Author Archives: David McKee

About David McKee

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Steve Wynn makes new friends; Freeman gets raked

Posted on March 9, 2016 by David McKee

Steve Wynn has found an unlikely ally in his fight against Somerville Mayor Joseph Curtatone: the Massachusetts environmental community. Activists joined politicians and developers at a media event headlined by Wynn Everett President Robert DeSalvio. Among the activities that have … Continue reading →

Posted in Environment, Foxwoods, Geoff Freeman, Internet gambling, Massachusetts, MGM Mirage, Mohegan Sun, Sheldon Adelson, Steve Wynn, Tribal | Comments Off on Steve Wynn makes new friends; Freeman gets raked

Sex in the sky; Great month for Indiana

Posted on March 9, 2016 by David McKee

Gary Loveman‘s beloved Vegas High Roller has become Las Vegas‘ favorite place to expose oneself, with eight known instances to date. Let’s not pretend to be surprised by this. Anyway, proving that what happens here often leads to a misdemeanor … Continue reading →

Posted in Boyd Gaming, Full House Resorts, Harrah's, Indiana, Law enforcement, Majestic Star, Ohio, Penn National, Pinnacle Entertainment, Racinos, The Strip, Tropicana Entertainment, Wall Street | Comments Off on Sex in the sky; Great month for Indiana

Nevada casinos wrangle with Buffett; Mashpee Wampanoag take the lead

Posted on March 8, 2016 by David McKee

We’ve written about the solar-panel installation atop Mandalay Bay‘s convention center and now the 20-acre array — soon to be the United States‘ largest — is making international headlines. The high priority on solar power at MGM Resorts International puts a … Continue reading →

Posted in Environment, Harrah's, Massachusetts, MGM Mirage, Mohegan Sun, Regulation, Sheldon Adelson, South Korea, Steve Wynn, Technology, The Strip, Tribal, Wall Street | Comments Off on Nevada casinos wrangle with Buffett; Mashpee Wampanoag take the lead

Vietnam War logic in New Jersey; Tribal corruption in Florida

Posted on March 8, 2016 by David McKee

New Jersey will no longer have the distinction of possessing the second-lowest casino tax rate if Assemblyman Ralph Caputo (D, left) gets his way. He’s talking about imposing at least a 40% levy on proposed north New Jersey casinos, perhaps … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Carl Icahn, Florida, Hard Rock International, Horseracing, International, Mississippi, New York, Politics, Regulation, Taxes, Tribal, Tropicana Entertainment | Comments Off on Vietnam War logic in New Jersey; Tribal corruption in Florida

The party’s over; DFS sniffs at Nevada regulation

Posted on March 8, 2016 by David McKee

It’s no party for two executives at Bwin.Party. The Austrian government has leveled charges of corruption, “breach of trust” and money laundering at Bwin’s Norbert Teufelberger and Manfred Bodner. The indictment was filed two months ago but is only now … Continue reading →

Posted in Animals, Dining, Donald Trump, International, Internet gambling, Law enforcement, Nevada, North Las Vegas, Regulation | Comments Off on The party’s over; DFS sniffs at Nevada regulation

Big month for Penn in Ohio

Posted on March 7, 2016 by David McKee

With one glaring exception, February was an outstanding month for Ohio casinos and racinos. The underachiever was Horseshoe Cleveland, which fell 9% on revenues of $18 million. Even struggling Thistledown Racino managed a 3% uptick, grossing $9 million. Horseshoe Cincinnati … Continue reading →

Posted in Eldorado Resorts, Hard Rock International, Harrah's, Ohio, Penn National, Pinnacle Entertainment, Racinos, Wall Street | 1 Comment

Illinois casinos stave off competition; Palms potentially for sale

Posted on March 7, 2016 by David McKee

Despite being increasingly besieged by slot routes, Illinois casinos had a good February, up 5%. Foot traffic was 3% higher and customer spending rose 2%.  Two operators had revenue-negative months, with MGM Resorts International off 1% at Grand Victoria Elgin, while … Continue reading →

Posted in Boyd Gaming, Carl Icahn, Entertainment, Fontainebleau, George Maloof, GLPI, Harrah's, Illinois, Macau, MGM Mirage, Neil Bluhm, Penn National, Slot routes, Steve Wynn, The Strip, Wall Street | 2 Comments

Nevada grapples with DFS; Seminole compact dies

Posted on March 7, 2016 by David McKee

Rather than sit on the daily fantasy sports sidelines, Nevada Gov. Brian Sandoval (R, below) wants to nudge the Silver State into the game. To that end, he’s the keynote speaker for a specially convened, all-star hearing by the Nevada Gaming … Continue reading →

Posted in Florida, Geoff Freeman, Georgia, Internet gambling, Isle of Capri, Japan, Nevada, Politics, Racinos, Regulation, Seminole Tribe | Comments Off on Nevada grapples with DFS; Seminole compact dies

Trump: The art of failure; Tribal gaming flexes its muscle

Posted on March 4, 2016 by David McKee

During a period (1995-2005) in which the Dow Jones Average Casino Index posted a 160% return on investment, Trump Hotels & Casinos ate dirt to the tune of a negative 89% ROI. By contrast, Boyd Gaming — unloved on Wall … Continue reading →

Posted in Boyd Gaming, Dan Gilbert, Donald Trump, Economy, Marketing, Massachusetts, Neil Bluhm, New York, Ohio, Regulation, Scientific Games, Tribal, Trump Entertainment Resorts, Wall Street | Comments Off on Trump: The art of failure; Tribal gaming flexes its muscle

