Author Archives: David McKee

About David McKee

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Quote of the Day

Posted on September 24, 2019 by David McKee

“There’s such crossover in time periods between basketball and football seasons that when somebody wants to come to our sports book, and they’re sitting there and they want to bet on a basketball game, they can’t do it. It made us … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Regulation, Sports, Sports betting, Tilman Fertitta | Comments Off on Quote of the Day

Hooters out, Ruffin in, Sands up

Posted on September 24, 2019 by David McKee

Keeping its signature Os, Hooters Hotel Casino becomes an OYO Hotel property this week, with a full transformation expected by year’s end. (Gotta be ready for New Year’s Eve.) The changes are subtle at first. Hotel management goes over to Highgate … Continue reading →

Posted in Connecticut, Foxwoods, Hooters, Las Vegas Sands, Macau, Marketing, Massachusetts, MGM Resorts International, Mohegan Sun, Paragon Gaming, Phil Ruffin, Sociedade de Jogos de Macau, The Strip, Wall Street, Wynn Resorts | Comments Off on Hooters out, Ruffin in, Sands up

Police blotter; Brockton gets shut out

Posted on September 24, 2019 by David McKee

Hawaii is one of the last two bastions of anti-gambling in America. Naturally, in such an environment, illegal gambling is going to flourish. Last week federal authorities indicted 15 individuals (seven of whom are on the lam) and seized 60 … Continue reading →

Posted in Canada, Charity, Florida, Hard Rock International, Hawaii, Illinois, Law enforcement, Marijuana, Massachusetts, Money laundering, Neil Bluhm, Racinos, Regulation, Taxes, Tribal, Wynn Resorts | Comments Off on Police blotter; Brockton gets shut out

Fertitta plays Cassandra; Reach for the sky

Posted on September 24, 2019 by David McKee

Although Atlantic City is coming off its best month in memory, Tilman Fertitta is predicting doom and gloom. “It’s not a nine-casino market, and I don’t understand why nobody realizes that,” he told The Press of Atlantic City. “You could say the … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Boyd Gaming, Caesars Entertainment, Derek Stevens, Dining, Donald Trump, Downtown, Economy, Election, Fontainebleau, Internet gambling, Law enforcement, LVCVA, Nevada, Pahrump, Reno, Steven Witkoff, Terry Caudill, The Strip, Tilman Fertitta | 3 Comments

NCAA meddling again; Slots struggle in Massachusetts

Posted on September 23, 2019 by David McKee

After the Supreme Court threw out the Bradley Act, there were a few grumbles on Capitol Hill about federal regulation of sports betting. However, American Gaming Association President Bill Miller, in his capacity as gaming’s premier lobbyist, took the temperature … Continue reading →

Posted in AGA, Hard Rock International, IGT, Macau, Massachusetts, MGM Resorts International, Penn National, Phil Ruffin, Politics, Problem gambling, Regulation, Sports betting, Technology, The Strip, William Hill, Wynn Resorts | Comments Off on NCAA meddling again; Slots struggle in Massachusetts

Rio sold; Best casinos named

Posted on September 23, 2019 by David McKee

Despite rumors that Caesars Entertainment has sworn off trying to sell The Rio (again), it turns out that the Roman Empire was still shopping the resort. It’s been tentatively sold to “a principal of Imperial Companies” for $516 million. If … Continue reading →

Posted in Alex Meruelo, Atlantic City, Caesars Entertainment, California, Cosmopolitan, Derek Stevens, Dining, Downtown, Eldorado Resorts, Entertainment, Foxwoods, Genting, Golden Gaming, Hard Rock International, Las Vegas Sands, Louisiana, Marketing, Massachusetts, Mississippi, Mohegan Sun, New York, Ocean Resort, Penn National, Reno, Station Casinos, The Strip, Tilman Fertitta, Tribal, TV, World Series of Poker, Wynn Resorts | 1 Comment

Quote of the Day

Posted on September 19, 2019 by David McKee

“Facts do not cease to exist because they are ignored.”—Aldous Huxley

Posted in Uncategorized | Comments Off on Quote of the Day

Chicago casino tax damned; Kerkorian epoch ends

Posted on September 19, 2019 by David McKee

That Illinois casino expansion went back to the drawing board—the Illinois Gaming Board, to be exact. The topic of its ire was the 33% “privilege tax” hung around the neck of the Chicago casino (bringing its effective tax rate to … Continue reading →

Posted in Churchill Downs, Dining, Downtown, Entertainment, Foxwoods, history, Illinois, Massachusetts, MGM Resorts International, Mohegan Sun, Rush Street Gaming, Tamares Group, Taxes, The Strip, Tilman Fertitta, Wall Street, Westgate LV | 1 Comment

Slow News Day, The Sequel

Posted on September 18, 2019 by David McKee

Both Kevin Hart and The Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas are being sued over a sex tape of Hart doing the nasty with actress Monita Sabbag was uploaded onto the Internet. (When in doubt about making a sex tape, don’t.) Hart … Continue reading →

Posted in Cosmopolitan, Genting, Iowa, Mississippi, New York, Oklahoma, Reno, Sexual misconduct, Sports, Sports betting, Transportation, Tribal | Comments Off on Slow News Day, The Sequel

Quote of the Day

Posted on September 18, 2019 by David McKee

“Fall River mayor wins slot on reelection ballot after arrest for alleged extortion.”—headline in the Boston Globe

