Author Archives: David McKee

About David McKee

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Quote of the Day

Posted on November 12, 2018 by David McKee

“From April 2016 to today, we always struggled with Phase 2 of Paradise Park. How are we going to make a room tower in a town with a lot of rooms pencil along with a lagoon? We weren’t really interested in … Continue reading →

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

Midwest doldrums; Turning a page at Wynn

Posted on November 9, 2018 by David McKee

Slot routes continue to bleed Illinois casinos, which were 1.5% down in October. Two properties withstood the decline. Eldorado Resorts seems to be already turning things around at Grand Victoria, which was up 2% ($13 million). Rivers Casino, coveted by … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Boyd Gaming, Caesars Entertainment, Centaur Gaming, Churchill Downs, Dubai, Eldorado Resorts, Election, Entertainment, Florida, Full House Resorts, GLPI, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Macau, Majestic Star, Marketing, Penn National, Pinnacle Entertainment, Racinos, Reno, Rush Street Gaming, The Strip, Tribal, Wall Street, Wynn Resorts | Comments Off on Midwest doldrums; Turning a page at Wynn

Quote of the Day

Posted on November 9, 2018 by David McKee

“Amendment 3 is a pernicious and anti-competitive approach to limiting poker and other gaming in the state of Florida for decades to come. A few exceedingly well-financed special interests are driving a ballot initiative that is mislabeled and anti-consumer in the … Continue reading →

Posted in Election, Florida, Politics, Seminole Tribe | Comments Off on Quote of the Day

Steve Wynn makes out like a bandit; Smoke ’em while you’ve got ’em

Posted on November 9, 2018 by David McKee

Steve Wynn‘s liquidation of his stake in Wynn Resorts may have seemed like an act of petulance but — in light of subsequent movement in the stock market — it appears highly astute. Since El Steve’s big sale WYNN has … Continue reading →

Posted in Colorado, Dan Lee, Economy, Elaine Wynn, Entertainment, Full House Resorts, Georgia, Japan, Law enforcement, Macau, Marijuana, MGM Resorts International, Steve Wynn, The Strip, Tourism, Transportation, Wall Street, Wynn Resorts | 2 Comments

Wynn lagoon scrapped, company struggles with life after Steve

Posted on November 8, 2018 by David McKee

King Kong is out, Tom Fazio is in. To no one’s great surprise, Wynn Resorts has drained the swamp, er, canceled the Paradise Park lagoon, a colossal (38 acre) waste of water and act of insensitivity to Nevada‘s drought that … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, Economy, Entertainment, Genting, Macau, Marketing, Palms, Station Casinos, Steve Wynn, The Strip, Wall Street, Wynn Resorts | 1 Comment

Quote of the Day

Posted on November 8, 2018 by David McKee

“It feels like Vegas has traded in audaciousness for prudence, boldness for pragmatism. Prudence and pragmatism might pay some bills, but they don’t exactly scream excitement.” — Scott Roeben, mourning the demise of Wynn Paradise Park.

Posted in Architecture, The Strip, Wynn Resorts | Comments Off on Quote of the Day

Tribal gaming bigger than ever; Sessions out in D.C.

Posted on November 8, 2018 by David McKee

There’s been a round-robin at Seminole Gaming. The chair left vacant by Joe Lupo at Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Tampa will be filled by Seminole Casino Coconut Creek President Steve Bonner, a 16-year veteran of Coconut Creek. General Manager Larry Buck … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Caesars Entertainment, California, Colorado, Economy, Florida, Las Vegas Sands, Marijuana, Marketing, Massachusetts, MGM Resorts International, Mohegan Sun, Nevada, Oklahoma, Regulation, Scientific Games, Seminole Tribe, Steve Wynn, The Strip, Tribal, Vermont, Wynn Resorts | Comments Off on Tribal gaming bigger than ever; Sessions out in D.C.

Case Bets

Posted on November 7, 2018 by David McKee

In Nevada‘s Nye County, 70% of the electorate voted to elect a dead pimp to the Nevada Assembly. I guess this means that the GOP is going to have to unearth Dennis Hof‘s rotting corpse and prop it up in … Continue reading →

Posted in Culinary Union, Derek Stevens, Downtown, Election, International, Law enforcement | 1 Comment

Election Special: Winners and losers

Posted on November 7, 2018 by David McKee

In a victory for the state of Arkansas, voters approved casinos in four locations across the state, 54% to 46%, a convincing mandate by any measure, and a big win for a variety of pro-casino companies that included Warner Gaming and Delaware North. … Continue reading →

Posted in Arkansas, Caesars Entertainment, Culinary Union, DFS, Election, Florida, Georgia, Harry Reid, International, Marijuana, MGM Resorts International, Nevada, Pennsylvania, Politics, Racinos, Seminole Tribe, Sheldon Adelson, Sports, Sports betting, Virginia, Warner Gaming, Wisconsin | Comments Off on Election Special: Winners and losers

