Category Archives: Election

Boyd to acquire Cannery?; Signs of movement in Atlantic City impasse

Posted on April 21, 2016 by David McKee

Sleeping giant Boyd Gaming is stirring to life, reportedly on the verge of a $225 million-$240 million buyout of Cannery Casino Resorts, according to Reuters. The latter’s Mike Stone says the deal would “give Boyd a strong foothold in the … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Boulder Strip, Boyd Gaming, California, Cannery Casino Resorts, Election, Entertainment, GLPI, Harrah's, James Packer, Pennsylvania, Politics, Reno, The Strip, Wall Street | 1 Comment

New life for California online poker?; Maine casino push struggles to stay alive

Posted on April 13, 2016 by David McKee

Online poker is described as being “as close as [it’s] ever been” to legalization in California. So says California Nations Indian Gaming Association Chairman Steve Stallings, as a bill by Assemblyman Adam Gray shows signs of advancing. The primary obstacle, as ever, … Continue reading →

Posted in Dan Gilbert, Detroit, Election, Internet gambling, Maine, MGM Mirage, PokerStars, Taxes, Tribal | Comments Off on New life for California online poker?; Maine casino push struggles to stay alive

Lobbyists win in Atlantic City fight; Untimely reprimand for Bluhm

Posted on April 12, 2016 by David McKee

As Atlantic City fights to maintain its monopoly on casino gambling in New Jersey, it’s getting a lot of help from casino companies themselves — and lobbyists are making out like bandits. The biggest spender to date has been Caesars … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Australia, Boyd Gaming, Downtown, Election, Entertainment, Genting, Greenwood Racing, Harrah's, Illinois, LVCVA, Massachusetts, MGM Mirage, Neil Bluhm, Penn National, Pennsylvania, Regulation, Sheldon Adelson, Singapore, Tourism, Transportation, Tribal | Comments Off on Lobbyists win in Atlantic City fight; Untimely reprimand for Bluhm

Genting comes to Massachusetts; Trump impasse on the Strip

Posted on April 5, 2016 by David McKee

As the Mashpee Wampanoag were preparing to break ground on Project First Light, halfway around the world Genting Malaysia was revealing the details of its management contract with the tribe. Genting holds a seven-year pact, by way of its Genting … Continue reading →

Posted in Culinary Union, Donald Trump, Election, Genting, Geoff Freeman, Massachusetts, Penn National, Phil Ruffin, Sports, Steve Wynn, Taxes, The Strip, Tribal | Comments Off on Genting comes to Massachusetts; Trump impasse on the Strip

Shady dealings in D.C.; New bromance between GLPI and Pinnacle

Posted on April 4, 2016 by David McKee

Voters in Washington, D.C., could find themselves voting on a casino initiative this November. A 9,000-square-foot gambling house has been proposed for Anacostia. It would have slots, blackjack and other table games but, strangely enough, no slots or electronic table … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, Delaware, Election, Florida, GLPI, International, Macau, Massachusetts, MGM Mirage, Neil Bluhm, Penn National, Pennsylvania, Pinnacle Entertainment, Racinos, Regulation, Sheldon Adelson, Sports, The Strip, Tourism, Tribal | 1 Comment

Wynn vs. Wynn; ‘Believe’ gets a new name, focus

Posted on April 4, 2016 by David McKee

More details of Elaine Wynn‘s lawsuit against Wynn Resorts, CEO Steve Wynn and General Counsel Kim Sinatra are emerging. She barrages the three with a litany of complaints, one of which seems to imply that her ex got a company … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Cirque du Soleil, Election, Entertainment, Harrah's, Massachusetts, MGM Mirage, Neil Bluhm, New York, Politics, Regulation, Steve Wynn, The Strip | Comments Off on Wynn vs. Wynn; ‘Believe’ gets a new name, focus

DFS becomes political football; More trouble for PokerStars

Posted on March 28, 2016 by David McKee

Add Yahoo to the list of daily fantasy sports providers that are tiptoeing out of New York State under an accord with state Attorney General Eric Schneiderman. The latter has said that if the issue can’t be resolved in the … Continue reading →

Posted in Arizona, Election, Florida, Harrah's, Indiana, Internet gambling, Law enforcement, Maryland, Minnesota, Missouri, New York, Oklahoma, PokerStars, Politics, South Korea, Wisconsin | Comments Off on DFS becomes political football; More trouble for PokerStars

Quote of the Day

Posted on March 28, 2016 by David McKee

“New casinos in northern New Jersey would present a significant threat to New York’s gaming industry, risking hundreds of millions of dollars in critical education revenue and jeopardizing thousands of family-sustaining jobs. New York must ensure that its successful casinos can … Continue reading →

Posted in Economy, Election, New York | Comments Off on Quote of the Day

Showdown on the Boardwalk; Lies, damned lies and poll numbers

Posted on March 24, 2016 by David McKee

It’s war to the knife and knife to the hilt between Carl Icahn and Unite-Here Local 54 President Robert McDevitt over the labor situation at Trump Taj Mahal. (For the record, Donald Trump is now affiliated with the casino in … Continue reading →

Posted in ACEP, Atlantic City, Boulder Strip, Carl Icahn, Colony Capital, Election, Harrah's, Internet gambling, Laughlin, LVCVA, Maryland, MGM Mirage, Mohegan Sun, Regulation, Revel, Sheldon Adelson, Sports, The Strip, Tropicana Entertainment, Trump Entertainment Resorts, Unite-Here | Comments Off on Showdown on the Boardwalk; Lies, damned lies and poll numbers

