Category Archives: California

Quote of the Day

Posted on May 30, 2017 by David McKee

“The California penal code expressly bars the playing of blackjack as a prohibited game. Yet you can drive down streets and highways in our state and see billboards on which card rooms boldly advertise that they play Las Vegas-style blackjack.” — Yocha … Continue reading →

Posted in California, Law enforcement, Tribal | Comments Off on Quote of the Day

Connecticut casino faces uncertain future; Japanese cities protest casino process

Posted on May 26, 2017 by David McKee

Connecticut‘s controversial satellite casino has been voted through the state Senate. This prompted a swift response from the Schaghticoke Tribal Nation, which promised a lawsuit (probably financed by MGM Resorts International). Gov. Dannel Malloy (D) threw his support behind the satellite … Continue reading →

Posted in California, Economy, Foxwoods, Harrah's, Japan, Massachusetts, MGM Mirage, Mohegan Sun, Politics, Sheldon Adelson, Transportation, Tribal | Comments Off on Connecticut casino faces uncertain future; Japanese cities protest casino process

Caesars pages The Hoff; Riviera sign lives again

Posted on May 22, 2017 by David McKee

Enjoy the fountains and shrubbery in front of Caesars Palace while you still can. Caesars Entertainment CEO Mark Frissora plans to celebrate the company’s emergence from bankruptcy by monetizing 90 acres of Las Vegas Strip frontage. To be fair to … Continue reading →

Posted in California, Harrah's, history, International, Japan, Marketing, Problem gambling, Riviera, South Korea, The Strip, Tribal | Comments Off on Caesars pages The Hoff; Riviera sign lives again

Warming trend continues in Macao; Shifty dealings in Maine

Posted on May 2, 2017 by David McKee

Gaming revenues in Macao rose 16% in April, a result that Deutsche Bank analyst Carlo Santarelli deemed “modestly better than expected.” That’s damning with faint praise. JP Morgan analyst Joseph Greff also shrugged off the numbers as “about as expected.” … Continue reading →

Posted in California, Donald Trump, Downtown, Eldorado Resorts, Entertainment, Horseracing, International, Macau, Maine, Maryland, MGM Mirage, New York, PokerStars, Politics, Regulation, Tribal, TV, Wall Street | Comments Off on Warming trend continues in Macao; Shifty dealings in Maine

Nevada is #1; Atlantic Club plans dashed

Posted on May 2, 2017 by David McKee

Congratulate yourself, Nevadans. Your state has been deemed “most fun” by WalletHub. This is despite only mediocre rankings in movie theaters and amusement parks per capita (27th and 28th, respectively). Nevada was tops in casinos — big surprise, I know … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, California, Donald Trump, Entertainment, Harrah's, International, Internet gambling, Law enforcement, Nevada, Philippines, Sports, Steve Wynn, Technology, Tribal | Comments Off on Nevada is #1; Atlantic Club plans dashed

Warm spring in the Midwest; Vegas Vic gets political

Posted on April 10, 2017 by David McKee

Don’t believe anyone who says the economy is bad: Casino takings are up all across the Midwest. The biggest gain was in Ohio, where casino win rose 7%, even though players continue to blow off Jack Cleveland ($18 million, -8%). … Continue reading →

Posted in Affinity Gaming, Ameristar, Animals, Archon Corp., Boyd Gaming, California, Dan Gilbert, Downtown, Eldorado Resorts, Full House Resorts, Harrah's, Indiana, Isle of Capri, Law enforcement, Majestic Star, Missouri, Ohio, Penn National, Pinnacle Entertainment, PokerStars, Politics, Racinos, Tropicana Entertainment, Wayne F. Newton | Comments Off on Warm spring in the Midwest; Vegas Vic gets political

Temporary relief for Illinois; CityCenter for sale?

