Author Archives: David McKee

About David McKee

Bio

Quote of the Day

Posted on November 20, 2019 by David McKee

“We need to take the issue seriously instead of avoiding it. We can’t let this big cake be eaten all by foreign capital.” — Phoenix Island Chairman Zeng Xianyun, advocating casino expansion to tourist-oriented Hainan Province, where MGM Resorts International has … Continue reading →

Posted in Economy, International, MGM Mirage | Comments Off on Quote of the Day

Desert Diamond sets debut; Paddock’s grim legacy

Posted on November 20, 2019 by David McKee

Controversial Desert Diamond Casino will finally open on Feb. 19, superseding a “big box” temporary casino on the same site. Pride and joy of the Tohono O’odham Nation, Desert Diamond was the bane of Gov. Doug Doucey‘s existence, as well as … Continue reading →

Posted in Arizona, Canada, Dining, Florida, Internet gambling, Japan, Las Vegas Sands, Lotteries, Mandalay Bay Massacre, New York, Philippines, Problem gambling, Sports betting, Tamares Group, Taxes, The Strip, Tribal, Wall Street, Wynn Resorts | Comments Off on Desert Diamond sets debut; Paddock’s grim legacy

Next stop, Hempfield!

Posted on November 19, 2019 by David McKee

Cordish Gaming has broken ground on its Hempfield Township satellite casino in Pennsylvania. The $150 million property will have 750 slots and 30 table games, as well as a 445-seat sports book. The casino will fill the space left by … Continue reading →

Posted in Arkansas, Atlantic City, Caesars Entertainment, Cordish Co., Dining, Downtown, Economy, Eldorado Resorts, Entertainment, Golden Gaming, history, Internet gambling, Kentucky, Las Vegas Sands, Law enforcement, Massachusetts, MGM Resorts International, Mohegan Sun, Pennsylvania, Regulation, South Korea, Sports betting, The Strip, Tribal, Wall Street, Wynn Resorts | 2 Comments

Sports betting burgeons in Pennsylvania

Posted on November 19, 2019 by David McKee

Pennsylvania sports-betting handle was $241 million last month, which translated into $19 million in revenue (a quarter of which promptly went to the state). Mobile wagering accounted for $199 million or 82% of the wagering, up from 65% last July. “Most encouraging … Continue reading →

Posted in Boyd Gaming, Caesars Entertainment, DraftKings, Eldorado Resorts, Environment, FanDuel, Greenwood Racing, Illinois, Law enforcement, Michigan, Mississippi, Mohegan Sun, Penn National, Pennsylvania, Regulation, Rush Street Gaming, Sexual misconduct, South Dakota, Sports, Sports betting, Tribal, Twin River, Wall Street, Wynn Resorts | Comments Off on Sports betting burgeons in Pennsylvania

Quote of the Day

Posted on November 19, 2019 by David McKee

“Finance is a gun. Politics is knowing when to pull the trigger.—Don Licio Lucchesi in The Godfather, Part III.

Posted in Movies, Politics, Wall Street | Comments Off on Quote of the Day

What if they gave a casino and nobody came?

Posted on November 19, 2019 by David McKee

That’s what’s happening in Chicago, where nobody—and I mean nobody—is showing any interest in a new casino license. Gee, do you think it could have something to do with the 72% tax rate which effectively ensures that a Windy City … Continue reading →

Posted in Alex Meruelo, Illinois, Macau, Politics, Sahara, Sam Nazarian, Scientific Games, Security, Taxes, Technology | 2 Comments

Going for the gold in California; Vegas tops sin survey

Posted on November 18, 2019 by David McKee

It’s not quite as pre-apocalyptic as dogs and cats living together but California Native American tribes are joining with private-sector racetracks to push for sports betting in the Golden State, surely the ripest market in the U.S. The coalition wants … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Caesars Entertainment, California, Donald Trump, Eldorado Resorts, Election, Entertainment, history, Illinois, Japan, Louisiana, Regulation, Sports betting, Steve Wynn, Taxes, The Strip, Tribal | 1 Comment

Quote of the Day

Posted on November 18, 2019 by David McKee

“Our customers are worried about gambling ads on TV – and we understand their concerns. That’s why we’ve committed to limiting the amount of gambling ads on Sky and better protecting those vulnerable to problem gambling.” — Sky UK CEO Steven … Continue reading →

Posted in International, Marketing, Problem gambling, TV | Comments Off on Quote of the Day

Ocean outperforms Atlantic City; Encore Boston crushes competition

Posted on November 15, 2019 by David McKee

Atlantic City casino revenues were $202 million last month, flat with the year previous. Slot revenues were up 3.5%, table win down 6%. Despite flat wagering at the tables and slots, Borgata gained 6% at the slots and ceded 7% … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Boyd Gaming, Caesars Entertainment, Economy, Eldorado Resorts, Environment, FanDuel, Greenwood Racing, Hard Rock International, Internet gambling, Japan, Macau, Massachusetts, MGM Resorts International, Mohegan Sun, Ocean Resort, Penn National, Pennsylvania, Regulation, Rush Street Gaming, Sports betting, Tilman Fertitta, Tribal, Wynn Resorts | 3 Comments

Big bounce at IGT; Cosmo revises restaurant lineup

Posted on November 15, 2019 by David McKee

“What’s 23% Between Friends?” So asked Credit Suisse analyst Ben Combes as he reported on International Game Technology‘s 3Q19 earnings call. IGT’s $407 million in cash flow exceeded consensus Wall Street expectations by 3%. IGT stock vaulted 23% on the … Continue reading →

