Author Archives: David McKee

About David McKee

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Merry Christmas Eve, wherever you are

Posted on December 24, 2018 by David McKee

Nobody rocks a holiday favorite quite like Annie Lennox.

Posted in Entertainment | Comments Off on Merry Christmas Eve, wherever you are

Quote of the Day

Posted on December 24, 2018 by David McKee

“This is a bad deal for Arkansas. These casinos are going to be festering sores in our communities. They’re going to pull money out of the local economies and plunge some of our poorest families deeper into poverty.” — Family Council … Continue reading →

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

Christmas Case Bets

Posted on December 24, 2018 by David McKee

Macao is expected to set a record for visitation this, no doubt to the delight of casino executives in the enclave. If 32.5 million tourists came in 2017, they will be topped by the 35 million who came this year … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, Baseball, Caesars Entertainment, Detroit, Economy, Hard Rock Hotel, Internet gambling, Macau, Politics, Station Casinos, Taxes, Tourism, Transportation, Tribal, Virginia, World Series of Poker | Comments Off on Christmas Case Bets

Stabbed in the back

Posted on December 24, 2018 by David McKee

In a colossal act of betrayal, the NFL, Major League Baseball and the PGA Tour have turned on their new gaming ‘partners’ and betrayed them by getting into bed with Sen. Chuck Schumer (D) and his dreadful bill to push … Continue reading →

Posted in Arizona, Internet gambling, Japan, Law enforcement, New Jersey, Politics, Sheldon Adelson, Sports betting, Taxes, Tourism | Comments Off on Stabbed in the back

Quote of the Day

Posted on December 20, 2018 by David McKee

“In a Bitkom survey, more than half of respondents said they would not use a robot reception and check-in. The majority of respondents are also hostile to controlling lights or music with a smartphone app, or using their smartphone as … Continue reading →

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

Bad idea refuses to die; E-sports comes to the Boardwalk

Posted on December 20, 2018 by David McKee

Sens, Chuck Schumer (D) and Orrin Hatch (R), forever in search of bad ideas to espouse, it would seem, have introduced the Sports Wagering Market Integrity Act of 2018. There’s no mention of Hatch’s cockamamie notion of individual states having … Continue reading →

Posted in AGA, Atlantic City, Dining, e-sports, Economy, Marketing, MGM Resorts International, New Jersey, Politics, Racinos, Sports, Sports betting, Station Casinos, The Strip, Tourism, Wall Street | 1 Comment

Quote of the Day

Posted on December 19, 2018 by David McKee

“People trust us to allow them to sleep safely and securely. There’s a longstanding tradition of an innkeeper, that we fulfill that commitment to them. Has it extended naturally, with the same diligence, to the digital environment? Not always.” — Hospitality … Continue reading →

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

Sports betting comes to D.C.; Free advice for Steve Wynn

Posted on December 19, 2018 by David McKee

In a move that is certain to chap the hindquarters of prudes like Sen. Orrin Hatch (R), the District of Columbia‘s ruling body has voted 11-2 to legitimize sports betting in our nation’s capitol. According to NBC, the legislation permits … Continue reading →

Posted in AGA, California, Dining, Marketing, Mississippi, Politics, Sports betting, Steve Wynn, The Strip | Comments Off on Sports betting comes to D.C.; Free advice for Steve Wynn

Christmas in Vegas; Study: Millennials’ impact overrated

Posted on December 18, 2018 by David McKee

I don’t believe this. WalletHub has ranked Las Vegas the second-best city in which to celebrate Christmas. Don’t get me wrong but I can’t think of anything more dispiriting than to spend Jesus’ birthday surrounded by slot machines instead of … Continue reading →

Posted in Boulder Strip, Boyd Gaming, Economy, Entertainment, Genting, Macau, Marketing, The Strip, Wynn Resorts | 2 Comments

Quote of the Day

Posted on December 18, 2018 by David McKee

“Much to the AGA’s credit, this is a remarkable time for gaming in America. The industry is growing, acceptance of gaming as mainstream entertainment has never been higher and the opportunities to continue to advance gaming’s agenda are abundant. I … Continue reading →

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New boss at AGA; Route 91 Harvest returns

Posted on December 17, 2018 by David McKee

Replacing Geoff Freeman, the American Gaming Association has tapped Business Roundtable Senior Vice President for Government Relations Bill Miller. A Beltway lobbyist of two decades’ standing, Miller should be able to hit the ground running. Thirteen years of lobbying on … Continue reading →

Posted in AGA, Baseball, Caesars Entertainment, California, Eldorado Resorts, Entertainment, Geoff Freeman, Greenwood Racing, Las Vegas Sands, Law enforcement, Mandalay Bay Massacre, MGM Resorts International, Penn National, Pennsylvania, Rush Street Gaming, Scientific Games, Sheldon Adelson, Sports, Sports betting, Tamares Group, The Strip, Tribal, TV | 3 Comments

