Category Archives: Election

Adelson finds his man

Posted on October 13, 2015 by David McKee

Marco Rubio could be justthisclose to a Sheldon Adelson endorsement. When Rubio was in Las Vegas last week, playing counterpoint to Donald Trump, he had a meeting with Adelson that “had an air of importance” according to Politico.com. Should Adelson … Continue reading →

Posted in Culinary Union, Donald Trump, Election, Florida, Geoff Freeman, Internet gambling, Politics, Sheldon Adelson, Station Casinos, Wall Street, Wisconsin | 3 Comments

Boardwalk of Broken Dreams; Adelson strikes again

Posted on September 28, 2015 by David McKee

As Donald Trump continues to boast of his business expertise, the Boston Globe examines his less-than-stellar track record in Atlantic City, scene of four bankruptcies. (Five, if you count the current insolvency of Trump Entertainment Resorts, in which he holds … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Donald Trump, Election, Harrah's, history, International, Japan, MGM Mirage, Sheldon Adelson, The Strip, Transportation, Trump Entertainment Resorts, TV | Comments Off

Boston offers Wynn olive branch; MGM played for a sucker in Springfield?

Posted on September 25, 2015 by David McKee

Could the war of words between Steve Wynn and Boston Mayor Martin “McCheese” Walsh soon be coming to an end? Wynn, who last month declared himself finished with an “obviously irresponsible” Walsh, had a phone chat with McCheese to discuss … Continue reading →

Posted in Election, Foxwoods, LVCVA, Massachusetts, MGM Mirage, Mohegan Sun, Regulation, Steve Wynn, Taxes, The Strip, Transportation | Comments Off

The mystery of Steve Wynn; DFS steps in it

Posted on September 24, 2015 by David McKee

For the third time, Steve Wynn has pulled back from Atlantic City. This time he’s yanking Wynn Interactive‘s application for an online casino. The move comes an awfully long time after Wynn announced his opposition to Internet wagering, so who knows … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Culinary Union, Election, Genting, Geoff Freeman, Harrah's, International, Internet gambling, New York, Oklahoma, PokerStars, Regulation, Sheldon Adelson, Sports, Steve Wynn, Taxes, Tribal | 1 Comment

Quote of the Day

Posted on September 24, 2015 by David McKee

“When coverage doesn’t go his way, he engages in personal attacks on our anchors and hosts, which has grown stale and tiresome. He doesn’t seem to grasp that candidates telling journalists what to ask is not how the media works … Continue reading →

Posted in Cretins, Donald Trump, Election, TV | Comments Off

Water, water everywhere at Revel

Posted on September 17, 2015 by David McKee

Glenn Straub has a new problem at Revel: water. Oh, he doesn’t lack for it. There’s standing water in Revel’s 47 stories of pipes. But what if cold temperatures come and Straub hasn’t gained control of ACR Energy Partners‘ heating … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Boulder Strip, Donald Trump, Election, Florida, Glenn Straub, MGM Mirage, Regulation, Revel | Comments Off

A lesson from Ohio; Murren goes to Georgia; Big changes at Sands

Posted on September 16, 2015 by David McKee

Two years ago, Ohio was grappling with what J.P. Morgan analysts called “a sluggish ramp” for its casino industry. He may have been against casinos before he was for them but Gov. John Kasich‘s supersized version of predecessor Ted Strickland‘s … Continue reading →

Posted in CityCenter, Economy, Election, Foxwoods, Galaxy Entertainment, Geoff Freeman, Georgia, Harrah's, Horseracing, Isle of Capri, M Resort, Macau, Massachusetts, MGM Mirage, Midnight Jim Gibbons, Mohegan Sun, Ohio, Penn National, Politics, Problem gambling, Regulation, Sheldon Adelson, Steve Wynn, Taxes, The Strip, Wall Street | Comments Off

China is the watchword; Atlantic City rebounds

Posted on September 16, 2015 by David McKee

Builders of $135 million Lucky Dragon Casino, across Sahara Avenue from the former Circus Circus RV park, are fast-tracking the project for a mid-2016 opening. Financed with EB-5 visa contributions, Lucky Dragon hopes to be a one-stop shop for Chinese players … Continue reading →

Posted in Animals, Atlantic City, Culinary Union, Dining, Election, Lucky Dragon, Macau, Regulation, Sheldon Adelson, SLS Las Vegas, Stanley Ho, Steve Wynn, Technology, The Strip, Tourism, Wall Street | Comments Off

Potential free-for-all in Massachusetts; Tribal triumph in Alabama

Posted on September 4, 2015 by David McKee

Massachusetts Attorney General Maura Healey took time out from impeding Steve Wynn‘s Everett casino to run a cart and horses through the Legislature’s carefully crafted three-casinos-and-one-slot-parlor formula. She approved a ballot question that seemed tailor-made to give Suffolk Downs racino status, … Continue reading →

Posted in Alabama, Atlantic City, Delaware, Election, Harrah's, Internet gambling, Massachusetts, Pennsylvania, Racinos, Regulation, Sheldon Adelson, Steve Wynn, Technology, Tribal | Comments Off

