Category Archives: Election

Abe, casinos win; Tournament of Rose

Posted on October 23, 2017 by David McKee

In a snap election, Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and his Liberal Democratic Party posted big gains. The mandate was sufficiently huge to give the LDP outright control over every committee in the Diet. This is a big boost to … Continue reading →

Posted in Australia, Crown Resorts, e-sports, Election, Harrah's, James Packer, Japan, Macau, Regulation, Sports, The Crown 18 | 1 Comment

Adverse Golden Week in Macao; Ho, Caesars jockey for position in Japan

Posted on October 11, 2017 by David McKee

Golden Week is an important holiday for Macao casinos and it failed to deliver this year. Visitor traffic was down 1%, causing stocks of both Sands China and Galaxy Entertainment Group to be punished on Hong Kong‘s Hang Seng Index. … Continue reading →

Posted in Election, Galaxy Entertainment, Harrah's, Japan, Lawrence Ho, Macau, Marketing, Sheldon Adelson, Stanley Ho, Steve Wynn, Tourism, Wall Street | Comments Off

Trump to bigfoot Connecticut controversy?

Posted on September 26, 2017 by David McKee

Could we see heavy-footed federal intervention in the MGM Resorts International vs. Connecticut tribes slugfest? Bridgeport Mayor Joe Ganim (D) hopes so. A supporter of Donald Trump‘s presidential campaign, he’s hoping the White House will stomp into the Nutmeg State fray, interceding … Continue reading →

Posted in DFS, Donald Trump, Economy, Election, Foxwoods, Galaxy Entertainment, Genting, Geoff Freeman, International, Macau, MGM Mirage, Mohegan Sun, Regulation, Singapore, Sports, The Strip | 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

MGM Bridgeport … ?!?; Battle lines drawn in Maine

Posted on September 20, 2017 by David McKee

Poor MGM Springfield. It’s not even finished and MGM Resorts International is already off on a snipe hunt in Connecticut. Like Steve Wynn many years ago, it is proposing a casino for Bridgeport. MGM says it is prepared to invest … Continue reading →

Posted in e-sports, Economy, Election, Foxwoods, history, Maine, Marketing, Maryland, Massachusetts, MGM Mirage, Mohegan Sun, Nevada, Politics, Regulation, TV | Comments Off

Adelson cools on Japan; Revel mystery deepens

Posted on September 18, 2017 by David McKee

Details of Japan‘s casino-implementation bill are starting to trickle out: a blend of tax rates for mass-market play (22%) and VIP action (12%), a minimum gambling age of 20 and casino square floors no bigger than 15,000 square feet. Limitations like … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Dining, Election, Entertainment, Galaxy Entertainment, Glenn Straub, Hard Rock International, Harrah's, Japan, Marijuana, MGM Mirage, Politics, Regulation, Revel, Sheldon Adelson, Steve Wynn, Taxes, Wall Street | 3 Comments

Japan sets casinos up for failure; Renegade card room in California closed

Posted on August 18, 2017 by David McKee

About the nicest thing Jim Murren had to say about Japan‘s casino market is that it’s “unclear at the moment.” Casino developers are bracing themselves for delivery of a 130-page report from the Expert Committee, laying out proposed regulations for megaresorts. … Continue reading →

Posted in Arizona, Atlantic City, California, Cretins, Donald Trump, Election, history, Internet gambling, Japan, Maine, MGM Mirage, Pets, Regulation, Sheldon Adelson, Singapore, Sports, The Strip, Tilman Fertitta, Tourism, Transportation, Virginia | Comments Off

Pennsylvania: Small is lucrative; Sleazy doings in Maine

Posted on July 24, 2017 by David McKee

Lawmakers in Pennsylvania have passed an unbalanced budget but are still undecided on how (not “if”) to expand gambling to cover the shortfall. One late-entrant idea that is gaining more traction than anything else is the proposal of mini-casinos, 10 … Continue reading →

Posted in Affinity Gaming, Election, Foxwoods, Genting, Harrah's, Maine, Massachusetts, MGM Mirage, Mohegan Sun, Neil Bluhm, Penn National, Pennsylvania, Politics, Regulation, Tribal | 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

What happens in Vegas goes to France; Big setback for Japan

Posted on July 10, 2017 by David McKee

French President Emmanuel Macron could be collateral damage of a made-in-Vegas scandal involving the 2016 Consumer Electronics Show. At the time, Macron was minister of the economy but had the ill judgment to headline a “French Tech Night” that was … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Election, Harrah's, International, Japan, MGM Mirage, Regulation, Sheldon Adelson, Singapore, Sports, Wall Street | Comments Off

Quote of the Day

Posted on June 4, 2017 by David McKee

“What was most notable to me was the act of owning a casino was never an issue. His ability to manage a casino was a topic of debate, but not his ownership. All this didn’t happen by accident. The industry is … Continue reading →

