Author Archives: David McKee

About David McKee

Bio

Trump a public menace … Trump Plaza, that is

Posted on March 13, 2020 by David McKee

Carl Icahn clings to dilapidated Trump Plaza like a child to a favorite toy. But he may be forced to face reality whether he likes it or not. It’s ‘Look out below’ for pedestrians passing the corpse of the casino, … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Caesars Entertainment, Carl Icahn, Detroit, Economy, Eldorado Resorts, FanDuel, Hard Rock International, Health, Internet gambling, Las Vegas Sands, Massachusetts, MGM Resorts International, Mohegan Sun, Nevada, New Jersey, Ocean Resort, Penn National, Sports, Sports betting, The Strip, Tilman Fertitta, Wynn Resorts | 3 Comments

Quote of the Day

Posted on March 13, 2020 by David McKee

“This is bad. The worst and fastest stock market correction in our career. The economy is doomed to recession if the country stops working and takes the next 30 days off. The stock market knows it.”—MUFG Union Chief Economist Chris Rupkey, … Continue reading →

Posted in Current, Economy, Health, Wall Street | Comments Off on Quote of the Day

Bad news for Golden Knights, MGM; Lady Gaga honored

Posted on March 12, 2020 by David McKee

T-Mobile Arena is going to be a lot quieter now that the National Hockey League has suspended its season indefinitely. It is leaving the door open to eventual resumption of play, asking constituent arenas to keep ice time available through … Continue reading →

Posted in Animals, Donald Trump, Election, Entertainment, Health, MGM Resorts International, Sports, The Strip, Tourism | Comments Off on Bad news for Golden Knights, MGM; Lady Gaga honored

Las Vegas slides toward crisis as market tanks

Posted on March 12, 2020 by David McKee

Coronavirus having been officially been declared a pandemic by the World Health Organization, it was only a matter of time before the impact hit Las Vegas. Not much time, either. Late yesterday, the National Association of Broadcasters pulled the plug … Continue reading →

Posted in AGA, Boyd Gaming, Caesars Entertainment, California, Conventions, DFS, Donald Trump, Economy, Eldorado Resorts, Health, International, Las Vegas Sands, Melco Resorts & Entertainment, MGM Resorts International, New York, Sheldon Adelson, South Korea, Sports, Sports betting, Station Casinos, Taxes, The Strip, Tourism, Twin River, Wall Street, Wynn Resorts | 3 Comments

Quote of the Day

Posted on March 12, 2020 by David McKee

“I mean, people always say, well, the flu does this, the flu does that. The flu has a mortality of 0.1 percent. [Coronavirus] has a mortality rate of 10 times that. That’s the reason I want to emphasize we have to stay … Continue reading →

Posted in Health | Comments Off on Quote of the Day

The new theme of Las Vegas

Posted on March 11, 2020 by David McKee

As seen (and photographed) by reader Greg Askins …

Posted in Health, The Strip | Comments Off on The new theme of Las Vegas

Gaming stocks immune to rally; Casinos get serious about coronavirus

Posted on March 11, 2020 by David McKee

Gaming stocks by and large didn’t feel the love on Wall Street yesterday, trending slightly downward, not counting 9% rallies for Station Casinos and Melco Resorts & Entertainment (the latter the only Macao operator to bounce back). The market recouped … Continue reading →

Posted in AGA, Alex Meruelo, Atlantic City, Boyd Gaming, Caesars Entertainment, Cosmopolitan, Current, Detroit, Dining, Donald Trump, Economy, Eldorado Resorts, Florida, Health, Lake Tahoe, Las Vegas Sands, Macau, Maryland, Massachusetts, Maverick Gaming, Melco Resorts & Entertainment, MGM Resorts International, Michigan, Penn National, Phil Ruffin, Reno, Rhode Island, Sahara, South Dakota, Sports betting, Station Casinos, Taxes, The Strip, Tilman Fertitta, Tourism, Transportation, Vermont, Wall Street, Washington State, Wynn Resorts | Comments Off on Gaming stocks immune to rally; Casinos get serious about coronavirus

Quote of the Day

Posted on March 11, 2020 by David McKee

“Be calm. The consumer has never been in a better position than they are now.”—Donald Trump, on coronavirus.

Posted in Donald Trump, Economy, Health | Comments Off on Quote of the Day

Gambling approved in Virginia, ixnayed in Louisiana

Posted on March 10, 2020 by David McKee

Gambling’s fate in Virginia now rests in Gov. Ralph Northam‘s hands, as the General Assembly has sent a casinos-and-sports-betting bill to his desk. In an eleventh-hour compromise to preserve the legislation, betting on Virginia collegiate teams will be forbidden, a … Continue reading →

Posted in Internet gambling, Japan, Louisiana, Marijuana, Money laundering, Oklahoma, Philippines, Politics, Sports betting, Taxes, Tribal, Virginia | Comments Off on Gambling approved in Virginia, ixnayed in Louisiana

Explosive month in Indiana, elsewhere

Posted on March 10, 2020 by David McKee

Hoosier State casinos were raking it in hand over fist last month, as casino receipts shot 14.5% upward. The $192 million gross included $7 million from still-novel table games at Indiana Grand and Hoosier Downs. Yes, there was an extra … Continue reading →

