Author Archives: David McKee

About David McKee

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Impatience in Philly; Big sting at Caesars

Posted on October 29, 2014 by David McKee

It’s been eight months since the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board held suitability hearings for awarding Philadelphia‘s second and final casino license. Those deliberations seem to have receded in the hazy yon of the past. It’s a situation that’s not sitting well … Continue reading →

Posted in Cannery Casino Resorts, Harrah's, Internet gambling, Law enforcement, Macau, Penn National, Pennsylvania, Racinos, Regulation | Comments Off on Impatience in Philly; Big sting at Caesars

The village idiot; Knuckle-dragging in Maryland

Posted on October 29, 2014 by David McKee

Every city has its cross to bear. In the case of Las Vegas, it’s former steroid user, baseball player and serial dumbass Jose Canseco. He obviously skipped firearm-safety class the day they told you to make sure your gun is … Continue reading →

Posted in Cordish Co., Cretins, Entertainment, Harrah's, International, Maryland, Planet Hollywood, Regulation, Technology, The Strip | Comments Off on The village idiot; Knuckle-dragging in Maryland

Wynn confounded; Sands gets tough

Posted on October 29, 2014 by David McKee

During yesterday’s call with gaming analysts, Steve Wynn admitted to being “confused” by a Macao gaming market where revenues in October could fall 20%-23%. “The new regulations in smoking, the turmoil in Hong Kong lately, in the month of October, and … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, Macau, Massachusetts, Regulation, Sheldon Adelson, Steve Wynn, Tourism, Wall Street | Comments Off on Wynn confounded; Sands gets tough

Story time with Grandpa Sheldon

Posted on October 28, 2014 by David McKee

Although he’s almost upstaged by his toupee, Sheldon Adelson delivers a fairly absorbing history of the world according to Sheldon.

Posted in Architecture, Internet gambling, Macau, Sheldon Adelson, Singapore | 1 Comment

Fighting on in New Jersey; One-armed banditry

Posted on October 28, 2014 by David McKee

Monmouth Park may have been stayed from offering NFL and World Series bets, among others, but state Sen. Raymond Lesniak (D) isn’t giving up fighting the good fight, describing it as “the last hurrah.” Describing an Atlantic City that’s devoid … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Entertainment, Foxwoods, Harry Reid, Illinois, Macau, Mohegan Sun, Racinos, Sports, Steve Wynn, Technology, The Strip | Comments Off on Fighting on in New Jersey; One-armed banditry

Election Special: What’s at stake; Fire sale at Trump

Posted on October 28, 2014 by David McKee

We know the big enchilada is Massachusetts, where repeal of the state’s casino law is on the ballot. It looks like it’s going to lose big-time, but anti-gambling sentiment runs deep in parts of the state. We’ve already been over … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, California, Charity, Colorado, Election, Environment, Kansas, Marketing, Massachusetts, Racinos, South Carolina, South Dakota, Station Casinos, Steve Wynn, Technology, Tribal, Trump Entertainment Resorts | 1 Comment

Players take Vegas to the cleaners

Posted on October 28, 2014 by David McKee

Baccarat players stayed home or played smaller last month. The Strip’s most important revenue driver dropped 30% on 12.5% less play. So luck and players’ wallets were both working in the casinos’ disfavor. Despite a 2% increase in coin-in, slot … Continue reading →

Posted in Boulder Strip, Cannery Casino Resorts, Downtown, Economy, Laughlin, Macau, North Las Vegas, Penn National, Pennsylvania, Racinos, Technology, The Strip | Comments Off on Players take Vegas to the cleaners

Freeman strikes again

Posted on October 28, 2014 by David McKee

Here’s the latest chapter in American Gaming Association President Geoff Freeman‘s charm offensive: an election-season ad push targeting a few key markets. One can certainly understand why these spots are running in Boston, even Dover (where the horseracing industry wants … Continue reading →

Posted in Delaware, Geoff Freeman, Indiana, Marketing, Massachusetts, TV | Comments Off on Freeman strikes again

N.Y.: Accentuate the negative; Sheldon’s change of heart

Posted on October 27, 2014 by David McKee

“The economy is so depressed around here, anything is a plus. That’s how bad it is around here.” With that backhanded endorsement, the owner of Pepe’s Bar-B-Q in Binghamton, N.Y., gave his blessing to casinos in the area. In order to … Continue reading →

Posted in CityCenter, Economy, Greenwood Racing, Hard Rock International, Illinois, MGM Mirage, Neil Bluhm, New York, Pennsylvania, Sheldon Adelson, Slot routes, The Strip | Comments Off on N.Y.: Accentuate the negative; Sheldon’s change of heart

Warfare in California; Turnover at SLS

Posted on October 27, 2014 by David McKee

Fear of spreading off-reservation gambling are fueling opposition to Proposition 48, which would ratify a casino compact in the greater Fresno area. The North Fork Rancheria Band of Mono Indians, supported by Station Casinos, would be permitted to open a … Continue reading →

