Author Archives: David McKee

About David McKee

Bio

Cosmopolitan on the block (again)

Posted on April 18, 2019 by David McKee

Blackstone Group‘s tenure at The Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas will be remarkably brief (although nothing in the gaming industry will ever match the extreme brevity of the abortive Wynn Resorts/Crown Resorts merger). Bloomberg reports that Blackstone is exploring “strategic options” … Continue reading →

Posted in AGA, Caesars Entertainment, CityCenter, Cosmopolitan, Downtown, history, Las Vegas Sands, Macau, Marketing, Melco Resorts & Entertainment, MGM Resorts International, Politics, Sports betting, Tamares Group, The Strip, TV, Wall Street, Wynn Resorts | Comments Off on Cosmopolitan on the block (again)

Quote of the Day

Posted on April 18, 2019 by David McKee

“If we extend unlimited tolerance even to those who are intolerant, if we are not prepared to defend a tolerant society against the onslaught of the intolerant, then the tolerant will be destroyed, and tolerance with them. — Sir Karl … Continue reading →

Posted in history | Comments Off on Quote of the Day

Across the Pacific

Posted on April 17, 2019 by David McKee

In a nodal moment for Macao, mass-market gambling revenue constituted the majority of monies collected during 1Q19. This is the first time that mass-market winnings have surpassed VIP ones. VIP baccarat revenue was down 16% while mass-market win was up … Continue reading →

Posted in California, Environment, Japan, Kazuo Okada, Lawrence Ho, Macau, Melco Resorts & Entertainment, Midnight Jim Gibbons, Philippines, Problem gambling, Technology, Tourism | Comments Off on Across the Pacific

New date for The Drew

Posted on April 17, 2019 by David McKee

There are some stirrings of life around the Fontainebleau/The Drew carcass. This week developer Steven Witkoff announced the hiring of Diller Scofidio+ Renfro architectural team to finish the massive hulk, with a new completion date of 2022. (We never bought … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, Culinary Union, Entertainment, Fontainebleau, Genting, MGM Resorts International, Politics, Racinos, Sam Nazarian, Sports, Steven Witkoff, The Strip, Virginia | 1 Comment

Quote of the Day

Posted on April 17, 2019 by David McKee

“Notre-Dame is now deserted, inanimate, dead. We feel that there is something missing. This immense body is empty; it is a skeleton; the spirit has left, we see the place, and that’s all …” —Victor Hugo, NOTRE-DAME-DE-PARIS (1831)

Posted in history | Comments Off on Quote of the Day

Partly cloudy in Louisiana

Posted on April 16, 2019 by David McKee

Compared to a strong March last year, Louisiana was anemic last month, down 2.5% to $246 million. Of course, it is risky to generalize since some markets were quite healthy and others (Baton Rouge, anyone) were ailing. The same might … Continue reading →

Posted in Boyd Gaming, Caesars Entertainment, Churchill Downs, Eldorado Resorts, Louisiana, Penn National, Tilman Fertitta, Wall Street | Comments Off on Partly cloudy in Louisiana

Winter is coming … to Pahrump

Posted on April 16, 2019 by David McKee

Last Sunday, Game of Thrones returned with an exposition-heavy season opener. No word yet on whether it dampened business at Nevada brothels but they’ve evidently been taking some inspiration from the A Song of Ice and Fire saga. According to … Continue reading →

Posted in Boyd Gaming, Caesars Entertainment, Entertainment, Greenwood Racing, New Jersey, Pahrump, Penn National, Pennsylvania, Rush Street Gaming, Sports betting, TV | Comments Off on Winter is coming … to Pahrump

Quote of the Day

Posted on April 16, 2019 by David McKee

“Notre Dame is one of the world’s great treasures, and we’re thinking of the people of France in your time of grief. It’s in our nature to mourn when we see history lost – but it’s also in our nature … Continue reading →

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

Caesars: Under the weather; Wynn enters the Internet

Posted on April 16, 2019 by David McKee

Lack of thrift in the executive corridors is hurting Caesars Entertainment‘s stock price. JP Morgan analyst Daniel Politzer just ratcheted his price target down to $12, citing “worse than expected weather/GGR results at CZR’s regional properties and higher than previously … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Caesars Entertainment, Colorado, Eldorado Resorts, Environment, Illinois, Internet gambling, Iowa, New York, Reno, Scientific Games, Sports betting, Steve Wynn, The Strip, Tropicana Entertainment, Wall Street, Wynn Resorts | Comments Off on Caesars: Under the weather; Wynn enters the Internet

Boffo month for New Jersey, Detroit

Posted on April 15, 2019 by David McKee

Atlantic City casinos sprang through March with a 16% revenue boost (albeit 5% cannibalization of last year’s grosses), booking $223 million, including a 18.5% surge in slot win while table games were up 9% (albeit down 13% on a same-store … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Boyd Gaming, Caesars Entertainment, Churchill Downs, Dan Gilbert, Detroit, Eldorado Resorts, Greenwood Racing, Hard Rock International, Internet gambling, Las Vegas Sands, MGM Resorts International, Mohegan Sun, New Jersey, Ocean Resort, Penn National, Pennsylvania, Racinos, Rush Street Gaming, Sports, Sports betting, Tilman Fertitta | 2 Comments

Quote of the Day

Posted on April 15, 2019 by David McKee

“It’s great to see Tiger back. It’s a painful day for William Hill—our biggest loss ever—but a great day for golf.” — William Hill Director of U.S. Marketing Nick Bogdanovich, on Tiger Woods‘ Masters victory and the $1.2 win for … Continue reading →

Posted in Current, Sports, Sports betting, William Hill | Comments Off on Quote of the Day

Nebraskans hope fifth time is the charm

Posted on April 15, 2019 by David McKee

It’s try-again time for casinos in Nebraska. Ho-Chunk Inc. CEO Lance Morgan announced last week that ballot language had been filed with the secretary of state’s office to authorize casino gambling at the state’s horse tracks, generating a projected $50 … Continue reading →

Posted in Election, Horseracing, Iowa, Nebraska, Racinos, Tribal | Comments Off on Nebraskans hope fifth time is the charm

Rosenstein rebutted; Kiddie slots in U.K.

