Author Archives: David McKee

About David McKee

Bio

All Adelson, all the time; Full House on the move

Posted on December 18, 2015 by David McKee

(Update: The Adelson-influenced meddling has already begun.) Now that Sheldon Adelson owns the Las Vegas Review-Journal, the paper’s prime topic of coverage has become … itself. There’s no shortage of entrail-reading, as pundits try to parse the casino mogul’s intentions. … Continue reading →

Posted in Colorado, Dan Lee, Harrah's, Harry Reid, Internet gambling, Lake Tahoe, Macau, MGM Mirage, Politics, Sheldon Adelson, Steve Wynn | 1 Comment

Adelson’s new toy; MGM: ‘Zarkana’ out, architectural innovation in

Posted on December 17, 2015 by David McKee

Las Vegas‘ worst-kept secret is out: Sheldon Adelson is the new owner of the Las Vegas Review-Journal. He’s claiming that the clumsy subterfuge was needed so as not to “distract from the important role Nevada continues to play in the … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, Cirque du Soleil, CityCenter, Election, Harrah's, Harry Reid, MGM Mirage, Politics, Sheldon Adelson, Taxes, The Strip | 4 Comments

Quote of the Day

Posted on December 16, 2015 by David McKee

“I was probably a little tougher on them than I should have been on the conference call. But look, I have made promises to the people over there, and it’s only fair that they help me keep those promises. But … Continue reading →

Posted in Macau, Regulation, Steve Wynn | Comments Off on Quote of the Day

GLPI gets a racino; Reckless casino rhetoric

Posted on December 16, 2015 by David McKee

After over a year of litigation, Gaming & Leisure Properties has come to terms with Cannery Casino Resorts over the sale of Meadows Racetrack, near Pittsburgh. (Next step for GLPI, find an operator. Penn National Gaming? Pinnacle Entertainment?) Considering that … Continue reading →

Posted in Boyd Gaming, Cannery Casino Resorts, Dining, Election, GLPI, Harrah's, Maryland, Movies, Penn National, Pennsylvania, Pinnacle Entertainment, Racinos, Sheldon Adelson, Station Casinos, Wall Street | 1 Comment

Boston: Has Wynn finally won?; Massachusetts mulls i-poker

Posted on December 15, 2015 by David McKee

Boston Mayor Martin Walsh seems to have finally put his grandstanding aside and is making conciliatory noises about Wynn Resorts. Has the smackdown of his lawsuit against the Massachusetts Gaming Commission finally brought Walsh to his senses? Or is this … Continue reading →

Posted in Dan Gilbert, Detroit, Donald Trump, Internet gambling, Massachusetts, MGM Mirage, Pennsylvania, Politics, Regulation, Steve Wynn, Transportation, Westgate LV | Comments Off on Boston: Has Wynn finally won?; Massachusetts mulls i-poker

RAWA bombs on Capitol Hill; DFS currently on the wane

Posted on December 15, 2015 by David McKee

It’s looking more and more like Rep. Jason Chaffetz‘s effort to move his (actually Las Vegas Sands‘) “Restoration of America’s Wire Act” has hit a dead end. Last week’s hearing found widespread skepticism, even hostility, among the members of Chaffetz’s … Continue reading →

Posted in Election, Georgia, Harrah's, Internet gambling, Politics, Sheldon Adelson, TV | 1 Comment

Big online month for Atlantic City

Posted on December 14, 2015 by David McKee

In the casino industry, $13 million may not be a lot of money — but it represented a 51% gain for Atlantic City‘s online casinos and made up for softness at brick-and-mortar gambling houses. Slot revenue was down 3% on … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Boyd Gaming, Colony Capital, Harrah's, Internet gambling, MGM Mirage, Mohegan Sun, Tilman Fertitta, Tropicana Entertainment, Trump Entertainment Resorts | 1 Comment

Casinos progress in Georgia, New Jersey

Posted on December 14, 2015 by David McKee

Almost without overt human effort, the movement toward casino gambling in Georgia appears to be snowballing. Prime mover behind the low-key, but seemingly inevitable process is state Rep. Ron Stephens (R, left), whose bill would not only put two casinos … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, Atlantic City, Boyd Gaming, Cordish Co., Election, Georgia, Greenwood Racing, Massachusetts, MGM Mirage, Penn National, Pennsylvania, Politics, Tribal | Comments Off on Casinos progress in Georgia, New Jersey

‘Jubilee’ axed; DFS banned and reprieved

Posted on December 14, 2015 by David McKee

It was probably a mercy to Ffolliott “Fluff” LeCoque that the Las Vegas showbiz legend died two days before Caesars Entertainment buried a dagger in the heart of Jubilee. LeCoque had been part of the original cast and went on to … Continue reading →

Posted in Entertainment, Florida, Hard Rock International, Harrah's, history, Horseracing, Internet gambling, Law enforcement, New York, Politics, Racinos, Regulation, Seminole Tribe, Taxes, The Strip, Tribal | 1 Comment

Happy birthday, Frank Sinatra

Posted on December 12, 2015 by David McKee

Here’s to the 100th anniversary of the birth of Francis Albert Sinatra, the man arguably more synonymous with Las Vegas than any other.

