Category Archives: Florida

The cost of not doing business

Posted on March 21, 2020 by David McKee

Saying “This is not the time to look for loopholes,” Nevada Gov. Steve Sisolak (D) doubled down on his quarantine order, threatening nonessential business that remain in business in defiance of his directive (and there have been some) to close … Continue reading →

Posted in Boyd Gaming, Churchill Downs, Cirque du Soleil, Dining, Downtown, DraftKings, Economy, Election, Entertainment, Florida, Golden Gaming, Health, Internet gambling, Las Vegas Sands, Macau, Penn National, Pennsylvania, Seminole Tribe, Station Casinos, TV, Wall Street, Wynn Resorts | Comments Off

Gaming stocks immune to rally; Casinos get serious about coronavirus

Posted on March 11, 2020 by David McKee

Gaming stocks by and large didn’t feel the love on Wall Street yesterday, trending slightly downward, not counting 9% rallies for Station Casinos and Melco Resorts & Entertainment (the latter the only Macao operator to bounce back). The market recouped … Continue reading →

Posted in AGA, Alex Meruelo, Atlantic City, Boyd Gaming, Caesars Entertainment, Cosmopolitan, Current, Detroit, Dining, Donald Trump, Economy, Eldorado Resorts, Florida, Health, Lake Tahoe, Las Vegas Sands, Macau, Maryland, Massachusetts, Maverick Gaming, Melco Resorts & Entertainment, MGM Resorts International, Michigan, Penn National, Phil Ruffin, Reno, Rhode Island, Sahara, South Dakota, Sports betting, Station Casinos, Taxes, The Strip, Tilman Fertitta, Tourism, Transportation, Vermont, Wall Street, Washington State, Wynn Resorts | Comments Off

Bennett returns, Aguilera leaves, Adelsons idolized

Posted on March 2, 2020 by David McKee

The Las Vegas Strip will be blessed for three nights in August, as Tony Bennett returns to The Venetian. He’ll play the 12th, 14th and 15th, with an assist from Antonia Bennett. Tickets start at $50, with a portion of … Continue reading →

Posted in Aristocrat, Boyd Gaming, CityCenter, Entertainment, Florida, Health, history, IGT, Indiana, Las Vegas Sands, Louisiana, Macau, Maine, Marijuana, MGM Resorts International, Oregon, Planet Hollywood, Problem gambling, Scientific Games, Scott Butera, Sheldon Adelson, Shuffle Master, Singapore, Sports, Sports betting, Technology, The Strip, Tribal, Wisconsin | 1 Comment

Penn looking good; From the police blotter

Posted on February 6, 2020 by David McKee

Penn National Gaming reported 4Q19 revenues that aligned with Wall Street projections, with cash flow modestly higher than expected “on a combination of better operations and lower than forecast corporate expenses.” JP Morgan analyst Joseph Greff said that Penn was … Continue reading →

Posted in Century Casinos, Colorado, Cretins, Derek Stevens, Florida, Horseracing, Iowa, Law enforcement, Money laundering, Penn National, Pennsylvania, Politics, Regulation, Slot routes, Sports betting, Technology, The Strip, Virginia, Wall Street | Comments Off

Super Bowl: Mack the Mark; Oscar odds predict upset

Posted on February 3, 2020 by David McKee

Yes, the Super Bowl has finally come and gone, and congratulations to those of you who took the under on the total points scored (51) and the number of times Mike Shanahan was shown on camera (0). If there was … Continue reading →

Posted in Caesars Entertainment, Entertainment, Florida, Hard Rock International, history, International, Marketing, Mattress Mack, Movies, Planet Hollywood, Politics, Sports, Sports betting, The Strip, TV | Comments Off

Resort fees look ominously permanent; Goodbye, Hard Rock Hotel

Posted on January 20, 2020 by David McKee

Las Vegas is “a market notorious for some of the highest resort fees anywhere.” So writes Hotelsmag.com’s Juliana Shallcross. Big Gaming needn’t be too worried: The Hotel Advertising Transparency Act of 2019 has gone absolutely nowhere in the supposedly liberal House … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, Baseball, California, Columbia Sussex, Economy, Florida, Hard Rock Hotel, history, International, Politics, Regulation, Resort fees, Seminole Tribe, Sports betting, Taxes, Technology, Virgin Hotels | 1 Comment

