Author Archives: David McKee

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Days of wine and roses; SCOTUS to weigh Bradley Act

Posted on June 27, 2017 by David McKee

After seven years of hesitation, The Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas has committed to a purpose for its top four hotel floors. They’ll be high-roller suites known as the Boulevard Penthouse will be the most expensive hotel rooms known to man. … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, Australia, Cosmopolitan, Dining, Harrah's, history, International, Massachusetts, PokerStars, Regulation, Sports, The Strip, Tribal | Comments Off on Days of wine and roses; SCOTUS to weigh Bradley Act

Eyeball-to-eyeball in Pennsylvania; The tomato cans cometh

Posted on June 26, 2017 by David McKee

Pennsylvania‘s i-gaming legislation could fall apart, as New York State’s shamefully did (Gary Pretlow should change his name to Mr. Useless) but both houses are presently trying to find a satisfactory middle ground. Slot routes stick in the craw of … Continue reading →

Posted in Horseracing, Internet gambling, Massachusetts, New York, Pennsylvania, Philippines, Politics, Regulation, Slot routes, Sports, Taxes, The Strip, Tribal | Comments Off on Eyeball-to-eyeball in Pennsylvania; The tomato cans cometh

DFS mega-merger stalled; Regulating e-sports

Posted on June 26, 2017 by David McKee

It looks like the Trump administration isn’t going to be completely laissez-faire, at least as far as the DraftKings/FanDuel merger is concerned. In cooperation with the State of California and the District of Columbia, the Federal Trade Commission has filed … Continue reading →

Posted in California, Foxwoods, Internet gambling, Massachusetts, MGM Mirage, Mohegan Sun, Nevada, Regulation, Sports | Comments Off on DFS mega-merger stalled; Regulating e-sports

MGM rebuffed in Connecticut; Taking the Trump out of the Taj

Posted on June 23, 2017 by David McKee

For the second time, a federal court has ruled against MGM Resorts International in its attempts to wrest a casino license away from Mohegan Sun and Foxwoods Resort Casino. According to the Hartford Courant, the court held that “the company … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, Atlantic City, Donald Trump, Foxwoods, GameCO, Glenn Straub, Hard Rock International, Harrah's, Macau, Maryland, MGM Mirage, Mohegan Sun, Pennsylvania, Regulation, Revel, Technology, Tropicana Entertainment | 1 Comment

Okada in the cross-hairs; Oregon poker rooms (sorta) saved

Posted on June 22, 2017 by David McKee

Could it be? Dare we hope? Gamey gaming mogul Kazuo Okada is in danger of losing his Nevada license. (Steve Wynn is quietly celebrating somewhere.) Already he’s been suspended by his own company, Universal Entertainment Corp., and his dreams of … Continue reading →

Posted in Cordish Co., Greenwood Racing, Iowa, Isle of Capri, Japan, Kazuo Okada, Missouri, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Politics, Regulation, Sports, Steve Wynn, Texas, Westgate LV | Comments Off on Okada in the cross-hairs; Oregon poker rooms (sorta) saved

E-sports: The fix is in; Reno’s renaissance

Posted on June 22, 2017 by David McKee

E-sports are barely out of the gate and already match-fixing is a serious concern. South Korea has seen a scandal involving ties to organized crime and to contestants throwing games. Although players with posturing names like Joshua “steel” Nissan seem … Continue reading →

Posted in Dining, Downtown, Economy, International, MGM Mirage, Regulation, Reno, South Korea, Technology | Comments Off on E-sports: The fix is in; Reno’s renaissance

Big Brother lives in Japan; Zinke betrays tribes

Posted on June 21, 2017 by David McKee

Imagine that you had to display your Social Security card every time you visited a casino, and have that data recorded and reported. It would kind of put you off gambling, wouldn’t it? Well, it’s an idea being floated in … Continue reading →

