Category Archives: Georgia

Atlantic City goes to pot; MGM, Boyd, Pinnacle, Red Rock Resorts meet The Street

Posted on June 17, 2016 by David McKee

We’ve come a long way from the days of Reefer Madness. Latest case in point: Atlantic City, where Assemblyman Reed Gusciora (D) is pushing recreational “tea” as a cure to the city’s penurious condition. Weed would be legalized on the Boardwalk and … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Boulder Strip, Boyd Gaming, Cannery Casino Resorts, CityCenter, Economy, Georgia, Glenn Straub, Harrah's, Illinois, Indiana, Internet gambling, Macau, Marketing, Maryland, MGM Mirage, Mississippi, Missouri, Palms, Pinnacle Entertainment, Politics, Reno, Scientific Games, Station Casinos, The Strip, Wall Street | Comments Off

Indiana market battered; Foxwoods branches out

Posted on June 8, 2016 by David McKee

One less weekend of business hit Indiana casinos fairly hard last month. The state’s industry was down 7%, to $186 million. Patrons were spending more — a heartening metric — but foot traffic was off nearly 12%. However, even less … Continue reading →

Posted in Ameristar, Boyd Gaming, Full House Resorts, Georgia, GLPI, Harrah's, Indiana, Majestic Star, Mississippi, Penn National, Pinnacle Entertainment, Racinos, Texas, Tribal, Tropicana Entertainment, Wall Street | 1 Comment

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

Nevada grapples with DFS; Seminole compact dies

Posted on March 7, 2016 by David McKee

Rather than sit on the daily fantasy sports sidelines, Nevada Gov. Brian Sandoval (R, below) wants to nudge the Silver State into the game. To that end, he’s the keynote speaker for a specially convened, all-star hearing by the Nevada Gaming … Continue reading →

Posted in Florida, Geoff Freeman, Georgia, Internet gambling, Isle of Capri, Japan, Nevada, Politics, Racinos, Regulation, Seminole Tribe | Comments Off

Painful progress for Seminole compact; Casinos dead in Georgia

Posted on March 1, 2016 by David McKee

It will be back to the negotiating table for Florida Gov. Rick Scott (R), if a state House of Representatives version of the compact with Seminole Tribe is accepted in the state Senate. The compromise version of the compact adds slots … Continue reading →

Posted in Florida, Georgia, GLPI, Horseracing, Maryland, Massachusetts, MGM Mirage, Penn National, Pinnacle Entertainment, Politics, Racinos, Regulation, Rhode Island, Seminole Tribe, Sheldon Adelson, Tourism, Unite-Here | 2 Comments

Scientific’s surprising results; Gaming advancing in Georgia

Posted on February 26, 2016 by David McKee

An upturn in the replacement cycle (8,990 slots shipped) helped Scientific Games post a 10% revenue increase last quarter. A mix of impairment charges, writedowns and consolidation costs led the mega-supplier to a $128 million loss for the quarter, but … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Economy, Georgia, Illinois, International, Internet gambling, Macau, Massachusetts, Mohegan Sun, PokerStars, Problem gambling, Scientific Games, Sheldon Adelson, Steve Wynn, Technology, Transportation, Wall Street | 1 Comment

If at first you don’t succeed …

Posted on February 18, 2016 by David McKee

… try, try, try, try, try again. That’s the New Hampshire Lege, making its umpteenth attempt to legalize casino gambling. State Sen. Lou D’Allesandro (D) has crafted a bill that would bring VLTs and table games to Salem. The bill … Continue reading →

Posted in Alabama, California, Georgia, Harrah's, Horseracing, International, MGM Mirage, New Hampshire, Penn National, Politics, Sheldon Adelson, Tribal | Comments Off

Winning quarter for Wynn

Posted on February 15, 2016 by David McKee

In the current era of managed expectations of all things related to Macao, the 4Q15 report from Wynn Resorts fell into the “better than anticipated” category, with earnings down ‘only’ 17% (superior to Wall Street consensus) and profits just over … Continue reading →

Posted in Economy, Florida, Georgia, Law enforcement, Macau, Melco Crown Entertainment, Nevada, Penn National, Pennsylvania, Regulation, Reno, Seminole Tribe, Sheldon Adelson, Steve Wynn, Texas, The Strip, Wall Street | Comments Off

Atlantic City under siege; Detroit casinos deliver

Posted on January 14, 2016 by David McKee

New Jersey state Senate President Stephen Sweeney (D) hasn’t been elected governor yet but he’s behaving as though he were the Garden State’s chief executive. He’s the driving force behind a suddenly urgent move to exert state control over Atlantic City. … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Dan Gilbert, Detroit, Economy, Entertainment, Georgia, Hard Rock Hotel, MGM Mirage, Politics, Revel, Taxes | Comments Off

Christie takes sides in casino fight; Healthy month in Missouri

Posted on January 11, 2016 by David McKee

“I can’t say it won’t ever happen, but by 2018, New York will have approved a casino in Staten Island. It needs to be now because we have the opportunity now.” Thus spake New Jersey State Senate President Stephen Sweeney (D), … Continue reading →

Posted in Ameristar, Atlantic City, Georgia, Harrah's, Illinois, Isle of Capri, Massachusetts, New York, Penn National, Pinnacle Entertainment, Politics, Regulation, Steve Wynn, Tribal, Tropicana Entertainment, Unite-Here | Comments Off

RAWA bombs on Capitol Hill; DFS currently on the wane

Posted on December 15, 2015 by David McKee

It’s looking more and more like Rep. Jason Chaffetz‘s effort to move his (actually Las Vegas Sands‘) “Restoration of America’s Wire Act” has hit a dead end. Last week’s hearing found widespread skepticism, even hostility, among the members of Chaffetz’s … Continue reading →

