Category Archives: Charity

Wynn springs a surprise; MGM feeds the needy

Posted on January 23, 2018 by David McKee

Steve Wynn‘s conference calls tend to be dramatic and yesterday’s was no exception. El Steve announced a 2,500-room hotel for the old New Frontier/Plaza/Alon site. Breaking precedent, he would join it with Wynncore by virtue of the Las Vegas Strip‘s … Continue reading →

Posted in Boyd Gaming, Charity, Dan Gilbert, Economy, Illinois, Indiana, Law enforcement, Macau, Marketing, MGM Mirage, Ohio, Plaza, Politics, Steve Wynn, Taxes, Technology, The Strip, Tribal, Wall Street | Comments Off

Pennsylvania towns shun casinos; Macao mobbed up

Posted on January 5, 2018 by David McKee

Mini-casinos are as popular in Pennsylvania as an outbreak of typhus. Some 936 towns have ixnayed the idea of hosting slot parlors in their back yards. Extant casino operators will have to bid at least $7.5 million (and have a site … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, California, Charity, Churchill Downs, Economy, Foxwoods, Genting, Internet gambling, Law enforcement, LVCVA, Macau, Mandalay Bay Massacre, Maryland, MGM Mirage, Pennsylvania, Regulation, South Korea, Sports, Steve Wynn, Taxes, The Mob, Tourism, Tribal, TV | Comments Off

Where’s the outrage?; Religion and slots mix

Posted on January 3, 2018 by David McKee

Donald Trump‘s move to take tips out of workers’ pockets and put them in managements hands has poked an 800-lb. gorilla, in the form of the AFL-CIO. It was wrong when Steve Wynn did it as business policy and it’s … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Charity, Donald Trump, International, Macau, Pennsylvania, Station Casinos, Technology, The Strip, Tribal, Wall Street | Comments Off

Tax change roils industry; Head rolls at Rivers Schenectady

Posted on November 14, 2017 by David McKee

Tax legislation currently before Congress has the gaming industry, well, not up in arms but decidedly concerned. The House of Representatives version would close some loopholes for deductibility of interest on growth investments. Rather than take up its argument with the … Continue reading →

Posted in Charity, Genting, Geoff Freeman, Neil Bluhm, New York, Politics, Taxes | Comments Off

MGM rebounds; Harvey victims have mystery casino benefactor

Posted on November 10, 2017 by David McKee

Commercials practically begging people to patronize the Las Vegas Strip after the Mandalay Bay massacre turn out to have been needless. The company most affected, MGM Resorts International, reports that hotel bookings are “almost back to normal.” “I’m happy to … Continue reading →

Posted in Baseball, Charity, Cordish Co., Cosmopolitan, Galaxy Entertainment, Greenwood Racing, Harrah's, Macau, Mandalay Bay Massacre, MGM Mirage, Neil Bluhm, Penn National, Pennsylvania, Politics, Steve Wynn, Texas, The Strip, Wall Street | Comments Off

Wynn: Set the date; High-tech potties at Caesars

Posted on October 27, 2017 by David McKee

It’s official: Wynn Resorts will start tearing up its Las Vegas Strip golf course on Jan. 3, 2018. Not much is known about what will replace it, as the budget hasn’t been set, and plans for the Wynn Paradise Park … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, Boyd Gaming, Cannery Casino Resorts, Charity, Downtown, Harrah's, Macau, Movies, North Las Vegas, Steve Wynn, Technology, The Strip, Wall Street | Comments Off

Strange bedfellows indeed; Massachusetts responds to Vegas massacre

Posted on October 17, 2017 by David McKee

Ex-Indiana Gov. Mike Pence‘s anti-casino past came back to bite him in the keester this week. A lengthy exposé reveals that, even as Pence was publicly posturing about “no expansion of gaming” in Indiana — although Pence never clearly defined … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, California, Centaur Gaming, Charity, Delaware, Donald Trump, e-sports, G2E, Gary Goett, Indiana, Internet gambling, Mandalay Bay Massacre, Maryland, Massachusetts, Nevada, Politics, Regulation, Sheldon Adelson, Station Casinos, Technology, Tribal | Comments Off

