Category Archives: Environment

Indiana fails to impress; Big setback for non-smokers

Posted on October 12, 2018 by David McKee

It’s too soon to say that regional gaming’s economic honeymoon is over but Indiana was down 4% last month, grossing $177.5 million. (It was up 6% this time last year.) Penn National Gaming‘s Hollywood Lawrenceburg took a 15% header, grossing … Continue reading →

Posted in Ameristar, Boyd Gaming, Caesars Entertainment, Colony Capital, Eldorado Resorts, Entertainment, Environment, Full House Resorts, G2E, Indiana, Louisiana, Majestic Star, MGM Resorts International, Missouri, Penn National, Pinnacle Entertainment, Technology, Wall Street, West Virginia, Westgate LV | Comments Off on Indiana fails to impress; Big setback for non-smokers

Atlantic City: Recovery is real

Posted on September 25, 2018 by David McKee

This week The Press of Atlantic City reported that “the number of visitors to the resort increased by more than 260,000, the casino industry employed nearly 6,700 more people and gaming revenue was up by $54.8 million.” Sounds good to … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Bruce Deifik, Dining, Economy, Environment, Hard Rock International, Macau, Melco Resorts & Entertainment, Sociedade de Jogos de Macau | 1 Comment

MGM: Riding out the storm

Posted on September 24, 2018 by David McKee

As Golden Week nears in Macao, hotel rooms are sold out at all Wynn Macau properties. MGM Grand Paradise has one night open while struggling MGM Cotai has three nights of vacancies (and this without its full complement of rooms). … Continue reading →

Posted in Caesars Entertainment, Downtown, Environment, Hard Rock International, Las Vegas Sands, Macau, Marijuana, MGM Resorts International, Ohio, Oklahoma, Taxes, The Strip, Wall Street, Wynn Resorts | 1 Comment

Louisiana heats up; Pilgrimage to Plains

Posted on September 24, 2018 by David McKee

Louisiana gamblers were living large in August, leaving 9% more than last year in the slots and on the tables, some $212 million in total. This was especially good for Caesars Entertainment (+12%) and even more so for Boyd Gaming … Continue reading →

Posted in AGA, Boyd Gaming, Caesars Entertainment, Churchill Downs, Eldorado Resorts, Environment, Georgia, GLPI, history, Pinnacle Entertainment, Politics, Regulation, Tilman Fertitta, Tropicana Entertainment | Comments Off on Louisiana heats up; Pilgrimage to Plains

MGM Springfield a hit; Prolonged anxiety for Wynn

Posted on September 17, 2018 by David McKee

We’ve become so inured to casinos highballing attendance figures that it comes as a pleasant surprise when one opens to business that exceeds expectations. Such is the case with MGM Springfield, which is seeing 50,000 customers per weekend day and … Continue reading →

Posted in Dining, Entertainment, Environment, Foxwoods, Macau, Massachusetts, MGM Resorts International, Mohegan Sun, Regulation, Sexual misconduct, Steve Wynn, The Strip, Wynn Resorts | Comments Off on MGM Springfield a hit; Prolonged anxiety for Wynn

Shelter from the storm; Eldorado enters Atlantic City

Posted on September 14, 2018 by David McKee

Looking for someplace to ride out the storm. Ocean Resort is full through September 15 but comped rooms will be available after that. “We completely understand the concern for families and the community during times like this, so we want to … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Bruce Deifik, Carl Icahn, Charity, Churchill Downs, Eldorado Resorts, Entertainment, Environment, International, Internet gambling, Lake Tahoe, Laughlin, Mohegan Sun, Penn National, Pennsylvania, Pinnacle Entertainment, Regulation, Reno, Rush Street Gaming, Technology, The Strip, Wynn Resorts | Comments Off on Shelter from the storm; Eldorado enters Atlantic City

Suicide squeeze in Macao; Is Atlantic City ready for some football?

