Author Archives: David McKee

About David McKee

Bio

Tohono O’oh no!; Backlash in Macao

Posted on September 18, 2015 by David McKee

Judge David Campbell accepted the Tohono O’odham Nation‘s assertion that it could make as much money from Class II electronic-bingo machines as it could from conventional slots. And that’s bad news for the tribe. While it can open a Class … Continue reading →

Posted in Arizona, California, Economy, Macau, Politics, Regulation, Transportation, Tribal | Comments Off on Tohono O’oh no!; Backlash in Macao

Quote of the Day

Posted on September 18, 2015 by David McKee

“These regulations, you had me at hello. They really touched a personal note to me.” — Nevada Gaming Commission Chairman Tony Alamo Jr., getting all emotional over skill-based slot games.

Posted in Regulation, Technology | Comments Off on Quote of the Day

China comes to Las Vegas’ rescue; MGM chock-full of cultural initiatives

Posted on September 18, 2015 by David McKee

High-speed rail to Las Vegas is “on” again, with China emerging as Sin City’s savior. The budget for the China Railway Group/XpressWest Enterprises  joint venture hasn’t been disclosed but $100 million in startup capital has been committed to fund the … Continue reading →

Posted in California, CityCenter, history, Massachusetts, MGM Mirage, The Strip, Transportation | Comments Off on China comes to Las Vegas’ rescue; MGM chock-full of cultural initiatives

MGM lashes out; Doldrums in Louisiana

Posted on September 18, 2015 by David McKee

It took a while but MGM Resorts International is pushing back against Connecticut‘s attempts to build a satellite version of its tribal casinos, to interdict gamblers who might otherwise play at MGM Grand Springfield. Although he didn’t hint at litigation … Continue reading →

Posted in Boyd Gaming, Churchill Downs, Columbia Sussex, Foxwoods, GLPI, Harrah's, Isle of Capri, Louisiana, Massachusetts, MGM Mirage, Mississippi, Mohegan Sun, Pinnacle Entertainment, Tilman Fertitta, Tropicana Entertainment | 2 Comments

Water, water everywhere at Revel

Posted on September 17, 2015 by David McKee

Glenn Straub has a new problem at Revel: water. Oh, he doesn’t lack for it. There’s standing water in Revel’s 47 stories of pipes. But what if cold temperatures come and Straub hasn’t gained control of ACR Energy Partners‘ heating … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Boulder Strip, Donald Trump, Election, Florida, Glenn Straub, MGM Mirage, Regulation, Revel | Comments Off on Water, water everywhere at Revel

Quote of the Day

Posted on September 17, 2015 by David McKee

“I strongly concur that it is most unfortunate that only after the fact did the board and I learn that the outside counsel handling the transaction for the university was not admitted to practice in New Jersey.” — former Stockton … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Harrah's | 1 Comment

Asia, land of opportunity

Posted on September 17, 2015 by David McKee

Asia “can comfortably absorb” the 30 new casinos that are slated to open between now and 2020, says a CLSA Ltd. report. The region is trending toward the bigger-is-better approach, as many of the new casinos are megaresorts that could … Continue reading →

Posted in Delaware, Internet gambling, Japan, Macau, Massachusetts, Penn National, Racinos, Regulation, South Korea, Tribal, Vietnam | Comments Off on Asia, land of opportunity

Fantasy sports pushback; Wynn “punished enough”

Posted on September 17, 2015 by David McKee

If the glutting of our TV screens with obnoxious FanDuel and DraftKings ads has not been enough to trigger a backlash, it has been sufficient to inspire Wynn Las Vegas‘ resourceful sports books director, Johnny Avello, to devise his version of … Continue reading →

Posted in California, Geoff Freeman, Macau, Massachusetts, Politics, Sports, Steve Wynn, TV, Wall Street | Comments Off on Fantasy sports pushback; Wynn “punished enough”

A lesson from Ohio; Murren goes to Georgia; Big changes at Sands

Posted on September 16, 2015 by David McKee

Two years ago, Ohio was grappling with what J.P. Morgan analysts called “a sluggish ramp” for its casino industry. He may have been against casinos before he was for them but Gov. John Kasich‘s supersized version of predecessor Ted Strickland‘s … Continue reading →

Posted in CityCenter, Economy, Election, Foxwoods, Galaxy Entertainment, Geoff Freeman, Georgia, Harrah's, Horseracing, Isle of Capri, M Resort, Macau, Massachusetts, MGM Mirage, Midnight Jim Gibbons, Mohegan Sun, Ohio, Penn National, Politics, Problem gambling, Regulation, Sheldon Adelson, Steve Wynn, Taxes, The Strip, Wall Street | Comments Off on A lesson from Ohio; Murren goes to Georgia; Big changes at Sands

Savior for Showboat?; Steve Wynn to build locals casino

Posted on September 16, 2015 by David McKee

Bart Blatstein has emerged as the potential savior for the Showboat, currently a millstone around Stockton University‘s neck. If so, it will be a bittersweet coup for the developer, as it’s the second time he’s missed out on a gaming … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Charity, Economy, Glenn Straub, Harrah's, International, Marketing, Massachusetts, New York, Racinos, Steve Wynn, Taxes, The Strip, Trump Entertainment Resorts | 2 Comments

China is the watchword; Atlantic City rebounds

Posted on September 16, 2015 by David McKee

Builders of $135 million Lucky Dragon Casino, across Sahara Avenue from the former Circus Circus RV park, are fast-tracking the project for a mid-2016 opening. Financed with EB-5 visa contributions, Lucky Dragon hopes to be a one-stop shop for Chinese players … Continue reading →

