Category Archives: Cordish Co.

Lucky Horseshoe for Maryland; Old McDonald had a casino

Posted on August 6, 2015 by David McKee

What would have been a revenue-negative July for Maryland casinos turned into their biggest month ever, thanks to Horseshoe Baltimore. Gaming revenue rose more $23 million, with all that and more coming from the Caesars Entertainment property. While the casino is … Continue reading →

Posted in Cordish Co., Cretins, Harrah's, Maryland, New York, Penn National, Racinos, Regulation, The Strip, Westgate LV | 1 Comment

Trump (the casino) loses again; New look for Bluhm

Posted on July 23, 2015 by David McKee

Business is in a tailspin at Trump Taj Mahal, in part due to Unite-Here‘s call for a boycott of the austerity-minded property. Trump Entertainment Resorts wanted the union muzzled, plus financial compensation. But a federal judge handed CEO Bob Griffin … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, Atlantic City, Carl Icahn, Cordish Co., Idaho, Maryland, Neil Bluhm, New York, Trump Entertainment Resorts, Unite-Here | 1 Comment

Stale fare for New York; Web sites taken hostage

Posted on July 7, 2015 by David McKee

New York gaming regulators gave the state’s southern tier a second chance to submit plans for a casino — and they got leftovers. The only bidder was Tioga Downs owner Jeff Gural (left) who essentially proposed a supersized, $145 million version … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Colony Capital, Cordish Co., Entertainment, Harrah's, Internet gambling, Maryland, Massachusetts, New York, Racinos, Regulation, Technology, Tribal | 1 Comment

More grief for Uncle Carl; Bluhm backs down

Posted on June 18, 2015 by David McKee

Carl Icahn has won his gambit to take over Trump Taj Mahal but that doesn’t mean he and Unite-Here are all lovey-dovey. Although Icahn earlier called Trump Entertainment Resorts the most distressed company he’s ever seen, he’s giving CEO Bob … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, Atlantic City, Carl Icahn, Cordish Co., Harrah's, history, Maryland, MGM Mirage, Neil Bluhm, New York, Penn National, Regulation, Taxes, Trump Entertainment Resorts, Unite-Here | 2 Comments

Rock in Rio flops; Tighter slots in Maryland?

Posted on June 17, 2015 by David McKee

According to Vital Vegas, the first Strip outing of Rock in Rio might be its last, as the music festival may have lost as much as $28 million. Vital Vegas puts attendance at a dreadful 130,000 (out of a possible … Continue reading →

Posted in Australia, Cordish Co., Current, Entertainment, Florida, Harrah's, International, Japan, Macau, Maryland, MGM Mirage, Pets, Philippines, Politics, Racinos, Regulation, Singapore, South Korea, The Strip, Tourism, Tribal | Comments Off

Well done, Horseshoe; Hard Rock gets hacked

Posted on May 5, 2015 by David McKee

Last week, Horseshoe Baltimore found itself a sitting duck during the civil disturbances that followed the death of Freddy Gray. With police imposing a 10 p.m.-5 a.m. curfew, Horseshoe had no choice but to curtail its operating hours, closing at 9 … Continue reading →

Posted in Cordish Co., Dan Gilbert, Georgia, Hard Rock International, Harrah's, Maryland, MGM Mirage, South Carolina, Warner Gaming | Comments Off

Paradox in Maryland; Otter saves “instant racing”

Posted on April 7, 2015 by David McKee

While its competitors dealt with a variety of revenue declines, despite posting a record amount of revenue, Horseshoe Baltimore was up in March, grossing a best-yet $25 million. On a statewide basis, revenue was 17% higher last month. However, casinos … Continue reading →

Posted in Cordish Co., GTECH, Harrah's, Horseracing, Idaho, IGT, Maryland, Penn National, Racinos, Regulation, Reno, Tribal, World Series of Poker | Comments Off

Dr. Loveman’s voodoo; Reid hangs it up

Posted on March 30, 2015 by David McKee

Despite having wrought havoc upon Caesars Entertainment, Chairman Gary Loveman — looking alarmingly puffy and ill — manages to still find himself taken seriously as a talking head. He gave CNBC a dosage of his usual spin-doctoring. This includes one … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Cordish Co., Geoff Freeman, Harrah's, Harry Reid, history, Japan, Maryland, Pennsylvania, Politics, TV, World Series of Poker | Comments Off

Fly the friendly slots; New tax takes aim at slot routes

Posted on March 4, 2015 by David McKee

Unlike most states, Maryland hasn’t hit the saturation mark and a bill to put a slot route into Thurgood Marshall Airport will probably have little effect on that. The slots will only be accessible to ticketed passengers, with the idea … Continue reading →

Posted in Aristocrat, Cordish Co., Dotty's, Golden Gaming, Harrah's, Maryland, Michael Gaughan, Politics, Taxes, Technology, Transportation | Comments Off

Bigamy in New York; Bluster in New Jersey

Posted on February 24, 2015 by David McKee

Empire Resorts‘ Montreign Resort Casino project has two things in common with Rivers Casino & Resort and Lago Resort & Casino (well, three if you count the fact that none has been built yet). All were chosen from among 16 … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Bally Technologies, Cordish Co., Genting, Harrah's, Neil Bluhm, New York, Penn National, Racinos, Regulation, Scientific Games, Technology | 1 Comment