Posted in Donald Trump, Florida, Japan, Macau, Politics, Problem gambling, Regulation, Seminole Tribe, Singapore, South Korea, Tribal | Comments Off on Big Brother lives in Japan; Zinke betrays tribes

The heat is on; As Vegas warms up, so does its economy

Posted on June 21, 2017 by David McKee

Two of the nation’s premier casino markets — Las Vegas and Phoenix — are grappling with Baghdad-size temperatures, with more to come, not for months but years. (See video embed.) Coping with the Las Vegas Strip, if you dare, mandates … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Delaware, Economy, Environment, Genting, Golden Gaming, International, Internet gambling, MGM Mirage, Neil Bluhm, Nevada, Pennsylvania, The Strip, Wall Street | Comments Off on The heat is on; As Vegas warms up, so does its economy

Pinnacle wins, Boyd loses in Louisiana

Posted on June 20, 2017 by David McKee

After a fairly calamitous May of 2016, last month was smooth sailing for Louisiana casinos, up 6% overall. True, Shreveport/Bossier City was flat but Lake Charles rose 9%, New Orleans increased 5% and Baton Rouge — look out! — was … Continue reading →

Posted in Boyd Gaming, Churchill Downs, Eldorado Resorts, GLPI, Harrah's, Louisiana, Pinnacle Entertainment, Tilman Fertitta, Tropicana Entertainment | Comments Off on Pinnacle wins, Boyd loses in Louisiana

That wacky Glenn Straub; New York caves on ‘Net bets

Posted on June 20, 2017 by David McKee

Call it Revel, call it Ten but, whatever you do, call it “closed.” Because that’s what Revel is. Owner Glenn Straub is frittering away the prime earning weeks of the year while he fights with state and local officials, whether … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Cosmopolitan, Donald Trump, Environment, Glenn Straub, Internet gambling, New York, Pennsylvania, Politics, Regulation, Revel | Comments Off on That wacky Glenn Straub; New York caves on ‘Net bets

Phlegmatic about Macao; New Jersey warns Trump

Posted on June 19, 2017 by David McKee

* Wall Street analysts have been descending upon Macao and we’re told to expect a rebranding of Sands Cotai Central “as its brand doesn’t have traction like Venetian, Wynn, and City of Dreams,” writes JP Morgan analyst Joseph Greff. That … Continue reading →

Posted in Donald Trump, Internet gambling, Kazuo Okada, Law enforcement, Macau, Melco Crown Entertainment, Philippines, Politics, Sheldon Adelson, Sociedade de Jogos de Macau, Steve Wynn, The Crown 18, Transportation, Wall Street | Comments Off on Phlegmatic about Macao; New Jersey warns Trump

Quote of the Day

Posted on June 16, 2017 by David McKee

“My pledge is to work with you, partner with you and be your advocate and fix a system that is broken.” — Secretary of the Interior Ryan Zinke, speaking at Mohegan Sun and trying to allay fears that the Bureau … Continue reading →

Posted in Donald Trump, Mohegan Sun, Tribal | Comments Off on Quote of the Day

Wynn: Up in smoke; Mohegan by any other name

Posted on June 16, 2017 by David McKee

Wynn Resorts is pursuing a no-tolerance policy toward high-rolling customers associated with corporate cannabis. “I can confirm that I was permanently banned from gambling at Wynn Resorts on June 7, 2017 due to my role as Chairman and CEO of … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Boyd Gaming, Donald Trump, Downtown, GLPI, Hard Rock International, Law enforcement, Mohegan Sun, Penn National, Pennsylvania, Regulation, Seminole Tribe, South Korea, Steve Wynn, Tamares Group, Taxes, The Strip, Tribal, Vietnam | 1 Comment

Adelson fights for dirty power; Hard Rock on the move

Posted on June 15, 2017 by David McKee

Fossil fuel-loving fossil Sheldon Adelson is putting heavy pressure on Nevada Gov. Brian Sandoval (R) to veto a bill that would increase the production of renewable energy in the Silver State. And when Adelson says “Jump!”, Sandoval asks “How high?” … Continue reading →

