Author Archives: David McKee

About David McKee

Bio

Most happy fella; Whither the Western?

Posted on December 4, 2013 by David McKee

If you added Melco Crown Entertainment to your portfolio of stocks, you’ve got a right to be feeling smart right about now. U.S.-traded shares of the stock are up 111% over the course of 2013. Weaker-than-expected high roller play has … Continue reading →

Posted in Downtown, International, James Packer, Lawrence Ho, Melco Crown Entertainment, Tourism | 1 Comment

Caesars’ big bazaar; Psychic powers in Massachusetts; When is a profit not a profit?

Posted on December 4, 2013 by David McKee

Linq is shaping up handsomely and its Ferris wheel just had its last gondola added yesterday. So, if we can put Caesars Entertainment‘s debt problems aside for a second, the company is doing very nicely in the capex department, where … Continue reading →

Posted in Delaware, Harrah's, International, Iowa, Isle of Capri, Louisiana, Massachusetts, Racinos, Regulation, The Strip, Wall Street | Comments Off on Caesars’ big bazaar; Psychic powers in Massachusetts; When is a profit not a profit?

Quote of the Day

Posted on December 4, 2013 by David McKee

“On non-Indian lands, you have a thousand ways to stop a casino that you don’t want. Why do you need the abrogation of sovereign immunity?” — U.S. Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, questioning the State of Michigan‘s lawsuit against an … Continue reading →

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

Dancing at the Downs; Sheldon Adelson, Luddite

Posted on December 3, 2013 by David McKee

Suffolk Downs isn’t going to have to perform the limbo to bring its casino project into zoning conformity but some fancy footwork will be required. Instead of one structure, there will have to be two. Non-gaming amenities will be clustered … Continue reading →

Posted in Bally Technologies, Current, Harrah's, IGT, Internet gambling, Massachusetts, Mohegan Sun, Regulation, Sam Nazarian, Sheldon Adelson, Technology | Comments Off on Dancing at the Downs; Sheldon Adelson, Luddite

Online gambling a hit in New Jersey; Crackdown in Singapre

Posted on December 3, 2013 by David McKee

Despite some small fits and starts, New Jersey was able to roll out Internet gambling to eager Garden State citizens and with no major issues. Moody’s Investor Service predicted $250 million-$500 million in revenues during the first year, while Gov. … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Harrah's, Internet gambling, MGM Mirage, Sheldon Adelson, Singapore, Steve Wynn, Tilman Fertitta | Comments Off on Online gambling a hit in New Jersey; Crackdown in Singapre

Quote of the Day

Posted on December 3, 2013 by David McKee

“I have been bombarded by my colleagues about the Internet. Like Mt. Everest, it looms on the horizon, blotting out the sun. I fail to see the business opportunity myself. So what I do is, I hook up with my … Continue reading →

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

Mohegan switches sides in Massachusetts; Ghosts in the machine

Posted on December 3, 2013 by David McKee

It’s not quite official but the Mohegan Tribal Gaming Authority has thrown in its lot with Suffolk Downs, one of the dwindling number of candidates for a Massachusetts casino license (and where a big redesign is well underway). Mohegan Sun wasted … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, IGT, Massachusetts, MGM Mirage, Mohegan Sun, Pennsylvania, Technology, Wall Street | Comments Off on Mohegan switches sides in Massachusetts; Ghosts in the machine

Hacienda gets the Dotty’s treatment; Mohegan gets the heck out

Posted on November 25, 2013 by David McKee

When the Dotty’s slot-cafe chain decided to go ‘legit’ by purchasing the Hacienda hotel-casino near Boulder City, it meant some big surprises. For one thing, all employees found themselves without jobs. Dotty’s used the federal WARN Act to pink-slip the … Continue reading →

Posted in Internet gambling, Massachusetts, Mohegan Sun, New Hampshire, New York, Regulation, Sheldon Adelson, Slot routes | Comments Off on Hacienda gets the Dotty’s treatment; Mohegan gets the heck out

Changing of the Guard at Bally; Whence Mecca?

Posted on November 25, 2013 by David McKee

Now that the Bally Technologies takeover of Shuffle Entertainment is a done deal, there’s a bit of musical chairs to be played. Senior Vice President for Law & Government Mark Lerner will be eased out, in favor of Shuffle’s general counsel, … Continue reading →

Posted in Bally Technologies, Downtown, Economy, Macau, Planet Hollywood, Shuffle Master, Tamares Group | Comments Off on Changing of the Guard at Bally; Whence Mecca?

Any way out for Caesars?

