Author Archives: David McKee

About David McKee

Bio

Mohegan Sun scolded; Atlantic Club’s death throes

Posted on December 24, 2013 by David McKee

City fathers in Palmer, Massachusetts, have had a sudden falling-out with Mohegan Tribal Gaming Authority. They’ve accused Mohegan Sun of deliberately tanking the Nov. 5 election through “a deliberate pattern of delay and mismanagement.” As such, they’ll be joining the … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Cordish Co., Hard Rock International, Harrah's, Indiana, Massachusetts, Mohegan Sun, Regulation, Revel, Steve Wynn, Taxes, Tilman Fertitta, Tropicana Entertainment, Trump Entertainment Resorts | Comments Off on Mohegan Sun scolded; Atlantic Club’s death throes

SLS to get oddball neighbor?

Posted on December 24, 2013 by David McKee

Everybody’s entitled to a dream, however implausible. Back when Christopher Milam was plotting to build the Silver State Arena on the former Wet ‘n Wild site, we had a lot of problems with Milam’s concept. However, it seems the essence … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, Archon Corp., Sam Nazarian, Sports, The Strip | 2 Comments

And it’s … MGM again

Posted on December 23, 2013 by David McKee

Add Massachusetts to the roster of states where MGM Resorts International has been approved to operate. It received the unanimous assent of the Massachusetts Gaming Commission earlier today. “The Commission … finds that the Applicant has satisfied its burden of … Continue reading →

Posted in Current, Election, Greenwood Racing, Maryland, Massachusetts, MGM Mirage, Penn National, Regulation, Steve Wynn, Uncategorized | Comments Off on And it’s … MGM again

Adelson undeterred; Winners and losers

Posted on December 23, 2013 by David McKee

I’m not sure which part of this story is more alarming: That Affinity Gaming was the victim of a widespread identity-theft scheme for seven months … or that the company didn’t disclose it until late this year. It certainly makes … Continue reading →

Posted in Affinity Gaming, Atlantic City, California, Dan Gilbert, Detroit, Environment, Florida, Harrah's, Horseracing, International, Internet gambling, Japan, Macau, New York, Ohio, Penn National, Problem gambling, Sheldon Adelson, Singapore, Stanley Ho | Comments Off on Adelson undeterred; Winners and losers

Quote of the Day

Posted on December 23, 2013 by David McKee

“This can be the most commercially successful resort outside of Las Vegas, from a profit standpoint.” — MGM Resorts International CEO James Murren, on the company’s winning bid at National Harbor, on the doorstep of Washington, D.C.

Posted in Economy, Maryland, MGM Mirage | Comments Off on Quote of the Day

Curtains for Atlantic Club; Foxwoods rides again

Posted on December 23, 2013 by David McKee

In a curious bankruptcy-court resolution, the Atlantic Club Hotel was sold to two buyers. Tropicana Entertainment — probably getting the better part of the deal — paid $8.4 million for the gambling equipment and player database. Caesars Entertainment spent $15 … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, CityCenter, Colony Capital, Foxwoods, Harrah's, Massachusetts, Regulation, Steve Wynn, The Strip, Tribal, Tropicana Entertainment, Wall Street, Wisconsin | Comments Off on Curtains for Atlantic Club; Foxwoods rides again

Is Loveman insane?

Posted on December 20, 2013 by David McKee

There are two bids on the table for Colony Capital‘s grind-joint Atlantic Club Hotel and one of them is from — wait for it — Caesars Entertainment. Now you’re saying to yourself, “Hey, David, isn’t Caesars in the process of … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Colony Capital, Current, Harrah's, history, Tropicana Entertainment | 4 Comments

Revel to be sold?; Ryan weighs in on Menominee

Posted on December 20, 2013 by David McKee

Color me stupid but I figured that, with a new marketing team in place, to say nothing of a new CEO, Revel Resort was going to stay its new course awhile. Turns out the property was dickering with prospective buyers … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Current, Hard Rock International, Maryland, MGM Mirage, New York, Politics, Racinos, Revel, Tribal, Wisconsin | 2 Comments

And it’s … MGM

Posted on December 20, 2013 by David McKee

This news is so hot off the wires Howard Stutz has only had time to tweet it but Prince George’s County has chosen MGM Resorts International for its new casino license. Pleas by Greenwood Racing for an extension had been … Continue reading →

Posted in Current, Greenwood Racing, Maryland, Massachusetts, MGM Mirage, Penn National, Regulation | 2 Comments

Poster cuts his losses; Showdown in Lansing

Posted on December 19, 2013 by David McKee

Gaming executive Tim Poster has bounced hither and yon, and now he’s asking to be bounced to the outer fringes of the casino industry. His attorneys will not be challenging the Nevada Gaming Control Board‘s finding of unsuitability and will … Continue reading →

Posted in Charity, Internet gambling, Maryland, MGM Mirage, Mohegan Sun, Regulation, Station Casinos, Steve Wynn, Tribal | Comments Off on Poster cuts his losses; Showdown in Lansing

Quote of the Day

Posted on December 19, 2013 by David McKee

“All I can say is the process is continuing.” — Atlantic Club Hotel COO Michael Frawley on the casino’s slow-moving bankruptcy auction, which encountered a new obstacle yesterday.

