Category Archives: Genting

Decision time; Failure in Japan

Posted on November 4, 2014 by David McKee

Casino supporters showed up in force in Springfield, Massachusetts, touting the charitable benefits — not to mention the employment ones — that would stem from an MGM Resorts International casino. For instance, MGM would continue its sponsorship of a local … Continue reading →

Posted in Charity, Election, Genting, Harrah's, Japan, Massachusetts, MGM Mirage, Neil Bluhm, Politics, Sheldon Adelson | Comments Off on Decision time; Failure in Japan

Boyd impresses the Street, MGM disappoints

Posted on October 31, 2014 by David McKee

Boyd Gaming pleased Wall Street with its 3Q14 results, of which Joseph Greff of J.P. Morgan said “margin improvement was notable and impressive.” He noted modest growth in the Las Vegas locals and downtown segments and better-than-expected regional numbers, as … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Boulder Strip, Boyd Gaming, Current, Downtown, Economy, Environment, Genting, Hawaii, Macau, MGM Mirage, Reno, Sam Nazarian, The Strip, Wall Street | Comments Off on Boyd impresses the Street, MGM disappoints

Working-class hero; Caesars courts Philippines

Posted on October 22, 2014 by David McKee

Having thrown its workforce to the wolves as part of its bankruptcy plan — one that may not ultimately save any jobs — Trump Entertainment Resorts has pissed off the wrong guy: state Senate President Stephen Sweeney (D). Chief creditor Carl … Continue reading →

Posted in Boyd Gaming, Carl Icahn, Economy, Genting, International, Kazuo Okada, Louisiana, Melco Crown Entertainment, Pinnacle Entertainment, Politics, Racinos, Revel, Trump Entertainment Resorts | Comments Off on Working-class hero; Caesars courts Philippines

Fire sale at Full House; Japan: Patience advised

Posted on October 22, 2014 by David McKee

In the casino world it’s pretty much unheard-of for a company to hang a “for sale” sign on itself without a suitor in view. Patti Hart did it successfully at International Game Technology, earlier this year. Now Full House Resorts … Continue reading →

Posted in Alabama, Dan Lee, G2E, Genting, Harrah's, IGT, Indiana, Japan, Neil Bluhm, Regulation, Sheldon Adelson, Steve Wynn, Tribal | Comments Off on Fire sale at Full House; Japan: Patience advised

Ivey loses & sundry Case Bets

Posted on October 9, 2014 by David McKee

Phil Ivey won’t be edge-sorting cards anytime soon. A British judge has ruled that, whether he knew it or not, Ivey was cheating when he won $12 million at Crockfords, a Genting Group casino in London. “He gave himself an advantage … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, California, Columbia Sussex, Election, Genting, Indiana, International, Japan, Lake Tahoe, Ohio, Penn National, Pinnacle Entertainment, Regulation, Station Casinos, Taxes, Tourism, Tribal, Wall Street, Warner Gaming | Comments Off on Ivey loses & sundry Case Bets

Let the games begin

Posted on October 3, 2014 by David McKee

After New Jersey‘s attorney generally unilaterally declared sports betting to be legal in the Garden State, the U.S. Department of Justice and four major sports leagues expressed their displeasure by going to court, seeking a reversal of the edict. In … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Environment, Genting, International, MGM Mirage, Reno, Sports | Comments Off on Let the games begin

Wynn: Think big; Genting: Spend big

Posted on October 1, 2014 by David McKee

When Steve Wynn opened The Mirage in 1989, it was the beginning of the end of the era when the casino was the dominant revenue source in Las Vegas resorts. Restaurants, shows and hotel rooms all became profit centers. But … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Entertainment, Florida, G2E, Genting, Harrah's, history, Macau, Massachusetts, MGM Mirage, New Hampshire, New York, Steve Wynn, The Strip | Comments Off on Wynn: Think big; Genting: Spend big

Taking it to the streets in Massachusetts, New York

Posted on September 24, 2014 by David McKee

While polls show casino repeal losing by larger and larger margins, MGM Resorts International and Penn National Gaming are taking no chances. (Wynn Resorts, cravenly, is sitting it out.) In the first TV salvo of the fall campaign, MGM Springfield … Continue reading →

Posted in Economy, Election, Genting, Harrah's, Massachusetts, MGM Mirage, New York, Penn National, Regulation, Steve Wynn, TV | Comments Off on Taking it to the streets in Massachusetts, New York

‘I’m poorer than you are’

Posted on September 15, 2014 by David McKee

That’s the argument being reiterated in New York State, as impoverished cities and their would-be casino saviors fight for over one or (more likely) two casino licenses. Case in point: Newburgh, where Mayor Judy Kennedy (left) has become a media celebrity of … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, Economy, Genting, Massachusetts, Mohegan Sun, New York, Regulation, Steve Wynn | Comments Off on ‘I’m poorer than you are’

Boston: Another agonizing delay; Loveman: Don’t worry, be happy

Posted on September 11, 2014 by David McKee

Just when it looked like the suspense would be ended over who’d get the Boston-area casino, the slow-moving Massachusetts Gaming Commission imposed another week’s delay on the process. Basically, commissioners want Wynn Resorts to do better than it has in … Continue reading →