Posted in Entertainment, history, The Strip | 1 Comment

Adelson’s Capitol Hill puppet show

Posted on December 11, 2015 by David McKee

Rep. Jason Chaffetz (R) held another kangaroo court on Internet gambling and was in his best Sheldon Adelson-like Luddite form, scoffing at geofencing software. “It’s naive at best to think you can put a wall on the Internet,” said the willfully ignorant … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Cretins, Delaware, Harrah's, Internet gambling, Iowa, Law enforcement, Macau, Politics, Regulation, Sheldon Adelson, South Carolina, Technology | Comments Off on Adelson’s Capitol Hill puppet show

Big card room bust in California

Posted on December 11, 2015 by David McKee

Earlier this week, American Gaming Association President Geoff Freeman unveiled a stern new set of anti-money laundering guidelines, lest any casinos out there hadn’t gotten the memo that Uncle Sam means business when it comes to enforcing AML rules. As … Continue reading →

Posted in California, Geoff Freeman, International, Internet gambling, Law enforcement, MGM Mirage, Penn National, Regulation, Steve Wynn, Tribal | Comments Off on Big card room bust in California

Louisiana: Robbing Peter to play Paul; New disclosures from Genting

Posted on December 11, 2015 by David McKee

Were it not for the Golden Nugget Lake Charles, gaming revenues would have stumbled 7.5% downward last month. Add Tilman Fertitta‘s new showplace, which grossed $20 million, and you have a 15% increase in the Lake Charles market. But, as … Continue reading →

Posted in Boyd Gaming, Eldorado Resorts, Genting, GLPI, Harrah's, Isle of Capri, Louisiana, Pinnacle Entertainment, Rhode Island, The Strip, Tilman Fertitta, Tropicana Entertainment | 1 Comment

No misery in Missouri; Packer’s Vegas venture in question

Posted on December 10, 2015 by David McKee

November was a tranquil month for Missouri casinos, exemplified by Penn National Gaming‘s Argosy Riverside, in Kansas City, dead even with last year. Statewide, foot traffic was down 5% and spending up 6%, particularly at table games, where winnings rose … Continue reading →

Posted in Ameristar, Florida, GLPI, Harrah's, Internet gambling, Isle of Capri, James Packer, Missouri, Penn National, Pinnacle Entertainment, Politics, Seminole Tribe, The Strip, Tribal, Tropicana Entertainment, Wall Street | 1 Comment

Quote of the Day

Posted on December 9, 2015 by David McKee

“He seemed now to be also the embodiment of the fully emancipated male, perhaps the only one in America, the man who can do anything he wants, anything, can do it because he has money, the energy, and no apparent … Continue reading →

Posted in Environment, history | Comments Off on Quote of the Day

DFS attempts end run; Mississippi’s new showplace

Posted on December 9, 2015 by David McKee

Daily fantasy sports firms DraftKings and FanDuel took their case to New York State lawmakers yesterday, appearing at a hearing convened by a consortium of Assembly committees. The DFS providers said they’d accept regulation but stopped well short of outlining … Continue reading →

Posted in Donald Trump, Entertainment, Internet gambling, Mississippi, New York, Politics, Regulation | Comments Off on DFS attempts end run; Mississippi’s new showplace

Racinos under siege in Texas; Seminole compact no sure bet

Posted on December 9, 2015 by David McKee

Texas Gov. Greg Abbott (R) wanted the Texas Racing Commission to repeal its approval of ‘historical racing’ at Lone Star State tracks. Rather than put it on the agenda, commission Chairman Robert Schmidt handed in his gavel, exchanging the chairmanship … Continue reading →

Posted in Florida, Hard Rock International, Horseracing, Massachusetts, Penn National, Politics, Racinos, Seminole Tribe, Taxes, Technology, Texas, Tribal | Comments Off on Racinos under siege in Texas; Seminole compact no sure bet

Wynn’s big buy; DFS in retreat

Posted on December 9, 2015 by David McKee

Steve Wynn is $63,800,000 lighter in the wallet this morning, after purchasing one million shares of Wynn Resorts on the open market over the last three days. This brings his total stake in the company to slightly more than 11 … Continue reading →

Posted in Internet gambling, Law enforcement, Macau, Pennsylvania, Politics, Racinos, Regulation, Steve Wynn, Warner Gaming | Comments Off on Wynn’s big buy; DFS in retreat

Las Vegas’ latest efforts to combat the online casino revolution

Posted on December 9, 2015 by David McKee

By Walter Allen Although Las Vegas has long enjoyed a reputation as being the world’s premier casino destination, in the 21st century it has faced unprecedented competition. Not only are alternative gambling hotspots such as Macau in their ascendancy, but increasingly … Continue reading →

Posted in Entertainment, Internet gambling, Macau, The Strip | Comments Off on Las Vegas’ latest efforts to combat the online casino revolution

MGM’s sudden Connecticut ardor; Labor peace in Detroit

Posted on December 8, 2015 by David McKee

Connecticut‘s government is trying to have an MGM Resorts International lawsuit dismissed, but MGM isn’t going away quietly. It’s targeted the no-bid process whereby a Mohegan Sun–Foxwoods Resort Casino joint venture was juiced into a third, off-reservation casino, location still … Continue reading →

Posted in Culinary Union, Detroit, Donald Trump, Economy, Election, Foxwoods, Genting, International, Massachusetts, MGM Mirage, Mohegan Sun, Phil Ruffin, Sheldon Adelson, Singapore, Tourism, Tribal, Wall Street | Comments Off on MGM’s sudden Connecticut ardor; Labor peace in Detroit