Author Archives: David McKee

About David McKee

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Melco nabs Crown; Scientific promotes diversity

Posted on May 30, 2019 by David McKee

Stick a fork in that Wynn Resorts takeover of Crown Resorts, which was already on life support. Melco Resorts & Entertainment just bought a 20% stake in Crown, giving Lawrence Ho a sizable footfall in Australia. The transaction will cost … Continue reading →

Posted in Australia, Caesars Entertainment, Crown Resorts, Entertainment, James Packer, Japan, Lawrence Ho, Macau, Melco Resorts & Entertainment, Problem gambling, Scientific Games, The Strip, Tourism, Wall Street, Wynn Resorts | Comments Off on Melco nabs Crown; Scientific promotes diversity

Quote of the Day

Posted on May 29, 2019 by David McKee

“If a free society cannot help the many who are poor, it cannot save the few who are rich.” — John F. Kennedy, born on this date in 1917.

Posted in history | Comments Off on Quote of the Day

April unkind to Strip; Expansion scramble in Illinois

Posted on May 29, 2019 by David McKee

Las Vegas Strip revenues were down 3.5% last month but for once baccarat was blameless. Luck was with the casinos in the highly volatile game, which saw the house win 5.5% more on 17% higher wagering. Players avoided other table … Continue reading →

Posted in Boulder Strip, Detroit, Downtown, Illinois, Lake Tahoe, Laughlin, Massachusetts, Michigan, North Las Vegas, Penn National, Politics, Regulation, Reno, The Strip, Wynn Resorts | Comments Off on April unkind to Strip; Expansion scramble in Illinois

Anxiety over Japan; Profit squeeze in Atlantic City

Posted on May 28, 2019 by David McKee

Think Japan‘s going to have casinos open in time for the 2025 World Expo? Think again. Shinzo Abe‘s ruling Liberal Democratic Party is postponing the regulations governing casino bidding until after next year’s elections. That’s bad news for Osaka, in particular, … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Caesars Entertainment, Economy, Eldorado Resorts, Hard Rock International, Internet gambling, Japan, Las Vegas Sands, Melco Resorts & Entertainment, MGM Resorts International, Mohegan Sun, North Carolina, Ocean Resort, Politics, Sports betting, Tribal, Wall Street | 1 Comment

Encore firms up opening date; Bionic money

Posted on May 28, 2019 by David McKee

Global Gaming Business has revealed that Wynn Resorts was so desperate to exit Everett it even held talks with Boston Red Sox owner John Henry to bail it out from the megaresort. Even if the Massachusetts Gaming Commission approved that arrangement (a long … Continue reading →

Posted in Baseball, Dan Gilbert, Detroit, Foxwoods, G2E, Genting, Macau, Massachusetts, MGM Resorts International, Mohegan Sun, Penn National, Pennsylvania, Regulation, Rush Street Gaming, Sports betting, Technology, The Strip, TV, Wall Street, Wynn Resorts | Comments Off on Encore firms up opening date; Bionic money

The value of a dollar & other Case Bets

Posted on May 28, 2019 by David McKee

If you’re making up your casino budget, you might want to stay away from Atlantic City or New York State, where a dollar has only the buying power of 87 or 88 cents. By contrast, the same dollar spent in … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Cosmopolitan, Derek Stevens, Economy, Hawaii, history, Indiana, MGM Resorts International, Michigan, Mississippi, Missouri, Nevada, New York, Ohio, Sports betting, The Strip, TV, William Hill | Comments Off on The value of a dollar & other Case Bets

Station loses another; Musk wins one

Posted on May 23, 2019 by David McKee

Despite a Trump-appointed majority on the National Labor Relations Board, it ruled against Station Casinos, voting unanimously that the company had failed to recognize and bargain with the Culinary Union vis-a-vis the Palms. “By failing and refusing since May 17 to … Continue reading →

Posted in Culinary Union, LVCVA, Palms, Station Casinos, Transportation | Comments Off on Station loses another; Musk wins one

Worries from the Far East & other Case Bets

Posted on May 22, 2019 by David McKee

This goes in the Not A Great Idea file. Macao, still down from its go-go years, is thinking of implementing a tax on tourists. No kidding. It’s even gathering poll data on how the money should be spent, even before … Continue reading →

Posted in Economy, Japan, Las Vegas Sands, M Resort, Macau, Penn National, Pennsylvania, Sheldon Adelson, Taxes, Tribal | Comments Off on Worries from the Far East & other Case Bets

Encore Boston Harbor sale nixed

Posted on May 22, 2019 by David McKee

“We think the best course of action is to discontinue discussions concerning this opportunity.” Just like that, MGM Resorts International left Wynn Resorts at the altar, trying to find a new beau for Encore Boston Harbor. Backlash in Springfield seems … Continue reading →

Posted in Caesars Entertainment, Mandalay Bay Massacre, Massachusetts, MGM Resorts International, Mohegan Sun, Penn National, Regulation, Wall Street, Wynn Resorts | Comments Off on Encore Boston Harbor sale nixed

Harrah’s wants its money back; Lucky Dragon investors grumble

Posted on May 22, 2019 by David McKee

They’ve got brass balls at Harrah’s New Orleans. Not only do they want an early extension of their terra forma monopoly, which expires in 2024, they want a big-ass tax rebate to go with it. At stake is a 2001 … Continue reading →

Posted in Caesars Entertainment, Dining, Donald Trump, Economy, Louisiana, Lucky Dragon, Midnight Jim Gibbons, Nevada, Regulation, Reno, Resort fees, Taxes | Comments Off on Harrah’s wants its money back; Lucky Dragon investors grumble

