Category Archives: Downtown

Adelson out of stadium deal; Tepid December on Strip

Posted on January 31, 2017 by David McKee

It didn’t take long for Sandoval’s Folly, the mooted [your city here] Raiders stadium to blow up in the governor’s face. With characteristic irascibility, Las Vegas Sands CEO Sheldon Adelson withdrew from the project, taking his $650 million with him. … Continue reading →

Posted in Boulder Strip, Cordish Co., Cretins, Downtown, Economy, Foxwoods, GLPI, Harrah's, Horseracing, Japan, Laughlin, Maryland, MGM Mirage, Mohegan Sun, Nevada, North Las Vegas, Penn National, Politics, Regulation, Reno, Sheldon Adelson, Sports, The Strip, Tribal, Virginia, Wall Street, West Virginia | Comments Off

Trump vs. Las Vegas; E-sports is big busine$$

Posted on January 12, 2017 by David McKee

“Donald Trump is the most uninformed president the U.S. has ever had. This is not an opinion. It is based on the realities of how human beings communicate: He does not read. ‘[Trump] said in a series of interviews that he does not … Continue reading →

Posted in Affinity Gaming, Atlantic City, Donald Trump, Downtown, Economy, Entertainment, Harrah's, International, Internet gambling, Macau, Marketing, MGM Mirage, Mississippi, Regulation, Sheldon Adelson, Sports, Steve Wynn, The Strip, Tourism, Tropicana Entertainment, Wall Street | Comments Off

A legend passes; Packer flops in Vegas (again)

Posted on December 29, 2016 by David McKee

Before we get back to business, a few brief mentions. First, let us have a moment of silence for Strip icon and former Las Vegas casino owner Debbie Reynolds, victim of a fatal stroke. Coming as it did a day … Continue reading →

Posted in Boulder Strip, Downtown, Economy, Entertainment, Harrah's, history, James Packer, Lake Tahoe, Laughlin, Melco Crown Entertainment, North Las Vegas, Reno, The Strip, Uncategorized, Wall Street | 2 Comments

Strip booms in October; Trouble in Tiverton

Posted on November 29, 2016 by David McKee

Not even a 16.5% decline in table wagers could hold back the Las Vegas Strip last month, as gaming revenues shot up 14%, to $563 million. Statewide, casinos didn’t do so badly either, up 11%. The one-armed bandits on the … Continue reading →

Posted in Boulder Strip, Downtown, Economy, Foxwoods, history, Iowa, Japan, Lake Tahoe, Laughlin, Lucky Dragon, Macau, Massachusetts, Mesquite, Mohegan Sun, Nevada, North Las Vegas, Penn National, Rhode Island, Taxes, The Strip | 1 Comment

End of a golden tribal era; Vegas Vic gets his due

Posted on November 29, 2016 by David McKee

Already gaming pundits are reading the entrails of the presidential election and predicting that while a Donald Trump administration could be Bad News for Internet gambling it will be Very Bad News Indeed for tribal gaming. Words like “disaster” are … Continue reading →

Posted in Donald Trump, Downtown, Economy, history, Indiana, Internet gambling, Law enforcement, Massachusetts, Oklahoma, Regulation, Tribal | 4 Comments

(Pot) Smoke gets in their eyes; Enter the Lucky Dragon

Posted on November 21, 2016 by David McKee

Just say “No.” That’s what Nevada gaming regulators are advising casinos who might be tempted to take advantage of the new legality of recreational marijuana in the Silver State. Bowing to federal law, the Nevada Gaming Control Board and Nevada … Continue reading →

Posted in Colorado, Cordish Co., Downtown, Environment, Geoff Freeman, Internet gambling, Lucky Dragon, Maryland, MGM Mirage, Nevada, Regulation, Sports, The Strip, Tourism | Comments Off

Strip beats the odds; DFS settlement in New York

Posted on October 27, 2016 by David McKee

Not even a 26% decline in baccarat wagers could put a damper on a strong September on the Las Vegas Strip. The house played lucky, experiencing only 8% less baccarat winnings. Table gaming wagering was down 9% overall — and … Continue reading →

