Category Archives: Election

Election wins for Foxwoods, Golden Gaming; New boss at Beau Rivage

Posted on June 24, 2015 by David McKee

Almost lost in the excitement over the opening of Plainridge Park, in Plainview, is a little-reported event: New Bedford‘s vote on casino host-community status. To say that KG Urban Enterprises won is rather an understatement. It garnered 73% of votes cast, … Continue reading →

Posted in Current, Election, Foxwoods, Golden Gaming, Harrah's, Lyle Berman, Massachusetts, MGM Mirage, Mississippi, Neil Bluhm, Ohio, Penn National, Racinos, Regulation, Steve Wynn, Wall Street | Comments Off

Heavy online interest in Pennsylvania; New twist in Jersey expansion

Posted on June 10, 2015 by David McKee

Caesars Interactive sent Michael Cohen to Harrisburg, to educate Pennsylvania lawmakers in online gambling and demonstrate the safety features whereby underage players can be thwarted. Cohen’s presentation pleased lawmakers on both sides of the aisle but drew a squawk of … Continue reading →

Posted in Election, Harrah's, International, Internet gambling, Pennsylvania, Politics, Racinos, Regulation, Sheldon Adelson | Comments Off

Hard Rock, Resorts World put their chips on the table

Posted on June 8, 2015 by David McKee

While New Jersey politicians bicker over the timing of a constitutional referendum for adding northerly casinos, Hard Rock International unveiled a detailed picture of its plans for its desired Meadowlands casino (a site favored by 73% of voters polled, although … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, Atlantic City, CityCenter, Economy, Election, Genting, Glenn Straub, Hard Rock Hotel, Hard Rock International, Horseracing, Macau, New York, Pennsylvania, Sheldon Adelson, Stanley Ho, Steve Wynn, The Strip, Tourism | Comments Off

Christie vs. Sweeney; Straub out of A.C.?

Posted on June 2, 2015 by David McKee

A bill introduced in the New Jersey Legislature sets up a proxy fight between Gov. Chris Christie (R) and state Senate President Stephen Sweeney (D) over the timing of when Garden State voters will be called upon to decide Atlantic … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Carl Icahn, Colony Capital, Dennis Gomes, Donald Trump, Election, Glenn Straub, Internet gambling, MGM Mirage, Pennsylvania, Politics, Revel, Steve Wynn, Taxes | Comments Off

Christie’s change of mind; Caesars creditors thwarted

Posted on May 29, 2015 by David McKee

New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie (R) is already throwing in the towel on his five-year plan for Atlantic City. If lawmakers want to put a statewide expansion of casino gambling on this fall’s ballot, Christie would “have absolutely no problem … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Election, Hard Rock International, Harrah's, Horseracing, Massachusetts, New York, Racinos, Regulation, Steve Wynn, Taxes | Comments Off

Steve Wynn talks, we listen

Posted on May 5, 2015 by David McKee

Elaine Wynn finds herself underwriting a Steve Wynn colloquy with Jon Ralston. (We may have “the Adelson primary” but we also have “the Ralston primary.”) Bet she didn’t see that coming. As for Steve, he can be combative, God knows, … Continue reading →

Posted in Economy, Election, Harry Reid, Macau, Steve Wynn, Taxes, TV | Comments Off

The world according to Wynn

Posted on May 1, 2015 by David McKee

Nobody likes a sore winner and Steve Wynn has nothing but unkind words for Elaine Wynn, a week after she was voted off the Wynn Resorts board. His dismissive attitude toward her criticisms of the board’s composition makes me skeptical … Continue reading →

Posted in Economy, Election, Macau, MGM Mirage, Sheldon Adelson, Sports, Steve Wynn, The Strip | 1 Comment

Reid’s heavy hand; Staying the course in Macao

Posted on March 26, 2015 by David McKee

Financing of SLS Las Vegas was made a little easier when Sen. Harry Reid (D) intervened on behalf of some of Sam Nazarian‘s all-important EB-5 visa investors. The inspector general of the Department of Homeland Security has identified four SLS … Continue reading →

Posted in Economy, Election, Harrah's, Harry Reid, Macau, Melco Crown Entertainment, MGM Mirage, Movies, Regulation, Sam Nazarian, The Strip | Comments Off

Belt-tightening in Macao; Adelson gets his wrist slapped

Posted on March 9, 2015 by David McKee

Given the steep plunge in casino revenues over the past eight months, Macao casino operators are talking about taking cost-saving measures. Although its mass-market focus shelters it from the worst of the downturn, Sands China is mulling cuts in its … Continue reading →

Posted in Election, Florida, Georgia, Horseracing, Macau, Politics, Sheldon Adelson, Steve Wynn | Comments Off

Weak quarter for Las Vegas Sands; Penn weathers a blow

Posted on January 29, 2015 by David McKee

There was definitely some grit in the 4Q14 financial results for Las Vegas Sands‘ Strip properties. Table play was down $102 million, or 16%. And those players who showed up played lucky. Table revenue was down 26%, or $37 million. … Continue reading →

