Editor Roger Gros took to Twitter to announce that Revel (aka Ten) had been sold, former exec Mark Juliano — late of Sands Bethlehem — … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Glenn Straub, Hard Rock International, Harrah's, Lawrence Ho, Macau, Melco Resorts & Entertainment, MGM Mirage, Neil Bluhm, New York, Pennsylvania, Racinos, Regulation, Revel, Sheldon Adelson, Sociedade de Jogos de Macau, Steve Wynn, Wall Street | Comments Off on Revel sold? Sez who?; Wynn loses his shirt

Land of the Sinking Hopes?; MGM hearts McCain

Posted on August 1, 2017 by David McKee

If Japanese casinos must be majority-owned by local companies, that suits Sega Sammy Holdings just fine. The company is challenging the likes of Galaxy Entertainment, Las Vegas Sands and MGM Resorts International for one of the initial casino licenses. Of … Continue reading →

Posted in Cordish Co., Foxwoods, G2E, Galaxy Entertainment, Geoff Freeman, Hard Rock International, Harrah's, Horseracing, International, Japan, MGM Mirage, Mohegan Sun, Politics, Problem gambling, Sheldon Adelson, Singapore, Tribal | Comments Off on Land of the Sinking Hopes?; MGM hearts McCain

Adelson: I did it my way

Posted on July 28, 2017 by David McKee

Despite Las Vegas numbers that were deemed disappointing by Las Vegas Sands execs, the company still managed to haul in $3 billion-plus in 2Q17, driven in part by the opening of Parisian in Macao. “I think you know this quarter was … Continue reading →

Posted in Dining, Illinois, Macau, Penn National, Sheldon Adelson, Technology, The Strip, Wall Street | Comments Off on Adelson: I did it my way

Quote of the Day

Posted on July 28, 2017 by David McKee

“[Americans] frequently misunderstand the nature of gambling addiction, seeing it as a symptom of moral weakness rather than a medical condition. [It’s why] people with problems are reluctant to get help.” — National Council on Problem Gambling Executive Director Keith Whyte on … Continue reading →

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

The allure of Brazil; DraftKings blows a gasket

Posted on July 27, 2017 by David McKee

Jan Jones Blackhurst has really been racking up the frequent-flier miles on behalf of Caesars Entertainment, having made multiple trips to Brazil to assess the potential for casinos down there. She’s narrowed down the possible sites to Brasilia, Sao Paulo, Salvador … Continue reading →

Posted in Australia, Brazil, Economy, GameCO, Harrah's, Internet gambling, Macau, Massachusetts, MGM Mirage, Oklahoma, Sheldon Adelson, Steve Wynn, Technology, The Strip, Tribal | Comments Off on The allure of Brazil; DraftKings blows a gasket

Quote of the Day

Posted on July 27, 2017 by David McKee

“As soon as the government lets us, we’ll build more new and beautiful hotel rooms. We have property on both sides of our current land concession and we have already built connections to both sides of it, so we can build rooms … Continue reading →

Posted in Macau, Steve Wynn | Comments Off on Quote of the Day

Palace coup; India: No Goa

Posted on July 26, 2017 by David McKee

While Station Casinos still hasn’t made up its mind whether to add a new hotel tower to Palace Station (with 606 rooms spread over 27 stories), it’s filed plans with the City of Las Vegas, just in case it decides … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, Atlantic City, Boyd Gaming, Dining, Donald Trump, Economy, history, International, Internet gambling, Palms, Regulation, Station Casinos | 1 Comment

Of clowns and hackers

Posted on July 25, 2017 by David McKee

  If you miss the old Boardwalk Casino on the Las Vegas Strip (which died so that CityCenter could live; they don’t call it “City Cemetery” for nothing) and have $900,000 under the sofa cushions, do we have a deal … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, CityCenter, history, Nevada, Technology, The Strip | Comments Off on Of clowns and hackers

Mohegan Sun rules; Conflict over e-sports

Posted on July 25, 2017 by David McKee

Executives at Mohegan Gaming Entertainment can take a victory lap this morning. Readers of USA Today voted Mohegan Sun the finest casino in America, edging out Caesars Palace for the top spot. Bracketing Caesars was another tribal casino, Pechanga Resort … Continue reading →

Posted in Arizona, Atlantic City, California, Downtown, e-sports, Foxwoods, Harrah's, Iowa, Louisiana, MGM Mirage, Mohegan Sun, Pinnacle Entertainment, Regulation, Reno, Sheldon Adelson, Station Casinos, Steve Wynn, The Strip, Tourism, Tribal | 2 Comments

Making life easier

Posted on July 25, 2017 by David McKee

You may notice a change to S&G today. At the top of the right-hand column is a “Subscribe” option. You enter your first name (or not, if you prefer) and your e-mail address … and you’re good to go. Hopefully … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | Comments Off on Making life easier

Pennsylvania: Small is lucrative; Sleazy doings in Maine

Posted on July 24, 2017 by David McKee

Lawmakers in Pennsylvania have passed an unbalanced budget but are still undecided on how (not “if”) to expand gambling to cover the shortfall. One late-entrant idea that is gaining more traction than anything else is the proposal of mini-casinos, 10 … Continue reading →

