Author Archives: David McKee

About David McKee

Bio

Hard Rock to spend big in Atlantic City; Bad news for slot makers

Posted on April 6, 2017 by David McKee

In the biggest vote of confidence Atlantic City has received in a decade, Hard Rock International has announced that it intends to invest $375 million in the former Trump Taj Mahal. On top of the 1,000 projected construction jobs, Hard … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Cordish Co., Economy, Golden Gaming, Hard Rock International, Harrah's, International, Lawrence Ho, Marketing, Maryland, MGM Mirage, New York, Penn National, Pinnacle Entertainment, Station Casinos, Technology, Tribal | 2 Comments

Bicycle Casino gets busted; Macao bounces back

Posted on April 5, 2017 by David McKee

For the second time in its history, the Feds have busted the Bicycle Hotel & Casino, in Bell Gardens, California. They’re hot on the trail of laundered money and think Bicycle was providing some drip-dry service. Agents from multilateral task … Continue reading →

Posted in California, Law enforcement, Macau, Sports, The Strip, Wall Street | Comments Off on Bicycle Casino gets busted; Macao bounces back

Trump keeps them guessing; Meet your new neighbor, Steve Wynn

Posted on April 4, 2017 by David McKee

Could the president of the United States build a Las Vegas casino? That’s regulatory terra incognito that Nevada regulators will have to explore as Phil Ruffin and Donald Trump continue with their plan to erect a Trump-branded casino next door … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, Donald Trump, Economy, Law enforcement, Massachusetts, MGM Mirage, Movies, New York, Phil Ruffin, Regulation, Riviera, Sports, Steve Wynn, The Mob, The Strip | Comments Off on Trump keeps them guessing; Meet your new neighbor, Steve Wynn

Cutting the Gordian Knot in Florida; New Hampshire tries yet again

Posted on April 3, 2017 by David McKee

Daily fantasy sports is expected to be legalized in Florida with little fuss. Resolving the casino-gambling impasse — that’s another story. Next week, a committee of the Legislature will try to reconcile two radically different bills. The state Senate one … Continue reading →

Posted in Florida, Japan, New Hampshire, Politics, Problem gambling, Regulation, Seminole Tribe, Singapore, Taxes, Technology, The Strip | Comments Off on Cutting the Gordian Knot in Florida; New Hampshire tries yet again

What’s in a name?

Posted on April 3, 2017 by David McKee

Quite a lot, if you happen to be the late Sen. Pat McCarran (D). Not only is Nevada‘s largest airport named after you (not inaptly — the anti-New Deal, pro-fascist McCarran’s signature achievements included splitting off the Air Force as a … Continue reading →

Posted in Cordish Co., Donald Trump, Harry Reid, history, International, Movies, Politics, Sports, Steve Wynn, Transportation | Comments Off on What’s in a name?

Quote of the Day

Posted on April 3, 2017 by David McKee

“The United States is not a perfect country, and it has a great distance to go before it fully achieves its goals of liberty and equality. But preserving what works and defending the rules and values on which democracy depends … Continue reading →

Posted in Current | Comments Off on Quote of the Day

Programming note

Posted on March 31, 2017 by David McKee

S&G is back online at Twitter, with the new handle @Stiffs_Georges. I look forward to seeing you there.

Posted in Current | 3 Comments

Shawn The Sham; Cal-Neva in limbo

Posted on March 31, 2017 by David McKee

“They got the signatures to put it on the ballot and they are going to be spending millions of dollars on advertising, probably six weeks prior to this Election Day in November, to convince people to vote for it. It … Continue reading →

Posted in Galaxy Entertainment, Harrah's, Horseracing, International, Japan, Maine, Nevada, North Dakota, Penn National, Politics, Regulation, South Korea, Technology | Comments Off on Shawn The Sham; Cal-Neva in limbo

Trump’s Amman Castle?; Wynn goes 0-for-2

Posted on March 30, 2017 by David McKee

Gambling is illegal in Jordan but that doesn’t stop Donald Trump. The new president’s company has renewed the trademark for a Jordanian casino. This won’t play well with religious hawks in the Hashemite kingdom, who went into full cry when … Continue reading →

Posted in Donald Trump, Genting, Glenn Straub, International, Internet gambling, Japan, Macau, Revel, Steve Wynn, The Strip | Comments Off on Trump’s Amman Castle?; Wynn goes 0-for-2

Quote of the Day

Posted on March 29, 2017 by David McKee

“There are a finite number of gamblers. The more times you split that pie up, the fewer customers you have.” — Jackson Rancheria Casino Resort CEO Rich Hoffman, uttering apparent heresy to explain why California tribal casinos need to diversify their … Continue reading →

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

Raiders prompt magical thinking; Next stop: Yankton?

Posted on March 29, 2017 by David McKee

Boxing promoter Bob Arum has drunk deeply of the NFL-in-Vegas Kool-Aid, telling the Wall Street Journal, “Say  [the Raiders] play the Giants. It’s going to bring 20,000 people coming from New York to watch the game, clutching fistfuls of money … Continue reading →

Posted in Boyd Gaming, Florida, Japan, Law enforcement, Macau, Seminole Tribe, Sheldon Adelson, South Dakota, Sports, Technology, Tourism, Westgate LV | Comments Off on Raiders prompt magical thinking; Next stop: Yankton?

