Author Archives: David McKee

About David McKee

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Illinois tries, tries again; I, robot

Posted on October 18, 2018 by David McKee

Here we go again. Illinois solons will once more take up the question of casino expansion in the Land of Lincoln. However, other and more pressing gambling concerns may take priority. In addition to Internet gambling there is the quick … Continue reading →

Posted in AGA, Caesars Entertainment, Culinary Union, DFS, Economy, GLPI, Illinois, International, Internet gambling, Lawrence Ho, MGM Resorts International, Politics, Racinos, Regulation, Sports betting, Taxes, Technology, Wynn Resorts | Comments Off on Illinois tries, tries again; I, robot

Tilman covets Roman empire; Bellagio turns 20

Posted on October 18, 2018 by David McKee

Tilman Fertitta is the maverick among mavericks in the casino industry, beating veteran operators at their own game and doing it as some one who entered the industry as a novice and immediately began to strike gold. More recently, he’s … Continue reading →

Posted in Caesars Entertainment, Dan Gilbert, Dining, Economy, history, Internet gambling, MGM Resorts International, New Jersey, Sheldon Adelson, Texas, The Strip, Tilman Fertitta | 3 Comments

It’s Adelson’s nation, we just live here

Posted on October 17, 2018 by David McKee

If democracy is for sale then Sheldon Adelson appears to have the winning bid. Having already pumped $55 million into the Senate Leadership Fund and Congressional Leadership Fund earlier this year, he’s donating untold millions more in an 11th-hour attempt … Continue reading →

Posted in Election, Entertainment, Japan, Las Vegas Sands, Law enforcement, LVCVA, Macau, MGM Resorts International, Politics, Sheldon Adelson, Steve Wynn, The Strip, Tribal, Wynn Resorts | Comments Off on It’s Adelson’s nation, we just live here

MGM Springfield disappoints; Ruffin makes peace

Posted on October 17, 2018 by David McKee

Publicizing revenue expectations is a dangerous thing. Just ask the four new casinos in upstate New York. Or Bruce Deifik in Atlantic City. When you don’t make your number (the dreaded Penn National Effect) it opens you up for no … Continue reading →

Posted in Charity, Connecticut, Culinary Union, International, Law enforcement, Macau, Massachusetts, MGM Resorts International, Penn National, Phil Ruffin, Problem gambling, Rhode Island, The Strip | Comments Off on MGM Springfield disappoints; Ruffin makes peace

Quote of the Day

Posted on October 17, 2018 by David McKee

“This is mistaken and counter-productive — even dangerous. No one man or woman is or should be so vital to a company’s existence that they cannot be punished for wrongdoing. This is essentially the principle of too big to fail, … Continue reading →

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

Doing the right thing

Posted on October 16, 2018 by David McKee

Bravo to Hard Rock International and Seminole Gaming for stepping up to partner with Clean the World (which was covered in this space last week) to help victims of Hurricane Michael. According to CasinoBeats.com, “An immediate donation of 30,000 containers … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Caesars Entertainment, Charity, Cretins, Dining, Eldorado Resorts, Environment, Florida, Hard Rock International, Internet gambling, MGM Resorts International, Nevada, New Jersey, Racinos, Seminole Tribe, Sports betting, The Strip | Comments Off on Doing the right thing

Arkansas to vote on casinos; Baldwin leaves MGM

Posted on October 16, 2018 by David McKee

Driving Arkansas Forward, the ballot initiative to legalize casinos in Arkansas, will continue to proceed now that the Arkansas Supreme Court has slam-dunked two challenges to the referendum. Religious group Ensuring Arkansas Future claimed that the ballot language was too ambiguous … Continue reading →

Posted in Arkansas, CityCenter, Culinary Union, Election, Entertainment, Galaxy Entertainment, Macau, Massachusetts, MGM Resorts International, Neil Bluhm, Politics, Regulation, Rush Street Gaming, Sports, Tribal, Vdara Death Ray, Wynn Resorts | Comments Off on Arkansas to vote on casinos; Baldwin leaves MGM

Quote of the Day

Posted on October 16, 2018 by David McKee

“To me, the amazing thing that stuck out in the [G2E] session was that hardly anybody is doing any type of spot rewarding of players while on property. They are all focused almost 100% on simply sending out rewards to … Continue reading →

Posted in G2E, Marketing | Comments Off on Quote of the Day

Punishing month in Atlantic City

Posted on October 15, 2018 by David McKee

Gross-gaming revenues (not counting Internet play) were up 8% in Atlantic City last month, to $232 million. However, the prosperity wasn’t citywide, with same-store revenues down 11%. We’re still a long way from agreeing with Roger Gros‘ doom-and-gloom-and-doom prediction that two … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Boyd Gaming, Bruce Deifik, Caesars Entertainment, Dan Gilbert, Detroit, Eldorado Resorts, Genting, Greenwood Racing, Hard Rock International, International, Internet gambling, Las Vegas Sands, MGM Resorts International, Mohegan Sun, Nevada, New York, Penn National, Pennsylvania, Pinnacle Entertainment, Rush Street Gaming, Sports betting, Tilman Fertitta, Wall Street | 1 Comment

Jury duty

Posted on October 15, 2018 by David McKee

It seems that the majesty of the law has me in its grip from today until … ? So the stream of blogorrhea will be somewhat attenuated ’til further notice. In the meantime, check out VitalVegas.com for the latest in … Continue reading →

Posted in Current | 3 Comments

Quote of the Day

Posted on October 13, 2018 by David McKee

“What goes on in Las Vegas?” “Everything, doctor. It’s an education.” Exchange between two movie-studio flunkies in Sullivan’s Travels (1942) by Preston Sturges.

