Category Archives: California

Caesars’ escape artistry; Boyd goes native

Posted on December 30, 2015 by David McKee

Caesars Entertainment gained some breathing room after U.S. District Judge Shira Scheindlin ruled that “material disputes” involving its removal of guarantees to bondholders required resolution by trial, not summary judgment. Caesars feared the latter, contending that it would contend that it … Continue reading →

Posted in Boyd Gaming, California, Harrah's, International, Macau, Melco Crown Entertainment, Oklahoma, Sheldon Adelson, Tribal, Wall Street | Comments Off on Caesars’ escape artistry; Boyd goes native

Good news in Indian Country

Posted on December 22, 2015 by David McKee

It’s a happy day for the Picayune Rancheria of Chukchansi Indians, which got the go-ahead from the National Indian Gaming Commission to reopen its long-troubled Chukchansi Gold Resort & Casino. The NIGC was feeling so generous, in fact, that it suspended a … Continue reading →

Posted in California, Dan Gilbert, Harrah's, Massachusetts, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Regulation, Sheldon Adelson, Technology, Tribal | Comments Off on Good news in Indian Country

Quote of the Day

Posted on December 22, 2015 by David McKee

“I’ve never wagered in a football pool, and find sports as interesting as watching grass grow. But I’d rather try my hand at these games than the state lottery or slot machines. The websites have daily wagers now (and not … Continue reading →

Posted in California, Internet gambling, Regulation | Comments Off on Quote of the Day

When you wish upon a star

Posted on December 21, 2015 by David McKee

Despite a shakeup by Gov. Greg Abbott (R, below), the Texas Racing Commission still has a death wish when it comes to “instant racing.” When, in keeping with Abbott’s wishes, the TRC held a vote to repeal the VLT gambling, … Continue reading →

Posted in California, Dining, history, Horseracing, New York, Racinos, Regulation, Texas | Comments Off on When you wish upon a star

Big card room bust in California

Posted on December 11, 2015 by David McKee

Earlier this week, American Gaming Association President Geoff Freeman unveiled a stern new set of anti-money laundering guidelines, lest any casinos out there hadn’t gotten the memo that Uncle Sam means business when it comes to enforcing AML rules. As … Continue reading →

Posted in California, Geoff Freeman, International, Internet gambling, Law enforcement, MGM Mirage, Penn National, Regulation, Steve Wynn, Tribal | Comments Off on Big card room bust in California

Penn charms Wall Street

Posted on December 3, 2015 by David McKee

JP Morgan analyst Joseph Greff recently sat down with Penn National Gaming COO Jay Snowden and, of course, the big topic of conversation was Plainridge Park. Penn doesn’t see Wynn Everett — when it opens in 2018 — as a … Continue reading →

Posted in California, Economy, Illinois, M Resort, Marketing, Maryland, Massachusetts, MGM Mirage, Missouri, Penn National, Pennsylvania, Racinos, Rhode Island, Slot routes, Sports, Steve Wynn, Taxes, The Strip, Tribal, West Virginia | 1 Comment

Caesars gets the boot; Impatience in New York

Posted on December 1, 2015 by David McKee

Lawyers for Caesars Entertainment will be burning a little extra midnight oil after they lost a case that will enable the National Retirement Fund to kick Caesars — its largest donor — out of the fund. That makes Caesars liable … Continue reading →

Posted in California, Election, Foxwoods, Harrah's, history, Internet gambling, Mississippi, Mohegan Sun, New York, Pennsylvania, Regulation, Technology, Tribal | Comments Off on Caesars gets the boot; Impatience in New York

Runaway costs in Springfield; Lucky Dragon not so lucky

Posted on November 20, 2015 by David McKee

MGM Springfield is turning into the worst of both worlds. Not only has the ‘wow’ factor been subtracted (“really the least interesting part of our project,” one exec contended), with the result that the casino-hotel looks more like a bank … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, California, Culinary Union, Downtown, Entertainment, Lucky Dragon, Massachusetts, MGM Mirage, Regulation, Taxes, Transportation | Comments Off on Runaway costs in Springfield; Lucky Dragon not so lucky

Tribes 1, NLRB 0; DFS on the rampage

Posted on November 18, 2015 by David McKee

In a big setback for Big Labor, the House of Representatives voted to exempt tribal casinos from National Labor Relations Board oversight. This turns back 11 years of precedent, stemming from a 2004 NLRB ruling that San Manuel Indian Bingo … Continue reading →

Posted in California, International, Internet gambling, New York, Regulation | Comments Off on Tribes 1, NLRB 0; DFS on the rampage

Caesars gets nuked; Jerry Brown gets spanked

Posted on November 18, 2015 by David McKee

“It’s the ultimate nuclear option to try to go after debtors’ counsel.” That’s what Seton Hall University boffin Stephen Lubben says of junior bondholders’ latest ploy in their knock-down, drag-out fight with Caesars Entertainment. They’re accusing law firm Kirkland & … Continue reading →

Posted in California, Harrah's, International, Taxes, Tribal, Wall Street | Comments Off on Caesars gets nuked; Jerry Brown gets spanked

