Category Archives: California

Macao economy flounders; Massachusetts bonanza illusory

Posted on October 18, 2019 by David McKee

Macao got a double-barreled blast of bad news. First off, China‘s gross domestic product has slowed to growth rates not seen in almost 30 years. In fact, the R-word (“recession”) was invoked. Slow investment growth was blamed, as was the … Continue reading →

Posted in Caesars Entertainment, California, Charity, China, Downtown, Economy, Foxwoods, Las Vegas Raiders, Law enforcement, Macau, Marketing, Massachusetts, MGM Resorts International, Mohegan Sun, Penn National, Politics, Technology, The Strip, Tourism, Transportation, Tribal, Wynn Resorts | Comments Off on Macao economy flounders; Massachusetts bonanza illusory

Should we ban Steve Wynn?; Caesars vote set

Posted on October 15, 2019 by David McKee

Perhaps anticipating the expiration of Steve Wynn‘s noncompete agreement with Wynn Resorts, the Nevada Gaming Control Board has filed a complaint against El Steve in court, saying he brought “discredit” upon the state of Nevada, reports KTNV-TV. Could this be … Continue reading →

Posted in Caesars Entertainment, California, Carl Icahn, Cordish Co., Dining, Economy, Eldorado Resorts, Environment, Hard Rock International, history, Las Vegas Raiders, Louisiana, Marketing, Maryland, Massachusetts, Mohegan Sun, Regulation, Sexual misconduct, Steve Wynn, Tribal, Wall Street, Wynn Resorts | 2 Comments

Train shows promise; Culinary sabotages Station

Posted on September 25, 2019 by David McKee

* We’re hearing a bit more on the Virgin Trains USA electric railway to Las Vegas. The first shovels are to go into the ground in 2023 and the route will mainly hew to the I-15 median. Completion is expected … Continue reading →

Posted in Caesars Entertainment, California, Churchill Downs, Culinary Union, Dining, Florida, history, Horseracing, Illinois, Kentucky, Marketing, Nevada, Palms, Racinos, Station Casinos, Transportation, Wall Street | 1 Comment

Rio sold; Best casinos named

Posted on September 23, 2019 by David McKee

Despite rumors that Caesars Entertainment has sworn off trying to sell The Rio (again), it turns out that the Roman Empire was still shopping the resort. It’s been tentatively sold to “a principal of Imperial Companies” for $516 million. If … Continue reading →

Posted in Alex Meruelo, Atlantic City, Caesars Entertainment, California, Cosmopolitan, Derek Stevens, Dining, Downtown, Eldorado Resorts, Entertainment, Foxwoods, Genting, Golden Gaming, Hard Rock International, Las Vegas Sands, Louisiana, Marketing, Massachusetts, Mississippi, Mohegan Sun, New York, Ocean Resort, Penn National, Reno, Station Casinos, The Strip, Tilman Fertitta, Tribal, TV, World Series of Poker, Wynn Resorts | 1 Comment

Quote of the Day

Posted on September 17, 2019 by David McKee

“I am going to ride this train, but I am afraid it is going to be my ashes in an urn. I told my kids to take my ashes on the bullet train.”—project manager for the woebegone California bullet train, … Continue reading →

Posted in California, Transportation | Comments Off on Quote of the Day

Twin tragedies in California; Upgrades at Borgata

Posted on September 11, 2019 by David McKee

Yesterday was World Suicide Prevention Day (and of the innumerable politicians who try to shake me down for money, only Rep. Ilhan Omar [D] had the stones to raise the taboo topic.) As though to underline the issue, this week was … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, California, Law enforcement, MGM Resorts International, Problem gambling, Tribal | 3 Comments

Furor in Illinois; ‘Carmageddon’ in New Jersey

Posted on September 5, 2019 by David McKee

Charles DeGaulle was famous as The Man Who Said No. That nickname may have to be reassigned to Churchill Downs CEO Bill Carstanjen. His decision not to seek racino status for Arlington International Racecourse has set the Illinois gaming industry and … Continue reading →

