Author Archives: David McKee

About David McKee

Bio

IGT on the block; AGA: You love gambling

Posted on June 10, 2014 by David McKee

Looking to goose its stock price, International Game Technology has put itself up for sale, according to Reuters. IGT has evidently been able to keep the process top-hush for two months, as it works with Morgan Stanley on constructing a … Continue reading →

Posted in Geoff Freeman, Harrah's, IGT, Wall Street | Comments Off on IGT on the block; AGA: You love gambling

Indiana struggles, Ohio flourishes

Posted on June 10, 2014 by David McKee

Customers visited 8% in Indiana and spent 4% less. There were some salutary results. Pinnacle Entertainment‘s Ameristar East Chicago was up 2% and Boyd Gaming‘s Blue Chip saw revenues rise 3%. It was a big month for the racinos, with … Continue reading →

Posted in Ameristar, Boyd Gaming, Dining, Harrah's, Macau, Maryland, MTR Gaming, Ohio, Penn National, Pinnacle Entertainment, Racinos, Regulation, Scientific Games, Shuffle Master, Tropicana Entertainment, Wall Street | Comments Off on Indiana struggles, Ohio flourishes

Quote of the Day

Posted on June 10, 2014 by David McKee

“Geronimo couldn’t go to court, but we can. Perhaps now we can finally receive the justice that’s been denied us for so long.” — Fort Sill Apache Tribal Chairman Jeff Haozous, on the tribe’s lawsuit against the National Indian Gaming Commission … Continue reading →

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

New York: Promises and excuses

Posted on June 9, 2014 by David McKee

New York casino developers are enumerating the economic benefits for their prospective employees. Make no mistake, many of the jobs will be entry-level, minimum-wage employment. Saratoga Casino & Raceway is predicted a 47%/30% split between unskilled and skilled employees, with … Continue reading →

Posted in Cretins, Economy, Marketing, New York, North Las Vegas, Racinos, Singapore | 1 Comment

Massachusetts casinos in peril

Posted on June 9, 2014 by David McKee

That’s the conclusion of a Suffolk University/Boston Herald poll. It shows support for casinos having fallen to 37%, while opposition has risen to 47% of those surveyed. That’s a dramatic reversal from a February poll by the Herald which showed … Continue reading →

Posted in Detroit, Election, Horseracing, Illinois, Indiana, Massachusetts, MGM Mirage, Mohegan Sun, Penn National, Steve Wynn | Comments Off on Massachusetts casinos in peril

Caesars charged with default; LVH on the block again

Posted on June 9, 2014 by David McKee

It was bound to happen sooner or later: Holders of second-lien bonds ($3.7 billion worth) have charged Caesars Entertainment with default. They cited the offloading of Caesars New Orleans and other high-value properties, as well as the removal of guarantees … Continue reading →

Posted in Harrah's, Hooters, MGM Mirage, Planet Hollywood, The Strip, Wall Street | Comments Off on Caesars charged with default; LVH on the block again

Toppling dominoes in New York; Secret plan in St. Louis

Posted on June 6, 2014 by David McKee

Just like that, the E23 casino project near Albany is toast. But David Flaum won’t be asking for his $1 million back: He and partner Global Gaming Solutions have their eyes on Rensselaer now. GGS blamed the demise of E23 … Continue reading →

Posted in Cordish Co., Harrah's, Maryland, Missouri, New York, Penn National, Pinnacle Entertainment, Racinos, Tribal, Tropicana Entertainment | Comments Off on Toppling dominoes in New York; Secret plan in St. Louis

A gentleman and a scholar

Posted on June 6, 2014 by David McKee

There are some blog entries one would rather not write. This is one of those occasions. Gentlemanly attorney Robert Faiss, who literally wrote the book on casino regulation in Nevada, died yesterday at age 79. In in an irony he … Continue reading →

Posted in history, Japan, MGM Mirage, Politics, Regulation | Comments Off on A gentleman and a scholar

May challenging for Iowa, disastrous for Illinois

Posted on June 6, 2014 by David McKee

At present, the Iowa Racing & Gaming Commission is mulling whether to put a casino in relatively isolated (see video) Jefferson. While they’re weighing that Wild Rose Entertainment project, here’s something else to ponder: The latest set of revenue numbers … Continue reading →

Posted in Ameristar, Boyd Gaming, Current, Economy, Harrah's, Illinois, Iowa, Isle of Capri, MGM Mirage, Neil Bluhm, Penn National, Pinnacle Entertainment, Regulation, Slot routes | Comments Off on May challenging for Iowa, disastrous for Illinois

Adelson winning one-sided war

Posted on June 5, 2014 by David McKee

If it appears that Sheldon Adelson is rolling to victory in his jihad against Internet gambling, it’s primarily because his opposition has gone belly-up. First, MGM Resorts International CEO Jim Murren called the battle “a fight we cannot win,” then … Continue reading →

Posted in California, Florida, Geoff Freeman, Harrah's, Indiana, International, Internet gambling, MGM Mirage, Politics, Sheldon Adelson, South Carolina, Texas, Tribal | Comments Off on Adelson winning one-sided war