Posted in Atlantic City, Colony Capital, Current | 1 Comment

Etess, Wynn cross swords & other Case Bets

Posted on December 18, 2013 by David McKee

Mohegan Tribal Gaming Authority CEO Mitchell Etess is A-OK with Massachusetts casino regulation, as he made clear in a recent interview. (Mohegan Sun is vying for a casino license at Suffolk Downs.) “I think everybody who got into this process … Continue reading →

Posted in Alabama, Japan, Massachusetts, Melco Crown Entertainment, New York, Pennsylvania, Regulation, Taxes, Tribal | 1 Comment

A good week for Packer, Wynn and Caesars

Posted on December 18, 2013 by David McKee

James Packer didn’t get permission to open a casino at his planned, $400 million resort in Sri Lanka (though he may have gotten something better) — but he wasn’t forbidden, either. The Sri Lankan government is keeping its options open even … Continue reading →

Posted in Florida, Harrah's, International, James Packer, Macau, Massachusetts, Mississippi, Regulation | Comments Off on A good week for Packer, Wynn and Caesars

Genting, Steve Wynn & so much more

Posted on December 17, 2013 by David McKee

Genting Group has narrowed its price target for finishing Resorts World Vegas. It will spend between $3 billion and $4 billion to complete the project (for which it has already paid $350 million for land). For a post-recession Vegas that’s … Continue reading →

Posted in CityCenter, Colorado, Current, Dubai, Economy, Florida, Fontainebleau, Foxwoods, Genting, Internet gambling, Massachusetts, MGM Mirage, Mohegan Sun, New York, Pinnacle Entertainment, Politics, Racinos, Steve Wynn, The Strip | 2 Comments

Quote of the Day

Posted on December 17, 2013 by David McKee
Posted in Massachusetts, Regulation, Steve Wynn | Comments Off on Quote of the Day

Falling out in Philly; Falling apart at Caesars

Posted on December 17, 2013 by David McKee

SugarHouse Casino has finally said what needed to be said: The Philadelphia market is tapped out for casinos. It’s not entirely a  disinterested stance; SugarHouse is finishing a $155 million expansion and vulnerable to new competition. But the numbers have … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Greenwood Racing, Harrah's, Internet gambling, Maryland, Massachusetts, Neil Bluhm, Penn National, Pennsylvania, Regulation, Steve Wynn, The Strip, Tilman Fertitta | 1 Comment

Bad news for Adelson; Wynn OK’d

Posted on December 17, 2013 by David McKee

I don’t know if Sheldon Adelson deserves the credit, but it looks like his anti-Internet-casino jihad has driven Big Gaming closer together. Wynn Resorts and Station Casinos and Churchill Downs have all joined the American Gaming Association. AGA prexy Geoff … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Colony Capital, Geoff Freeman, International, Internet gambling, Massachusetts, MGM Mirage, Regulation, Sheldon Adelson, Station Casinos, Steve Wynn | Comments Off on Bad news for Adelson; Wynn OK’d

The case against Crosby

Posted on December 13, 2013 by David McKee

As expected, the Massachusetts Gaming Commission fired off a broadside against Caesars Entertainment. It defended its Investigations & Enforcement Bureau as “comprised of seasoned investigators, [who act] independently to protect the public interest.” That’s partly a defense of the IEB … Continue reading →

Posted in Election, Florida, Foxwoods, Harrah's, Massachusetts, MGM Mirage, Regulation, Steve Wynn, Tribal | 1 Comment

Hasta la vista, EuroVegas

Posted on December 13, 2013 by David McKee

His demands having been rejected by the Spanish government, Sheldon Adelson has renounced EuroVegas, his $30 billion grand folly of 12 hotels, six casinos and 18,000 slots in Spain. Considering his hard-nosed stance that the company only concentrate on projects … Continue reading →

Posted in Greenwood Racing, International, Japan, Maryland, Melco Crown Entertainment, MGM Mirage, Penn National, Sheldon Adelson, Wall Street | Comments Off on Hasta la vista, EuroVegas

‘Twas the toga before Christmas

Posted on December 12, 2013 by David McKee

While it was saying “Bah, humbug!” to the Massachusetts Gaming Commission, along with a lump of coal, Caesars Entertainment released this cheerful swatch of Christmas kitch to the public. (Special thanks to those entertainers — like Taylor Hicks — who … Continue reading →

Posted in Current, Entertainment, Harrah's, The Strip | Comments Off on ‘Twas the toga before Christmas