Posted on September 12, 2018 by David McKee

Most of Macao‘s casinos are playing a game of chicken with the local government, daring it to enforce its smoking ban. Only 12 of 47 casinos have installed smoking lounges. Personally, I wouldn’t want to get on the wrong side … Continue reading →

Posted in Caesars Entertainment, Environment, Hard Rock International, Harrah's, International, Internet gambling, Kentucky, Macau, Melco Resorts & Entertainment, New Jersey, Oklahoma, Politics, Problem gambling, Regulation, Sociedade de Jogos de Macau, Sports, Sports betting, Texas, Tribal, Virginia | 1 Comment

Dispatches from the front lines

Posted on September 5, 2018 by David McKee

Already MGM Springfield is spurring external economic stimulus in Springfield. A new (and rather fugly) Hilton has been proposed for an adjacent site, costing $15 million and boasting 100 hotel rooms once finished. For the city, the cancellation of MGM’s planned hotel … Continue reading →

Posted in Economy, Entertainment, Environment, history, Massachusetts, MGM Resorts International, Minnesota, Penn National, Rhode Island, The Strip, Tribal | Comments Off on Dispatches from the front lines

“A quarter to forget”

Posted on August 21, 2018 by David McKee

That’s what JP Morgan analyst Joseph Greff had to say about 2Q18, adding, “The 2Q18 earnings reporting period in late July/early August was one of the worst in recent memory for U.S. Gaming as stocks with strong earnings/outlooks saw modest … Continue reading →

Posted in Boyd Gaming, Caesars Entertainment, Economy, Eldorado Resorts, Environment, MGM Resorts International, Mississippi, Nevada, Penn National, Sports, Sports betting, Station Casinos, Tribal, Wall Street, West Virginia, Wisconsin | Comments Off on “A quarter to forget”

When in Rome …

Posted on August 16, 2018 by David McKee

… don’t advertise sports betting. Actually you can’t, thanks to a new “Dignity Decree” that was the first priority of Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte‘s right-wing government. The provocation was a proliferation of gaming advertising during Italy‘s World Cup games. As a … Continue reading →

Posted in Arizona, Australia, Baseball, Boyd Gaming, California, Eldorado Resorts, Environment, International, Marketing, Nevada, Penn National, Politics, Problem gambling, Regulation, Sports, Sports betting, Station Casinos, Tribal, TV, Wall Street | Comments Off on When in Rome …

Quote of the Day

Posted on August 15, 2018 by David McKee

“It’s really pretty, black with orange spots on it, which makes it somewhat unique in being the largest carrion beetle. If you were to observe it in the wild, you would see it carrying this carcass a small distance before it … Continue reading →

Posted in Animals, Environment, Oklahoma, Tribal | Comments Off on Quote of the Day

Quote of the Day

Posted on August 10, 2018 by David McKee

“We can’t make good beer without clean water!” — One World Brewing owner Ryan Naylor on the impending repeal of the Clean Water Rule.

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

MGM lauds Springfield as Mandalay Bay woes increase

Posted on July 25, 2018 by David McKee

MGM Resorts International is targeting Hartford (and five other media markets) with its initial TV spot for MGM Springfield, whose opening is now less than a month away. The ad, which you can see for yourself, has shoutouts to virtually … Continue reading →

Posted in Cirque du Soleil, Elaine Wynn, Environment, Law enforcement, Mandalay Bay Massacre, Marketing, Massachusetts, MGM Resorts International, New York, Penn National, Pennsylvania, Regulation, Reno, Rhode Island, Sexual misconduct, Sports betting, Taxes, TV, Wynn Resorts | Comments Off on MGM lauds Springfield as Mandalay Bay woes increase

MGM lawsuit backfires

Posted on July 18, 2018 by David McKee

MGM Resorts International stepped in it — at least momentarily — when it elected to sue victims of the Mandalay Bay Massacre in federal court. The Twitterverse briefly arose in #BoycottMGM outrage, but it died down by day’s end and … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, Arizona, Atlantic City, Dan Gilbert, Detroit, Donald Trump, Environment, Mandalay Bay Massacre, Massachusetts, MGM Resorts International, Ohio, Security, Sports, The Strip, Trump Entertainment Resorts | 1 Comment

Churchill Downs deal goes south; Robocops at Pechanga

Posted on July 10, 2018 by David McKee

Early yesterday, Churchill Downs and Eldorado Resorts announced that they were deep-sixing the sale of Eldorado’s Lady Luck Vicksburg, although Churchill Downs’ purchase of Presque Isle Downs remains in play. Evidently, Churchill Downs was uncomfortable with Federal Trade Commission inquiries … Continue reading →

