Category Archives: Hard Rock International

Well done, Horseshoe; Hard Rock gets hacked

Posted on May 5, 2015 by David McKee

Last week, Horseshoe Baltimore found itself a sitting duck during the civil disturbances that followed the death of Freddy Gray. With police imposing a 10 p.m.-5 a.m. curfew, Horseshoe had no choice but to curtail its operating hours, closing at 9 … Continue reading →

Posted in Cordish Co., Dan Gilbert, Georgia, Hard Rock International, Harrah's, Maryland, MGM Mirage, South Carolina, Warner Gaming | Comments Off

Caesars and Gilbert, separate but together

Posted on April 24, 2015 by David McKee

Dan Gilbert‘s ThistleDown Racino has been losing business to Hard Rock Rocksino, so Gilbert is pushing back with $70 million in upgrades. “Our initial investment in ThistleDown has been a tremendous success and now we’re ready to introduce a new level … Continue reading →

Posted in Dan Gilbert, Delaware, Hard Rock International, Harrah's, Horseracing, Internet gambling, Maryland, Ohio, Regulation | Comments Off

Tightening the screws on Macao; While we were in recess

Posted on April 15, 2015 by David McKee

In what may come as bad news to casino operators, the Macao government is placing a quota on the number of mainland visitors the gaming enclave will allow per year: 21 million. On the other hand, the government is pivoting … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Environment, Hard Rock International, Harrah's, LVCVA, Macau, Marketing, Ohio, Penn National, Pennsylvania, Regulation, Stanley Ho, Technology, Tourism | 2 Comments

Misery in Macao; Penn’s good fortune

Posted on April 7, 2015 by David McKee

Macao took such a hard hit last month that distinction lies not in which casino did best but whose business was least bad. And, with the territorial government promising to help Peking further ratchet up its anti-graft campaign, Operation Skynet, … Continue reading →

Posted in Boyd Gaming, Economy, GLPI, Hard Rock International, Harrah's, Illinois, Macau, MGM Mirage, Neil Bluhm, Ohio, Penn National, Regulation, Sheldon Adelson, Steve Wynn | Comments Off

Elaine Wynn fights on; Floridians heart Seminole casinos

Posted on March 17, 2015 by David McKee

Showing that two can play the press-release game, Elaine Wynn released an open letter to Wynn Resorts shareholders, urging them to vote their gold-colored proxy cards in her favor. Citing her “my immense industry knowledge and expertise, and my role … Continue reading →

Posted in Florida, Hard Rock International, Horseracing, Japan, Kentucky, MGM Mirage, Politics, Sheldon Adelson, Steve Wynn, Tribal, Wall Street | Comments Off

Paradox at Revel; Further delay in Massachusetts

Posted on March 17, 2015 by David McKee

Florida developer Glenn Straub remains thwarted in his attempts to purchase Revel. His primary obstacle is Judge Gloria Burns, who seems bent upon charting a course for Chapter 7 liquidation. Although, out of 20 bids, Straub’s is the only one … Continue reading →

Posted in Foxwoods, Glenn Straub, Hard Rock International, Harrah's, Macau, Massachusetts, Ohio, Regulation, Revel, Station Casinos, Westgate LV | Comments Off

The clock is running in Japan, Florida, Connecticut

Posted on March 11, 2015 by David McKee

Major casino companies are beginning to lose patience with Japan‘s impotent government and are casting their eyes toward South Korea. “This will take leadership. At some point someone is going to have to say ‘this is important to us, let’s push this … Continue reading →

Posted in Florida, Foxwoods, Hard Rock International, International, Japan, Marketing, Massachusetts, MGM Mirage, Mohegan Sun, New York, Politics, Sheldon Adelson, The Strip | Comments Off

First big hurdle in Indiana cleared

Posted on March 2, 2015 by David McKee

Both the Indiana state Senate and Gov. Mike Pence (R) could still nix the deal, but the Indiana House of Representatives voted 76-19 to put riverboat casinos ashore and OK live dealers at the state’s Indiana Grand and Hoosier Park racinos. … Continue reading →

Posted in Boyd Gaming, Genting, Hard Rock International, Harrah's, Indiana, Internet gambling, Isle of Capri, Macau, Mississippi, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Politics, Racinos, Regulation, Sheldon Adelson, Singapore, South Dakota | Comments Off

Station is back; MGM’s praises sung

Posted on February 18, 2015 by David McKee

When the Great Recession struck, no company was more ill-positioned to weather it than Station Casinos. A few tribal contracts aside, all of Station’s eggs were in the Las Vegas basket. To put it another way, Vegas may have gotten … Continue reading →

Posted in California, Detroit, Economy, Hard Rock International, Macau, MGM Mirage, Mississippi, Riviera, Station Casinos, The Strip, Tribal, Wall Street, Wisconsin | Comments Off

Hoosier State comeback; Surprise contenders in Ohio

Posted on February 10, 2015 by David McKee

In light of all the gaming growth being experienced in Ohio, results in Indiana are not quite as roseate as in Illinois or Missouri, say. But they’re beating analyst expectations by impressive margins. Crunching the numbers, Deutsche Bank‘s Carlo Santarelli … Continue reading →

Posted in Bally Technologies, Boyd Gaming, Hard Rock International, Harrah's, Kansas, Penn National, Pinnacle Entertainment, Wall Street | 1 Comment

Straub’s time runs short; Smoke gets in Macao’s eyes

Posted on February 10, 2015 by David McKee

Glenn Straub may be $10 million the poorer after yet another deal for Revel has come apart at the seams. Straub wanted to expunge any obligations to Revel tenants. Federal courts would not let him. And, upon that impasse, the … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, Atlantic City, Downtown, Economy, Environment, George Maloof, Hard Rock International, Harrah's, history, Macau, Revel, Steve Wynn | 1 Comment

Hard Rock back to A.C.?; Today Massachusetts, tomorrow Vermont?

