Category Archives: California

Japan goes all in; Adelson, Davis on the outs?

Posted on December 27, 2016 by David McKee

In an uncharacteristic flurry of activity, the normally tortoise-powered Shinzo Abe got casino enabling legislation through both houses of the Japanese Diet prior to adjournment. “To us the opportunity is thoroughly Japanese and thoroughly delicious,” said a lip-smacking Steve Wynn. … Continue reading →

Posted in California, Florida, Geoff Freeman, Japan, Politics, Seminole Tribe, Sheldon Adelson, Sports, Steve Wynn, Taxes, The Strip, Tourism, Wall Street | Comments Off

Japan: Another failure; Reading the Trump tea leaves

Posted on November 15, 2016 by David McKee

According to Morgan Stanley analysts, the chances of pro-casino legislation passing in Japan this year are “quite low.” Yes, Prime Minister Shinzo Abe has booted the ball yet again. His big push [sic] to bring casinos to the Land of … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, California, Delaware, Donald Trump, Florida, Genting, Internet gambling, James Packer, Japan, Law enforcement, Macau, MGM Mirage, Nevada, Politics, Sheldon Adelson, Singapore, South Korea, Station Casinos, Tourism, Tribal | Comments Off

They messed with Texas; Strip hotels have boom month

Posted on October 28, 2016 by David McKee

Tribal casinos are normally pretty tight-lipped about their financial performance. Not so the Alabama Coushatta Tribe of Texas. “It’s a quaint little spot and we’re pretty proud of it,” a tribal member told Houstonia magazine, speaking of Naskila Gaming, a … Continue reading →

Posted in Alabama, California, Economy, G2E, history, IGT, Marketing, Penn National, Regulation, Texas, The Strip, Tourism, Tribal, Wall Street | Comments Off

Adelson in trouble again; Trop buoys Penn National numbers

Posted on October 27, 2016 by David McKee

Las Vegas Sands is under the regulatory magnifying glass again. It’s been alleged that the company tried to make an end run around anti-money-laundering laws by permitting Chinese whales to use front men to place bets on their behalf. Lawyers … Continue reading →

Posted in California, Dining, Downtown, Entertainment, Harrah's, International, Internet gambling, Law enforcement, Marketing, Mississippi, Penn National, Pennsylvania, Regulation, Sheldon Adelson, Sports, Taxes, Technology, The Strip, Tribal, Wall Street | Comments Off

Quote of the Day

Posted on October 14, 2016 by David McKee

“We don’t have anything that’s been as successful as this, at least that political science literature has been able to capture.” — Fernando Guerra, of Loyola Marymount University‘s Center for the Study Of Los Angeles on ‘Voteria,’ which offered cash prizes … Continue reading →

Posted in California, Election | 1 Comment

Hollywood Jamul: Penn bombs in California

Posted on October 14, 2016 by David McKee

An S&G reader suggested that, given the sudden dropoff in traffic to Hollywood Casino Jamul, we have a look at customer reviews on Yelp. We did and, boy, has Penn National Gaming laid an egg — the more so for … Continue reading →

Posted in California, Massachusetts, Ohio, Penn National, Tribal | 4 Comments

Hollywood Jamul opens; Hutchinson opposes Arkansas casinos

Posted on October 13, 2016 by David McKee

While the eyes of the industry were focused on the closing of Trump Taj Mahal, there was another long-awaited event on Monday: the opening of Hollywood Casino Jamul, near San Diego. Combine in-progress road construction with a new casino and … Continue reading →

Posted in Arkansas, Atlantic City, California, Cannery Casino Resorts, Dining, Election, GLPI, Harrah's, Horseracing, Isle of Capri, New York, Oklahoma, Penn National, Pennsylvania, Pinnacle Entertainment, Politics, Racinos, Taxes, Technology, The Strip, Transportation, Tribal | 1 Comment

Penn: The wait is over; Scientific strikes again

Posted on October 5, 2016 by David McKee

On Oct. 10, the same day that Trump Taj Mahal is scheduled to close, Penn National Gaming will open the long-deferred Hollywood Casino Jamul (federal approvals had been holding it up). In celebration, Penn is announcing that relief of the … Continue reading →

