Author Archives: David McKee

About David McKee

Bio

Caudill casinos recovering; Slick Rick strikes again

Posted on March 4, 2020 by David McKee

It now appears that Terry Caudill‘s two casinos were the victim of a “ransomware” hack that crippled the slot floor, among other debilities. It wrecked last weekend’s business and “scattered outages” were still seen as of Monday. The Nevada Gaming … Continue reading →

Posted in Churchill Downs, Downtown, Economy, Health, Illinois, International, Japan, Maverick Gaming, Nevada, Oregon, Penn National, Regulation, Slot routes, Sports betting, Technology, Terry Caudill, Tribal, Washington State | 1 Comment

Vegas vs. virus; Tribe puts $1 billion on table

Posted on March 4, 2020 by David McKee

Las Vegas is 20,000 attendees poorer now that Adobe Summit 2020 has pulled the plug on its convention. Although Sin City has been spared from coronavirus fears so far, withdrawals of this magnitude are at least as bad as a … Continue reading →

Posted in Alabama, China, Churchill Downs, Conventions, Donald Trump, Election, Health, International, Lotteries, Massachusetts, MGM Resorts International, Real Estate, Taxes, The Strip, Tribal | Comments Off on Vegas vs. virus; Tribe puts $1 billion on table

Massachusetts’ Daddy Warbucks; Ghoulish new Flamingo show

Posted on March 4, 2020 by David McKee

Neil Bluhm doesn’t have an office in Massachusetts. Nor any employees. But Rush Street Gaming‘s Bay State affiliate spent the second-highest amount on lobbying last year. That’d be 662 dimes lavished on the pursuit of the state’s elusive, final casino … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, Caesars Entertainment, California, Economy, Election, Entertainment, Health, history, Lotteries, Marketing, Massachusetts, Neil Bluhm, Pennsylvania, Racinos, Regulation, Resorts World LV, The Strip, TV | Comments Off on Massachusetts’ Daddy Warbucks; Ghoulish new Flamingo show

Quote of the Day

Posted on March 4, 2020 by David McKee

“Now that close to a million tests will be administered over the next few weeks, many more Americans are certain to be diagnosed [with coronavirus]. So don’t worry if the numbers of those infected skyrocket. It’s not that the virus … Continue reading →

Posted in Health | 1 Comment

Macao sucks; Massachusetts tribe rebuffed … again

Posted on March 3, 2020 by David McKee

Macao was a ghost town last month, with hotel occupancy an anemic 12%. Gaming analysts, in addition to writing off 1Q20, are predicting a 50% declivity in the second quarter, with recovery not taking hold until October. Casino companies, meanwhile, … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, Caesars Entertainment, California, Conventions, Donald Trump, Economy, International, Las Vegas Sands, Law enforcement, Lawrence Ho, Macau, Massachusetts, MGM Resorts International, Money laundering, Palms, Regulation, Station Casinos, The Strip, Tribal, Wall Street, Wynn Resorts | Comments Off on Macao sucks; Massachusetts tribe rebuffed … again

Ghost in the (slot) machine; The “evil genius” of resort fees

Posted on March 3, 2020 by David McKee

Electrical troubles are bedeviling Downtown casinos. All the slot machines at the Four Queens and Binion’s Gambling Hall were idled by a mechanical snafu last week. Table games remained operational, as did selected video-poker machines. Terry Caudill clammed up when … Continue reading →

Posted in Conventions, Crown Resorts, Derek Stevens, Downtown, IGT, International, Law enforcement, Macau, Massachusetts, Maverick Gaming, Regulation, Resort fees, Technology, Terry Caudill, Virgin Hotels, Washington State, Wynn Resorts | 1 Comment

Quote of the Day

Posted on March 3, 2020 by David McKee

“Let there be no doubt that as they are currently practiced, there is no common ground between science and religion.”—Neil deGrasse Tyson