This day in history

Posted on January 9, 2020 by David McKee

On this day in 1493, Christopher Columbus saw three manatees and mistook them for mermaids, much to his dismay. Manatees are gentle, curious creatures who are also an important part of Florida‘s tourism economy. Sadly, they are threatened by everything … Continue reading →

Posted in Animals, Environment, Florida, history, Tourism | Comments Off

Sports betting back on in Florida; Genting tipped for Japan

Posted on January 7, 2020 by David McKee

Although Florida voters thought they were cutting the Lege out of gambling legalization, lawmakers may have found a way to weasel their way back in, at least as concerns sports betting. The Sunshine State’s constitution now forbids the Lege from … Continue reading →

Posted in AGA, China, FanDuel, Florida, Galaxy Entertainment, Genting, Japan, Law enforcement, Melco Resorts & Entertainment, MGM Resorts International, Missouri, Movies, New Jersey, New York, Politics, Regulation, Seminole Tribe, Sheldon Adelson, Singapore, Slot routes, Sports, Sports betting, Taxes, Texas, The Strip, Transportation | Comments Off

Brandes’ big bet; Skill-based slots catching on

Posted on January 2, 2020 by David McKee

“We think it’s time for Florida to take it out of the shadows and into the sunshine,” said state Sen. Jeff Brandes (R). He was speaking of sports betting which, like daily fantasy sports, is currently illegal in the Sunshine … Continue reading →

Posted in Arizona, Caesars Entertainment, Entertainment, Florida, GameCO, Marketing, MGM Resorts International, Phil Ruffin, Politics, Reno, Seminole Tribe, Sports betting, Taxes, Technology, The Strip, Tribal | 2 Comments

Small thinking big in Oklahoma; Smoke gets in their lungs

Posted on November 27, 2019 by David McKee

In Oklahoma, Council of Public Affairs President Jonathan Small went to the mat for Gov. Kevin Stitt (R), backing Stitt’s demand for higher—much higher—exclusivity fees. To his credit, Stitt has put sports betting on the table as an incentive. Small … Continue reading →

Posted in California, Connecticut, Environment, Florida, Hard Rock International, Las Vegas Sands, Nevada, Oklahoma, Palms, Problem gambling, Sports betting, Taxes, Technology, Tribal, Virginia | Comments Off

Florida gets tough on black market; Nugget tops Atlantic City

Posted on November 27, 2019 by David McKee

Florida‘s black market slot-parlor industry is coming under renewed scrutiny as it offers not only unlimited soda but an invitingly soft target for armed robbers looking for high concentrations of cash. In a 15-month period, Jacksonville police have logged 500 … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, Atlantic City, Caesars Entertainment, Dining, Donald Trump, Florida, Internet gambling, Law enforcement, New Jersey, Regulation, Tamares Group, The Strip, Tilman Fertitta, Wynn Resorts | Comments Off

Scientific fluent in Chinese; William Hill seeks new horizons

Posted on November 25, 2019 by David McKee

It’s not just for China anymore. Scientific Games is reporting success with its Chinese-themed slots, including in North America. Yes, games with titles like Jin Ji Bao Xi, which doesn’t exactly roll off the tongue but is gaining traction with slot players worldwide. “If … Continue reading →

Posted in Cantor Gaming, China, Economy, Environment, Florida, International, Internet gambling, Japan, Macau, MGM Resorts International, Movies, Nevada, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, Philippines, Regulation, Scientific Games, Sexual misconduct, Sports, Sports betting, Technology, The Strip, Tourism, Tribal, Virginia, William Hill | Comments Off

Desert Diamond sets debut; Paddock’s grim legacy

Posted on November 20, 2019 by David McKee

Controversial Desert Diamond Casino will finally open on Feb. 19, superseding a “big box” temporary casino on the same site. Pride and joy of the Tohono O’odham Nation, Desert Diamond was the bane of Gov. Doug Doucey‘s existence, as well as … Continue reading →

Posted in Arizona, Canada, Dining, Florida, Internet gambling, Japan, Las Vegas Sands, Lotteries, Mandalay Bay Massacre, New York, Philippines, Problem gambling, Sports betting, Tamares Group, Taxes, The Strip, Tribal, Wall Street, Wynn Resorts | Comments Off

