Category Archives: Columbia Sussex

Station snapping up Palms?

Posted on May 9, 2016 by David McKee

Just when you thought Station Casinos was taking a nap, it up and surprises you. According to LVA sources, Station has purchased the Palms, bringing it nearer the Strip than ever and lending an extra cachet of hipness to the … Continue reading →

Posted in Ameristar, Columbia Sussex, George Maloof, history, North Las Vegas, Palms, Station Casinos, The Strip | Comments Off

MGM lashes out; Doldrums in Louisiana

Posted on September 18, 2015 by David McKee

It took a while but MGM Resorts International is pushing back against Connecticut‘s attempts to build a satellite version of its tribal casinos, to interdict gamblers who might otherwise play at MGM Grand Springfield. Although he didn’t hint at litigation … Continue reading →

Posted in Boyd Gaming, Churchill Downs, Columbia Sussex, Foxwoods, GLPI, Harrah's, Isle of Capri, Louisiana, Massachusetts, MGM Mirage, Mississippi, Mohegan Sun, Pinnacle Entertainment, Tilman Fertitta, Tropicana Entertainment | 2 Comments

Studio City in trouble; Tribal clash in Massachusetts

Posted on August 13, 2015 by David McKee

Melco Crown Entertainment is in Eeyore mood these days, darkly muttering about a “contingency plan” for Studio City if the Macao government doesn’t give it 400 table games. As far back as its 2014 annual report, the company was making … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Columbia Sussex, Election, Galaxy Entertainment, Geoff Freeman, Internet gambling, Isle of Capri, James Packer, Lawrence Ho, Macau, Massachusetts, Melco Crown Entertainment, MGM Mirage, Mississippi, Neil Bluhm, Pennsylvania, Regulation, Sheldon Adelson, Steve Wynn, The Strip, Tribal | Comments Off

New life for the Trop?; Paragon’s latest trophy

Posted on May 14, 2015 by David McKee

David G. Schwartz muses on the brave, new world at the Tropicana Las Vegas — soon with 100% more Penn National Gaming. He assesses it as a win for both parties. Penn gets a foothold at a strategic crossroads on … Continue reading →

Posted in Alex Yemenidjian, Baseball, Colony Capital, Columbia Sussex, Donald Trump, Entertainment, Hard Rock Hotel, history, M Resort, MGM Mirage, Penn National, Riviera, Sahara, Sheldon Adelson, Singapore, Station Casinos, The Strip, Transportation, Westgate LV | Comments Off

IRS money grab; Nastiness at Wynn

Posted on March 5, 2015 by David McKee

Gaming is a “soft target” for politicians and the Obama administration is looking into a backdoor method of engorging more gaming taxes. It is “considering” (but not yet imposing) lower thresholds for the “IRS lockdown” on winnings at keno, bingo and slots. … Continue reading →

Posted in Columbia Sussex, Missouri, Regulation, Steve Wynn, Taxes | Comments Off

Case Bets: IGT, Hard Rock, Golden Gaming

Posted on January 28, 2015 by David McKee

Profits were slimmer for International Game Technology in 1Q15, with the company reporting $35 million, 56% less than a year ago. IGT, which is in the process of being acquired by GTECH, offered little commentary on the results. CEO Patti … Continue reading →

Posted in Colorado, Columbia Sussex, Dining, Harrah's, Lake Tahoe, Lyle Berman, Maryland, Regulation, Sam Nazarian, Slot routes, Warner Gaming | 1 Comment

Boffo Christmas for Borgata; ColSux loses again

Posted on January 14, 2015 by David McKee

There wasn’t a lot of Christmas cheer to be had in Atlantic City, where citywide gambling revenues fell 13%. However, for the surviving operators, the take was up 7% on a “same-store” basis (i.e., discounting the casinos that have closed). … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Boyd Gaming, Carl Icahn, Columbia Sussex, Harrah's, history, Internet gambling, Kentucky, Mohegan Sun, Tilman Fertitta, Tropicana Entertainment, Trump Entertainment Resorts | Comments Off

Taj at Icahn’s mercy; The wrath of Wynn

Posted on December 17, 2014 by David McKee

Trump Entertainment Resorts CEO Bob Griffin (below) has basically flung himself at the feet of Carl Icahn and begged the billionaire to keep funding Trump Taj Mahal “well into 2015,” while Unite-Here‘s appeal of a bankruptcy court ruling is adjudicated, maybe … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Carl Icahn, Columbia Sussex, Entertainment, Harrah's, Macau, MGM Mirage, Mohegan Sun, Morgans Hotel Group, Steve Wynn, The Strip, Tilman Fertitta, Trump Entertainment Resorts | Comments Off

Flat at the Strat and other Case Bets

Posted on November 18, 2014 by David McKee

What a difference a year makes for American Casino & Entertainment Properties. Twelve months ago it was losing $9 million. In 3Q14, it posted a $600K profit. The reversal was achieved, in part, by squeezing customers with higher room rates … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, Boulder Strip, Columbia Sussex, Kentucky, Massachusetts, MGM Mirage, North Las Vegas, Reno, Station Casinos, Steve Wynn, The Strip | Comments Off

Showman Steve; Who’ll take Bucharest?

