Category Archives: Atlantic City

Meet Tim Wilmott; Go big or go home

Posted on October 15, 2013 by David McKee

Penn National Gaming‘s COO lays out his company’s operating philosophy in potted form. Going up. One city will get more casino than expected and another one might. In Tulsa, the tribally owned River Spirit Casino will add four hotel floors … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Cordish Co., Harrah's, Massachusetts, Oklahoma, Penn National, Tribal | 1 Comment

Clean sweep in Maryland; Clobberin’ time in Albany

Posted on October 11, 2013 by David McKee

Not unsurprisingly, MGM Resorts International, Penn National Gaming and Greenwood Racing (owner of Philadelphia‘s Parx Casino) received the unanimous benediction of the Maryland Lottery & Gaming Control Commission this week. Since Penn already operates in the Free State, its approval … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Massachusetts, MGM Mirage, New York, Penn National, Problem gambling, Regulation | Comments Off on Clean sweep in Maryland; Clobberin’ time in Albany

Yard sale at Caesars; Disney vs. Genting; New boss at Revel

Posted on October 11, 2013 by David McKee

“It’s a lot of crap.” That’s the verdict of one auctioneer, sussing out the surplus merchandise on view at The Rio, site of a big surplus-inventory sale by Caesars Entertainment. One doesn’t even have to be there to bid. You … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Florida, Genting, Harrah's, Macau, Politics, Revel, Station Casinos, Tribal | Comments Off on Yard sale at Caesars; Disney vs. Genting; New boss at Revel

And the winner is … Borgata; Black eased out; Kudos to Sands

Posted on October 10, 2013 by David McKee

Leading the field, Borgata received New Jersey‘s first Internet-gambling license and will begin test play on Nov. 21. Congratulations to Boyd Gaming and partner bwin.party for having their ducks in a row. Understated Borgata prexy Tom Ballance, “It’s always nice … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Boyd Gaming, Current, Internet gambling, Massachusetts, Mesquite, Michael Gaughan, Pennsylvania, Sheldon Adelson, Tribal | Comments Off on And the winner is … Borgata; Black eased out; Kudos to Sands

Florida: Clear as mud; MGM lands Lakers

Posted on October 9, 2013 by David McKee

So, the Florida Lege commissioned this $400,000 study of casino expansion and nobody can agree on what it means. Spectrum Gaming Group, which performed the survey, is having to explain why it projected so much more revenue when Genting Group … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Delaware, Economy, Florida, Genting, MGM Mirage, Politics, Racinos, Sports, The Strip, Tribal | Comments Off on Florida: Clear as mud; MGM lands Lakers

Freeman flunks; Casino insecurity; Between a Hard Rock and a good deed

Posted on October 8, 2013 by David McKee

It’s a good thing that American Gaming Association President Geoff Freeman hightailed it to Barcelona this week to give a speech. During Global Gaming Expo, his signature achievement was to stake the AGA’s credibility on a Justin Timberlake movie. Freeman … Continue reading →

Posted in Alex Yemenidjian, Atlantic City, Charity, Delaware, Economy, Election, G2E, Hard Rock International, Harrah's, Indiana, Internet gambling, Massachusetts, MGM Mirage, Movies, New York, Penn National, Regulation, Taxes, The Strip, Tourism | Comments Off on Freeman flunks; Casino insecurity; Between a Hard Rock and a good deed

Learning to love the Boardwalk again

Posted on October 4, 2013 by David McKee

In a surprising — but not unwelcome — turn of events two Philadelphia casino investors are looking at getting into Atlantic City. It’s amazing the effect legalized Internet betting can have. Business partners George Miller and Kevin Flynn own 0.5% … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, Atlantic City, Boyd Gaming, Colony Capital, Current, Dining, Donald Trump, Hard Rock Hotel, Harrah's, Internet gambling, Pennsylvania, The Strip, Tilman Fertitta | 2 Comments

Comeback for Lee; Penn, Mohegans get thumbs-up

Posted on October 3, 2013 by David McKee

Palms Casino Resort, which could use some casino-savvy brainpower at its helm, believes it has found it in new CEO Dan Lee. Out the door, unceremoniously, goes the much-bounced-around Joseph Magliarditi, who ricocheted to the Palms by way of M … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Dan Lee, Dining, Downtown, Massachusetts, Missouri, Mohegan Sun, Palms, Penn National, Pinnacle Entertainment, Regulation, Wall Street | 1 Comment

Atlantic City: Exit Pinnacle, turnover at Revel; Invading Japan

Posted on October 1, 2013 by David McKee

It took three years and a frightful loss ($239 million), but Pinnacle Entertainment is finally shot of Lee’s Folly, the Sands Casino Hotel site that ex-CEO Dan Lee bought for $270 million during the boom years … and which promptly … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, International, Japan, Lawrence Ho, Macau, Melco Crown Entertainment, Pinnacle Entertainment, Revel, Sheldon Adelson, Singapore, Station Casinos | 1 Comment

