Author Archives: David McKee

About David McKee

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Fly the friendly slots; New tax takes aim at slot routes

Posted on March 4, 2015 by David McKee

Unlike most states, Maryland hasn’t hit the saturation mark and a bill to put a slot route into Thurgood Marshall Airport will probably have little effect on that. The slots will only be accessible to ticketed passengers, with the idea … Continue reading →

Posted in Aristocrat, Cordish Co., Dotty's, Golden Gaming, Harrah's, Maryland, Michael Gaughan, Politics, Taxes, Technology, Transportation | Comments Off on Fly the friendly slots; New tax takes aim at slot routes

Naughtiness at Las Vegas Sands; Caesars makes bankruptcy plan official

Posted on March 4, 2015 by David McKee

Sands China could have some stateside problems. Judge Elizabeth Gonzalez is mulling whether or not to slap Sands’ wrist for tampering with evidence. The documents in question are part of a wrongful-termination lawsuit brought by former Sands China CEO Steven … Continue reading →

Posted in Harrah's, IGT, International, Macau, Sheldon Adelson, Technology, The Strip | Comments Off on Naughtiness at Las Vegas Sands; Caesars makes bankruptcy plan official

Caesars’ wheel of pain

Posted on March 3, 2015 by David McKee

“Loveman ‘fascinated’ by complexities of High Roller,” read one of today’s headlines. Perhaps he ought to be more fascinated by the complexities of Caesars Entertainment‘s bankruptcy, of which he is the undisputed architect. The company announced quarterly earnings yesterday, losing … Continue reading →

Posted in Dining, Entertainment, Harrah's, The Strip, Tourism, Wall Street | 3 Comments

New problem for Straub; Broad casino push in Florida

Posted on March 3, 2015 by David McKee

Whenever you think the Revel saga is done, a new complexity arises. Glenn Straub‘s $82 million purchase is set to be ruled upon in bankruptcy court tomorrow. But, slipping over the transom at the last minute come Leo Pustilnikov and fellow … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, California, Florida, Glenn Straub, Politics, Racinos, Regulation, Revel, Tribal | Comments Off on New problem for Straub; Broad casino push in Florida

Macao in freefall; A RAWA deal

Posted on March 3, 2015 by David McKee

Sheldon Adelson can call Macao‘s doldrums “cyclical” until he’s blue in the face but there’s no mistaking that the gambling enclave is having serious problems. Actually, that’s a bit of an understatement when February revenue falls 49%. VIP play is … Continue reading →

Posted in Economy, Internet gambling, Melco Crown Entertainment, MGM Mirage, Mohegan Sun, Pennsylvania, Politics, Regulation, Sheldon Adelson, Stanley Ho, Steve Wynn, Wall Street | Comments Off on Macao in freefall; A RAWA deal

First big hurdle in Indiana cleared

Posted on March 2, 2015 by David McKee

Both the Indiana state Senate and Gov. Mike Pence (R) could still nix the deal, but the Indiana House of Representatives voted 76-19 to put riverboat casinos ashore and OK live dealers at the state’s Indiana Grand and Hoosier Park racinos. … Continue reading →

Posted in Boyd Gaming, Genting, Hard Rock International, Harrah's, Indiana, Internet gambling, Isle of Capri, Macau, Mississippi, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Politics, Racinos, Regulation, Sheldon Adelson, Singapore, South Dakota | Comments Off on First big hurdle in Indiana cleared

Caesars quits Ohio; Adelson’s Iran problem

Posted on March 2, 2015 by David McKee

Caesars Entertainment‘s portfolio is lighter to the tune of two Ohio casinos and a racino. The beleaguered company sold its 20% in Horseshoe Cleveland, Horseshoe Cincinnati and ThistleDown Racino to majority shareholder Rock Ohio Ventures, giving Dan Gilbert full control … Continue reading →

Posted in Dan Gilbert, GTECH, Hard Rock Hotel, Harrah's, IGT, International, Kentucky, Maryland, Ohio, Racinos, Regulation, Sheldon Adelson, Technology, Warner Gaming | 2 Comments

Straub’s new plan for Revel; Elaine Wynn gets rude treatment

Posted on March 2, 2015 by David McKee

Glenn Straub may be America’s newest casino owner but he’s quickly emerging as its most unpredictable. While he plans to reopen the gambling component of Revel, his latest brainwave is to add an anti-aging institution. Details are sketchy at present, … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Boyd Gaming, Glenn Straub, history, Kazuo Okada, Revel, Steve Wynn | 2 Comments

Las Vegas’ robust January; Measles in a casino

Posted on March 2, 2015 by David McKee

January was good for the State of Nevada (+8%) but especially powerful for the Las Vegas Strip, up 15%. The casinos played lucky, with baccarat winnings up 68.5%, despite 13.5% less being wagered. Strip slot revenues were up 4%, even … Continue reading →

Posted in Boulder Strip, Boyd Gaming, Downtown, Economy, Environment, Fontainebleau, Lake Tahoe, Laughlin, MGM Mirage, New York, North Las Vegas, Riviera, The Strip, Wall Street | Comments Off on Las Vegas’ robust January; Measles in a casino