Caesars, O’Malley flunk key tests

Posted on August 26, 2015 by David McKee

Caesars Entertainment got caught with its pants down by Howard Stutz, who wrote that the company “committed public relations suicide” by lavishing a $200,000 bonus on General Counsel Tim Donovan. This is the same Caesars that is trying to stiff … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, California, Election, Entertainment, G2E, Harrah's, Maryland, Mohegan Sun, Taxes, Technology, The Strip, Tribal, TV | 1 Comment

Caesars’ pound of flesh; SLS plays the Red Bull card

Posted on August 21, 2015 by David McKee

Banks and other lending institutions aren’t going to simply forebear while Caesars Entertainment ownership absconds with all the assets. No, they want equity if they’re going to forgive debt and drop lawsuits. And if those lawsuits drag the parent company … Continue reading →

Posted in Election, Harrah's, history, Internet gambling, Marketing, Massachusetts, SLS Las Vegas, Tribal, Wall Street | Comments Off

So long, Las Vegas Club

Posted on August 17, 2015 by David McKee

The countdown has begun toward a Wednesday closing of the Las Vegas Club. It’s surprising that it took five years for new co-owner Derek Stevens to persuade Tamares Group to part with the casino, considering how flummoxed Tamares was at … Continue reading →

Posted in Derek Stevens, Donald Trump, Downtown, Election, Internet gambling, Sheldon Adelson, Tamares Group | 1 Comment

Studio City in trouble; Tribal clash in Massachusetts

Posted on August 13, 2015 by David McKee

Melco Crown Entertainment is in Eeyore mood these days, darkly muttering about a “contingency plan” for Studio City if the Macao government doesn’t give it 400 table games. As far back as its 2014 annual report, the company was making … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Columbia Sussex, Election, Galaxy Entertainment, Geoff Freeman, Internet gambling, Isle of Capri, James Packer, Lawrence Ho, Macau, Massachusetts, Melco Crown Entertainment, MGM Mirage, Mississippi, Neil Bluhm, Pennsylvania, Regulation, Sheldon Adelson, Steve Wynn, The Strip, Tribal | Comments Off

Thought for the day

Posted on August 6, 2015 by David McKee

Many question Donald Trump‘s qualifications for the presidency of the United States. I do not. Why? What other past or present occupant of the Oval Office (or Republican candidate for president, for that matter) appeared in the 1989 Bo Derek … Continue reading →

Posted in Donald Trump, Election, Movies | Comments Off

Adelson push stuck in the mud?; Alabama wants gambling

Posted on July 31, 2015 by David McKee

Tireless blogger Steve Ruddock contends that we have good reason to be optimistic about the fate of Sheldon Adelson‘s fatwa against Internet gambling. For starters, there’s the sheer slothfulness of Congress itself: How many times has it promised, say, comprehensive … Continue reading →

Posted in Alabama, California, Churchill Downs, Cosmopolitan, Election, Georgia, Internet gambling, Politics, Sheldon Adelson, Technology, The Strip, Tribal | Comments Off

Shocker in Massachusetts; Successes and setbacks for Penn

Posted on July 27, 2015 by David McKee

In a stunning reversal of fortune, KG Urban Enterprises has ditched its $650 million New Bedford casino project, citing financial difficulties. This ends seven years of grinding effort to gain civic acceptance, which culminated in a landslide electoral victory earlier … Continue reading →

Posted in Election, Environment, Florida, Foxwoods, GLPI, Illinois, Internet gambling, Maine, Massachusetts, Neil Bluhm, Ohio, Penn National, Pennsylvania, Racinos, Regulation, Scientific Games, Steve Wynn, Taxes, Tribal, Wall Street | Comments Off

Vetting the candidates

Posted on July 23, 2015 by David McKee

Although Paddy Power has lengthened his odds for gaining the White House to 12/1, New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie (R) would be one of the most supportive — if not the most supportive — candidates toward the gaming industry. He’s … Continue reading →

Posted in Arkansas, Election, Florida, International, New York, Politics, Regulation, Tribal | Comments Off

Wynn: Massachusetts vs. Boston; Crisis and opportunity at Station

Posted on July 13, 2015 by David McKee

Steve Wynn appears to be losing patience with the obstacles being thrown in his way by seemingly vanquished adversaries in his long fight to get a Boston-area casino. He’s filed a defamation suit against the city, after a lawsuit championed … Continue reading →

Posted in Culinary Union, Eldorado Resorts, Election, Georgia, history, International, Massachusetts, MGM Mirage, New York, Politics, Regulation, Sam Nazarian, Slot routes, Station Casinos, Steve Wynn | Comments Off

2016: Know thy enemy

Posted on July 6, 2015 by David McKee

A Las Vegas Sun roundup of the presidential field gives some helpful guidance. For instance, we’ve long known that Jeb Bush (R) was anti-casino, despite gambling expansion on his watch in Florida. Martin O’Malley (D) was in similar circumstances in … Continue reading →

Posted in Donald Trump, Election, Florida, Maryland, Regulation, Sheldon Adelson, Station Casinos, Tribal, Vermont, Wisconsin | Comments Off

Atlantic City, Trump Resorts play for time

Posted on July 6, 2015 by David McKee

Atlantic City can breathe a little easier: It’s bought a year’s reprieve from a ballot question which would revoke its casino monopoly. Technically, it could still get done if the Legislature votes it through by August 30. But it has … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Boyd Gaming, Carl Icahn, Election, Genting, International, Politics, Sheldon Adelson, Taxes, Trump Entertainment Resorts, TV | 1 Comment