Category Archives: Florida

Florida amendment fading; Wynn Boston Harbor widens its appeal

Posted on October 12, 2018 by David McKee

All of Disney Worldwide Services‘ horses and all of the Seminole Tribes‘s men may not be able to get Humpty Dumpty, er, Amendment 3 past the ballot box. The amendment, which would make gaming expansion subject to direct popular vote, … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, Dining, Election, Entertainment, Florida, International, Internet gambling, Massachusetts, Problem gambling, Regulation, Seminole Tribe, Wynn Resorts | Comments Off

Maryland & other case bets

Posted on October 8, 2018 by David McKee

Growth in Maryland continued last month, if not at the spectacular rates we’ve seen previously. Gaming revenue rose 7% to $144 million. The leader, of course, was MGM National Harbor, jumping 10% to $54.5 million, which translates to $1.8 million/day. … Continue reading →

Posted in Affinity Gaming, Atlantic City, Caesars Entertainment, California, Charity, Churchill Downs, Cordish Co., Florida, Golden Gaming, Macau, Maryland, MGM Resorts International, Mohegan Sun, New York, Penn National, Rush Street Gaming, Sports, Technology, Tribal, West Virginia | Comments Off

Dog days on the Strip

Posted on September 27, 2018 by David McKee

August numbers are in and casinos on the Las Vegas Strip tanked, down 12.5%. Credit Suisse analyst Cameron McKnight called this result “not as bad as feared,” which prompts one to wonder what a worst-case scenario would look like. The … Continue reading →

Posted in Boulder Strip, Boyd Gaming, California, Downtown, Economy, Entertainment, Florida, Lake Tahoe, Laughlin, Mesquite, MGM Resorts International, North Las Vegas, Oklahoma, Reno, Tamares Group, The Strip, Transportation, Tribal, Wall Street | 3 Comments

Election special

Posted on August 23, 2018 by David McKee

A constitutional amendment to disempower Florida‘s Legislature from handling gambling expansion and put it solely to matters of popular vote was on the topics debated by Democratic candidates jockeying to replace outgoing Gov. Rick Scott (R). Their Republican counterparts did … Continue reading →

Posted in Arkansas, Election, Florida, G2E, Illinois, MGM Resorts International, Politics, Seminole Tribe, Sheldon Adelson, Sports, Wisconsin | Comments Off

MGM gets panned; Eldorado reaps laurels

Posted on August 3, 2018 by David McKee

First, the good news. Park MGM generated $9 million across the last three quarters, which is pretty good when you consider that it’s essentially a construction site. JP Morgan analyst Joseph Greff opines that this partly makes up for “weak” … Continue reading →

Posted in Eldorado Resorts, Florida, Illinois, Japan, Louisiana, Macau, Marketing, Massachusetts, MGM Resorts International, Ohio, Racinos, Reno, Scientific Games, Sports betting, The Strip, Tropicana Entertainment, Wall Street | Comments Off

Elaine backs Satre; MGM running for cover

Posted on July 17, 2018 by David McKee

Global Gaming Business has revealed that National Center for Responsible Gaming President Phil Satre was the hitherto-undisclosed candidate that Elaine Wynn was proposing for the Wynn Resorts board chairmanship. Said board rejected Satre — a short-sighted move that reeks of insecurity. … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, Elaine Wynn, Florida, Hard Rock International, Harrah's, IGT, Japan, Mandalay Bay Massacre, MGM Resorts International, Regulation, Sexual misconduct, Sports betting, Steve Wynn, Wall Street, Wynn Resorts | Comments Off

Busted!