Posted in Boulder Strip, California, Downtown, Georgia, Minnesota, Ohio, Penn National, Pennsylvania, Pinnacle Entertainment, Scientific Games, Tribal, Wall Street | Comments Off

Stadium debate heats up; Seminole Tribe ousts boss

Posted on September 30, 2016 by David McKee

While it looked for a moment like the wheels were greased for an NFL stadium on the Las Vegas Strip, financed primarily by hotel-room taxes, there’s a bit less certainty today. For one thing, Sheldon Adelson either assumed or … Continue reading →

Posted in California, Economy, Florida, Hard Rock International, Harrah's, Macau, MGM Mirage, Politics, Seminole Tribe, Sheldon Adelson, Sports, Taxes, The Strip | 2 Comments

Live by baccarat, die by baccarat; Donald Trump, Stiff of the Century

Posted on September 29, 2016 by David McKee

With one less weekend this year and weak baccarat volumes, the Las Vegas Strip got hammered, down 15%. Statewide, gross gaming revenues were off by 5%. Late-July slot win that was reported in August softened the blow, contributing to a … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Boulder Strip, Boyd Gaming, California, Donald Trump, Downtown, Election, Lake Tahoe, Laughlin, Mesquite, Nevada, North Las Vegas, Penn National, Reno, Station Casinos, The Strip, Tribal, Wall Street | 1 Comment

Big Gaming meets the Street

Posted on September 26, 2016 by David McKee

Deutsche Bank analyst Carlo Santarelli has been in town and conducting a busy schedule of meetings. Pride of place must go to Wynn Resorts, which declared the opening of Wynn Palace “very clean,” with “solid” VIP business. Hotel occupancy is … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Boulder Strip, Boyd Gaming, California, Cannery Casino Resorts, Culinary Union, Economy, Glenn Straub, GLPI, Illinois, Louisiana, Macau, Marketing, Massachusetts, MGM Mirage, Mississippi, Missouri, North Las Vegas, Pinnacle Entertainment, Reno, Revel, Sheldon Adelson, Slot routes, Station Casinos, Steve Wynn, The Strip, Tribal, Wall Street | Comments Off

Parisian opens amid uncertainty; Jones attacks old-boy network

Posted on September 13, 2016 by David McKee

While Sheldon Adelson‘s Las Vegas Review-Journal covered the opening of Wynn Palace from a safe distance, it has sent Richard Velotta to Macao to be on hand for today’s opening of Parisian Macao. What he discovered, among other things, was … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, Boyd Gaming, California, Galaxy Entertainment, Harrah's, IGT, International, Japan, Macau, Melco Crown Entertainment, MGM Mirage, Nevada, Pinnacle Entertainment, Scientific Games, Sheldon Adelson, South Korea, Station Casinos, Steve Wynn, Wall Street | Comments Off

Caesars dips toe in skill-based slots; MGM National Harbor snares Dylan

Posted on September 12, 2016 by David McKee

Caesars Entertainment is going on the road, as it were, to test-drive its first foray into skill-based slots. It’s going to install six Gamblit Gaming slot carousels at Harrah’s Rincon, with 36 slated for Las Vegas deployment next year. The … Continue reading →

Posted in California, Colorado, Cordish Co., Downtown, Environment, Golden Gaming, Harrah's, Hooters, IGT, Internet gambling, Kansas, Maine, Marketing, Maryland, MGM Mirage, Minnesota, Mississippi, Nebraska, Oklahoma, Penn National, Pennsylvania, Racinos, Scientific Games, Sheldon Adelson, South Dakota, Sports, Technology, The Strip, Tribal, TV, West Virginia, Westgate LV, Wisconsin | 2 Comments

Galaxy cautious on Macao; No smoking in Mesquite?

