Author Archives: David McKee

About David McKee

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Quote of the Day

Posted on June 24, 2015 by David McKee

“I understand the desire to stick it to the tribe, given that it has outmaneuvered, well, everyone. But this lawsuit seems like a loser for the state … I haven’t seen any signs of plague ravaging the land. No frogs … Continue reading →

Posted in Arizona, Racinos, Taxes, Tribal | Comments Off on Quote of the Day

Big legal bill for Steve Wynn; SLS Las Vegas craters

Posted on June 24, 2015 by David McKee

In case Steve Wynn is having second thoughts that maybe it was a bad idea to try and muzzle stock-picker James Chanos, a federal court made it official. On top of two defeats in the courtroom, Wynn has been handed a … Continue reading →

Posted in Colony Capital, Cosmopolitan, Entertainment, Genting, James Packer, Macau, Marketing, Massachusetts, MGM Mirage, Sahara, Sam Nazarian, Sheldon Adelson, SLS Las Vegas, Steve Wynn, The Mob, The Strip, Tribal, Wall Street | Comments Off on Big legal bill for Steve Wynn; SLS Las Vegas craters

Billion-dollar bonanza in Macao; Mob boss returns

Posted on June 24, 2015 by David McKee

Casino investment in the U.S. has largely been a bust for private equity firms. However, two funds — Silver Point Capital and Oaktree Capital Management — could be about to hit the jackpot in Macao. It seems that Melco Crown … Continue reading →

Posted in Economy, International, James Packer, Lawrence Ho, Macau, Melco Crown Entertainment, MGM Mirage, Singapore, Stanley Ho, The Mob, Tourism, Wall Street | Comments Off on Billion-dollar bonanza in Macao; Mob boss returns

Election wins for Foxwoods, Golden Gaming; New boss at Beau Rivage

Posted on June 24, 2015 by David McKee

Almost lost in the excitement over the opening of Plainridge Park, in Plainview, is a little-reported event: New Bedford‘s vote on casino host-community status. To say that KG Urban Enterprises won is rather an understatement. It garnered 73% of votes cast, … Continue reading →

Posted in Current, Election, Foxwoods, Golden Gaming, Harrah's, Lyle Berman, Massachusetts, MGM Mirage, Mississippi, Neil Bluhm, Ohio, Penn National, Racinos, Regulation, Steve Wynn, Wall Street | Comments Off on Election wins for Foxwoods, Golden Gaming; New boss at Beau Rivage

Atlantic City fights back; Packer a good bet again

Posted on June 23, 2015 by David McKee

  After seemingly being in shock from the stampede to put casinos in northern New Jersey, civic leaders of Atlantic City are starting to put up a fight. The terms of battle vary, with some dead-set against a breaking of … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Economy, Hard Rock International, Internet gambling, James Packer, Macau, MGM Mirage, Mississippi, New York, Politics, Sheldon Adelson, Tropicana Entertainment | Comments Off on Atlantic City fights back; Packer a good bet again

Penn primed for Plainridge launch; Little tribal traction in Maine

Posted on June 23, 2015 by David McKee

Are executives at Penn National Gaming getting high on their own supply … of slot machines, that is? The industry’s desired average for slots is $200 but Penn is predicting a sky-high $500/slot/day at Plainridge Park, which opens tomorrow, inaugurating … Continue reading →

Posted in Entertainment, Maine, Massachusetts, Penn National, Politics, Problem gambling, SLS Las Vegas, The Strip, Tribal | Comments Off on Penn primed for Plainridge launch; Little tribal traction in Maine

Quote of the Day

Posted on June 23, 2015 by David McKee

“It’s as if these regulations were drafted in a vacuum by someone who has no idea about the gaming industry and how it operates.” — David Bean, Puyallup Tribe council member, on the IRS‘ proposed lowering of the threshold on … Continue reading →

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

Massachusetts enters the fray; Delaware racinos press their case

Posted on June 19, 2015 by David McKee

It’s hard to believe but we’re only a few days from the opening of Plainridge Park Casino, bringing gambling to one of the last major, untapped markets in the U.S.: Massachusetts. While the Penn National Gaming property hasn’t been entirely … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Delaware, Economy, Florida, Genting, Macau, Massachusetts, MGM Mirage, Penn National, Racinos, Regulation, Rhode Island, Sheldon Adelson, Stanley Ho, Steve Wynn, Taxes, The Strip, Tribal | Comments Off on Massachusetts enters the fray; Delaware racinos press their case

Quote of the Day

Posted on June 19, 2015 by David McKee

“Because of your reporting, we’ve seen patrons using casinos and card clubs to conceal narcotics transactions, to move money in support of international fraud schemes, to launder real estate fraud money, or to transfer money for other illicit purposes.” — … Continue reading →

Posted in Regulation | Comments Off on Quote of the Day

More grief for Uncle Carl; Bluhm backs down

Posted on June 18, 2015 by David McKee

Carl Icahn has won his gambit to take over Trump Taj Mahal but that doesn’t mean he and Unite-Here are all lovey-dovey. Although Icahn earlier called Trump Entertainment Resorts the most distressed company he’s ever seen, he’s giving CEO Bob … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, Atlantic City, Carl Icahn, Cordish Co., Harrah's, history, Maryland, MGM Mirage, Neil Bluhm, New York, Penn National, Regulation, Taxes, Trump Entertainment Resorts, Unite-Here | 2 Comments

Rock in Rio flops; Tighter slots in Maryland?