Posted in Don Barden, Election, Geoff Freeman | Comments Off

Hard Rock ups Atlantic City commitment; Japan inspires casino designers

Posted on May 31, 2017 by David McKee

Compared to Carl Icahn‘s half-a-loaf policies, Hard Rock International CEO Jim Allen is Lady Bountiful, at least as concerns [Trump] Taj Mahal. We put The Donald’s name in brackets because it’s one of the first things to go, to be … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, Atlantic City, Carl Icahn, Donald Trump, Election, Glenn Straub, Hard Rock International, Harrah's, Harry Reid, International, Japan, Lawrence Ho, Massachusetts, Melco Crown Entertainment, MGM Mirage, Mohegan Sun, Regulation, Revel, Sahara, SLS Las Vegas, Technology, Unite-Here | 1 Comment

Strip survives baccarat drought; Gural reprieves Atlantic City

Posted on May 31, 2017 by David McKee

Las Vegas Strip gaming execs can breathe a sigh of relief that April’s 3% decline in revenue, while worse than expected, was as small as it was. After all, they were up against flat baccarat wagering and a revenue plunge … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Economy, Election, Foxwoods, Hard Rock International, Marketing, MGM Mirage, Mohegan Sun, New York, Politics, Technology, TV | Comments Off

Wynn-Adelson feud renewed; Caesars readies wrecking ball

Posted on February 3, 2017 by David McKee

Until recently, Sheldon Adelson was the face of Republican Party fundraising. But the GOP’s new fair-haired boy is a certain Steve Wynn and Adelson doesn’t appear to be taking it lying down. His Las Vegas Review-Journal, showed uncharacteristic investigative moxie … Continue reading →

Posted in Charity, Donald Trump, Downtown, Economy, Election, Harrah's, Macau, Marketing, Sheldon Adelson, Steve Wynn | 2 Comments

Penn National backpedals; Feral bunnies terrorize Vegas

Posted on February 2, 2017 by David McKee

Penn National Gaming released fourth-quarter numbers and, according to Deutsche Bank‘s Carlo Santarelli acknowledged a “difficult start” at Hollywood Jamul (this despite having an extra-long runway to get the new property aloft). Santarelli called the tribal casino a “drag” on … Continue reading →

Posted in Animals, Atlantic City, California, Dining, Donald Trump, Election, Glenn Straub, GLPI, Hard Rock International, history, Illinois, Iowa, Japan, Macau, Marketing, Penn National, Regulation, Revel, Sheldon Adelson, Slot routes, Steve Wynn, Technology, The Strip, Tribal, Trump Entertainment Resorts, Wall Street, West Virginia | Comments Off

New Deal; Same old same-old at Wynncore

Posted on January 30, 2017 by David McKee

In a dramatic semi-reversal, Georgia Gov. Nathan Deal (R) has said he is open “to keep the discussion going” on casinos in the state. The governor’s sudden open mindedness comes with several caveats, including the assurance that casino gambling won’t detract … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, Delaware, Donald Trump, Election, Georgia, Japan, Massachusetts, MGM Mirage, Penn National, Politics, Regulation, Sheldon Adelson, South Carolina, Sports, Steve Wynn, Taxes, The Strip | Comments Off

Crescendo of criticism in Connecticut; Adelson has solid 3Q17

Posted on January 27, 2017 by David McKee

“These legislators have it right, and they are proposing what Connecticut should have done from day one: put in place a process that is fair, open, transparent, reliable, and competitive,” said MGM Resorts International spokesman Alan Feldman, as opposition to … Continue reading →

Posted in California, Donald Trump, Election, Foxwoods, Macau, MGM Mirage, Mohegan Sun, Neil Bluhm, New York, Politics, Sheldon Adelson, Singapore, The Strip, Tribal | Comments Off

Freeman: All I want for Christmas …

Posted on December 27, 2016 by David McKee

Mid-December is a time when children compose their Christmas letters to Santa Claus. In much the same spirit, American Gaming Association President Geoff Freeman was framing a missive to Donald Trump. After pointing out that the industry was on a … Continue reading →

Posted in Animals, Arizona, Donald Trump, Economy, Election, Geoff Freeman, Internet gambling, Nevada, Regulation, Taxes, Tourism, Tribal | 2 Comments

Trump, Adelson make a deal; Brazil moves toward casinos

Posted on November 14, 2016 by David McKee

Donald Trump may have sold his soul to the Las Vegas Review-Journal and cheaply at that. Pro-Trump Global Gaming Business is reporting that the mogul promised not to oppose Sheldon Adelson‘s anti-Internet gaming legislation if only the R-J would endorse … Continue reading →

Posted in Dining, Donald Trump, Election, Entertainment, International, Internet gambling, Macau, Mohegan Sun, Pennsylvania, Politics, Stanley Ho, Taxes, The Strip, Tourism | Comments Off

Florida: Scott loses, big time; Coup d’etat in Atlantic City

Posted on November 11, 2016 by David McKee

Fourteen more years. That’s how long the Seminole Tribe can have exclusive rights to blackjack in Florida, thanks to a ruling by U.S. District Judge Robert Hinkle. It’s a huge win for the Seminoles and not entirely unforeseen, given how … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Donald Trump, Economy, Election, Florida, Geoff Freeman, Georgia, Glenn Straub, Hard Rock International, Japan, Lawrence Ho, Macau, Marketing, Maryland, Melco Crown Entertainment, MGM Mirage, Pennsylvania, Racinos, Rhode Island, Seminole Tribe, Sheldon Adelson, Taxes, Tribal, Wall Street | Comments Off