Tracks questionable in Kansas, safe in West Virginia

Posted on March 18, 2016 by David McKee

“Wouldn’t we just be taking money from [Kansas Star Casino] and moving it to Mr. Ruffin’s pockets?” So asked state Rep. Mark Kahrs (R) of a controversial bill to permit a Sedgwick County vote on whether to convert Phil Ruffin‘s Wichita … Continue reading →

Posted in Animals, Australia, Boyd Gaming, Election, Kansas, MGM Mirage, New Hampshire, Phil Ruffin, Politics, Racinos, Slot routes, Taxes, The Strip, Tourism, West Virginia | Comments Off on Tracks questionable in Kansas, safe in West Virginia

New Jersey sticks it to Atlantic City; No payday for Suen

Posted on March 15, 2016 by David McKee

Life just got a little more difficult for Atlantic City. Casino owners will have to dig into their pockets in order to defeat a ballot initiative to end their monopoly on casino gambling. The referendum mustered the necessary supermajorities to … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, Atlantic City, Election, Glenn Straub, Macau, Massachusetts, Penn National, Politics, Sheldon Adelson, Tribal | Comments Off on New Jersey sticks it to Atlantic City; No payday for Suen

Doldrums in Louisiana; Free play imperiled in Pennsylvania

Posted on March 14, 2016 by David McKee

Louisiana gaming revenues, aided by Leap Day, were flat last month, which is pretty surprising because most of the brand names had revenue-negative months. Lake Charles led the state with $74 million. Golden Nugget had a signal month, up 37% … Continue reading →

Posted in Boyd Gaming, Churchill Downs, Eldorado Resorts, Election, GLPI, Greenwood Racing, Harrah's, Horseracing, Idaho, Isle of Capri, Louisiana, Maine, Penn National, Pennsylvania, Pinnacle Entertainment, Taxes, Tilman Fertitta, Tropicana Entertainment, West Virginia | Comments Off on Doldrums in Louisiana; Free play imperiled in Pennsylvania

Rosy prospects for Boyd; Victories in Indian Country

Posted on March 10, 2016 by David McKee

Top Boyd Gaming executives sat down with JP Morgan analyst Joseph Greff and sketched out their program for the coming year, with includes new restaurant concepts at 12 casinos (including 20 new restaurants this year) and 167 hotel rooms at … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, Atlantic City, Boyd Gaming, Election, history, Illinois, International, Law enforcement, Louisiana, Massachusetts, Melco Crown Entertainment, MGM Mirage, Nevada, Philippines, Taxes, Tribal, Wall Street | 1 Comment

Study: Triads rampant in Macao casinos

Posted on March 3, 2016 by David McKee

Wow, what a shocker — not. A new study by T. Wing Lo and Sharon Ingrid Kwok of the City University of Hong Kong for the British Journal of Criminology reports that casino operators look for junket partners who have ‘dor’ or … Continue reading →

Posted in Election, Law enforcement, Macau, Marketing, Massachusetts, MGM Mirage, Neil Bluhm, Regulation, Rhode Island, Stanley Ho, Steve Wynn, The Mob, Tribal | Comments Off on Study: Triads rampant in Macao casinos

New peril at Taj; Packer puts the brakes on Alon

Posted on March 3, 2016 by David McKee

Trump Taj Mahal will have to continue limping forward on life support, as Carl Icahn is welshing on his promises of financial rescue. Uncle Carl now says that the promised $100 million reinvestment is on hold, pending the outcome of a … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Carl Icahn, Election, James Packer, Maine, The Strip, Tropicana Entertainment, Wall Street | 1 Comment

Quote of the Day

Posted on February 24, 2016 by David McKee

“I’m not telling you anything.” — Sheldon Adelson, dissing the Wall Street Journal as he hightailed it out of the Republican caucus in his motorized wheelchair. Despite three endorsements from his Las Vegas Review-Journal, Adelson’s candidate, Sen. Marco Rubio (R), … Continue reading →

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

New Jersey resumes sports-betting push; Sheldon Adelson gets his man

Posted on February 18, 2016 by David McKee

New Jersey is hoping the third time is the charm in its attempt to get sports betting OK’d by the Third Circuit Court of Appeals. With four major sporting leagues and the NCAA aligned against it, New Jersey’s is a … Continue reading →

Posted in ABBA, Atlantic City, Donald Trump, Election, Entertainment, International, Internet gambling, Macau, MGM Mirage, Pansy Ho, Politics, Regulation, Sheldon Adelson, Sports, The Strip | Comments Off on New Jersey resumes sports-betting push; Sheldon Adelson gets his man

Quote of the Day

Posted on February 18, 2016 by David McKee

“A person who thinks only about building walls, wherever they may be, and not building bridges, is not Christian. This is not in the gospel.” — Pope Francis, on the subject of Donald Trump.

Posted in Election, International | Comments Off on Quote of the Day

Case Bets

Posted on February 2, 2016 by David McKee

Sheldon Adelson once called it “a mistake” but Sands Bethlehem is proving to be a bright spot on the Las Vegas Sands balance sheet. Last year, its profitability rose 9%, adding $108 million to Adelson’s coffers. As the CEO would … Continue reading →

Posted in Election, Macau, Maine, Maryland, MGM Mirage, Pennsylvania, Sheldon Adelson, Tribal | Comments Off on Case Bets

Quote of the Day

Posted on February 1, 2016 by David McKee

“[Donald] Trump insists that he’s a conservative, but in his pronouncements and policies, conservatism seems more of a rental — a three-story penthouse rental with Central Park view, to be sure — than an ideological home.” — Charles Krauthammer, on the … Continue reading →

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