Category Archives: Animals

Intransigence at Station; Money madness in Illinois

Posted on August 24, 2018 by David McKee

Station Casinos‘ response to overwhelming pro-union votes at the Palms and Green Valley Ranch has apparently been not to negotiate but to go into a corner and sulk. Last week, the National Labor Relations Board wrote, “Respondent has been failing and … Continue reading →

Posted in Animals, California, Culinary Union, DFS, Donald Trump, Illinois, Internet gambling, Palms, Politics, Racinos, Security, Slot routes, Sports, Station Casinos, Taxes, Tribal | 1 Comment

Quote of the Day

Posted on August 15, 2018 by David McKee

“It’s really pretty, black with orange spots on it, which makes it somewhat unique in being the largest carrion beetle. If you were to observe it in the wild, you would see it carrying this carcass a small distance before it … Continue reading →

Posted in Animals, Environment, Oklahoma, Tribal | Comments Off

My executive assistant

Posted on August 9, 2018 by David McKee

Posted in Animals, Pets | 2 Comments

Culinary loses sense of decency; Inhumanity in Macao

Posted on July 27, 2018 by David McKee

Terry Caudill and the Culinary Union have come to terms on labor pacts for Binion’s Gambling Hall and the Four Queens. The agreement awaits ratification by the 650 employees affected. In the meantime, the Culinary stepped way over the line … Continue reading →

Posted in Animals, Architecture, Culinary Union, Downtown, Election, Internet gambling, Macau, Minnesota, Pennsylvania, Pets, Philippines, Regulation, Station Casinos, Terry Caudill, Tribal, Washington State | Comments Off

Congress hearts Massachusetts tribe; Who let the dogs out?

Posted on July 24, 2018 by David McKee

Against all odds, a bill to clear away legal challenges to the Mashpee Wampanoags and their Project First Light is set to be heard in the U.S. House of Representatives. A star-studded hearing has been set up by Rep. William … Continue reading →

Posted in Animals, Macau, Massachusetts, Neil Bluhm, Politics, Rush Street Gaming, Tribal | 1 Comment

Spike 2002-2018

Posted on June 29, 2018 by David McKee

“Until one has loved an animal a part of one’s soul remains unawakened.” — Anatole France Part of Jennifer’s and my soul was unawakened until we adopted Spike last Nov. 25. He was discovered through an online ad in the Augusta … Continue reading →

Posted in Animals, Current, Pets | 3 Comments

Canary in the coal mine

Posted on June 15, 2018 by David McKee

Is Las Vegas headed for another 2008-style bubble? That was my thought after seeing this headline. Fitch Ratings posits that homes in the Vegas area are overvalued by 20% to 24%. That would make them the most overpriced domiciles in … Continue reading →

Posted in Animals, Economy, history, Nevada, Wall Street | Comments Off

Caesars branches out; Atlantic City’s apron strings loosened

Posted on April 18, 2018 by David McKee

Caesars Entertainment CEO Mark Frissora is beginning to put his stamp on the company (unless you count imposing parking fees and that was just copying MGM Resorts International.) Caesars has announced a joint venture with Meras Holding to build and … Continue reading →

Posted in Animals, Atlantic City, California, Dubai, Environment, Harrah's, International, Politics, Tribal | 2 Comments

Cold January in Atlantic City, Pennsylvania; Bull runs rampant in Vegas

Posted on February 15, 2018 by David McKee

Just when everything seemed settled into a comfortable groove in Atlantic City, January revenues fell off the table, down 12.5%. The silver lining, if it qualifies as that, was that online revenues ($22 million) climbed 17%. Golden Nugget, with 33% … Continue reading →

Posted in Animals, Atlantic City, Boyd Gaming, Culinary Union, Current, Dan Gilbert, Detroit, Economy, Eldorado Resorts, Greenwood Racing, Harrah's, Internet gambling, Isle of Capri, MGM Mirage, Mohegan Sun, Neil Bluhm, North Las Vegas, Penn National, Pennsylvania, Pinnacle Entertainment, Sheldon Adelson, Station Casinos, Tilman Fertitta, Tropicana Entertainment | 1 Comment

Mohegan Sun strikes again; Magic 8s in Pennsylvania

Posted on February 12, 2018 by David McKee

Even as Steve Wynn was on his way out at Wynn Resorts, the casino he bested for the Boston-area gaming concession, Mohegan Sun, was launching a legal counterattack. It demanded that Wynn Resorts’ license be pulled and the project awarded to Mohegan … Continue reading →

Posted in Animals, Cordish Co., Greenwood Racing, International, Macau, Massachusetts, Mohegan Sun, Ohio, Penn National, Pennsylvania, Sexual misconduct, Sheldon Adelson, Steve Wynn | Comments Off

Steve Wynn: Time’s up

Posted on January 27, 2018 by David McKee

Yesterday, the penny dropped on Steve Wynn, as multiple reports of sexual predation made the news. According to the Wall Street Journal, we’re not talking about one or two accusers but “dozens,” over a period of decades. Without diminishing the … Continue reading →

Posted in Animals, CityCenter, Current, Dennis Gomes, Donald Trump, Election, Harrah's, Japan, Lucky Dragon, Massachusetts, MGM Mirage, Nevada, Politics, Regulation, Sheldon Adelson, Steve Wynn, The Strip, Wall Street, Wisconsin | 2 Comments

Atlantic City: There’s life after Trump; Bluhm dominates in Pennsylvania

Posted on December 14, 2017 by David McKee

Finally liberated from year/year comparisons that included the dying Trump Taj Mahal, casinos in Atlantic City experienced 3% revenue growth last month. Internet gambling did even better, leaping 20%. For the lifetime of ‘Net betting in New Jersey, this brings … Continue reading →