Posted on July 13, 2018 by David McKee

Former New York Knicks great Charles Oakley fouled out big-time at The Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas. The veteran roundballer, who made $46 million during his playing career, wound up in the clink over a $100 casino chip. Oakley tried to … Continue reading →

Posted in Cosmopolitan, Culinary Union, Florida, Fontainebleau, Genting, history, Law enforcement, Macau, New York, Penn National, Problem gambling, Regulation, Sports, The Strip | 1 Comment

I’ve got a historical horse right here, his name is Paul Revere

Posted on July 6, 2018 by David McKee

Damn the laws, full speed ahead: That’s the mentality of Illinois horse tracks as they push for ‘historical racing,’ VLTs where you can bet on the outcome of past races. The Illinois Racing Board voted it through unanimously. “We’re out of … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Bruce Deifik, Florida, Hard Rock International, Horseracing, Illinois, Indiana, Internet gambling, Kentucky, Law enforcement, Massachusetts, MGM Mirage, Politics, Racinos, Slot routes | Comments Off

Vegas’ tourism slump halts; Do the Time Warp

Posted on July 4, 2018 by David McKee

Las Vegas city fathers need to stop frowning on Electronic Daisy Carnival and embrace it. EDC saved their bacon in May, stopping a prolonged slide in Vegas visitation, which bottomed out and made the slightest of upward bounces. While occupied … Continue reading →

Posted in Arizona, Boulder Strip, Downtown, Entertainment, Florida, Lake Tahoe, Laughlin, Mandalay Bay Massacre, Mesquite, MGM Mirage, Nevada, North Las Vegas, Reno, The Strip, Tourism | Comments Off

Overexposed in Macao; Hard Rock firing on all cylinders

Posted on June 19, 2018 by David McKee

If you’re a Wynn Resorts shareholder and you’re following rising trade tensions with China, you’ve a right to be nervous. Wynn derives 69% of its revenue from Macao, giving a certain truth to Steve Wynn‘s old quote that “We’re really … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, Atlantic City, Dining, Donald Trump, Economy, Florida, Hard Rock International, Harrah's, Japan, Lawrence Ho, Macau, MGM Mirage, Politics, Regulation, Seminole Tribe, Sheldon Adelson, Sociedade de Jogos de Macau, Steve Wynn, The Strip, Wynn Resorts | Comments Off

Another administration scandal?; Ocean Resort ready to go

Posted on June 14, 2018 by David McKee

Connecticut‘s congressional delegation continues to make noise about the yes-no-maybe nature of the Trump administration’s handling of the Mohegan Sun/Foxwoods Resort Casino compact to build an off-reservation casino in East Windsor. Wrote Sen. Richard Blumenthal, Sen. Chris Murphy and Reps. … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Bruce Deifik, Florida, Foxwoods, Hard Rock International, Internet gambling, Mohegan Sun, Nevada, Politics, Regulation, Revel, Seminole Tribe, Tribal | Comments Off

Illinois doldrums; The dog ate her homework

Posted on June 7, 2018 by David McKee

Although all but two of its casinos were revenue-negative last month, Illinois gaming revenues were flat. The primary driver was Rivers Casino in Des Plaines, leaping 11% to $42 million (or over 1/3 of the state’s $120 million gross). Long-suffering … Continue reading →

Posted in Boyd Gaming, e-sports, Florida, GLPI, Harrah's, Illinois, Neil Bluhm, Penn National, Taxes, Tribal | Comments Off

Delaware leads the way; Las Vegas tourism rebounds

Posted on June 6, 2018 by David McKee

A Delaware sports book took 36 bets in its first 20 minutes of operation yesterday, making it the first state outside Nevada to capitalize on the Supreme Court‘s recent legitimization of sports wagering. “In New York, we would go right to the … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Culinary Union, Delaware, Florida, Hard Rock International, Harrah's, MGM Mirage, Mississippi, Nevada, New York, Pennsylvania, Reno, Seminole Tribe, Sports, Taxes, The Strip, Tourism, Tribal, Wall Street, West Virginia | Comments Off