Posted in Boulder Strip, Downtown, Internet gambling, Lake Tahoe, Laughlin, New York, North Las Vegas, Reno, The Strip | 1 Comment

Adelson in trouble again; Trop buoys Penn National numbers

Posted on October 27, 2016 by David McKee

Las Vegas Sands is under the regulatory magnifying glass again. It’s been alleged that the company tried to make an end run around anti-money-laundering laws by permitting Chinese whales to use front men to place bets on their behalf. Lawyers … Continue reading →

Posted in California, Dining, Downtown, Entertainment, Harrah's, International, Internet gambling, Law enforcement, Marketing, Mississippi, Penn National, Pennsylvania, Regulation, Sheldon Adelson, Sports, Taxes, Technology, The Strip, Tribal, Wall Street | Comments Off

New player in Moulin Rouge saga; Jersey casino backers try to save face

Posted on October 14, 2016 by David McKee

There’s another entrant in the perpetual sweepstakes to redevelop the Moulin Rouge site. This time it’s British firm Psi Key Entertainment. It is proposing a 1,288-room hotel for the acreage. However, Psi Key’s redevelopment plans have to be taken with … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Boyd Gaming, Dining, Downtown, Eldorado Resorts, Election, Hooters, Iowa, Isle of Capri, Marketing, Missouri, Moulin Rouge, Palms, Politics, Station Casinos, The Strip, Westgate LV | 1 Comment

Taj Mahal: Soon with 100% less Trump?; Sands jams up players

Posted on October 13, 2016 by David McKee

While the last vestiges of Donald Trump‘s ownership of Trump Taj Mahal were liquidated when Carl Icahn took over, it retained the name and continued to buy Trump Water. (The taste of douchebaggery?) What concerns politicians in Trenton is the prospect … Continue reading →

Posted in Affinity Gaming, Architecture, Atlantic City, Carl Icahn, Charity, Cirque du Soleil, Donald Trump, Downtown, Entertainment, Harrah's, International, Politics, Sheldon Adelson, The Strip, Tilman Fertitta, Tropicana Entertainment | Comments Off

Local is beautiful; Adelson loses partner

Posted on October 10, 2016 by David McKee

Motley Fool columnist Travis Hoium says investors are missing a good bet if they overlook Las Vegas locals operators to focus on the big Las Vegas Strip players. He cites Station Casinos, Boyd Gaming and Penn National Gaming (presumably for … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Boyd Gaming, Cosmopolitan, Downtown, Economy, Entertainment, history, Law enforcement, M Resort, Maryland, MGM Mirage, Palms, Penn National, Regulation, Sheldon Adelson, Station Casinos, Steve Wynn, Taxes, Technology, The Strip, Wall Street | 1 Comment

Penn: The wait is over; Scientific strikes again

Posted on October 5, 2016 by David McKee

On Oct. 10, the same day that Trump Taj Mahal is scheduled to close, Penn National Gaming will open the long-deferred Hollywood Casino Jamul (federal approvals had been holding it up). In celebration, Penn is announcing that relief of the … Continue reading →

Posted in Boulder Strip, California, Downtown, Georgia, Minnesota, Ohio, Penn National, Pennsylvania, Pinnacle Entertainment, Scientific Games, Tribal, Wall Street | Comments Off

Quote of the Day

Posted on September 30, 2016 by David McKee

“What we have found is that the current slot product simply does not appeal. Just taking ‘Call of Duty’ and sticking on a slot machine will not do anything.” — Downtown Grand Chairman Seth Schorr, advocating e-sports and a new approach … Continue reading →