Posted on September 7, 2016 by David McKee

One swallow doesn’t make a spring and, if you’re Galaxy Entertainment CEO Lui Che-Woo, one month of 1% growth in gambling revenue doesn’t constitute a recovery in Macao: “Give me two more years to see if there’s a recovery here.” Now … Continue reading →

Posted in Arizona, Atlantic City, California, Donald Trump, Economy, Environment, Galaxy Entertainment, Illinois, Louisiana, Macau, Marketing, Mesquite, MGM Mirage, Regulation, Sheldon Adelson, The Mob, Tribal | Comments Off

Boulder Station goes union; Neon Museum sets records

Posted on September 7, 2016 by David McKee

Having finally bowed to management’s stipulation of a secret ballot election, as opposed to a card check, the Culinary Union can belatedly claim a victory in its long-running war with Station Casinos. Employees at Boulder Station, under the oversight of … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, Boyd Gaming, California, Charity, Cordish Co., Culinary Union, Downtown, history, Lucky Dragon, Marketing, Maryland, MGM Mirage, North Las Vegas, Palms, Regulation, Station Casinos, Tribal | 1 Comment

Straub resurfaces; Last casino to Clarksville

Posted on September 2, 2016 by David McKee

In case you’re wondering, “Whatever happened to Glenn Straub?”, the answer is that he’s finally been dragged, kicking and screaming, into applying for a New Jersey gaming license for Revel and is finalizing the paperwork. Huffington Post also reveals than … Continue reading →

Posted in Arkansas, Atlantic City, California, Election, Environment, Foxwoods, G2E, Glenn Straub, Internet gambling, Macau, MGM Mirage, Mohegan Sun, Oklahoma, PokerStars, Politics, Regulation, Revel, Texas, Tribal | 1 Comment

Win for Wynn; Russia’s Donald Trump

Posted on September 1, 2016 by David McKee

So maybe Wynn Palace made a difference, after all. Macao gambling revenue, which analysts expected to be anywhere from 1% up to 3% down last month, actually grew 1%. (Kudos to those analysts who bet the house would win.) With Sands … Continue reading →

Posted in Animals, California, Donald Trump, Florida, Galaxy Entertainment, Harrah's, IGT, International, Japan, Law enforcement, Lawrence Ho, Macau, Melco Crown Entertainment, Regulation, Sheldon Adelson, Steve Wynn, Taxes, Technology, Tribal | Comments Off

Hot July on the Strip; Alon: Stayin’ alive

Posted on August 31, 2016 by David McKee

Whales returned to the Strip with a vengeance in July, with baccarat play spurring a 17% revenue increase. The month was probably even bigger but, due to a peculiarity of Nevada casino accounting, slot revenues from the last weekend of … Continue reading →

Posted in Boulder Strip, California, Downtown, Entertainment, Genting, International, James Packer, Lake Tahoe, Laughlin, Marketing, Mesquite, Michael Gaughan, Nevada, North Las Vegas, Reno, Scientific Games, Sports, Technology, The Strip, Tourism, Wall Street | Comments Off

Tax fight in Pennsylvania; Adelson donation goes awry

Posted on August 23, 2016 by David McKee

Sands Bethlehem could soon pocket another $10 million a year but it’s letting Mount Airy Casino do the heavy lifting. The latter is arguing to the Pennsylvania Supreme Court that the flat, yearly fee falls disproportionately on small casinos, not … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, California, Eldorado Resorts, Greenwood Racing, International, Internet gambling, Law enforcement, Massachusetts, Neil Bluhm, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, PokerStars, Sheldon Adelson, Steve Wynn, Taxes, Tribal | Comments Off

MGM’s China gambit; Mixed quarter for Station

Posted on August 17, 2016 by David McKee

MGM Resorts International and Pansy Ho are performing a fancy juggling act with MGM stock. The former is going to buy an additional 188 million shares in MGM China, increasing its hold on the property to 56%. In return, Ms. … Continue reading →

Posted in California, Culinary Union, Economy, Election, Isle of Capri, Macau, MGM Mirage, Missouri, Nevada, Palms, Pansy Ho, Penn National, Reno, Station Casinos, Steve Wynn, Tribal, Wall Street | 2 Comments