Category Archives: Donald Trump

Alon: It’s over

Posted on May 22, 2017 by David McKee

CBRE has informed the world that it has been retained by Crown Resorts to peddle 35 Strip acres that were meant to be the site of Alon, the resort that now represents James Packer‘s latest failure in his serial attempts … Continue reading →

Posted in Current, Donald Trump, Florida, Galaxy Entertainment, James Packer, Racinos, Steve Wynn, The Strip | 1 Comment

Solution in search of a problem; Trump causes Macao jitters

Posted on May 18, 2017 by David McKee

As it its civic duty, Plainridge Park racino pays into the local Community Mitigation Fund. Now it’s being ill-repaid by Norfolk District Attorney Michael Morrissey, who wants 75 dimes of CMF money to investigate crimes his office says are “stemming directly” … Continue reading →

Posted in Arizona, Donald Trump, Law enforcement, Macau, Massachusetts, MGM Mirage, Penn National, Politics, Regulation, Sheldon Adelson, Steve Wynn, The Strip, Tourism, Tribal, Wall Street | Comments Off

Hard Rock takes Icahn to the cleaners

Posted on May 11, 2017 by David McKee

Well, now we know how much Hard Rock International paid for Trump Taj Mahal — and why Carl Icahn wanted to keep it a secret. The defunct casino changed hands for $50 million, well below the nine-figure sum Icahn was … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Carl Icahn, Columbia Sussex, Donald Trump, Glenn Straub, Hard Rock International, MGM Mirage, Pennsylvania, Regulation, Revel, Sheldon Adelson, Tribal, Tropicana Entertainment, Trump Entertainment Resorts | Comments Off

Higher taxes mooted for Atlantic City; Trump into Philippines?

Posted on May 10, 2017 by David McKee

Someone has belatedly noticed that Atlantic City is, in essence, a tax haven for casino operators. They pay 9.25%, compared to Pennsylvania‘s 55% on slots, for instance, or Maryland‘s patchwork of tax rates, which top out at 60%. That’s not … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Donald Trump, GLPI, Harrah's, Lake Tahoe, Law enforcement, Lawrence Ho, Macau, Maryland, Melco Crown Entertainment, Missouri, New York, Penn National, Pennsylvania, Pinnacle Entertainment, Taxes, Technology | Comments Off

Connecticut tribes go on attack; Adelson discovers 21st century

Posted on May 9, 2017 by David McKee

MGM Resorts International is getting hoist on its own petard in a new attack ad, which uses quotes cherry-picked from Massachusetts Casino Commission testimony to show CEO Jim Murren and President Bill Hornbuckle coveting the Connecticut customer base. Naturally, the Mashantucket Pequots … Continue reading →

Posted in Donald Trump, Foxwoods, Marketing, Massachusetts, MGM Mirage, Mohegan Sun, New York, Regulation, Sheldon Adelson, Technology, Tribal, TV | Comments Off

Analysts: Station underperforms; Miami Beach bans casinos

Posted on May 5, 2017 by David McKee

Station Casinos reported revenue yesterday and the Palms is on track for 6% ROI this year. So there’s some work to be done. Management is already off to a good start by closing the world’s largest Hooters, victim of sagging … Continue reading →

Posted in Colony Capital, Columbia Sussex, Dining, Donald Trump, Florida, Genting, George Maloof, Hard Rock International, Harrah's, history, IGT, International, MGM Mirage, PokerStars, Seminole Tribe, Sports, Station Casinos, Wall Street | 1 Comment

Warming trend continues in Macao; Shifty dealings in Maine

Posted on May 2, 2017 by David McKee

Gaming revenues in Macao rose 16% in April, a result that Deutsche Bank analyst Carlo Santarelli deemed “modestly better than expected.” That’s damning with faint praise. JP Morgan analyst Joseph Greff also shrugged off the numbers as “about as expected.” … Continue reading →

Posted in California, Donald Trump, Downtown, Eldorado Resorts, Entertainment, Horseracing, International, Macau, Maine, Maryland, MGM Mirage, New York, PokerStars, Politics, Regulation, Tribal, TV, Wall Street | Comments Off

Nevada is #1; Atlantic Club plans dashed

Posted on May 2, 2017 by David McKee

Congratulate yourself, Nevadans. Your state has been deemed “most fun” by WalletHub. This is despite only mediocre rankings in movie theaters and amusement parks per capita (27th and 28th, respectively). Nevada was tops in casinos — big surprise, I know … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, California, Donald Trump, Entertainment, Harrah's, International, Internet gambling, Law enforcement, Nevada, Philippines, Sports, Steve Wynn, Technology, Tribal | Comments Off

REITs meet the Street; Martinez wins in New Mexico

Posted on April 28, 2017 by David McKee

REITs Gaming & Leisure Properties and MGM Growth Properties both checked in with Wall Street yesterday, and further acquisitions were on the mind of both. In the case of MGM, its next target of opportunity is MGM National Harbor (“on … Continue reading →

Posted in Donald Trump, Economy, GLPI, Harrah's, MGM Mirage, Mississippi, Ohio, Penn National, Pennsylvania, Sheldon Adelson, Sports, The Strip, Tribal, Wall Street | Comments Off

