Category Archives: Environment

Toxic overconfidence at Wynn; Persistence in Kentucky

Posted on January 8, 2014 by David McKee

Whoops. It seems like Wynn Resorts was a little coy (or careless) about how it intended to clean up a toxic-waste site (home to “volatile organic compounds, petroleum hydrocarbons, PCBs, and evidence of sulfuric acids and other substances“) in Everett. Bostonians … Continue reading →

Posted in Boyd Gaming, Environment, Internet gambling, Kansas, Kentucky, Massachusetts, Politics, Sheldon Adelson, Steve Wynn, Taxes | 2 Comments

This won’t help A.C. and other case bets

Posted on January 6, 2014 by David McKee

Handle at Meadowlands Racetrack rose 32% (or $55 million) last year. That’s not what Atlantic City casinos need to hear at a time when they’re just trying to tread water. It’s bad enough that Caesars Entertainment and Tropicana Entertainment are … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Cordish Co., Entertainment, Environment, Harrah's, Horseracing, Macau, Maryland, Mohegan Sun, Ohio, Penn National, Planet Hollywood, Tropicana Entertainment | Comments Off

Adelson undeterred; Winners and losers

Posted on December 23, 2013 by David McKee

I’m not sure which part of this story is more alarming: That Affinity Gaming was the victim of a widespread identity-theft scheme for seven months … or that the company didn’t disclose it until late this year. It certainly makes … Continue reading →

Posted in Affinity Gaming, Atlantic City, California, Dan Gilbert, Detroit, Environment, Florida, Harrah's, Horseracing, International, Internet gambling, Japan, Macau, New York, Ohio, Penn National, Problem gambling, Sheldon Adelson, Singapore, Stanley Ho | Comments Off

Breaking Boyd

Posted on October 31, 2013 by David McKee

Boyd Gaming missed Wall Street expectations last quarter, posting negative earnings of eight cents a share, compared to the $0.01/share profit the Street was anticipating. Deutsche Bank‘s Carlo Santarelli blamed “softer-than-expected net revenues … below the low-end of management’s guidance.” Las … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Boulder Strip, Boyd Gaming, Current, Downtown, Environment, Greenwood Racing, history, Iowa, Louisiana, Maryland, MGM Mirage, Ohio, Penn National, Wall Street | Comments Off

New life for EuroVegas?; Trailer Station rides again;

Posted on October 10, 2013 by David McKee

Sheldon Adelson may have charmed out a back-door exemption to Spain‘s antismoking policy. The national government is drafting legislation that would give provinces wiggle room where the ban is concerned. Which means that Madrid could go ahead and give Adelson … Continue reading →

Posted in Current, Downtown, Environment, Hard Rock International, International, Macau, Sheldon Adelson, Station Casinos, Tribal, Wisconsin | Comments Off

Another Borgata first; Ohio is “george”; Adelson’s waiting game

Posted on September 20, 2013 by David McKee

In what could be a harbinger of good things for Atlantic City, the final events of the World Poker Tour are being held at Borgata. It’s to promote the legalization of online poker in New Jersey, but anything that brings … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Boyd Gaming, Environment, International, Internet gambling, Japan, Ohio, Problem gambling, Sheldon Adelson, Steve Wynn | 2 Comments

Linq looking good & other Case Bets

Posted on September 5, 2013 by David McKee

You can’t drive around the Vegas Valley these days without having a clear view of the Las Vegas High Roller, the Ferris wheel that is Caesars Entertainment‘s would-be tourism magnet, which seems to grow overnight. It’s an impressive sight, one … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Boyd Gaming, Colony Capital, Entertainment, Environment, Harrah's, Internet gambling, Isle of Capri, Revel, Steve Wynn, The Strip, Wall Street | 2 Comments

Massachusetts: First one bites the dust

Posted on August 6, 2013 by David McKee

Turns out the Massachusetts Gaming Commission was damn serious about financial probity being grounds for disqualification. In a ruling on Plainridge Racecourse, it deemed that owner Ourway Realty displayed “a culture of fear and concealment pervasive in the operations,” including former … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, Colorado, Cordish Co., Current, Environment, M Resort, Massachusetts, Neil Bluhm, Penn National, Phil Ruffin, Regulation | 2 Comments

Tilman’s Golden touch; Dotty’s gets respectable

Posted on August 5, 2013 by David McKee

Tilman Fertitta forked over $45 million to purchase Isle of Capri Biloxi. He is currently putting another $100 million into expansions and upgrades. From the look of things, he shouldn’t have any trouble making his money back. (Interestingly, parts of … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, Boulder Strip, Current, Downtown, Economy, Environment, Internet gambling, Isle of Capri, Laughlin, Mississippi, Planet Hollywood, Riviera, Tilman Fertitta | 3 Comments

Seller’s market in A.C.?; Adelson’s new opportunity

Posted on August 1, 2013 by David McKee

According to a certain Pinky Kravitz, two new suitors are afoot on the Boardwalk. One of them is Neil Bluhm‘s SugarHouse Casino, which evidently covets the Atlantic Club (a surprisingly downmarket move for Bluhm). It may have to go up … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Boyd Gaming, Colony Capital, Current, Donald Trump, Economy, Environment, Foxwoods, Harrah's, International, Internet gambling, Kansas, Maine, Massachusetts, Neil Bluhm, New Hampshire, New York, Pennsylvania, Regulation, Sheldon Adelson, Taxes, Wall Street | Comments Off

Massachusetts: Penn’s back in; New market for Adelson?

