Category Archives: Geoff Freeman

Trump Taj Mahal: End of an era; Wynn joins Atlanta pursuit

Posted on October 10, 2016 by David McKee

“It’s like saying goodbye to an old friend for the final time. I worked here and lived here, it was my whole life and now it’s closing. It’s all been taken away. My whole body is shaking.” So said longtime Trump … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Carl Icahn, Cordish Co., Donald Trump, Election, Florida, Geoff Freeman, Georgia, Greenwood Racing, Harrah's, history, International, Internet gambling, Neil Bluhm, Pennsylvania, Seminole Tribe, Steve Wynn, Tropicana Entertainment, Unite-Here | 1 Comment

Industry braces for post-Reid void

Posted on September 30, 2016 by David McKee

Why has Geoff Freeman become such an outspoken voice in favor of the gaming industry? In part to fill the vacuum soon to be left by retiring Sen. Harry Reid (D). One of the two candidates running to replace him, … Continue reading →

Posted in Election, Geoff Freeman, Harrah's, Harry Reid, MGM Mirage, Pinnacle Entertainment, Politics, Sheldon Adelson, Station Casinos | Comments Off

Eldorado captures Isle; Adelson thwarted; Perlman dies

Posted on September 19, 2016 by David McKee

Scratch one more casino company from the checkerboard. This morning it was announced that Eldorado Resorts was buying Isle of Capri Casinos (long mooted as a takeover target. Eldorado will pay $1.7 billion for Isle — or $23 a share … Continue reading →

Posted in Alabama, Atlantic City, Eldorado Resorts, Florida, Foxwoods, Geoff Freeman, Harrah's, history, Internet gambling, Isle of Capri, Louisiana, Massachusetts, MGM Mirage, Missouri, Mohegan Sun, Nevada, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Politics, Reno, Sheldon Adelson, Taxes, The Mob, The Strip, Tribal, Vietnam, Wall Street | Comments Off

Tribal opponents caught in the act; Freeman gets ratings boost

Posted on September 16, 2016 by David McKee

Opponents of the Tohono O’odham casino in Glendale may have really stepped in it. According to the Arizona Republic, “lawyers and lobbyists representing the state and two rival Indian communities held confidential meetings about ways to stop it, according to depositions … Continue reading →

Posted in Arizona, Geoff Freeman, Harrah's, Internet gambling, MGM Mirage, Problem gambling, Sheldon Adelson, Sports, Steve Wynn, Tribal, TV | Comments Off

Freeman’s crusade; Gilbert struggles in Ohio

Posted on September 7, 2016 by David McKee

To describe the new-look American Gaming Association as “activist” would be an understatement of some magnitude. President Geoff Freeman has put the pedal to the metal in his quest for legalized sports betting. Today, Freeman mounted his bully pulpit in … Continue reading →

Posted in Dan Gilbert, Eldorado Resorts, Geoff Freeman, Hard Rock International, Internet gambling, Iowa, New York, Ohio, Penn National, Pennsylvania, Pinnacle Entertainment, Regulation, Sports, Taxes | 2 Comments

Case Bets: Wynn Boston Harbor, sports betting, cockfighting and a fire

Posted on August 11, 2016 by David McKee

There’s big money to be made at Wynn Boston Harbor. Primary contractor Suffolk Construction is hoping to entice subcontractors with a bundle of bids valued at $1 billion for services and supplies. That’s almost half the construction budget for the … Continue reading →

Posted in Animals, CityCenter, Geoff Freeman, Law enforcement, Marketing, Massachusetts, MGM Mirage, Sports, Steve Wynn, The Strip, Tribal | Comments Off

Wynn Boston Harbor breaks ground; MGM modestly beats expectations

Posted on August 4, 2016 by David McKee

Somerville Mayor Joseph Curtatone has apparently thrown in the towel in his opposition to Wynn Boston Harbor, with the consequence that construction will have begun by this time tomorrow. The $2.1 billion project’s endurance is a tribute to Bostonian Steve Wynn‘s … Continue reading →

Posted in California, Environment, Geoff Freeman, Macau, Massachusetts, MGM Mirage, Mississippi, Mohegan Sun, Penn National, South Korea, Sports, Steve Wynn, Technology, The Strip, Transportation, Wall Street | Comments Off

Tomato King gets squashed; California, the wild, wild west of gambling

Posted on July 25, 2016 by David McKee

So much for Lawrence Downs Casino & Racing Resort. In a unanimous vote, the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board decided to drop-kick the casino project, which had already lost the backing of Penn National Gaming, which has racino interests nearby in Ohio. What seems … Continue reading →

Posted in California, Dan Gilbert, Election, Geoff Freeman, Law enforcement, Macau, Ohio, Penn National, Pennsylvania, Politics, Regulation, Sheldon Adelson, Sports, Tomato King Procacci | Comments Off

Strip still catching up; Nevada taking bets on the Olympics

Posted on July 21, 2016 by David McKee

While gaming companies on the Las Vegas Strip are fairly sanguine about 2016, a new report by Alex Bumazhny of Fitch Ratings takes a somewhat gloomier view. For one, he notes that revenue per available room “growth during the recovery … Continue reading →

Posted in Arizona, Dan Gilbert, Detroit, Dining, Economy, Election, Geoff Freeman, Macau, Ohio, Penn National, Pennsylvania, Sports, The Strip, Westgate LV | 2 Comments

Happy ending for casino site; DFS not out of the woods in New York

Posted on July 11, 2016 by David McKee

There’s a happy ending to the saga of Bavarian Brewery, which had been purchased by Columbia Sussex a decade back in hopes that it would be Kentucky‘s first casino. The building has lain fallow ever since and ColSux has gone … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, Boyd Gaming, Columbia Sussex, Geoff Freeman, GLPI, Harrah's, Illinois, Internet gambling, Kentucky, Law enforcement, Massachusetts, MGM Mirage, Neil Bluhm, New York, Penn National, Sports | Comments Off