Posted in Animals, Atlantic City, Carl Icahn, Delaware, Greenwood Racing, Harrah's, Internet gambling, MGM Mirage, Mohegan Sun, Movies, Neil Bluhm, Nevada, Pennsylvania, PokerStars, Politics, Racinos, Sheldon Adelson, Tilman Fertitta, Tropicana Entertainment, Trump Entertainment Resorts | Comments Off

Freeman goes native; MGM hits a three-pointer

Posted on October 18, 2017 by David McKee

American Gaming Association President Geoff Freeman was in Oklahoma City yesterday to talk up the economic benefits of Native American gaming. While one might be tempted to say they speak for themselves, the AGA rolled out some pretty powerful numbers. … Continue reading →

Posted in Alaska, Animals, California, Cosmopolitan, Florida, Foxwoods, George Maloof, Mandalay Bay Massacre, Marketing, Massachusetts, MGM Mirage, Mohegan Sun, Oklahoma, Sports, Texas, The Strip, Tribal, TV | Comments Off

Case bets

Posted on August 4, 2017 by David McKee

After loudly proclaiming that it wasn’t going down the Internet– gambling path, MGM Resorts International has quietly reversed field and is opening a New Jersey Web site called playMGM. (To be fair, the company also inherited a flourishing ‘Net-bet operation … Continue reading →

Posted in Animals, Columbia Sussex, Florida, Genting, Internet gambling, Lawrence Ho, Macau, Melco Crown Entertainment, MGM Mirage, Mississippi, New York, Racinos, Regulation | Comments Off

Trump Taj: Everything must go; Vegas looking better than ever

Posted on July 12, 2017 by David McKee

Somehow Trump Taj Mahal just wouldn’t be ‘Trump’ if it didn’t go out with an episode of farce. An Atlantic City resident put the liquid into “liquidation” when he decided to take an impromptu shower in one of the vacant … Continue reading →

Posted in Animals, Atlantic City, California, Donald Trump, Economy, Hard Rock International, Nevada, Pets, Transportation | Comments Off

Exit SLS, enter Sahara; Seminoles reach Florida accord

Posted on July 7, 2017 by David McKee

Collectors, start gathering those SLS-branded souvenirs while you can. The auguries continue to accumulate that the beloved Sahara identity will be returning to the venerable hotel-casino. The latest sign is the changeover of the loyalty program to Club 52 (from … Continue reading →

Posted in Animals, Cordish Co., Florida, history, Marketing, Maryland, MGM Mirage, Pets, Politics, Sahara, Sam Nazarian, Seminole Tribe, SLS Las Vegas, Taxes, The Strip, Tribal | Comments Off

National Harbor cleans up; A peek inside Resorts World Las Vegas

Posted on July 6, 2017 by David McKee

MGM National Harbor drove a 40% increase in Maryland gambling revenues last month. The $50.5 million gross at MGM was evenly divided between table games and slots. Since the latter are taxed at a far higher rate, MGM won’t be … Continue reading →

Posted in Animals, Architecture, Atlantic City, California, Cordish Co., Economy, Entertainment, Genting, GLPI, Golden Gaming, Hard Rock International, Harrah's, Maryland, MGM Mirage, Penn National, Racinos, The Strip, Tribal, West Virginia | 1 Comment

Warm spring in the Midwest; Vegas Vic gets political

Posted on April 10, 2017 by David McKee

Don’t believe anyone who says the economy is bad: Casino takings are up all across the Midwest. The biggest gain was in Ohio, where casino win rose 7%, even though players continue to blow off Jack Cleveland ($18 million, -8%). … Continue reading →

Posted in Affinity Gaming, Ameristar, Animals, Archon Corp., Boyd Gaming, California, Dan Gilbert, Downtown, Eldorado Resorts, Full House Resorts, Harrah's, Indiana, Isle of Capri, Law enforcement, Majestic Star, Missouri, Ohio, Penn National, Pinnacle Entertainment, PokerStars, Politics, Racinos, Tropicana Entertainment, Wayne F. Newton | Comments Off

Wynn shows Adelson up; Schenectady casino opens tonight

Posted on February 8, 2017 by David McKee

Contrary to crude insinuations by the Las Vegas Review-Journal, Steve Wynn‘s gift of $7 million in company stock late last year went mainly toward medical research at the University of Iowa’s Wynn Institute for Vision Research ($5 million), while another $1.7 … Continue reading →

Posted in Animals, Charity, Economy, Harrah's, Iowa, Maine, Marketing, Neil Bluhm, New York, Sheldon Adelson, Sports, Steve Wynn, Technology, The Strip, Tribal | 1 Comment

Penn National backpedals; Feral bunnies terrorize Vegas

Posted on February 2, 2017 by David McKee

Penn National Gaming released fourth-quarter numbers and, according to Deutsche Bank‘s Carlo Santarelli acknowledged a “difficult start” at Hollywood Jamul (this despite having an extra-long runway to get the new property aloft). Santarelli called the tribal casino a “drag” on … Continue reading →

Posted in Animals, Atlantic City, California, Dining, Donald Trump, Election, Glenn Straub, GLPI, Hard Rock International, history, Illinois, Iowa, Japan, Macau, Marketing, Penn National, Regulation, Revel, Sheldon Adelson, Slot routes, Steve Wynn, Technology, The Strip, Tribal, Trump Entertainment Resorts, Wall Street, West Virginia | Comments Off