Category Archives: Aristocrat

Tribe trumps Trump; Rockford pleads for casino

Posted on May 20, 2019 by David McKee

Despite being thrown off the fast-track legislative calendar by a blast of hot air from Donald Trump, a bill to restore land-in-trust status to the Mashpee Wampanoags has sailed through the House of Representatives, 257-146 in a bipartisan win. “Without support … Continue reading →

Posted in Aristocrat, Caesars Entertainment, Culinary Union, Donald Trump, Genting, Illinois, Indiana, Law enforcement, Marketing, Massachusetts, Nevada, Technology, Tribal, Unite-Here, Wisconsin | 2 Comments

Vegas: Locals outperform the Strip; Sisolak nuked

Posted on January 31, 2019 by David McKee

Nevada gaming revenue was up 4% last month, just a few hundred thousand shy of an even billion dollars, even though the Las Vegas Strip was relatively stagnant. Strong baccarat win by the house (jumping 14.5%) was offset by 3% … Continue reading →

Posted in AGA, Aristocrat, Boulder Strip, Donald Trump, Downtown, Environment, IGT, Lake Tahoe, Laughlin, Mesquite, Nevada, Regulation, Reno, Scientific Games, South Carolina, Sports, Sports betting, The Strip, Wall Street | Comments Off on Vegas: Locals outperform the Strip; Sisolak nuked

Frissora postpones departure; Oscar forecast

Posted on January 7, 2019 by David McKee

That game of musical chairs known as industry consolidation has left a lot of fine ladies and gentlemen standing when the melody stopped, included Anthony Sanfilippo, a favorite of ours. However, Caesars Entertainment apparently hasn’t heard of any of these … Continue reading →

Posted in Aristocrat, Bally Technologies, Boyd Gaming, Caesars Entertainment, Eldorado Resorts, Illinois, Movies, Penn National, Rush Street Gaming, Scientific Games, Shuffle Master, Sports betting, Technology | Comments Off on Frissora postpones departure; Oscar forecast

Breaking bad at the Trop; More trouble for Wynn Resorts

Posted on February 16, 2018 by David McKee

Business was afire — literally — at the Tropicana Atlantic City after a meth lab in one of the hotel rooms caused a blaze and led to the evacuation of four floors. This wasn’t how owner Carl Icahn wanted to make … Continue reading →

Posted in Aristocrat, Atlantic City, Carl Icahn, Cirque du Soleil, CityCenter, Law enforcement, MGM Mirage, Palms, Sexual misconduct, Silverton, Station Casinos, Steve Wynn, The Strip, Tropicana Entertainment, Wall Street, Wynn Resorts | 3 Comments

Case Bets: Maryland, Illinois, New Jersey, The Strip, etc.

Posted on January 8, 2018 by David McKee

MGM National Harbor goes from strength to strength. Last month, it captured 40% of Maryland market share en route to a $56.5 million gross (for a property record of $1.8 million gross gaming revenue per day). Maryland Live, hanging onto … Continue reading →

Posted in Aristocrat, Atlantic City, Boyd Gaming, California, Churchill Downs, Cordish Co., Dining, Economy, Entertainment, GLPI, Golden Gaming, Harrah's, Illinois, Maryland, MGM Mirage, Neil Bluhm, Penn National, Politics, Sports, Station Casinos, The Strip, West Virginia | Comments Off on Case Bets: Maryland, Illinois, New Jersey, The Strip, etc.

Strip loses, locals joints win; Aristocrat hooks Big Fish

Posted on November 30, 2017 by David McKee

Given the robustness of October 2017, last month’s Las Vegas Strip revenues ($529 million) were already facing a difficult comparison and the Stephen Paddock shooting spree didn’t help matters. Gambling revenues fell 6% last month along Las Vegas Boulevard. (Statewide, … Continue reading →

Posted in Aristocrat, Boulder Strip, Churchill Downs, Downtown, Entertainment, Internet gambling, Lake Tahoe, Laughlin, Mandalay Bay Massacre, Mesquite, North Las Vegas, Reno, Technology, The Strip | 2 Comments

The future of Caesars; Larry Ellison buys Cal-Neva

Posted on October 25, 2017 by David McKee

Executives from Caesars Entertainment flew to New York to meet with Wall Street analysts and lay out their vision of the company’s post-bankruptcy future. According to Deutsche Bank‘s Carlo Santarelli, internal research “displays a healthy Millenial participation rate, a long … Continue reading →