Posted in Election, Georgia, Harrah's, Internet gambling, Politics, Sheldon Adelson, TV | 1 Comment

Casinos progress in Georgia, New Jersey

Posted on December 14, 2015 by David McKee

Almost without overt human effort, the movement toward casino gambling in Georgia appears to be snowballing. Prime mover behind the low-key, but seemingly inevitable process is state Rep. Ron Stephens (R, left), whose bill would not only put two casinos … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, Atlantic City, Boyd Gaming, Cordish Co., Election, Georgia, Greenwood Racing, Massachusetts, MGM Mirage, Penn National, Pennsylvania, Politics, Tribal | Comments Off

Georgia on their minds; DFS regulation gathers speed

Posted on November 4, 2015 by David McKee

There’s a new suitor in the crowd of casino companies eager to extend their brands into Georgia: the Seminole Tribe. It wants to build a Hard Rock International casino in 2018, opposite Mercedes-Benz Stadium, where the Atlanta Falcons will play. Hard … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Boyd Gaming, Georgia, Hard Rock International, Illinois, Internet gambling, Minnesota, New York, Problem gambling, Regulation, Seminole Tribe, Taxes | Comments Off

The (Nathan) Deal they can’t refuse; Decision time in Connecticut

Posted on November 3, 2015 by David McKee

Casino companies like to complain about high taxation … unless they’re trying to get into a jurisdiction, in which case they’ll agree to anything. In Georgia, they’ve upped the ante from a proposed 12% tax rate to 20%. It’s not … Continue reading →

Posted in Foxwoods, Georgia, Massachusetts, Mesquite, MGM Mirage, Mohegan Sun, Politics, Sheldon Adelson, Taxes, Tribal, Uncategorized | 2 Comments

Bad week for DFS

Posted on October 26, 2015 by David McKee

“What it’s doing is calling fantasy sports what it is. Do you pay money to get into the contest, and do you get money back when you win? And if so, that’s gambling.” So says South Point attorney Barry Leibermann of … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, California, Colorado, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Internet gambling, Kansas, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michael Gaughan, Mississippi, New York, Ohio, Politics, Technology | Comments Off

Adelson crashes MGM’s party; More trouble for DFS

Posted on October 22, 2015 by David McKee

Sheldon Adelson has a genius for sucking the air out of whatever room he enters. After MGM Resorts International laid the groundwork for a casino debate in Georgia, offering to invest $1 billion in an Atlanta pleasure palace, Adelson has … Continue reading →

Posted in Boyd Gaming, Donald Trump, Economy, Election, Florida, Georgia, International, Internet gambling, Kansas, Macau, Maryland, MGM Mirage, Penn National, Politics, Regulation, Sheldon Adelson, Singapore, The Strip | Comments Off

Shocker from Sheldon; Massachusetts on horns of a dilemma

Posted on September 29, 2015 by David McKee

After a half-dozen years of banging its head on the door of the Florida Legislature, a frustrated Las Vegas Sands is calling it quits in the Sunshine State. Despite having poured millions of dollars into the Florida GOP and its … Continue reading →

Posted in Florida, Foxwoods, Georgia, Harrah's, Massachusetts, MGM Mirage, Mohegan Sun, Neil Bluhm, Politics, Regulation, Seminole Tribe, Sheldon Adelson, Tribal | 1 Comment

A lesson from Ohio; Murren goes to Georgia; Big changes at Sands

Posted on September 16, 2015 by David McKee

Two years ago, Ohio was grappling with what J.P. Morgan analysts called “a sluggish ramp” for its casino industry. He may have been against casinos before he was for them but Gov. John Kasich‘s supersized version of predecessor Ted Strickland‘s … Continue reading →

Posted in CityCenter, Economy, Election, Foxwoods, Galaxy Entertainment, Geoff Freeman, Georgia, Harrah's, Horseracing, Isle of Capri, M Resort, Macau, Massachusetts, MGM Mirage, Midnight Jim Gibbons, Mohegan Sun, Ohio, Penn National, Politics, Problem gambling, Regulation, Sheldon Adelson, Steve Wynn, Taxes, The Strip, Wall Street | Comments Off

Georgia on their minds; How to kill a casino

Posted on September 14, 2015 by David McKee

MGM National Harbor President Lorenzo Creighton dangles some shiny objects and big numbers before Georgia newspaper readers, promising even bigger things for Atlanta, as MGM Resorts International tries to counter lawmakers’ congenital opposition to gambling with suasion and seductive dollar … Continue reading →

Posted in Boyd Gaming, Culinary Union, Derek Stevens, Detroit, Downtown, Economy, Georgia, Horseracing, International, James Packer, Maryland, MGM Mirage, Penn National, Politics, Sheldon Adelson, Steve Wynn, Taxes | Comments Off

Atlantic City profits grow; Good and bad news for Caesars

Posted on August 26, 2015 by David McKee

Second-quarter operating profits in Atlantic City were up everywhere except for — you guessed it — Trump Taj Mahal. The Taj swung from a $2 million profit in 2Q14 to a $900,000 loss, another testament to CEO Bob Griffin‘s inspiring leadership. … Continue reading →

Posted in Arizona, Atlantic City, Boyd Gaming, Carl Icahn, Genting, Georgia, Harrah's, history, International, Mohegan Sun, Politics, Regulation, Revel, Sheldon Adelson, Technology, The Strip, Tilman Fertitta, Tribal, Trump Entertainment Resorts | Comments Off