New York: Lies, damned lies and ballot language

Posted on October 1, 2013 by David McKee

Seemingly bereft of urgency, the scrum over gambling expansion in New York State has yet to become a real fight. The Empire State’s Catholic bishops, while deeming gambling “a morally neutral act,” urged parishioners to “very carefully consider” the consequences … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Election, New York, Pennsylvania, Politics, Problem gambling | Comments Off on New York: Lies, damned lies and ballot language

Massachusetts: The deadline that wasn’t

Posted on October 1, 2013 by David McKee

Yesterday was the day ultimate for filing casino applications in the state’s southeastern region. Kinda. Sorta. Maybe. Only KG Urban Enterprises actually bothered to file. Of course, the region is meant as a set-aside for the Mashpee Wampanoags … but … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Cordish Co., Harrah's, Massachusetts, MGM Mirage, Penn National, Tribal | Comments Off on Massachusetts: The deadline that wasn’t

Caesars spooks Wall Street; Florida fumbles

Posted on September 26, 2013 by David McKee

Not surprisingly, Caesars Entertainment stock took a dip this morning. Why the lack of surprise? The company is further diluting its value by preparing to issue 10 million additional shares of common stock. “While we would view the announcement as … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Donald Trump, Florida, Harrah's, Internet gambling, Phil Ruffin, Politics, Racinos, Sheldon Adelson, Steve Wynn, Taxes, Wall Street | 1 Comment

Massachusetts: Victory in Leominster; Mazer makes waves

Posted on September 25, 2013 by David McKee

Cordish Gaming crushed the opposition in Leominster yesterday, winning approval for a slot parlor with 61% of the vote. The campaign was notable for the personal participation of David Cordish, who went door-to-door to drum up support. The whippet-thin senior … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Boyd Gaming, Colony Capital, Cordish Co., Election, Harrah's, IGT, Massachusetts, Neil Bluhm, New Hampshire, Penn National, Regulation, Rhode Island, Technology, Tilman Fertitta | 1 Comment

Penn, Boyd take the hot seat

Posted on September 25, 2013 by David McKee

Continuing its series of “fireside chats,” Deutsche Bank‘s Carlo Santarelli met with Penn National Gaming executives. They reported that high-end play was pretty much normal but that small-fry players (who represent a quarter of their database) are wagering less these … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Boyd Gaming, Downtown, Internet gambling, Missouri, Ohio, Penn National, Wall Street | Comments Off on Penn, Boyd take the hot seat

N.Y. GOP boss ixnays casinos

Posted on September 24, 2013 by David McKee

“This is not real economic development,” puts New York State Republican Party Chairman Ed Cox, declaring his opposition to the pro-casino question on the Nov. 5 ballot. He buttressed his anti-casino stance by declaring gambling to be “a bust” in … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Cordish Co., Election, Harrah's, Massachusetts, New York, Politics, The Strip, Tribal | Comments Off on N.Y. GOP boss ixnays casinos

All’s well at Pinnacle; Atlantic City’s PR jackpot

Posted on September 23, 2013 by David McKee

So reports J.P. Morgan analyst Joseph Greff, who met with Pinnacle Entertainment brass. The latter characterized their absorption of Ameristar Casinos as “on track.” Part of this is due to five “synergy buckets,” which represent everything from job cuts to … Continue reading →

Posted in Ameristar, Atlantic City, Economy, Marketing, Ohio, Pinnacle Entertainment, Wall Street | Comments Off on All’s well at Pinnacle; Atlantic City’s PR jackpot

Another Borgata first; Ohio is “george”; Adelson’s waiting game

Posted on September 20, 2013 by David McKee

In what could be a harbinger of good things for Atlantic City, the final events of the World Poker Tour are being held at Borgata. It’s to promote the legalization of online poker in New Jersey, but anything that brings … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Boyd Gaming, Environment, International, Internet gambling, Japan, Ohio, Problem gambling, Sheldon Adelson, Steve Wynn | 2 Comments

Setback for New Jersey; Doom for Mathis; Tribal magic

Posted on September 17, 2013 by David McKee

Federal judges gave the boot to the Garden State’s attempt to enter the mega-lucrative sports betting market. A subset of the Third Circuit of the U.S. Court of Appeals upheld a reading of the Professional & Amateur Sports Betting Act … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Florida, Internet gambling, Oklahoma, Regulation, Tribal | Comments Off on Setback for New Jersey; Doom for Mathis; Tribal magic

This is a joke, right?

Posted on September 17, 2013 by David McKee

Joseph “Tomato King” Procacci‘s casino bid in Philadelphia is fast becoming the clown car at the circus. Every time he opens its door, a zillion putty-nosed faces come tumbling out. His newest gambit has been to announce a vast theme … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Donald Trump, Economy, Foxwoods, Mohegan Sun, Pennsylvania, Regulation, Tomato King Procacci | Comments Off on This is a joke, right?

Gomes out, Adelson in, Japan on the fence

Posted on September 16, 2013 by David McKee

Take a good look at that flapper-era costume. It’s not long for Resorts Atlantic City. Now that the Mohegan Gaming Authority has well and truly taken the reins of the property, the late Dennis Gomes‘ Prohibition Era theming is on … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Dennis Gomes, International, Louisiana, Marketing, Mohegan Sun, Sheldon Adelson, Wall Street | Comments Off on Gomes out, Adelson in, Japan on the fence