Author Archives: David McKee

About David McKee

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Eldorado gets one state closer; Banditry in Arizona

Posted on January 20, 2020 by David McKee

Check Louisiana off the list of states giving the thumbs-up to the Eldorado Resorts takeover of Caesars Entertainment. CEO Tom Reeg had to assure regulators that the company would invest $500 million (there goes that highly touted half-billion cost savings) in … Continue reading →

Posted in Arizona, Atlantic City, Australia, Caesars Entertainment, California, Carl Icahn, Cretins, Donald Trump, Eldorado Resorts, Japan, Louisiana, Mandalay Bay Massacre, Melco Resorts & Entertainment, Penn National, Pennsylvania, Politics, Regulation, Tribal | 2 Comments

Quote of the Day

Posted on January 20, 2020 by David McKee

“I do not think of political power as an end. Neither do I think of economic power as an end. They are ingredients in the objective that we seek in life. And I think that end of that objective is … Continue reading →

Posted in history | Comments Off on Quote of the Day

Casinos seen as gold mine, get the shaft; Oscar odds out

Posted on January 17, 2020 by David McKee

Whenever it’s time to consider a tax increase in Nevada, non-gaming businesses can look forward to continued freeloading. Case in point, the PAC calling itself Nevadans for Fair Gaming Taxes (and what’s unfair about Nevada’s casino tax?) are mounting a … Continue reading →

Posted in Election, Maine, Mississippi, Movies, Nevada, New Jersey, Oklahoma, Taxes, Tribal, Virginia | 1 Comment

Quote of the Day

Posted on January 17, 2020 by David McKee

“The revenue increase is a positive. Right now the industry should be in ‘grow-the-market’ mode rather than seeking to consolidate profits, so a decrease in profits isn’t necessarily the worst news we could get. Overall, what Atlantic City needs right now … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Economy | 3 Comments

Springfield: The boss hits town

Posted on January 17, 2020 by David McKee

After a worst-month-ever December at MGM Springfield, company CEO Jim Murren has apparently had enough. He flew into Springfield today to put a bit of stick about, as the Brits would say. His ostensible purpose is to hang out with the … Continue reading →

Posted in Baseball, Boyd Gaming, Caesars Entertainment, Churchill Downs, Eldorado Resorts, Entertainment, GLPI, history, Louisiana, Maryland, Massachusetts, MGM Resorts International, Movies, Penn National, Sports, Sports betting, The Strip | Comments Off on Springfield: The boss hits town

Mohegan Sun in, Hard Rock out; Hoosiers crave sports betting

Posted on January 16, 2020 by David McKee

In a shocking upset, “a source close to the matter” reports that Hard Rock International has been turned down for the Hellenikon megaresort development in Greece. That means the winning bidder is Mohegan Sun. Hard Rock was apparently faulted both … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, Caesars Entertainment, Economy, Eldorado Resorts, Hard Rock International, Indiana, International, Iowa, Lake Tahoe, Louisiana, Macau, Mohegan Sun, Pansy Ho, Reno, Sheldon Adelson, Sports betting, Transportation, Wall Street | 2 Comments

Encore owns Massachusetts; Harrah’s Reno (almost) sold

Posted on January 16, 2020 by David McKee

Massachusetts gaming-revenue numbers are out and Encore Boston Harbor is the story. It’s got 65% market share and $1.75 million casino win per day. MGM Springfield is far behind, with 19% market share and 600 dimes win per day, with … Continue reading →

Posted in Caesars Entertainment, CityCenter, history, Kansas, Louisiana, Massachusetts, MGM Resorts International, Missouri, Oklahoma, Penn National, Problem gambling, Reno, The Strip, Twin River, Wall Street, Wynn Resorts | Comments Off on Encore owns Massachusetts; Harrah’s Reno (almost) sold

New gambling ban in Britain; Casinos face uncertain Georgia future

Posted on January 15, 2020 by David McKee

Great Britain continues to crack down on gambling. As of April 14, Britons will no longer be able to bet with their credit cards. (Lottery tickets are exempted from the fatwa.) This comes on the heels of a reduction in the … Continue reading →

Posted in Aristocrat, Boyd Gaming, California, Cosmopolitan, Cretins, Diversity, G2E, Georgia, International, Internet gambling, Law enforcement, Politics, Problem gambling, Regulation, Taxes, Technology, Tribal | 3 Comments

Atlantic City impresses; MGM plays lacrosse

Posted on January 15, 2020 by David McKee

In a de facto win for Atlantic City, gaming revenue held steady in December, despite one less weekend day to bring in the gamblers. The Garden State also closed out the year with over $4.5 billion in sports-betting handle, economic … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Caesars Entertainment, Culinary Union, DraftKings, Eldorado Resorts, Election, FanDuel, Hard Rock International, Internet gambling, Massachusetts, MGM Resorts International, Mohegan Sun, Movies, Ocean Resort, Scott Butera, Sexual misconduct, Sports, Sports betting, Tilman Fertitta | 3 Comments

Quote of the Day

Posted on January 15, 2020 by David McKee

“I’ve been the object of his affection now more than anybody else on this stage.”—Joseph Biden vis-a-vis Donald Trump.