Caesars: (Almost) everything must go; More angst in Macao

Posted on October 27, 2015 by David McKee

Well, it had to happen eventually. In order to escape bankruptcy, Caesars Entertainment is putting Caesars Entertainment Operating Co. on the market. There are some who are calling this a bluff and others who can’t afford to get in on … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Boyd Gaming, California, Economy, GLPI, Harrah's, Illinois, Indiana, International, Iowa, Lake Tahoe, Lawrence Ho, Louisiana, Marketing, Melco Crown Entertainment, MGM Mirage, Mississippi, Missouri, Ohio, Penn National, Philippines, Regulation, Reno, Sheldon Adelson, Stanley Ho, Steve Wynn, The Strip, Tribal, Wall Street | 1 Comment

Bad week for DFS

Posted on October 26, 2015 by David McKee

“What it’s doing is calling fantasy sports what it is. Do you pay money to get into the contest, and do you get money back when you win? And if so, that’s gambling.” So says South Point attorney Barry Leibermann of … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, California, Colorado, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Internet gambling, Kansas, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michael Gaughan, Mississippi, New York, Ohio, Politics, Technology | Comments Off on Bad week for DFS

Caesars: New wine in old bottle; The house that poker built

Posted on October 23, 2015 by David McKee

Starting Jan. 1 (What? No New Year’s Eve bookings?), guests at Caesars Palace will have the chance to stay in the new Julius Tower. Except that it’s not really new: It’s the old Roman Tower, given a dramatic, $75 million … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, California, Economy, Genting, Harrah's, Macau, Regulation, Sheldon Adelson, Singapore, Steve Wynn, The Strip | Comments Off on Caesars: New wine in old bottle; The house that poker built

All’s well at Penn; Mulroy’s misdeed; Discomfort at Studio City

Posted on October 22, 2015 by David McKee

Penn National Gaming pleasantly surprised Wall Street, reporting third-quarter revenue of $739 million and $210 million in cash flow, exceeding projections by $8 million and $11 million, respectively. It paid out $109 million in rent to Gaming & Leisure Properties … Continue reading →

Posted in California, Economy, Galaxy Entertainment, GLPI, Illinois, Lawrence Ho, Macau, Marketing, Massachusetts, Melco Crown Entertainment, MGM Mirage, Missouri, Ohio, Penn National, Regulation, Sports, Steve Wynn, The Strip, Tribal, Wall Street | Comments Off on All’s well at Penn; Mulroy’s misdeed; Discomfort at Studio City

James Packer thinks big; DFS’ self-inflicted wound

Posted on October 19, 2015 by David McKee

One scarcely thinks of Crown Resorts as anything but an upmarket brand. However, as it contemplates debuting in Las Vegas and pines after Japan, Crown is developing a new, luxury brand. The unlikely template will be a $1.1 billion, 90-story … Continue reading →

Posted in Australia, California, Delaware, Illinois, James Packer, Japan, Macau, Mississippi, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Regulation, Sheldon Adelson, Sports, The Strip | Comments Off on James Packer thinks big; DFS’ self-inflicted wound

Mad slot skillz; Tribes at war with one another

Posted on October 12, 2015 by David McKee

Skill-based slot games are a long way from deployment but that didn’t discourage The Motley Fool‘s Jeff Hwang from scouting the Global Gaming Expo show floor in search of entertaining product. The games he saw the greatest potential in were … Continue reading →

Posted in California, Economy, G2E, IGT, Internet gambling, MGM Mirage, Pennsylvania, Scientific Games, Technology, Tribal | Comments Off on Mad slot skillz; Tribes at war with one another

Tohono O’oh no!; Backlash in Macao

Posted on September 18, 2015 by David McKee

Judge David Campbell accepted the Tohono O’odham Nation‘s assertion that it could make as much money from Class II electronic-bingo machines as it could from conventional slots. And that’s bad news for the tribe. While it can open a Class … Continue reading →

Posted in Arizona, California, Economy, Macau, Politics, Regulation, Transportation, Tribal | Comments Off on Tohono O’oh no!; Backlash in Macao

China comes to Las Vegas’ rescue; MGM chock-full of cultural initiatives

Posted on September 18, 2015 by David McKee

High-speed rail to Las Vegas is “on” again, with China emerging as Sin City’s savior. The budget for the China Railway Group/XpressWest Enterprises  joint venture hasn’t been disclosed but $100 million in startup capital has been committed to fund the … Continue reading →

Posted in California, CityCenter, history, Massachusetts, MGM Mirage, The Strip, Transportation | Comments Off on China comes to Las Vegas’ rescue; MGM chock-full of cultural initiatives

Fantasy sports pushback; Wynn “punished enough”

Posted on September 17, 2015 by David McKee

If the glutting of our TV screens with obnoxious FanDuel and DraftKings ads has not been enough to trigger a backlash, it has been sufficient to inspire Wynn Las Vegas‘ resourceful sports books director, Johnny Avello, to devise his version of … Continue reading →

Posted in California, Geoff Freeman, Macau, Massachusetts, Politics, Sports, Steve Wynn, TV, Wall Street | Comments Off on Fantasy sports pushback; Wynn “punished enough”

Caesars, O’Malley flunk key tests

Posted on August 26, 2015 by David McKee

Caesars Entertainment got caught with its pants down by Howard Stutz, who wrote that the company “committed public relations suicide” by lavishing a $200,000 bonus on General Counsel Tim Donovan. This is the same Caesars that is trying to stiff … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, California, Election, Entertainment, G2E, Harrah's, Maryland, Mohegan Sun, Taxes, Technology, The Strip, Tribal, TV | 1 Comment