What’s the verdict, Jack, er, Dan?; AGA & NIGA join forces

Posted on July 7, 2016 by David McKee

Cleveland Cavaliers playoff games were good for Dan Gilbert‘s casino businesses. His Jack Cleveland casino was up 13%, to $16 million last month. It’s far too soon for a verdict on the “Jack” (as in “up yours, asshole”) brand, which … Continue reading →

Posted in Dan Gilbert, Eldorado Resorts, G2E, Geoff Freeman, Hard Rock International, Internet gambling, Marketing, Massachusetts, MGM Mirage, Ohio, Penn National, Pennsylvania, Pinnacle Entertainment, Sheldon Adelson, Slot routes | Comments Off

Little relief for Caesars; Atlantic City braces for labor strife

Posted on June 17, 2016 by David McKee

It’s out of the frying pan and straight into the fire for Caesars Entertainment. Federal bankruptcy court has put a temporary halt on litigation against the casino giant, giving it until Aug. 29 to cut a new deal with bondholders. … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Boyd Gaming, Carl Icahn, Donald Trump, Eldorado Resorts, Geoff Freeman, Harrah's, Illinois, Pennsylvania, Pinnacle Entertainment, Politics, Slot routes, Sports, Taxes, The Mob, The Strip, Tropicana Entertainment, Trump Entertainment Resorts, Unite-Here | Comments Off

Sheldon’s big surprise; AGA attacks NFL silliness

Posted on May 25, 2016 by David McKee

Sheldon Adelson is feeling bullish on the Las Vegas market these days. Undeterred by the debut of T-Mobile Arena, he is proposing a 17,500-seat concert venue, to be built on underutilized land behind Venelazzo. Adelson has formed a consortium with … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, California, Downtown, Entertainment, Geoff Freeman, history, Hooters, Internet gambling, MGM Mirage, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Sheldon Adelson, Sports, Texas, The Strip | Comments Off

Top Golf’s impressive debut; Lucky Dragon’s calculated risk

Posted on May 18, 2016 by David McKee

“My only problem is A.D.D.” read the T-shirt of one of the celebrants at last night’s opening of Top Golf, on the MGM Grand campus. He was certainly in the right place. If you are serious about honing your skills, … Continue reading →

Posted in Boyd Gaming, Churchill Downs, Entertainment, Foxwoods, G2E, Geoff Freeman, Illinois, Internet gambling, Law enforcement, Lucky Dragon, Macau, Marketing, MGM Mirage, Mohegan Sun, Pennsylvania, Philippines, Regulation, Sheldon Adelson, SLS Las Vegas, Sports, Station Casinos, Technology, The Strip | Comments Off

Straub’s better mousetrap; Sparks Nugget in the clear

Posted on April 22, 2016 by David McKee

By now it is something of an understatement to say that Revel owner Glenn Straub thinks outside the box. Or, as the Philadelphia Inquirer put it, his “plans for the massive property have veered erratically from mud slides to academic … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Dining, Economy, Entertainment, Environment, Geoff Freeman, Glenn Straub, International, Law enforcement, Macau, Marnell Gaming, Pinnacle Entertainment, Regulation, Reno, Revel, Sheldon Adelson, Sports, Taxes | Comments Off

Genting comes to Massachusetts; Trump impasse on the Strip

Posted on April 5, 2016 by David McKee

As the Mashpee Wampanoag were preparing to break ground on Project First Light, halfway around the world Genting Malaysia was revealing the details of its management contract with the tribe. Genting holds a seven-year pact, by way of its Genting … Continue reading →

Posted in Culinary Union, Donald Trump, Election, Genting, Geoff Freeman, Massachusetts, Penn National, Phil Ruffin, Sports, Steve Wynn, Taxes, The Strip, Tribal | Comments Off

Freeman rakes Wolf; The delights and dangers of DFS

Posted on April 5, 2016 by David McKee

American Gaming Association President Geoff Freeman is throwing down against Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Wolf (D) and the latter’s desire to tax casino free play. If Wolf’s proposal had been in effect last year, the state would have netted slightly less … Continue reading →

Posted in Arizona, Colorado, Florida, Geoff Freeman, Illinois, International, Internet gambling, Marketing, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, PokerStars, Taxes, Tribal | Comments Off

Freeman slags Guardian; The truth remains out there

Posted on March 22, 2016 by David McKee

In a risky move, American Gaming Association President Geoff Freeman lashed out at Atlantic City Mayor Don Guardian, after the latter reiterated his opposition to northern New Jersey casinos in a spirited public debate. Hizzoner wasn’t the only skeptic: Resorts … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Downtown, Geoff Freeman, Harrah's, Law enforcement, Politics, Texas | Comments Off

Quote of the Day

Posted on March 18, 2016 by David McKee

“The global online gambling market is growing at an 11-percent clip, but for growth to continue the American market must further open. Online gambling is currently worth around $37 billion a year, as about 85 nations across the world have … Continue reading →

Posted in Geoff Freeman, Internet gambling, PokerStars | Comments Off

Virginia is for lovers … of DFS

Posted on March 14, 2016 by David McKee

Score a “win” for daily fantasy sports, as it was legitimized in Virginia. Gov. Terry McAuliffe (D) applied his signature to the Fantasy Contests Act, which places DFS under the auspices of the state’s Department of Agriculture & Consumer Service, effective July … Continue reading →

Posted in Geoff Freeman, Georgia, Indiana, Internet gambling, Iowa, Massachusetts, Nevada, Politics, Regulation, Sports | Comments Off