Vici Properties strikes again; Mohegan Sun pitches Japan

Posted on May 15, 2018 by David McKee

They came, they saw, they bought. Yes, Vici Properties has struck again, inking a bargain-price deal to acquire the Octavius Tower of Caesars Palace and Harrah’s Philadelphia. On paper, Vici is paying $507.5 million and $241.5, respectively, for the two assets. … Continue reading →

Posted in Election, Florida, Galaxy Entertainment, Hard Rock International, Harrah's, Japan, Louisiana, Macau, Massachusetts, MGM Mirage, Mohegan Sun, Oklahoma, Penn National, Pennsylvania, Problem gambling, Seminole Tribe, Sexual misconduct, Société des Bains de Mer, South Korea, Steve Wynn, Taxes, The Strip, Tribal | Comments Off

Culinary girds for battle; Let’s get it on

Posted on May 10, 2018 by David McKee

Collective-bargaining-agreement talks between the Culinary Union and 34 casinos must not be going well. The Culinary fired off an e-mail blast yesterday, publicizing the fact that it will hold a strike vote May 22 and, should it pass, will hit … Continue reading →

Posted in Cosmopolitan, Culinary Union, Current, Dining, Downtown, Entertainment, Florida, Harrah's, history, MGM Mirage, Politics, Seminole Tribe, Sexual misconduct, Taxes, The Strip | 1 Comment

Las Vegas numbers perplex; Macao shatters expectations

Posted on May 4, 2018 by David McKee

While Las Vegas, as mentioned earlier, is slogging through a 10-month visitation slump, you wouldn’t know it from March’s gaming-revenue numbers, which were 9% higher on the Las Vegas Strip ($574 million), although locals casinos took a 5% hit. Deutsche … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Boulder Strip, Boyd Gaming, California, Colorado, Delaware, Downtown, Economy, Eldorado Resorts, Entertainment, Florida, Galaxy Entertainment, Harrah's, Illinois, Lake Tahoe, Laughlin, Macau, Melco Resorts & Entertainment, Mesquite, MGM Mirage, Mississippi, Nevada, New York, North Las Vegas, Ohio, Penn National, Reno, Rhode Island, Sheldon Adelson, Sociedade de Jogos de Macau, The Strip, Wall Street, West Virginia, Wisconsin, Wynn Resorts | 1 Comment

Elaine calls the shots; Now it’s Encore Boston Harbor

Posted on May 3, 2018 by David McKee

Wynn Resorts has been ceding to the wishes of Elaine Wynn of late but it got its back up when she demanded the removal of board member John Jay Hagenbuch. Ms. Wynn views him as a crony of her ex-husband … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Colorado, Elaine Wynn, Eldorado Resorts, Entertainment, Florida, Foxwoods, Hard Rock International, International, Internet gambling, Isle of Capri, Macau, Massachusetts, MGM Mirage, Mississippi, Mohegan Sun, Moulin Rouge, Politics, Regulation, Revel, Steve Wynn, Tilman Fertitta, TV, Wynn Resorts | 3 Comments

Quote of the Day

Posted on May 1, 2018 by David McKee

“Today’s forecast: God reigns and the Son will shine.” — slogan on the marquee of a central-Florida church.

Posted in Florida | Comments Off

On vacation

Posted on May 1, 2018 by David McKee

There will be considerably less blogohrrea this week, since I’m in the great state of Florida, learning how to snorkel. (If all goes well, I’ll fill you in on the details later.) At the moment, I’m in Jacksonville, overlooking the … Continue reading →

Posted in Current, Election, Florida, Hard Rock International, Politics, Seminole Tribe | Comments Off

They gave a casino and nobody came

Posted on April 20, 2018 by David McKee

Yet again the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania has held an auction for a mini-casino and not received a single bid. This is a mixed blessing, as the auctions to date have raised far more money than legislators thought they would. However, … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, Eldorado Resorts, Florida, Macau, Pennsylvania, Politics, Seminole Tribe, Sheldon Adelson | Comments Off