Category Archives: Detroit

Stable in Atlantic City; Saturated in Pennsylvania

Posted on November 16, 2017 by David McKee

Casino business in Atlantic City was flat last month (not bad with one less weekend day), with the surviving casinos grossing $186 million. Internet revenue shot up 23.5% to $20.5 million. Slots were up 1% but tables, where wagering was down … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Dan Gilbert, Detroit, Eldorado Resorts, Glenn Straub, Greenwood Racing, Harrah's, Internet gambling, Massachusetts, MGM Mirage, Mohegan Sun, Neil Bluhm, Penn National, Pennsylvania, Pinnacle Entertainment, PokerStars, Racinos, Sheldon Adelson, Tilman Fertitta, Tropicana Entertainment | Comments Off

Warm September for Atlantic City

Posted on October 13, 2017 by David McKee

Things continue to look up for the Boardwalk. Last month, Atlantic City casinos showed a 2.5% revenue increase on a same-store basis. Toss the dead weight of Trump Taj Mahal out of the year/year comparison and the growth is an … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Dan Gilbert, Detroit, Entertainment, Glenn Straub, Hard Rock International, Harrah's, Internet gambling, Marketing, MGM Mirage, Mohegan Sun, Revel, Tilman Fertitta, Tropicana Entertainment, Trump Entertainment Resorts, Wall Street | Comments Off

Trying again in Kentucky; Trump Taj goes tits up

Posted on September 21, 2017 by David McKee

Casinos and Kentucky politicians have been like oil and water. But there’s nothing like a pension-fund crisis to focus people’s attention and the Bluegrass State faces a $33 million shortfall on its obligations. Hence a proposal for “limited” casino gambling, … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Dan Gilbert, Detroit, Dining, Economy, Election, Hard Rock International, Indiana, Kentucky, Marijuana, Nevada, Ohio, Politics, Racinos, Taxes, TV | 1 Comment

Light at end of Atlantic City tunnel; Madonna gets played

Posted on September 14, 2017 by David McKee

There’s one reason to look forward to November in Atlantic City: Revenue comparisons will no longer have to include the dead weight of Trump Taj Mahal. Gaming revenues were up 3.5% on the Boardwalk last month but add the Taj … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, Aristocrat, Atlantic City, Cosmopolitan, Dan Gilbert, Detroit, Entertainment, Harrah's, Marketing, MGM Mirage, Mohegan Sun, Paragon Gaming, Scientific Games, Sports, Technology, The Strip, Tilman Fertitta, Tropicana Entertainment, Trump Entertainment Resorts, Westgate LV | Comments Off

Murren blasts hate groups; 21st century strippers

Posted on August 22, 2017 by David McKee

Reverberations from Charlottesville were felt on the Las Vegas Strip last week when MGM Resorts International CEO Jim Murren wrote to all employees, saying in part, “You have my commitment that we will vigorously and zealously continue to reject hate speech … Continue reading →

Posted in Cretins, Culinary Union, Dan Gilbert, Detroit, GLPI, history, MGM Mirage, North Dakota, Penn National, Pennsylvania, Pinnacle Entertainment, Politics, Sheldon Adelson, Technology | Comments Off

Freeman hearts Atlantic City; Big win for Martinez

Posted on August 11, 2017 by David McKee

American Gaming Association President Geoff Freeman gave Atlantic City the thumbs-up this week, pointing to the reinvention of Trump Taj Mahal as Hard Rock Atlantic City and to the as-yet-undisclosed joint venture between Caesars Entertainment and MGM Resorts International. He … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Bally Technologies, Detroit, Dining, e-sports, Eldorado Resorts, Florida, Geoff Freeman, Glenn Straub, Hard Rock International, Harrah's, Internet gambling, Isle of Capri, MGM Mirage, Politics, Revel, Seminole Tribe, Taxes, Tribal | Comments Off

Two decades in Detroit; Juliano out at Sands

Posted on July 19, 2017 by David McKee

Can it really be 20 years since casinos were legalized in Detroit? (It’s been 18 years since MGM Grand Detroit opened.) Time flies and so does casino lucre — straight into city coffers. Then-Gov. John Engler (R) had to dragged kicking … Continue reading →