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

Florida amendment fading; Wynn Boston Harbor widens its appeal

Posted on October 12, 2018 by David McKee

All of Disney Worldwide Services‘ horses and all of the Seminole Tribes‘s men may not be able to get Humpty Dumpty, er, Amendment 3 past the ballot box. The amendment, which would make gaming expansion subject to direct popular vote, … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, Dining, Election, Entertainment, Florida, International, Internet gambling, Massachusetts, Problem gambling, Regulation, Seminole Tribe, Wynn Resorts | Comments Off on Florida amendment fading; Wynn Boston Harbor widens its appeal

Indiana fails to impress; Big setback for non-smokers

Posted on October 12, 2018 by David McKee

It’s too soon to say that regional gaming’s economic honeymoon is over but Indiana was down 4% last month, grossing $177.5 million. (It was up 6% this time last year.) Penn National Gaming‘s Hollywood Lawrenceburg took a 15% header, grossing … Continue reading →

Posted in Ameristar, Boyd Gaming, Caesars Entertainment, Colony Capital, Eldorado Resorts, Entertainment, Environment, Full House Resorts, G2E, Indiana, Louisiana, Majestic Star, MGM Resorts International, Missouri, Penn National, Pinnacle Entertainment, Technology, Wall Street, West Virginia, Westgate LV | Comments Off on Indiana fails to impress; Big setback for non-smokers

Churchill Downs stands pat; Borgata honored at G2E

Posted on October 11, 2018 by David McKee

JP Morgan analyst Daniel Politzer met with top execs from Churchill Downs and found a company pretty satisfied with where it is now. It “has yet to see any cracks in fundamentals at its regional casino properties or among its … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Boyd Gaming, Churchill Downs, Entertainment, history, MGM Resorts International, Mohegan Sun, Racinos, South Korea, Sports betting, Tribal | Comments Off on Churchill Downs stands pat; Borgata honored at G2E

SLS gets new look; Automation targets women, minorities

Posted on October 10, 2018 by David McKee

Alex Meruelo has begun exorcising the unclean spirit of Sam Nazarian from SLS Las Vegas. In a giant gesture of faith, Meruelo will invest $100 million in a property makeover, starting with those oh-so-excessively-trendy hotel rooms. Next week Meruelo will get … Continue reading →

Posted in Alex Meruelo, CityCenter, Culinary Union, MGM Resorts International, Sahara, Sam Nazarian, SLS Las Vegas, Technology, The Strip | Comments Off on SLS gets new look; Automation targets women, minorities

Ohio up, Missouri down and Caesars tries harder

Posted on October 10, 2018 by David McKee

Although it will forever be a mystery why Caesars Entertainment evacuated Ohio, now that gaming revenues in the Buckeye State are on the upswing, it’s understandable that CEO Mark Frissora would want to get back in. Last month, gross gaming … Continue reading →

Posted in Ameristar, Atlantic City, Caesars Entertainment, Dan Gilbert, Dining, Donald Trump, Eldorado Resorts, Hard Rock International, history, Isle of Capri, MGM Resorts International, Missouri, Ohio, Penn National, Pinnacle Entertainment, Tribal | Comments Off on Ohio up, Missouri down and Caesars tries harder

Wisdom from G2E; Sisolak lights up

Posted on October 10, 2018 by David McKee

This week’s Global Gaming Expo gives Wall Street analysts plenty of time to sniff around the big gaming operators and manufacturers, trying to suss out trends. Credit Suisse analyst Cameron McKnight, the new kid on the block, says that 3Q18 … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Boyd Gaming, Caesars Entertainment, Economy, Eldorado Resorts, Election, G2E, GLPI, Golden Gaming, Illinois, Indiana, Isle of Capri, Las Vegas Sands, Macau, Mandalay Bay Massacre, Marijuana, Marketing, MGM Resorts International, Mississippi, Nevada, Palms, Penn National, Sports, Station Casinos, Tilman Fertitta, Tourism, Tribal, Tropicana Entertainment, Wall Street | Comments Off on Wisdom from G2E; Sisolak lights up

Mashpee in for fight of their lives

Posted on October 9, 2018 by David McKee

“Thank God that’s not the test of whether or not people have rights in this country or not, whether or not they pass your look test.” That’s what then-Rep. George Miller (D) said to Donald Trump when the latter was … Continue reading →

Posted in Donald Trump, history, Massachusetts, Neil Bluhm, Politics, Regulation, Tribal | Comments Off on Mashpee in for fight of their lives

Quote of the Day

Posted on October 9, 2018 by David McKee

“If I was going to lie about having sex with someone famous ― Brad Pitt, here we go. I would pick somebody way less embarrassing than Donald Trump. Are you kidding? Now no man is ever going to want to date … Continue reading →

Posted in Donald Trump | Comments Off on Quote of the Day

Silverton: Pahrump or bust; Bluhm yanks application

Posted on October 8, 2018 by David McKee

Next stop, Pahrump. That’s where Silverton hopes to be heading, proposing Silverton Ranch just off State Route 160. “We like the growth of the area … and we like the Death Valley component, with the number of tourists and tour buses … Continue reading →

Posted in Entertainment, Internet gambling, Massachusetts, Pahrump, Pennsylvania, Politics, Rush Street Gaming, Silverton, The Strip, Tribal | Comments Off on Silverton: Pahrump or bust; Bluhm yanks application