Posted in Caesars Entertainment, Cosmopolitan, Delaware, Detroit, Dining, Entertainment, Genting, history, IGT, Indiana, International, Las Vegas Raiders, Lotteries, M Resort, MGM Resorts International, Missouri, New York, Penn National, Sports betting, Taxes, The Strip, TV, Wall Street | Comments Off on Big bounce at IGT; Cosmo revises restaurant lineup

Quote of the Day

Posted on November 15, 2019 by David McKee

“We took cognizance of the new synthetic folksiness that saturated certain programs and the excursions into political waters by these ‘I don’t know anything, but I know what I think’ guys. We wondered about the power of television to sell synthetic … Continue reading →

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

Second thoughts on Japan; Seneca smackdown

Posted on November 14, 2019 by David McKee

Is it possible that Japan is too rich for the casino industry’s blood? Las Vegas Sands President Rob Goldstein recently pegged the cost of a Japanese megaresort at $12 billion, while Fitch Ratings thinks it will be closer to $15 … Continue reading →

Posted in China, Galaxy Entertainment, Genting, International, Japan, Las Vegas Sands, Macau, MGM Resorts International, New York, Taxes, Transportation, Tribal, Wall Street | Comments Off on Second thoughts on Japan; Seneca smackdown

Smoke gets in Boston’s eyes; Penn receives important award

Posted on November 14, 2019 by David McKee

Shuttles for Encore Boston Harbor are stirring up some local ire, due to the fumes they generate while idling at the Wellington MBTA Station curb. This has generated the threat of a lawsuit from the Conservation Law Foundation. It’s not just … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Churchill Downs, Cosmopolitan, Derek Stevens, Downtown, Encore, Entertainment, Illinois, Japan, Massachusetts, Movies, Penn National, Rush Street Gaming, Sheldon Adelson, Sports, Sports betting, Taxes, Technology, Terry Caudill, The Mob, Transportation, Wynn Resorts | Comments Off on Smoke gets in Boston’s eyes; Penn receives important award

Quote of the Day

Posted on November 14, 2019 by David McKee

“So long as men worship the Caesars and Napoleons, Caesars and Napoleons will duly rise and make them miserable.”—Aldous Huxley

Posted in history | Comments Off on Quote of the Day

A swing through the Rust Belt

Posted on November 13, 2019 by David McKee

What does Ohio‘s economy have that other Rust Belt states do not? We’d really like to know, since Ohio consistently outperforms its brethren when it comes to gaming revenue. Last month, casino win was up 5.5% to $158.5 million. Racinos … Continue reading →

Posted in Boyd Gaming, Caesars Entertainment, Churchill Downs, Dan Gilbert, DraftKings, Eldorado Resorts, Full House Resorts, GLPI, Hard Rock International, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, MGM Resorts International, Ohio, Penn National, Pets, Rush Street Gaming, Slot routes, Spectacle Entertainment, Sports betting | Comments Off on A swing through the Rust Belt

Quote of the Day

Posted on November 13, 2019 by David McKee

“There’s also an argument to be made that in a state with such high poverty rates—almost half the state’s residents are on Medicaid and one in four is on food stamps—it’s unconscionable to offer folks yet another avenue to lose … Continue reading →

Posted in New Mexico, Problem gambling, Sports betting, Tribal | Comments Off on Quote of the Day

Stanley upstages Terry; Restaurant fees disputed

Posted on November 12, 2019 by David McKee

MGM China will be dropped from the Hong Kong bourse. Casino.org announced the change with this photo of Stanley Ho and Pansy Ho at the MGM Grand Macau opening. Somebody had a wicked sense of humor, cropping former CEO J. Terrence … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, Caesars Entertainment, Cosmopolitan, Dining, Macau, MGM Resorts International, Oklahoma, Pansy Ho, Resort fees, Stanley Ho, Taxes, The Strip, Tribal, Wall Street, Wynn Resorts | Comments Off on Stanley upstages Terry; Restaurant fees disputed

Wynn: Elaine did me dirty; New Jersey rakes it in

Posted on November 12, 2019 by David McKee

On the principle that two wrongs make a right, disgraced casino mogul Steve Wynn is accusing ex-wife Elaine Wynn of stirring up the Wall Street Journal story that ended his career. This comes by way of testimony by one Renée … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, Culinary Union, e-sports, Elaine Wynn, Election, Florida, Hard Rock International, Internet gambling, Law enforcement, Macau, MGM Resorts International, Nevada, New Jersey, New York, Politics, Resort fees, Sexual misconduct, Sports betting, Stanley Ho, Station Casinos, Steve Wynn, Taxes, Technology, Tribal, Wisconsin, Wynn Resorts | 1 Comment

Choo-choo to Springfield; Penn hawks Trop

Posted on November 12, 2019 by David McKee

Don’t despair, MGM Springfield. There’s hope yet. Massachusetts politicians are touting the idea of high-speed rail between Boston and Springfield, as many as six rides per day. (Springfield currently must get by with once-a-day Amtrak service.) Gov. Charlie Baker (R) … Continue reading →

Posted in China, Connecticut, Donald Trump, Downtown, Election, Foxwoods, Indiana, Louisiana, Maine, Massachusetts, MGM Resorts International, Mohegan Sun, New Hampshire, Penn National, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Sexual misconduct, Sheldon Adelson, Sports betting, The Strip, Transportation, TV, Twin River, Wynn Resorts | Comments Off on Choo-choo to Springfield; Penn hawks Trop

Quote of the Day

Posted on November 12, 2019 by David McKee

“I sincerely hope I have exhibited good moral character and will be able to vote my conscience on Donald J. Trump and his fellow American candidates.”—Neil Young, on his application for U.S. citizenship. Young’s stoner credentials might prove to be … Continue reading →

Posted in Current, Entertainment, Marijuana | Comments Off on Quote of the Day