Posted on July 19, 2013 by David McKee

When the city of Springfield finally stopped fence-sitting and decided against going with Penn National Gaming, I knew it was only a matter of time before Penn emerged somewhere else in Massachusetts. Boy, has it ever. Operating with speed and … Continue reading →

Posted in Cordish Co., Current, Environment, Hard Rock International, International, Lake Tahoe, Massachusetts, Neil Bluhm, Penn National, Politics, Racinos, Regulation, Sheldon Adelson, Steve Wynn, Taxes, Tropicana Entertainment | Comments Off

Springfield: MGM wins again; Barton: Congressman or con artist?

Posted on July 17, 2013 by David McKee

As predicted, voter turnout was low but a victory is a victory, and MGM Resorts International went home a winner yesterday. Springfield voters ratified an agreement between MGM and the city, 58% to 42%. Scarcely had the last vote been … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Current, Donald Trump, Economy, Environment, Harrah's, Harry Reid, International, Internet gambling, Massachusetts, MGM Mirage, Politics, Racinos, Regulation, Revel, Sheldon Adelson, Steve Wynn, Taxes, Tribal | 1 Comment

A note of thanks; Going … going … Gore

Posted on July 10, 2013 by David McKee

As many of you know, Mount Charleston, on the distant outskirts of Las Vegas, is being consumed by a huge forest fire. Not only has the blaze threatened Siegel Group‘s Mount Charleston Lodge, it’s also displaced some of the many … Continue reading →

Posted in Cannery Casino Resorts, Current, Entertainment, Environment, Louisiana, Pinnacle Entertainment, Taxes, The Strip | 1 Comment

Massachusetts: It’s where the action might be; Where there’s smoke, there’s Sheldon

Posted on July 9, 2013 by David McKee

Update/Correction: I’m reliably informed that dog racing (see below) is illegal in Massachusetts and will remain so, praise be. Also, Neil Bluhm is now wooing Millbury for a slot-parlor site. Except for Raynham Park, all slot-parlor applicants are under the … Continue reading →

Posted in Animals, Architecture, Colony Capital, Cordish Co., Current, Economy, Environment, history, International, Isle of Capri, Louisiana, Massachusetts, MGM Mirage, Mississippi, Neil Bluhm, Oklahoma, Politics, Racinos, Regulation, Sheldon Adelson, Tribal | 1 Comment

Revel gets the memo; Sheldon Adelson knows what’s good for you

Posted on June 21, 2013 by David McKee

Wall Street really hates it when casinos buy business with “promotional allowances” (read: comps) but sometimes — and especially when you’re Revel Hotel-Casino — there’s no choice. In marketing policies as new as its expanded nomenclature, Revel is acknowledging its … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Cantor Gaming, Current, Economy, Environment, Harry Reid, International, Internet gambling, Marketing, Politics, Revel, Sheldon Adelson, Tribal | 1 Comment

Weidner returns; Casinos win tax fight

Posted on May 22, 2013 by David McKee

Y’all remember Baha Mar, that multi-billion-dollar project in the Bahamas that then-Harrah’s Entertainment exited during its IPO? At the time, Harrah’s insisted that there was no connection, but Baha Mar was one of several initiatives — including Margaritaville in Biloxi … Continue reading →

Posted in Boyd Gaming, Environment, Harrah's, International, Macau, Mississippi, Oklahoma, Politics, Reno, Sheldon Adelson, Taxes | 1 Comment

Echelon no more: Boyd humiliated yet again; Caesars pulls another plug

Posted on March 4, 2013 by David McKee

If you’ll pardon my vulgarity, shit got real while I was tied up with other projects. Last week’s sale of excess baggage Dania Jai-Alai in Florida was just a tiny prelude to this morning’s blockbuster: Echelon is kaput. Instead, Boyd Gaming … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, Atlantic City, Boyd Gaming, Carl Icahn, CityCenter, Current, Downtown, Economy, Environment, Florida, Fontainebleau, Genting, Harrah's, history, International, Kansas, Mississippi, New York, Plaza, Politics, Racinos, Regulation, Sahara, Singapore, Station Casinos, The Strip, Wall Street | 7 Comments

Indiana: The good, the bad, the ‘meh’; Vegas: What’s that smell?

Posted on February 8, 2013 by David McKee

January casino revenues from Indiana present a conundrum. Although the state is still the most lucrative casino jurisdiction in the Midwest ($192 million last month), it’s hard to tell whether the half-full glass is filling or emptying. Foot traffic was … Continue reading →

Posted in Ameristar, Cordish Co., Current, Don Barden, Economy, Environment, Harrah's, Illinois, Indiana, Internet gambling, Kentucky, Laughlin, Mesquite, Minnesota, Penn National, Politics, Racinos, Tourism, Wall Street | 1 Comment

Vegas beyond the Strip … way beyond

Posted on January 29, 2013 by David McKee

Some of you — and you know who you are — get to Las Vegas several times a year but rarely have the chance to foray far past either the Las Vegas Strip or Downtown. (It’s the same with me … Continue reading →

Posted in Dining, Downtown, Entertainment, Environment, Riviera, The Strip, Tourism | Comments Off

Cap-and-trade at Sands; SkyFail: The sequel

Posted on January 28, 2013 by David McKee

Ever since the government of Macao put a hard cap on the number of table games in the enclave, casino operators have been forced to do a certain amount of cap-and-trade. In order to stock up Sands Cotai, 200 tables … Continue reading →

Posted in CityCenter, Current, Entertainment, Environment, Harrah's, James Packer, Lawrence Ho, Macau, Melco Crown Entertainment, Regulation, Sheldon Adelson, Singapore, Stanley Ho, The Strip, Wall Street | 2 Comments