Posted in Boyd Gaming, Caesars Entertainment, Century Casinos, Churchill Downs, Dan Gilbert, Economy, Eldorado Resorts, Full House Resorts, Hard Rock International, Indiana, MGM Resorts International, Ohio, Penn National, Racinos, Spectacle Entertainment, Sports betting | Comments Off on Explosive month in Indiana, elsewhere

Emergency in Rhode Island; Kaos by any other name

Posted on March 10, 2020 by David McKee

Twin River Holdings just got some bad news. Rhode Island Gov. Gina Raimondo (D) proclaimed a state of emergency, after four citizens contracted coronavirus. “This is real. This is here. We expect more cases,” said Raimondo. While governments in the … Continue reading →

Posted in Current, Dining, Entertainment, Health, International, Palms, Regulation, Rhode Island, Station Casinos, Tilman Fertitta, Twin River, Wall Street, Wynn Resorts | Comments Off on Emergency in Rhode Island; Kaos by any other name

Quote of the Day

Posted on March 10, 2020 by David McKee

“The coward dies a thousand deaths, the brave but one’ … [The man who first said that] was probably a coward …. He knew a great deal about cowards but nothing about the brave. The brave dies perhaps two thousand deaths … Continue reading →

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Butler rips Lamont; Tribe supplicates Trump

Posted on March 9, 2020 by David McKee

Sports betting could die in Connecticut, thanks to a stalemate between Gov. Ned Lamont (D, pictured) and the state’s gaming tribes. Speaking for the latter, Mashantucket Pequot Chairman Rodney Butler accused the governor of a “take-it-or-leave-it” negotiating stance. Butler and … Continue reading →

Posted in Caesars Entertainment, Churchill Downs, Connecticut, Donald Trump, DraftKings, FanDuel, Foxwoods, Genting, IGT, Illinois, International, Kentucky, Konami, Las Vegas Sands, Law enforcement, Lotteries, Louisiana, Massachusetts, MGM Resorts International, New York, Politics, Rhode Island, Sports betting, Technology, Tribal, Wynn Resorts | 2 Comments

Panic in The Street, Vegas calmer

Posted on March 9, 2020 by David McKee

A stock market “circuit breaker” was deployed for the first time since the crash of 2008, when Wall Street opened for trading and stocks promptly nosedived. All major casino stocks are trading down, especially Wynn Resorts, Eldorado Resorts and Station Casinos. … Continue reading →

Posted in Caesars Entertainment, China, Conventions, Diversity, Eldorado Resorts, Health, IGT, International, Macau, MGM Resorts International, Oregon, Philippines, Sports betting, Station Casinos, The Strip, Tribal, Wall Street, William Hill, Wynn Resorts | Comments Off on Panic in The Street, Vegas calmer

Quote of the Day

Posted on March 9, 2020 by David McKee

“A coward dies a thousand times before his death, but the valiant taste death but once. It seems to me strange that men should fear, seeing that death, a necessary end, will come when it will come.”—William Shakespeare, from Julius … Continue reading →

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Quote of the Day

Posted on March 7, 2020 by David McKee

“I want to shine the bright light of truth so brightly that it might hurt. I want the party to have to look. I want people to stop hurting, but sometimes that requires cutting out a cancer. Chemotherapy hurts, but cancer … Continue reading →

Posted in Current | Comments Off on Quote of the Day

Stitt plays games; Georgia weighs sports betting

Posted on March 6, 2020 by David McKee

Ignoring a court order, voluble Oklahoma Gov. Kevin Stitt (R) decided to negotiate through the media again. Instead of dickering with the Sooner State’s tribes over revenue sharing (which he’s supposed to be doing), Stitt threatened to bring private casinos into … Continue reading →

Posted in Connecticut, Cretins, Georgia, Health, International, Oklahoma, Politics, Sports, Sports betting, Taxes, Tourism, Tribal | Comments Off on Stitt plays games; Georgia weighs sports betting

Vegas vs. virus II; Illinois, Maryland rally

Posted on March 6, 2020 by David McKee

Two presumed cases of coronavirus have been reported in Nevada. What’s the over/under on when panic sets in? Me, I’m contemplating a trip back to Las Vegas in the near future, so I’m working on my sangfroid. As one tourist … Continue reading →

Posted in Boyd Gaming, Caesars Entertainment, Charity, Churchill Downs, Donald Trump, Eldorado Resorts, GLPI, Health, Illinois, Maryland, Massachusetts, MGM Resorts International, Penn National, The Strip, Tourism, Wall Street, West Virginia, Wynn Resorts | 1 Comment

Quote of the Day

Posted on March 6, 2020 by David McKee

“Convictions are more dangerous enemies of truth than lies.”—Friedrich Wilhelm Nietzsche

Posted in history | Comments Off on Quote of the Day

Quote of the Day

Posted on March 5, 2020 by David McKee

“If someone wants to hack a casino, it’s surprisingly just about how easily can you get into their networks. If you are inside their networks, and they don’t segregate their networks properly, you’ll be able to interact with all kinds … Continue reading →

Posted in Technology, Terry Caudill | Comments Off on Quote of the Day