Posted in California, Churchill Downs, CityCenter, Cosmopolitan, Horseracing, Illinois, International, Marijuana, MGM Resorts International, New Jersey, Politics, Racinos, Rush Street Gaming, Sports betting, Taxes, Tourism, Transportation | 1 Comment

Honeymoon over in Massachusetts; Drive like Elvis

Posted on September 3, 2019 by David McKee

Encore Boston Harbor has been open only two months. MGM Springfield just passed its one-year anniversary. And yet, the Boston Globe is already tossing around the ‘S’ word—saturation. Saying that casino executives might not like hearing it, the paper rejoined, … Continue reading →

Posted in AGA, Arizona, Caesars Entertainment, California, Economy, Entertainment, history, Massachusetts, MGM Resorts International, Mississippi, Penn National, Rhode Island, Transportation, Wynn Resorts | Comments Off on Honeymoon over in Massachusetts; Drive like Elvis

Cherokee go to D.C. (maybe); Ivey cleaned out

Posted on August 29, 2019 by David McKee

Native American tribes have a hard time being heard in Washington, D.C.  So it was past time that the Cherokee Nation took advantage of a treaty provision two centuries old and nominated a delegate to our nation’s capitol. The actual decision … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, California, Dining, Economy, history, Iowa, Las Vegas Sands, Law enforcement, MGM Resorts International, Oklahoma, Penn National, Politics, Regulation, The Strip, Tourism, Tribal, William Hill, World Series of Poker | 1 Comment

Two trains running

Posted on August 28, 2019 by David McKee

In a flurry of recent developments, Las Vegas has gone from no viable prospects for train service to two. And since they would use different tracks, they are not mutually exclusive. One project that appears to be dead and buried … Continue reading →

Posted in California, Florida, Harry Reid, North Las Vegas, Politics, Tamares Group, The Strip, Transportation | Comments Off on Two trains running

Tribes brush off Stitt; MGM riles Jewish community

Posted on July 29, 2019 by David McKee

Oklahoma Gov. Kevin Stitt‘s proposal to levy higher exclusivity fees on the Sooner State’s 134 tribal casinos continues to go over like a lead balloon. The guv finds himself in receipt of a letter from all of the state’s gaming-enabled … Continue reading →

Posted in AGA, Atlantic City, California, history, International, Macau, Marketing, MGM Resorts International, Mohegan Sun, Ohio, Oklahoma, Phil Ruffin, Sports, The Strip, Transportation, Tribal, TV | 1 Comment

California: Child brides and gambling don’t mix

Posted on July 17, 2019 by David McKee

One of the weirdest gaming stories ever is playing out in California. Both Ted Kingston and Joseph Kingston, 95% owners of Lake Elsinore Casino, are tied to the Kingston Group, a polygamist sect that the Southern Poverty Law Center has … Continue reading →

Posted in Arkansas, California, Florida, Law enforcement, Nevada, New Jersey, Sports, Sports betting, The Mob | 1 Comment

Genting’s been working on the railroad; California solons pitch sports betting

Posted on July 3, 2019 by David McKee

Genting Group evidently hasn’t given up on its casino aspirations in south Florida. The company is teaming with BYD Motors of China to propose a monorail between downtown Miami and Miami Beach. Genting owns waterfront real estate in Miami it has … Continue reading →

Posted in Caesars Entertainment, California, Florida, Genting, Japan, Macau, Pokergeddon, Politics, Problem gambling, Security, Sociedade de Jogos de Macau, Sports betting, Technology, The Strip, Tourism, Transportation, Tribal, TV, World Series of Poker, Wynn Resorts | Comments Off on Genting’s been working on the railroad; California solons pitch sports betting

Station diversifies; Caesars retrenches

Posted on June 19, 2019 by David McKee

Scott Roeben of VitalVegas continues to beat the mainstream media to the breaking stories in Sin City. His latest scoop has Apex nightclub at the Palms seeing a coup d’etat. Clique Hospitality is gone and now Station Casinos will try … Continue reading →