Posted on November 6, 2014 by David McKee

Rather than hire out entertainment for his Wynncore showroom (the one not occupied by Le Reve), Steve Wynn has taken a DIY approach. He’s producing and co-writing Showstoppers, a revue of some of the most iconic songs from Broadway musicals. … Continue reading →

Posted in Cirque du Soleil, Columbia Sussex, Cordish Co., Current, Entertainment, Genting, Harrah's, International, Kentucky, Maryland, Penn National, Sports, Steve Wynn, The Strip | Comments Off

Ivey loses & sundry Case Bets

Posted on October 9, 2014 by David McKee

Phil Ivey won’t be edge-sorting cards anytime soon. A British judge has ruled that, whether he knew it or not, Ivey was cheating when he won $12 million at Crockfords, a Genting Group casino in London. “He gave himself an advantage … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, California, Columbia Sussex, Election, Genting, Indiana, International, Japan, Lake Tahoe, Ohio, Penn National, Pinnacle Entertainment, Regulation, Station Casinos, Taxes, Tourism, Tribal, Wall Street, Warner Gaming | Comments Off

Kentucky’s failure claims victim

Posted on October 6, 2014 by David McKee

Occasionally, as casino gambling tries to expand in the U.S., some innocent bystander gets taken down. That could literally be the case with the Bavarian Brewery Building, a crenellated fixture of the Covington, Kentucky, skyline since 1877. It 2008 it … Continue reading →

Posted in Columbia Sussex, history, Kentucky, Politics | Comments Off

Marrandino returns; Crime and casinos

Posted on July 18, 2014 by David McKee

It’s hard to say which is the more intriguing aspect of the announced reinvention of Lake Tahoe‘s Horizon Casino Resort. Is it the adoption of the Hard Rock brand or the re-emergence of Don Marrandino as the man who’s going … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Columbia Sussex, Harrah's, Lake Tahoe, Pennsylvania, Taxes, Warner Gaming | 1 Comment

Take my casino, please; Nail-biter in Iowa

Posted on July 17, 2014 by David McKee

Rather than accept three potential casino closings as a fait accompli, Unite-Here is out beating the bushes for potential buyers. Given, the casinos aren’t Unite-Here’s to sell but there’s no law that says the union can’t play matchmaker. “We want the world … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Carl Icahn, Columbia Sussex, GTECH, Hard Rock International, Harrah's, IGT, Internet gambling, Iowa, Penn National, Regulation, Revel, Technology, Tropicana Entertainment, Trump Entertainment Resorts | 1 Comment

Camptown Races; Concord in Boston

Posted on July 8, 2014 by David McKee

What if they gave a casino and nobody came? That’s what happened to Kansas, which drew nary a bidder on its fourth and final casino license, deemed by many to be too close to Oklahoma (rife with casinos) to be … Continue reading →

Posted in Boyd Gaming, Carl Icahn, Columbia Sussex, Dotty's, Kansas, Laughlin, Massachusetts, Mohegan Sun, Oklahoma, Phil Ruffin, Steve Wynn, Tropicana Entertainment | 1 Comment

Boyd under siege? Tight (slots) on the East Coast

Posted on March 11, 2014 by David McKee

Yesterday, Elliott Management announced that it owns 5% of Boyd Gaming. Shares of the company, which had closed just under $12, opened at $14. But is this a vote of confidence in Boyd? According to Seeking Alpha, “Elliott has a … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Boyd Gaming, Columbia Sussex, Florida, Internet gambling, Lake Tahoe, Laughlin, Neil Bluhm, New York, Pennsylvania, Pinnacle Entertainment, Regulation, Reno, Technology, Tourism, Tropicana Entertainment, Wall Street, West Virginia | Comments Off

Freeman vs. Adelson; Kentucky tries again

Posted on November 21, 2013 by David McKee

In a particularly stunning departure from American Gaming Association tradition, new prexy Geoff Freeman took a jab at Las Vegas Sands CEO Sheldon “Nuke ‘Em” Adelson in the pages of USA Today. Of course, Freeman didn’t mention Adelson explicitly. But … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Columbia Sussex, Harrah's, Internet gambling, Kentucky, Marketing, New York, Penn National, Pennsylvania, Politics, Racinos, Regulation, Sheldon Adelson, Taxes | Comments Off

What’s new in Sparks?; Tomato King strikes again; Bluhm’s bad luck

Posted on August 2, 2013 by David McKee

Arising from the grave of the Silver Club, the brand-new Bourbon Square Casino was finished just in the nick of time for yesterday’s opening. Owner Nevada Casino Holdings has done well, delivering a “new” casino for just $5 million. It … Continue reading →

Posted in Boulder Strip, Columbia Sussex, Current, Don Barden, Laughlin, Massachusetts, Neil Bluhm, Penn National, Pennsylvania, Reno, Station Casinos, Steve Wynn, Tomato King Procacci | Comments Off

I-cahnned! River Palms sold; PokerStars out of A.C., Langford out to lunch

Posted on May 1, 2013 by David McKee

Subtract one casino from the Tropicana Entertainment portfolio: The River Palms Resort & Casino, in Laughlin, just went for $7 million today. TropEnt CEO Anthony Rodio isn’t pulling out of the Colorado River market altogether. He says the company will … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Carl Icahn, Colony Capital, Colorado, Columbia Sussex, Current, Economy, Internet gambling, Lake Tahoe, Laughlin, Pennsylvania, Pinnacle Entertainment, Planet Hollywood, Politics, Regulation, Reno, Station Casinos, Tropicana Entertainment | 3 Comments

Santarelli bails on SGMS; Blasts from the recent past

Posted on February 5, 2013 by David McKee

Scientific Games has lost the faith of Deutsche Bank‘s Carlo Santarelli. The analyst put out a “sell” recommendation this morning on SGMS stock, issuing a new target price of $6/share, down from $7. (Scientific was trading at $9.49 at the … Continue reading →

Posted in Columbia Sussex, Current, Economy, Harrah's, Marketing, Scientific Games, The Strip, Wall Street, WMS Industries | 1 Comment