Freeman: Sports betting is coming; Second thoughts on Paradise Park

Posted on April 27, 2017 by David McKee

It could be a case of wishing that legalization of sports betting will make it so. Or maybe Geoff Freeman is privy to intelligence that he’s not shared with the rest of us. Either way, he thinks a sports-betting repeal … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Boulder Strip, Carl Icahn, Dining, Donald Trump, Geoff Freeman, Goldman Sachs, history, Laughlin, Politics, Sports, Steve Wynn, Technology, The Strip, Transportation, Tropicana Entertainment | 1 Comment

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

Adelson buys Trump; Caesars, MGM stiff players

Posted on April 19, 2017 by David McKee

We always knew Sheldon Adelson was fundamentally shameless — remember when he would gush with praise of Red China? — and this photo of him cuddling up to sometime anti-Semite Steve Bannon just proves it. What’s newsworthy, though, is why Adelson may have … Continue reading →

Posted in Donald Trump, Harrah's, Internet gambling, MGM Mirage, Sheldon Adelson, The Strip | Comments Off

Exit Trump, enter Hard Rock; Casinos in Cuba again?

Posted on April 10, 2017 by David McKee

Hard Rock International is putting its money where its mouth is, judging from the preview it gave of the Hard Rocked Trump Taj Mahal. The most obvious changes will be on the exterior, where all the tiki-tacky Trump theming will … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, Atlantic City, Columbia Sussex, Donald Trump, Economy, Entertainment, Foxwoods, Hard Rock International, International, MGM Mirage, Mohegan Sun, Penn National, Politics, Sports, Taxes, The Strip, Tourism, Trump Entertainment Resorts | 1 Comment

Trump keeps them guessing; Meet your new neighbor, Steve Wynn

Posted on April 4, 2017 by David McKee

Could the president of the United States build a Las Vegas casino? That’s regulatory terra incognito that Nevada regulators will have to explore as Phil Ruffin and Donald Trump continue with their plan to erect a Trump-branded casino next door … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, Donald Trump, Economy, Law enforcement, Massachusetts, MGM Mirage, Movies, New York, Phil Ruffin, Regulation, Riviera, Sports, Steve Wynn, The Mob, The Strip | Comments Off

What’s in a name?

Posted on April 3, 2017 by David McKee

Quite a lot, if you happen to be the late Sen. Pat McCarran (D). Not only is Nevada‘s largest airport named after you (not inaptly — the anti-New Deal, pro-fascist McCarran’s signature achievements included splitting off the Air Force as a … Continue reading →

Posted in Cordish Co., Donald Trump, Harry Reid, history, International, Movies, Politics, Sports, Steve Wynn, Transportation | Comments Off

Trump’s Amman Castle?; Wynn goes 0-for-2

Posted on March 30, 2017 by David McKee

Gambling is illegal in Jordan but that doesn’t stop Donald Trump. The new president’s company has renewed the trademark for a Jordanian casino. This won’t play well with religious hawks in the Hashemite kingdom, who went into full cry when … Continue reading →

Posted in Donald Trump, Genting, Glenn Straub, International, Internet gambling, Japan, Macau, Revel, Steve Wynn, The Strip | Comments Off

Trump’s revenge; Larry Flynt, casino boss

Posted on March 28, 2017 by David McKee

Why is Trump Plaza the whitest elephant among Atlantic City casinos? (Scroll to bottom) Because its operating costs include a $1 million ground lease to former American Jewish Congress head Robert Lifton, who owns the underlying acreage. This little poison … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, California, Carl Icahn, Donald Trump, Hard Rock International, Harrah's, history, Isle of Capri, MGM Mirage, Technology, Trump Entertainment Resorts | 1 Comment

Trump’s Vegas Castle?; Florida Lege speaks with forked tongue

Posted on March 24, 2017 by David McKee

Just a few months ago, the idea of a Donald Trump-branded casino on the Las Vegas Strip would have seemed like a joke. Trump’s brand equity in gaming had dwindled to zilch and the man himself was out of gaming … Continue reading →

Posted in Australia, Donald Trump, Economy, Florida, Internet gambling, Macau, Mississippi, Phil Ruffin, Politics, Racinos, Seminole Tribe, The Strip, Transportation | Comments Off

Freeman attacks Yucca Mountain; Brawl in Connecticut

Posted on March 20, 2017 by David McKee

Back when Frank Fahrenkopf was its president, the American Gaming Association was little seen or heard, as Fahrenkopf played a flawless defensive game behind the scenes. Washington, D.C., never laid a glove on Big Gaming (although eugenicist and sometime Congressman Steve … Continue reading →

Posted in Donald Trump, Entertainment, Foxwoods, Geoff Freeman, Harry Reid, history, Massachusetts, MGM Mirage, Mohegan Sun, New York, Politics, Problem gambling, South Korea, The Strip, Tourism, Transportation, Tribal, Westgate LV | Tagged Winnie the Pooh | Comments Off

More resort fees at MGM; Sands Bethlehem sold?

Posted on March 3, 2017 by David McKee

It was show time for the big boys at the J.P. Morgan Gaming, Lodging, Restaurant & Leisure Management Access Forum, starting with MGM Resorts International, which had to get started by explaining why fourth-quarter numbers had been “coming in well below … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, Atlantic City, California, Donald Trump, Economy, Hard Rock International, Harrah's, Harry Reid, Japan, Macau, Maryland, Massachusetts, MGM Mirage, Penn National, Pennsylvania, Pinnacle Entertainment, Seminole Tribe, Sheldon Adelson, Singapore, Sports, Steve Wynn, The Strip, Tourism, Transportation, Tribal, Tropicana Entertainment, Wall Street | 1 Comment