Author Archives: David McKee

About David McKee

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Quote of the Day

Posted on February 18, 2014 by David McKee

“The message was somewhat of a cross between the awful Ben Affleck–Justin Timberlake movie Runner, Runner and Reefer Madness, the ’30s-era propaganda film that melodramatically exploited the dangers of marijuana use.” — Howard Stutz on Sheldon Adelson‘s anti-Internet gambling fright … Continue reading →

Posted in Internet gambling, Movies, Sheldon Adelson | Comments Off on Quote of the Day

The video poker king of Vegas; Adelson: Whodunit?

Posted on February 17, 2014 by David McKee

On the local video poker scene, it’s an arms race between Golden Gaming and the Dotty’s chain. With twice as many establishments at Dotty’s, Golden can legitimately claim victory. It recently snapped up a couple of Mom-and-Pop slot bars and … Continue reading →

Posted in Arizona, California, Entertainment, Golden Gaming, Harrah's, Sheldon Adelson, Station Casinos, The Strip | 1 Comment

Keeping up with the Joneses

Posted on February 17, 2014 by David McKee

Long a money pit for the Saulte Ste. Marie Tribe of Chippewa Indians, the Greektown Casino in downtown Detroit is now owner Dan Gilbert‘s problem. A smoky warren of gambling spaces, the original layout is a clusterf**k that warrants Greektown’s … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, Atlantic City, CityCenter, Dan Gilbert, Detroit, International, Massachusetts, MGM Mirage, Mississippi, Problem gambling, Revel, Rhode Island, Sports | Comments Off on Keeping up with the Joneses

Hard Rock OK’d; Tribal casinos’ power plays; Caesars’ astute move

Posted on February 17, 2014 by David McKee

Instead of being left to rot, Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Sioux City will be permitted to resume construction, with a view toward a late-summer opening. That good news was handed down from the Polk County District Court bench. If … Continue reading →

Posted in Florida, Foxwoods, Genting, Harrah's, Internet gambling, Iowa, Massachusetts, Mohegan Sun, Penn National, Regulation, Rhode Island, Tribal, Wall Street, Warner Gaming | 1 Comment

Quote of the Day

Posted on February 17, 2014 by David McKee

“There was such a home, a personal feeling toward these casinos that were on the Strip like the Silver Slipper, the Dunes, the Sahara—all these places that you grew up with—these were all places that we had. This was our … Continue reading →

Posted in history, Sahara, The Strip | Comments Off on Quote of the Day

Discontent in Beantown; Sands, Day 4

Posted on February 14, 2014 by David McKee

Boston Mayor Martin J. Walsh (right) wants the awarding of a Beantown-area casino put off … mainly so he’ll have more time to cadge and scheme his way into “host community” status, where the big money is to be found. Steve … Continue reading →

Posted in Dining, Illinois, Massachusetts, MGM Mirage, Mississippi, Mohegan Sun, Pennsylvania, Sheldon Adelson, Slot routes, Steve Wynn | 1 Comment

Casinos behaving badly

Posted on February 14, 2014 by David McKee

Reno‘s Peppermill Casino is going to be $1 million lighter in the wallet, after it ‘fessed up to spying on other casinos’ proprietary data. Peppermill analyst Ryan Tors was caught at the Grand Sierra using a tool known as a … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Dan Gilbert, Harrah's, Ohio, Regulation, Reno, Revel, Technology | Comments Off on Casinos behaving badly

A Ho no-show; Adelson omnipresent; Revel to close?

Posted on February 13, 2014 by David McKee

There was apparently no Stanley Ho sighting at the Cotai Strip groundbreaking of Sociedade de Jogos de Macau‘s $3.9 billion Lisboa Palace. Ho is 92 and well into his dotage, so a public appearance would have come as a surprise. … Continue reading →

Posted in Foxwoods, Genting, Hard Rock International, Harrah's, Internet gambling, Macau, Penn National, Pennsylvania, Politics, Revel, Sheldon Adelson, Stanley Ho, Technology, Vietnam | 1 Comment

Battle of Sands widens

Posted on February 13, 2014 by David McKee

Las Vegas Sands‘ Web sites remain “under maintenance,” as the company reels from a vast and invasive cyber-attack. In addition to the FBI, the Secret Service has taken an interest in the matter. The assault is a boon for third-party … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, Internet gambling, Massachusetts, MGM Mirage, Politics, Problem gambling, Sheldon Adelson, The Strip | Comments Off on Battle of Sands widens

Quote of the Day

Posted on February 13, 2014 by David McKee

“At the end of the day, they are the true job creators.” — entrepreneur Nick Hanauer on poor and middle-class Americans.