Posted on April 15, 2019 by David McKee

Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein received a smackdown from a federal court. Judge Paul Barbadoro ruled that not only had Rosenstein failed to convince him that New Hampshire‘s online lottery wasn’t covered under the new interpretation of the Federal Wire … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Bruce Deifik, Dining, e-sports, Georgia, Glenn Straub, International, Internet gambling, Marketing, MGM Resorts International, New Hampshire, New Jersey, Ocean Resort, Problem gambling, Puerto Rico, Regulation, Sheldon Adelson, Sports betting, Taxes, Texas | Comments Off on Rosenstein rebutted; Kiddie slots in U.K.

Not his first Rodio; Less Intrigue at Wynn

Posted on April 15, 2019 by David McKee

Just as the clock was running out for Caesars Entertainment to name a new CEO, Carl Icahn‘s preferred candidate, Anthony Rodio, came across the transom, fresh from Affinity Gaming. Or so the Wall Street Journal says and the WSJ is … Continue reading →

Posted in Affinity Gaming, Atlantic City, Caesars Entertainment, Carl Icahn, Entertainment, Environment, Marijuana, Nevada, Sports, Taxes, The Strip, Tropicana Entertainment, Wynn Resorts | Comments Off on Not his first Rodio; Less Intrigue at Wynn

Fall of the Roman Empire

Posted on April 12, 2019 by David McKee

Eldorado Resorts is no longer the only bidder allowed access to Caesars Entertainment‘s “data room.” Tilman Fertitta now has free run of the place, as the bidding for Caesars—expected to begin in earnest next week—heats up. According to the New … Continue reading →

Posted in Caesars Entertainment, Carl Icahn, Centaur Gaming, Eldorado Resorts, Tilman Fertitta, Transportation, Wall Street | 4 Comments

The Legend of Ted’s Treasure; Slot routes in Missouri?

Posted on April 12, 2019 by David McKee

Ted Binion is long since dead and buried. So, legend has it, is his treasure. Binion’s corpse wasn’t even cold before sleazy Rick Tabish was caught digging up the casino heir’s silver vault in scenic Pahrump (a sheriff’s deputy discovered … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Boyd Gaming, Cretins, history, Marketing, Missouri, North Carolina, Ocean Resort, Pahrump, Penn National, Politics, Slot routes, Sports betting, Tribal | Comments Off on The Legend of Ted’s Treasure; Slot routes in Missouri?

Around the horn

Posted on April 11, 2019 by David McKee

Gambling revenue hit a record amount in Maryland last month, up 9% to $164 million. The good news for MGM National Harbor was that winnings were up 4% to $64 million. The bad news is that this was driven by … Continue reading →

Posted in Affinity Gaming, Ameristar, Boyd Gaming, Caesars Entertainment, Churchill Downs, Cordish Co., Dan Gilbert, Eldorado Resorts, Full House Resorts, GLPI, Golden Gaming, Hard Rock International, Illinois, Indiana, Isle of Capri, Maryland, MGM Resorts International, Missouri, Ohio, Penn National, Racinos, Rush Street Gaming, Taxes, Tribal, Wall Street, West Virginia | Comments Off on Around the horn

Casino expansion in Indiana; Wynn nixes Crown deal

Posted on April 11, 2019 by David McKee

Mike Pence having gone to Washington, D.C., we miss his existential debates over what does and does not represent an “expansion” of gambling in Indiana. Doubtless he would come down on the “does” side of a state House proposal to—rather than move … Continue reading →

Posted in Caesars Entertainment, Crown Resorts, Entertainment, Indiana, International, Law enforcement, Macau, Majestic Star, Philippines, Politics, Regulation, The Strip, World Series of Poker, Wynn Resorts | Comments Off on Casino expansion in Indiana; Wynn nixes Crown deal

Steve Wynn 86’d; Icahn & Fertitta talk turkey

Posted on April 11, 2019 by David McKee

In an obvious attempt to placate the Massachusetts Gaming Commission, after a bruising set of hearings, Wynn Resorts has filed a legal brief in the Bay State, requesting permission to bar Steve Wynn from all Wynn Resorts properties. This is, in our … Continue reading →

Posted in Caesars Entertainment, Carl Icahn, Dining, Marketing, Massachusetts, MGM Resorts International, Regulation, Sports, Sports betting, Station Casinos, Steve Wynn, The Strip, Tilman Fertitta, Wall Street, Wynn Resorts | 1 Comment

Quote of the Day

Posted on April 10, 2019 by David McKee

“No movie with a fucking rubber fish ever made a dime.” — Ernest Hemingway, dropping the mike on the film adaptation of his The Old Man and the Sea. Obviously Papa did not live to see Jaws.

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