Posted in Baseball, Boyd Gaming, Caesars Entertainment, California, Culinary Union, Eldorado Resorts, Entertainment, MGM Resorts International, Nevada, North Las Vegas, Station Casinos, Tribal | 4 Comments

Ho renews ‘Dancing Water’; Florida hits high-water mark

Posted on June 14, 2019 by David McKee

Succeeding where Cirque du Soleil failed, Melco Resorts & Entertainment has extended the contract of aquatic spectacle House of Dancing Water. The production show, which premiered in 2010, was originally set to run 10 years but will last for an … Continue reading →

Posted in AGA, California, Cirque du Soleil, Cordish Co., Eldorado Resorts, Entertainment, Florida, Hard Rock International, Internet gambling, Macau, Melco Resorts & Entertainment, Pennsylvania, Rush Street Gaming, Tribal | 1 Comment

Secret deal in Bridgeport?; Packer/Ho sale threatened

Posted on June 4, 2019 by David McKee

“There is no ‘either/or’ solution when it comes to East Windsor and Bridgeport, and we shouldn’t be playing two Connecticut communities against each other.” That’s what tribal spokesman Andrew Doba said after it was revealed that Bridgeport was flirting with Foxwoods Resort … Continue reading →

Posted in Australia, California, Cirque du Soleil, Connecticut, Crown Resorts, e-sports, Entertainment, Foxwoods, Galaxy Entertainment, Las Vegas Sands, Lawrence Ho, Macau, Melco Resorts & Entertainment, MGM Resorts International, Mohegan Sun, Pennsylvania, Regulation, Sociedade de Jogos de Macau, Sports betting, Stanley Ho, Wynn Resorts | 1 Comment

Case Bets

Posted on May 17, 2019 by David McKee

Need a scorecard to keep up with the progress of sports betting? Never fear, the American Gaming Association has provided one. It shows sports-betting legislation on the docket in 15 states, including casino-averse Texas and Vermont. States that have rejected … Continue reading →

Posted in Animals, California, Dining, Greenwood Racing, Illinois, Mandalay Bay Massacre, MGM Resorts International, Mohegan Sun, Palms, Pennsylvania, Pets, Regulation, Rush Street Gaming, Sports, Sports betting, Station Casinos | Comments Off on Case Bets

Quote of the Day

Posted on May 3, 2019 by David McKee

“[There] is a deeply wrongheaded habit to project today’s norms, values, ideals backwards in time to find our ancestors inevitably falling short. It betrays a very troubling intolerance of art and the ambiguity of art and the aspirations of art.” — … Continue reading →

Posted in California, history, Politics, Tribal | Comments Off on Quote of the Day

Boyd, Churchill Downs garner raves; Indiana governor seduced

Posted on April 26, 2019 by David McKee

Boyd Gaming got a good review on Wall Street today, lauded both for slightly surpassing revenue expectations and for moving quickly to deleverage in the wake of the Valley Forge, Belterra and Ameristar acquisitions. Downtown continues to be Boyd’s bastion … Continue reading →

Posted in Ameristar, Boyd Gaming, Caesars Entertainment, California, Charity, Churchill Downs, Current, Derek Stevens, Downtown, Florida, Hawaii, Horseracing, Illinois, Iowa, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Mississippi, Ohio, Palms, Pennsylvania, Politics, Racinos, Rhode Island, Slot routes, Spectacle Entertainment, Sports betting, Station Casinos, Taxes, Tribal, Wall Street, West Virginia, Westgate LV | 1 Comment

Tunica: Another one bites the dust

Posted on April 18, 2019 by David McKee

Even before Arkansas casinos could clear their holsters, a third Tunica property has bitten the dust. Penn National Gaming took the hit, as Resorts Casino Tunica was announced to close on June 30, leaving six casinos in the rural Mississippi … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, Arkansas, Caesars Entertainment, California, Colony Capital, Economy, GLPI, Mississippi, Penn National, Tribal, Washington State | 1 Comment