Posted in Aristocrat, Boyd Gaming, Economy, Entertainment, Golden Gaming, Harrah's, history, Lake Tahoe, Mandalay Bay Massacre, Marketing, MGM Mirage, Regulation, Scientific Games, Station Casinos, Technology, The Strip, Wall Street | 1 Comment

Hall of Fame game

Posted on September 21, 2017 by David McKee

Inductees to the American Gaming Association‘s Gaming Hall of Fame have sometimes been questionable (mobbed-up Clifford Perlman, for one) but this year’s foursome are unlikely to stir controversy. In a family affair, Paragon Gaming CEO Diana Bennett joins her late father … Continue reading →

Posted in Aristocrat, Entertainment, Geoff Freeman, history, Hooters, International, Lake Tahoe, MGM Mirage, North Las Vegas, Paragon Gaming, Riviera, Sahara, Sam Nazarian, Steve Wynn, Technology, The Mob, The Strip, Westgate LV | Comments Off on Hall of Fame game

Light at end of Atlantic City tunnel; Madonna gets played

Posted on September 14, 2017 by David McKee

There’s one reason to look forward to November in Atlantic City: Revenue comparisons will no longer have to include the dead weight of Trump Taj Mahal. Gaming revenues were up 3.5% on the Boardwalk last month but add the Taj … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, Aristocrat, Atlantic City, Cosmopolitan, Dan Gilbert, Detroit, Entertainment, Harrah's, Marketing, MGM Mirage, Mohegan Sun, Paragon Gaming, Scientific Games, Sports, Technology, The Strip, Tilman Fertitta, Tropicana Entertainment, Trump Entertainment Resorts, Westgate LV | Comments Off on Light at end of Atlantic City tunnel; Madonna gets played

Running the tables in Pennsylvania; MGM woos Georgia (again)

Posted on December 5, 2016 by David McKee

Due to Pennsylvania‘s quirky habit of releasing slot and table game revenue numbers in staggered fashion, we don’t often comment on Keystone State gambling revenues. Fortunately, the Center for Gaming Research at UNLV consolidates the information into one handy-dandy report. … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, Aristocrat, Australia, Cosmopolitan, Economy, Eldorado Resorts, Georgia, GLPI, Greenwood Racing, Harrah's, Hooters, Isle of Capri, Macau, Maryland, MGM Mirage, Mohegan Sun, Neil Bluhm, Penn National, Pennsylvania, Pinnacle Entertainment, Politics, Racinos, Sheldon Adelson, Slot routes, SLS Las Vegas, Taxes, The Strip, Tourism, Transportation | Comments Off on Running the tables in Pennsylvania; MGM woos Georgia (again)

Ducey: Let’s make a deal; Trump = legal sports betting?

Posted on November 22, 2016 by David McKee

It looks like the State of Arizona may be ready to throw in the towel in its losing fight against the Tohono O’odham Nation over its Desert Diamond casino. Gov. Doug Ducey (R) has inked a new compact with 10 … Continue reading →

Posted in Aristocrat, Arizona, Boulder Strip, Donald Trump, Geoff Freeman, IGT, Lucky Dragon, Marketing, Politics, Regulation, SLS Las Vegas, The Strip, Tourism, Tribal | Comments Off on Ducey: Let’s make a deal; Trump = legal sports betting?

Isaacs moves on; 50 years of Laughlin

Posted on August 5, 2016 by David McKee

Gavin Isaacs will be taking it easy, the CEO of Scientific Games is moving up to vice chairman, his CEO’s chair to be filled by former Norwegian Cruise Line executive Kevin M. Sheehan. If anybody’s earned the right to take … Continue reading →

Posted in Aristocrat, Australia, Bally Technologies, Boyd Gaming, Cannery Casino Resorts, Harrah's, history, Illinois, Laughlin, Macau, Melco Crown Entertainment, North Las Vegas, Philippines, Scientific Games, Sheldon Adelson, Shuffle Master, Slot routes, Steve Wynn | Comments Off on Isaacs moves on; 50 years of Laughlin