Trump’s revenge; Larry Flynt, casino boss

Posted on March 28, 2017 by David McKee

Why is Trump Plaza the whitest elephant among Atlantic City casinos? (Scroll to bottom) Because its operating costs include a $1 million ground lease to former American Jewish Congress head Robert Lifton, who owns the underlying acreage. This little poison … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, California, Carl Icahn, Donald Trump, Hard Rock International, Harrah's, history, Isle of Capri, MGM Mirage, Technology, Trump Entertainment Resorts | 1 Comment

Penn gets bigger; Cool February in Nevada

Posted on March 28, 2017 by David McKee

Not many casino companies would double down on the Tunica market, let alone triple down. However, Penn National Gaming has an appetite for risk plus a track record of taking distressed properties and turning them around. So, in addition to … Continue reading →

Posted in Boulder Strip, Colony Capital, Downtown, Harrah's, Lake Tahoe, Laughlin, Maryland, Mesquite, Mississippi, Nevada, Ohio, Penn National, Reno, The Strip, Wall Street | Comments Off on Penn gets bigger; Cool February in Nevada

It’s official: Las Vegas Raiders; Crime on the Strip

Posted on March 27, 2017 by David McKee

NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell having slammed the door on Oakland, we’re going to have to follow Adam Schefter‘s lead and get used to saying “Las Vegas Raiders.” Needless to say, this is a huge coup for Sin City, all the bigger … Continue reading →

Posted in Current, Geoff Freeman, Harrah's, Law enforcement, MGM Mirage, Sheldon Adelson, Sports, The Strip, World Series of Poker | Comments Off on It’s official: Las Vegas Raiders; Crime on the Strip

Reading Trump’s tea leaves; Paper to MGM: Give us your money — or else!

Posted on March 27, 2017 by David McKee

What does the nascent Trump administration bode of tribal gaming? That question is vigorously bandied about in the new issue of Global Gaming Business. Although fairly circumspect in his opinions, National Indian Gaming Association Chairman Ernest Stevens Jr. sees cause … Continue reading →

Posted in California, Downtown, Economy, Entertainment, Foxwoods, history, Indiana, Macau, Massachusetts, MGM Mirage, Mohegan Sun, Neil Bluhm, New York, North Las Vegas, Philippines, Politics, Steve Wynn, The Mob, Tribal | Comments Off on Reading Trump’s tea leaves; Paper to MGM: Give us your money — or else!

Quote of the Day

Posted on March 27, 2017 by David McKee

“I don’t like to say that we’re a ‘gaming tribe. We’re a farming tribe that happens to have a casino … Gaming may not be here forever. So we have to be able to look back and say that we … Continue reading →

Posted in Arizona, Economy, Harrah's, Tribal | Comments Off on Quote of the Day

Quote of the Day

Posted on March 24, 2017 by David McKee

“Perhaps if the utility called the exit fee a resort fee the casinos would be more comfortable with an exorbitant fee imposed on them for profit.” — anonymous LVA reader on Las Vegas Sands‘ and MGM Resorts International‘s recalcitrance at … Continue reading →

Posted in Current, MGM Mirage, Sheldon Adelson, Technology | Comments Off on Quote of the Day

Trump’s Vegas Castle?; Florida Lege speaks with forked tongue

Posted on March 24, 2017 by David McKee

Just a few months ago, the idea of a Donald Trump-branded casino on the Las Vegas Strip would have seemed like a joke. Trump’s brand equity in gaming had dwindled to zilch and the man himself was out of gaming … Continue reading →

Posted in Australia, Donald Trump, Economy, Florida, Internet gambling, Macau, Mississippi, Phil Ruffin, Politics, Racinos, Seminole Tribe, The Strip, Transportation | Comments Off on Trump’s Vegas Castle?; Florida Lege speaks with forked tongue

Slim hope for North Dakota casinos; Russians hack U.S. slot machines

Posted on March 22, 2017 by David McKee

North Dakota lawmakers are still averse to the idea of state-owned casinos (which caused a fair number of birthing pains for Kansas) but they split the baby on casino expansion this week. While the House Judiciary Committee still stamped “do … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, International, Law enforcement, Missouri, North Dakota, Pennsylvania, PokerStars, Politics, Problem gambling, Sheldon Adelson, Singapore, Tilman Fertitta, Tribal | Comments Off on Slim hope for North Dakota casinos; Russians hack U.S. slot machines

Palace, soon with 100% less Station; Casinos nixed in North Dakota

Posted on March 21, 2017 by David McKee

Palace Station was the Fertitta Brothers‘ first go at a big locals casino and it is, let’s face it, a little crude in its theming, at least by the standards we have come to expect. That’s OK: The Fertittas got … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, Dining, Dubai, Harrah's, history, International, MGM Mirage, North Dakota, Politics, Station Casinos, The Strip | 1 Comment