Author Archives: David McKee

About David McKee

Bio

Skye Station?; Resort fee reprieve

Posted on November 26, 2018 by David McKee

According to The Associated Press, locals giant Station Casinos has snapped up 40 acres in the fast-growing Skye Canyon suburb, in the northwest part of the Las Vegas Valley. Station got the dirt dirt-cheap: 40 gaming-zoned acres for $36 million. … Continue reading →

Posted in Alex Meruelo, Boyd Gaming, Cosmopolitan, Entertainment, MGM Resorts International, Palms, Resort fees, Sports, Station Casinos, The Strip | 4 Comments

Leona, 2004-18

Posted on November 23, 2018 by David McKee

Leona is no more. She died in my arms at 3:15 this morning, having suffered an apparent stroke and breathing with great difficulty. We found her in the bathroom, having lost the use of her left front leg and in … Continue reading →

Posted in Animals, Pets | 7 Comments

Quote of the Day

Posted on November 22, 2018 by David McKee

“Casinos in legal betting states, which are used to generating a more or less predictable return from their slots and gaming tables, are suddenly discovering that footballs do indeed bounce in mysterious ways.” — reaction to October profit declines in … Continue reading →

Posted in Mississippi, Sports betting | Comments Off on Quote of the Day

Slow news day

Posted on November 21, 2018 by David McKee

Effects of MGM Springfield on Connecticut tribal casinos are starting to show. To view the glass as half-empty, slot revenues at Mohegan Sun were down 17.5% last month and 15.5% lower at Foxwoods Resort Casino. The glass-half-full perspective is that … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Connecticut, Foxwoods, Internet gambling, Massachusetts, MGM Resorts International, Mohegan Sun, Regulation, Sexual misconduct, Sports betting, Steve Wynn, Technology, Wynn Resorts | Comments Off on Slow news day

Quote of the Day

Posted on November 20, 2018 by David McKee

“China leads the world in homeowners, internet users, college graduates and, by some counts, billionaires. Extreme poverty has fallen from three-quarters of the population in 1984 to less than 1 percent today. China has risen so quickly that an 18-year-old’s … Continue reading →

Posted in Current, Economy, International | 1 Comment

CG Technology avoids death penalty; SoCal: The wrath of Kahn

Posted on November 20, 2018 by David McKee

$1.75 million was the magic number to get CG Technology out of detention with the Nevada Gaming Commission. In addition, $250,000 will be laid on the Nevada Council for Problem Gambling, a settlement provision we can totally get behind. It … Continue reading →

Posted in California, Cantor Gaming, CityCenter, Environment, Macau, MGM Resorts International, Nevada, Problem gambling, Regulation, The Strip, Tourism, Tribal, Wynn Resorts | Comments Off on CG Technology avoids death penalty; SoCal: The wrath of Kahn

Churchill Downs aims for Nashville; Goodbye, Sigma Derby

Posted on November 19, 2018 by David McKee

Late last week, Churchill Downs was awarded a racing license in Oak Grove, Kentucky, putting CHDN within an hour’s drive of the Nashville market. The plan is to invest $150 million in a racing oval, a hotel and — most … Continue reading →

Posted in Caesars Entertainment, Churchill Downs, Dan Gilbert, Detroit, Entertainment, Genting, Georgia, history, Kentucky, MGM Resorts International, Ohio, Penn National, Racinos, Regulation, Sexual misconduct, Sheldon Adelson, Steve Wynn, Technology, The Strip, Wall Street, Wynn Resorts | 2 Comments

Quote of the Day

Posted on November 19, 2018 by David McKee

“Nevada is very comfortable having the lowest gaming tax rates in the nation. Nevada is also apparently comfortable having its largest newspaper, owned by one of the richest men in the world who achieved his financial status through casinos, publish … Continue reading →

Posted in Nevada, Sheldon Adelson | Comments Off on Quote of the Day

Quote of the Day

Posted on November 17, 2018 by David McKee

“It’s not all polka dots and smiley pumpkins, and stuff like that.” — my wife’s capsule review of Yayoi Kusama‘s exhibit at Atlanta‘s High Museum. Two Kusama installations are coming to the Bellagio Gallery of Fine Art.

Posted in Entertainment, MGM Resorts International, The Strip | Comments Off on Quote of the Day

Trop defies Atlantic City odds; Massachusetts underachieves

Posted on November 16, 2018 by David McKee

October was good for Atlantic City‘s new casinos, with the overall market up 8%, but bad for the incumbents, down 11.5%. Terrestrial gambling win totaled $200.5 million, with mixed messages all over the place. Slot win was up 5% but … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Australia, Boyd Gaming, Bruce Deifik, Caesars Entertainment, Charity, Churchill Downs, Connecticut, Dan Gilbert, Detroit, Eldorado Resorts, Georgia, GLPI, Greenwood Racing, Hard Rock International, International, Internet gambling, Isle of Capri, Las Vegas Sands, Louisiana, Massachusetts, MGM Resorts International, Mohegan Sun, New Jersey, Penn National, Rush Street Gaming, Scientific Games, Sports, Sports betting, Tilman Fertitta, Tropicana Entertainment, Wall Street | 2 Comments

Sports betting a ‘go’ in Rhode Island; Reefer gladness in Vegas

Posted on November 16, 2018 by David McKee

Getting a leg up on Massachusetts, casinos in Rhode Island will start taking sports bets in a week or so. Workers are putting the finishing touches on Twin River Casino‘s new sports book. Tiverton Casino Hotel will follow at some … Continue reading →

Posted in Baseball, Caesars Entertainment, Dining, Election, International, Marijuana, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Pets, Rhode Island, Sheldon Adelson, Sports, Sports betting, Taxes, The Strip, TV | Comments Off on Sports betting a ‘go’ in Rhode Island; Reefer gladness in Vegas

Quote of the Day

Posted on November 16, 2018 by David McKee

“If he invited me to a public hanging, I’d be on the front row.” — Mississippi Sen. Cindy Hyde-Smith (R) about opponent Mike Espy (D). The latter is African-American.

