Category Archives: Cordish Co.

Quote of the Day

Posted on January 27, 2014 by David McKee

“It is irrelevant to us . . . that other applicants have projected, or that they have used exceedingly aggressive assumptions. Our policy is to tell it like it is, not to embellish numbers.” — Cordish Gaming Managing Partner Joe … Continue reading →

Posted in Cordish Co., Economy, Mohegan Sun, Pennsylvania | Comments Off

D-Day in Philly; Al Sharpton’s casino-boss buddy; Angst in Maine

Posted on January 27, 2014 by David McKee

It’s death-grapple time in Philadelphia, where five competing proposals will be aired for the final time before the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board. Even a supporter of casino expansion in the city, like Jeffries LLC‘s John Maxwell, concedes there will be … Continue reading →

Posted in Alabama, Churchill Downs, Cordish Co., Cosmopolitan, Entertainment, Greenwood Racing, Maine, New York, Penn National, Pennsylvania, The Strip, Tomato King Procacci, Tourism, Tribal | Comments Off

Case Bets: Atlantic City, Wisconsin & Illinois

Posted on January 17, 2014 by David McKee

Transparency in gaming sustained a couple of blows this week. A proposed ‘black book’ to keep felons out of Illinois slot routes was blocked by legislative forces this week. The excuse given was that the Illinois Gaming Board was acting … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Cordish Co., Harrah's, Illinois, Politics, Regulation, Tilman Fertitta, Tribal, Tropicana Entertainment, Wisconsin | Comments Off

Florida: Genting gets real; Boom in Maryland, frenzy in Delaware

Posted on January 8, 2014 by David McKee

Genting Group‘s Godzilla-sized proposal for a $3 billion resort on the Miami waterfront has gone into the shredder. Instead, the Malaysian developer hopes to go into partnership with Gulfstream Park. It would piggyback onto Gulfstream’s parimutuel license and Gulfstream’s purses … Continue reading →

Posted in Cordish Co., Economy, Genting, Maryland, New York, Penn National, Racinos | Comments Off

This won’t help A.C. and other case bets

Posted on January 6, 2014 by David McKee

Handle at Meadowlands Racetrack rose 32% (or $55 million) last year. That’s not what Atlantic City casinos need to hear at a time when they’re just trying to tread water. It’s bad enough that Caesars Entertainment and Tropicana Entertainment are … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Cordish Co., Entertainment, Environment, Harrah's, Horseracing, Macau, Maryland, Mohegan Sun, Ohio, Penn National, Planet Hollywood, Tropicana Entertainment | Comments Off

Caesars turns up heat on Crosby

Posted on January 3, 2014 by David McKee

Perhaps realizing that the previous version of its lawsuit against Massachusetts Gaming Commission Chairman Stephen Crosby was a dog that wouldn’t hunt, Caesars Entertainment has reloaded with an amended complaint. Now it says that Crosby urged Steve Wynn, when the … Continue reading →

Posted in Colony Capital, Cordish Co., Economy, Florida, Harrah's, Massachusetts, Regulation, Steve Wynn | 1 Comment

Nevada finishing year strong; Christie’s choler

Posted on December 31, 2013 by David McKee

With a little help from one extra weekend day, Nevada gross gaming revenues shot upward 12% statewide in November and 23% on the Strip. Baccarat players lost their shirts, with the house winning 94% more than the previous year. Less … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Boulder Strip, Cordish Co., Current, Downtown, Economy, Harrah's, Laughlin, Maryland, Massachusetts, MGM Mirage, North Las Vegas, Penn National, Regulation, Reno, Steve Wynn, The Strip, Tilman Fertitta, Trump Entertainment Resorts | 2 Comments

Mohegan Sun scolded; Atlantic Club’s death throes

Posted on December 24, 2013 by David McKee

City fathers in Palmer, Massachusetts, have had a sudden falling-out with Mohegan Tribal Gaming Authority. They’ve accused Mohegan Sun of deliberately tanking the Nov. 5 election through “a deliberate pattern of delay and mismanagement.” As such, they’ll be joining the … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Cordish Co., Hard Rock International, Harrah's, Indiana, Massachusetts, Mohegan Sun, Regulation, Revel, Steve Wynn, Taxes, Tilman Fertitta, Tropicana Entertainment, Trump Entertainment Resorts | Comments Off

D-Day nears for Massachusetts, Maryland

Posted on December 9, 2013 by David McKee

This just in: MGM Resorts International has been tentatively approved by the investigative branch of the Massachusetts Gaming Commission, pending the satisfaction of certain matters. That moment is drawing nigh at which point the Massachusetts Gaming Commission must rule upon … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Colony Capital, Cordish Co., Greenwood Racing, Harrah's, Maryland, Massachusetts, MGM Mirage, Pansy Ho, Penn National, Regulation, Stanley Ho, Steve Wynn, Tribal | 1 Comment

Imbalances of power; Vegas to Israel?