Quote of the Day

Posted on November 6, 2018 by David McKee

“The Old Farmer’s Almanac says handshakes date to medieval times, when people met on a path and extended a hand to show that they weren’t going to draw a sword. Others say handshakes originated in 5 BC in Greece, and … Continue reading →

Posted in history | Comments Off on Quote of the Day

Sports books get thumped; National Harbor rules

Posted on November 6, 2018 by David McKee

Nevada sports books are reeling from an NFL Week 9 that stands to see them lose as little as $7 million and as much as $10 million. Bettors, meanwhile, are crying all the way to the bank. Among the games … Continue reading →

Posted in Arkansas, Atlantic City, Boyd Gaming, Caesars Entertainment, Churchill Hill, Cordish Co., Election, Golden Gaming, Hard Rock International, Maryland, MGM Resorts International, Mississippi, Nevada, New Jersey, Penn National, Regulation, Sports, Sports betting, Station Casinos, Taxes, Warner Gaming | 1 Comment

VOTE!

Posted on November 6, 2018 by David McKee

In the words of Barack Obama, at Miami‘s Coyo Taco, “I want everybody to vote!” And I mean everybody. Regardless of who and what you’re voting for (or against), exercise your right to vote. In this great country of ours … Continue reading →

Posted in Election | Comments Off on VOTE!

Churchill Downs makes a run for the roses

Posted on November 5, 2018 by David McKee

JP Morgan commentator Daniel Politzer got the red-carpet treatment at Churchill Downs, in Louisville. He came away impressed. Churchill Downs is expanding on several fronts. Its Illinois purchase of a majority stake in Rivers Casino will cost CHDN a pretty … Continue reading →

Posted in Churchill Downs, Florida, Illinois, Indiana, Japan, Kentucky, Marketing, Racinos, South Korea, Sports betting, Wall Street | Comments Off on Churchill Downs makes a run for the roses

Quote of the Day

Posted on November 5, 2018 by David McKee

“It means self-sufficiency, the sovereignty that we had for millennia. Gaming will be part of who we are, but it will not define who we are … Lifting our own, and our community, absolutely defines who we are.” — Ponca Tribe Chairman … Continue reading →

Posted in Iowa, Tribal | Comments Off on Quote of the Day

The merger of mergers?; Hooters up for grabs

Posted on November 5, 2018 by David McKee

This morning Credit Suisse analyst Cameron McKnight reported that MGM Resorts International is “possibly” looking into a buyout of Caesars Entertainment, news that is certain to have a salutary effect on the latter’s stock price. What should be of more … Continue reading →

Posted in Caesars Entertainment, California, Hooters, Internet gambling, Las Vegas Sands, Maryland, MGM Mirage, New Jersey, Penn National, Pennsylvania, Pinnacle Entertainment, Sports, Sports betting, The Strip, Tribal, Wall Street, Wynn Resorts | 3 Comments

Quote of the Day

Posted on November 3, 2018 by David McKee

“Being human is a condition which requires a certain amount of anesthetic.” — Freddie Mercury (Rami Malek) in Bryan Singer‘s new film, Bohemian Rhapsody.

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

Case Bets

Posted on November 2, 2018 by David McKee

Anthony Rodio was hardly settled in the CEO’s chair at Affinity Gaming before he was greeted with a rap on the knuckles from the Missouri Gaming Commission. The latter fined Affinity’s Mark Twain Casino $50,000 for repeated incidences of cheating while … Continue reading →

Posted in Affinity Gaming, Caesars Entertainment, International, Macau, MGM Resorts International, Missouri, Regulation, Security | Comments Off on Case Bets

Promising horizon for Penn; Frissora exiting Caesars

Posted on November 2, 2018 by David McKee

Penn National Gaming came in from 3Q18 below Wall Street‘s expectations but JP Morgan analyst Joseph Greff defends the company, citing high expectations of free cash flow in 2019 (12%) and 2020 (20%), even after capex reinvestments. The addition of … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Caesars Entertainment, Centaur Gaming, Dan Gilbert, Economy, Illinois, Lucky Dragon, Macau, Marketing, Massachusetts, Mississippi, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Sports betting, Tilman Fertitta, Wall Street, West Virginia | Comments Off on Promising horizon for Penn; Frissora exiting Caesars

Quote of the Day

Posted on November 1, 2018 by David McKee

“This is a tremendous blow to our tribe, without whom America’s earliest settlers would not have survived. It should also alarm tribal nations all across Indian Country. I do not believe that our country — this great nation that our tribal citizens … Continue reading →

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

No love for Lucky Dragon

Posted on November 1, 2018 by David McKee

What if they sold a casino and nobody bid? That was the unenviable fate of Lucky Dragon Casino at bankruptcy auction. No one wants the jinxed property, leaving it in the frigid hands of principal lender Snow Covered Capital. Thus … Continue reading →

Posted in Alex Meruelo, Boyd Gaming, Caesars Entertainment, Environment, Genting, Indiana, Lucky Dragon, Majestic Star, Marketing, Sheldon Adelson, Singapore, SLS Las Vegas, Station Casinos, Tropicana Entertainment | 3 Comments