Author Archives: David McKee

About David McKee

Bio

Gross injustice; Let the sports betting begin!

Posted on October 21, 2014 by David McKee

If you work at Trump Taj Mahal, there’s good news and bad news. The good news is that the casino now stands a better chance of weathering a November financial crisis, preserving your job. The bad news is you just … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Carl Icahn, Economy, Glenn Straub, Revel, Sports, Tropicana Entertainment, Trump Entertainment Resorts | Comments Off on Gross injustice; Let the sports betting begin!

A renaissance for Atlantic City?

Posted on October 17, 2014 by David McKee

If Gary Green set out to stir debate with his Casino Journal polemic on Atlantic City, he could hardly have succeeded better. For Green, the glass is considerably more than half-full and the Boardwalk is “healthy, viable and sound.” In … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Boyd Gaming, Colony Capital, Current, Economy, Glenn Straub, Harrah's, Maryland, MGM Mirage, Revel, Trump Entertainment Resorts, Wall Street | Comments Off on A renaissance for Atlantic City?

JFK returns to Vegas, poker comes to Philly

Posted on October 17, 2014 by David McKee

Tourist attractions just haven’t been clicking for the New Tropicana Las Vegas. But it’s trying again with “The JFK Exhibition,” announced today. Although John F. Kennedy‘s connections to Las Vegas were part of the seamy underside of Camelot, that only … Continue reading →

Posted in Alex Yemenidjian, Downtown, Environment, Harrah's, history, MGM Mirage, Neil Bluhm, Ohio, Oscar Goodman, Pennsylvania, The Strip | Comments Off on JFK returns to Vegas, poker comes to Philly

Caesars flirts with Chapter 11; MGM sells relic

Posted on October 17, 2014 by David McKee

Caesars Entertainment CEO Gary Loveman has as much as said bankruptcy would happen over his dead body. Funeral services may be held in January. Caesars, y’see, has filed for an amendment on its debt that would give senior bondholders first … Continue reading →

Posted in Harrah's, Herbst Gaming, Illinois, MGM Mirage, Regulation, Slot routes, Wall Street | Comments Off on Caesars flirts with Chapter 11; MGM sells relic

Wynn blocked in Boston?

Posted on October 17, 2014 by David McKee

While we wait for Boston Mayor Martin “McCheese” Walsh to pile on, the City of Revere and Local 103 of the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers have done the inevitable and filed suit against the Massachusetts Gaming Commission, demanding that the … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Massachusetts, Mohegan Sun, Regulation, Steve Wynn, Trump Entertainment Resorts | 1 Comment

Tying the knot in Vegas and other diversions

Posted on October 16, 2014 by David McKee

Nevada‘s constitutional ban on gay marriage having been deemed unconstitutional, wedding chapels are kicking into high gear to prepare for a wave of same-sex nuptials. How is the casino industry responding to this sudden $50 million (projected) jackpot? Both Caesars … Continue reading →

Posted in Downtown, Economy, Foxwoods, Harrah's, Japan, Massachusetts, MGM Mirage, Mohegan Sun, Politics, Problem gambling, Sheldon Adelson, Singapore, Sports, The Strip, Tourism | Comments Off on Tying the knot in Vegas and other diversions

Packer’s complaint; Bally bloodbath

Posted on October 16, 2014 by David McKee

James Packer‘s run of bad luck has crossed the Pacific Ocean and infected his Australian casinos. Faced with soft numbers at Crown Resorts, he blamed players, exclaiming, “The punters are killing us!” Packer was also put on the defensive by … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, Bally Technologies, Economy, International, James Packer, Sam Nazarian, Scientific Games, The Strip, Wall Street, Westgate LV | Comments Off on Packer’s complaint; Bally bloodbath

Atlantic City: Which way is up?; Sheldon Adelson, prophet

Posted on October 16, 2014 by David McKee

Unburdened of four unprofitable casinos, if the revenue in Atlantic City is counted on a “same store” basis (i.e., leaving Revel, Showboat, the Atlantic Club and Trump Plaza out of the picture), the Boardwalk actually saw a 4% increase in … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Boyd Gaming, Colony Capital, G2E, Harrah's, International, Internet gambling, Japan, Macau, Maryland, Mohegan Sun, Revel, Sheldon Adelson, Trump Entertainment Resorts, Wall Street | 1 Comment

Steve Wynn, the early years

Posted on October 16, 2014 by David McKee

Steve Wynn is an irresistible storyteller. In this Wall Street Journal interview, he explains his origins in the casino business.

