Author Archives: David McKee

About David McKee

Bio

That impersonal touch; Big day for MGM

Posted on March 18, 2016 by David McKee

What is almost completely missing from this commercial? Caesars Entertainment guests are lengthily shown drinking, dining, riding the High Roller (which could use the traffic) and — as a very brief afterthought — gambling. So the company’s definitely on the … Continue reading →

Posted in California, CityCenter, Detroit, Dubai, Genting, Harrah's, International, LVCVA, MGM Mirage, Mississippi, Penn National, Regulation, Riviera, Taxes, Technology, The Strip, Tourism, Tribal, Wall Street | 1 Comment

Trouble at the Trop; Liberace resurgence in Vegas

Posted on March 18, 2016 by David McKee

After a methodical — or at least slow-moving — investigation, FBI agents dropped the hammer on Tropicana Las Vegas‘ resident illusionist, Jan Rouven. The latter is accused of felony child pornography, having allegedly had myriad violent child-porn images and videos … Continue reading →

Posted in ABBA, Alex Yemenidjian, Economy, Entertainment, history, Law enforcement, Penn National, Riviera, Steve Wynn, The Strip, Wayne F. Newton | Comments Off on Trouble at the Trop; Liberace resurgence in Vegas

Pinnacle/GLPI deal gets OK; Hard Rock courts Cypriots

Posted on March 16, 2016 by David McKee

Shareholders of Pinnacle Entertainment have voted to approve a deal whereby all but one of the company’s physical assets would be sold to real estate investment trust Gaming & Leisure Properties, while Pinnacle would continue to exist as a casino-management company. … Continue reading →

Posted in Eldorado Resorts, Foxwoods, GLPI, Hard Rock Hotel, Indiana, International, Lawrence Ho, Louisiana, Massachusetts, MGM Mirage, Mohegan Sun, Ohio, Penn National, Philippines, Pinnacle Entertainment, Racinos, Regulation, Reno, Tribal, Unite-Here, Wall Street, West Virginia | 1 Comment

Wynn Everett gets new name, brushes off criticism

Posted on March 16, 2016 by David McKee

Given his recent obstructionism of Wynn Everett, it should come as no surprise that Somerville Mayor Joseph Curtatone recently made it onto a list of “America’s Worst Politicians.” Presently, the Bostonian blowhard has been vowing to block Steve Wynn‘s project … Continue reading →

Posted in International, Internet gambling, Massachusetts, Politics, Sheldon Adelson, Steve Wynn | Comments Off on Wynn Everett gets new name, brushes off criticism

Caesars in hot water

Posted on March 16, 2016 by David McKee

Caesars Entertainment could be on the hook from anywhere between $3.6 billion to $5.1 billion in damages, thanks to a series of transactions that lessened the viability of subsidiary Caesars Entertainment Operating Co. That’s the conclusion of court-appointed examiner Richard … Continue reading →

Posted in Dining, Harrah's, Marketing, Wall Street | Comments Off on Caesars in hot water

Adelson sets the pace; Philippine gaming scandal grows legs

Posted on March 15, 2016 by David McKee

As March gets off to a week start in Macao, operators who don’t yet have a presence on the giant landfill known as Cotai — namely Wynn Resorts, MGM Resorts International and Sociedade de Jogos de Macau — are being … Continue reading →

Posted in Law enforcement, Macau, Marketing, Massachusetts, Melco Crown Entertainment, MGM Mirage, Penn National, Philippines, Regulation, Sheldon Adelson, Stanley Ho, Steve Wynn, Wall Street | Comments Off on Adelson sets the pace; Philippine gaming scandal grows legs

Quote of the Day

Posted on March 15, 2016 by David McKee

“California’s hypocrisy on gambling policy is appalling. The state arbitrarily condemns and prohibits some forms of gambling, while permitting other forms in Indian casinos and card rooms, and even actively promoting it through the California Lottery. Some may gamble irresponsibly, … Continue reading →

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

New Jersey sticks it to Atlantic City; No payday for Suen

Posted on March 15, 2016 by David McKee

Life just got a little more difficult for Atlantic City. Casino owners will have to dig into their pockets in order to defeat a ballot initiative to end their monopoly on casino gambling. The referendum mustered the necessary supermajorities to … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, Atlantic City, Election, Glenn Straub, Macau, Massachusetts, Penn National, Politics, Sheldon Adelson, Tribal | Comments Off on New Jersey sticks it to Atlantic City; No payday for Suen

DFS returns to Nevada; Dustup near the Stratosphere

Posted on March 15, 2016 by David McKee

While DraftKings CEO Jason Robins and FanDuel CEO Nigel Eccles insist that their companies are just too special to apply for a Nevada gaming license, entrepreneurs Vic Salerno and Michael Knapp are effectively calling their bluff. They’re seeking a license … Continue reading →

Posted in International, Internet gambling, Nevada, Regulation, The Strip, TV | Comments Off on DFS returns to Nevada; Dustup near the Stratosphere

Atlantic City has a big month

Posted on March 14, 2016 by David McKee

Reports of Atlantic City‘s demise have been greatly exaggerated. The city’s casinos posted a 13% revenue increase (over an admittedly weak February 2015) and Internet gambling revenue was up 42%, to $15 million. In the latter department, Borgata (29% of … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Boyd Gaming, Harrah's, Internet gambling, MGM Mirage, Mohegan Sun, Tilman Fertitta, Tropicana Entertainment | Comments Off on Atlantic City has a big month

