Author Archives: David McKee

About David McKee

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Atlantic City protest fizzles

Posted on July 6, 2020 by David McKee

Well, that could have been a lot worse. The scheduled fireworks show at Mount Rushmore didn’t set off a forest fire and Boardwalk activist anarchist Steve Young failed in his goal to “shut down the city.” What did he accomplish … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Florida, Hard Rock International, Health, M Resort, Massachusetts, MGM Resorts International, Penn National, Sports betting, Station Casinos, Unite-Here, William Hill, Wynn Resorts | 2 Comments

Quote of the Day

Posted on July 5, 2020 by David McKee

“If patriotism is ‘the last refuge of a scoundrel,’ it is not merely because evil deeds may be performed in the name of patriotism, but because patriotic fervor can obliterate moral distinctions altogether.”—philosopher Ralph B. Perry

Posted in history | Comments Off on Quote of the Day

Happy Independence Day

Posted on July 4, 2020 by David McKee
Posted in Current | Comments Off on Happy Independence Day

Bay State casinos to reopen

Posted on July 3, 2020 by David McKee

Although Massachusetts casinos are eligible to reopen on July 5, it’s looking far likelier that July 12 will be the dawn of a new era in the Bay State. One mandate certain to raise hackles is that players can no … Continue reading →

Posted in Ameristar, Atlantic City, Caesars Entertainment, California, Card rooms, Cosmopolitan, Downtown, Eldorado Resorts, Entertainment, Hard Rock International, Health, history, Laughlin, Massachusetts, MGM Resorts International, Mississippi, Missouri, Mohegan Sun, Palms, Penn National, Politics, Regulation, Station Casinos, Tribal, Twin River, Wynn Resorts | 2 Comments

Quote of the Day

Posted on July 3, 2020 by David McKee

“Why would any president want to preserve a heritage of treason?”—NAACP President Derrick Johnson, on certain defenders of the Confederacy.

Posted in Diversity, Donald Trump, history | 4 Comments

Gaming the system is easy

Posted on July 1, 2020 by David McKee

by Andrew Fenton If you’re trying to get from Point A to Point B without getting caught by the authorities, you’re likely to head for the back roads where there are fewer police than on the highway. For the same … Continue reading →

Posted in Canada, International, Internet gambling, Law enforcement, Macau, Money laundering, Technology | Comments Off on Gaming the system is easy

All systems go at Ocean

Posted on July 1, 2020 by David McKee

Ocean Casino Resort CEO Terry Glebocki lays out how the former Revel weathered the Coronavirus shutdown, which is expected to lift tomorrow. Her first move was to suspend revenue-sharing agreements with slot manufacturers. After all, there was no revenue to … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Baseball, Cirque du Soleil, Entertainment, Health, Massachusetts, MGM Resorts International, Ocean Resort, Penn National, Scientific Games, Steven Witkoff, Texas, Transportation, Wall Street, Wynn Resorts | 2 Comments

Anatomy of a lawsuit

Posted on July 1, 2020 by David McKee

As threatened, the Culinary Union has launched legal action against Las Vegas casinos and their restaurants, and they’re thinking large. Instead of going after low-hanging fruit like the Wildfires of the world, the Culinary is starting with the big boys, … Continue reading →

Posted in Caesars Entertainment, Culinary Union, Current, Dining, Health, MGM Resorts International, Regulation, The Strip | 1 Comment

May’s cupboard empty

Posted on June 30, 2020 by David McKee

With Nevada casinos closed all May, gaming revenue was a ghost of its former self, down 99.5%, kept alive by mobile sports wagering and online poker. Silver State casinos grossed just under $6 million. Reno, Laughlin and Lake Tahoe all … Continue reading →

Posted in Caesars Entertainment, Cirque du Soleil, Derek Stevens, Downtown, Economy, Eldorado Resorts, G2E, Hard Rock International, Health, Internet gambling, Lake Tahoe, Laughlin, Law enforcement, Louisiana, MGM Resorts International, Ohio, Phil Ruffin, Politics, Regulation, Reno, Technology, The Strip, Tilman Fertitta, Tourism, Transportation, Wall Street | 2 Comments

See Vegas and die

Posted on June 30, 2020 by David McKee

Phil Ruffin and Terry Caudill are singled out as bad actors in a sweeping new lawsuit being filed even as we speak by the Culinary Union. It alleges, among other things, that neither Circus Circus nor the Four Queens nor … Continue reading →