Possible rescue for Delaware tracks; New boss in Atlantic City

Posted on January 23, 2015 by David McKee

Going against Gov. Jack Markell (D), Delaware lawmakers are wrapping up a relief package for the state’s beleaguered racino industry. The tax rate on table games would be cut from 29% to 15% and the $3 million licensing fee would … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Cordish Co., Delaware, Harrah's, Maryland, Politics, Racinos, Taxes | Comments Off

New chief at Resorts World; Pay cut for Wynn

Posted on January 21, 2015 by David McKee

In a change of horses that might kick-start development of dormant Resorts World Las Vegas, boss Christian Goode is out, replaced by Gerald Gardner, a former top aide to Nevada Gov. Brian Sandoval. The groundbreaking for the project has now … Continue reading →

Posted in Charity, Cordish Co., Florida, Genting, Harrah's, Maryland, New York, Steve Wynn, The Strip | Comments Off

Politicians desert Atlantic City; Cuomo dreams on

Posted on January 20, 2015 by David McKee

Despite four years of yeoman’s work repairing and altering Atlantic City‘s image, the Atlantic City Alliance is being abandoned like an orphan on the church steps. State Senate President Steve Sweeney (D, left) blamed the casinos for killing it off … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Boyd Gaming, Cordish Co., Harrah's, Marketing, Maryland, New York, Pennsylvania, Politics, Tourism, Wall Street | Comments Off

Revel: Straub vs. Straub

Posted on January 6, 2015 by David McKee

If Glenn Straub can’t have Revel, he’s determined to see that no one else can … including Glenn Straub. The sole remaining bidder for Atlantic City‘s $2.4 billion white elephant, Straub’s $95.4 million bid for it was accepted by bankruptcy … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Cordish Co., Glenn Straub, Harrah's, Maryland, Penn National, Revel, Tribal, Wisconsin | Comments Off

Many called, few chosen for New York casinos

Posted on December 18, 2014 by David McKee

Count mega-budget offerings from Genting Group and Caesars Entertainment among the marquee-name dismissals in the New York Gaming Facility Location Board‘s final cut of casino applicants. Also going into the circular file were a second Genting project (Resorts World Hudson Valley), along with … Continue reading →

Posted in Churchill Downs, Cordish Co., Economy, Genting, Hard Rock International, Harrah's, Horseracing, International, Mohegan Sun, Neil Bluhm, New York, Penn National, Racinos, Taxes, Tribal | Comments Off

Vegas hits the jackpot & other Case Bets

Posted on December 17, 2014 by David McKee

We don’t know how much they’ve spent yet and how much of a blockbuster year this will be for Las Vegas but we know one thing for certain. We’ve finally broken the 40 million mark in annual visitation, a Holy … Continue reading →

Posted in Cordish Co., Downtown, Entertainment, Harrah's, International, Sports, Tourism | 1 Comment

Dotty’s loses, Genting hesitates, Penn adapts

Posted on December 4, 2014 by David McKee

Look at that picture. Seriously, keep looking. Does that seem like a tavern to you? A casino? Some curious hybrid? For years the Clark County Commission has been grappling with the vexing questions posed by the rapidly growing Dotty’s chain of … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, Cordish Co., Dotty's, Downtown, Genting, Golden Gaming, Harrah's, Maryland, New York, Pennsylvania, Regulation, Station Casinos, The Strip | 2 Comments

SLS struggles to find its niche; Cordish knows its one

Posted on November 25, 2014 by David McKee

Granted, Sam Nazarian had to do something with the Sahara, but so far when SLS Las Vegas makes the headlines it’s with another piece of bad news. F&B offerings have been cut back and the nightclub program is struggling. Rationalizes … Continue reading →

Posted in Boyd Gaming, Cordish Co., Dining, Genting, George Maloof, Harrah's, Maryland, New York, Regulation, Revel, Sahara, Sam Nazarian, The Strip | Comments Off

Forcible restraint in Massachusetts; The big winners in Philadelphia

Posted on November 19, 2014 by David McKee

As you’ve read here earlier, the Massachusetts Gaming Commission is eyeing the concept of “play management.” It’s a somewhat paternalistic concept wherein players pre-set a loss limit and are rewarded with free-play credits, points or other incentives for staying within … Continue reading →

Posted in Cordish Co., Foxwoods, Geoff Freeman, Greenwood Racing, Harrah's, Isle of Capri, Macau, Maryland, Massachusetts, Mohegan Sun, Pennsylvania, Regulation, Technology, Tomato King Procacci | 1 Comment

Philadelphia: No surprise here

Posted on November 18, 2014 by David McKee

As expected, the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board gave the last Philadelphia casino license to a partnership of Cordish Gaming and Greenwood Gaming. The flashy Live! Hotel & Casino will nestle in the stadium area in the south part of town. “We’re … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Cordish Co., Economy, Foxwoods, Greenwood Racing, Harrah's, Mohegan Sun, Neil Bluhm, New York, Pennsylvania | Comments Off