Posted in Cretins, Mississippi | 1 Comment

Caesars hailed; Macao’s future questioned

Posted on November 15, 2018 by David McKee

Credit Suisse analyst Cameron McKnight hosted three (!) days of investor meetings with Caesars Entertainment and came away giving the company a rave review. “Management’s tone was very good, and long-only interest was high … We think CZR’s business is … Continue reading →

Posted in Arkansas, Caesars Entertainment, Economy, Horseracing, Japan, Kentucky, Macau, Mandalay Bay Massacre, New Hampshire, Politics, Racinos, Regulation, Sheldon Adelson, Sociedade de Jogos de Macau, Sports betting, The Strip, Tourism, Transportation, Wall Street | Comments Off on Caesars hailed; Macao’s future questioned

Quote of the Day

Posted on November 15, 2018 by David McKee

“Finally, on this date in 1953, in the middle of the Red Scare in the US, a woman on the Indiana Textbook Commission called for removing all references to Robin Hood from textbooks because he advocated robbing the rich to give to … Continue reading →

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

CG Technology in peril; Big first for New Mexico

Posted on November 14, 2018 by David McKee

GC Technology (formerly Cantor Gaming) hopes it can mollify the wrath of the Nevada Gaming Control Board with a $1.75 million settlement offer. CG is a repeat offender in the Silver State, which means that all options are on the table, … Continue reading →

Posted in Boyd Gaming, Caesars Entertainment, Cantor Gaming, Cosmopolitan, Dining, Hard Rock Hotel, Internet gambling, Las Vegas Sands, M Resort, MGM Resorts International, Mississippi, New Mexico, Palms, Penn National, Problem gambling, Regulation, Sports, Sports betting, Station Casinos, The Strip, Tribal | Comments Off on CG Technology in peril; Big first for New Mexico

Quote of the Day

Posted on November 14, 2018 by David McKee

“Self-regulation is always preferred to government regulation, and government regulation only comes about when a company or industry just sets itself up to be regulated by being stupid.” — former regulator Richard Schuetz on the lack of gender equity in … Continue reading →

Posted in Regulation | Comments Off on Quote of the Day

Greektown sold; Resorts World Catskills gets cash infusion

Posted on November 14, 2018 by David McKee

Due to its presence in the Detroit market as operator of Caesars Windsor, it’s not possible for Caesars Entertainment to own a casino in Motown. But nobody said anything about its REIT, Vici Properties. The latter is teaming with Penn National Gaming … Continue reading →

Posted in Boyd Gaming, Caesars Entertainment, California, Dan Gilbert, Detroit, Eldorado Resorts, Election, Genting, Internet gambling, Massachusetts, Mohegan Sun, New Jersey, New York, Penn National, Pennsylvania, Pinnacle Entertainment, Regulation, Sheldon Adelson, Sports betting, Steve Wynn, Wynn Resorts | Comments Off on Greektown sold; Resorts World Catskills gets cash infusion

Stasis in Missouri; Steve Wynn’s got a secret

Posted on November 13, 2018 by David McKee

Missouri casinos grossed $138 million last month, essentially flat with 2017. The big winner was Eldorado Resorts, up 19% at Lumiere Place (shown, $13 million) but 9% lower at Isle of Capri Kansas City ($5 million). Boyd Gaming had an inauspicious … Continue reading →

Posted in Affinity Gaming, Ameristar, Boyd Gaming, Economy, Eldorado Resorts, Galaxy Entertainment, International, Iowa, Isle of Capri, Las Vegas Sands, Macau, Massachusetts, Melco Crown Entertainment, MGM Resorts International, Missouri, Penn National, Regulation, Sociedade de Jogos de Macau, Steve Wynn, Wynn Resorts | 1 Comment

Election Postmortem: Who won, who lost

Posted on November 13, 2018 by David McKee

Election Night seems far behind us but its meaning for gaming is still sinking in, as in Arkansas, where sports betting has also been approved. In addition, two Oklahoma-based tribal entities are likely to feel entitled to the casinos green-lit … Continue reading →

Posted in Animals, Arkansas, Caesars Entertainment, Culinary Union, DFS, Election, Entertainment, Florida, history, Idaho, Illinois, Las Vegas Sands, Louisiana, MGM Resorts International, Oklahoma, Politics, Seminole Tribe, Slot routes, Sports, Sports betting, Station Casinos, Taxes, Tribal | Comments Off on Election Postmortem: Who won, who lost

Quote of the Day

Posted on November 13, 2018 by David McKee

“It’s a shame that we can’t derive some revenue off the Alabama vs. LSU game.” — Louisiana state Sen. Ronnie Johns (R), on the Leglislature’s failure to approve sports betting.

Posted in Alabama, Louisiana, Politics, Sports, Sports betting | Comments Off on Quote of the Day