Author Archives: David McKee

About David McKee

Bio

MGM’s big rake in Washington; Resort projects power Massachusetts

Posted on January 18, 2017 by David McKee

It should come as no surprise that Washington, D.C., the land of smoke-filled rooms where sleazy deals are made, should be deliver a bumper crop of players to MGM National Harbor‘s 39-table poker room. Even with a truncated month of … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, Donald Trump, Geoff Freeman, GLPI, International, Internet gambling, Macau, Maryland, Massachusetts, MGM Mirage, Penn National, Pennsylvania, Philippines, Politics, Regulation, Rhode Island, Singapore, Sports, Steve Wynn, Taxes, Tourism, Vietnam, Wall Street | 1 Comment

Trump: The Fix is In; Battle of Gettysburg III

Posted on January 16, 2017 by David McKee

Gaming executives who are buddies with Donald Trump just got a rude surprise when attorney general nominee Sen. Jeff Sessions (R) said he was “shocked” by the 2011 reinterpretation of the Wire Act, whereby Internet gaming became legal. This sets … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Donald Trump, Economy, Harrah's, history, Horseracing, Internet gambling, Maryland, Pennsylvania, Problem gambling, Sheldon Adelson, Taxes | Comments Off on Trump: The Fix is In; Battle of Gettysburg III

Warm December in Atlantic City; Las Vegas stages comeback

Posted on January 13, 2017 by David McKee

Online gambling continues to be a hit with New Jersey players, up 31% to $18 million in December. Resorts Digital‘s market share has eked past Tropicana Entertainment‘s but Golden Nugget is far and away the leader, with 26%. Enjoy it … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, Atlantic City, Dan Gilbert, Detroit, Economy, Glenn Straub, Harrah's, Internet gambling, MGM Mirage, Mohegan Sun, Pinnacle Entertainment, Politics, Revel, The Strip, Tourism, Tropicana Entertainment, Wall Street | Comments Off on Warm December in Atlantic City; Las Vegas stages comeback

Trump vs. Las Vegas; E-sports is big busine$$

Posted on January 12, 2017 by David McKee

“Donald Trump is the most uninformed president the U.S. has ever had.  This is not an opinion.  It is based on the realities of how human beings communicate:  He does not read.  ‘[Trump] said in a series of interviews that he does not … Continue reading →

Posted in Affinity Gaming, Atlantic City, Donald Trump, Downtown, Economy, Entertainment, Harrah's, International, Internet gambling, Macau, Marketing, MGM Mirage, Mississippi, Regulation, Sheldon Adelson, Sports, Steve Wynn, The Strip, Tourism, Tropicana Entertainment, Wall Street | Comments Off on Trump vs. Las Vegas; E-sports is big busine$$

Quote of the Day

Posted on January 11, 2017 by David McKee

“We have not considered that yet. Because we need to do well on our Grand Lisboa Palace project now, as the project is in full swing.” — Sociedade de Jogos de Macau Executive Director Angela Leong, dismissing rumors of a … Continue reading →

Posted in Japan, Macau, Sociedade de Jogos de Macau | Comments Off on Quote of the Day

Jesus scapegoated for December results; Changing of the guard in New Jersey

Posted on January 11, 2017 by David McKee

Deutsche Bank analyst Carlo Santarelli put in some quality time in Las Vegas recently and came away satisfied with the market, particularly MGM Resorts International, Station Casinos, Boyd Gaming and Penn National Gaming, although he had no new intel on … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Boyd Gaming, California, Economy, Foxwoods, Georgia, Horseracing, Internet gambling, Lucky Dragon, MGM Mirage, Mohegan Sun, Penn National, Politics, Station Casinos, Tribal, Wall Street | Comments Off on Jesus scapegoated for December results; Changing of the guard in New Jersey

A slight chill in the air

Posted on January 10, 2017 by David McKee

Even allowing for additional weekend in 2016, gaming results last month were a tad frosty,  shall we say? The best market was Missouri, which was merely flat. That was largely due to strength in the St. Louis area, where Pinnacle … Continue reading →

Posted in Affinity Gaming, Ameristar, Boyd Gaming, Economy, Eldorado Resorts, Full House Resorts, GLPI, Harrah's, Indiana, Isle of Capri, Majestic Star, Missouri, Nevada, Ohio, Penn National, Pinnacle Entertainment, Racinos, Tourism, Tropicana Entertainment | Comments Off on A slight chill in the air

Cheerless Christmas in Illinois; Whitewash at Caesars?

Posted on January 9, 2017 by David McKee

Despite two extra weekend days, gaming revenues in Illinois were down 5% last month. For all we know, gamblers may have been saving up for Christmas but we think this points to the increasing prevalence of slot routes (many owned … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Boyd Gaming, Carl Icahn, Churchill Downs, GLPI, Harrah's, Horseracing, Illinois, MGM Mirage, Neil Bluhm, Penn National, Racinos, Slot routes, Sports, The Strip, Unite-Here | Comments Off on Cheerless Christmas in Illinois; Whitewash at Caesars?