Posted in Current | Comments Off on Quote of the Day

Gaming exempt from Wall Street love; Harry-come-lately

Posted on March 3, 2020 by David McKee

Gaming stocks responded indifferently to yesterday’s Wall Street rally. Wynn Resorts was up and down but ultimately flat, MGM Resorts International ticked up 2%, Las Vegas Sands was flat and Melco Resorts & Entertainment slipped a percentage point. So much … Continue reading →

Posted in Boyd Gaming, Caesars Entertainment, China, Churchill Downs, Conventions, Dining, Donald Trump, Economy, Eldorado Resorts, Election, Entertainment, Harry Reid, Health, Japan, Las Vegas Sands, Macau, Massachusetts, Melco Resorts & Entertainment, MGM Resorts International, Oregon, South Korea, Station Casinos, The Strip, Tourism, Tribal, Wall Street, Wynn Resorts | Comments Off on Gaming exempt from Wall Street love; Harry-come-lately

Dream on (really); Golden gets downgrade

Posted on March 2, 2020 by David McKee

Dream on the south Las Vegas Strip is looking more like reality, Shopoff Real Estate Investments having purchased the requisite 5.25 acres. The exact location will be at the Strip at Russell Road, just south of Mandalay Bay. Calling the … Continue reading →

Posted in Conventions, Economy, Golden Gaming, Horseracing, Kansas, Las Vegas Raiders, Lotteries, Phil Ruffin, Politics, Problem gambling, Sports betting, Station Casinos, Taxes, The Strip, Wall Street | Comments Off on Dream on (really); Golden gets downgrade

Bank rides to Churchill Downs’ rescue; Las Vegas healthy

Posted on March 2, 2020 by David McKee

Last week Churchill Downs posted perfectly good 4Q19 numbers but Wall Street wasn’t buying it. CHDN shares slumped 14%. That prompted some weekend damage control from JP Morgan, which bumped its rating up from “neutral” to “overweight,” and sent analyst … Continue reading →

Posted in Caesars Entertainment, China, Conventions, Donald Trump, Economy, Eldorado Resorts, Health, history, Horseracing, Illinois, Indiana, International, Kentucky, Marketing, Problem gambling, Regulation, Rhode Island, Slot routes, Sports, Sports betting, The Strip, Tourism, Transportation, Tribal, Wall Street, Washington State, William Hill, Wynn Resorts | Comments Off on Bank rides to Churchill Downs’ rescue; Las Vegas healthy

Bennett returns, Aguilera leaves, Adelsons idolized

Posted on March 2, 2020 by David McKee

The Las Vegas Strip will be blessed for three nights in August, as Tony Bennett returns to The Venetian. He’ll play the 12th, 14th and 15th, with an assist from Antonia Bennett. Tickets start at $50, with a portion of … Continue reading →

Posted in Aristocrat, Boyd Gaming, CityCenter, Entertainment, Florida, Health, history, IGT, Indiana, Las Vegas Sands, Louisiana, Macau, Maine, Marijuana, MGM Resorts International, Oregon, Planet Hollywood, Problem gambling, Scientific Games, Scott Butera, Sheldon Adelson, Shuffle Master, Singapore, Sports, Sports betting, Technology, The Strip, Tribal, Wisconsin | 1 Comment

Quote of the Day

Posted on March 2, 2020 by David McKee

“I go to the coffee shop and hear it from my people. They don’t want to go to Jersey. They don’t want to get in their car, or jump on the train and go to Jersey. They want to stay … Continue reading →

Posted in New Jersey, New York, Politics, Sports betting | Comments Off on Quote of the Day

Quote of the Day

Posted on February 29, 2020 by David McKee

“Central banks don’t make vaccines.”—Cumberland Advisors Chairman David Kotok on attempts to fight coronavirus with economic stimulus.