Atlantic City sparks controversy; Resort fee change at Cosmo

Posted on December 14, 2018 by David McKee

Faced with a 9% drop in operating profit at Atlantic City casinos, pundits are squaring off as to whether this means doom for the laggards. Analyst Tony Marino told The Press of Atlantic City that it “might be wise to … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Cosmopolitan, Economy, International, Internet gambling, Neil Bluhm, Penn National, Pennsylvania, Politics, Resort fees, Rush Street Gaming, Sports, Sports betting, Technology, The Strip, Transportation, Wynn Resorts | 2 Comments

Scientific pays up; Clouds over Macao

Posted on December 14, 2018 by David McKee

“While we firmly believe that the jury decision was wrong, we are pleased with the outcome of the settlement and that this matter will be resolved for good,” said Scientific Games Chief Legal Officer James Sottile, trying to spin a … Continue reading →

Posted in Caesars Entertainment, Colony Capital, Donald Trump, Economy, Japan, Las Vegas Sands, Law enforcement, Macau, Melco Resorts & Entertainment, Scientific Games, Sheldon Adelson, Steve Wynn, Transportation, Wall Street, Wynn Resorts | 1 Comment

Newcomers lose ground in Atlantic City

Posted on December 13, 2018 by David McKee

November was good for Atlantic City, up 12.5% and down only 5% on a same-store basis. The $209 million haul was propelled by a 12.5% increase in slot win and a 13.5% jump in table revenues. A 17% drop in table … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Australia, Boyd Gaming, Bruce Deifik, Caesars Entertainment, Eldorado Resorts, Genting, Greenwood Racing, Hard Rock International, Internet gambling, Las Vegas Sands, MGM Resorts International, Mohegan Sun, Nevada, New Jersey, New York, Penn National, Pennsylvania, PokerStars, Rush Street Gaming, Sports betting, Tilman Fertitta | Comments Off on Newcomers lose ground in Atlantic City

Xi caught in the act; Vegas economy looking up

Posted on December 13, 2018 by David McKee

If Donald Trump wants to get tough on Chinese President Xi Jinping, he may just have been handed an excuse courtesy of Starwood. Indeed, White House retaliation may already be teed up like a golf ball at Mar-A-Lago. According to … Continue reading →

Posted in Caesars Entertainment, Donald Trump, Economy, history, International, Law enforcement, The Strip, Wall Street | 1 Comment

Where Raiders go, trouble follows

Posted on December 13, 2018 by David McKee

It was announced today that the 2020 NFL draft will be held in Las Vegas. However, it could be like a ship stranded in a sand dune. The City of Oakland is suing the league and the Oakland Raiders for … Continue reading →

Posted in California, Reno, Sheldon Adelson, Sports, Texas, The Strip | Comments Off on Where Raiders go, trouble follows

New strategy at Ocean Resort; What’s in your wallet?

Posted on December 12, 2018 by David McKee

Stuck in last place in the Atlantic City casino scene, Ocean Resort is going to try a new tack by supersizing its entertainment lineup, in what as described as a “cutthroat Atlantic City nightlife market.” Performers booked for Ocean’s 5,500-seat concert … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Bruce Deifik, Dan Gilbert, Entertainment, Hard Rock International, International, Iowa, Ohio, Problem gambling, Warner Gaming | Comments Off on New strategy at Ocean Resort; What’s in your wallet?

Moderate-sized trouble in Little China

Posted on December 12, 2018 by David McKee

There’s trouble ahead for Macao but the casino industry has plenty of time to brace for impact. Credit in China is down 6% year over year. As Credit Suisse analyst Cameron McKnight reports, “Weak credit data is likely to exacerbate … Continue reading →

Posted in Dining, Economy, Galaxy Entertainment, Las Vegas Sands, Macau, Melco Resorts & Entertainment, MGM Resorts International, Sociedade de Jogos de Macau, Tourism, Transportation | Comments Off on Moderate-sized trouble in Little China

Quote of the Day

Posted on December 12, 2018 by David McKee

“The floor of Congress is now going to look like an Islamic republic. We are a Judeo-Christian country. We are a nation rooted and grounded in Christianity and that’s that.” — Rev. E.W. Jackson, decrying the wearing of hijabs on Capitol … Continue reading →

Posted in Cretins | Comments Off on Quote of the Day

SJM: Aren’t we special?

Posted on December 11, 2018 by David McKee

Sociedade de Jogos de Macau must think it’s pretty special. While its straggling Grand Lisboa Palace will stock some table games via the ‘cap-and-trade’ formula used by other operators, it has loftily informed the press that it expects the Macao … Continue reading →

Posted in Economy, Galaxy Entertainment, Las Vegas Sands, Macau, Melco Resorts & Entertainment, MGM Resorts International, Movies, Regulation, Sheldon Adelson, Singapore, Sociedade de Jogos de Macau, Tourism, Wynn Resorts | Comments Off on SJM: Aren’t we special?