Author Archives: David McKee

About David McKee

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Genting OK’d for Vegas; James Packer packs a punch

Posted on May 7, 2014 by David McKee

So thirsty is the State of Nevada for new casino investment that it may feel pressure not to look too closely at Genting Berhad, as its license application goes before the Nevada Gaming Control Board. Not that we’ve ever heard … Continue reading →

Posted in Animals, CityCenter, Cosmopolitan, Economy, Entertainment, Genting, International, James Packer, New York, Regulation, Singapore, Stanley Ho, The Strip | Comments Off on Genting OK’d for Vegas; James Packer packs a punch

Burton Cohen, 1923-2014

Posted on May 7, 2014 by David McKee

One of Las Vegas’ least pretentious and most beloved casino executives died yesterday when Burton Cohen expired at the age of 90. He kept his hand in until the end, serving on the MGM Resorts International board of directors. His manifold tours … Continue reading →

Posted in Delaware, Entertainment, history, MGM Mirage, Racinos, Taxes, TV | Comments Off on Burton Cohen, 1923-2014

Loveman’s latest dice throw; Delicate talks in Boston

Posted on May 7, 2014 by David McKee

In one of 2014’s least surprising stories, Caesars Entertainment has had to restructure debt. It will replace $1 billion in near-term indebtedness with $1.75 billion in longer-term notes. Bond analysts have been predicting this move for a long time, even … Continue reading →

Posted in Alex Yemenidjian, Harrah's, Massachusetts, Mohegan Sun, Slot routes, Steve Wynn, The Strip, Wall Street | Comments Off on Loveman’s latest dice throw; Delicate talks in Boston

Adelson: I’m nice, really; Casinos go to pot

Posted on May 6, 2014 by David McKee

Three hundred people turned out yesterday at UNLV to hear Sheldon Adelson hold a rap session with the kids about the evils of online gambling. Adelson’s animus, it turns out, was his father’s propensity to gamble his money away at … Continue reading →

Posted in Internet gambling, Japan, M Resort, Penn National, Problem gambling, Regulation, Sheldon Adelson | Comments Off on Adelson: I’m nice, really; Casinos go to pot

Station vs. Dotty’s: He said, he said; A perfect confluence in Vegas

Posted on May 5, 2014 by David McKee

So, did Station Casinos bid for its gadfly, the Dotty’s chain of slot parlors or didn’t it? Dotty’s owner Craig Estey is alleging a Feb. 5, 2013 meeting at which Station made a play for the dozens of demi-casinos which … Continue reading →

Posted in Affinity Gaming, Economy, Entertainment, Station Casinos, Technology, Tourism | 1 Comment

Sin City Serenade; Empire State frenzy

Posted on May 5, 2014 by David McKee

It’s probably between Dallas and Las Vegas for the 2016 Republican convention. Quite a study in contrasts (except for the summer heat). Social-issues conservatives are coming out hard against Sin City, surprise, surprise. Never mind casinos: 64 pages of ads … Continue reading →

Posted in LVCVA, Marketing, New York, Politics, The Strip, Transportation | Comments Off on Sin City Serenade; Empire State frenzy

Affleck banned from HRH; Sands Bethlehem reprieved

Posted on May 2, 2014 by David McKee

You can do all manner of despicable things in a casino if you’re a high roller … but count one lousy card and you’re toast, mister. That’s the message being sent by Warner Gaming after it banned Ben Affleck from … Continue reading →

Posted in Harrah's, Macau, Pennsylvania, Sheldon Adelson, Singapore, Technology, Trump Entertainment Resorts, Warner Gaming | 1 Comment

Shadow boxing in Boston; Rejected again in New Hampshire

Posted on May 2, 2014 by David McKee

There’s been yet another delay — only a week — in Boston‘s quixotic pursuit of host-community status for Wynn Resorts‘ and Mohegan Sun‘s Hub-area projects. The Massachusetts Gaming Commission obliged Boston Mayor Martin J. Walsh with postponement on Beantown’s application … Continue reading →

Posted in Entertainment, Massachusetts, MGM Mirage, Mohegan Sun, New Hampshire, Regulation, Steve Wynn, Taxes, The Strip | Comments Off on Shadow boxing in Boston; Rejected again in New Hampshire

Wynn speaks … and speaks

Posted on May 2, 2014 by David McKee

With a dustup with George Clooney still making headlines and a quarterly reporting emerging, Steve Wynn could be expected to be in an expansive mood. He did not disappoint. Ironically, Wynn’s comments about people who “live in a very strange … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, CityCenter, Dining, Economy, Entertainment, International, Japan, Macau, Steve Wynn, Wall Street | 1 Comment

Quote of the Day

Posted on May 2, 2014 by David McKee

“A question of cannibalization in Macau is brushed aside as [Steve] Wynn relates the story of The Three Little Pigs to the industry. Naturally, Wynn Resorts has the casinos built of brick.” — Seeking Alpha, from a summary of the Wynn Resorts … Continue reading →

