Author Archives: David McKee

About David McKee

Bio

Case Bets

Posted on February 2, 2021 by David McKee

More than 23 million Americans are expected to bet legally or otherwise on the Super Bowl, according to the American Gaming Association, which predicts $4.3 billion in handle. 7.5 million punters will be doing their wagering online, 63% more than … Continue reading →

Posted in AGA, Bally, Caesars Entertainment, Cordish Co., DFS, Diversity, DraftKings, Economy, FanDuel, history, Illinois, International, Las Vegas Sands, Macau, MGM Resorts International, Pennsylvania, PointsBet, Problem gambling, Real Estate, Rush Street Gaming, Sports, Sports betting, Steve Wynn, The Strip | 3 Comments

Upside of the nor’easter

Posted on February 2, 2021 by David McKee
Posted in Animals | Comments Off on Upside of the nor’easter

Gaming stocks rejiggered; Smoke blown at AGA

Posted on January 29, 2021 by David McKee

No, we don’t mean the Reddit/GameStop scandal, which has everyone from Sen. Ted Cruz (R) to Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D) up in arms. Instead, we’re looking at a downgrade of revenue estimates for a slew of projections by JP Morgan … Continue reading →

Posted in AGA, Barstool Sports, Boyd Gaming, Caesars Entertainment, Churchill Downs, Cordish Co., DraftKings, Economy, Florida, Golden Gaming, Hard Rock International, Health, Horseracing, Illinois, Internet gambling, Marijuana, Marketing, MGM Resorts International, Nevada, New Jersey, Penn National, Pennsylvania, Rush Street Gaming, Scientific Games, Sports, Sports betting, Station Casinos, Tribal, Wall Street, William Hill | 1 Comment

Las Vegas recovery: A definite maybe; Woe at Sands

Posted on January 28, 2021 by David McKee

First, the bad news. Las Vegas emerged from a December that was just plain awful, as discretionary income continues to dry up. Las Vegas Strip win plummeted 51% to $292 million. Statewide, gambling revenue toppled 35.5% for $684 million, an … Continue reading →

Posted in AGA, Alex Yemenidjian, Arizona, Boulder Strip, Caesars Entertainment, California, China, Conventions, Derek Stevens, Downtown, Economy, Health, Internet gambling, Japan, Lake Tahoe, Las Vegas Sands, Laughlin, LVCVA, Macau, Melco Resorts & Entertainment, Mesquite, Mohegan Sun, New York, North Las Vegas, Reno, Sheldon Adelson, Singapore, South Korea, Sports betting, Texas, The Strip, Tilman Fertitta, Tourism, Wall Street, Wendover, Wynn Resorts | 3 Comments

Quote of the Day

Posted on January 28, 2021 by David McKee

“If you have this amenity and there’s sports betting at the card rooms, you might add 250 jobs and the secondary effect of those jobs. We have over 2,200 employees in the state. They’re great-paying jobs with an average salary … Continue reading →

Posted in Card rooms, Economy, Maverick Gaming, Sports betting, Washington State | 1 Comment

Profile in cowardice; Sheldon Adelson’s ghost

Posted on January 27, 2021 by David McKee

We were sure this was a story from The Onion or the Babylon Bee but, no, it’s really a thing. Rodney Baker has resigned as CEO of Great Canadian Gaming Corp. after bringing disgrace upon it with a vaccination caper … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, Boulder Strip, Boyd Gaming, Caesars Entertainment, Canada, Churchill Downs, Cretins, Culinary Union, DraftKings, FanDuel, Health, Illinois, Indiana, Law enforcement, MGM Resorts International, PointsBet, Politics, Regulation, Sheldon Adelson, Sports, Sports betting, Tennessee, Tribal, Wall Street, William Hill, Wynn Resorts | 2 Comments

Life after Adelson; Super Bowl odds revealed

Posted on January 25, 2021 by David McKee

Taking a business-as-usual approach, Las Vegas Sands reported 4Q20 earnings and JP Morgan analyst Joseph Greff wasn’t blown away, writing that “we, like most investors, see the quarter and any outlook commentary offering little in the way of positive developments … Continue reading →

Posted in Caesars Entertainment, China, Dining, Encore, Entertainment, Health, Las Vegas Sands, Macau, Massachusetts, Melco Resorts & Entertainment, Michigan, Reno, Sheldon Adelson, Sports, Sports betting, The Strip, Virginia, Wynn Resorts | 1 Comment

Louisiana doldrums; Philadelphia Live sparkles

Posted on January 22, 2021 by David McKee

Does reporting bad news get tedious? You bet! But it comes with the turf. Louisiana casino winnings declined 23% last month, in keeping with the national average. Penn National Gaming casinos got off easiest, slipping 11%, while Boyd Gaming ones … Continue reading →

Posted in Animals, Bally, Baseball, Boyd Gaming, Caesars Entertainment, Churchill Downs, Colorado, Connecticut, Cordish Co., CQ Holdings, Cretins, Dining, DraftKings, Economy, FanDuel, FoxBet, Foxwoods, Golden Nugget, Health, Illinois, Indiana, Internet gambling, Jim Murren, Law enforcement, Louisiana, Marketing, Massachusetts, MGM Resorts International, Mohegan Sun, Nevada, New Jersey, Penn National, Pennsylvania, Politics, Rush Street Gaming, Sports, Tennessee, Wall Street, West Virginia, William Hill | 3 Comments

Quote of the Day

Posted on January 22, 2021 by David McKee

“I appreciate the referees for putting up with all my fussing. I think I was right most of the time dadgummit!”—Indianapolis Colts quarterback Philip Rivers, in announcing his retirement from the NFL.

