Author Archives: David McKee

About David McKee

Bio

Baha Mar, beached whale of gaming; Betfair makes a tactical retreat

Posted on January 5, 2016 by David McKee

Prospective mold and corrosion are the likely fate of unfinished Baha Mar Resort, the $3.5 billion boondoggle that is probably the biggest megaresort flop of all time. (Only Fontainebleau on the Las Vegas Strip can hope to compare and it … Continue reading →

Posted in Cirque du Soleil, Fontainebleau, Harrah's, International, Internet gambling | 1 Comment

Schneiderman tightens the squeeze on DFS; Caesars’ Korean woes

Posted on January 4, 2016 by David McKee

If you’re in New York State and lost money to FanDuel and DraftKings, you may be in line for a refund. At least that’s the case if Attorney General Eric Schneiderman has his way. He’s suing the two daily fantasy … Continue reading →

Posted in Harrah's, Internet gambling, New York, Planet Hollywood, Regulation, South Korea, Sports, The Strip | Comments Off on Schneiderman tightens the squeeze on DFS; Caesars’ Korean woes

Quote of the Day

Posted on January 4, 2016 by David McKee

“Police in illegal gambling raid in south Belfast.” — contrary to what the headline’s faulty grammar implies, it was the gambling which was illegal, not the raid.

Posted in International | Comments Off on Quote of the Day

Macao ends 2015 quietly; Record visitation not good enough for Vegas

Posted on January 4, 2016 by David McKee

That “squish” you heard from across the sea was Macao‘s gaming market reporting a decrease of 21% last month, practically good news when measured against November’s 32% plunge. Mind you, Macanese casinos were averaging $74 million in win per day, … Continue reading →

Posted in Economy, Eldorado Resorts, Environment, Horseracing, LVCVA, Macau, Melco Crown Entertainment, MGM Mirage, Sheldon Adelson, Steve Wynn, The Strip, Tourism, Wall Street, West Virginia | Comments Off on Macao ends 2015 quietly; Record visitation not good enough for Vegas

Trump’s hocus-pocus; Tribal backlash in New York

Posted on January 4, 2016 by David McKee

If there is one thing that Donald Trump is good at, it is making dealings with creditors that come out in his favor. Perhaps this fuels his current mania that he can make the rest of the civilized world bend to … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Donald Trump, Internet gambling, New York, Regulation, Tribal, Wall Street | 2 Comments

DFS advances in Iowa, regroups in Illinois

Posted on December 31, 2015 by David McKee

Legalization of daily fantasy sports got halfway to the goal line in the 2015 Iowa Legislature. State Rep. Jake Highfill (R) hopes to get into the endzone in 2016 with a revised version of a bill that already cleared the … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Boyd Gaming, Dining, Entertainment, Glenn Straub, Illinois, Internet gambling, Iowa, MGM Mirage, New York, Regulation, Revel | Comments Off on DFS advances in Iowa, regroups in Illinois

What’s Sheldon’s game?; Penn struggles at Plainridge

Posted on December 30, 2015 by David McKee

Sheldon Adelson‘s apparent use of Las Vegas Review-Journal reporters to get back at Judge Elizabeth Gonzalez is putting him and his purchase of the newspaper under the microscope of the Nevada Gaming Control Board. Casino owners aren’t barred from owning … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Economy, Horseracing, Kansas, Massachusetts, Penn National, Politics, Racinos, Regulation, Rhode Island, Sheldon Adelson, Tribal | Comments Off on What’s Sheldon’s game?; Penn struggles at Plainridge

Caesars’ escape artistry; Boyd goes native

Posted on December 30, 2015 by David McKee

Caesars Entertainment gained some breathing room after U.S. District Judge Shira Scheindlin ruled that “material disputes” involving its removal of guarantees to bondholders required resolution by trial, not summary judgment. Caesars feared the latter, contending that it would contend that it … Continue reading →

Posted in Boyd Gaming, California, Harrah's, International, Macau, Melco Crown Entertainment, Oklahoma, Sheldon Adelson, Tribal, Wall Street | Comments Off on Caesars’ escape artistry; Boyd goes native

Trump: The art of disaster; Good November for Las Vegas

Posted on December 30, 2015 by David McKee

If Donald Trump proposes to run America the way he ran his casinos, God help us all. He built a Boardwalk empire in Atlantic City with a lot of hocus-pocus, debt financing and sky-high interest rates (14% for Trump Taj … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Boulder Strip, Donald Trump, Downtown, Economy, Harrah's, Laughlin, Mesquite, North Las Vegas, Reno, The Strip, Trump Entertainment Resorts, Uncategorized, Wall Street | 2 Comments

Merry Christmas to all and to all a good night

Posted on December 24, 2015 by David McKee

S&G will be taking a few days off for the Christmas holidays. To help tide us all over, here is the most erotic Christmas song ever recorded, “Santa Baby.” The incomparable and unique Eartha Kitt makes it clear through sly … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | Comments Off on Merry Christmas to all and to all a good night

Florida compact decried; Reprieve for Atlantic City?