Posted in California, Charity, Detroit, Election, James Packer, Politics, Regulation, Sam Nazarian, Station Casinos, Tribal | Comments Off on Warfare in California; Turnover at SLS

No sports betting for New Jersey; Christie’s quest

Posted on October 27, 2014 by David McKee

Much as might be expected, a federal judge handed down an injunction preventing Monmouth Park from taking sports wagers last weekend. Track advisor Dennis Drazin tried to shrug off the setback, calling it “only a step in the road.” State … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Delaware, Economy, Harrah's, Regulation, Sports, Taxes | Comments Off on No sports betting for New Jersey; Christie’s quest

Quote of the Day

Posted on October 27, 2014 by David McKee

“Frankly, several of my advisers have told me that if the city and the state did not come up with the money, they’d be doing me a large favor. Even if we get the concessions from the city and the state, … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Carl Icahn, Trump Entertainment Resorts | 1 Comment

Wild, wild East; Fertitta remembered

Posted on October 24, 2014 by David McKee

Imagine a Las Vegas in which to play you were required to lay out at least $65 … and where the average minimum bet was $270, maybe even $320. You’d have Macao, whose players dwarf Vegas’ ($20 average minimum bet) … Continue reading →

Posted in Harrah's, history, International, Internet gambling, Lake Tahoe, Macau, Michael Gaughan, Singapore, Station Casinos, The Strip, Warner Gaming | 1 Comment

All’s well at Penn; Casinos wary of Uncle Sam

Posted on October 24, 2014 by David McKee

Helped by better-than-expected performances at M Resort and Hollywood Casino at Charles Town Races, beating its own estimates, Penn National Gaming exceeded Wall Street’s consensus for 3Q14. Cannibalization of Charles Town has not been as great as was feared and … Continue reading →

Posted in Ameristar, Atlantic City, Boyd Gaming, Delaware, Election, Harrah's, M Resort, Massachusetts, MGM Mirage, Missouri, Mohegan Sun, Penn National, Pennsylvania, Pinnacle Entertainment, Racinos, Regulation, Sports, Tilman Fertitta, West Virginia | Comments Off on All’s well at Penn; Casinos wary of Uncle Sam

Reading Loveman’s tea leaves

Posted on October 23, 2014 by David McKee

Gary Loveman has made a lot of mistakes as Caesars Entertainment CEO but building a convention center in Atlantic City wasn’t one of them. In fact, it’s been one of his better ideas. While he was in town to put … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, Atlantic City, Economy, Entertainment, Harrah's, Massachusetts, Regulation, Sheldon Adelson, Sports, Steve Wynn, The Strip, Trump Entertainment Resorts | 2 Comments

Memo from Macao

Posted on October 23, 2014 by David McKee
Posted in Economy, Entertainment, Macau, Marketing, Sheldon Adelson | Comments Off on Memo from Macao

Quote of the Day

Posted on October 22, 2014 by David McKee

“I think this area south of Charleston [Boulevard] and north of Sahara [Avenue] is up and coming though, and some of that attention Fremont East is getting will turn here. If there were more residential development, something in the middle … Continue reading →

Posted in Downtown, Economy, Sam Nazarian, The Strip | Comments Off on Quote of the Day

Working-class hero; Caesars courts Philippines

Posted on October 22, 2014 by David McKee

Having thrown its workforce to the wolves as part of its bankruptcy plan — one that may not ultimately save any jobs — Trump Entertainment Resorts has pissed off the wrong guy: state Senate President Stephen Sweeney (D). Chief creditor Carl … Continue reading →

Posted in Boyd Gaming, Carl Icahn, Economy, Genting, International, Kazuo Okada, Louisiana, Melco Crown Entertainment, Pinnacle Entertainment, Politics, Racinos, Revel, Trump Entertainment Resorts | Comments Off on Working-class hero; Caesars courts Philippines

Fire sale at Full House; Japan: Patience advised

Posted on October 22, 2014 by David McKee

In the casino world it’s pretty much unheard-of for a company to hang a “for sale” sign on itself without a suitor in view. Patti Hart did it successfully at International Game Technology, earlier this year. Now Full House Resorts … Continue reading →

Posted in Alabama, Dan Lee, G2E, Genting, Harrah's, IGT, Indiana, Japan, Neil Bluhm, Regulation, Sheldon Adelson, Steve Wynn, Tribal | Comments Off on Fire sale at Full House; Japan: Patience advised

Caesars’ shell game; Setback in Japan

Posted on October 21, 2014 by David McKee

“Extend and pretend.” Those are the words of gaming analyst Alan Woinski, describing the debt-management practices of Caesars Entertainment and CEO Gary Loveman: “they extended out the maturities and just put new debt on top of old debt, and the … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Harrah's, Internet gambling, Japan, Louisiana, Maryland, Massachusetts, New York, Politics, Problem gambling, Technology, The Strip, Wall Street | 1 Comment