Doldrums in Louisiana; Free play imperiled in Pennsylvania

Posted on March 14, 2016 by David McKee

Louisiana gaming revenues, aided by Leap Day, were flat last month, which is pretty surprising because most of the brand names had revenue-negative months. Lake Charles led the state with $74 million. Golden Nugget had a signal month, up 37% … Continue reading →

Posted in Boyd Gaming, Churchill Downs, Eldorado Resorts, Election, GLPI, Greenwood Racing, Harrah's, Horseracing, Idaho, Isle of Capri, Louisiana, Maine, Penn National, Pennsylvania, Pinnacle Entertainment, Taxes, Tilman Fertitta, Tropicana Entertainment, West Virginia | Comments Off on Doldrums in Louisiana; Free play imperiled in Pennsylvania

Virginia is for lovers … of DFS

Posted on March 14, 2016 by David McKee

Score a “win” for daily fantasy sports, as it was legitimized in Virginia. Gov. Terry McAuliffe (D) applied his signature to the Fantasy Contests Act, which places DFS under the auspices of the state’s  Department of Agriculture & Consumer Service, effective July … Continue reading →

Posted in Geoff Freeman, Georgia, Indiana, Internet gambling, Iowa, Massachusetts, Nevada, Politics, Regulation, Sports | Comments Off on Virginia is for lovers … of DFS

High-stakes headbutting in Hartford; Pennsylvania grapples with slot routes

Posted on March 11, 2016 by David McKee

All the key players in Connecticut finally butted heads in a showdown in Hartford yesterday. In one corner, you had the casino-ineligible Schaghticoke Tribal Nation. Behind it was its patron, MGM Resorts International, which has a $950 million investment in Springfield, … Continue reading →

Posted in Economy, Florida, Foxwoods, Massachusetts, MGM Mirage, Mohegan Sun, Pennsylvania, Politics, Problem gambling, Seminole Tribe, Slot routes, Taxes, Tribal | Comments Off on High-stakes headbutting in Hartford; Pennsylvania grapples with slot routes

Hang up for MGM National Harbor; Dances with insolvency

Posted on March 11, 2016 by David McKee

If a July opening of MGM National Harbor, in Maryland, sounded too good to be true, it was. The company says “things got more and more real” and the Washington Post reports that MGM executives told it the target “was … Continue reading →

Posted in California, Internet gambling, Law enforcement, Maryland, MGM Mirage, Movies, New York, Philippines, Regulation, South Dakota, Tribal, Tropicana Entertainment | Comments Off on Hang up for MGM National Harbor; Dances with insolvency

Wynn, Sands, Penn meet the Street

Posted on March 11, 2016 by David McKee

JP Morgan analyst Joseph Greff has had a busy week, meeting with most of the top companies in gaming. First up was Penn National Gaming, which had little new to report on the Tropicana Las Vegas other than it was … Continue reading →

Posted in Economy, GLPI, Illinois, M Resort, Macau, Marketing, Massachusetts, Mississippi, Penn National, Sheldon Adelson, Singapore, Slot routes, Steve Wynn, The Strip, Wall Street | Comments Off on Wynn, Sands, Penn meet the Street

There’s no source like home

Posted on March 10, 2016 by David McKee

“[D]espite Las Vegas‘ reputation for harsh heat, The Park will offer a cooler and more comfortable atmosphere thanks to plenty of shade and the use of materials like meta-quartzite. Because of its porous physiology, meta-quartzite absorbs and dissipates heat, making … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, MGM Mirage, The Strip | Comments Off on There’s no source like home

Rosy prospects for Boyd; Victories in Indian Country

Posted on March 10, 2016 by David McKee

Top Boyd Gaming executives sat down with JP Morgan analyst Joseph Greff and sketched out their program for the coming year, with includes new restaurant concepts at 12 casinos (including 20 new restaurants this year) and 167 hotel rooms at … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, Atlantic City, Boyd Gaming, Election, history, Illinois, International, Law enforcement, Louisiana, Massachusetts, Melco Crown Entertainment, MGM Mirage, Nevada, Philippines, Taxes, Tribal, Wall Street | 1 Comment

Quote of the Day

Posted on March 10, 2016 by David McKee

“We have no problem getting a gaming license, but we wanted to do something different here. We wanted a true luxury resort experience. It’s hard to have a high-quality product when you walk into ‘ding, ding, ding’ and there are people … Continue reading →

Posted in Donald Trump, The Strip | Comments Off on Quote of the Day

Missouri: No misery here; Trouble at Trump

Posted on March 10, 2016 by David McKee

Foot traffic in Missouri casinos was up 3%, as customers spent 4% more than last year, leading to an 8% increase in casino revenue. Both Pinnacle Entertainment and Penn National Gaming came in comfortably above Deutsche Bank analyst Carlo Santarelli‘s … Continue reading →

Posted in Culinary Union, Donald Trump, Harrah's, Isle of Capri, Missouri, Penn National, Pinnacle Entertainment, Taxes, The Strip, Tropicana Entertainment, Trump Entertainment Resorts, Wall Street | Comments Off on Missouri: No misery here; Trouble at Trump

Galaxy thinks big; Hoping against hope in Illinois

Posted on March 9, 2016 by David McKee

Feeling the pressure to diversify the market appeal of his casino resorts, Galaxy Entertainment CEO Lui Che-Woo is talking vaguely about a theme park, “something special and high-tech,” similar to the movie Avatar. Note that James Cameron isn’t explicitly involved … Continue reading →

Posted in Entertainment, Galaxy Entertainment, Illinois, Kentucky, Macau, Politics, Sheldon Adelson | Comments Off on Galaxy thinks big; Hoping against hope in Illinois