Category Archives: Atlantic City

Goa, Goa, Gone & other Case Bets

Posted on January 2, 2014 by David McKee

Officials in Goa, a former Portugese protectorate off the western coast of India are so worried about gambling that they’re barring locals from entering Goa’s casinos. Considering what a sorry bunch of hulks to the Goanese casino fleet is, the … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Harrah's, International, Mississippi | Comments Off

Test time in Massachusetts; Penn, PokerStars fight over scraps

Posted on January 2, 2014 by David McKee

Move over, Tolstoy: MGM Resorts International has submitted its formal application for a Massachusetts casino … and it’s 7,000 pages long. The Massachusetts Gaming Commission had better clear its calendar. But that’s nothing compared to 16,034-page Mohegan Tribal Gaming Authority … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, CityCenter, Colony Capital, Hard Rock International, Harrah's, Massachusetts, MGM Mirage, Mohegan Sun, Penn National, Regulation, Steve Wynn, Tropicana Entertainment | Comments Off

Nevada finishing year strong; Christie’s choler

Posted on December 31, 2013 by David McKee

With a little help from one extra weekend day, Nevada gross gaming revenues shot upward 12% statewide in November and 23% on the Strip. Baccarat players lost their shirts, with the house winning 94% more than the previous year. Less … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Boulder Strip, Cordish Co., Current, Downtown, Economy, Harrah's, Laughlin, Maryland, Massachusetts, MGM Mirage, North Las Vegas, Penn National, Regulation, Reno, Steve Wynn, The Strip, Tilman Fertitta, Trump Entertainment Resorts | 2 Comments

Overexuberance in New Jersey, generosity in Maryland

Posted on December 27, 2013 by David McKee

New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie (R) is setting himself up for a fall with his blue-sky projections of Internet-gambling revenue. Eilers Research has projected that it will take two or three years for gambling revenue to reach $227 million … … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Economy, Goldman Sachs, Harrah's, history, Illinois, Internet gambling, Macau, Maryland, Massachusetts, Regulation, Slot routes, Taxes, The Mob, The Strip, Wall Street | Comments Off

Mohegan Sun scolded; Atlantic Club’s death throes

Posted on December 24, 2013 by David McKee

City fathers in Palmer, Massachusetts, have had a sudden falling-out with Mohegan Tribal Gaming Authority. They’ve accused Mohegan Sun of deliberately tanking the Nov. 5 election through “a deliberate pattern of delay and mismanagement.” As such, they’ll be joining the … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Cordish Co., Hard Rock International, Harrah's, Indiana, Massachusetts, Mohegan Sun, Regulation, Revel, Steve Wynn, Taxes, Tilman Fertitta, Tropicana Entertainment, Trump Entertainment Resorts | Comments Off

Adelson undeterred; Winners and losers

Posted on December 23, 2013 by David McKee

I’m not sure which part of this story is more alarming: That Affinity Gaming was the victim of a widespread identity-theft scheme for seven months … or that the company didn’t disclose it until late this year. It certainly makes … Continue reading →

Posted in Affinity Gaming, Atlantic City, California, Dan Gilbert, Detroit, Environment, Florida, Harrah's, Horseracing, International, Internet gambling, Japan, Macau, New York, Ohio, Penn National, Problem gambling, Sheldon Adelson, Singapore, Stanley Ho | Comments Off

Curtains for Atlantic Club; Foxwoods rides again

Posted on December 23, 2013 by David McKee

In a curious bankruptcy-court resolution, the Atlantic Club Hotel was sold to two buyers. Tropicana Entertainment — probably getting the better part of the deal — paid $8.4 million for the gambling equipment and player database. Caesars Entertainment spent $15 … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, CityCenter, Colony Capital, Foxwoods, Harrah's, Massachusetts, Regulation, Steve Wynn, The Strip, Tribal, Tropicana Entertainment, Wall Street, Wisconsin | Comments Off

Is Loveman insane?

Posted on December 20, 2013 by David McKee

There are two bids on the table for Colony Capital‘s grind-joint Atlantic Club Hotel and one of them is from — wait for it — Caesars Entertainment. Now you’re saying to yourself, “Hey, David, isn’t Caesars in the process of … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Colony Capital, Current, Harrah's, history, Tropicana Entertainment | 4 Comments

Revel to be sold?; Ryan weighs in on Menominee

Posted on December 20, 2013 by David McKee

Color me stupid but I figured that, with a new marketing team in place, to say nothing of a new CEO, Revel Resort was going to stay its new course awhile. Turns out the property was dickering with prospective buyers … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Current, Hard Rock International, Maryland, MGM Mirage, New York, Politics, Racinos, Revel, Tribal, Wisconsin | 2 Comments

Quote of the Day

Posted on December 19, 2013 by David McKee

“All I can say is the process is continuing.” — Atlantic Club Hotel COO Michael Frawley on the casino’s slow-moving bankruptcy auction, which encountered a new obstacle yesterday.