Posted in Atlantic City, history, Steve Wynn, The Strip | 2 Comments

Life after Revel; Sheldon’s solid quarter

Posted on October 15, 2014 by David McKee

Faced with fewer and fewer casino choices in Atlantic City, players seem to be choosing to stay home. The seaside city saw gaming revenues plummet 17% last month. That’s also the same percentage by which coin-in and slot revenues slipped. … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Boyd Gaming, Economy, Florida, Harrah's, Internet gambling, Macau, MGM Mirage, Mohegan Sun, Pennsylvania, Revel, Sheldon Adelson, Singapore, The Strip, Tropicana Entertainment, Trump Entertainment Resorts, Wall Street | 2 Comments

An Angry Bird in the hand …

Posted on October 15, 2014 by David McKee

Although the relationship between casinos and skill-based games (poker excepted) has been that of vampire and crucifix, Atlantic City casinos are coming around to the idea of monetizing Words with Friends, say, for the casino floor. There’s even a “New … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, International, Regulation, Sports, Technology | Comments Off on An Angry Bird in the hand …

Quote of the Day

Posted on October 15, 2014 by David McKee

Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas CEO John Unwin, having stumbled across a new trend on the Las Vegas Strip, tries to spin it as a brilliant master plan. Casino? What casino?

Posted in Cosmopolitan, Marketing, The Strip | Comments Off on Quote of the Day

Tempers fray in Macao; Wynn honored

Posted on October 15, 2014 by David McKee

One union’s “industrial action” is another company’s “dialogue.” That’s the Rashomon-like situation playing out at MGM Grand Paradise in Macao. Earlier this month, Forefront of the Macao Gaming announced that a weekend work-to-rule would take place at MGM. Dealers were … Continue reading →

Posted in Harrah's, Lake Tahoe, Macau, MGM Mirage, Sheldon Adelson, Stanley Ho, Steve Wynn, Tropicana Entertainment, Warner Gaming | Comments Off on Tempers fray in Macao; Wynn honored

Making sense of Pence; Dan Lee returns (again)

Posted on October 14, 2014 by David McKee

Taking a page from Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker‘s playbook, Indiana Gov. Mike Pence (R) is trying to have it both ways: oppose “expansion” of gambling but refuse to define aforesaid expansion. With riverboat casinos pressing to come ashore, Pence has … Continue reading →

Posted in Dan Lee, Indiana, Internet gambling, MGM Mirage, New York, Ohio, Palms, Pinnacle Entertainment, Politics | Comments Off on Making sense of Pence; Dan Lee returns (again)

Showdown at Chukchansi; Turnover at Caesars

Posted on October 14, 2014 by David McKee

As though the Chukchansi Gold Resort & Casino didn’t have enough problems, it’s been closed following an armed confrontation on the casino floor. U.S. District Judge Lawrence O’Neill ordered the shutdown, seconded by the National Indian Gaming Commission, which deemed … Continue reading →

Posted in California, Election, Harrah's, Massachusetts, MGM Mirage, Regulation, Tribal, TV, Wall Street | Comments Off on Showdown at Chukchansi; Turnover at Caesars

Caesars wins times two

Posted on October 10, 2014 by David McKee

Congratulations are in order twice over for Caesars Entertainment. The company is towering over its competitors in the social-gaming sphere, according to Eilers Research. While Zynga still rules Facebook and DoubleDown Casino has thrown a lifeline to International Game Technology, … Continue reading →

Posted in Bally Technologies, Detroit, Entertainment, Environment, Harrah's, IGT, Internet gambling, Maryland, MGM Mirage, World Series of Poker | Comments Off on Caesars wins times two

Show Me some results; Wynn vindicated

Posted on October 10, 2014 by David McKee

Wall Street analysts expressed disappointment with last month’s gaming revenues from Missouri. Even a 5%  increase in spending couldn’t offset an 8% decline in foot traffic. A bright spot was that, for the quarter, Pinnacle Entertainment beat J.P. Morgan analyst … Continue reading →

Posted in Economy, Harrah's, Isle of Capri, Japan, Kansas, Massachusetts, Missouri, Mohegan Sun, Penn National, Pinnacle Entertainment, Regulation, Singapore, Steve Wynn, Wall Street | Comments Off on Show Me some results; Wynn vindicated

Quote of the Day

Posted on October 10, 2014 by David McKee

“Everything in there is leased, down to the salt and pepper shakers.” — Margaritaville Casino bankruptcy attorney Robert Byrd, on the court-ordered evacuation of the former casino building.

Posted in Mississippi | Comments Off on Quote of the Day

Ivey loses & sundry Case Bets

Posted on October 9, 2014 by David McKee

Phil Ivey won’t be edge-sorting cards anytime soon. A British judge has ruled that, whether he knew it or not, Ivey was cheating when he won $12 million at Crockfords, a Genting Group casino in London. “He gave himself an advantage … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, California, Columbia Sussex, Election, Genting, Indiana, International, Japan, Lake Tahoe, Ohio, Penn National, Pinnacle Entertainment, Regulation, Station Casinos, Taxes, Tourism, Tribal, Wall Street, Warner Gaming | Comments Off on Ivey loses & sundry Case Bets

Playing chicken in Atlantic City

Posted on October 9, 2014 by David McKee

We’ve already seen four casinos close in Atlantic City and Carl Icahn is threatening to raise the ante to six. In a highly confrontational move, he’s demanding further concessions at the Tropicana Atlantic City from union Unite-Here, plus tax breaks … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Carl Icahn, Donald Trump, Economy, Penn National, Taxes, Tropicana Entertainment, Trump Entertainment Resorts | Comments Off on Playing chicken in Atlantic City