Author Archives: David McKee

About David McKee

Bio

LV in June: The house lost big-time

Posted on August 2, 2013 by David McKee

Despite only a minor dip in visitation, Las Vegas casinos got hammered in June. Players kept their wallets shut and the cards weren’t turning in the house’s favor. The amount of money played on the Las Vegas Strip was off … Continue reading →

Posted in Boyd Gaming, Current, Downtown, Economy, Lake Tahoe, Laughlin, North Las Vegas, Reno, The Strip, Tourism, Wall Street | 2 Comments

Vegas: Remembrance of revenues past; Making the grade in Massachusetts

Posted on August 1, 2013 by David McKee

“I think we are having a limp-wristed sort of crawl out of a hole, but a recovery is a more robust word,” the one and only Steve Wynn said earlier this week. The numbers bear him out, as tourism continues … Continue reading →

Posted in Cordish Co., Current, Dining, Economy, Entertainment, Foxwoods, Harrah's, Massachusetts, MGM Mirage, Mohegan Sun, Racinos, Regulation, Steve Wynn, The Strip, Tourism | Comments Off on Vegas: Remembrance of revenues past; Making the grade in Massachusetts

Seller’s market in A.C.?; Adelson’s new opportunity

Posted on August 1, 2013 by David McKee

According to a certain Pinky Kravitz, two new suitors are afoot on the Boardwalk. One of them is Neil Bluhm‘s SugarHouse Casino, which evidently covets the Atlantic Club (a surprisingly downmarket move for Bluhm). It may have to go up … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Boyd Gaming, Colony Capital, Current, Donald Trump, Economy, Environment, Foxwoods, Harrah's, International, Internet gambling, Kansas, Maine, Massachusetts, Neil Bluhm, New Hampshire, New York, Pennsylvania, Regulation, Sheldon Adelson, Taxes, Wall Street | Comments Off on Seller’s market in A.C.?; Adelson’s new opportunity

Chicken Lady rides again

Posted on July 31, 2013 by David McKee

Responding to the deafening disinterest of a Nevada electorate that has largely forgotten her, Pioneer Hotel & Gambling Hall Treasurer Sue Lowden — touting her casino expertise — has thrown her tiara into the ring in the contest to be … Continue reading →

Posted in Archon Corp., Current, Election, Laughlin, Sheldon Adelson | Comments Off on Chicken Lady rides again

Silly in Philly; Dinosaurs in Macao; New York’s choice

Posted on July 31, 2013 by David McKee

From the silly file. There’s no reason that any Joe Blow can’t apply for a casino license in Philadelphia. But I get a kick out of fruit-and-vegetable mogul Joseph “Tomato King” Procacci thinking he can actually outdo the likes of … Continue reading →

Posted in Animals, Election, Isle of Capri, Macau, New York, Penn National, Pennsylvania, Problem gambling, Regulation, Stanley Ho, Steve Wynn, Taxes | Comments Off on Silly in Philly; Dinosaurs in Macao; New York’s choice

Adelson loses (again), as does Simpson; Internet stampede in Jersey

Posted on July 31, 2013 by David McKee

Continuing his recent string of futility in the court system, Sheldon Adelson wore the gold sombrero yesterday, after went 0-for-12 in Clark County District Court. Next stop, the Nevada Supreme Court, which has been friendly to the mogul in the … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Boyd Gaming, Cretins, Current, Genting, Harrah's, Internet gambling, Macau, Regulation, Sheldon Adelson, Singapore, Station Casinos | Comments Off on Adelson loses (again), as does Simpson; Internet stampede in Jersey

Quote of the Day

Posted on July 30, 2013 by David McKee

“Phyladelphia [sic], with all its trade and wealth and regularity, is not Boston. The morals of our people are much better; their manners are more polite and agreeable… Our language is better, our taste is better, our persons are handsomer; … Continue reading →

Posted in history, Massachusetts, Pennsylvania | 1 Comment

Early reckoning in Macao; Big Gaming’s growing pains

Posted on July 30, 2013 by David McKee

One shouldn’t read too much into anything the Macao government says about casino operators. It likes to keep them guessing — especially U.S. ones. Still, it’s worth noting that Secretary for Economy & Finance Francis Tam Pak Yuen has floated … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Delaware, Economy, Genting, Harrah's, Macau, MGM Mirage, New Hampshire, New York, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Problem gambling, Racinos, Regulation, Sheldon Adelson, Stanley Ho, Tropicana Entertainment | Comments Off on Early reckoning in Macao; Big Gaming’s growing pains

A tale of two cities …

Posted on July 30, 2013 by David McKee

… and both of them are Las Vegas. Last week, Sheldon Adelson pitched a fit about how he thought MGM Resorts International and Caesars Entertainment were driving down his room rates (as though it were the job of Jim Murren … Continue reading →

Posted in Current, Dining, Economy, Harrah's, MGM Mirage, Sheldon Adelson, Steve Wynn, Taxes, The Strip, Tourism, Wall Street | Comments Off on A tale of two cities …

Buyer for Trump Plaza found?