Posted on December 6, 2013 by David McKee

It was another bonny month for Maryland, whose casino revenues grew 55% in November, up to $67 million. It’s not an apples/apples comparison, since neither Rocky Gap Casino nor table games were in play a year ago. Tables were responsible … Continue reading →

Posted in Charity, Cordish Co., Economy, Greenwood Racing, Harrah's, Illinois, Macau, Maryland, Melco Crown Entertainment, MGM Mirage, Neil Bluhm, Penn National, Pets, Sheldon Adelson, Stanley Ho, Steve Wynn | Comments Off

Foxwoods Massachusetts: All the king’s horses …

Posted on November 20, 2013 by David McKee

In what must be the shortest-lived deal in Penn National Gaming‘s history, its nascent partnership with Foxwoods Resort Casino went down to defeat yesterday. Crossroads Massachusetts, as it was called, didn’t just lose — it was crushed. An unofficial tabulation … Continue reading →

Posted in Cordish Co., Foxwoods, Greenwood Racing, Massachusetts, MGM Mirage, Penn National, Regulation, Steve Wynn | Comments Off

Racing the clock at Foxwoods, in Philly

Posted on November 15, 2013 by David McKee

It’s entirely possible that Milford voters could pink-slip Crossroads Massachusetts next Tuesday. But even if they don’t, Foxwoods Casino Resort CEO Scott “Woody” Butera is watching the project crumble before his very eyes. The Massachusetts Gaming Commission looked at the … Continue reading →

Posted in CityCenter, Cordish Co., Current, Dining, Election, Foxwoods, Horseracing, Kansas, Maryland, Massachusetts, Penn National, Pennsylvania, Regulation, Steve Wynn, Tomato King Procacci, Wall Street | Comments Off

Indiana up and down; Garber agonistes

Posted on November 8, 2013 by David McKee

Casinos in Indiana grossed 3% less last month but still far outperformed ($193 million) neighboring Illinois and Ohio. Patron traffic was 9% down but visitor spend rose 7%. Penn National Gaming‘s Hollywood Lawrenceburg got absolutely hammered by new competition from … Continue reading →

Posted in Boyd Gaming, Charity, Cordish Co., Current, Economy, Harrah's, Indiana, Internet gambling, Japan, Massachusetts, MGM Mirage, Ohio, Penn National, Pinnacle Entertainment, Racinos, Regulation, Station Casinos, Tropicana Entertainment | Comments Off

Big score for Station, little one for Caesars

Posted on November 7, 2013 by David McKee

Station Casinos has a big hit on its hands in the form of Graton Resort & Casino. So many customers turned out for opening day that the doors swung wide an hour early. Ninety minutes later, admittance was being rationed … Continue reading →

Posted in California, Cordish Co., Economy, Harrah's, Macau, Maryland, MTR Gaming, Ohio, Penn National, Pennsylvania, Station Casinos, Tourism, Tribal, Wall Street, West Virginia | Comments Off

What makes a ‘surrounding community’?

Posted on November 1, 2013 by David McKee

Google Maps, that’s what. The Massachusetts town of Bolton wants “surrounding community” consideration from Leominster, where Cordish Gaming hopes to built a $203 million slot parlor. As with many towns across the state, Bolton’s concerns center upon traffic. Cordish maintains … Continue reading →

Posted in Cordish Co., Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Regulation | 1 Comment

MGM: A class act in Maryland; Sands’ convenient poll

Posted on October 29, 2013 by David McKee

MGM Resorts International‘s presentation last week to the Maryland Video Lottery Terminal Location Commission lacked the smell of fear that Penn National Gaming exuded last week. Alluding to Penn’s offer to forfeit all profits and to creative accounting, MGM CEO Jim … Continue reading →

Posted in Cordish Co., Greenwood Racing, Internet gambling, Maryland, MGM Mirage, Penn National, Regulation, Sheldon Adelson, Uncategorized | Comments Off

MGM’s, Wynn’s odds worsen in Massachusetts

Posted on October 28, 2013 by David McKee

Did anyone envision a scenario whereby all three of Massachusetts‘ casinos could be tribally owned? It could happen. Leaving aside the chance of expanded gambling in Connecticut, the prospect that MGM Resorts International will be weighed in the balance and … Continue reading →

Posted in Cordish Co., Entertainment, Foxwoods, Greenwood Racing, Harrah's, Macau, Massachusetts, MGM Mirage, Mohegan Sun, Pansy Ho, Penn National, Regulation, Steve Wynn, The Strip, Tourism, Tribal | Comments Off

Meet Tim Wilmott; Go big or go home

Posted on October 15, 2013 by David McKee

Penn National Gaming‘s COO lays out his company’s operating philosophy in potted form. Going up. One city will get more casino than expected and another one might. In Tulsa, the tribally owned River Spirit Casino will add four hotel floors … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Cordish Co., Harrah's, Massachusetts, Oklahoma, Penn National, Tribal | 1 Comment

Game time in Massachusetts;

Posted on October 8, 2013 by David McKee

Three casino firms got ready to rumble yesterday, as the Massachusetts Gaming Commission heard pitches from all slot parlor applicants. It was a day characterized as filled with “glitzy renderings and plenty of big promises … soaring music, testimonials, and pictures … Continue reading →

Posted in Cordish Co., Maryland, New York, Penn National, Regulation, Taxes, Tribal, West Virginia | 2 Comments

Massachusetts: The deadline that wasn’t

Posted on October 1, 2013 by David McKee

Yesterday was the day ultimate for filing casino applications in the state’s southeastern region. Kinda. Sorta. Maybe. Only KG Urban Enterprises actually bothered to file. Of course, the region is meant as a set-aside for the Mashpee Wampanoags … but … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Cordish Co., Harrah's, Massachusetts, MGM Mirage, Penn National, Tribal | Comments Off