Author Archives: David McKee

About David McKee

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Quote of the Day

Posted on January 29, 2020 by David McKee

“As we look across the whole landscape, we think that there are many, many regional assets where we think the cap rate should not only be the equivalent of a luxury Las Vegas resort like a Bellagio, but could potentially … Continue reading →

Posted in Economy, MGM Resorts International, Real Estate, The Strip | Comments Off on Quote of the Day

Packer’s pickle; Sands, MGM, Wynn lauded

Posted on January 28, 2020 by David McKee

Crown Resorts, under investigation in New South Wales, evidently decided it could no longer afford to half-ass it without a CEO (a position that had gone unfilled for three years) and elevated CFO Ken Barton to the job. Congratulations … … Continue reading →

Posted in Indiana, James Packer, Japan, Las Vegas Sands, Law enforcement, Macau, Mandalay Bay Massacre, Melco Resorts & Entertainment, MGM Resorts International, Sexual misconduct, Sheldon Adelson, Stanley Ho, Wynn Resorts | Comments Off on Packer’s pickle; Sands, MGM, Wynn lauded

Spectrum under the microscope; Super Bowl bets boffo

Posted on January 28, 2020 by David McKee

Expected approval of Spectacle Entertainment‘s casino project in Terre Haute came to a screeching halt after revelations that former state Sen. Brent Waltz received illegal campaign contributions from an executive at Spectacle predecessor Centaur Gaming. The disclosure was enough for … Continue reading →

Posted in AGA, Centaur Gaming, Indiana, Law enforcement, Movies, Nevada, New Jersey, Politics, Regulation, Spectacle Entertainment, Sports, Sports betting, Westgate LV, William Hill | Comments Off on Spectrum under the microscope; Super Bowl bets boffo

Wall Street to Coronavirus: Buy!

Posted on January 28, 2020 by David McKee

According to Deutsche Bank analyst Carlo Santarelli, Chinese New Year visitation to Macao is now down 69%, with Day 4 bringing an 84% plunge. Santarelli’s opposite number at JP Morgan, analyst Joseph Greff countered that “There’s value for those who … Continue reading →

Posted in Caesars Entertainment, China, Colorado, DraftKings, Health, Horseracing, Iowa, Las Vegas Sands, Melco Resorts & Entertainment, MGM Resorts International, Philippines, Singapore, Slot routes, Sports betting, The Strip, Tourism, Transportation, Virginia, Wall Street, Wynn Resorts | Comments Off on Wall Street to Coronavirus: Buy!

Quote of the Day

Posted on January 28, 2020 by David McKee

“Think about that—the city of Hawaiian Gardens generates over 80 percent of its revenue from this one casino. It is this reality that appears to have made the Gardens Casino not only too big to fail, but apparently too big … Continue reading →

Posted in California, Money laundering, Regulation | Comments Off on Quote of the Day

It’s Greek to them; Super Bowl odds amuse

Posted on January 27, 2020 by David McKee

Despite having lost its bid for the Hellenikon megaresort concession, Hard Rock International isn’t taking rejection lying down. “While we are disappointed by this news, we are more disappointed in the process. Hard Rock firmly believes it was wrongly disqualified … Continue reading →

Posted in Animals, Conventions, Donald Trump, Election, Entertainment, Environment, Hard Rock International, Indiana, International, MGM Resorts International, Mohegan Sun, Movies, New Jersey, Sports, Sports betting, The Mob, TV | Comments Off on It’s Greek to them; Super Bowl odds amuse

Chinese New Year in ruins; LV Locals casinos hacked

Posted on January 27, 2020 by David McKee

Coronavirus is spreading like wildfire. Not only has it cropped up in Beijing, Hong Kong (uh-oh) and Shanghai, cases are being reported in Taiwan, Thailand, France, Japan, South Korea, Australia, and our own United States. China President Xi Jinping has taken … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, China, Colorado, Derek Stevens, Downtown, DraftKings, Health, International, Las Vegas Raiders, Macau, MGM Resorts International, New Jersey, Politics, Sports, Sports betting, Station Casinos, Technology, The Strip, Tilman Fertitta, Twin River | Comments Off on Chinese New Year in ruins; LV Locals casinos hacked

Quote of the Day

Posted on January 27, 2020 by David McKee

“Don’t you feel fear? Don’t you agree that fear exists in any society at any time?”—Soviet Union survivor Irina Shostakovich, speaking in Chicago.

Posted in Current | Comments Off on Quote of the Day

XFL bets taken; Mohegan Sun, Hard Rock clash; Straub arrested

Posted on January 24, 2020 by David McKee

New Jersey has allowed betting on the XFL, the sixth state to do so. But does anybody care? The league hopes that sports betting will spark fan interest in the games. MGM Resorts International already got burned by the Alliance … Continue reading →

Posted in Australia, Glenn Straub, Hard Rock International, International, James Packer, Law enforcement, Lawrence Ho, Lotteries, Melco Crown Entertainment, MGM Resorts International, Mohegan Sun, Money laundering, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Sports, Sports betting | Comments Off on XFL bets taken; Mohegan Sun, Hard Rock clash; Straub arrested

Year of the Rat off to bad start; NLRB spanks Station; JoBro!