Posted in Macau, Steve Wynn | Comments Off on Quote of the Day

Tight squeeze in New Jersey

Posted on April 30, 2014 by David McKee

Boyd Gaming posted its 1Q14 results today and Borgata racked up a $3 million operating loss due to the rollout of Internet gambling. That number might be smaller if credit card companies weren’t throttling payment-processing on the games. The average … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Boyd Gaming, Illinois, Internet gambling, Regulation | Comments Off on Tight squeeze in New Jersey

Selective outrage at Mandalay Bay; Tough call in Delaware

Posted on April 30, 2014 by David McKee

Mandalay Bay, which hosts Los Angeles Clippers pre-season play, and which advertises during Clippers games is out of the picture … for now. Although the NBA has banned unspeakably vile Clippers owner Donald Sterling from the league, Mandalay Bay is … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, Cretins, Delaware, Internet gambling, MGM Mirage, Racinos, Sports, Taxes, The Strip | Comments Off on Selective outrage at Mandalay Bay; Tough call in Delaware

Vegas: A return to the halcyon years? It looks that way

Posted on April 30, 2014 by David McKee

Las Vegas recorded its highest visitation numbers of all time last March, helping to drive gambling revenue 8% upward. We had 3.7 million tourists, 4% than the previous year. Despite fewer conventions, a 20.5% leap in convention attendance (with the … Continue reading →

Posted in Downtown, Economy, Harrah's, Lake Tahoe, Laughlin, Mesquite, MGM Mirage, North Las Vegas, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Reno, Sam Nazarian, Tourism, Wall Street | 1 Comment

Pinnacle, GLPI impress The Street; Parx beats Pennsylvania

Posted on April 30, 2014 by David McKee

Despite soft performance in its regional markets, Pinnacle Entertainment impressed an analyst or two by exceeding revenue expectations for the past quarter. Pinnacle’s cash flow was $3 million above Wall Street estimates, a feat attributed to fiscal discipline and improved … Continue reading →

Posted in Ameristar, Greenwood Racing, Illinois, Louisiana, Marketing, Missouri, Penn National, Pennsylvania, Pinnacle Entertainment, Taxes, Wall Street | Comments Off on Pinnacle, GLPI impress The Street; Parx beats Pennsylvania

Scott deal a dud?; Storm on Capitol Hill

Posted on April 29, 2014 by David McKee

Slim and none appear to be Florida Gov. Rick Scott‘s choices for a special session next month to ratify a casino compact with the Seminole Tribe. Legislators who note that the current compact doesn’t sunset until next year wonder what’s … Continue reading →

Posted in Donald Trump, Florida, Internet gambling, Politics, Sheldon Adelson, Tribal | 1 Comment

Genting courts skeptics; Mohegan Sun wants a refund

Posted on April 29, 2014 by David McKee

Genting Group may be in for some rough sledding in its pursuit of a casino resort in Tuxedo, New York. Genting would demolish Tuxedo Ridge Ski Center and replace it with an extensive, Edwardian-style resort. Skiing would still be part … Continue reading →

Posted in Election, Genting, International, Lawrence Ho, Massachusetts, Mohegan Sun, New York | 2 Comments

MGM blows away Wall Street expectations

Posted on April 29, 2014 by David McKee

Posting more than double Wall Street‘s consensus of earnings per share ($0.21 rather than $0.09), MGM Resorts International had a good quarter, to say the least. Even CityCenter exceeded expectations by 11%. J.P. Morgan analyst Joseph Greff took it all … Continue reading →

Posted in Animals, CityCenter, Colorado, Detroit, Downtown, Entertainment, Horseracing, Internet gambling, Iowa, Macau, Massachusetts, MGM Mirage, Regulation, Steve Wynn, The Strip, Wall Street | Comments Off on MGM blows away Wall Street expectations

Quote of the Day

Posted on April 29, 2014 by David McKee

“These resorts are very inward-facing. They were designed to try to be provocative, to get people inside and have them stay as long as possible. By opening up these resorts, by creating a much more porous environment with outdoor and … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, MGM Mirage, The Strip | Comments Off on Quote of the Day

Crowded field in New York; Big numbers at Hakkasan

Posted on April 28, 2014 by David McKee

Awash in $22 million in application fees, New York State now enters the next phase: The winnowing of the field either through lack of financing or the formation of alliances. After all, there are property owners with no operating experience … Continue reading →

Posted in Entertainment, MGM Mirage, New York, Pennsylvania, Politics, Sheldon Adelson, The Strip | Comments Off on Crowded field in New York; Big numbers at Hakkasan

Quote of the Day

Posted on April 28, 2014 by David McKee

“On several occasions the dispute has spilled over to the trade show floor, with LT Game, a unit of Hong Kong listed Paradise Entertainment, claiming its patent protection extends to exhibiting live dealer multi-game systems in Macau. At G2E Asia … Continue reading →

Posted in G2E, Japan, Macau, Shuffle Master, Technology | Comments Off on Quote of the Day