Posted in Affinity Gaming, Election, Foxwoods, Genting, Harrah's, Maine, Massachusetts, MGM Mirage, Mohegan Sun, Neil Bluhm, Penn National, Pennsylvania, Politics, Regulation, Tribal | Comments Off on Pennsylvania: Small is lucrative; Sleazy doings in Maine

Play dirty; Ayre beats the rap

Posted on July 24, 2017 by David McKee

One of the great things about Nevada‘s gambling industry is that it’s a free market. If you’ve got the capitalization and qualify for a license, any number can play. (Actually, some have gotten licensed only to be exposed as empty … Continue reading →

Posted in Australia, Crown Resorts, Culinary Union, Donald Trump, Genting, International, Internet gambling, James Packer, Law enforcement, Nevada, Regulation | Comments Off on Play dirty; Ayre beats the rap

Louisiana: Hot in June

Posted on July 21, 2017 by David McKee

Gambling revenues in the Pelican State enjoyed a 5% jump last month, reaching $213 million (not counting slot routes). How good was business? The “worst performing” market, Lake Charles, was up 1%. L’Auberge du Lac ($27 million) had an aberrantly … Continue reading →

Posted in Boyd Gaming, California, Churchill Downs, Eldorado Resorts, GLPI, Harrah's, Isle of Capri, Law enforcement, Louisiana, Penn National, Pinnacle Entertainment, Racinos, Tilman Fertitta, Tribal, Tropicana Entertainment | Comments Off on Louisiana: Hot in June

Starting over at the Taj

Posted on July 20, 2017 by David McKee

“I think that we were trying to copy what was happening in Vegas. Everything out there had a theme, and I think that is what we were trying to do.” So says former Trump Taj Mahal executive Steve Norton about the … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, Atlantic City, California, Carl Icahn, Donald Trump, Greenwood Racing, Hard Rock International, Harrah's, history, Neil Bluhm, Nevada, Pennsylvania, Regulation, Tribal | 1 Comment

Wynn: The inevitable happens; Tribes have boffo year

Posted on July 20, 2017 by David McKee

We knew this day had to come: Wynn Resorts is going to charge for self-parking at Wynncore, starting August 7. The fee structure is very much like those of other Strip casinos that have gone the self-parking route, although offering … Continue reading →

Posted in Entertainment, Harrah's, Law enforcement, Massachusetts, MGM Mirage, Penn National, Politics, Station Casinos, Steve Wynn, The Strip | Comments Off on Wynn: The inevitable happens; Tribes have boffo year

Two decades in Detroit; Juliano out at Sands

Posted on July 19, 2017 by David McKee

Can it really be 20 years since casinos were legalized in Detroit? (It’s been 18 years since MGM Grand Detroit opened.) Time flies and so does casino lucre — straight into city coffers. Then-Gov. John Engler (R) had to dragged kicking … Continue reading →

Posted in Detroit, Economy, history, Internet gambling, Law enforcement, Massachusetts, MGM Mirage, New Hampshire, Pennsylvania, Politics, Sheldon Adelson, Steve Wynn, Taxes, Tropicana Entertainment | Comments Off on Two decades in Detroit; Juliano out at Sands

Revel: The great silence; Strangulation in Japan

Posted on July 19, 2017 by David McKee

“Atlantic City casino owner clueless over $220M offer.” So read one of the headlines about the mystery New York City private equity firm that is ostensibly proffering $220 million (up from $200 million) for Revel and owner Glenn Straub‘s professions of … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, GameCO, Glenn Straub, International, Internet gambling, Japan, Macau, Mohegan Sun, Regulation, Revel, The Mob, Wall Street | Comments Off on Revel: The great silence; Strangulation in Japan

Wynn faces tough path in Japan; Sweetheart deal for Saucier

Posted on July 17, 2017 by David McKee

Things haven’t been going well for Kazuo Okada but he could still play spoiler to Steve Wynn‘s casino aspirations in Japan. Litigation between the two could tarnish Wynn’s image. Already, Wynn is swimming upstream, with MGM Resorts International and Las … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, California, Florida, Genting, Japan, Kazuo Okada, Marketing, Massachusetts, MGM Mirage, Nevada, New York, Politics, Regulation, Sheldon Adelson, Steve Wynn, Wall Street | Comments Off on Wynn faces tough path in Japan; Sweetheart deal for Saucier

Adelson up to new mischief; DFS mega-merger kaput

Posted on July 17, 2017 by David McKee

If you don’t know Rep. Charlie Dent (R), you will soon. Sheldon Adelson has the Pennsylvania congressman by the short and curlies, holding expansion at Sands Bethlehem hostage to passage of Restore America’s Wire Act, his pet cause. Consequently, Dent … Continue reading →

Posted in California, Environment, Internet gambling, Law enforcement, Macau, Massachusetts, Penn National, Pennsylvania, Politics | Comments Off on Adelson up to new mischief; DFS mega-merger kaput

Cromwell re-do planned; The other Sin City

Posted on July 17, 2017 by David McKee

While the contest to re-name the Cromwell (perhaps as something less puritanical) has gone down the memory hole, that doesn’t mean the boutique casino is off Caesars Entertainment‘s radar. Far from it. The company has announced a fleet of changes … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, Dining, Entertainment, Harrah's, history, Kentucky, Law enforcement, Sports, The Mob, The Strip, TV | 1 Comment