Author Archives: David McKee

About David McKee

Bio

Stratosphere: From Goldman to Golden; Christmas tree for gamers in Pennsylvania

Posted on June 12, 2017 by David McKee

Goldman Sachs has had enough of the casino business. Either that or the price was right. Whatever the case, Golden Entertainment has just executed the greatest coup of its brief existence. It has purchased Las Vegas icon the Stratosphere. In … Continue reading →

Posted in Baseball, Boulder Strip, Carl Icahn, Foxwoods, Golden Gaming, Goldman Sachs, Internet gambling, Laughlin, MGM Mirage, Mohegan Sun, Pennsylvania, Regulation, Sheldon Adelson, Slot routes, Sports, Taxes, The Strip, Tribal | Comments Off on Stratosphere: From Goldman to Golden; Christmas tree for gamers in Pennsylvania

Murren also breaks with Trump; Adios, Vegas Vickie

Posted on June 9, 2017 by David McKee

So far, Donald Trump‘s proposal to zero out the Brand USA program is going over like a lead balloon with the gaming industry. Already American Gaming Association President Geoff Freeman has dissed the decision. Now, in a CNN op-ed, MGM Resorts … Continue reading →

Posted in Donald Trump, Economy, Foxwoods, Geoff Freeman, MGM Mirage, Mohegan Sun, Rhode Island, Sports, Technology, The Strip, Tourism, Unite-Here | Comments Off on Murren also breaks with Trump; Adios, Vegas Vickie

Quote of the Day

Posted on June 9, 2017 by David McKee

“You’re not going to believe it, but those cherries, bars and bells were introduced in the 1880s. We still haven’t changed them. They’re silently telegraphing a message when millennials walk through the casino floor. What it’s saying is, ‘This is not … Continue reading →

Posted in history, Technology, The Strip | Comments Off on Quote of the Day

Pennsylvania bill gives some, takes more; MGM discloses new plans

Posted on June 8, 2017 by David McKee

Pennsylvania‘s House of Representatives has passed a gambling-expansion bill that gives with one hand but takes away more with the other. The bill, which still must pass the state Senate would: legalize DFS, pending a 19% tax and $50,000 licensing … Continue reading →

Posted in CityCenter, Dan Gilbert, GLPI, Hard Rock International, Internet gambling, Macau, MGM Mirage, Ohio, Penn National, Pennsylvania, Pinnacle Entertainment, Politics, Slot routes, Taxes, Wall Street | 1 Comment

MGM, Caesars join forces; A casino in Cuba

Posted on June 7, 2017 by David McKee

There’s intrigue surrounding Atlantic City‘s H-Tract, which separates Borgata from Harrah’s Resort. That’s adjacent to 15 acres of land Caesars Entertainment has never developed. MGM Resorts International, for its part, has acreage which it has tried and failed to sell, … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Foxwoods, Hard Rock International, Harrah's, MGM Mirage, Missouri, Mohegan Sun, Regulation, Sheldon Adelson, Singapore, Taxes, The Strip, Tribal | 1 Comment

Quote of the Day

Posted on June 7, 2017 by David McKee

“’We had [Pittsburgh] Steelers jerseys waiting for them when they arrived, which they took with them, but didn’t want to put on,’” recalled Meadows general manager Rod Centers. The Steelers won that matchup in a 43-14 blowout, and Centers said he … Continue reading →

Posted in GLPI, Horseracing, Marketing, Pennsylvania, Pinnacle Entertainment, Sports | Comments Off on Quote of the Day

Illinois becalmed; Freeman breaks with Trump

Posted on June 7, 2017 by David McKee

Lawmakers in Illinois obviously don’t care about the future of the state’s 10 extant casinos, considering the next gaming expansion (following slot routes) that they are preparing to ram through. If they bothered to look at the market, they’d see … Continue reading →

Posted in Boyd Gaming, Cordish Co., Geoff Freeman, GLPI, Golden Gaming, Harrah's, Illinois, Marketing, Maryland, MGM Mirage, Neil Bluhm, Penn National, Philippines, Regulation, Slot routes, Tourism, Wall Street | Comments Off on Illinois becalmed; Freeman breaks with Trump

Casino shootout in Manila; Twin Rivers shafts employees

Posted on June 5, 2017 by David McKee

“The work of the ISIS is more cruel and brutal.” With those words, Filipino despot Rodrigo Duterte downplayed a Manila casino shooting that was, in its own way, cruel and brutal. Degenerate gambler Jesse Carlos ran amuck in Resorts World … Continue reading →

Posted in Genting, Law enforcement, Lawrence Ho, Massachusetts, Melco Crown Entertainment, Penn National, Philippines, Problem gambling, Regulation, Rhode Island | Comments Off on Casino shootout in Manila; Twin Rivers shafts employees

Quote of the Day

Posted on June 4, 2017 by David McKee

“What was most notable to me was the act of owning a casino was never an issue. His ability to manage a casino was a topic of debate, but not his ownership. All this didn’t happen by accident. The industry is … Continue reading →

Posted in Don Barden, Election, Geoff Freeman | Comments Off on Quote of the Day

Galaxy targets Japan; Tribes expand Connecticut demands

Posted on June 2, 2017 by David McKee

“We believe that Japan has a huge opportunity to create something unique that doesn’t just follow the Vegas model seen in many other markets around the world.” With those words, Galaxy Entertainment President Michael Mecca announced that Galaxy was in … Continue reading →

