Category Archives: Atlantic City

Straub resurfaces; Last casino to Clarksville

Posted on September 2, 2016 by David McKee

In case you’re wondering, “Whatever happened to Glenn Straub?”, the answer is that he’s finally been dragged, kicking and screaming, into applying for a New Jersey gaming license for Revel and is finalizing the paperwork. Huffington Post also reveals than … Continue reading →

Posted in Arkansas, Atlantic City, California, Election, Environment, Foxwoods, G2E, Glenn Straub, Internet gambling, Macau, MGM Mirage, Mohegan Sun, Oklahoma, PokerStars, Politics, Regulation, Revel, Texas, Tribal | 1 Comment

Case Bets: Aria, Atlantic City, etc.

Posted on September 1, 2016 by David McKee

Inside Aria‘s “eye in the sky” … and also probably the last time you’ll see a player in a tuxedo on a Las Vegas casino floor. * After eight long years — and without including Internet revenue — all eight Atlantic … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, CityCenter, Economy, Election, Internet gambling, Macau, MGM Mirage, New York, Oklahoma, Regulation, Technology, The Strip, Tropicana Entertainment | Comments Off

Wynn subtracting one golf course, adding another?; Resorts World Las Vegas postponed again

Posted on August 30, 2016 by David McKee

Although Steve Wynn remains bent upon tearing out Wynn Golf Club on the Strip — in favor of Wynn Paradise Park one day, an NFL stadium the next — he may be planning one for Wynn Boston Harbor. At least … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Economy, Election, Entertainment, Genting, Lucky Dragon, Macau, Massachusetts, Mississippi, New York, SLS Las Vegas, Steve Wynn, The Strip | 2 Comments

Icahn intransigent at Taj; Olympic betting a flop; Relief for Caesars

Posted on August 30, 2016 by David McKee

For someone who claims he’s trying to save Trump Taj Mahal, owner Carl Icahn sure acts like he’s hellbent on closing it. A counteroffer from striking Unite-Here that would cost the casino only $1.3 million a year to preserve health … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Carl Icahn, Harrah's, Illinois, MGM Mirage, Nevada, Sports, Steve Wynn, The Strip, Tropicana Entertainment, Unite-Here, Westgate LV | 1 Comment

Caesars crashes, burns in Louisiana; DFS takes two steps forward, one back

Posted on August 25, 2016 by David McKee

Despite having an extra weekend day, Louisiana casinos saw revenue fall 7% in July. (JP Morgan analyst Joseph Greff blames flooding for the waterlogged numbers.) Pinnacle Entertainment did the best among major operators, up 4%, while Caesars Entertainment went into the … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Boyd Gaming, Churchill Downs, Eldorado Resorts, GLPI, Harrah's, Internet gambling, Isle of Capri, Louisiana, Maine, Massachusetts, New York, Pennsylvania, Pinnacle Entertainment, Problem gambling, Sports, Taxes, Technology, The Strip, Tilman Fertitta, Tropicana Entertainment | Comments Off

MGM goes on the attack; Wynn’s new “masterpiece;” Isle out of Louisiana

Posted on August 23, 2016 by David McKee

This story pretty much writes itself. While MGM Resorts International cowboys up and makes it clear who’s sponsoring the ad — not hiding behind some phony-baloney PAC name like “Citizens for a Stronger Connecticut” — but the commercial is a … Continue reading →

Posted in Alabama, Atlantic City, Boyd Gaming, Carl Icahn, Foxwoods, Harrah's, Internet gambling, Isle of Capri, Louisiana, Macau, MGM Mirage, Mohegan Sun, Politics, Racinos, Steve Wynn, Tropicana Entertainment, Wall Street | 1 Comment

Atlantic City boosters gain momentum; Gamblit takes important step forward

Posted on August 18, 2016 by David McKee

New York State gaming forces are taking a more-than-disinterested view of the upcoming referendum on Atlantic City‘s monopoly on casino gambling in New Jersey. For instance, Genting Group, owner of Resorts World New York, is opposing the measure behind stalking … Continue reading →

Posted in Affinity Gaming, Atlantic City, Election, Foxwoods, Genting, Massachusetts, Mohegan Sun, New York, Pennsylvania, Taxes, Technology, Tribal | Comments Off

Big month for Atlantic City; Wanna be president?

Posted on August 12, 2016 by David McKee

Casino gambling revenue in Atlantic City was up 5%, to $258 million, last month and Internet gaming revenues pole-vaulted 39%, exceeding $17 million. Higher coin-in at the slots translated into a 3% growth in one-armed banditry while a 7% increase … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, Atlantic City, Boyd Gaming, Election, Harrah's, Internet gambling, Massachusetts, MGM Mirage, Mohegan Sun, Tilman Fertitta, Tropicana Entertainment, Unite-Here, Westgate LV | Comments Off

New vibe for Venetian; Atlantic City workers flee to D.C.