National Harbor boffo for MGM; Icahn keeps them guessing

Posted on January 6, 2017 by David McKee

In its first month, MGM National Harbor has been both good and bad for Maryland. Although the MGM Resorts International property, acclaimed by some as being Las Vegas Strip-caliber, did blockbuster numbers, the rest of the Maryland casino industry was … Continue reading →

Posted in Carl Icahn, Cordish Co., Glenn Straub, Golden Gaming, Harrah's, Internet gambling, Maryland, Massachusetts, MGM Mirage, Penn National, Pennsylvania, Politics, Revel, Slot routes, Taxes, The Strip, Tropicana Entertainment, Unite-Here, Wall Street | 2 Comments

Quote of the Day

Posted on January 5, 2017 by David McKee

“I fear we’re seeing the evolution of a business in which the shots are being called by Vegas bean-counters instead of strong, committed local leadership that recognizes the advantages of a cooperative relationship with neighbors who share in its prosperity.” … Continue reading →

Posted in Pennsylvania, Sheldon Adelson, Taxes | Comments Off on Quote of the Day

Icahn amputates nose, spites face; Casinos for Carolina?

Posted on January 5, 2017 by David McKee

In a “So there!” move, Carl Icahn has petitioned, as part of a sale process, to have a five-year deed restriction placed on the Trump Taj Mahal, preventing anyone from reopening it as a casino until 2022. He’s also surrendering … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Carl Icahn, Moulin Rouge, North Las Vegas, Politics, SLS Las Vegas, South Carolina, Sports, Station Casinos | Comments Off on Icahn amputates nose, spites face; Casinos for Carolina?

2017: Boom or bust?

Posted on January 4, 2017 by David McKee

Vital Vegas, whose predictive skills are superior to ours, recently came out with a blockbuster, forecasting that Las Vegas Sands or MGM Resorts International or Wynn Resorts (or maybe some combination of the above) might be headed into bankruptcy. “Tectonic … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Detroit, Economy, Harrah's, Japan, Macau, MGM Mirage, Regulation, Sheldon Adelson, Steve Wynn, Wall Street | 1 Comment

Macao: Cautious recovery predicted; Straub sets Revel reopening

Posted on December 30, 2016 by David McKee

“Does the fact that Macao has an Eiffel Tower now bring extra people to the market,” asked Union Gaming Group analyst Grant Govertsen rhetorically. “Yes, but their main activity here will still be gaming.” “They” includes players from as far … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, CityCenter, Dining, Economy, G2E, Glenn Straub, Internet gambling, Japan, Lawrence Ho, Macau, Revel, Sheldon Adelson, The Strip, Tourism, Transportation, Wall Street | 1 Comment

Freeman gets Christmas wish; Florida lawmakers: Let’s make a deal

Posted on December 30, 2016 by David McKee

American Gaming Association President Geoff Freeman could hardly have asked for a better present, all wrapped in a big, dollar-bill bow: The IRS has abandoned a set of proposed casino-reporting “reforms” that would have been intrusive, onerous and costly. (Of … Continue reading →

Posted in Cosmopolitan, Current, Florida, Geoff Freeman, Harry Reid, MGM Mirage, Politics, Racinos, Seminole Tribe, Taxes, The Strip | 3 Comments

MGM’s base motives; Slots: You snooze, you lose

Posted on December 29, 2016 by David McKee

MGM Resorts International really kicked over a hornet’s nest when it extended pay-for-parking to locals. Spokesman Gordon Absher (“The sacrificial lamb or the goat staked to the post in Jurassic Park,” in the words of Las Vegas Review-Journal columnist Steve … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Cosmopolitan, MGM Mirage, Pennsylvania, Sheldon Adelson, Taxes, The Strip, Transportation | 1 Comment

A legend passes; Packer flops in Vegas (again)

Posted on December 29, 2016 by David McKee

Before we get back to business, a few brief mentions. First, let us have a moment of silence for Strip icon and former Las Vegas casino owner Debbie Reynolds, victim of a fatal stroke.  Coming as it did a day … Continue reading →

Posted in Boulder Strip, Downtown, Economy, Entertainment, Harrah's, history, James Packer, Lake Tahoe, Laughlin, Melco Crown Entertainment, North Las Vegas, Reno, The Strip, Uncategorized, Wall Street | 2 Comments

Freeman: All I want for Christmas …

Posted on December 27, 2016 by David McKee

Mid-December is a time when children compose their Christmas letters to Santa Claus. In much the same spirit, American Gaming Association President Geoff Freeman was framing a missive to Donald Trump. After pointing out that the industry was on a … Continue reading →

Posted in Animals, Arizona, Donald Trump, Economy, Election, Geoff Freeman, Internet gambling, Nevada, Regulation, Taxes, Tourism, Tribal | 2 Comments

Japan goes all in; Adelson, Davis on the outs?

Posted on December 27, 2016 by David McKee

In an uncharacteristic flurry of activity, the normally tortoise-powered Shinzo Abe got casino enabling legislation through both houses of the Japanese Diet prior to adjournment. “To us the opportunity is thoroughly Japanese and thoroughly delicious,” said a lip-smacking Steve Wynn. … Continue reading →

Posted in California, Florida, Geoff Freeman, Japan, Politics, Seminole Tribe, Sheldon Adelson, Sports, Steve Wynn, Taxes, The Strip, Tourism, Wall Street | Comments Off on Japan goes all in; Adelson, Davis on the outs?

Quote of the Day

Posted on December 22, 2016 by David McKee

“It doesn’t have to be brand spanking new or as classy as the Wynn poker room in Las Vegas. But it helps when the tables and chairs are clean and in good shape and when the chips haven’t been in … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture | 1 Comment

Programming note

Posted on December 21, 2016 by David McKee

Due to a severe medical emergency, S&G is on indefinite hiatus. I apologize for the interruption.

Posted in Uncategorized | 12 Comments