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

Caution at Churchill Downs doesn’t impress Wall Street

Posted on February 28, 2020 by David McKee

Churchill Downs‘ stock reacted adversely to a cautious 4Q19 revenue report, as investors worried about the impact of coronavirus on the running of the Kentucky Derby, slated for May 2. JP Morgan analyst Joseph Greff, although one of those staying … Continue reading →

Posted in Arizona, Caesars Entertainment, Canada, Churchill Downs, Dining, Health, Horseracing, Illinois, International, Internet gambling, Kentucky, Macau, Money laundering, Regulation, Resort fees, Scientific Games, Slot routes, Sports betting, Taxes, The Mob, The Strip, Virginia, Wall Street, William Hill | Comments Off on Caution at Churchill Downs doesn’t impress Wall Street

Big January for the Strip; Mega-jottings

Posted on February 28, 2020 by David McKee

January was very good for the Las Vegas Strip, up 7.5% to $572 million. Baccarat played a big role, with winnings up 16% on 24% greater wagering. (In fairness, January 2019 was terrible for baccarat.) Other table games didn’t do … Continue reading →

Posted in Australia, Boulder Strip, Caesars Entertainment, China, Conventions, Downtown, Downtown Grand, Eldorado Resorts, Health, Illinois, International, Internet gambling, Lake Tahoe, Laughlin, Marketing, MGM Resorts International, Mississippi, North Las Vegas, Philippines, PokerStars, Regulation, Reno, Technology, The Strip, Tourism, Transportation, Wendover | 2 Comments

Massachusetts tries, tries again; Eldorado underperforms

Posted on February 27, 2020 by David McKee

In what can be viewed either as a victory for democracy or simply passing the buck, Massachusetts regulators opened the door to public comments on whether to approve a casino for the southeastern corner of the Bay State. The Massachusetts … Continue reading →

Posted in AGA, Caesars Entertainment, Donald Trump, Economy, Eldorado Resorts, Genting, Health, Las Vegas Sands, Macau, Massachusetts, Maverick Gaming, Neil Bluhm, Pennsylvania, Politics, Regulation, Slot routes, Sports betting, Tourism, Tribal, Vietnam, Washington State | Comments Off on Massachusetts tries, tries again; Eldorado underperforms

Quote of the Day

Posted on February 27, 2020 by David McKee

“Although national leaders respond to health crises when fear and panic grow strong enough, most countries do not devote the consistent energy and resources needed to keep outbreaks from escalating into disasters.”—from a report by the Global Preparedness Monitoring Board.

Posted in Health | Comments Off on Quote of the Day

Politics as unusual; Macao stocks ailing

Posted on February 26, 2020 by David McKee

A pro-casino group in Pope County, Arkansas, may have committed an electoral no-no. Pope County Majority is accused of making in-kind contributions to two candidates and of making political endorsements, in effect becoming a PAC. PCM, which is trying to … Continue reading →

Posted in Arkansas, Caesars Entertainment, Economy, Election, Health, Las Vegas Sands, Macau, MGM Resorts International, Politics, Regulation, The Strip, Virginia, Wall Street, Wynn Resorts | Comments Off on Politics as unusual; Macao stocks ailing

Quote of the Day

Posted on February 26, 2020 by David McKee

“We have contained [coronavirus]. I won’t say airtight but pretty close to airtight.”—administration official Lawrence Kudlow, on CNBC.

Posted in Health, TV | Comments Off on Quote of the Day

Wind of change; Packer “like a car crash”

Posted on February 25, 2020 by David McKee

There’s change in the breeze at Wind Creek Bethlehem. Former general manager Brian Carr “is leaving the organization,” replaced by Kathy McCracken, a longtime veteran of the property, which has underperformed since the Poarch Bank of Creek Indians took ownership. Not coincidentally, … Continue reading →

Posted in Australia, Crown Resorts, James Packer, Massachusetts, Melco Resorts & Entertainment, Money laundering, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Regulation, Stanley Ho, Technology, The Mob, Tribal, Wynn Resorts | 1 Comment