Wynn: Elaine did me dirty; New Jersey rakes it in

Posted on November 12, 2019 by David McKee

On the principle that two wrongs make a right, disgraced casino mogul Steve Wynn is accusing ex-wife Elaine Wynn of stirring up the Wall Street Journal story that ended his career. This comes by way of testimony by one Renée … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, Culinary Union, e-sports, Elaine Wynn, Election, Florida, Hard Rock International, Internet gambling, Law enforcement, Macau, MGM Resorts International, Nevada, New Jersey, New York, Politics, Resort fees, Sexual misconduct, Sports betting, Stanley Ho, Station Casinos, Steve Wynn, Taxes, Technology, Tribal, Wisconsin, Wynn Resorts | 1 Comment

Cordish bully on Philly

Posted on November 4, 2019 by David McKee

We’ll soon find out if the Philadelphia market can sustain five casinos when Cordish Gaming‘s Live! Casino & Hotel Philadelphia opens, next door to Citizens Bank Park (baseball) and close to Lincoln Financial Field (football) and Wells Fargo Center (basketball and … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Caesars Entertainment, California, Charity, Cordish Co., Dan Gilbert, DFS, Donald Trump, Entertainment, Florida, Las Vegas Raiders, MGM Resorts International, Ohio, Penn National, Pennsylvania, Sahara, Sports, Sports betting, The Strip, Wall Street | 1 Comment

Quote of the Day

Posted on November 1, 2019 by David McKee

“Good riddance. It’s not like Mr. Trump paid taxes here anyway.”—New York State Gov. Andrew Cuomo (D), reacting to the news that Donald Trump is moving to Florida to take advantage of its lack of state income tax.

Posted in Current, Donald Trump, Florida, New York, Taxes | Comments Off

Air guitar; Forgiveness urged for Steve Wynn

Posted on October 28, 2019 by David McKee

The much-anticipated opening of Hard Rock International‘s guitar-shaped hotel-casino in Hollywood, Florida, drew celebrities from Hollywood, California (Johnny Depp), as well as ones who would attend the opening of an eyelid (Kim Kardashian). Hard Rock hopes to recreate the iconic … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, Australia, Baseball, Boyd Gaming, Caesars Entertainment, Churchill Downs, Cosmopolitan, Florida, Genting, Hard Rock International, Hooters, Illinois, International, Japan, Massachusetts, MGM Resorts International, Mississippi, Nevada, New York, Politics, Regulation, Rush Street Gaming, Scott Butera, Sexual misconduct, Sports, Sports betting, Steve Wynn, Taxes, The Strip, Tribal, Wynn Resorts | 1 Comment

$6 million man; Tribal troubles

Posted on October 21, 2019 by David McKee

Las Vegas Sands can’t stay out of court. Marina Bay Sands is being sued by a Chinese gambler who says $6.6 million of his money was moved out of his account and disbursed to other individuals he didn’t know in … Continue reading →

Posted in Entertainment, Florida, Hard Rock International, Las Vegas Sands, Law enforcement, New York, Singapore, The Strip, Tribal | Comments Off

Scandal in Illinois (Where else?); Screwup in Florida

Posted on October 19, 2019 by David McKee

With no private developer willing to step up to the plate for a Chicago casino, Mayor Lori Lightfoot (D) is now pitching a city/state partnership. Why not? There won’t be any profits to divide. State Rep. Greg Harris (D), for … Continue reading →

Posted in DFS, Florida, Illinois, Politics, Racinos, Regulation, Seminole Tribe, Slot routes, Sports betting, Taxes, The Mob | Comments Off

Illegal slots run amuck in Missouri

Posted on October 1, 2019 by David McKee

With the casino industry so entrenched in Missouri you wouldn’t think there was a market for black-market slots. You’d think wrongly. The Missouri Gaming Commission has received 84 complaints alleging 200 instances of rogue machines. Casinos aren’t the only ones … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Caesars Entertainment, Florida, Horseracing, Law enforcement, Lotteries, MGM Resorts International, Missouri, Mohegan Sun, Ocean Resort, Politics, Racinos, Regulation, Technology | Comments Off