Less-than-Golden Week in Macao; Pac-Man devours G2E competition

Posted on October 16, 2017 by David McKee

“Somewhat disappointing” was JP Morgan analyst Joseph Greff‘s verdict on Golden Week numbers out of Macao. “Given that some VIPs visit Macau after the holiday to avoid the crowds, we note that channel checks post Golden Week indicate that gaming … Continue reading →

Posted in Charity, Economy, G2E, GameCO, Macau, Melco Resorts & Entertainment, MGM Mirage, Sheldon Adelson, Sociedade de Jogos de Macau, Steve Wynn, Technology, Tourism, Wall Street | Comments Off

Strip disappoints, locals casinos dominate; Indiana ignores tribal casino

Posted on August 30, 2017 by David McKee

Poor table play punished the Las Vegas Strip last month, driving revenues down 8%. Locals casinos, by contrast, were up 13%, possibly helped by some end-of-June coin lingering in the slot hoppers. But, if so, what’s the Strip’s excuse for … Continue reading →

Posted in Boulder Strip, Boyd Gaming, Charity, Downtown, Economy, Environment, Harrah's, Indiana, International, Japan, Lake Tahoe, Laughlin, Lawrence Ho, Louisiana, Macau, Majestic Star, Marketing, MGM Mirage, Missouri, Nevada, North Las Vegas, Pansy Ho, Pennsylvania, Regulation, Reno, Sheldon Adelson, Taxes, The Strip, Tribal, West Virginia | Comments Off

Sands Bethlehem sale fizzles; Packer peddles Alon acreage

Posted on May 25, 2017 by David McKee

For the second time, Las Vegas Sands has decided that Sands Bethlehem was too valuable to sell, especially after it set a state record for table game revenue. (Earlier, Sands was bruited to be in talks with Tropicana Entertainment to … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Charity, Eldorado Resorts, Harrah's, Internet gambling, Iowa, Isle of Capri, James Packer, Macau, Melco Crown Entertainment, MGM Mirage, Pennsylvania, Phil Ruffin, Sheldon Adelson, Slot routes, Steve Wynn, The Strip, Tropicana Entertainment | Comments Off

Conservatives diss Adelson; Penn loses court battle

Posted on April 21, 2017 by David McKee

If Attorney General Jeff Sessions goes ahead with a ban on Internet gambling, he could be in for a world of hurt. Never mind the states with online casinos. He’d be messing with the states that have online lotteries, a … Continue reading →

Posted in Charity, Donald Trump, Florida, Genting, Internet gambling, Iowa, Penn National, Pennsylvania, Politics, Regulation, Sheldon Adelson, Taxes | 1 Comment

Wynn shows Adelson up; Schenectady casino opens tonight

Posted on February 8, 2017 by David McKee

Contrary to crude insinuations by the Las Vegas Review-Journal, Steve Wynn‘s gift of $7 million in company stock late last year went mainly toward medical research at the University of Iowa’s Wynn Institute for Vision Research ($5 million), while another $1.7 … Continue reading →

Posted in Animals, Charity, Economy, Harrah's, Iowa, Maine, Marketing, Neil Bluhm, New York, Sheldon Adelson, Sports, Steve Wynn, Technology, The Strip, Tribal | 1 Comment

Wynn-Adelson feud renewed; Caesars readies wrecking ball

Posted on February 3, 2017 by David McKee

Until recently, Sheldon Adelson was the face of Republican Party fundraising. But the GOP’s new fair-haired boy is a certain Steve Wynn and Adelson doesn’t appear to be taking it lying down. His Las Vegas Review-Journal, showed uncharacteristic investigative moxie … Continue reading →

Posted in Charity, Donald Trump, Downtown, Economy, Election, Harrah's, Macau, Marketing, Sheldon Adelson, Steve Wynn | 2 Comments

