Category Archives: AGA

Churchill Downs fights horseracing reform; Mattress Mack doesn’t regret $13M World Series bet

Posted on November 4, 2019 by David McKee

Churchill Downs‘ third-quarter cash flow results were “softer than expected” according to J.P. Morgan analyst Daniel Politzer, who added the “the impact of this was likely mitigated by the company announcing a slew of updates/capital projects which helped placate investors, … Continue reading →

Posted in AGA, Baseball, Charity, Churchill Downs, Colorado, Culinary Union, Election, Entertainment, Geoff Freeman, Horseracing, Kentucky, Las Vegas Sands, Macau, Maine, Mississippi, Nevada, New Jersey, Planet Hollywood, Politics, Racinos, Sheldon Adelson, Sports betting, Texas, Wynn Resorts | Comments Off

Trail of breadcrumbs; Survey says …

Posted on October 15, 2019 by David McKee

Waiting for “breadcrumbs to fall off the truck.” That’s Gaming & Leisure Properties‘ self-described business plan. GLPI execs, including CEO Peter Carlino (left), were in Las Vegas for Global Gaming Expo and took the opportunity to chat with J.P. Morgan … Continue reading →

Posted in AGA, Cosmopolitan, Economy, Entertainment, GLPI, history, Las Vegas Sands, MGM Mirage, Penn National, Real Estate, The Strip, Tourism, Tribal, TV | Comments Off

Big Hoosier handle; Caudill empire expands

Posted on October 11, 2019 by David McKee

Indiana sports books generated $35 million in handle last month, translating to $8.5 million in revenue, taxed at 9.5%. “Indiana’s sportsbooks are in their infancy, but their ability to capitalize on the Chicago market did not take long to produce … Continue reading →

Posted in AGA, Boyd Gaming, Caesars Entertainment, Derek Stevens, Diversity, Downtown, El Cortez, Eldorado Resorts, Illinois, Indiana, Massachusetts, Penn National, Real Estate, Sports betting, Taxes, Technology, Terry Caudill, The Mob, The Strip, Wayne F. Newton, Wynn Resorts | Comments Off

Doldrums, hope in Baton Rouge; AGA inducts three

Posted on October 2, 2019 by David McKee

It’s 25 years ago this month that casino gambling came to Baton Rouge. The mood, however, is far from celebratory as the city’s riverboats remain mired in a two-year slump, thanks to the Baton Rouge smoking ban. Some also blame … Continue reading →

Posted in AGA, Arkansas, Eldorado Resorts, Environment, GLPI, history, Illinois, Louisiana, Mississippi, Penn National, Pinnacle Entertainment, Regulation, Sports betting, Taxes, Technology, The Strip, Tribal | Comments Off

NCAA meddling again; Slots struggle in Massachusetts

Posted on September 23, 2019 by David McKee

After the Supreme Court threw out the Bradley Act, there were a few grumbles on Capitol Hill about federal regulation of sports betting. However, American Gaming Association President Bill Miller, in his capacity as gaming’s premier lobbyist, took the temperature … Continue reading →

Posted in AGA, Hard Rock International, IGT, Macau, Massachusetts, MGM Resorts International, Penn National, Phil Ruffin, Politics, Problem gambling, Regulation, Sports betting, Technology, The Strip, William Hill, Wynn Resorts | Comments Off

Honeymoon over in Massachusetts; Drive like Elvis

Posted on September 3, 2019 by David McKee

Encore Boston Harbor has been open only two months. MGM Springfield just passed its one-year anniversary. And yet, the Boston Globe is already tossing around the ‘S’ word—saturation. Saying that casino executives might not like hearing it, the paper rejoined, … Continue reading →

Posted in AGA, Arizona, Caesars Entertainment, California, Economy, Entertainment, history, Massachusetts, MGM Resorts International, Mississippi, Penn National, Rhode Island, Transportation, Wynn Resorts | Comments Off

Hooters out, Oyo in?; Crown in hot water

Posted on August 5, 2019 by David McKee

Hooters Hotel Casino, the brand that should have worked in Las Vegas but didn’t, may finally be on the way out. VitalVegas reports that hotelier Highgate may be rechristening Hooters with its Oyo brand. Highgate already operates hotels in the … Continue reading →

Posted in AGA, Atlantic City, Australia, Crown Resorts, Detroit, Diversity, Environment, Hooters, Illinois, James Packer, Law enforcement, Louisiana, Marketing, Maryland, Massachusetts, MGM Resorts International, Money laundering, Paragon Gaming, Penn National, South Carolina, Sports, Sports betting, The Strip | 2 Comments

Tribes brush off Stitt; MGM riles Jewish community

Posted on July 29, 2019 by David McKee

Oklahoma Gov. Kevin Stitt‘s proposal to levy higher exclusivity fees on the Sooner State’s 134 tribal casinos continues to go over like a lead balloon. The guv finds himself in receipt of a letter from all of the state’s gaming-enabled … Continue reading →

Posted in AGA, Atlantic City, California, history, International, Macau, Marketing, MGM Resorts International, Mohegan Sun, Ohio, Oklahoma, Phil Ruffin, Sports, The Strip, Transportation, Tribal, TV | 1 Comment

Case Bets

Posted on July 11, 2019 by David McKee

Although we’ve learned to take Moulin Rouge revival projects with a shakerful of salt, the latest round of interest is drawing some serious players, such as the Southern Nevada Regional Housing Authority. Its piquant plan would mix affordable housing, dining and—yes—a … Continue reading →