Posted on August 9, 2016 by David McKee

For the first time in 17 years, The Venetian is using TV advertising. We’re not only impressed by the length of the abstention but also by the fact that Las Vegas Sands has done so well without the assistance of … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Cosmopolitan, Election, Entertainment, Environment, Harrah's, Marketing, Maryland, MGM Mirage, Sheldon Adelson, The Strip, TV | Comments Off

Election special: New Jersey, New York, Oregon

Posted on August 9, 2016 by David McKee

An MGM Resorts International executive with whom I spoke yesterday told me the New Jersey casino ballot initiative is trailing badly in the polls. We hope he’s right, especially as news of the closure of Trump Taj Mahal (and Glenn … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Carl Icahn, Charity, Economy, Election, Foxwoods, Glenn Straub, Harrah's, Hooters, MGM Mirage, Mohegan Sun, New York, Oregon, Politics, Revel, Tribal, Tropicana Entertainment, Unite-Here | Comments Off

Murren minces few words; Wynn Boston Harbor sets opening date

Posted on August 5, 2016 by David McKee

Commiting truth isn’t as rare in the casino business as in politics but MGM Resorts International CEO Jim Murren was startlingly candid in yesterday’s earnings call, crediting a surge in Las Vegas summer business to a Zika virus outbreak in Florida, … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, California, Carl Icahn, Entertainment, Florida, Foxwoods, International, Internet gambling, LVCVA, Massachusetts, MGM Mirage, Mohegan Sun, Politics, Riviera, Singapore, South Korea, Steve Wynn, The Strip, Tourism, Transportation, Tropicana Entertainment, Trump Entertainment Resorts, Unite-Here, Wall Street | Comments Off

Quote of the Day

Posted on August 5, 2016 by David McKee

“This titan of Wall Street is utterly incapable of making a decision unless it is mean-spirited and benefiting him alone. The great deal-maker would rather burn the Trump Taj Mahal down just so he can control the ashes. In the end … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Carl Icahn, Tropicana Entertainment, Unite-Here | Comments Off

Steve Wynn cuts room rates; What kind of slot would you play?

Posted on August 4, 2016 by David McKee

Wynn Palace is still a few weeks away from opening but it’s already sending mixed signals, in terms of its room rates. Midweek, rooms are listing for $243, down from $256 a night. However, Saturday-night rates have been boosted from … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Australia, IGT, Macau, Sheldon Adelson, Steve Wynn, Technology, Wall Street | 1 Comment

Trump Taj: Everybody loses; Mixed bag for Boyd

Posted on August 4, 2016 by David McKee

Labor Day weekend will be the final hurrah for Trump Taj Mahal. Owner Carl Icahn has expressed his intent to close the struggling casino rather than continue to negotiate with striking Unite-Here Local 54. ““I would never have thought Carl … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Boyd Gaming, Carl Icahn, Churchill Downs, Donald Trump, Downtown, Economy, Hawaii, Illinois, Kansas, Louisiana, Maryland, Mississippi, Tropicana Entertainment, Unite-Here | Comments Off

Trailer trash in Boston; New crisis looms in Atlantic City

Posted on July 28, 2016 by David McKee

Massachusetts lawmakers may have thought they’d settled the question of casinos in the Bay State when they voted to baptize three resorts and slot parlor. However, thanks to a ruling by state Attorney General Maura Healey, a ballot question here … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Economy, Election, Horseracing, Lawrence Ho, Macau, Maine, Marketing, Massachusetts, Melco Crown Entertainment, Regulation, Sheldon Adelson | 1 Comment

Plainridge Park hits the one-year mark; Pennsylvania casinos spurn booze tax

Posted on July 27, 2016 by David McKee

Recording its first anniversary with a reported $160 million in revenue, against projections closer to $300 million, is Penn National Gaming‘s Plainridge Park a dud? Not so fast. The casino reports the highest win/slot/day by far of any casino for … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Boyd Gaming, Election, Internet gambling, Massachusetts, MGM Mirage, Neil Bluhm, New York, Penn National, Pennsylvania, PokerStars, Regulation, Revel, Rhode Island, Sheldon Adelson, Steve Wynn, Taxes, Tribal | Comments Off

Straub’s empty bluster; Cantor gets smacked

Posted on July 22, 2016 by David McKee

Some people either put up or shut up. Glenn Straub can’t put up and won’t shut up. His latest brush with the news pages is his welshing on a bet with Bart Blatstein that the latter couldn’t open the Showboat … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Cantor Gaming, Donald Trump, Glenn Straub, Regulation, Revel, Sports | Comments Off

Pinnacle dominates Louisiana; Trump settles Vegas case

Posted on July 22, 2016 by David McKee

Pulled under by the Shreveport/Bossier City market (-6%), June gaming numbers in Louisiana came in 3% off last year’s. Pinnacle Entertainment‘s Boomtown Bossier ($5 million) far outperformed the competition, up 11%. Hardest hit were the Caesars Entertainment properties, with usually reliable … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Boyd Gaming, Carl Icahn, Churchill Downs, Culinary Union, Donald Trump, GLPI, Harrah's, Isle of Capri, Louisiana, Palms, Penn National, Pinnacle Entertainment, Racinos, Slot routes, Station Casinos, Tilman Fertitta, Tropicana Entertainment, Unite-Here | Comments Off

Big win for Wynn; Entertainer gets shrunken head

Posted on July 20, 2016 by David McKee

It’s never too late to count out litigious Somerville Mayor Joseph Curtatone but it looks like Wynn Boston Harbor may finally be inevitable. The casino project received a development permit from the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection. Sore losers Mohegan … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Entertainment, Iowa, Louisiana, Macau, Massachusetts, Mohegan Sun, Regulation, Steve Wynn, Transportation, Tropicana Entertainment, Unite-Here | Comments Off

Acrimony grows at Taj; Racism in Nebraska election race

Posted on July 14, 2016 by David McKee

As protests against Carl Icahn spilled over into New York City, his casino CEO, Anthony Rodio, sent ominously mixed signals about the future of Trump Taj Mahal. On the one hand, he offered a partial restoration of health benefits and … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Boyd Gaming, Carl Icahn, Donald Trump, Entertainment, Galaxy Entertainment, Iowa, Lake Tahoe, Macau, MGM Mirage, Minnesota, Nebraska, Racinos, Regulation, Tribal, Tropicana Entertainment, Unite-Here | Comments Off