Category Archives: Florida

Party poopers

Posted on August 25, 2014 by David McKee

Those losers at Al-Qaeda are fixating on Las Vegas. In their fanzine, Palestine, they urge their followers to build car bombs and target Sin City. Nightclubs and casino floors are the high-impact targets of opportunity. (Real geniuses, these terrorist folk.) Both … Continue reading →

Posted in Election, Florida, Harrah's, International, Macau, Massachusetts, MGM Mirage, Sheldon Adelson, The Strip, Tribal | Comments Off

The contradictions of Sam Nazarian

Posted on August 19, 2014 by David McKee

Is Sam Nazarian becoming a legend in his own mind? You have to wonder when you read that he’s had a statue of himself erected in the front of SLS Las Vegas. Sure, Bob Stupak did the same thing at … Continue reading →

Posted in California, Cosmopolitan, Entertainment, Florida, Genting, International, Japan, Marketing, MGM Mirage, New York, Pennsylvania, Sahara, Sam Nazarian, The Strip, Wall Street | 3 Comments

Pacifism in Alabama; Flop in Florida

Posted on August 18, 2014 by David McKee

There’s nothing that trumps ideology like the need for tax dollars. Such is the case in Alabama, where budget shortfalls are bringing state government around to the idea of a gaming compact with Poarch Band of Creek Indians. No negotiations … Continue reading →

Posted in Alabama, Boyd Gaming, CityCenter, Dubai, Florida, MGM Mirage, Politics, The Strip, Tribal | 1 Comment

Thinking the unthinkable

Posted on July 21, 2014 by David McKee

Could Nevada casino floors go genuinely smoke-free? That’s the idea floated by Deutsche Bank analyst Andrew Zarnett. Although Nevada voters have exempted casino floors from smoking bans, Zarnett thinks that state of affairs could change by 2016 or so, at … Continue reading →

Posted in Delaware, Economy, Environment, Florida, Illinois, Macau, Mississippi, Sheldon Adelson, The Strip, Transportation | 2 Comments

Station’s big hit; Tribal roundup

Posted on July 8, 2014 by David McKee

There’s no doubt that Graton Resort, less than an hour’s driving distance from San Francisco, has been a success for Station Casinos. We just didn’t know how much. In addition to earning a $7.4 million management fee during 1Q14, Station … Continue reading →

Posted in California, Florida, Kansas, Regulation, Station Casinos, Technology, Tribal, Wall Street | 1 Comment

Adelson: Who asked you?

Posted on June 11, 2014 by David McKee

Sheldon Adelson is fast becoming the #1 buttinski in American politics. He’s not from Florida and doesn’t do business there but that hasn’t stopped him from meddling the state’s electoral process. He’s been seeding an astroturf movement to defeat the … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Boyd Gaming, Election, Florida, Harrah's, Massachusetts, MGM Mirage, Regulation, Sheldon Adelson, Tropicana Entertainment, Trump Entertainment Resorts | Comments Off

Adelson winning one-sided war

Posted on June 5, 2014 by David McKee

If it appears that Sheldon Adelson is rolling to victory in his jihad against Internet gambling, it’s primarily because his opposition has gone belly-up. First, MGM Resorts International CEO Jim Murren called the battle “a fight we cannot win,” then … Continue reading →

Posted in California, Florida, Geoff Freeman, Harrah's, Indiana, International, Internet gambling, MGM Mirage, Politics, Sheldon Adelson, South Carolina, Texas, Tribal | Comments Off

Penn, Cordish, Foxwoods all quit

Posted on May 29, 2014 by David McKee

Despite having missed — by several days — the deadline for getting their $1 million application fee refunded, Penn National Gaming and Cordish Gaming want their money back from New York State. Why? Because they have belatedly decided to scrap … Continue reading →

Posted in Cordish Co., Florida, Foxwoods, Massachusetts, New York, Penn National, Regulation, Tribal | Comments Off

Quote of the Day

Posted on May 13, 2014 by David McKee

“Like Lucy does with Charlie Brown, the Legislature keeps promising Floridians an overhaul of gambling in the state — then pulls the ball away.” — James L. Rosica, on the latest session of futility in Tallahassee.