Posted in AGA, Atlantic City, Caesars Entertainment, Eldorado Resorts, Japan, Moulin Rouge, Ocean Resort, Oklahoma, Sports betting, Tribal, Wall Street | 1 Comment

Wynn stirs Boston melting pot

Posted on July 9, 2019 by David McKee

Wynn Resorts is already changing the face of Boston. As reported by the Boston Globe, unprecedented diversity is manifesting itself at Encore Boston Harbor. Mad props to Wynn for bringing people of all colors and creeds together in this fashion. … Continue reading →

Posted in AGA, Diversity, Economy, International, Massachusetts, Sports betting, Wynn Resorts | Comments Off

Ho renews ‘Dancing Water’; Florida hits high-water mark

Posted on June 14, 2019 by David McKee

Succeeding where Cirque du Soleil failed, Melco Resorts & Entertainment has extended the contract of aquatic spectacle House of Dancing Water. The production show, which premiered in 2010, was originally set to run 10 years but will last for an … Continue reading →

Posted in AGA, California, Cirque du Soleil, Cordish Co., Eldorado Resorts, Entertainment, Florida, Hard Rock International, Internet gambling, Macau, Melco Resorts & Entertainment, Pennsylvania, Rush Street Gaming, Tribal | 1 Comment

Record year for U.S. casinos; Boyd lauded

Posted on June 11, 2019 by David McKee

While the gaming industry seems to be straining at the limits of how far it can expand in the good old U.S. of A. the numbers don’t lie: The casino industry posted a record $41.7 billion last year. That’s a … Continue reading →

Posted in AGA, Boyd Gaming, Caesars Entertainment, Economy, Full House Resorts, Illinois, Indiana, Majestic Star, Penn National, Sports, Transportation, Wall Street | Comments Off

Ruffin’s move

Posted on May 14, 2019 by David McKee

Phil Ruffin is in the hunt for Caesars Entertainment … well, sort of. He said he’s interested in individual Las Vegas Strip properties, clearly anticipating some kind of sell-down to deleverage an Eldorado Resorts or Tilman Fertitta acquisition of the … Continue reading →

Posted in AGA, Arkansas, Caesars Entertainment, Eldorado Resorts, Law enforcement, North Carolina, Phil Ruffin, Politics, Sports, Sports betting, Station Casinos, Taxes, The Strip, Tilman Fertitta, Tribal, Westgate LV | 1 Comment

Cosmopolitan on the block (again)

Posted on April 18, 2019 by David McKee

Blackstone Group‘s tenure at The Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas will be remarkably brief (although nothing in the gaming industry will ever match the extreme brevity of the abortive Wynn Resorts/Crown Resorts merger). Bloomberg reports that Blackstone is exploring “strategic options” … Continue reading →

Posted in AGA, Caesars Entertainment, CityCenter, Cosmopolitan, Downtown, history, Las Vegas Sands, Macau, Marketing, Melco Resorts & Entertainment, MGM Resorts International, Politics, Sports betting, Tamares Group, The Strip, TV, Wall Street, Wynn Resorts | Comments Off

Quote of the Day

Posted on March 25, 2019 by David McKee

“We’re not looking to be the fun police. That’s not our objective. Clearly, people enjoy betting on the bracket and doing office pools. I think the larger point just goes to the fact that a couple of things: No. 1, this … Continue reading →

Posted in AGA, Sports betting | Comments Off

Heavy action prophesied for March Madness; Death at Bellagio

Posted on March 19, 2019 by David McKee

“Unlike any other sporting event in the country, March Madness attracts millions who fill out brackets, make casual bets with friends or wager at a legal sports book, which Americans can now do more than ever before.” With those words … Continue reading →

Posted in AGA, Atlantic City, Caesars Entertainment, Current, Dining, Downtown, Entertainment, history, Internet gambling, Law enforcement, MGM Resorts International, Nevada, New Jersey, Ocean Resort, Palms, Security, Sports, Sports betting, Station Casinos, Tourism | 1 Comment

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

A tale of two Fertittas

Posted on February 13, 2019 by David McKee

Golden Nugget owner Tilman Fertitta is facing trouble close to home. $30.5 million in liens have been levied for unpaid work done at $400 million The Post Oak hotel in Houston. Like Sheldon Adelson, Fertitta blames the primary contractor and … Continue reading →

Posted in AGA, Derek Stevens, Downtown, Economy, GLPI, Louisiana, MGM Resorts International, Palms, Problem gambling, Reno, Sports, Station Casinos, Texas, Tilman Fertitta, Wall Street | Comments Off

Chicago or bust?; Ocean Resort in deep water

Posted on February 12, 2019 by David McKee

With Illinois gaming revenue stuck at 2006 levels, some sense is finally filtering into legislative discussion of a Chicago casino. Could that idea have passed its sell-by date? The inability of Rivers Casino, however successful, and slot routes to move … Continue reading →

Posted in AGA, Atlantic City, Bruce Deifik, Economy, Illinois, Racinos, Regulation, Rush Street Gaming, Slot routes, Sports, Sports betting, TV, West Virginia | 2 Comments

A change of heart on loco weed; Miller briefs Congress

Posted on February 11, 2019 by David McKee

In a development certain to make Nevada resort owners grind their teeth in envy, cannabis is predicted to be this year’s wellness trend. As you know, Nevada gaming regulators have hung a “Do Not Enter” sign on the recreational-marijuana industry … Continue reading →

Posted in Affinity Gaming, AGA, Architecture, Boyd Gaming, Caesars Entertainment, Economy, Eldorado Resorts, Geoff Freeman, history, Japan, Marijuana, Penn National, Politics, Regulation, Taxes | 2 Comments