Category Archives: Atlantic City

Hot pursuit for IGT; Players leave good deal on table

Posted on June 17, 2014 by David McKee

It’s a feeding frenzy for International Game Technology. Among those who were quick to pounce on rumors of a sale were lottery king Gtech, Caesars Entertainment co-owner Apollo Management, Ron Perelman-controlled MacAndrews & Forbes Inc. and Carlyle Group, with the … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, California, Cosmopolitan, Harrah's, IGT, Internet gambling, Scientific Games, Tilman Fertitta, Tribal, Wall Street | Comments Off

Restarting the clock in Massachusetts; Atlantic City, international destination?

Posted on June 13, 2014 by David McKee

It looks like it’s back to Square One for Massachusetts‘ southeastern region. No host community agreements have been executed. No referendums have been held (with a mid-July deadline looming). And, although the cutoff date has passed, new candidates want to … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Foxwoods, Harrah's, International, Massachusetts, Ohio, Regulation, Tourism, Transportation, Tribal | 1 Comment

Salvation for PokerStars?; Bonanza in Springfield

Posted on June 13, 2014 by David McKee

Despite no longer having any beef with the federal government, PokerStars remains behind the 8-ball in the U.S. of A. Regulators in New Jersey frowned on its attempt to affiliate with Atlantic City casinos and it’s banned from Nevada under … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Cosmopolitan, Internet gambling, Massachusetts, MGM Mirage, Regulation, Wall Street | Comments Off

Adelson: Another one bites the dust

Posted on June 12, 2014 by David McKee

If Sheldon Adelson wants to protect America from underage gambling, he might start at his Sands Bethlehem casino. The casino has racked up $305,000 in fines in five years. Six incidents this year have incited the latest fine: $85,000. Casino … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Boyd Gaming, Detroit, Economy, Election, International, Internet gambling, Neil Bluhm, Pennsylvania, Politics, Regulation, Sheldon Adelson, Tribal | Comments Off

Adelson: Who asked you?

Posted on June 11, 2014 by David McKee

Sheldon Adelson is fast becoming the #1 buttinski in American politics. He’s not from Florida and doesn’t do business there but that hasn’t stopped him from meddling the state’s electoral process. He’s been seeding an astroturf movement to defeat the … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Boyd Gaming, Election, Florida, Harrah's, Massachusetts, MGM Mirage, Regulation, Sheldon Adelson, Tropicana Entertainment, Trump Entertainment Resorts | Comments Off

Big vote on Boardwalk; Horsey antics in Texas

Posted on June 10, 2014 by David McKee

“It’s going to be a very complicated and difficult negotiation.” So admits Unite-Here President Robert McDevitt of the mid-September scrum when all the casino collective bargaining agreements come up for renewal. McDevitt’s still tasting victory from last week’s vote at … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Boyd Gaming, Donald Trump, Horseracing, Kentucky, MGM Mirage, Racinos, Regulation, Revel, Technology, Texas | Comments Off

GOP candidates back casino-repeal question

Posted on June 4, 2014 by David McKee

Top-of-the ticket Republican candidates for governor in Massachusetts have lined up behind the proposed repeal of the state’s casino law. Charlie Baker is only in favor of putting it on the ballot but Tea Party candidate Mark Fisher would go … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Massachusetts, Pennsylvania, Politics, Problem gambling | Comments Off

Case Bets for a Monday morning

Posted on June 2, 2014 by David McKee

Because Vegas is starved for retail along the Strip (ha!), Caesars Entertainment has been beavering away busily on Grand Bazaar Shops, in front of Bally’s Las Vegas. Vital Vegas has been sussing out the progress of the mall and it’s … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, Atlantic City, Culinary Union, Derek Stevens, Entertainment, Foxwoods, Harrah's, Internet gambling, Mohegan Sun, Revel, The Strip | Comments Off

Beso of death; Atlantic Club reborn

Posted on May 30, 2014 by David McKee

Eva Longoria‘s SHE byMorton’s (formerly Beso) has closed for the second — and presumably final — time. This time we can only put so much blame on Longoria and focus instead on owner Tilman Fertitta. This rare misstep by Fertitta … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, CityCenter, Dining, Harrah's, Illinois, Politics, The Strip | Comments Off

Internet gaming: More light than heat; Fieri in your face

Posted on May 27, 2014 by David McKee

“We are absolutely shocked by the slowness of the market.” Those are the words of 888.com CEO Brian Mattingley, with regard to Internet gambling in New Jersey. How slow is it? So much that 888 is shifting ad dollars from … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Boyd Gaming, Dining, Economy, Harrah's, Internet gambling, Marketing, Massachusetts, Mississippi, Politics, Regulation, Sheldon Adelson, The Strip | 1 Comment