Posted on November 22, 2013 by David McKee

Woodfield Consulting Group has put a “strong sell” recommendation on Caesars Entertainment stock, deeming it “a poor equity investment choice that offers low expected return to equity investors with high speculative risk.” Noting that Caesars has six years’ and $17 … Continue reading →

Posted in Economy, Harrah's, Japan, Maryland, Ohio, The Strip, Wall Street | 5 Comments

Suffolk Downs: Devil in the details; Wynn exculpated

Posted on November 22, 2013 by David McKee

Suffolk Downs has yet to reveal how it will shoehorn a $1 billion casino into the Revere portion of its property. However, its struggle to do so is being made even harder both by opposition groups and Boston politicians who’s … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, Arizona, Downtown, Massachusetts, Mohegan Sun, Racinos, Regulation, Tribal | Comments Off on Suffolk Downs: Devil in the details; Wynn exculpated

Semi-failure to launch; Crackdown in Illinois

Posted on November 22, 2013 by David McKee

It’s not just Obamacare that’s having Web site glitches in its launch. The same goes for New Jersey‘s ‘Net-betting system. Test player Joseph Brennen attempted logging in from within Atlantic City but kept getting error messages. “It’s frustrating knowing you’re … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Bally Technologies, Economy, IGT, Illinois, International, Internet gambling, Regulation, Slot routes, Technology | Comments Off on Semi-failure to launch; Crackdown in Illinois

Quote of the Day

Posted on November 22, 2013 by David McKee

‘‘I think it is working exactly as it was supposed to, which was to authorize up to three destination resort licenses and one [slots parlor] and to let people make their own decisions about whether they want the facilities in … Continue reading →

Posted in Election, Massachusetts | Comments Off on Quote of the Day

Freeman vs. Adelson; Kentucky tries again

Posted on November 21, 2013 by David McKee

In a particularly stunning departure from American Gaming Association tradition, new prexy Geoff Freeman took a jab at Las Vegas Sands CEO Sheldon “Nuke ‘Em” Adelson in the pages of USA Today. Of course, Freeman didn’t mention Adelson explicitly. But … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Columbia Sussex, Harrah's, Internet gambling, Kentucky, Marketing, New York, Penn National, Pennsylvania, Politics, Racinos, Regulation, Sheldon Adelson, Taxes | Comments Off on Freeman vs. Adelson; Kentucky tries again

Unwelcome surprise for Steve Wynn

Posted on November 21, 2013 by David McKee

A bomb just went off under Steve Wynn‘s $1.3 billion casino project in Everett. Multiple felon Charles Lightbody has been bragging upon his supposedly hidden ownership in the land on which Wynn has taken an option. So say confidential sources. … Continue reading →

Posted in Harrah's, Internet gambling, Marketing, Massachusetts, MGM Mirage, Sam Nazarian, Steve Wynn, The Mob, Tourism | 1 Comment

Discord over Macao, harmony at MGM

Posted on November 21, 2013 by David McKee

If there’s anything murkier than the gambling subculture of Macao, it’s the report on same issued by  U.S.-China Economic Security Review Commission. Its conclusion that money laundering “might be out there” won’t come to a shock to anyone. U.S. casino companies … Continue reading →

Posted in Culinary Union, Current, Macau, MGM Mirage, Regulation, Sheldon Adelson, Steve Wynn, The Strip, Tourism, Wall Street | Comments Off on Discord over Macao, harmony at MGM

Quote of the Day

Posted on November 21, 2013 by David McKee

“Baccarat has saved the Strip’s bacon.” — Dr. David G. Schwartz, director of the Center for Gaming Research at the University of Nevada-Las Vegas, on the importance of table games.

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

SLS arises, Adelson attacks and Atlantic City fights back

Posted on November 20, 2013 by David McKee

“Will the change the game for the north Strip?” So asks the Las Vegas Sun. One could just say “no” and leave it at that, but there’s no getting around that SLS Las Vegas will be in a, um, challenged … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Illinois, Internet gambling, Macau, Sheldon Adelson, Technology | Comments Off on SLS arises, Adelson attacks and Atlantic City fights back

Japan factor overrated?; Gural’s head start

Posted on November 20, 2013 by David McKee

Skepticism is starting to emerge regarding Union Gaming Group‘s projection of $10 billion a year from Japanese casinos, should they be legalized. Among the reasons given are that “whales” from Japan aren’t a major factor in Pacific Rim casinos. Also, … Continue reading →

Posted in Japan, Marketing, New York, Penn National, Racinos, Scientific Games, Tribal, Wall Street, WMS Industries | Comments Off on Japan factor overrated?; Gural’s head start

Foxwoods Massachusetts: All the king’s horses …

Posted on November 20, 2013 by David McKee

In what must be the shortest-lived deal in Penn National Gaming‘s history, its nascent partnership with Foxwoods Resort Casino went down to defeat yesterday. Crossroads Massachusetts, as it was called, didn’t just lose — it was crushed. An unofficial tabulation … Continue reading →

Posted in Cordish Co., Foxwoods, Greenwood Racing, Massachusetts, MGM Mirage, Penn National, Regulation, Steve Wynn | Comments Off on Foxwoods Massachusetts: All the king’s horses …