Posted on January 27, 2015 by David McKee

New investment in Atlantic City has yet to materialize, yet the New Jersey Casino Control Commission‘s holding of a hearing for Hard Rock International is encouraging. It’s a purely theoretical exercise, a determination of suitability. Its goal, however, is for … Continue reading →

Posted in Economy, Glenn Straub, Hard Rock International, Nebraska, Politics, Regulation, Revel, Vermont | Comments Off

The man who couldn’t make up his mind

Posted on January 22, 2015 by David McKee

Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker (R) has become the Hamlet of the casino industry, torn between varying tribal interests and uncommitted to decisive action. He’ll have to make some decision on the Menominee Nation‘s Hard Rock International project in Kenosha by … Continue reading →

Posted in Hard Rock International, Louisiana, Pinnacle Entertainment, Regulation, Taxes, Tribal, Wisconsin | 1 Comment

New day at the AGA; Illinois casinos feel the slot-route squeeze

Posted on January 14, 2015 by David McKee

For the first time, a Native American gaming enterprise has become part of the American Gaming Association, as Seminole Hard Rock Gaming has cracked what had been the lobbyist equivalent of a whites-only country club. It’s part of an image … Continue reading →

Posted in Alabama, Economy, Geoff Freeman, Greenwood Racing, Hard Rock International, Illinois, LVCVA, Missouri, Penn National, Slot routes, Tribal | 1 Comment

Buckeye State bullseye

Posted on January 7, 2015 by David McKee

Ohio casinos and racinos posted spectacular figures last month. By the calculations of Deutsche Bank analyst Carlo Santarelli, revenues were up 37% (or 18% on a same-store basis). Horseshoe Cleveland, up 16.5%, was also the top grosser — $21 million, … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Hard Rock International, Harrah's, International, Japan, Maine, Ohio, Penn National, Racinos, The Strip, Wall Street | Comments Off

Turning point for Illinois?; Cuomo creates a mess

Posted on January 7, 2015 by David McKee

Santa Claus was extra generous to casinos in Illinois last month (and they sure could use a little Kringle largesse). Revenues grew to 6%, visitation was up 5% and spend per visitor rose 1%. All that added up to a … Continue reading →

Posted in Boyd Gaming, Current, Economy, Foxwoods, Hard Rock International, Harrah's, Illinois, MGM Mirage, Mohegan Sun, Neil Bluhm, New York, Penn National, Wall Street | 1 Comment

New Yorkers want a do-over; Another EuroVegas folds

Posted on December 29, 2014 by David McKee

Magnanimously, Traditions at the Glen partner — and losing casino bidder — Peter Walsh is throwing his support to racino mogul Jeff Gural. The latter is trying to pry New York‘s fourth and last new-casino license loose from New York State’s … Continue reading →

Posted in California, Delaware, Economy, Genting, Hard Rock International, Harrah's, International, Internet gambling, Lawrence Ho, Macau, Melco Crown Entertainment, MGM Mirage, New York, Pennsylvania, Philippines, Politics, Racinos, Tribal, Wall Street | Comments Off

Many called, few chosen for New York casinos

Posted on December 18, 2014 by David McKee

Count mega-budget offerings from Genting Group and Caesars Entertainment among the marquee-name dismissals in the New York Gaming Facility Location Board‘s final cut of casino applicants. Also going into the circular file were a second Genting project (Resorts World Hudson Valley), along with … Continue reading →

Posted in Churchill Downs, Cordish Co., Economy, Genting, Hard Rock International, Harrah's, Horseracing, International, Mohegan Sun, Neil Bluhm, New York, Penn National, Racinos, Taxes, Tribal | Comments Off

Stale thinking in Atlantic City; Big trouble in little Macao

Posted on December 10, 2014 by David McKee

New Jersey lawmakers, evidently oblivious to the recent spate of casino closings, have decided that what Atlantic City needs is more and smaller casinos, even though the pitfalls of a casino-based economy have been amply demonstrated. They’re dusting off 2011’s dud … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Economy, Glenn Straub, Hard Rock International, Macau, Regulation, Revel | 1 Comment

Illinois disappoints, Ohio surprises and Golden Nugget opens early

Posted on December 8, 2014 by David McKee

Except for a mild, 2% increase at Harrah’s Joliet, it was a very schizoid November for Illinois, whose casinos came in 4% below last year. There was one less weekend day, which some will cite as an alibi … but then … Continue reading →

Posted in Boyd Gaming, Genting, GLPI, Hard Rock International, Harrah's, Illinois, Louisiana, MGM Mirage, MTR Gaming, Neil Bluhm, New York, Ohio, Penn National, Pinnacle Entertainment, Racinos, Tilman Fertitta | 1 Comment