Category Archives: Atlantic City

Building a better Cosmopolitan

Posted on February 20, 2015 by David McKee

Although awash in generalities, Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas CEO Bill McBeath did allow some form of insight into his plans for the resort. Allowing that casino-floor performance was “pretty anemic,” he hopes to make it more attractive to high rollers. … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, Atlantic City, Cosmopolitan, Dining, Donald Trump, Economy, history, MGM Mirage, Sports, The Strip | Comments Off on Building a better Cosmopolitan

Revel sale dead; Indiana does the right thing

Posted on February 20, 2015 by David McKee

“The history of this case is long and tortured,” said U.S. Bankruptcy Court Judge Gloria Burns, in a major understatement regarding the several and various attempts to sell Revel. With the bang of a gavel, she crushed Glenn Straub‘s $95 … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Boyd Gaming, Glenn Straub, Global Cash Access, Indiana, Politics, Racinos, Revel | 1 Comment

Then there was Resorts …

Posted on February 19, 2015 by David McKee

By tomorrow afternoon, there will be a new player in New Jersey‘s online-gaming industry: Resorts Atlantic City. The casino’s Internet-play site will go online in a limited fashion, gradually ramping up to full capacity over the ensuing week. Resorts execs … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Dennis Gomes, Florida, Internet gambling, Isle of Capri, Mohegan Sun, Oklahoma, Regulation, Tribal, Trump Entertainment Resorts | Comments Off on Then there was Resorts …

Tilman Fertitta’s blockbuster

Posted on February 19, 2015 by David McKee

When looked on Ye Olde Same Store Basis, gaming revenues in Louisiana are good enough, up 4%. Add Tilman Fertitta‘s Golden Nugget Lake Charles to the mix and revs shoot up 17%. No, that’s not a typo. The Nugget is … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Boyd Gaming, Churchill Downs, Downtown, Entertainment, GLPI, Harrah's, Isle of Capri, Louisiana, Pinnacle Entertainment, Racinos, Tilman Fertitta, Tropicana Entertainment, Wall Street | Comments Off on Tilman Fertitta’s blockbuster

That wacky Glenn Straub; Instant racing stumbles; Mongolia or bust

Posted on February 18, 2015 by David McKee

Revel AC has been continuing to negotiate with beady-eyed billionaire Glenn Straub, even after the clock has run out on their purchase agreement. Revel’s incentive is that it wants to avoid Chapter 7 liquidation. Trouble is, Straub is reported to … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Glenn Straub, Idaho, International, New York, Politics, Racinos, Regulation, Revel, Tribal | 2 Comments

Can New York casinos work miracles?

Posted on February 16, 2015 by David McKee

“Do I believe in it? I believe in it. I think Sullivan County is destined for an absolute true turnaround,” says Monticello restaurateur Bill Sipos, when asked about the potential impact of Empire Resorts‘ Montreign (left) on his area. The project … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Boyd Gaming, Economy, Environment, Neil Bluhm, New York, Regulation, Sheldon Adelson, Sports, Trump Entertainment Resorts | Comments Off on Can New York casinos work miracles?

Indian giver wins big in Atlantic City; Positive quarters for Pinnacle, Boyd

Posted on February 13, 2015 by David McKee

Fourteen gamblers are $1.5 million lighter in the wallet after a New Jersey judge ordered them to pay restitution to the Golden Nugget Atlantic City. At issue was the Nugget’s use of “pre-shuffled” card packs that were nothing of the … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Boyd Gaming, Downtown, Economy, Louisiana, Pinnacle Entertainment, Taxes, Tilman Fertitta, Wall Street | Comments Off on Indian giver wins big in Atlantic City; Positive quarters for Pinnacle, Boyd

Quote of the Day

Posted on February 12, 2015 by David McKee

“PokerStars is one of the only gaming companies that has been actively committed to pursuing a position in the Atlantic City market. Everybody else is running away. So, why would we rebuff a company that wants to make a major investment … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Internet gambling, PokerStars, Politics, Sheldon Adelson | Comments Off on Quote of the Day

Whither Bally’s?; Boffo January for Atlantic City

Posted on February 12, 2015 by David McKee

From publicly mulling a Horseshoe rebranding to talk of a new hotel tower, Caesars Entertainment has never seemed to know quite what to do with Bally’s Las Vegas, white elephant of its parade of Strip casinos. The Las Vegas Weekly‘s … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Boyd Gaming, Economy, Entertainment, Harrah's, Internet gambling, Marketing, MGM Mirage, Mohegan Sun, Taxes, The Strip, Tilman Fertitta, Tropicana Entertainment, Trump Entertainment Resorts | Comments Off on Whither Bally’s?; Boffo January for Atlantic City

More trouble for Taj; Revel sale hangs by a thread

Posted on February 12, 2015 by David McKee

It seems that Trump Taj Mahal has been rather cavalier about reporting large transactions and suspicious financial activities to FinCEN. For instance, when customers’ names and Social Security numbers didn’t square, Taj management still didn’t pursue the discrepancies. The Taj ‘fessed … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Glenn Straub, Harrah's, Regulation, Revel, Trump Entertainment Resorts | Comments Off on More trouble for Taj; Revel sale hangs by a thread