Posted in Downtown, G2E, Marketing, Technology | Comments Off

GameCo hearts the Boardwalk; Internet gambling fails in Pennsylvania

Posted on September 29, 2016 by David McKee

GameCo CEO Blaine Graboyes promised that his company’s first skill-based slots would be rolled out in Atlantic City … and he was as good as his word. While the eyes of the industry were on Las Vegas for Global Gaming … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Downtown, Foxwoods, G2E, Harrah's, Internet gambling, Mohegan Sun, Nevada, New York, Pennsylvania, Politics, Regulation, Technology | Comments Off

Live by baccarat, die by baccarat; Donald Trump, Stiff of the Century

Posted on September 29, 2016 by David McKee

With one less weekend this year and weak baccarat volumes, the Las Vegas Strip got hammered, down 15%. Statewide, gross gaming revenues were off by 5%. Late-July slot win that was reported in August softened the blow, contributing to a … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Boulder Strip, Boyd Gaming, California, Donald Trump, Downtown, Election, Lake Tahoe, Laughlin, Mesquite, Nevada, North Las Vegas, Penn National, Reno, Station Casinos, The Strip, Tribal, Wall Street | 1 Comment

Adelson expands; Caesars sweetens the pot

Posted on September 23, 2016 by David McKee

Las Vegas Sands never did get around to building that historical museum it promised Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, and it finished its hotel in quick-and-dirty (and fugly) fashion. But that doesn’t mean that Sands is still clinging to CEO Sheldon Adelson‘s pronouncement … Continue reading →

Posted in Culinary Union, Donald Trump, Downtown, Economy, Harrah's, Pennsylvania, Regulation, Sheldon Adelson, Sports, Technology, Wall Street | Comments Off

Macao: Dirty money; What Millennial problem?

Posted on September 21, 2016 by David McKee

Is Macao‘s gaming prosperity built on “often shady links to organised crime and racketeering” through the junket business? The South China Morning Post‘s Niall Fraser contends that it is. As of 2013, $202 billion in ill-gotten-gains were flowing through the … Continue reading →

Posted in Boyd Gaming, Downtown, Harrah's, history, International, Internet gambling, Macau, Marketing, MGM Mirage, Pinnacle Entertainment, Riviera, Sheldon Adelson, Steve Wynn, The Mob, The Strip | Comments Off

Caesars dips toe in skill-based slots; MGM National Harbor snares Dylan

Posted on September 12, 2016 by David McKee

Caesars Entertainment is going on the road, as it were, to test-drive its first foray into skill-based slots. It’s going to install six Gamblit Gaming slot carousels at Harrah’s Rincon, with 36 slated for Las Vegas deployment next year. The … Continue reading →

Posted in California, Colorado, Cordish Co., Downtown, Environment, Golden Gaming, Harrah's, Hooters, IGT, Internet gambling, Kansas, Maine, Marketing, Maryland, MGM Mirage, Minnesota, Mississippi, Nebraska, Oklahoma, Penn National, Pennsylvania, Racinos, Scientific Games, Sheldon Adelson, South Dakota, Sports, Technology, The Strip, Tribal, TV, West Virginia, Westgate LV, Wisconsin | 2 Comments

Boulder Station goes union; Neon Museum sets records

Posted on September 7, 2016 by David McKee

Having finally bowed to management’s stipulation of a secret ballot election, as opposed to a card check, the Culinary Union can belatedly claim a victory in its long-running war with Station Casinos. Employees at Boulder Station, under the oversight of … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, Boyd Gaming, California, Charity, Cordish Co., Culinary Union, Downtown, history, Lucky Dragon, Marketing, Maryland, MGM Mirage, North Las Vegas, Palms, Regulation, Station Casinos, Tribal | 1 Comment

The IRS won’t be denied; Philippines a hotbed of uncertainty

Posted on September 6, 2016 by David McKee

Could the federal government have to invade Miccosukee Tribe of Florida land in order to shut down the band’s casino? That’s one possible scenario (placing a lien on gaming revenues is another) if the tribe continues to defy the Internal … Continue reading →

Posted in Downtown, Florida, Harrah's, Internet gambling, MGM Mirage, Philippines, Sports, Taxes, Tribal, Wall Street | Comments Off