Posted in Environment, Florida, Hard Rock International, International, Internet gambling, MGM Mirage, Ohio, Politics, Regulation, Sheldon Adelson, Taxes | Comments Off on Adelson fights for dirty power; Hard Rock on the move

Better times come to Atlantic City; Wynn Boston Harbor sets opening date

Posted on June 15, 2017 by David McKee

May’s gambling grosses are in from the Boardwalk and Atlantic City is up 2.5% since last year — 11% if Trump Taj Mahal is subtracted from the comparison. Terrestrial casinos pulled in $208 million, while Internet gambling grossed a further … Continue reading →

Posted in Affinity Gaming, Architecture, Atlantic City, Boulder Strip, Boyd Gaming, Cannery Casino Resorts, Dan Gilbert, Detroit, Golden Gaming, Goldman Sachs, Harrah's, Internet gambling, Massachusetts, MGM Mirage, Mohegan Sun, North Las Vegas, Palms, Phil Ruffin, SLS Las Vegas, Station Casinos, Steve Wynn, Tilman Fertitta, Tropicana Entertainment, Wall Street | Comments Off on Better times come to Atlantic City; Wynn Boston Harbor sets opening date

Quote of the Day

Posted on June 15, 2017 by David McKee

“We may have our differences, but we do well in times like these to remember that everyone who serves in our nation’s capital is here because, above all, they love our country.” — President Donald Trump, reacting to yesterday’s attack … Continue reading →

Posted in Current | Comments Off on Quote of the Day

Bonacic: Let’s make a deal; Freeman makes sports-betting case

Posted on June 14, 2017 by David McKee

You could soon be able to play Internet poker in New York State — by going to a casino. That’s the compromise proposed by Senate Racing, Wagering & Gaming Committee Chairman John Bonacic (R). Only casinos and racinos would be eligible to … Continue reading →

Posted in Economy, Genting, Geoff Freeman, Internet gambling, Lawrence Ho, Massachusetts, New York, Philippines, Politics, Regulation, Sports, Taxes | Comments Off on Bonacic: Let’s make a deal; Freeman makes sports-betting case

Smoke and mirrors in Maine; Vegas Vickie descends

Posted on June 14, 2017 by David McKee

Surprise, surprise. Shawn Scott is back in the news. The fast-and-loose casino speculator faces queries from the Maine Ethics Commission about where it got its money. Scott’s Capital Seven is pushing a ballot question to put a racino in York … Continue reading →

Posted in Colony Capital, Derek Stevens, Downtown, Economy, history, Japan, Maine, Racinos, Regulation, Sports | Comments Off on Smoke and mirrors in Maine; Vegas Vickie descends

Quote of the Day

Posted on June 13, 2017 by David McKee

“I understand Disney’s opposition to gaming, not wanting visitors to spend their money away from Disney World or Epcot, but their visitors also have gaming available, being close to America’s top grossing casino resort, the Seminole Hard Rock, down I-4, in Tampa. The Orlando … Continue reading →

Posted in Florida, Hard Rock International, Politics, Tribal | Comments Off on Quote of the Day

Adelson in the catbird seat; Lui has advice for Macao

Posted on June 12, 2017 by David McKee

We’re still a long way from requests for proposals for Japanese megaresorts but one source is already tapping Las Vegas Sands as a finalist. (Hardly a radical prediction, it’s true.) The tip comes from Morningstar Investment Management Asia analyst Chelsey … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Boyd Gaming, Crown Resorts, Galaxy Entertainment, Genting, Harrah's, Japan, Law enforcement, Macau, Melco Crown Entertainment, Oklahoma, Regulation, Scientific Games, Sheldon Adelson, Singapore, Sports, Technology, Tourism, Tribal | Comments Off on Adelson in the catbird seat; Lui has advice for Macao