Soggy month in Louisiana; IGT on firm ground

Posted on May 21, 2019 by David McKee

Gaming revenues were down 5.5% last month in the Bayou State, particularly unimpressive when you consider that they fell 8% in the same month last year.  The statewide gross was $199.5 million. The Shreveport/Bossier City market suffered least, down 3%, … Continue reading →

Posted in Boyd Gaming, Caesars Entertainment, Eldorado Resorts, IGT, International, Lotteries, Louisiana, Penn National, Sports betting, Taxes, Wall Street, Wynn Resorts | Comments Off on Soggy month in Louisiana; IGT on firm ground

Tribe trumps Trump; Rockford pleads for casino

Posted on May 20, 2019 by David McKee

Despite being thrown off the fast-track legislative calendar by a blast of hot air from Donald Trump, a bill to restore land-in-trust status to the Mashpee Wampanoags has sailed through the House of Representatives, 257-146 in a bipartisan win. “Without support … Continue reading →

Posted in Aristocrat, Caesars Entertainment, Culinary Union, Donald Trump, Genting, Illinois, Indiana, Law enforcement, Marketing, Massachusetts, Nevada, Technology, Tribal, Unite-Here, Wisconsin | 2 Comments

Maddox’s mess; Big Gaming gets image-conscious

Posted on May 20, 2019 by David McKee

“Boston is not up for sale. I like that market. I found the land. I pursued that deal. I entered the agreement with the host community five years ago. I liked that market then. I like that market today.” So … Continue reading →

Posted in Lucky Dragon, Marijuana, Massachusetts, MGM Resorts International, Nevada, Penn National, Regulation, Sexual misconduct, Steve Wynn, The Strip, Wynn Resorts | 1 Comment

Quote of the Day

Posted on May 20, 2019 by David McKee

“The Old Farmer’s Almanac suggests that sometimes the mind can be taken off the debilitating effects of prolonged illness by trying to memorize an impossibly long text, such as the Constitution or the list of Democratic presidential candidates.” — Farmer’s … Continue reading →

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

Wynn cuts and runs

Posted on May 18, 2019 by David McKee

Wynn Resorts might be willing to pay $20 million to remain licensed in Nevada but $35 million in Massachusetts was Just Too Much evidently to hang onto $2.6 billion Encore Boston Harbor. In one of the most precipitate decisions in memory, … Continue reading →

Posted in Massachusetts, MGM Resorts International, Regulation, Wynn Resorts | 3 Comments

Case Bets

Posted on May 17, 2019 by David McKee

Need a scorecard to keep up with the progress of sports betting? Never fear, the American Gaming Association has provided one. It shows sports-betting legislation on the docket in 15 states, including casino-averse Texas and Vermont. States that have rejected … Continue reading →

Posted in Animals, California, Dining, Greenwood Racing, Illinois, Mandalay Bay Massacre, MGM Resorts International, Mohegan Sun, Palms, Pennsylvania, Pets, Regulation, Rush Street Gaming, Sports, Sports betting, Station Casinos | Comments Off on Case Bets

Quote of the Day

Posted on May 17, 2019 by David McKee

“We want to give you the experience of aviation without making you hear it.” — TWA Hotel at JFK International Airport Managing Director Erik Palmer on the hotel’s quiet-first retro redesign.

Posted in Architecture, New York, Transportation | Comments Off on Quote of the Day

Don’t mess with the Seminoles

Posted on May 16, 2019 by David McKee

Well, the feckless Florida Lege courted disaster—and got it. The Seminole Tribe, lacking a new compact, is cutting off revenue-sharing payments to the Sunshine State. We’re talking serious dollars: $321 million last fiscal year. The Seminoles have enormous economic clout and … Continue reading →

Posted in Boyd Gaming, Caesars Entertainment, Florida, Galaxy Entertainment, Greenwood Racing, Las Vegas Sands, Law enforcement, Macau, Melco Resorts & Entertainment, MGM Resorts International, Penn National, Pennsylvania, Philippines, Politics, Rush Street Gaming, Seminole Tribe, Sociedade de Jogos de Macau, Sports betting, Taxes, Wall Street, Wynn Resorts | 1 Comment

The age of austerity?

Posted on May 16, 2019 by David McKee

While Station Casinos CEO Frank Fertitta III won’t be mistaken for a pauper anytime soon, he’s the most restrained of Las Vegas‘ top six gaming CEOs when it comes to compensation. On top of his $1 million base salary, his … Continue reading →

Posted in Boyd Gaming, Caesars Entertainment, Culinary Union, International, Japan, Las Vegas Sands, Lawrence Ho, Melco Resorts & Entertainment, MGM Resorts International, Politics, Sheldon Adelson, Station Casinos, Unite-Here, Wall Street, Wynn Resorts | Comments Off on The age of austerity?

Snakes in a casino & other Case Bets

Posted on May 16, 2019 by David McKee

Well, I’m never setting foot in Binion’s Gambling Hall again. A butt-ugly (but evidently non-poisonous) snake got in and made itself comfy in the roulette wheel. Security merely escorted the reptile inside, so there’s no telling whether there will be … Continue reading →

Posted in Animals, Caesars Entertainment, Charity, Derek Stevens, Downtown, Economy, Environment, Marketing, MGM Resorts International, Missouri, Nevada, Problem gambling, Real Estate, Technology, Transportation | Comments Off on Snakes in a casino & other Case Bets