Posted on December 23, 2015 by David McKee

Despite being at the epicenter of Florida‘s gaming industry, the Miami Herald has come out against Gov. Rick Scott‘s compact with the Seminole Tribe, wringing its hands and seeing a slot machine under every bed. “This is a major expansion … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Election, Florida, Massachusetts, Neil Bluhm, New York, Penn National, Politics, Racinos, Regulation, Seminole Tribe, Sheldon Adelson, Tribal | Comments Off on Florida compact decried; Reprieve for Atlantic City?

New York blesses three casinos; Sinatra hangout resurrected

Posted on December 23, 2015 by David McKee

Not a discouraging word was to be heard as the New York State Gaming Commission unanimously approved licenses for three casinos in various upstate market. (Tioga Downs‘ turn comes later, as it was delayed entrant to the process.) This removes … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, Genting, history, Lake Tahoe, Neil Bluhm, New York, Regulation, Taxes | 1 Comment

Quote of the Day

Posted on December 23, 2015 by David McKee

“I could have sold pencils over there and made more money.” — Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas CEO Bill McBeath on the casino floor, which is due to be part of a $200 million, three-year revamp of the megaresort.

Posted in Architecture, Cosmopolitan, The Strip | Comments Off on Quote of the Day

Good news in Indian Country

Posted on December 22, 2015 by David McKee

It’s a happy day for the Picayune Rancheria of Chukchansi Indians, which got the go-ahead from the National Indian Gaming Commission to reopen its long-troubled Chukchansi Gold Resort & Casino. The NIGC was feeling so generous, in fact, that it suspended a … Continue reading →

Posted in California, Dan Gilbert, Harrah's, Massachusetts, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Regulation, Sheldon Adelson, Technology, Tribal | Comments Off on Good news in Indian Country

Quote of the Day

Posted on December 22, 2015 by David McKee

“I’ve never wagered in a football pool, and find sports as interesting as watching grass grow. But I’d rather try my hand at these games than the state lottery or slot machines. The websites have daily wagers now (and not … Continue reading →

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

Malice on the Strip; Tribal foes routed

Posted on December 22, 2015 by David McKee

For people with evil in their hearts, the Las Vegas Strip represents a target-rich environment. Most vulnerable are the pedestrians who clog the sidewalks, prey for all manner of harm. Last weekend, it took the form of a rampaging automobile … Continue reading →

Posted in Arizona, Harrah's, International, Lake Las Vegas, Law enforcement, Politics, The Strip, Tourism, Tribal | Comments Off on Malice on the Strip; Tribal foes routed

Reid delivers for REITs; Packer calls it quits

Posted on December 22, 2015 by David McKee

Sen. Harry Reid (D) may not see as well as he used to, but he’s still got plenty of ‘juice’ on Capitol Hill. He delivered an early Christmas present for campaign donor (and Caesars Entertainment co-owner) David Bonderman, in the … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Australia, Boyd Gaming, Hard Rock International, Harrah's, Harry Reid, James Packer, MGM Mirage, Politics, Taxes, The Strip | Comments Off on Reid delivers for REITs; Packer calls it quits

When you wish upon a star

Posted on December 21, 2015 by David McKee

Despite a shakeup by Gov. Greg Abbott (R, below), the Texas Racing Commission still has a death wish when it comes to “instant racing.” When, in keeping with Abbott’s wishes, the TRC held a vote to repeal the VLT gambling, … Continue reading →

Posted in California, Dining, history, Horseracing, New York, Racinos, Regulation, Texas | Comments Off on When you wish upon a star

Quote of the Day

Posted on December 21, 2015 by David McKee

“You’re talking about a man who a month ago wasn’t paying for water or sewer, didn’t pay his taxes and couldn’t figure out how to get heat and electricity into his building. He’s resolved all those things, and it’s a good … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Glenn Straub, Revel | Comments Off on Quote of the Day

Gaming expansion in Garden State moving fast; Mashpee Wampanoags challenged

Posted on December 18, 2015 by David McKee

New Jersey lawmakers are wasting no time getting a casino-expansion question onto next year’s election ballot. Enabling legislation fairly shot out of committee in both houses of the Lege. The Assembly version would devote 33% of tax revenue from two gambling … Continue reading →

Posted in Arizona, Atlantic City, Genting, Indiana, Internet gambling, Massachusetts, MGM Mirage, Neil Bluhm, Pennsylvania, Politics, Regulation, Taxes, Tribal | Comments Off on Gaming expansion in Garden State moving fast; Mashpee Wampanoags challenged