Posted in California, Election, Harrah's, Indiana, Japan, Macau, Massachusetts, MGM Mirage, Penn National, Racinos, Sheldon Adelson, Singapore, The Strip, Tribal, Wall Street, West Virginia | Comments Off

Big and Little Caesars strike again; Atlantic City’s monopoly in danger

Posted on December 22, 2014 by David McKee

Last weekend, Caesars Entertainment confirmed what we already expected: It will file bankruptcy for Caesars Entertainment Operating Co. next month, in what the New York Times called “an ignominious milestone for what was one of the biggest buyouts of the … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Election, Harrah's, Horseracing, New York, Politics, Wall Street | Comments Off

Adelson keeps coming; Eternal frustration in Florida

Posted on November 26, 2014 by David McKee

Let’s face it: Sheldon Adelson is old, distrusts computers and clearly fears Internet gambling’s encroachment on his mammoth brick-and-mortar casinos. Which means that even if he fails to get the Restore America’s Wire Act bill passed in Congress’ lame-duck session, … Continue reading →

Posted in Election, Florida, Harry Reid, Internet gambling, Politics, Sheldon Adelson, Taxes, Tribal | Comments Off

Station mixes candor, optimism; Adelson: What’s next?

Posted on November 13, 2014 by David McKee

Station Casinos CFO Marc Falcone wasn’t showing his cards in yesterday’s conference call with analysts. He would only say that, in the wake of Proposition 48‘s defeat in California, Station and the North Fork Rancheria of Mono Indians would explore “other … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, California, Detroit, Economy, Election, Harry Reid, Internet gambling, MGM Mirage, Politics, Regulation, Sheldon Adelson, Station Casinos, Tribal, Trump Entertainment Resorts | Comments Off

Philadelphia decision tipped; Insolvency on the high seas

Posted on November 11, 2014 by David McKee

While we’ve been focused on Boston and New York, a major casino decision in Philadelphia has been creeping upon us. The second casino license in Philly city limits is to be awarded on Nov. 18 and early intel has it … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Cordish Co., Economy, Election, Florida, Geoff Freeman, Greenwood Racing, Maryland, Massachusetts, MGM Mirage, Minnesota, Neil Bluhm, Penn National, Pennsylvania, Problem gambling, Regulation, Steve Wynn, Technology, Tomato King Procacci, Tribal, Uncategorized | Comments Off

Penn: The world according to GARP

Posted on November 11, 2014 by David McKee

Observing stability in regional gaming markets, Deutsche Bank‘s Carlo Santarelli is out with a bullish investor note on Penn National Gaming today, declaring “the worst appears over.” He sets a $17 target price for the stock (currently trading just below … Continue reading →

Posted in Election, Internet gambling, Massachusetts, New York, Ohio, Penn National, Pinnacle Entertainment, Racinos, Sheldon Adelson, Wall Street | Comments Off

Election ’14: The day after

Posted on November 6, 2014 by David McKee

MGM Resorts International didn’t wait for the ballots to get cold. It had equipment on site in downtown Springfield yesterday, conducting “geotechnical soil assessments” on the future site of the parking garage. Laying out a timeline for the project MGM … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Boyd Gaming, California, Election, Georgia, Harrah's, Internet gambling, Massachusetts, MGM Mirage, PokerStars, Regulation, Sheldon Adelson, Tribal, Wall Street | 1 Comment

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

Decision time; Failure in Japan

Posted on November 4, 2014 by David McKee

Casino supporters showed up in force in Springfield, Massachusetts, touting the charitable benefits — not to mention the employment ones — that would stem from an MGM Resorts International casino. For instance, MGM would continue its sponsorship of a local … Continue reading →

Posted in Charity, Election, Genting, Harrah's, Japan, Massachusetts, MGM Mirage, Neil Bluhm, Politics, Sheldon Adelson | Comments Off

Mark your ballots; Trump Taj: Welfare queen

Posted on November 3, 2014 by David McKee

Tomorrow we get to exercise that precious franchise, the vote. So don’t oversleep, ‘kay? As everyone knows by now, the big rumble is in Massachusetts, where an attempt to repeal the state’s casino law is failing by a substantial margin in … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, California, Colorado, Election, Kansas, Massachusetts, MGM Mirage, Penn National, Politics, Racinos, Regulation, Rhode Island, South Dakota, Station Casinos, Steve Wynn, Tribal, Trump Entertainment Resorts | Comments Off

Unhappy Halloween

Posted on November 3, 2014 by David McKee

Right-leaning Stand by Children Arizona, in the course of endorsing six GOP candidates, went a little screwy. Its poster art looks like something out of a cheap Fifties horror film, with zombie-faced Little Johnny’s proverbial one-room schoolhouse about to … Continue reading →

Posted in Downtown, Election, Tilman Fertitta | Comments Off