Quote of the Day

Posted on June 5, 2014 by David McKee

“Not only are they getting a lot of knowledge that’s not available anywhere else, they’re getting patent work done for free; they’re getting mathematical analysis done for free—they are getting to a point which most inventors never get to. And … Continue reading →

Posted in Technology | Comments Off on Quote of the Day

May in Macao; Brave new slots

Posted on June 5, 2014 by David McKee

Given “softer than expected” numbers out of Macao, expect Wall Street analysts to dial down their expectations for the balance of the year. Gaming revenues rose ‘only’ 9% instead of the expected double digits and there was a surprise leader … Continue reading →

Posted in Bally Technologies, Boulder Strip, Macau, Melco Crown Entertainment, MGM Mirage, Regulation, Sheldon Adelson, Stanley Ho, Station Casinos, Steve Wynn, Technology, Wall Street | Comments Off on May in Macao; Brave new slots

Abboud: Sinners repent!; Loveman’s orphan

Posted on June 4, 2014 by David McKee

Sounding like anti-casino zealot, Las Vegas Sands Senior Vice President of Government Relations & Community Development Andy Abboud had a dire message for Pennsylvania lawmakers: “Gambling was never supposed to be everywhere. It’s not an entitlement; it’s a vice. It needs to be doled … Continue reading →

Posted in Cannery Casino Resorts, Economy, Election, Harrah's, Harry Reid, Japan, Neil Bluhm, Pennsylvania, Politics, Sheldon Adelson | Comments Off on Abboud: Sinners repent!; Loveman’s orphan

Tilting the odds; The week of bad taste

Posted on June 4, 2014 by David McKee

Slot machines, we’re constantly being told, just aren’t on with the younger generation. Weaned on video games, millennials want something more skill-based. Insert Coins owner Christopher LaPorte aims to give them what they want. For the unfamiliar, Insert Coins is … Continue reading →

Posted in Downtown, Election, Marketing, Regulation, Sam Nazarian, Technology | 2 Comments

Quote of the Day

Posted on June 4, 2014 by David McKee

“The debate is heating up just as state Comptroller Thomas DiNapoli says most gamblers at the new casinos will be area residents, not out-of-state tourists, and a large resort casino in Mississippi closes as gambling revenues fall.” — Albany Business Review reporter … Continue reading →

Posted in Economy, Harrah's, Mississippi, New York | 1 Comment

GOP candidates back casino-repeal question

Posted on June 4, 2014 by David McKee

Top-of-the ticket Republican candidates for governor in Massachusetts have lined up behind the proposed repeal of the state’s casino law. Charlie Baker is only in favor of putting it on the ballot but Tea Party candidate Mark Fisher would go … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Massachusetts, Pennsylvania, Politics, Problem gambling | Comments Off on GOP candidates back casino-repeal question

Hot air in Iowa, strong talk in Singapore

Posted on June 2, 2014 by David McKee

Despite the decisive, if not vehement rejection of his casino bid, Cedar Rapids Mayor Ron Corbett wants another bite of the apple. Why? Because it would a smoke-free casino, which Gov. Terry Branstad (R) supports. It’s Corbett who’s blowing smoke … Continue reading →

Posted in California, Environment, Genting, Iowa, Japan, Sheldon Adelson, Singapore, Station Casinos, Tribal | Comments Off on Hot air in Iowa, strong talk in Singapore

Mohegan Sun liberated; Low blows struck in New York

Posted on June 2, 2014 by David McKee

Come year’s end, Mohegan Sun will be free of its management agreement with Trading Cove Associates. Liberty comes at a dear price: $900 million, or 5% of 15 years’ revenue. “If not for the Great Recession’s effect on Mohegan Sun’s … Continue reading →

Posted in Churchill Downs, Foxwoods, Horseracing, Internet gambling, Mohegan Sun, New York, Politics, Tribal | Comments Off on Mohegan Sun liberated; Low blows struck in New York

Casinos battle an ebb tide; Loveman rebuffed

Posted on June 2, 2014 by David McKee

Today marks the date that the casino industry officially became too large for the country to support, symbolized by the closing of Harrah’s Tunica. “There’s gambling everywhere. If you just want to gamble, you don’t have to go very far to do … Continue reading →

Posted in Economy, Harrah's, Illinois, Massachusetts, Mississippi, Politics, Regulation | Comments Off on Casinos battle an ebb tide; Loveman rebuffed

Case Bets for a Monday morning

Posted on June 2, 2014 by David McKee

Because Vegas is starved for retail along the Strip (ha!), Caesars Entertainment has been beavering away busily on Grand Bazaar Shops, in front of Bally’s Las Vegas. Vital Vegas has been sussing out the progress of the mall and it’s … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, Atlantic City, Culinary Union, Derek Stevens, Entertainment, Foxwoods, Harrah's, Internet gambling, Mohegan Sun, Revel, The Strip | Comments Off on Case Bets for a Monday morning