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

Big MGM payday; Halting casino extortion; Wynn scammed

Posted on January 14, 2020 by David McKee

Betting the farm on Japan, CEO of MGM Resorts International Jim Murren has realized his goal of selling MGM Grand and Mandalay Bay. The price was a sweet $4.6 billion it will only cost MGM $292 million a year to lease … Continue reading →

Posted in Caesars Entertainment, Eldorado Resorts, Environment, Hard Rock International, Indiana, Japan, Law enforcement, Louisiana, Macau, Massachusetts, Maverick Gaming, MGM Resorts International, Ohio, Penn National, Philippines, Spectacle Entertainment, Sports betting, Taxes, The Strip, Wynn Resorts | Comments Off on Big MGM payday; Halting casino extortion; Wynn scammed

Atlantic City power play fails

Posted on January 13, 2020 by David McKee

Organizers of a petition drive to eliminate the position of mayor in Atlantic City thought they had 3,000-plus valid signatures. They had 699. Many of the others were illegible, ineligible or had been collected by notaries not in good standing. … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, New Jersey, Politics, Technology, Unite-Here | 3 Comments

California scheming; Exploitation in Cambodia

Posted on January 13, 2020 by David McKee

Don’t hold your water but lawmakers in California have gone so far as to hold an actual, living, breathing, preliminary hearing (emphasis on “preliminary”) on the issue of sports betting. The endgame here is not to legalize sports betting via the … Continue reading →

Posted in California, Cosmopolitan, Dining, Election, Fontainebleau, International, Massachusetts, MGM Resorts International, Palms, Politics, Regulation, Sports betting, Station Casinos, Steven Witkoff, The Strip, Tribal, Wynn Resorts | Comments Off on California scheming; Exploitation in Cambodia

Indiana flat, Missouri down, Jones up

Posted on January 13, 2020 by David McKee

Indiana gaming revenues were microscopically down last month, to $186 million, not bad when one considers that December 2018 had one more weekend day. It’s too soon to have numbers from table games at the racinos, so January’s will be … Continue reading →

Posted in Boyd Gaming, Caesars Entertainment, Century Casinos, Diversity, DraftKings, Eldorado Resorts, Environment, FanDuel, Full House Resorts, Illinois, Indiana, MGM Resorts International, Michigan, Penn National, Racinos, Regulation, Scott Butera, Spectacle Entertainment, Sports betting, Wynn Resorts | 1 Comment

Grumpy old Dems; A Titan-ic sports book win

Posted on January 13, 2020 by David McKee

Prude of the Month has to go to Maine Gov. Janet Mills (D), who certainly looks like a cranky old battle-axe. She vetoed a bill that would have legalized sports betting in her state, sniffing, “the majority of Maine people … Continue reading →

Posted in Cantor Gaming, China, DraftKings, Las Vegas Raiders, Macau, Maine, Massachusetts, MGM Resorts International, Michael Gaughan, Movies, New Hampshire, Sports, Sports betting, Vermont, Wall Street, Westgate LV | Comments Off on Grumpy old Dems; A Titan-ic sports book win

This day in history

Posted on January 9, 2020 by David McKee

On this day in 1493, Christopher Columbus saw three manatees and mistook them for mermaids, much to his dismay. Manatees are gentle, curious creatures who are also an important part of Florida‘s tourism economy. Sadly, they are threatened by everything … Continue reading →

Posted in Animals, Environment, Florida, history, Tourism | Comments Off on This day in history

Stitt robs public purse; Hard Rock blindsided

Posted on January 9, 2020 by David McKee

Oklahoma citizens may find themselves using the term “Indian giver” to describe Gov. Kevin Stitt (R). He’s planning to plunder the state’s rake of tribal gaming revenue to defend against a lawsuit brought by the state’s three biggest tribes. The … Continue reading →

Posted in Caesars Entertainment, Canada, Cirque du Soleil, Culinary Union, Election, Entertainment, Hard Rock International, Japan, MGM Resorts International, Oklahoma, Regulation, Taxes, The Strip, Tourism, Tribal, TV, Virginia | 2 Comments

Churchill Downs, Eldorado power Illinois; Atlantic City upgraded

Posted on January 8, 2020 by David McKee

Santa Claus was generous to Illinois casinos. Despite ever-increasing competition and an unfavorable calendar (one less weekend day) their receipts rose 5.5% last month. The gross was $124 million, with most of that ($94 million) coming from the state’s northern … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, Atlantic City, Boyd Gaming, Caesars Entertainment, Churchill Downs, Dan Gilbert, Eldorado Resorts, GLPI, Hard Rock International, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, MGM Resorts International, Ohio, Penn National, Spectacle Entertainment, Wall Street | 5 Comments

Skins game; Major problem-gambling snafu in Britain

Posted on January 8, 2020 by David McKee

Two Internet powerhouses achieved the first accords for offering sports betting in Michigan. Beating The Stars Group to the punch by a day, PointsBet inked a pact with the Lac Vieux Desert Band of Lake Superior Chippewa Indians. Stars Group … Continue reading →

Posted in China, DraftKings, International, Internet gambling, Macau, MGM Resorts International, Michigan, PokerStars, Problem gambling, Sports betting, Tribal | Comments Off on Skins game; Major problem-gambling snafu in Britain

Card-room smackdown; CES not high on weed

Posted on January 8, 2020 by David McKee

What happens when a casino doesn’t have enough cash on hand to cover all the chips on the floor? If you’re California card room Magnolia House Casino, in Rancho Cordova, you get shut down by the state. The card room … Continue reading →

Posted in California, Conventions, Marijuana, MGM Resorts International, Regulation, Scott Butera, Sports betting, Technology, Transportation | Comments Off on Card-room smackdown; CES not high on weed