Posted in Detroit, Economy, history, Internet gambling, Law enforcement, Massachusetts, MGM Mirage, New Hampshire, Pennsylvania, Politics, Sheldon Adelson, Steve Wynn, Taxes, Tropicana Entertainment | Comments Off

Becalmed in Atlantic City; The friends of Sheldon Adelson

Posted on July 13, 2017 by David McKee

Casinos in Atlantic City would have been up 11% last month — were it not for the big, fat zero that is Trump Taj Mahal in same-store revenue comparisons. Instead, they were dead even with June 2016, redeemed only by … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Dan Gilbert, Detroit, Donald Trump, Election, Harrah's, International, Internet gambling, Japan, MGM Mirage, Mohegan Sun, Politics, Sheldon Adelson, Sports, Tilman Fertitta, Tropicana Entertainment | Comments Off

Better times come to Atlantic City; Wynn Boston Harbor sets opening date

Posted on June 15, 2017 by David McKee

May’s gambling grosses are in from the Boardwalk and Atlantic City is up 2.5% since last year — 11% if Trump Taj Mahal is subtracted from the comparison. Terrestrial casinos pulled in $208 million, while Internet gambling grossed a further … Continue reading →

Posted in Affinity Gaming, Architecture, Atlantic City, Boulder Strip, Boyd Gaming, Cannery Casino Resorts, Dan Gilbert, Detroit, Golden Gaming, Goldman Sachs, Harrah's, Internet gambling, Massachusetts, MGM Mirage, Mohegan Sun, North Las Vegas, Palms, Phil Ruffin, SLS Las Vegas, Station Casinos, Steve Wynn, Tilman Fertitta, Tropicana Entertainment, Wall Street | Comments Off

Saturation in Ohio; Japan: Go big or go home

Posted on April 17, 2017 by David McKee

Ohio Gov. John Kasich (R) leveled the playing field when he allowed third-party racinos to join the juiced-in Penn National Gaming and Caesars Entertainment casinos in the Buckeye State. The question now is how level a playing field is a … Continue reading →

Posted in Detroit, Economy, Genting, GLPI, Hard Rock International, Harrah's, International, Internet gambling, Iowa, Japan, New York, Ohio, Penn National, Pennsylvania, Pinnacle Entertainment, Technology, Wall Street | Comments Off

Atlantic City runs the table; Next, the “Osaka Strip”?

Posted on April 13, 2017 by David McKee

It’ll take a lot more than an extra weekend day to account for a 7% spike in Atlantic City‘s gaming revenue. When you subtract the corpse of Trump Taj Mahal from the body count, the year over year comparison is … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Dan Gilbert, Detroit, Hard Rock International, Harrah's, Internet gambling, Japan, MGM Mirage, Mohegan Sun, PokerStars, Problem gambling, Sports, Tilman Fertitta, Wall Street | Comments Off

Pennsylvania: Land of confusion

Posted on March 15, 2017 by David McKee

When it comes to making gaming policy in Pennsylvania, handwringing Gov. Tom Wolf (D) is no help at all. He wants another $100 million in gaming revenue — but only if it doesn’t come at a cost to existing casinos … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Detroit, Internet gambling, Kansas, North Dakota, Pennsylvania, PokerStars, Politics, Regulation, Tribal | Comments Off

Atlantic City suffers February hiccup; Caesars K.O.’d in Korea

Posted on March 14, 2017 by David McKee

All good things must end and, in the case of Atlantic City, a pretty steady comeback hit a pothole in December, with business down 2%. Even Borgata ($58 million) was down a percentage point. Citywide, slot revenue was actually up … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Carl Icahn, Dan Gilbert, Detroit, Glenn Straub, Golden Gaming, Greenwood Racing, Hard Rock International, Harrah's, Internet gambling, Isle of Capri, Macau, Maryland, MGM Mirage, Mohegan Sun, Pennsylvania, PokerStars, Revel, Sheldon Adelson, South Korea, Tropicana Entertainment | 1 Comment