Posted on April 7, 2017 by David McKee

As a huge gambling expansion works its way through the Legislature, casino owners in Illinois must feel like condemned men awaiting the execution. At any rate, it behooves them to gather roses while yet they may. Fortunately, gamblers felt like … Continue reading →

Posted in Boyd Gaming, California, CityCenter, GLPI, Harrah's, Illinois, Macau, MGM Mirage, Mississippi, Neil Bluhm, Penn National, Regulation, South Korea, Sports, Taxes, The Crown 18, Wall Street | 1 Comment

Bicycle Casino gets busted; Macao bounces back

Posted on April 5, 2017 by David McKee

For the second time in its history, the Feds have busted the Bicycle Hotel & Casino, in Bell Gardens, California. They’re hot on the trail of laundered money and think Bicycle was providing some drip-dry service. Agents from multilateral task … Continue reading →

Posted in California, Law enforcement, Macau, Sports, The Strip, Wall Street | Comments Off on Bicycle Casino gets busted; Macao bounces back

Quote of the Day

Posted on March 29, 2017 by David McKee

“There are a finite number of gamblers. The more times you split that pie up, the fewer customers you have.” — Jackson Rancheria Casino Resort CEO Rich Hoffman, uttering apparent heresy to explain why California tribal casinos need to diversify their … Continue reading →

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

Trump’s revenge; Larry Flynt, casino boss

Posted on March 28, 2017 by David McKee

Why is Trump Plaza the whitest elephant among Atlantic City casinos? (Scroll to bottom) Because its operating costs include a $1 million ground lease to former American Jewish Congress head Robert Lifton, who owns the underlying acreage. This little poison … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, California, Carl Icahn, Donald Trump, Hard Rock International, Harrah's, history, Isle of Capri, MGM Mirage, Technology, Trump Entertainment Resorts | 1 Comment

Reading Trump’s tea leaves; Paper to MGM: Give us your money — or else!

Posted on March 27, 2017 by David McKee

What does the nascent Trump administration bode of tribal gaming? That question is vigorously bandied about in the new issue of Global Gaming Business. Although fairly circumspect in his opinions, National Indian Gaming Association Chairman Ernest Stevens Jr. sees cause … Continue reading →

Posted in California, Downtown, Economy, Entertainment, Foxwoods, history, Indiana, Macau, Massachusetts, MGM Mirage, Mohegan Sun, Neil Bluhm, New York, North Las Vegas, Philippines, Politics, Steve Wynn, The Mob, Tribal | Comments Off on Reading Trump’s tea leaves; Paper to MGM: Give us your money — or else!

Legal trouble for Mohegan, Foxwoods; The gospel according to Slammy

Posted on March 15, 2017 by David McKee

It looks as though the constitutionality of a no-bid, off-reservation casino for Mohegan Sun and Foxwoods Resort Casino may be an issue after all. Connecticut Attorney General George Jepsen issued an opinion that the legal risks with the unusual deal “are not … Continue reading →

Posted in California, Downtown, Economy, Foxwoods, Massachusetts, MGM Mirage, Mohegan Sun, Penn National, Pennsylvania, Sports, The Strip | Comments Off on Legal trouble for Mohegan, Foxwoods; The gospel according to Slammy

More resort fees at MGM; Sands Bethlehem sold?

Posted on March 3, 2017 by David McKee

It was show time for the big boys at the J.P. Morgan Gaming, Lodging, Restaurant & Leisure Management Access Forum, starting with MGM Resorts International, which had to get started by explaining why fourth-quarter numbers had been “coming in well below … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, Atlantic City, California, Donald Trump, Economy, Hard Rock International, Harrah's, Harry Reid, Japan, Macau, Maryland, Massachusetts, MGM Mirage, Penn National, Pennsylvania, Pinnacle Entertainment, Seminole Tribe, Sheldon Adelson, Singapore, Sports, Steve Wynn, The Strip, Tourism, Transportation, Tribal, Tropicana Entertainment, Wall Street | 1 Comment

Business as usual at Boyd; Pinnacle looks to expand

Posted on March 3, 2017 by David McKee

* Top brass at Boyd Gaming met with J.P. Morgan analyst Joseph Greff and reported a relatively unruffled start to 2017, although the delayed mailing of income-tax refunds (about three weeks later than usual) was retarding results a bit. Still, … Continue reading →

Posted in Boyd Gaming, California, Cannery Casino Resorts, Colorado, Current, Economy, Louisiana, Marketing, MGM Mirage, North Las Vegas, Penn National, Pinnacle Entertainment, The Strip, Tilman Fertitta, Tribal, Wall Street, West Virginia | 1 Comment