DFS’ stormy seas; Glimmer of hope for Macao

Posted on March 4, 2016 by David McKee

By charging blindly into uncharted waters, the daily fantasy sports industry has made a shipload of trouble for itself. Case in point, defunct (or at least comatose) DFS site FantasyUp. The latter pulled the rug out from under its customers, … Continue reading →

Posted in California, Environment, Harry Reid, Internet gambling, Macau, Melco Crown Entertainment, MGM Mirage, Politics, Regulation, Sheldon Adelson, Steve Wynn, Transportation, Wall Street | Comments Off on DFS’ stormy seas; Glimmer of hope for Macao

Caesars: Frissora gets the nod; Rocky Mountain high point

Posted on March 3, 2016 by David McKee

Caesars Entertainment CEO Michael Frissora is one step away from a Nevada gaming license, having been unanimously approved by the Nevada Gaming Control Board. Frissora left the meeting grinning from ear to ear, as well he might. Since he comes … Continue reading →

Posted in Carl Icahn, Colorado, Economy, Harrah's, Kansas, Oklahoma, Regulation, Tribal | 1 Comment

Study: Triads rampant in Macao casinos

Posted on March 3, 2016 by David McKee

Wow, what a shocker — not. A new study by T. Wing Lo and Sharon Ingrid Kwok of the City University of Hong Kong for the British Journal of Criminology reports that casino operators look for junket partners who have ‘dor’ or … Continue reading →

Posted in Election, Law enforcement, Macau, Marketing, Massachusetts, MGM Mirage, Neil Bluhm, Regulation, Rhode Island, Stanley Ho, Steve Wynn, The Mob, Tribal | Comments Off on Study: Triads rampant in Macao casinos

New peril at Taj; Packer puts the brakes on Alon

Posted on March 3, 2016 by David McKee

Trump Taj Mahal will have to continue limping forward on life support, as Carl Icahn is welshing on his promises of financial rescue. Uncle Carl now says that the promised $100 million reinvestment is on hold, pending the outcome of a … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Carl Icahn, Election, James Packer, Maine, The Strip, Tropicana Entertainment, Wall Street | 1 Comment

Quote of the Day

Posted on March 3, 2016 by David McKee

“[Donald] Trump has got to be the first presidential candidate who’s ever owned a business that sold porn, and certainly the only Republican to have ever (openly) hawked gay porn.” — Josh Androsky, reporting on a stay at Trump International, where … Continue reading →

Posted in Culinary Union, Donald Trump, Entertainment, The Strip | 1 Comment

A Revel by any other name; Hard Rock thinks globally; Hard times for Boyd

Posted on March 2, 2016 by David McKee

What’s in a name? That’s the question confronting Glenn Straub, for whom the days are counting down until he can reopen the hotel portion of his casino with a new name. We don’t agree that Revel is a meaningless word, but … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, Atlantic City, Boyd Gaming, Glenn Straub, Hard Rock International, Illinois, International, Iowa, Japan, Politics, Revel, Slot routes, Tourism, Vietnam, Warner Gaming | Comments Off on A Revel by any other name; Hard Rock thinks globally; Hard times for Boyd

Quote of the Day

Posted on March 2, 2016 by David McKee

“I’m supportive of both those ventures, but I’m absolutely opposed [to] … any attempt to rob the Las Vegas Convention Center of its desperately needed cash to build anything — whether it’s a stadium, or a launching pad to the … Continue reading →

Posted in LVCVA, MGM Mirage, Taxes, The Strip | Comments Off on Quote of the Day

DFS advances in some markets, retreats in others; Caesars rubs your nose in it

Posted on March 2, 2016 by David McKee

Daily fantasy sports, the loud frat brother of sports betting, is close to a signal victory in Virginia. Both houses of the Virginia Assembly have passed DFS legalization with veto-proof majorities and sent the legislation to Gov. Terry McAuliffe (D). … Continue reading →

Posted in Harrah's, Indiana, Internet gambling, Kansas, Penn National, Phil Ruffin, Planet Hollywood, Politics, Racinos, Regulation, Sports, Taxes, The Strip, Tourism | Comments Off on DFS advances in some markets, retreats in others; Caesars rubs your nose in it

Crystals sold; Struggles in California

Posted on March 2, 2016 by David McKee

This morning, Real Estate Alert published a story saying that MGM Resorts International and Dubai World had liquidated Crystals, the high-end retail mall at CityCenter, to Simon Property Partnership. The transaction was valued at $1.1 billion and change, which means … Continue reading →

Posted in Australia, California, CityCenter, Dubai, Horseracing, Internet gambling, MGM Mirage, Regulation, Technology, The Strip, Tribal, Wall Street | Comments Off on Crystals sold; Struggles in California

Painful progress for Seminole compact; Casinos dead in Georgia

Posted on March 1, 2016 by David McKee

It will be back to the negotiating table for Florida Gov. Rick Scott (R), if a state House of Representatives version of the compact with Seminole Tribe is accepted in the state Senate. The compromise version of the compact adds slots … Continue reading →

Posted in Florida, Georgia, GLPI, Horseracing, Maryland, Massachusetts, MGM Mirage, Penn National, Pinnacle Entertainment, Politics, Racinos, Regulation, Rhode Island, Seminole Tribe, Sheldon Adelson, Tourism, Unite-Here | 2 Comments

Quote of the Day

Posted on March 1, 2016 by David McKee

“Thirteen is my lucky number and the new name along with the new logo fit perfectly with my vision. There is a hint of tradition while also suggesting a chic and fun edginess.” — Louis XIII hotel Co-Chairman Stephen Hung, on … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, Macau | Comments Off on Quote of the Day