Skepticism in Atlantic City; Hope in Schenectady

Posted on May 21, 2014 by David McKee

Hard Rock International has decided to stop being coy about its interest in Revel Resort. It wants it … if the price is right. “We certainly looked at it. We participated in the process,” said Hard Rock CEO James Allen. “The question … Continue reading →

Posted in Ameristar, Architecture, Atlantic City, Hard Rock International, Harrah's, Louisiana, Neil Bluhm, New York, Pinnacle Entertainment, Revel, Tribal, Trump Entertainment Resorts | 1 Comment

More states covet Internet lucre; Steeplechase in New York

Posted on May 20, 2014 by David McKee

Pennsylvania is keeping a close eye on Internet gambling in New Jersey. That much is clear from recent testimony before the House Democratic Policy Committee. “It can be regulated and controlled and … the existing technology can accurately locate players to prevent … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Cannery Casino Resorts, Churchill Downs, Harrah's, Horseracing, Internet gambling, Neil Bluhm, New York, Penn National, Pennsylvania, Sheldon Adelson, Texas, Tribal, Wisconsin | Comments Off

After Adelson … what then?; Hope in Springfield

Posted on May 20, 2014 by David McKee

One of the issues that has buzzed around Las Vegas Sands like a shoo-fly is the lack of a line of succession. President/COO Michael Leven was superannuated when he took the job at, at age 76, isn’t getting younger. According … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, Atlantic City, Detroit, Internet gambling, Massachusetts, Sheldon Adelson, Sports, The Strip | Comments Off

Shamelessness at Suffolk Downs

Posted on May 15, 2014 by David McKee

In a ludicrous reversal, the owners of Suffolk Downs offered to end horseracing at the track if the Massachusetts Gaming Commission would, pretty please with cream on top, give them a casino license. Up to that point, Suffolk Downs has … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Boyd Gaming, California, Cretins, Horseracing, Massachusetts, MGM Mirage, Mohegan Sun, Regulation, Vdara Death Ray, World Series of Poker | Comments Off

Good news from Atlantic City; F-blew: This is the end

Posted on May 14, 2014 by David McKee

OK, so the Boardwalk was down 2% last month but, on a same-store basis (i.e., minus Atlantic Club), business was up 3%, given a shove over the top by $11 million in online-casino revenue, which is looking like a difference maker, … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Boyd Gaming, Carl Icahn, Churchill Downs, Fontainebleau, Harrah's, Mohegan Sun, New York, Pennsylvania, Tropicana Entertainment, Trump Entertainment Resorts, Wall Street | 2 Comments

Loveman utters heresy; Adelson’s sock-puppet theatre

Posted on May 9, 2014 by David McKee

Buried deep in Caesars Entertainments ‘s 1Q14 earnings call was this bombshell from CEO Gary Loveman: “We are looking at all of our options to reduce the cost of doing business here. All the businesses in [Atlantic City] are under tremendous pressure.” That’s … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Cretins, Economy, Florida, Harrah's, Indiana, Louisiana, New Hampshire, Politics, South Carolina, Texas, Wall Street | Comments Off

Tight squeeze in New Jersey

Posted on April 30, 2014 by David McKee

Boyd Gaming posted its 1Q14 results today and Borgata racked up a $3 million operating loss due to the rollout of Internet gambling. That number might be smaller if credit card companies weren’t throttling payment-processing on the games. The average … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Boyd Gaming, Illinois, Internet gambling, Regulation | Comments Off

Curtains for Caesars Windsor?; Churchill Downs wants to be a player

Posted on April 25, 2014 by David McKee

Karl Henkel of the Detroit News makes a close analysis of the market situation in Detroit and sees portents of what has been happening in Atlantic City and Tunica. His analysis doesn’t just focus on gross revenues but, for instance, … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Boyd Gaming, Churchill Downs, Dan Gilbert, Detroit, Economy, Harrah's, Internet gambling, Isle of Capri, Louisiana, MGM Mirage, Mississippi, Pinnacle Entertainment, Racinos, Regulation, Tropicana Entertainment | Comments Off

N.Y.: 22 is enough; Cussing match at Wynncore

Posted on April 25, 2014 by David McKee

Caesars Entertainment‘s sudden romance with New York State is getting the company some grief, although not from the usual defenders of Atlantic City. Assemblyman Ralph Caputo (D) is among those who want to put a casino at the Meadowlands and … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Cordish Co., Foxwoods, Genting, Harrah's, Mohegan Sun, Penn National, Pinnacle Entertainment, Politics, Racinos, Steve Wynn, Tribal | Comments Off

Packer sparks protests; Heads roll at Zynga

Posted on April 24, 2014 by David McKee

Just the prospect of a James Packer-owned casino was enough to spur a Buddhist-driven protest march in Sri Lanka. Packer’s Crown Resorts has concessions to develop three resort properties and the Sri Lanka government has been talking out of both … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Churchill Downs, International, Internet gambling, James Packer, Kentucky, Lawrence Ho, Maine, New York, Ohio, Politics | Comments Off