So long, Sammy; DFS gets a wakeup call

Posted on October 8, 2015 by David McKee

As predicted here, Sam Nazarian has liquidated his 10% stake in SLS Las Vegas to majority owner Stockbridge Capital Group. He’ll still get some extra cash out of the deal, which licenses his SLS brand to Stockbridge (although you could … Continue reading →

Posted in Aristocrat, G2E, Regulation, Sam Nazarian, SLS Las Vegas, Sports, Wall Street | Comments Off on So long, Sammy; DFS gets a wakeup call

Pit bosses think their job is the pits; One-hoss Hsieh

Posted on July 20, 2015 by David McKee

PayScale.com has been researching the most and least meaningful jobs, and some of it reflects unfavorably on our casino industry. Table game supervisors “report that they do not find their jobs meaningful, 20% actually believe their jobs make the world … Continue reading →

Posted in Aristocrat, Donald Trump, Downtown, Economy, Environment, Macau, Pets | Comments Off on Pit bosses think their job is the pits; One-hoss Hsieh

Macao casinos feel the heat; $41 million jackpot voided

Posted on April 27, 2015 by David McKee

When the government of Macao makes a suggestion, it’s more like an order. For instance, last week, Secretary for Economy & Finance Lionel Leong summoned representatives of all six casino concessionaires to a meeting in which he ‘requested’ increased hiring and … Continue reading →

Posted in Aristocrat, Economy, Iowa, Isle of Capri, Macau, Marketing, Maryland, Melco Crown Entertainment, MGM Mirage, Regulation, Sheldon Adelson | Comments Off on Macao casinos feel the heat; $41 million jackpot voided

Fly the friendly slots; New tax takes aim at slot routes

Posted on March 4, 2015 by David McKee

Unlike most states, Maryland hasn’t hit the saturation mark and a bill to put a slot route into Thurgood Marshall Airport will probably have little effect on that. The slots will only be accessible to ticketed passengers, with the idea … Continue reading →

Posted in Aristocrat, Cordish Co., Dotty's, Golden Gaming, Harrah's, Maryland, Michael Gaughan, Politics, Taxes, Technology, Transportation | Comments Off on Fly the friendly slots; New tax takes aim at slot routes

Freeman’s strange plea; Aristocrat on the move

Posted on June 26, 2014 by David McKee

This morning, a strange letter landed upon my cyber-desk, signed by American Gaming Association Senior Vice President of Public Affairs Sara Rayme. However, it’s perfectly congruent with the aggressive tendencies of AGA President Geoff Freeman, so I look upon him … Continue reading →

Posted in Aristocrat, Geoff Freeman, IGT, Internet gambling, Politics, Technology, Texas, Tribal | Comments Off on Freeman’s strange plea; Aristocrat on the move

Super Bowl hits Vegas jackpot; Hope for Caesars overseas

Posted on February 3, 2014 by David McKee

“It was embarrassing, humiliating and unbearable,” but when the Super Bowl was over, Nevada sports books had cleaned up … except for that safety on the first play from scrimmage, costly for the Denver Broncos and the books alike. Heavy … Continue reading →

Posted in Aristocrat, Atlantic City, Bally Technologies, Boyd Gaming, Harrah's, International, LVCVA, MGM Mirage, Revel, Sheldon Adelson, Sports, Steve Wynn, The Strip, Tourism | Comments Off on Super Bowl hits Vegas jackpot; Hope for Caesars overseas

Quote of the Day

Posted on September 27, 2013 by David McKee

“When a television show goes off the air, it only has the longevity or staying power that is commensurate with the charm, intelligence, humour and great acting ability and the principal character.” — Adam West, wryly promoting Aristocrat Technologies new … Continue reading →

Posted in Aristocrat, G2E, Technology, TV | Comments Off on Quote of the Day

Herbst Gaming: new name, familiar faces

Posted on May 23, 2011 by David McKee

No, the company hasn’t been dissolved. But with the various Herbst boys having been run off — plus the negative brand equity created by their eponymous casino firm’s financial collapse — new ownership decided it’s time for a new moniker. … Continue reading →

Posted in Aristocrat, Boyd Gaming, California, Carl Icahn, Current, Donald Trump, Downtown, Economy, Entertainment, Harrah's, Herbst Gaming, history, IGT, Illinois, International, MGM Mirage, Regulation, The Strip, Tropicana Entertainment | 1 Comment