Category Archives: Donald Trump

Icahn saves Taj, kinda sorta

Posted on December 18, 2014 by David McKee

Trump Taj Mahal‘s fate seesaws by the day, if not the hour. According to the New York Post, Unite-Here Local 54 “got pretty much what it wanted” from Carl Icahn and “all work rules” will be reinstated. Icahn did persuade Local … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Carl Icahn, Donald Trump, Economy, Politics, Regulation, Sam Nazarian, Tropicana Entertainment, Trump Entertainment Resorts | 3 Comments

Missouri miracle; Guarded hope in Illinois, Indiana

Posted on November 10, 2014 by David McKee

Finally, there was good news for saturated gaming markets. Missouri was up 2% last month, although the result was a bit lopsided. The St. Louis market rose 3% while the Kansas City area slipped 2%. The latter appears to be … Continue reading →

Posted in Ameristar, Boyd Gaming, Donald Trump, GLPI, Harrah's, Illinois, Indiana, Majestic Star, MGM Mirage, Missouri, Neil Bluhm, Ohio, Penn National, Pinnacle Entertainment, Slot routes, Tropicana Entertainment | Comments Off on Missouri miracle; Guarded hope in Illinois, Indiana

REITmania … it’s catching

Posted on November 6, 2014 by David McKee

Pinnacle Entertainment has signaled its intention to follow in the footsteps of Penn National Gaming and convert into a real estate investment trust. It’s somewhat clearer cut than the convoluted Penn/Gaming & Leisure Properties split, with Pinnacle’s property company retaining … Continue reading →

Posted in Ameristar, Colorado, Donald Trump, Election, Louisiana, Missouri, Penn National, Pinnacle Entertainment, Wall Street | 1 Comment

Linking to The Linq; Tribal Internet push

Posted on November 4, 2014 by David McKee

After an unhappy interregnum as The Quad, the former Imperial Palace officially becomes The Linq today. (What was up with that Quad nonsense anyway?) It might as well be called “The Millennial,” given the number of amenities targeted to that … Continue reading →

Posted in California, Dining, Donald Trump, Environment, GTECH, Harrah's, IGT, Internet gambling, Technology, The Strip, Tribal | Comments Off on Linking to The Linq; Tribal Internet push

Playing chicken in Atlantic City

Posted on October 9, 2014 by David McKee

We’ve already seen four casinos close in Atlantic City and Carl Icahn is threatening to raise the ante to six. In a highly confrontational move, he’s demanding further concessions at the Tropicana Atlantic City from union Unite-Here, plus tax breaks … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Carl Icahn, Donald Trump, Economy, Penn National, Taxes, Tropicana Entertainment, Trump Entertainment Resorts | Comments Off on Playing chicken in Atlantic City

Revel: Straub loses

Posted on October 1, 2014 by David McKee

Bids are in for Revel and the white elephant goes to … Brookfield Asset Management, owner of the Hard Rock Hotel in Las Vegas. (The fund is obviously fond of problem children.) Brookfield’s winning bid was $110 million, leaving stalking-horse … Continue reading →

Posted in Donald Trump, Election, Glenn Straub, Hard Rock Hotel, Harrah's, Horseracing, Massachusetts, Morgans Hotel Group, Penn National, Regulation, Revel, Trump Entertainment Resorts | 3 Comments

Atlantic City: The good, the bad and the very ugly

Posted on September 22, 2014 by David McKee

Taking a glass-half-full view of Atlantic City, CEO of MGM Resorts International Jim Murren wanted back in. Why not, when it means having half of by far the dominant joint in town, Borgata? Now that MGM has been vetted and … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Boyd Gaming, Carl Icahn, Donald Trump, Glenn Straub, Harrah's, Internet gambling, Japan, Massachusetts, Mohegan Sun, Revel, Trump Entertainment Resorts | Comments Off on Atlantic City: The good, the bad and the very ugly

Why is this man smiling?; The daffy world of Glenn Straub

Posted on September 19, 2014 by David McKee

“Restructure! Restructure! Restructure! That’s all he ever does because that’s all he can do!” That was a friend of mine, speaking in exasperation of Donald Trump. However, today the remark could be updated to refer to Gary Loveman. The CEO … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, Atlantic City, Donald Trump, Glenn Straub, Harrah's, IGT, Maryland, Massachusetts, MGM Mirage, Revel, Transportation, Wall Street | 1 Comment

Atlantic City: MGM returns, Revel sold

Posted on September 11, 2014 by David McKee

There was a happy ending for MGM Resorts International in its long soap opera with New Jersey gaming regulation. The New Jersey Casino Control Commission voted unanimously to relicense the company, reuniting it with Borgata — and with 86 million … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Boyd Gaming, Carl Icahn, Donald Trump, MGM Mirage, Pansy Ho, Regulation, Revel, Riviera, The Strip, Trump Entertainment Resorts | 1 Comment