Posted in Sports | 1 Comment

Adelson rolling in grave; Police blotter

Posted on January 21, 2021 by David McKee

It’s a good thing Sheldon Adelson didn’t live to see this. The First Circuit Court of Appeals quashed a 2019 reinterpretation of the Federal Wire Act by the Justice Department, one that broadly applied it to Internet gambling. The federal … Continue reading →

Posted in Cosmopolitan, Donald Trump, Economy, Hard Rock International, Harry Reid, Health, Indiana, Internet gambling, Las Vegas Sands, Law enforcement, Michigan, Nevada, New Hampshire, New York, PointsBet, Politics, Regulation, Sheldon Adelson, Spectacle Entertainment, Sports betting, Taxes | 1 Comment

The Strip plays Capitol Hill

Posted on January 20, 2021 by David McKee

It was like the good old days of the Las Vegas Strip were back in full flower at President Biden’s inauguration. It featured two Strip headliners-in-limbo, Lady Gaga and Jennifer Lopez, as well as former headliner Garth Brooks, crossing party … Continue reading →

Posted in Current, Entertainment, history | Comments Off on The Strip plays Capitol Hill

Icahn saves Trump Dump; Disaster in Pennsylvania

Posted on January 20, 2021 by David McKee

Carl Icahn‘s abusive-codependent attachment to Trump Plaza knows no ends. In his latest gambit, the magnate has kiboshed the implosion of the ramshackle ex-casino that had been slated for sometime in February, by dint of obtaining a cease-and-desist order. Instead, … Continue reading →

Posted in Affinity Gaming, Atlantic City, Barstool Sports, Boyd Gaming, Carl Icahn, Charity, Churchill Downs, Cordish Co., Dan Gilbert, Donald Trump, Economy, FanDuel, Greenwood Racing, Internet gambling, MGM Resorts International, Michigan, Ohio, Penn National, Pennsylvania, Pinnacle Entertainment, Rush Street Gaming, Sports betting, The Strip, Tribal, Trump Entertainment Resorts, Wall Street, Wendover, William Hill, Wynn Resorts | 3 Comments

Reader poll

Posted on January 19, 2021 by David McKee

We recently received a question about non-Las Vegas gaming markets and you would know the answer better than we would: You live near them and you play there. The questioner asks which of the following alternative markets are best for … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Laughlin, Mississippi | 1 Comment

Massachusetts hit hard; NFL playoffs a tossup

Posted on January 19, 2021 by David McKee

Between Covid-19 capacity restrictions (33%) and statewide curfews (9:30 p.m., when the night owls are just getting rolling), Massachusetts casinos were between a rock and a hard place last month, with revenues falling 40% to a meager $50 million. If … Continue reading →

Posted in AGA, Connecticut, Entertainment, Massachusetts, MGM Resorts International, Penn National, Problem gambling, Sports, Sports betting, The Strip, Wall Street, Westgate LV, Wynn Resorts | 1 Comment

Flynt winning in California; Caesars S.I. to Cherokee?

Posted on January 18, 2021 by David McKee

Larry Flynt continues to be the de facto leader of California‘s card room industry. He’s fighting in court against a Golden State law that prevents card room owners from holding stakes in out-of-state casinos. (Flynt in Las Vegas? Imagine!) When … Continue reading →

Posted in Caesars Entertainment, California, Card rooms, Cordish Co., Indiana, Macau, MGM Resorts International, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, Regulation, Tribal | 1 Comment

Quote of the Day

Posted on January 18, 2021 by David McKee

“Let no man pull you so low as to hate him.”—Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., whose life we celebrate today.

Posted in history | Comments Off on Quote of the Day

Wynn, loopy attorney in legal feud; Philly goes Live

Posted on January 15, 2021 by David McKee

Steve Wynn is back in the news again. His former attorney, L. Lin Wood, is suing Wynn for alleged defamation, the ex-casino mogul supposedly having told Donald Trump that Wood was several fries short of a Happy Meal. The falling … Continue reading →

Posted in AGA, Atlantic City, Boyd Gaming, Connecticut, Conventions, Cordish Co., Dining, Donald Trump, Economy, FanDuel, Foxwoods, Health, IGT, International, Marijuana, Mohegan Sun, Pennsylvania, Politics, Sheldon Adelson, Sports, Sports betting, Steve Wynn | 2 Comments

Quote of the Day

Posted on January 15, 2021 by David McKee

“My platoon of 18-year-olds showed more professionalism every day than the Capitol police do.”—Rep. Seth Moulton (D), a former U.S. Marine.

Posted in Current | Comments Off on Quote of the Day

Chilly in Atlantic City, deep freeze in Detroit; Siegfried, R.I.P.

Posted on January 14, 2021 by David McKee

Casino revenues in Atlantic City plunged 29% last month. “Results for the month reflect the negative impact of higher new COVID-19 cases in recent weeks, capacity limits and restrictions on F&B offerings, similar to other regional markets,” writes JP Morgan … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Bally, Barstool Sports, Caesars Entertainment, Centaur Gaming, Derek Stevens, Detroit, Dining, Donald Trump, DraftKings, Entertainment, FanDuel, Golden Nugget, Hard Rock International, Health, Indiana, International, Internet gambling, Las Vegas Sands, MGM Resorts International, Mohegan Sun, New Jersey, Ocean Resort, Penn National, Pennsylvania, PointsBet, Politics, Regulation, Spectacle Entertainment, Sports betting, Station Casinos, The Strip, Tribal, Unite-Here, Wall Street | 4 Comments

Quote of the Day

Posted on January 14, 2021 by David McKee

“Some of the restrictions make sense and others, well, let’s just say they are ill-conceived. The fact that restaurants and bars are still being hit with arbitrary and capricious restrictions is maddening, especially when visiting retail stores and seeing how … Continue reading →

Posted in Dining, Health, Regulation | 1 Comment