Midwest casino follies

Posted on February 25, 2015 by David McKee

Indiana municipalities caught a break when the state House of Representatives voted against scrapping the state’s $3 admission tax, which goes to casino-hosting localities. That keeps $200 million in the kitty of jurisdictions like LaPorte County, home to Boyd Gaming‘s … Continue reading →

Posted in Boyd Gaming, Environment, GLPI, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Ohio, Politics, Racinos, Regulation, Taxes | Comments Off on Midwest casino follies

Could Station go public?; Straub buys Revel again

Posted on February 25, 2015 by David McKee

Station Casinos is doing as well as it ever has since the Great Recession, fueling speculation that an IPO might be on the way. Granted, this is mostly speculation by investors and the media but Deutsche Bank‘s 25% stake in … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Glenn Straub, Michael Gaughan, Revel, Station Casinos, Wall Street | 4 Comments

Macao casinos squeezed again; Isle’s clean sweep

Posted on February 25, 2015 by David McKee

First, it was the corruption crackdown. Now, the Chinese government is reviewing visitation levels to Macao. As Macanese Secretary for Social Affairs & Culture Alexis Tam put it, “[T]oo many tourists impact residents’ quality of life.” That’s not music to casinos’ ears and … Continue reading →

Posted in Colorado, Florida, Isle of Capri, Louisiana, Macau, Melco Crown Entertainment, MGM Mirage, Mississippi, Missouri, Racinos, Regulation, Sheldon Adelson, Steve Wynn, Tourism, Wall Street | Comments Off on Macao casinos squeezed again; Isle’s clean sweep

Straub still hearts Revel; Setback in Indiana

Posted on February 24, 2015 by David McKee

Glenn Straub‘s abusive/co-dependent relationship with Revel AC continues, even though federal bankruptcy court has driven a stake through his $95 million purchase agreement for the beached whale of a casino. As Judge Gloria Burns, who has presided over the soap … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Glenn Straub, Harrah's, history, Indiana, Lake Tahoe, Politics, Revel, South Dakota, Taxes, Wall Street | 2 Comments

Bigamy in New York; Bluster in New Jersey

Posted on February 24, 2015 by David McKee

Empire Resorts‘ Montreign Resort Casino project has two things in common with Rivers Casino & Resort and Lago Resort & Casino (well, three if you count the fact that none has been built yet). All were chosen from among 16 … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Bally Technologies, Cordish Co., Genting, Harrah's, Neil Bluhm, New York, Penn National, Racinos, Regulation, Scientific Games, Technology | 1 Comment

Quote of the Day

Posted on February 23, 2015 by David McKee

“We make money in our sports books. We provide good amenities, and they are profitable. I’m just not sure sports betting belongs in every state.” — Boyd Gaming CEO Keith Smith expressing surprising hesitancy about introducing sports wagering to Boyd’s regional … Continue reading →

Posted in Boyd Gaming, Cantor Gaming, Sports | 1 Comment

Florida tribe: Casinos or pot. Choose!

Posted on February 23, 2015 by David McKee

Florida Gov. Rick Scott (R) finds himself in just a bit of a pickle. He’s refused to negotiate with the Poarch Band of Creek Indians, who want to extend their burgeoning empire of Class II casinos from Alabama into the … Continue reading →

Posted in Alabama, California, Florida, Internet gambling, PokerStars, Politics, Regulation, Tribal | Comments Off on Florida tribe: Casinos or pot. Choose!

Trump wins battle against himself; Riviera’s fate sealed

Posted on February 23, 2015 by David McKee

Perpetual litigant Donald J. Trump has won the first round in his lawsuit against Trump Entertainment Resorts, whose minority shareholders include one Donald J. Trump. A bankruptcy judge in Delaware ruled that the suit can proceed. It contends that Trump … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Donald Trump, Entertainment, Genting, James Packer, LVCVA, Riviera, The Strip, Tourism, Trump Entertainment Resorts, Westgate LV | 1 Comment

Caesars foe now its BFF; Suffolk Downs returns

Posted on February 20, 2015 by David McKee

Considering that it is the owner of Caesars Interactive and WSOP.com, one would hardly expect Caesars Entertainment to welcome PokerStars back to the U.S. market. But that is precisely what it has done, proclaiming that “we need to focus on where … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, California, Harrah's, Horseracing, Internet gambling, Kentucky, Massachusetts, New York, Pennsylvania, PokerStars, Politics, Regulation, Sheldon Adelson, Tribal, World Series of Poker | 2 Comments

Building a better Cosmopolitan

Posted on February 20, 2015 by David McKee

Although awash in generalities, Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas CEO Bill McBeath did allow some form of insight into his plans for the resort. Allowing that casino-floor performance was “pretty anemic,” he hopes to make it more attractive to high rollers. … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, Atlantic City, Cosmopolitan, Dining, Donald Trump, Economy, history, MGM Mirage, Sports, The Strip | Comments Off on Building a better Cosmopolitan

Revel sale dead; Indiana does the right thing

Posted on February 20, 2015 by David McKee

“The history of this case is long and tortured,” said U.S. Bankruptcy Court Judge Gloria Burns, in a major understatement regarding the several and various attempts to sell Revel. With the bang of a gavel, she crushed Glenn Straub‘s $95 … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Boyd Gaming, Glenn Straub, Global Cash Access, Indiana, Politics, Racinos, Revel | 1 Comment