MGM lands big fish; Black-market casino busted in Georgia

Posted on February 16, 2017 by David McKee

MGM Resorts International took it on the chops from Deutsche Bank analyst Carlo Santarelli, who said of 4Q16 results that they “were undoubtedly surprising, in the wrong direction in this instance as property EBITDA fell well short of forecasts, most … Continue reading →

Posted in Boyd Gaming, California, Donald Trump, Dubai, Georgia, International, Internet gambling, Law enforcement, Macau, Maryland, MGM Mirage, Regulation, The Strip, Tribal, Wall Street | 1 Comment

Station, Culinary at it again; Attack of the Russian slot cheats

Posted on February 14, 2017 by David McKee

After reaching a fragile labor peace with Station Casinos, the Culinary Union is heading for another scrum with the company, publishing a petition to “Stations Casino” [sic!], detailing various and sundry workplace complaints, such as “first aid supplies were not … Continue reading →

Posted in California, Culinary Union, Georgia, International, Law enforcement, MGM Mirage, New York, Penn National, Politics, South Carolina, Station Casinos, Technology, Tribal, Tropicana Entertainment, Wall Street | Comments Off on Station, Culinary at it again; Attack of the Russian slot cheats

Penn National backpedals; Feral bunnies terrorize Vegas

Posted on February 2, 2017 by David McKee

Penn National Gaming released fourth-quarter numbers and, according to Deutsche Bank‘s Carlo Santarelli acknowledged a “difficult start” at Hollywood Jamul (this despite having an extra-long runway to get the new property aloft). Santarelli called the tribal casino a “drag” on … Continue reading →

Posted in Animals, Atlantic City, California, Dining, Donald Trump, Election, Glenn Straub, GLPI, Hard Rock International, history, Illinois, Iowa, Japan, Macau, Marketing, Penn National, Regulation, Revel, Sheldon Adelson, Slot routes, Steve Wynn, Technology, The Strip, Tribal, Trump Entertainment Resorts, Wall Street, West Virginia | Comments Off on Penn National backpedals; Feral bunnies terrorize Vegas

Crescendo of criticism in Connecticut; Adelson has solid 3Q17

Posted on January 27, 2017 by David McKee

“These legislators have it right, and they are proposing what Connecticut should have done from day one: put in place a process that is fair, open, transparent, reliable, and competitive,” said MGM Resorts International spokesman Alan Feldman, as opposition to … Continue reading →

Posted in California, Donald Trump, Election, Foxwoods, Macau, MGM Mirage, Mohegan Sun, Neil Bluhm, New York, Politics, Sheldon Adelson, Singapore, The Strip, Tribal | Comments Off on Crescendo of criticism in Connecticut; Adelson has solid 3Q17

Lukewarm Christmas in Louisiana; New casino for Indiana?

Posted on January 20, 2017 by David McKee

Despite an extra weekend in December, Louisiana gaming revenues were only modestly up, +4%, although gambling fever sure gripped Baton Rouge, where casinos won 14% more than last year. New Orleans has fallen to a distant third ($47 million) as … Continue reading →

Posted in Boyd Gaming, California, Churchill Downs, Dan Lee, Florida, Full House Resorts, GLPI, Harrah's, Indiana, Isle of Capri, Louisiana, Maryland, MGM Mirage, Penn National, Pinnacle Entertainment, Racinos, Seminole Tribe, Taxes, The Strip, Tilman Fertitta, Tribal, Tropicana Entertainment, Wall Street, West Virginia | Comments Off on Lukewarm Christmas in Louisiana; New casino for Indiana?

Jesus scapegoated for December results; Changing of the guard in New Jersey

Posted on January 11, 2017 by David McKee

Deutsche Bank analyst Carlo Santarelli put in some quality time in Las Vegas recently and came away satisfied with the market, particularly MGM Resorts International, Station Casinos, Boyd Gaming and Penn National Gaming, although he had no new intel on … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Boyd Gaming, California, Economy, Foxwoods, Georgia, Horseracing, Internet gambling, Lucky Dragon, MGM Mirage, Mohegan Sun, Penn National, Politics, Station Casinos, Tribal, Wall Street | Comments Off on Jesus scapegoated for December results; Changing of the guard in New Jersey