Posted on June 17, 2015 by David McKee

According to Vital Vegas, the first Strip outing of Rock in Rio might be its last, as the music festival may have lost as much as $28 million. Vital Vegas puts attendance at a dreadful 130,000 (out of a possible … Continue reading →

Posted in Australia, Cordish Co., Current, Entertainment, Florida, Harrah's, International, Japan, Macau, Maryland, MGM Mirage, Pets, Philippines, Politics, Racinos, Regulation, Singapore, South Korea, The Strip, Tourism, Tribal | Comments Off on Rock in Rio flops; Tighter slots in Maryland?

Kirk Kerkorian, 1917-2015

Posted on June 17, 2015 by David McKee

Here in Las Vegas, the impact of Kirk Kerkorian‘s death is still sinking in. A man known for self-effacing personal habits left the world as discreetly as he passed through it in his Ford Taurus, leaving accomplishments that far exceeded … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, Atlantic City, Downtown, Harry Reid, history, Internet gambling, MGM Mirage, Mohegan Sun, Movies, Neil Bluhm, New York, Ohio, Penn National, Pennsylvania, Politics, Slot routes, Steve Wynn, Taxes, The Strip, Wall Street | 2 Comments

Quote of the Day

Posted on June 17, 2015 by David McKee

“What good does it do being rich? I can’t do what I want to do. I don’t like to get dressed up and go to see bankers. I hate that kind of thing.” — the late Kirk Kerkorian, to Dial Torgerson … Continue reading →

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

Mixed news from Atlantic City; More silliness from Trump

Posted on June 17, 2015 by David McKee

Atlantic City continued its paradoxical ways last month. The market as a whole suffered another big decline, down 10%. However, for individual operators, May was mostly good, with a same-store gain of 4%. (To see the blended impact of Internet … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, Atlantic City, Boyd Gaming, Donald Trump, Harrah's, International, Internet gambling, Mohegan Sun, Scientific Games, Technology, Tilman Fertitta, Tribal, Tropicana Entertainment, Trump Entertainment Resorts, TV, Wall Street | 1 Comment

GLPI treads water

Posted on June 11, 2015 by David McKee

Top honchos from Gaming & Leisure Properties, including CEO Peter Carlino, recently met with J.P. Morgan analyst Joseph Greff. They assessed the current state of regional gaming markets as no better than “okay” and predicted that the industry trend to … Continue reading →

Posted in Economy, GLPI, Illinois, MGM Mirage, Pinnacle Entertainment, The Strip, Wall Street | Comments Off on GLPI treads water

Heavy online interest in Pennsylvania; New twist in Jersey expansion

Posted on June 10, 2015 by David McKee

Caesars Interactive sent Michael Cohen to Harrisburg, to educate Pennsylvania lawmakers in online gambling and demonstrate the safety features whereby underage players can be thwarted. Cohen’s presentation pleased lawmakers on both sides of the aisle but drew a squawk of … Continue reading →

Posted in Election, Harrah's, International, Internet gambling, Pennsylvania, Politics, Racinos, Regulation, Sheldon Adelson | Comments Off on Heavy online interest in Pennsylvania; New twist in Jersey expansion

Quote of the Day

Posted on June 10, 2015 by David McKee

“Indonesia is not going to have gaming. Malaysia is not going to have increased gaming. Vietnam is a giant question mark and doesn’t have that many players. So you are left with only Singapore and Malaysia, and Chinese individuals living … Continue reading →

Posted in International, Sheldon Adelson, Singapore, Vietnam | Comments Off on Quote of the Day

Straub’s latest truce; Twin River readies for competition

Posted on June 10, 2015 by David McKee

Bitter foes Glenn Straub and ACR Energy Partners have agreed to make nice and keep the lights on (literally) at Revel, at least for the short term. The brinkmanship between these two parties had reached such extremes that ACR cut … Continue reading →

Posted in Animals, Atlantic City, Environment, Glenn Straub, Harrah's, Illinois, Isle of Capri, Louisiana, Massachusetts, Penn National, Regulation, Revel, Rhode Island, Tilman Fertitta | Comments Off on Straub’s latest truce; Twin River readies for competition

Case Bets: Club Fortune, NFL, PokerStars

Posted on June 10, 2015 by David McKee

“Loose sluts!”, cries the grandmotherly-looking woman at 00:13 in this Club Fortune Casino commercial (so bad it never gets old). Those days may soon be over once Nevada Gold‘s purchase of Club Fortune closes. Having obtained the property for a … Continue reading →

Posted in Boulder Strip, Geoff Freeman, Internet gambling, PokerStars, Regulation, Sheldon Adelson, Sports | Comments Off on Case Bets: Club Fortune, NFL, PokerStars

Steady in Indiana

Posted on June 9, 2015 by David McKee

Gaming revenues were flat in Indiana last month, especially in the south, and this is a good thing. Why? Because it means that the Hoosier State is absorbing the impact of competition from Ohio. Operators can also, thanks to Gov. … Continue reading →

Posted in Ameristar, Boyd Gaming, Dan Lee, Harrah's, Indiana, Ohio, Penn National, Pinnacle Entertainment, Racinos, Tribal, Tropicana Entertainment | Comments Off on Steady in Indiana