Posted in Economy | Comments Off on Quote of the Day

Time running for Atlantic City; Adelson’s scurrility

Posted on February 12, 2014 by David McKee

After a quarterly hiatus, it seems time to start covering Atlantic City again. The headline item is a $9.5 million gross from Internet gambling. At that rate, online gambling isn’t going to be a game-changer and, indeed, the Boardwalk was … Continue reading →

Posted in Boyd Gaming, Current, Economy, Harrah's, Internet gambling, Mohegan Sun, Penn National, Sheldon Adelson, Tilman Fertitta, Tropicana Entertainment, Trump Entertainment Resorts | 2 Comments

Market8 endorsed; Web casinos raided; Gridlock in Kentucky, Florida

Posted on February 12, 2014 by David McKee

Market8 is emerging as the frontrunner in the competition for a Philadelphia casino license. Three area politicians have come forward in support of Ken Goldenberg‘s project, which will be run by Mohegan Sun. As part of a joint communique, First … Continue reading →

Posted in Florida, Internet gambling, Kentucky, Mohegan Sun, Pennsylvania, Politics, Regulation, Tribal | Comments Off on Market8 endorsed; Web casinos raided; Gridlock in Kentucky, Florida

Pinnacle beats The Street; MGM goes electric

Posted on February 12, 2014 by David McKee

Pinnacle Entertainment did a brilliant job of managing Wall Street‘s expectations, its cash flow coming in $5 million above analysts’ consensus, driven by lower operating expenses. J.P. Morgan‘s Joseph Greff called the results “better than feared,” which tells you how … Continue reading →

Posted in Ameristar, Environment, Foxwoods, International, Internet gambling, Maryland, Massachusetts, MGM Mirage, Missouri, Ohio, Pinnacle Entertainment, Transportation, Tribal, Wall Street | Comments Off on Pinnacle beats The Street; MGM goes electric

2/11

Posted on February 12, 2014 by David McKee

Sheldon Adelson is not an easy man to like, let alone defend. (His attacks upon the First Amendment have seen to that.) But, upon further reflection, the Feb. 11 assault on his corporate Web sites causes one to reluctantly take … Continue reading →

Posted in Current, Internet gambling, Pennsylvania, Politics, Sheldon Adelson | 2 Comments

PR Wars: Caesars vs. Caesars

Posted on February 11, 2014 by David McKee

It’s restructuring time again at Caesars Entertainment, but which Caesars? According to a Bloomberg interview with RBC Capital Markets analyst John Kempf, subsidiary Caesars Entertainment Operating Co. would trade second-lien debt for cash (of which Caesars maintains it has plenty) … Continue reading →

Posted in Harrah's, Internet gambling, Maryland, Planet Hollywood, Revel, Wall Street | Comments Off on PR Wars: Caesars vs. Caesars

Sheldon Adelson, bogeyman

Posted on February 11, 2014 by David McKee

Update: Somebody returned the favor by hacking into Las Vegas Sands‘ Web sites, taking out several home pages and posting inflammatory imagery. “The sites also featured a list of confidential employee information and Social Security numbers,” reported the Las Vegas … Continue reading →

Posted in Internet gambling, Politics, Sheldon Adelson | Comments Off on Sheldon Adelson, bogeyman

Massachusetts slams Mohegans, Foxwoods; Mohegan slams Wynn

Posted on February 11, 2014 by David McKee

Following a stinging expose of Mohegan Sun and Foxwoods Resort Casino‘s habit of placing liens on the homes of casino debtors. Massachusetts Attorney General Martha Coakley was moved to action. She is urging the Massachusetts Gaming Commission to prohibit the … Continue reading →

Posted in Environment, Foxwoods, Massachusetts, Mohegan Sun, New York, Regulation, Steve Wynn, Taxes | 1 Comment

Macao’s incredible jackpot; Execs on the move

Posted on February 11, 2014 by David McKee

If you think the emergence of Macao as the gambling capital of the world has been amazing, you ain’t seen nothin’ yet. That’s the essence of a new report from Nomura Securities. It predicts that the Macao market has the … Continue reading →

Posted in Affinity Gaming, Colorado, Harrah's, IGT, Internet gambling, Macau, Melco Crown Entertainment, Sheldon Adelson, Stanley Ho, Wall Street | Comments Off on Macao’s incredible jackpot; Execs on the move

Quote of the Day

Posted on February 11, 2014 by David McKee

“They’re not building casinos in Dover or Wellesley.” — Stop Predatory Gambling Foundation Executive Director Les Bernal taking an oblique pot shot at Wellesley resident Gary Loveman.

Posted in Harrah's, Massachusetts | Comments Off on Quote of the Day

Churchill Downs gets singed, casino creditors get burnt

Posted on February 10, 2014 by David McKee

Nick Ribis, a contentious figure in the Atlantic City casino scene is at it again. Or so contends a lawsuit by Churchill Downs. The racino company claims it paid Ribis $2.5 million “to develop and operate” Internet gambling on its … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Churchill Downs, Colony Capital, Florida, Foxwoods, Harrah's, Horseracing, Internet gambling, Massachusetts, Mohegan Sun, Racinos, Revel, Sam Nazarian, Tribal | 1 Comment