Atlantic City warms up; Tribe puts faith in Trump

Posted on February 15, 2017 by David McKee

Judging by his apparent failure to build brand awareness of Ten, mogul Glenn Straub is going to have trouble cracking the Atlantic City nut. That’s fine by his rivals, who are all doing very well without him. Online gambling continues … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Boyd Gaming, Dan Gilbert, Detroit, Harrah's, Kansas, Massachusetts, MGM Mirage, Mohegan Sun, Neil Bluhm, New York, North Las Vegas, Pennsylvania, Politics, Racinos, Steve Wynn, Tilman Fertitta, Tribal, Tropicana Entertainment, Wall Street | Comments Off

Warm December in Atlantic City; Las Vegas stages comeback

Posted on January 13, 2017 by David McKee

Online gambling continues to be a hit with New Jersey players, up 31% to $18 million in December. Resorts Digital‘s market share has eked past Tropicana Entertainment‘s but Golden Nugget is far and away the leader, with 26%. Enjoy it … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, Atlantic City, Dan Gilbert, Detroit, Economy, Glenn Straub, Harrah's, Internet gambling, MGM Mirage, Mohegan Sun, Pinnacle Entertainment, Politics, Revel, The Strip, Tourism, Tropicana Entertainment, Wall Street | Comments Off

2017: Boom or bust?

Posted on January 4, 2017 by David McKee

Vital Vegas, whose predictive skills are superior to ours, recently came out with a blockbuster, forecasting that Las Vegas Sands or MGM Resorts International or Wynn Resorts (or maybe some combination of the above) might be headed into bankruptcy. “Tectonic … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Detroit, Economy, Harrah's, Japan, Macau, MGM Mirage, Regulation, Sheldon Adelson, Steve Wynn, Wall Street | 1 Comment

LV Monorail lives; MGM shatters expectations

Posted on November 7, 2016 by David McKee

Whether or not you consider the Las Vegas Monorail a while elephant, its trunk is going to grow a bit longer. Clark County is diligently pursuing the permits that would enable it to extend the Monorail to Mandalay Bay, where … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Boyd Gaming, Detroit, GLPI, Harrah's, Illinois, Macau, MGM Mirage, Mississippi, Neil Bluhm, Penn National, Sheldon Adelson, Slot routes, The Strip, Transportation, Wall Street | 1 Comment

Ohio: Gilbert to have the last laugh?

Posted on October 7, 2016 by David McKee

It looks like Dan Gilbert is gaining traction with his “Jack” brand (soon to be slathered over Greektown Casino in Gilbert’s native Detroit). Although Jack Cincinnati was flat ($15 million), its counterparts in Cleveland ($17 million) and at ThistleDown Racino … Continue reading →

Posted in Dan Gilbert, Detroit, Eldorado Resorts, Marketing, Ohio, Penn National, Pinnacle Entertainment, Racinos | 1 Comment

Strip still catching up; Nevada taking bets on the Olympics

Posted on July 21, 2016 by David McKee

While gaming companies on the Las Vegas Strip are fairly sanguine about 2016, a new report by Alex Bumazhny of Fitch Ratings takes a somewhat gloomier view. For one, he notes that revenue per available room “growth during the recovery … Continue reading →

Posted in Arizona, Dan Gilbert, Detroit, Dining, Economy, Election, Geoff Freeman, Macau, Ohio, Penn National, Pennsylvania, Sports, The Strip, Westgate LV | 2 Comments

Revel … still not open; Cautious hope for Internet gambling in Pennsylvania

Posted on June 20, 2016 by David McKee

Glenn Straub‘s once-bold gambit to reopen Revel has turned into an embarrassing face-plant. Perhaps rushing to market in hopes of beating Bart Blatstein‘s Showboat to the hotel traffic, Straub announced a hasty revival of Revel as a casino-hotel without … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, Atlantic City, Dan Gilbert, Detroit, Environment, Glenn Straub, Internet gambling, MGM Mirage, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Politics, Regulation, Revel, Slot routes, Sports, Technology | 1 Comment