Posted in Alabama, Architecture, Atlantic City, Cordish Co., Genting, Harrah's, history, Marketing, Massachusetts, Mohegan Sun, New York, Penn National, Pennsylvania, Regulation, Steve Wynn, Transportation | Comments Off on Boston: Another agonizing delay; Loveman: Don’t worry, be happy

Loveman’s big score; Slots come to Dayton

Posted on August 28, 2014 by David McKee

“You’re in Baltimore, baby, it says so right there, in big gray block letters on a smokestack at the trash plant just past the entrance.” Caesars Entertainment CEO Gary Loveman, long celebrated as the wizard of database market, also finds … Continue reading →

Posted in Baseball, Cordish Co., Genting, Harrah's, Internet gambling, Marketing, Maryland, Ohio, Penn National, Pinnacle Entertainment, Racinos, Sheldon Adelson, Singapore, The Strip, Transportation, Vietnam | Comments Off on Loveman’s big score; Slots come to Dayton

When the punishment doesn’t fit the crime

Posted on August 21, 2014 by David McKee

Matthew Eisenberg is no Jean Valjean. Still, that’s no excuse for levying upon him a fine that is 375 times the amount he stole ($200 in chips) from Rivers Casino. The fault lies not with Rivers but with Pennsylvania laws. … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Genting, Harrah's, International, Pennsylvania, Regulation, Tourism | Comments Off on When the punishment doesn’t fit the crime

Case Bets

Posted on August 21, 2014 by David McKee

Any fears of antitrust litigation in the Scientific Games/Bally Technologies merger were put to rest yesterday when the two companies announced they had cleared the Hart-Scott-Rodino Antitrust Improvements Act waiting period ahead of schedule. This is hardly equal to leaping the … Continue reading →

Posted in Bally Technologies, Genting, Harrah's, Japan, Macau, Melco Crown Entertainment, Ohio, Regulation, Riviera, Scientific Games, Sheldon Adelson, Singapore, TV | Comments Off on Case Bets

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

The return of the Strip; Panic over Macao

Posted on August 18, 2014 by David McKee

Las Vegas‘ recovery from the Great Recession is all but official. To be truthful, a number of us — myself in particular — thought we were being played for suckers when Sam Nazarian closed the Sahara and promised to be … Continue reading →

Posted in Carl Icahn, Fontainebleau, Genting, International, James Packer, Macau, Melco Crown Entertainment, MGM Mirage, Sam Nazarian, Sheldon Adelson, Singapore, Steve Wynn, The Strip, Wall Street, Westgate LV | 4 Comments

MGM’s comeback; Packer’s presumption

Posted on August 12, 2014 by David McKee

MGM Resorts International is feeling optimistic about getting back into Atlantic City (at a time when so many are getting out), to the point of talking about it publicly. “Borgata continues to be the market leader. We’re pretty excited to be able … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, Atlantic City, Boyd Gaming, Genting, Harrah's, International, Internet gambling, James Packer, Macau, MGM Mirage, New York, Pansy Ho, Regulation, Singapore, Stanley Ho, The Strip | 3 Comments

Reality in Illinois, Indiana; Optimism in New York

Posted on August 11, 2014 by David McKee

Illinois has had far worse months than July, which was down only 5%. Admissions were off 9%, implying a 4% higher spend/visitor. Rivers Casino was flat but still managed to gross double what Harrah’s Joliet managed. The latter, however, was … Continue reading →

Posted in Boyd Gaming, Delaware, Economy, Genting, Harrah's, Illinois, Indiana, Massachusetts, MGM Mirage, Neil Bluhm, New York, Penn National, Pinnacle Entertainment, Racinos, Tropicana Entertainment | Comments Off on Reality in Illinois, Indiana; Optimism in New York

Regulators to Walsh: Not so fast, friend

Posted on July 25, 2014 by David McKee

Boston Mayor Martin Walsh isn’t getting off the hook so easily. He tried to fob the negotiation of a mitigation agreement with Wynn Resorts off on the Massachusetts Gaming Commission. The latter said ‘not so fast’ and ordered the city … Continue reading →

Posted in Economy, Genting, Harrah's, Illinois, International, Massachusetts, Mississippi, Mohegan Sun, Regulation, Steve Wynn, Wall Street | Comments Off on Regulators to Walsh: Not so fast, friend

Russian roulette in Boston

Posted on July 16, 2014 by David McKee

Due to Boston Mayor Martin Walsh‘s refusal to go to arbitration with Wynn Resorts, the Massachusetts Gaming Commission finds itself in an unexpected role. It’s mulling other surrounding-community agreements from around the state and trying to measure the economic impact … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Delaware, Foxwoods, Genting, International, Internet gambling, Massachusetts, MGM Mirage, Mohegan Sun, New York, Regulation, Rhode Island, Steve Wynn | Comments Off on Russian roulette in Boston

Revel’s death spiral; Piling into N.Y.

Posted on July 2, 2014 by David McKee

Having filed for bankruptcy a second time, Revel Casino Hotel is trying hard to stay off the auction block. Maybe not hard enough: A $300 million price tag is too rich for Caesars Entertainment‘s blood or even flush Hard Rock … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Churchill Hill, Cordish Co., Current, Genting, Hard Rock International, Harrah's, Mohegan Sun, Neil Bluhm, Penn National, Revel, Taxes, Wall Street | Comments Off on Revel’s death spiral; Piling into N.Y.