Author Archives: David McKee

About David McKee

Bio

Bowing to Wynn; Mixed views on Las Vegas

Posted on February 28, 2019 by David McKee

Today the Massachusetts Gaming Commission meets to finalize its disgraceful prostration, er, litigation settlement with Steve Wynn and presumably to lay the groundwork for levying some manner of fine on Wynn Resorts now that Nevada has set a $20 million … Continue reading →

Posted in Boulder Strip, Caesars Entertainment, California, Carl Icahn, Donald Trump, Economy, Environment, Lake Tahoe, Las Vegas Raiders, Laughlin, Massachusetts, Mesquite, Nevada, North Las Vegas, Phil Ruffin, Regulation, Reno, Sexual misconduct, Sports, Steve Wynn, The Strip, Wendover, Wynn Resorts | 1 Comment

SJM Fok-ed up; Virginia approves casinos

Posted on February 28, 2019 by David McKee

Lucina Laam may be the most important person in Macao‘s turbulent casino history. As Wife #2 of Stanley Ho she bore Daisy Ho, Pansy Ho, Lawrence Ho and two other daughters not involved in the gaming biz. Now, in an … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Caesars Entertainment, DFS, Donald Trump, Downtown Grand, Environment, history, International, Las Vegas Sands, Lawrence Ho, Macau, Marketing, Maryland, Massachusetts, Melco Resorts & Entertainment, MGM Resorts International, New York, Pansy Ho, Pennsylvania, Politics, Singapore, Sociedade de Jogos de Macau, Stanley Ho, Technology, Tribal, Virginia | Comments Off on SJM Fok-ed up; Virginia approves casinos

MGM, Eldorado, Churchill Downs looking up

Posted on February 28, 2019 by David McKee

Credit Suisse‘s Cameron McKnight flew out to San Francisco to meet with MGM Resorts International CEO Jim Murren. The biggest headline item would be the eccentricity of Murren choosing to meet in Frisco rather than at MGM HQ in Las … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, Atlantic City, Caesars Entertainment, Churchill Downs, DFS, Eldorado Resorts, history, Horseracing, Illinois, Internet gambling, Louisiana, Marketing, Maryland, Massachusetts, MGM Resorts International, MTR Gaming, Neil Bluhm, Ocean Resort, Resort fees, Rush Street Gaming, The Strip, Wall Street | 1 Comment

King on the rag; Macao mobbed; Sheldon goes green

Posted on February 27, 2019 by David McKee

Better hurry and line up that Circa funding, Derek Stevens: Rep. Steve King (R) is coming after your EB-5 investors. King has introduced a bill, currently little more than a placeholder, to terminate the EB-5 program. In the past we’ve been … Continue reading →

Posted in Caesars Entertainment, Cirque du Soleil, Cretins, Delaware, Derek Stevens, Downtown Grand, Entertainment, Environment, Genting, Hard Rock International, International, Las Vegas Sands, Macau, Mohegan Sun, Politics, Racinos, Sheldon Adelson, South Korea, Sports betting, Terry Caudill, The Strip, Tourism, TV | 1 Comment

Wynn Resorts walloped

Posted on February 27, 2019 by David McKee

We’ve been down for a day and half for maintenance but S&G is back now with a doozy of a news dispatch: The good news for Wynn Resorts is that it gets to keep its Nevada gaming license. The bad … Continue reading →

Posted in Cantor Gaming, Culinary Union, Donald Trump, history, Massachusetts, Politics, Prostitution, Real Estate, Regulation, Sports, Steve Wynn, Transportation, Wall Street, Wynn Resorts | Comments Off on Wynn Resorts walloped

Quote of the Day

Posted on February 27, 2019 by David McKee

“People want to work for what they get. So, I think that this idea of a guaranteed minimum is not something most people want.” — Ivanka Trump.

Posted in Economy | 1 Comment

Sands: Buy Japanese; Gambling to come to Utah?

Posted on February 25, 2019 by David McKee

“It will be highly competitive, but I think the cards are stacked in the favor of those who are prepared, who have been working hard, who will have the best program, best strategy, the best understanding of the country, of … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, DFS, Horseracing, Internet gambling, Japan, Kentucky, Las Vegas Sands, MGM Resorts International, Ocean Resort, PokerStars, Politics, Sheldon Adelson, Sports, Sports betting | Comments Off on Sands: Buy Japanese; Gambling to come to Utah?

Fearless Oscar recap

Posted on February 25, 2019 by David McKee

New Jersey bookmakers are doubtless shelling out some long green today after Olivia Colman upset their (and my) odds-on pick, Glenn Close at the Academy Awards last night. Despite having the law of averages seemingly in her favor, Close continues … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Current, International, Movies, New Jersey, TV | Comments Off on Fearless Oscar recap

Quote of the Day

Posted on February 25, 2019 by David McKee

“I can’t believe a film about menstruation just won an Oscar!” — Period. End of Sentence co-producer Rayka Zehtabchi, upon winning Best Documentary Short.