Posted in Caesars Entertainment, China, Culinary Union, Diversity, Economy, Environment, Georgia, Health, Japan, MGM Resorts International, North Las Vegas, Phil Ruffin, Station Casinos, Terry Caudill, The Strip | 2 Comments

Case Bets

Posted on June 29, 2020 by David McKee

Rather than have a Vegas-only policy, MGM Resorts International has chosen to make face masks mandatory for customers at all its properties nationwide. It might cost them a little bit of business but it’s the right thing to do. This … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Caesars Entertainment, California, Dining, Health, International, Las Vegas Sands, Maryland, MGM Resorts International, Palms, Steve Wynn, Steven Witkoff | 2 Comments

Quote of the Day

Posted on June 26, 2020 by David McKee

“Tribes, racetracks and the card rooms have always been at each other’s throats. The race industry moves slow. The way it’s been presented, with no mobile wagering and no wagering on local college teams, they’re going down the wrong road … Continue reading →

Posted in AGA, California, Sports betting | Comments Off on Quote of the Day

Casino scandal in D.C.

Posted on June 25, 2020 by David McKee

Massachusetts‘ Mashpee Wampanoag tribe continues to fight on against a Trump administration decertification of their status, in a case that’s sticking to the White House like a tar baby. Whose market share would be most impinged by a Mashpee casino? … Continue reading →

Posted in Baseball, Derek Stevens, Dining, Donald Trump, Downtown, Downtown Grand, El Cortez, Election, Florida, Hard Rock International, Health, Kentucky, Massachusetts, Palms, Politics, Sports betting, Tamares Group, The Strip, Tribal, Twin River | 2 Comments

Crackdown in Vegas

Posted on June 25, 2020 by David McKee

Perhaps Las Vegas will not be the latest vector of Covid-19 after all. Having taken a wait-and-see attitude toward safety protocols during the shutdown, Caesars Entertainment was first out of the gate in cracking down on mask scofflaws. The company … Continue reading →

Posted in Caesars Entertainment, Downtown, El Cortez, Entertainment, Health, Marijuana, MGM Resorts International, Nevada, Regulation | 1 Comment

Quote of the Day

Posted on June 25, 2020 by David McKee

“We just had 20,000-some people die in this city, and already the crowds are lining back up outside restaurants and jamming into bars. This virus is still out there. We respond to 911 calls for covid every day. I’ve been … Continue reading →

Posted in Health | Comments Off on Quote of the Day

Fourth of July a damp squib?

Posted on June 24, 2020 by David McKee

Las Vegas had better prepare for Fourth of July disappointment, at least if WalletHub is correct. A survey of consumers found that 78% will be spending less this Fourth, 75% have modified their summer plans and 38% have canceled them … Continue reading →

Posted in AGA, Baseball, Cosmopolitan, Culinary Union, Economy, Entertainment, Health, Regulation, Sports betting, William Hill | 3 Comments

Tribes in distress

Posted on June 23, 2020 by David McKee

“Gaming for the most part is what we survive on. In a lot of cases, if we don’t have gaming we don’t have dollars. We don’t have a tax base.” So says National Indian Gaming Association Chairman Ernie Stevens Jr. … Continue reading →

Posted in California, Card rooms, Economy, GLPI, Golden Nugget, Health, Illinois, Internet gambling, Politics, Regulation, Sports betting, Tribal, Wisconsin | 1 Comment

Regional casinos outpace Las Vegas

Posted on June 23, 2020 by David McKee

JP Morgan analyst Joseph Greff has been keeping a watching brief on reopening trends at casinos around the country, mainly in Nevada, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri and Iowa. He reports that “average daily casino traffic across reopened regional casinos for the … Continue reading →

Posted in Cosmopolitan, Dining, Economy, Health, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, Nevada, Sports | Comments Off on Regional casinos outpace Las Vegas

Quote of the Day

Posted on June 23, 2020 by David McKee

“It’s absolute death for this industry to keep acting as it has been. Both sides. We’re driving the bus straight off a cliff. How is this good for anyone involved? COVID-19 already presented a lose lose lose situation and we’ve … Continue reading →

Posted in Baseball | 1 Comment

Quote of the Day

Posted on June 22, 2020 by David McKee

“Every other machine was  off and chairs removed. There was no social distancing at pool or check in. The rest was very ghost town like. No Starbucks were open.  We ate at [Chick-Fil-A] and there were two other sets of … Continue reading →

Posted in Dining, Downtown, Golden Nugget | Comments Off on Quote of the Day