Taj Mahal: Soon with 100% less Trump?; Sands jams up players

Posted on October 13, 2016 by David McKee

While the last vestiges of Donald Trump‘s ownership of Trump Taj Mahal were liquidated when Carl Icahn took over, it retained the name and continued to buy Trump Water. (The taste of douchebaggery?) What concerns politicians in Trenton is the prospect … Continue reading →

Posted in Affinity Gaming, Architecture, Atlantic City, Carl Icahn, Charity, Cirque du Soleil, Donald Trump, Downtown, Entertainment, Harrah's, International, Politics, Sheldon Adelson, The Strip, Tilman Fertitta, Tropicana Entertainment | Comments Off

Crisis mode in Pennsylvania; Hard Rock unifies the brand

Posted on October 3, 2016 by David McKee

Although Pennsylvania lawmakers theoretically have three months to amend an “incredibly complex” state law that directs casino revenue to host cities and counties, the grim reality is that the Lege has only eight session days in which to get it … Continue reading →

Posted in Australia, Charity, Eldorado Resorts, Florida, G2E, Greenwood Racing, Hard Rock Hotel, Hard Rock International, International, Macau, Pennsylvania, Politics, Seminole Tribe, Sheldon Adelson, Steve Wynn, Taxes, Technology, TV, Wall Street | 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

Hooters’ inspirational initiative; New York legalizes DFS

Posted on August 15, 2016 by David McKee

Plucking General Manager Michael Storm from the executive ranks of The D and the Golden Gate and installing him at Hooters Casino Hotel is proving to be one of the best ideas that property’s had in a long time. Storm’s … Continue reading →

Posted in Animals, Charity, Harrah's, history, Hooters, Internet gambling, Law enforcement, LVCVA, Riviera, The Strip | Comments Off

Election special: New Jersey, New York, Oregon

Posted on August 9, 2016 by David McKee

An MGM Resorts International executive with whom I spoke yesterday told me the New Jersey casino ballot initiative is trailing badly in the polls. We hope he’s right, especially as news of the closure of Trump Taj Mahal (and Glenn … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Carl Icahn, Charity, Economy, Election, Foxwoods, Glenn Straub, Harrah's, Hooters, MGM Mirage, Mohegan Sun, New York, Oregon, Politics, Revel, Tribal, Tropicana Entertainment, Unite-Here | Comments Off

Mashpee casino blocked; Wynn: Doing more with less

Posted on August 1, 2016 by David McKee

Carcieri v. Salazar and the Indian Reorganization Act have come back to bite the Mashpee Wampanoag tribe in the hindquarters. U.S. District Judge William G. Young has ruled against a Taunton casino project, siding with the contention of a group … Continue reading →

Posted in Boyd Gaming, Charity, Eldorado Resorts, Foxwoods, Genting, Harrah's, history, International, Internet gambling, Isle of Capri, Macau, Massachusetts, MGM Mirage, Mississippi, Neil Bluhm, Pennsylvania, Regulation, Steve Wynn, Taxes, Tilman Fertitta, Tribal | Comments Off

Icahn leaves Taj workers nostalgic for Trump; Megaresort proposed for NYC

Posted on July 7, 2016 by David McKee

You can measure the acrimony between Unite-Here Local 54 and Tropicana Entertainment by the fact that striking workers at Trump Taj Mahal are using Donald Trump as a stick with which to beat Carl Icahn. By astutely negotiating a pact … Continue reading →

Posted in California, Carl Icahn, Charity, Cordish Co., Cosmopolitan, Donald Trump, Election, Entertainment, Genting, Georgia, Glenn Straub, Harrah's, Horseracing, Illinois, Macau, Marketing, Melco Crown Entertainment, MGM Mirage, New York, Regulation, Revel, Stanley Ho, Tribal, Tropicana Entertainment, Trump Entertainment Resorts, Unite-Here | Comments Off