Posted in Downtown, Economy, Foxwoods, Galaxy Entertainment, Illinois, Internet gambling, Japan, Lucky Dragon, Macau, MGM Mirage, Mohegan Sun, Neil Bluhm, Politics, Taxes | Comments Off on Galaxy targets Japan; Tribes expand Connecticut demands

Quote of the Day

Posted on June 2, 2017 by David McKee

“We’re making this job fair unique so we can entice the best applicants.” — Janet Borland, human resources talent manager at Pechanga Resort & Casino, which will be offering putting-green session and chair massages to job applicants, as it looks … Continue reading →

Posted in California, Tribal | Comments Off on Quote of the Day

Macao resurgence continues; Skill-based slots get second wind

Posted on June 2, 2017 by David McKee

As Galaxy Entertainment CEO Lui-Che Woo is fond of pointing out, it will take two years of positive results before Macao can be said to have recovered from its revenue collapse. That being said, May’s results — 24% up — … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Economy, Foxwoods, Galaxy Entertainment, GameCO, Harrah's, Macau, MGM Mirage, Movies, Technology, Tribal, Tropicana Entertainment, Wall Street, Wayne F. Newton | Comments Off on Macao resurgence continues; Skill-based slots get second wind

Hard Rock ups Atlantic City commitment; Japan inspires casino designers

Posted on May 31, 2017 by David McKee

Compared to Carl Icahn‘s half-a-loaf policies, Hard Rock International CEO Jim Allen is Lady Bountiful, at least as concerns [Trump] Taj Mahal. We put The Donald’s name in brackets because it’s one of the first things to go, to be … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, Atlantic City, Carl Icahn, Donald Trump, Election, Glenn Straub, Hard Rock International, Harrah's, Harry Reid, International, Japan, Lawrence Ho, Massachusetts, Melco Crown Entertainment, MGM Mirage, Mohegan Sun, Regulation, Revel, Sahara, SLS Las Vegas, Technology, Unite-Here | 1 Comment

Quote of the Day

Posted on May 31, 2017 by David McKee

“The innovative machines were highly touted when they debuted in Atlantic City in November, and since have started appearing on other casino floors. But their initial reception is proving to be largely a bust. Price revealed that 21 of the machines … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Harrah's, Technology | Comments Off on Quote of the Day

Strip survives baccarat drought; Gural reprieves Atlantic City

Posted on May 31, 2017 by David McKee

Las Vegas Strip gaming execs can breathe a sigh of relief that April’s 3% decline in revenue, while worse than expected, was as small as it was. After all, they were up against flat baccarat wagering and a revenue plunge … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Economy, Election, Foxwoods, Hard Rock International, Marketing, MGM Mirage, Mohegan Sun, New York, Politics, Technology, TV | Comments Off on Strip survives baccarat drought; Gural reprieves Atlantic City

Quote of the Day

Posted on May 30, 2017 by David McKee

“The California penal code expressly bars the playing of blackjack as a prohibited game. Yet you can drive down streets and highways in our state and see billboards on which card rooms boldly advertise that they play Las Vegas-style blackjack.” — Yocha … Continue reading →

Posted in California, Law enforcement, Tribal | Comments Off on Quote of the Day

SLS: What’s in a name?

Posted on May 30, 2017 by David McKee

Quite a lot, from the looks of things. Back in 2014, then-U.S. Sen. Harry Reid (D) prophesied that, in a few years, nobody would be talking about the Sahara anymore; they’d all be talking about SLS Las Vegas. Guess not, … Continue reading →

Posted in Foxwoods, Harry Reid, James Packer, Massachusetts, MGM Mirage, Mohegan Sun, Politics, Sahara, Sam Nazarian, SLS Las Vegas, Steve Wynn, The Strip | 1 Comment

Connecticut casino faces uncertain future; Japanese cities protest casino process

Posted on May 26, 2017 by David McKee

Connecticut‘s controversial satellite casino has been voted through the state Senate. This prompted a swift response from the Schaghticoke Tribal Nation, which promised a lawsuit (probably financed by MGM Resorts International). Gov. Dannel Malloy (D) threw his support behind the satellite … Continue reading →

Posted in California, Economy, Foxwoods, Harrah's, Japan, Massachusetts, MGM Mirage, Mohegan Sun, Politics, Sheldon Adelson, Transportation, Tribal | Comments Off on Connecticut casino faces uncertain future; Japanese cities protest casino process

SLS to get new owner; Boyd outlines strategy

Posted on May 26, 2017 by David McKee

Having failed to reinvent the north end of the Las Vegas Strip as the new place to party heartily, the owners of $415 million SLS Las Vegas are giving up and selling it to a relatively minor player: Meruelo Group. The … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, Boulder Strip, Boyd Gaming, Cannery Casino Resorts, Environment, Harrah's, Louisiana, Lucky Dragon, Marketing, Mississippi, North Las Vegas, Palms, Reno, Sam Nazarian, SLS Las Vegas, Station Casinos, The Strip, Wall Street | 1 Comment

Executive shuffle at Station; Freeman’s bold agenda

Posted on May 25, 2017 by David McKee

Long-serving (some would say long-suffering) Station Casinos CFO Marc Falcone has had enough and will resign on May 31. He’ll still be at Station’s service thanks to a one-year consulting agreement — read “non-compete.” He’s served Station well, coming aboard … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Donald Trump, Geoff Freeman, Hard Rock International, Law enforcement, Palms, Politics, Regulation, Revel, Sports, Station Casinos, Taxes, Wall Street | Comments Off on Executive shuffle at Station; Freeman’s bold agenda