Where to dump Trump?; Straub stumped

Posted on February 11, 2015 by David McKee

Although he’s buried millions of dollars in New Jersey, having been party to four casino bankruptcies, Donald Trump doesn’t want his carcass interred there. Instead, when he goes to that big sand trap in the sky, he wants to be … Continue reading →

Posted in Affinity Gaming, Atlantic City, Donald Trump, Florida, Glenn Straub, Golden Gaming, Horseracing, Illinois, Louisiana, Lyle Berman, Maryland, Revel, Slot routes | 1 Comment

Straub’s time runs short; Smoke gets in Macao’s eyes

Posted on February 10, 2015 by David McKee

Glenn Straub may be $10 million the poorer after yet another deal for Revel has come apart at the seams. Straub wanted to expunge any obligations to Revel tenants. Federal courts would not let him. And, upon that impasse, the … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, Atlantic City, Downtown, Economy, Environment, George Maloof, Hard Rock International, Harrah's, history, Macau, Revel, Steve Wynn | 1 Comment

Addition in Mississippi; Subtraction in Atlantic City; Gluttony in Las Vegas

Posted on January 29, 2015 by David McKee

It was all there in black and white: $935 million in state and federal taxes paid, and $4 billion in economic. That’s what Mississippi casinos achieved, despite two closures. “The numbers reflect we’re doing OK here in Mississippi,” understated Mississippi Gaming & … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Dining, Economy, Glenn Straub, Louisiana, Marketing, Mississippi, Missouri, Revel, Taxes, The Strip | 1 Comment

Possible rescue for Delaware tracks; New boss in Atlantic City

Posted on January 23, 2015 by David McKee

Going against Gov. Jack Markell (D), Delaware lawmakers are wrapping up a relief package for the state’s beleaguered racino industry. The tax rate on table games would be cut from 29% to 15% and the $3 million licensing fee would … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Cordish Co., Delaware, Harrah's, Maryland, Politics, Racinos, Taxes | Comments Off on Possible rescue for Delaware tracks; New boss in Atlantic City

Straub wins again; Delaware, racinos at an impasse

Posted on January 22, 2015 by David McKee

Revel is Glenn Straub‘s — if he wants it. HQ nightclub, ACR Energy Partners and other Revel tenants saw their objections swept aside at a bankruptcy hearing yesterday. Judge Jerome Simandle wrote that “the court notes that, the palpable risk … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Delaware, Glenn Straub, Politics, Racinos, Revel, Taxes | 1 Comment

Straub holds Revel hostage; Caesars cutbacks begin

Posted on January 21, 2015 by David McKee

Revel continues to be a bone of contention. Utility supplier ACR Energy Partners is leading a group of creditors attempting to block the sale of Revel to Glenn Straub. The latter, they assert, could simply walk away from all contracts, claims, … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Carl Icahn, Dining, Glenn Straub, Harrah's, Revel, The Strip, Trump Entertainment Resorts | 1 Comment

Politicians desert Atlantic City; Cuomo dreams on

Posted on January 20, 2015 by David McKee

Despite four years of yeoman’s work repairing and altering Atlantic City‘s image, the Atlantic City Alliance is being abandoned like an orphan on the church steps. State Senate President Steve Sweeney (D, left) blamed the casinos for killing it off … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Boyd Gaming, Cordish Co., Harrah's, Marketing, Maryland, New York, Pennsylvania, Politics, Tourism, Wall Street | Comments Off on Politicians desert Atlantic City; Cuomo dreams on

Celebrity Caesars investors get clipped

Posted on January 20, 2015 by David McKee

As the opposing sides entrench for an acrimonious battle over the assets of Caesars Entertainment, a few early losers are emerging. Unsecured creditor Robert DeNiro‘s Nobu in Caesars Palace is owed $459,964 and loud-mouthed chef Gordon Ramsay can yell all he … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Boyd Gaming, Charity, Dining, Harrah's, Internet gambling, New York, Reno, The Strip, Tourism, Transportation, World Series of Poker | Comments Off on Celebrity Caesars investors get clipped

Quote of the Day

Posted on January 19, 2015 by David McKee

“At least we are not Detroit.” — Atlantic City Mayor Don Guardian, trying to put a positive spin on the Boardwalk‘s lean times.

Posted in Atlantic City, Detroit, Economy | Comments Off on Quote of the Day

Atlantic City hangs in there; Mississippi mulls i-poker

Posted on January 15, 2015 by David McKee

When it comes to Atlantic City it literally is a question of whether the glass is half-empty or half-full. The city’s casinos are 48% off their 2006 high of $5.2 billion. In 2014, the decline was slowed somewhat by $123 … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Boyd Gaming, Colony Capital, Economy, Harrah's, Horseracing, International, Mississippi, Politics, Revel, Sports, Tilman Fertitta, Tropicana Entertainment, Trump Entertainment Resorts | Comments Off on Atlantic City hangs in there; Mississippi mulls i-poker