Posted on July 26, 2013 by David McKee

That was my first thought upon seeing that online casino 2UP Gaming, based in London and backed by Asian money men, wants into the Boardwalk. Bravo to that and to the $330 million 2UP says it would invest. It shouldn’t … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Carl Icahn, Colony Capital, Current, Donald Trump, Harrah's, International, Internet gambling, Wall Street | 1 Comment

Four years in three minutes

Posted on July 26, 2013 by David McKee

One of the most convoluted controversies in tribal gaming is boiled down with the aid of a whiteboard. This is one story that I’ve always been tempted to include in S&G but find daunting, due to its Byzantine complexity.

Posted in Arizona, Current, Politics, Regulation, Tribal | Comments Off on Four years in three minutes

One Angry Man; MGM expansion bodes well

Posted on July 25, 2013 by David McKee

Y’know, if I was reporting a 120% profit increase in 2Q13, I might stop and enjoy the moment. I certainly wouldn’t choose that moment to be a dick. Obviously, I am not Sheldon Adelson. Proffering evidence that his second infancy … Continue reading →

Posted in Current, Economy, Harrah's, International, Macau, Maryland, Massachusetts, MGM Mirage, Penn National, Sheldon Adelson, Steve Wynn, Tourism, Wall Street | 1 Comment

Fertitta moves on Lake Charles; Sexism triumphs at Boyd; Rhythm City blues

Posted on July 25, 2013 by David McKee

Earlier today, Pinnacle Entertainment announced that it had agreed with Golden Nugget to sell Ameristar Casinos‘ unfinished Lake Charles project at cost ($214 million and climbing). As Deutsche Bank analyst Carlo Santarelli noted, “We view this as a firm positive … Continue reading →

Posted in Ameristar, Atlantic City, Boyd Gaming, Current, Harrah's, Iowa, Maryland, Missouri, Ohio, Pinnacle Entertainment, Racinos, Regulation, Texas, Tilman Fertitta, Wall Street | 2 Comments

More Trop turmoil; Adelson’s new enforcer; Hart vindicated

Posted on July 24, 2013 by David McKee

That Alex Yemenidjian! He just can’t keep the Tropicana Las Vegas out of the headlines — and not in a good way. It’s kicking The One Group out, taking over Bagatelle Beach Club and converting into a by-invitation-only venue for … Continue reading →

Posted in Alex Yemenidjian, Entertainment, IGT, International, MGM Mirage, Regulation, Sheldon Adelson, Technology, The Strip | Comments Off on More Trop turmoil; Adelson’s new enforcer; Hart vindicated

Men of La Mancha; Delaware: Taxation without benefit

Posted on July 23, 2013 by David McKee

While the attempted boycott of his Venelazzo poker rooms fizzles, Sheldon Adelson continues to look overseas. However, his EuroVegas will be beaten to the punch, or so it appears. Rival project BCN World has the jump on him, at least … Continue reading →

Posted in CityCenter, Current, Delaware, Dining, Entertainment, Hard Rock Hotel, Harrah's, Horseracing, International, James Packer, Lawrence Ho, Melco Crown Entertainment, New York, Racinos, Sheldon Adelson, Taxes, Tribal | 3 Comments

Scramble in Massachusetts; Malaise in Mississippi

Posted on July 23, 2013 by David McKee

Sept. 24 is the day appointed for voters in Leominster to say “aye” or “nay” to a slot parlor proposed by Cordish Gaming. That’s nine days before the deadline for submitting voter-approved HCAs to the Massachusetts Gaming Commission. Which, in … Continue reading →

Posted in Cordish Co., Current, Economy, Election, Florida, Foxwoods, Genting, Louisiana, Massachusetts, Mississippi, Mohegan Sun, Neil Bluhm, Sheldon Adelson, The Strip, Transportation, Tribal | 1 Comment

Wishful thinking, Ruffin-style

Posted on July 23, 2013 by David McKee

Only in Phil Ruffin‘s wildest imagination do members of Great Britain‘s royal family patronize Treasure Island, fast becoming one of the douchiest properties on the Strip.

Posted in Current, International, Phil Ruffin, The Strip | 2 Comments

Wynn checkmated in Everett?; Cordish sees Penn, raises ante

Posted on July 22, 2013 by David McKee

As we all would agree, Suffolk Downs doesn’t have the capitalization, the track record or the leadership that Wynn Resorts does. However, Richard Fields and Harvard homeboy Gary Loveman have a big something going for them: juice. I expected their … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Cordish Co., Current, Dining, Election, Foxwoods, Genting, Harrah's, Massachusetts, New York, Pennsylvania, Politics, Racinos, Regulation, Revel, Steve Wynn, Taxes, Tribal | 1 Comment

Quote of the Day

Posted on July 22, 2013 by David McKee

“I’m looking at it as a huge positive for the city. It shows that we are looking like the resort destination that everyone wants us to be. Although gaming revenue keeps the lights on in these buildings, this shows that … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Current, Economy | 1 Comment

Massachusetts: Penn’s back in; New market for Adelson?

Posted on July 19, 2013 by David McKee

When the city of Springfield finally stopped fence-sitting and decided against going with Penn National Gaming, I knew it was only a matter of time before Penn emerged somewhere else in Massachusetts. Boy, has it ever. Operating with speed and … Continue reading →

Posted in Cordish Co., Current, Environment, Hard Rock International, International, Lake Tahoe, Massachusetts, Neil Bluhm, Penn National, Politics, Racinos, Regulation, Sheldon Adelson, Steve Wynn, Taxes, Tropicana Entertainment | Comments Off on Massachusetts: Penn’s back in; New market for Adelson?