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

MGM selling crown jewels

Posted on September 17, 2019 by David McKee

It’s almost a done deal. MGM Resorts International will monetize its two most iconic properties by selling MGM Grand and Bellagio to Blackstone Group. The latter would lease the two megaresorts back to MGM, which would probably roll the sale … Continue reading →

Posted in Charity, Internet gambling, Japan, MGM Resorts International, Pennsylvania, Philippines, Rush Street Gaming, Taxes, Technology, The Strip, Wall Street | Comments Off on MGM selling crown jewels

Like a Virgin: Mohegan Sun comes to Vegas

Posted on September 17, 2019 by David McKee

It’s official: Mohegan Gaming & Entertainment will be the casino manager of Virgin Hotel Las Vegas. “Aligning the MGE brand with Virgin Hotels Las Vegas extends our growing reach into yet another legendary global entertainment capital. Together with Virgin Hotels, experience seekers all … Continue reading →

Posted in Caesars Entertainment, Charity, Culinary Union, Election, Entertainment, Genting, Hard Rock Hotel, Hard Rock International, International, Mohegan Sun, Problem gambling, Security, Station Casinos, Technology, The Strip, TV | 1 Comment

Two wins for Wynn; Fewer jobs in Atlantic City

Posted on September 17, 2019 by David McKee

Encore Boston Harbor continues to dominate the Massachusetts scene, with 61% of market share, compared to 25% (not bad) for MGM Springfield, the rest going to Plainridge Park. Encore grossed $85.5 million last month, MGM did $21 million and Plainridge … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Colorado, DFS, Economy, Maryland, Massachusetts, MGM Resorts International, Oklahoma, Penn National, Resort fees, Sexual misconduct, Sports betting, The Strip, Tribal, Unite-Here, Wynn Resorts | Comments Off on Two wins for Wynn; Fewer jobs in Atlantic City

Quote of the Day

Posted on September 17, 2019 by David McKee

“I am going to ride this train, but I am afraid it is going to be my ashes in an urn. I told my kids to take my ashes on the bullet train.”—project manager for the woebegone California bullet train, … Continue reading →

Posted in California, Transportation | Comments Off on Quote of the Day

Near-ideal month in Atlantic City

Posted on September 16, 2019 by David McKee

Atlantic City casinos were, despite an extra weekend day in August, up only 6%. But, more importantly, all except one either stood their ground or grew business. They grossed $286.5 million, with symmetrical increases in slot and table revenue. A … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Boyd Gaming, Caesars Entertainment, China, Detroit, Donald Trump, Eldorado Resorts, Entertainment, Full House Resorts, Greenwood Racing, Hard Rock International, Indiana, International, Internet gambling, MGM Resorts International, Mohegan Sun, New Jersey, Ocean Resort, Ohio, Palms, Penn National, Pennsylvania, Philippines, Regulation, Sports, Sports betting, Taxes, Tilman Fertitta, Tribal, Virginia, Wall Street | 2 Comments

Wall Street: The Strip is all right; Rivals pile into Waukegan

Posted on September 16, 2019 by David McKee

JP Morgan analyst Joseph Greff has just returned from a two-day field trip to Las Vegas. His overall reaction was “incrementally positive.” He said he sensed “a fairly steady trend line in terms of overall spend and net revenue performance.” … Continue reading →

Posted in Boyd Gaming, Caesars Entertainment, Churchill Downs, Conventions, Dan Gilbert, Dan Lee, Detroit, Dining, Entertainment, Full House Resorts, Illinois, Japan, Las Vegas Raiders, Las Vegas Sands, Macau, Marketing, Maryland, MGM Resorts International, Ohio, Palms, Penn National, Resort fees, Rush Street Gaming, Sahara, Sports betting, The Strip, Tribal, Wall Street, Warner Gaming, Wisconsin | Comments Off on Wall Street: The Strip is all right; Rivals pile into Waukegan

Quote of the Day

Posted on September 16, 2019 by David McKee

“You can fool some of the people some of the time—and that’s enough to make a decent living.”—W.C. Fields

Posted in Movies | Comments Off on Quote of the Day

Heard along the Strip

Posted on September 16, 2019 by David McKee

Circus Circus, the casino Jim Murren said he would never, ever sell (because his kids liked it so much) is reported to be on the auction block. The Murren kids are grown and MGM Resorts International has never formulated a … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Boyd Gaming, Caesars Entertainment, Canada, Cosmopolitan, Culinary Union, Eldorado Resorts, MGM Resorts International, North Las Vegas, Phil Ruffin, Planet Hollywood, Problem gambling, SLS Las Vegas, Sports, Sports betting, Station Casinos, Steve Wynn, The Strip, Tilman Fertitta, World Series of Poker, Wynn Resorts | 2 Comments

Quote of the Day

Posted on September 13, 2019 by David McKee

“It is not how much we do, but how much love we put into what we do.”—St. Teresa of Calcutta

Posted in Charity | Comments Off on Quote of the Day

Case Bets

Posted on September 12, 2019 by David McKee

Unlike people across the Pearl River Delta in Hong Kong, casino workers in Macao are relatively easy to please. Their latest set of demands will sound very familiar to Americans: a five-day work week, vacation schedules and a smoke-free environment (we’re … Continue reading →

Posted in DFS, Indiana, Las Vegas Sands, Macau, Melco Resorts & Entertainment, MGM Resorts International, Michigan, Rhode Island, Sports betting, Tribal, Wynn Resorts | Comments Off on Case Bets