Trump bookmarks Chapter 11; Christie’s canny moves

Posted on September 9, 2014 by David McKee

Trump Entertainment Resorts is back in familiar territory: Chapter 11. It is the fourth time that minority owner Donald Trump‘s casinos have gone insolvent. He may try to wash his hands of the mess, but he gets equity for the use … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Culinary Union, Donald Trump, Harrah's, Internet gambling, Maryland, New York, Pennsylvania, Sports, Tilman Fertitta, Trump Entertainment Resorts | 2 Comments

New hope for Showboat, gloom for Atlantic City

Posted on September 8, 2014 by David McKee

While Revel and Trump Plaza go begging — and Trump Taj Mahal reportedly plans to close in November — suitors are lining up to woo Caesars Entertainment for the Showboat Atlantic City. Already Atlantic Properties Group has pitched the idea … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Boulder Strip, Donald Trump, Harrah's, history, Japan, MGM Mirage, Revel, Tribal, Trump Entertainment Resorts | Comments Off on New hope for Showboat, gloom for Atlantic City

Quote of the Day

Posted on August 14, 2014 by David McKee

“But a lot of people say when I left, that’s when it went bad.” — Donald Trump, in full self-delusion mode about Atlantic City. 

Posted in Atlantic City, Donald Trump, Economy | 2 Comments

Slump in Macao; Trump’s latest tantrum

Posted on August 6, 2014 by David McKee

July was unkind to casino operators in Macao, with revenues down 4%. Mass market table win was healthily up, 17%, and slot revenue increased, albeit by 4%. However, VIP revenues were 14% on 13.% less volume of play. This pulled … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Donald Trump, Economy, Entertainment, Environment, Macau, MGM Mirage, Sheldon Adelson, Stanley Ho, Steve Wynn, The Strip, Trump Entertainment Resorts | 4 Comments

Packer’s second chance

Posted on August 5, 2014 by David McKee

“You can’t be in the gaming industry and not have a special reverence for Las Vegas — that’s where it all began. While we fell short in past attempts to enter that market, we now have the ideal opportunity.” So said … Continue reading →

Posted in Arizona, Cannery Casino Resorts, Donald Trump, Election, Fontainebleau, Harrah's, James Packer, MGM Mirage, Politics, Sam Nazarian, Station Casinos, Steve Wynn, The Strip, Tribal, Wall Street | 2 Comments

Boardwalk despair; Comings and goings on the Strip

Posted on July 22, 2014 by David McKee

It’s a dark day when you find yourself in agreement with Donald Trump, but such is the case with the famous Atlantic City boarding house owned by Vera Coking. Eight years ago, when he wanted to expand Trump Plaza, The … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Donald Trump, Entertainment, Harrah's, Sam Nazarian, The Strip, Trump Entertainment Resorts | 1 Comment

Atlantic City: And then there were nine …

Posted on July 14, 2014 by David McKee

Scarcely had Gary Loveman opined that a few casinos in Atlantic City needed to close than they began toppling like dominoes — some by his own hand. Headed to the casino graveyard alongside the Atlantic Club and the Showboat is Trump … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, California, Donald Trump, Harrah's, Isle of Capri, Mississippi, Penn National, Tourism, Tropicana Entertainment, Trump Entertainment Resorts, Wall Street | 2 Comments

Big vote on Boardwalk; Horsey antics in Texas

Posted on June 10, 2014 by David McKee

“It’s going to be a very complicated and difficult negotiation.” So admits Unite-Here President Robert McDevitt of the mid-September scrum when all the casino collective bargaining agreements come up for renewal. McDevitt’s still tasting victory from last week’s vote at … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Boyd Gaming, Donald Trump, Horseracing, Kentucky, MGM Mirage, Racinos, Regulation, Revel, Technology, Texas | Comments Off on Big vote on Boardwalk; Horsey antics in Texas

Scott deal a dud?; Storm on Capitol Hill

Posted on April 29, 2014 by David McKee

Slim and none appear to be Florida Gov. Rick Scott‘s choices for a special session next month to ratify a casino compact with the Seminole Tribe. Legislators who note that the current compact doesn’t sunset until next year wonder what’s … Continue reading →

Posted in Donald Trump, Florida, Internet gambling, Politics, Sheldon Adelson, Tribal | 1 Comment

Quote of the Day

Posted on April 3, 2014 by David McKee

“When did the guy who makes Donald Trump‘s hair look natural get veto power over every word Republicans say about Israel?” — Jon Stewart, on Sheldon Adelson‘s clout.

Posted in Donald Trump, Sheldon Adelson | Comments Off on Quote of the Day

Adelson: Sore winner; Good news from Atlantic City

Posted on March 12, 2014 by David McKee

Macao’s 2013 casino haul of $45 billion seems pretty mind-boggling on its own merits. That number could be $115 billion by 2018. Much of that growth will be driven by post-2015 projects of Melco Crown Entertainment and Galaxy Entertainment Group. … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Boyd Gaming, Current, Donald Trump, Harrah's, Internet gambling, Macau, Melco Crown Entertainment, Mohegan Sun, Revel, Sheldon Adelson, The Strip, Tilman Fertitta, Tropicana Entertainment, Trump Entertainment Resorts, Wall Street | 2 Comments