Posted in Florida, Politics, Tribal | Comments Off

Loveman utters heresy; Adelson’s sock-puppet theatre

Posted on May 9, 2014 by David McKee

Buried deep in Caesars Entertainments ‘s 1Q14 earnings call was this bombshell from CEO Gary Loveman: “We are looking at all of our options to reduce the cost of doing business here. All the businesses in [Atlantic City] are under tremendous pressure.” That’s … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Cretins, Economy, Florida, Harrah's, Indiana, Louisiana, New Hampshire, Politics, South Carolina, Texas, Wall Street | Comments Off

Scott deal a dud?; Storm on Capitol Hill

Posted on April 29, 2014 by David McKee

Slim and none appear to be Florida Gov. Rick Scott‘s choices for a special session next month to ratify a casino compact with the Seminole Tribe. Legislators who note that the current compact doesn’t sunset until next year wonder what’s … Continue reading →

Posted in Donald Trump, Florida, Internet gambling, Politics, Sheldon Adelson, Tribal | 1 Comment

This just in: Seminole deal near?

Posted on April 25, 2014 by David McKee

Someone “close to the negotiations” for a new tribal gaming compact in Florida tells The Associated Press the Gov. Rick Scott is feeling out legislative leaders about holding a special session in May. The reason: A new state/Seminole Tribe deal. … Continue reading →

Posted in Florida, Taxes, Tribal | Comments Off

Case Bets

Posted on April 23, 2014 by David McKee

Former Florida Lt. Governor Jennifer Carroll‘s troubles with the law haven’t ended with her resignation from public office. Tens of thousands of dollars of unreported income from Internet-cafe casino operators went unreported and now Carroll has some explaining to do. … Continue reading →

Posted in Florida, Internet gambling, Iowa, Penn National, Pennsylvania, Regulation, Rhode Island, Warner Gaming | Comments Off

Tropicana Bethlehem?; One acre and a casino

Posted on April 10, 2014 by David McKee

Las Vegas Sands‘ waving of the white flag over its Sands Bethlehem casino may have finally yielded a buyer. Having stated publicly, however, that $1 billion was the asking price may have limited Sands flexibility to negotiate (not to mention … Continue reading →

Posted in Alabama, Cannery Casino Resorts, Carl Icahn, Current, Florida, New Hampshire, Pennsylvania, Sheldon Adelson, South Carolina, Tribal, Tropicana Entertainment | 1 Comment

New York: It’s getting crowded; Gold at sea

Posted on April 7, 2014 by David McKee

Add another casino project to the hotly contested Southern Tier. Former (unsuccessful) Reno casino operators Ally and Amin Visram have unveiled Binghamton Casino, which from the outside looks more like a monastery than a casino. Hey, anything’s better than a big … Continue reading →

Posted in Florida, New York, Racinos, Reno | Comments Off

Massachusetts: Hurry up and wait

Posted on April 4, 2014 by David McKee

That’s the message from the Massachusetts Gaming Commission, which has pushed its decision on the Everett and Revere casino proposals into August, to humor Boston Mayor Martin J. Walsh. The MGC will hold a May 1 meeting on Walsh’s attempt … Continue reading →

Posted in Florida, Internet gambling, Massachusetts, Mohegan Sun, Racinos, Regulation, Steve Wynn, Tribal | 1 Comment

The long arm of the law

Posted on March 26, 2014 by David McKee

According to a story broken by Reuters, U.S. officials are going to put the onus on casinos to verify where high rollers’ funds are coming from. It could take at least for FinCEN to develop this new law, “likely to … Continue reading →

Posted in Election, Florida, Harrah's, Massachusetts, Mohegan Sun, Penn National, Regulation, Sheldon Adelson, South Carolina | 2 Comments

Strange Bedfellows Dept.

Posted on March 24, 2014 by David McKee

It’s hard to know what to make of this. The Republican Jewish Coalition is coming to Las Vegas and its headliner is Jeb Bush. Now, if there is anyone more anti-gambling in the GOP than Jeb, you’d be hard-pressed to … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Economy, Election, Florida, Internet gambling, Ohio, Politics, Regulation, Sheldon Adelson, Tourism, Wisconsin | Comments Off

Adelson needs elbow room; Critical mass in Florida

Posted on March 21, 2014 by David McKee

Sixty percent more hotel rooms. That’s what Sheldon Adelson says he needs at Marina Bay Sands and he hopes the government of Singapore will humor him and release the needed land. It’s greatly outperforming other hotels in the market. Last … Continue reading →

Posted in Election, Florida, Genting, Japan, Politics, Regulation, Sheldon Adelson, Singapore, Tribal | Comments Off

Mega-casino proposed for Chicago; REIT-mania continues

Posted on March 14, 2014 by David McKee

Visualize Foxwoods Resort Casino. Now plunk it down in the middle of Chicago. That’s essentially what state Rep. Robert Rita (D) proposes to do, pitching a 4,000-10,000-position casino for the Windy City. He also would have the State of Illinois … Continue reading →

Posted in Boyd Gaming, Florida, Illinois, Penn National, Pinnacle Entertainment, Racinos, Taxes, Wall Street | Comments Off