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

Caesars dominates Louisiana; Steve Wynn wins in Beantown

Posted on February 22, 2019 by David McKee

Gaming revenue in Louisiana was flat last month, with strength in Shreveport and New Orleans making up for weakness in (mainly) Baton Rouge and Lake Charles. It’s difficult to account for the 3% dip in Lake Charles, aside from the … Continue reading →

Posted in Boyd Gaming, Caesars Entertainment, Churchill Downs, Eldorado Resorts, GLPI, Internet gambling, Louisiana, Massachusetts, Penn National, PokerStars, Politics, Regulation, Steve Wynn, Tilman Fertitta, Tropicana Entertainment, West Virginia | Comments Off on Caesars dominates Louisiana; Steve Wynn wins in Beantown

Quote of the Day

Posted on February 22, 2019 by David McKee

“The temperature of a freezer or piece of food, humidity, and noise level can actually be measured by a sensor or robot as effectively or more effectively than a human. And those data points could be collected passively by robots … Continue reading →

Posted in Dining, Technology | Comments Off on Quote of the Day

Strip moolah propels Caesars; Boyd impresses

Posted on February 22, 2019 by David McKee

Caesars Entertainment reported 4Q18 results yesterday, playing to generally rave notices from Wall Street. “Very good” and “Excellent” were the initial reactions of Credit Suisse analyst Cameron McKnight. He noted 8% revenue growth in Las Vegas on only 1.5% cost … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Boyd Gaming, Carl Icahn, Centaur Gaming, Hawaii, Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, Mandalay Bay Massacre, MGM Resorts International, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Pinnacle Entertainment, Slot routes, Taxes, The Strip, Wall Street | Comments Off on Strip moolah propels Caesars; Boyd impresses

Iowa weighs sports betting; Miller time

Posted on February 21, 2019 by David McKee

Iowa casinos and DFS would be the winners if a new bill, which just passed out of a Senate State Government Committee, becomes law. Casinos would be given the right to operate terrestrial, mobile and online sports betting, and DFS would … Continue reading →

Posted in AGA, DFS, Downtown, Economy, Horseracing, Iowa, Massachusetts, MGM Resorts International, Oklahoma, Politics, Racinos, Regulation, Sexual misconduct, Sports, Sports betting, Taxes, The Mob, The Strip, Tribal, TV, William Hill, Wynn Resorts | Comments Off on Iowa weighs sports betting; Miller time

Danger, Will Robinson!

Posted on February 20, 2019 by David McKee

At a time when states are suing the Trump administration to preserve their online lotteries, a Florida legislator is moving in the opposite direction. State Rep. Will Robinson has introduced a bill that would permit only in-person sales of Florida … Continue reading →

Posted in California, Florida, Internet gambling, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Mexico, Politics, Problem gambling, Regulation, Texas | Comments Off on Danger, Will Robinson!

Quote of the Day

Posted on February 19, 2019 by David McKee

“I think that the bigger picture here is that in the future, we’re going to have a real issue with food availability. We need to find new ways of finding sustenance. So I think people are going to start to become … Continue reading →

Posted in Dining | Comments Off on Quote of the Day

Chronicle of a disaster foretold

Posted on February 19, 2019 by David McKee

It’s time for Caesars Entertainment‘s quarterly earnings call and, by way of a preview, JP Morgan analyst Daniel Politzer took a relatively dim view of selling the company as a cure for whatever ails it. “While we understand activists’ rationale … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Caesars Entertainment, Carl Icahn, Eldorado Resorts, Horseracing, International, Las Vegas Sands, MGM Resorts International, New Jersey, Politics, The Strip, Tilman Fertitta, Tropicana Entertainment, Wall Street, Wynn Resorts | 2 Comments

MGM beats The Street

Posted on February 18, 2019 by David McKee

MGM Resorts International says it is no longer going to give Wall Street forward guidance on earnings. Why not? It beat its own forecasts by 3% on the Las Vegas Strip, 4% in its regional properties and 8% in all-important … Continue reading →

Posted in International, Internet gambling, Macau, Massachusetts, MGM Resorts International, Politics, Rhode Island, Sports, Sports betting, The Strip, Wall Street | Comments Off on MGM beats The Street

Caesars: The Icahn factor; Troubled Tilman; Brownout

Posted on February 18, 2019 by David McKee

If you’re a company that wants to prove that its stock is undervalued, you’ve got a definitive case when Carl Icahn buys into your company. And if you’re Caesars Entertainment and Icahn suddenly holds 10% of your stock, you’re officially … Continue reading →

Posted in Caesars Entertainment, Carl Icahn, Don Barden, Eldorado Resorts, International, Japan, Louisiana, Massachusetts, Mohegan Sun, Regulation, Security, Sheldon Adelson, South Korea, Taxes, Texas, Tilman Fertitta, Wall Street | Comments Off on Caesars: The Icahn factor; Troubled Tilman; Brownout

Quote of the Day

Posted on February 18, 2019 by David McKee

“It is your character, and your character alone, that will make your life happy or unhappy. That is all that really passes for destiny. And you choose it. No one else can give it to you or deny it to … Continue reading →

Posted in Current | Comments Off on Quote of the Day

Going green

Posted on February 18, 2019 by David McKee

by Jessica Kane, Special correspondent If you are a resident of Las Vegas, you may be considering a ‘green’ burial following your death. With that in mind, you may have an array of questions about the possibility for a green … Continue reading →

Posted in California, Environment, Nevada | Comments Off on Going green