Posted in Atlantic City, Colony Capital, Current | 1 Comment

Falling out in Philly; Falling apart at Caesars

Posted on December 17, 2013 by David McKee

SugarHouse Casino has finally said what needed to be said: The Philadelphia market is tapped out for casinos. It’s not entirely a disinterested stance; SugarHouse is finishing a $155 million expansion and vulnerable to new competition. But the numbers have … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Greenwood Racing, Harrah's, Internet gambling, Maryland, Massachusetts, Neil Bluhm, Penn National, Pennsylvania, Regulation, Steve Wynn, The Strip, Tilman Fertitta | 1 Comment

Bad news for Adelson; Wynn OK’d

Posted on December 17, 2013 by David McKee

I don’t know if Sheldon Adelson deserves the credit, but it looks like his anti-Internet-casino jihad has driven Big Gaming closer together. Wynn Resorts and Station Casinos and Churchill Downs have all joined the American Gaming Association. AGA prexy Geoff … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Colony Capital, Geoff Freeman, International, Internet gambling, Massachusetts, MGM Mirage, Regulation, Sheldon Adelson, Station Casinos, Steve Wynn | Comments Off

Sore losers; Poker Stars’ ticket punched

Posted on December 12, 2013 by David McKee

Update: Fallout from the lawsuit might force Stephen Crosby to step down. (Caesars is suing him for damages, among other things.) “Chairman Crosby and members of the commission’s staff have made untrue and misleading statements about plaintiffs and their affiliates. … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Election, Harrah's, Internet gambling, Massachusetts, Regulation, Tribal, Trump Entertainment Resorts, Wisconsin | Comments Off

MGM: Crossing fingers and hoping; Bloodbath in Indiana

Posted on December 10, 2013 by David McKee

After several ups and downs, MGM Resorts International finds itself justthisclose to a casino in Springfield, Massachusetts. The state’s equivalent of the Nevada Gaming Control Board urged a finding of suitability. Whether the circumspect Massachusetts Gaming Commission agrees hangs upon … Continue reading →

Posted in Affinity Gaming, Atlantic City, Harrah's, Macau, Massachusetts, MGM Mirage, Ohio, Pansy Ho, Penn National, Pinnacle Entertainment, Racinos, Regulation, Technology | Comments Off

D-Day nears for Massachusetts, Maryland

Posted on December 9, 2013 by David McKee

This just in: MGM Resorts International has been tentatively approved by the investigative branch of the Massachusetts Gaming Commission, pending the satisfaction of certain matters. That moment is drawing nigh at which point the Massachusetts Gaming Commission must rule upon … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Colony Capital, Cordish Co., Greenwood Racing, Harrah's, Maryland, Massachusetts, MGM Mirage, Pansy Ho, Penn National, Regulation, Stanley Ho, Steve Wynn, Tribal | 1 Comment

Buyers and potential sellers

Posted on December 9, 2013 by David McKee

Spend a few minutes this morning with Revel Resort CEO Scott Kreeger, even if some of his answers are exquisitely vague. Having been checkmated by voters in Milford, Massachusetts, is no discouragement to Penn National Gaming parent company Gaming & … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Hard Rock International, Harrah's, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Massachusetts, Ohio, Penn National, Pinnacle Entertainment, Revel | Comments Off

Adelson’s bogus poll & other fun with numbers

Posted on December 6, 2013 by David McKee

To hear Sheldon Adelson tell it, 70% of Americans share his die-hard opposition to Internet gambling. He even bought a poll from The Tarrance Group to prove its point. Unfortunately for the Sultan of Sands, the monarch has no clothes. … Continue reading →

Posted in Alabama, Atlantic City, Cretins, Economy, Greenwood Racing, Harrah's, Internet gambling, Kentucky, Massachusetts, MGM Mirage, Pennsylvania, Regulation, Sheldon Adelson, Taxes, Technology, Tribal | 1 Comment

Online gambling a hit in New Jersey; Crackdown in Singapre

Posted on December 3, 2013 by David McKee

Despite some small fits and starts, New Jersey was able to roll out Internet gambling to eager Garden State citizens and with no major issues. Moody’s Investor Service predicted $250 million-$500 million in revenues during the first year, while Gov. … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Harrah's, Internet gambling, MGM Mirage, Sheldon Adelson, Singapore, Steve Wynn, Tilman Fertitta | Comments Off

Semi-failure to launch; Crackdown in Illinois

Posted on November 22, 2013 by David McKee

It’s not just Obamacare that’s having Web site glitches in its launch. The same goes for New Jersey‘s ‘Net-betting system. Test player Joseph Brennen attempted logging in from within Atlantic City but kept getting error messages. “It’s frustrating knowing you’re … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Bally Technologies, Economy, IGT, Illinois, International, Internet gambling, Regulation, Slot routes, Technology | Comments Off

Freeman vs. Adelson; Kentucky tries again

Posted on November 21, 2013 by David McKee

In a particularly stunning departure from American Gaming Association tradition, new prexy Geoff Freeman took a jab at Las Vegas Sands CEO Sheldon “Nuke ‘Em” Adelson in the pages of USA Today. Of course, Freeman didn’t mention Adelson explicitly. But … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Columbia Sussex, Harrah's, Internet gambling, Kentucky, Marketing, New York, Penn National, Pennsylvania, Politics, Racinos, Regulation, Sheldon Adelson, Taxes | Comments Off