Posted in Arizona, Caesars Entertainment, California, Churchill Downs, Eldorado Resorts, Environment, Mandalay Bay Massacre, Marijuana, Minnesota, Mississippi, Nevada, Pennsylvania, Regulation, Security, Sports betting, Technology, Tribal, Wall Street, World Series of Poker | Comments Off on Churchill Downs deal goes south; Robocops at Pechanga

Adversity at Sands; Paging Katniss Everdeen

Posted on May 21, 2018 by David McKee

Some are blaming bad weather for two months of substantially reduced table-games winnings at Sands Bethlehem. But could casinos in the Catskills finally be having an effect? It’s hard to say, although one suspects the answer is “yes.” Sands Bethlehem tumbled … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Bruce Deifik, California, Churchill Downs, CityCenter, Entertainment, Environment, Genting, Hard Rock International, history, International, Internet gambling, Massachusetts, MGM Mirage, Mississippi, Mohegan Sun, New York, Pennsylvania, Revel, Sheldon Adelson, Sports, The Strip, Tilman Fertitta, Transportation, Wynn Resorts | Comments Off on Adversity at Sands; Paging Katniss Everdeen

How much for a used Dragon?; Indiana good, Missouri ‘meh’

Posted on May 10, 2018 by David McKee

Believe it or not, there is “a lot of interest in the property at this time” according to Lucky Dragon Casino owner Andrew Fonfa, a contention independently verified by the Las Vegas Review-Journal. That being said, a Lucky Dragon sale is … Continue reading →

Posted in Affinity Gaming, Ameristar, Architecture, Boyd Gaming, Centaur Gaming, Eldorado Resorts, Environment, Full House Resorts, GLPI, Harrah's, Horseracing, IGT, Indiana, Isle of Capri, Lucky Dragon, Majestic Star, Missouri, Penn National, Pinnacle Entertainment, Racinos, Taxes, The Strip, Tribal, Wall Street, Wisconsin | Comments Off on How much for a used Dragon?; Indiana good, Missouri ‘meh’

Ohio good, Maryland better; The mystery of Carrot Top

Posted on May 8, 2018 by David McKee

Last month found the State of Maryland in good health when it came to gaming revenue, up 6%. Most of this was driven — one is tempted to say “of course” — by MGM National Harbor, vaulting 15.5% for an … Continue reading →

Posted in Churchill Downs, Cordish Co., Dan Gilbert, Economy, Eldorado Resorts, Entertainment, Environment, GLPI, Hard Rock International, Harrah's, Macau, Maryland, Massachusetts, MGM Mirage, Ohio, Penn National, Pinnacle Entertainment, Racinos, Sheldon Adelson, Sociedade de Jogos de Macau, Taxes, The Strip, Transportation, West Virginia | Comments Off on Ohio good, Maryland better; The mystery of Carrot Top

Wynn: It’s Elaine’s company now; Caesars reverses itself

Posted on April 23, 2018 by David McKee

When Elaine Wynn speaks, Wynn Resorts is suddenly all ears. Last week the company’s plurality shareholder called for a largely new and diverse board of directors, in what is describes as a “first step” toward greater heterogeneousness. Presto! Who should … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, Centaur Gaming, Donald Trump, Elaine Wynn, Environment, Hard Rock International, Harrah's, Indiana, Law enforcement, Macau, Marketing, Sociedade de Jogos de Macau, Sports, Station Casinos, Technology, Transportation, Wynn Resorts | 6 Comments

Looking for change in Illinois; Copperfield goes “Poof!”

Posted on April 19, 2018 by David McKee

Grand Victoria is such small potatoes in the MGM Resorts International portfolio that the Elgin riverboat’s management used to be farmed out to co-owner Hyatt Gaming (since succeeded by the Pritzker family’s RBG). The Elgin City Council is hoping that … Continue reading →

Posted in Arizona, California, Charity, Donald Trump, Eldorado Resorts, Entertainment, Environment, Illinois, MGM Mirage, Slot routes, Taxes, Transportation, Tribal | Comments Off on Looking for change in Illinois; Copperfield goes “Poof!”