Posted on January 24, 2020 by David McKee

Coronavirus has reared its ugly head in the United States, the second case being of a Chicago woman who started manifesting symptoms several days after returning from China. Reports the Boston Globe, “Doctors with the Centers for Disease Control and … Continue reading →

Posted in China, Culinary Union, Entertainment, Health, history, Illinois, Macau, MGM Resorts International, Station Casinos, The Strip, Wall Street | Comments Off on Year of the Rat off to bad start; NLRB spanks Station; JoBro!

Quote of the Day

Posted on January 24, 2020 by David McKee

“Right now the American people are tuned out. Because, honestly, what’s happened with impeachment and everything else, they’ve shut down. They’re enjoying the Super Bowl. They’re watching football games. Enjoying this country’s great economy. They’re not sitting around watching this … Continue reading →

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

Macao prepares for the worst

Posted on January 23, 2020 by David McKee

Even as coronavirus tiptoed into Macao, casino executives from three companies were bullish on 2020. Their confidence was buoyed by the change of course of one of China‘s biggest economic headwinds, its trade war with the U.S. Some are arguing … Continue reading →

Posted in Donald Trump, Health, Las Vegas Sands, Macau, MGM Resorts International, Sociedade de Jogos de Macau, Technology, The Strip | Comments Off on Macao prepares for the worst

Draft Day is coming; Station rebounds

Posted on January 23, 2020 by David McKee

As you know, the next NFL draft will be continued on the Las Vegas Strip. The official plan has been released and we don’t know whether to be impressed or to laugh. In what has to be the most fey NFL … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, China, Entertainment, Genting, Indiana, Japan, Macau, Movies, New Jersey, Palms, Sports, Station Casinos, The Strip, Transportation, Wall Street | 1 Comment

Quote of the Day

Posted on January 23, 2020 by David McKee

“The move reflects a mindset that believes African Americans and other races can’t govern and don’t have the backbone or the courage to fight.”—Atlantic City Mayor Marty Small, on a petition drive to eliminate his job.

Posted in Atlantic City, Politics | 1 Comment

Raiders need elbow room; Casino mega-scandal in Canada

Posted on January 22, 2020 by David McKee

Although the Las Vegas Raiders haven’t officially set up shop in Sin City already they’ve got a problem: parking. The team has had to pony up an additional $50 million to buy land on which fans can park, tailgate, etc. … Continue reading →

Posted in Caesars Entertainment, Canada, Las Vegas Raiders, Law enforcement, Macau, MGM Resorts International, Regulation, Sports, The Mob, The Strip, Transportation | Comments Off on Raiders need elbow room; Casino mega-scandal in Canada

Power play in Springfield; Packer faces impeachment

Posted on January 22, 2020 by David McKee

We had a gut feeling this was coming. MGM Resorts International CEO Jim Murren has given the sack to MGM Springfield President Michael Mathis, replacing him with MGM Northfield Park prexy Chris Kelly. Northfield Park hasn’t missed a step since … Continue reading →

Posted in Australia, China, Connecticut, Crown Resorts, International, James Packer, Japan, Law enforcement, Lawrence Ho, Macau, Massachusetts, Melco Resorts & Entertainment, MGM Resorts International, Money laundering, New Jersey, Ohio, Stanley Ho, The Crown 18, The Mob | Comments Off on Power play in Springfield; Packer faces impeachment

Quote of the Day

Posted on January 22, 2020 by David McKee

“The Earth is degenerating today. Bribery and corruption abound. Children no longer obey their parents, every man wants to write a book, and it is evident that the end of the world is fast approaching.”—Assyrian tablet, ca. 2800 B.C.

Posted in history | Comments Off on Quote of the Day

Quote of the Day

Posted on January 21, 2020 by David McKee

“Let’s be honest, it was a difficult part. A guy who gets high, takes his shirt off and doesn’t get on with his wife. It was a big stretch.”—Brad Pitt, accepting his Best Supporting Actor award from the Screen Actors … Continue reading →

Posted in Movies | Comments Off on Quote of the Day

Gaming caucus rebooted; Allen sends mixed message to Atlantic City

Posted on January 21, 2020 by David McKee

You’d think a $261 billion/year industry would get some props on Capitol Hill but gaming is the exception to the rule. Thankfully, Rep. Guy Reschenthaler (R) and Rep. Bennie Thompson (D) are trying to breathe new life into the comatose Congressional Gaming … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, DraftKings, Hard Rock International, International, Movies, New York, Politics, Regulation | 2 Comments

Resort fees look ominously permanent; Goodbye, Hard Rock Hotel

Posted on January 20, 2020 by David McKee

Las Vegas is “a market notorious for some of the highest resort fees anywhere.” So writes Hotelsmag.com’s Juliana Shallcross. Big Gaming needn’t be too worried: The Hotel Advertising Transparency Act of 2019 has gone absolutely nowhere in the supposedly liberal House … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, Baseball, California, Columbia Sussex, Economy, Florida, Hard Rock Hotel, history, International, Politics, Regulation, Resort fees, Seminole Tribe, Sports betting, Taxes, Technology, Virgin Hotels | 1 Comment