Posted in Animals, Atlantic City, Culinary Union, Dining, Election, Lucky Dragon, Macau, Regulation, Sheldon Adelson, SLS Las Vegas, Stanley Ho, Steve Wynn, Technology, The Strip, Tourism, Wall Street | Comments Off on China is the watchword; Atlantic City rebounds

Trouble in Fantasyland

Posted on September 15, 2015 by David McKee

Daily fantasy sports leagues have gotten awfully brazen since pairing with major sports leagues, inundating TV airwaves with advertising, and this has gaming regulators in some states looking askance at DFS. The first shot across the bow came from Nevada, … Continue reading →

Posted in Boyd Gaming, Detroit, Kansas, MGM Mirage, PokerStars, Politics, Regulation, Sports, TV | 1 Comment

First the good news …

Posted on September 14, 2015 by David McKee

Internet gambling revenues were up 16% in Atlantic City last month, for a $12 million haul. Resorts Atlantic City didn’t get much of the action — 6% — but the other four online operators divvied it up pretty equitably. As … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Boyd Gaming, Carl Icahn, Glenn Straub, Harrah's, history, Internet gambling, MGM Mirage, Mohegan Sun, Revel, Sports, Tilman Fertitta, Tribal, Tropicana Entertainment, Trump Entertainment Resorts | Comments Off on First the good news …

Georgia on their minds; How to kill a casino

Posted on September 14, 2015 by David McKee

MGM National Harbor President Lorenzo Creighton dangles some shiny objects and big numbers before Georgia newspaper readers, promising even bigger things for Atlanta, as MGM Resorts International tries to counter lawmakers’ congenital opposition to gambling with suasion and seductive dollar … Continue reading →

Posted in Boyd Gaming, Culinary Union, Derek Stevens, Detroit, Downtown, Economy, Georgia, Horseracing, International, James Packer, Maryland, MGM Mirage, Penn National, Politics, Sheldon Adelson, Steve Wynn, Taxes | Comments Off on Georgia on their minds; How to kill a casino

Culinary Union declares war on Deutsche Bank; The NFL’s dirty hands

Posted on September 14, 2015 by David McKee

Deutsche Bank, in its role as 25% shareholder in Station Casinos, continues to draw fire from the Culinary Union. Let’s clear up a couple of things first. Yes, the Culinary still has an axe to grind with Station over the … Continue reading →

Posted in Culinary Union, Entertainment, Harrah's, history, Oklahoma, Regulation, Sam Nazarian, Sports, Station Casinos, Tamares Group, Tribal | Comments Off on Culinary Union declares war on Deutsche Bank; The NFL’s dirty hands

Gural doubles down; Royal brouhaha

Posted on September 11, 2015 by David McKee

Jeffrey Gural wants a casino in New York State so bad he can taste it — or at least invest $82 million of his own money in it. It’s refreshing when a developer makes that kind of equity commitment. Gural’s … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, Dining, New York, Racinos, Regulation, The Strip | Comments Off on Gural doubles down; Royal brouhaha

Tribe outfoxes Arizona; Macao is glutted

Posted on September 11, 2015 by David McKee

Rather than continue waiting for Arizona casino czar Daniel Bergin to reverse himself and give them permission to open a Class III casino, the Tohono O’odham Nation has done an end run. It will open with 1,089 Class II electronic … Continue reading →

Posted in Arizona, Culinary Union, Galaxy Entertainment, Macau, Melco Crown Entertainment, MGM Mirage, Palms, Regulation, Sheldon Adelson, Stanley Ho, Steve Wynn, Tribal, Uncategorized, Wall Street | Comments Off on Tribe outfoxes Arizona; Macao is glutted

Meanwhile at the Linq …

Posted on September 11, 2015 by David McKee

… Brian Brown Photography laid several publicity photos of The Linq on us, so it would be churlish not to share. How do we know these are models and not prototypical Vegas-tripping millennials? For starters, they’re not covered in tattoos, which … Continue reading →

Posted in Harrah's, The Strip, Tourism | 1 Comment

That wild and crazy Glenn Straub strikes again

Posted on September 10, 2015 by David McKee

Now that wacky Glenn Straub is out of the picture, Stockton University says it is fielding offers for the ex-Showboat. What anybody can do other than run it as a hotel (Caesars Entertainment having removed its gaming entitlement but forgotten … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Boyd Gaming, Glenn Straub, GLPI, Harrah's, history, Iowa, Isle of Capri, Missouri, Penn National, Pinnacle Entertainment, Revel, Tilman Fertitta, Tourism, Tropicana Entertainment, Trump Entertainment Resorts, Unite-Here, Warner Gaming | Comments Off on That wild and crazy Glenn Straub strikes again

Bluhm restless in Massachusetts; Adelson’s latest innovation

Posted on September 10, 2015 by David McKee

Few regulatory bodies move as slothfully as the Massachusetts Gaming Commission and it’s got one would-be developer, Neil Bluhm, kind of antsy. “I’ve got other things to do,” he told the Boston Globe, adding, “Do I want to be here? Yes. … Continue reading →

Posted in Entertainment, Foxwoods, Genting, Harrah's, Massachusetts, Mohegan Sun, Neil Bluhm, Planet Hollywood, Regulation, Sheldon Adelson, Singapore, Taxes, The Strip, Tribal | 1 Comment