Category Archives: Harrah's

Pennsylvania: Small is lucrative; Sleazy doings in Maine

Posted on July 24, 2017 by David McKee

Lawmakers in Pennsylvania have passed an unbalanced budget but are still undecided on how (not “if”) to expand gambling to cover the shortfall. One late-entrant idea that is gaining more traction than anything else is the proposal of mini-casinos, 10 … Continue reading →

Posted in Affinity Gaming, Election, Foxwoods, Genting, Harrah's, Maine, Massachusetts, MGM Mirage, Mohegan Sun, Neil Bluhm, Penn National, Pennsylvania, Politics, Regulation, Tribal | Comments Off on Pennsylvania: Small is lucrative; Sleazy doings in Maine

Louisiana: Hot in June

Posted on July 21, 2017 by David McKee

Gambling revenues in the Pelican State enjoyed a 5% jump last month, reaching $213 million (not counting slot routes). How good was business? The “worst performing” market, Lake Charles, was up 1%. L’Auberge du Lac ($27 million) had an aberrantly … Continue reading →

Posted in Boyd Gaming, California, Churchill Downs, Eldorado Resorts, GLPI, Harrah's, Isle of Capri, Law enforcement, Louisiana, Penn National, Pinnacle Entertainment, Racinos, Tilman Fertitta, Tribal, Tropicana Entertainment | Comments Off on Louisiana: Hot in June

Starting over at the Taj

Posted on July 20, 2017 by David McKee

“I think that we were trying to copy what was happening in Vegas. Everything out there had a theme, and I think that is what we were trying to do.” So says former Trump Taj Mahal executive Steve Norton about the … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, Atlantic City, California, Carl Icahn, Donald Trump, Greenwood Racing, Hard Rock International, Harrah's, history, Neil Bluhm, Nevada, Pennsylvania, Regulation, Tribal | 1 Comment

Wynn: The inevitable happens; Tribes have boffo year

Posted on July 20, 2017 by David McKee

We knew this day had to come: Wynn Resorts is going to charge for self-parking at Wynncore, starting August 7. The fee structure is very much like those of other Strip casinos that have gone the self-parking route, although offering … Continue reading →

Posted in Entertainment, Harrah's, Law enforcement, Massachusetts, MGM Mirage, Penn National, Politics, Station Casinos, Steve Wynn, The Strip | Comments Off on Wynn: The inevitable happens; Tribes have boffo year

Cromwell re-do planned; The other Sin City

Posted on July 17, 2017 by David McKee

While the contest to re-name the Cromwell (perhaps as something less puritanical) has gone down the memory hole, that doesn’t mean the boutique casino is off Caesars Entertainment‘s radar. Far from it. The company has announced a fleet of changes … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, Dining, Entertainment, Harrah's, history, Kentucky, Law enforcement, Sports, The Mob, The Strip, TV | 1 Comment

Becalmed in Atlantic City; The friends of Sheldon Adelson

Posted on July 13, 2017 by David McKee

Casinos in Atlantic City would have been up 11% last month — were it not for the big, fat zero that is Trump Taj Mahal in same-store revenue comparisons. Instead, they were dead even with June 2016, redeemed only by … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Dan Gilbert, Detroit, Donald Trump, Election, Harrah's, International, Internet gambling, Japan, MGM Mirage, Mohegan Sun, Politics, Sheldon Adelson, Sports, Tilman Fertitta, Tropicana Entertainment | Comments Off on Becalmed in Atlantic City; The friends of Sheldon Adelson

Macao takes the long view; Skill-based slots bomb in Europe

Posted on July 12, 2017 by David McKee

Macao gaming operators are off the hot seat as it appears increasingly inevitable that their casino concessions will be renewed rather than re-bid or nationalized. However, that may come at a price — literally. The casino magnates aren’t completely out … Continue reading →

Posted in Boyd Gaming, Dan Gilbert, Foxwoods, Harrah's, Indiana, International, Macau, MGM Mirage, Ohio, Politics, Regulation, Taxes, Technology | Comments Off on Macao takes the long view; Skill-based slots bomb in Europe

Good news across the Midwest; Pennsylvania blows it (again)

Posted on July 10, 2017 by David McKee

An extra weekend day may have made all the difference for Illinois, where gross gaming revenues rose 2% last month. The good news was spread pretty evenly throughout the market, except at Jumer’s Casino Rock Island, which slipped 6%, to … Continue reading →

Posted in Affinity Gaming, Ameristar, Boyd Gaming, Dan Gilbert, Dan Lee, Eldorado Resorts, Full House Resorts, GLPI, Harrah's, Illinois, Indiana, Internet gambling, Isle of Capri, Majestic Star, MGM Mirage, Missouri, Neil Bluhm, Ohio, Penn National, Pennsylvania, Pinnacle Entertainment, Politics, Racinos, Tropicana Entertainment | Comments Off on Good news across the Midwest; Pennsylvania blows it (again)

What happens in Vegas goes to France; Big setback for Japan

Posted on July 10, 2017 by David McKee

French President Emmanuel Macron could be collateral damage of a made-in-Vegas scandal involving the 2016 Consumer Electronics Show. At the time, Macron was minister of the economy but had the ill judgment to headline a “French Tech Night” that was … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Election, Harrah's, International, Japan, MGM Mirage, Regulation, Sheldon Adelson, Singapore, Sports, Wall Street | Comments Off on What happens in Vegas goes to France; Big setback for Japan

National Harbor cleans up; A peek inside Resorts World Las Vegas

Posted on July 6, 2017 by David McKee

MGM National Harbor drove a 40% increase in Maryland gambling revenues last month. The $50.5 million gross at MGM was evenly divided between table games and slots. Since the latter are taxed at a far higher rate, MGM won’t be … Continue reading →

Posted in Animals, Architecture, Atlantic City, California, Cordish Co., Economy, Entertainment, Genting, GLPI, Golden Gaming, Hard Rock International, Harrah's, Maryland, MGM Mirage, Penn National, Racinos, The Strip, Tribal, West Virginia | 1 Comment

Days of wine and roses; SCOTUS to weigh Bradley Act

Posted on June 27, 2017 by David McKee

After seven years of hesitation, The Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas has committed to a purpose for its top four hotel floors. They’ll be high-roller suites known as the Boulevard Penthouse will be the most expensive hotel rooms known to man. … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, Australia, Cosmopolitan, Dining, Harrah's, history, International, Massachusetts, PokerStars, Regulation, Sports, The Strip, Tribal | Comments Off on Days of wine and roses; SCOTUS to weigh Bradley Act

MGM rebuffed in Connecticut; Taking the Trump out of the Taj

Posted on June 23, 2017 by David McKee

For the second time, a federal court has ruled against MGM Resorts International in its attempts to wrest a casino license away from Mohegan Sun and Foxwoods Resort Casino. According to the Hartford Courant, the court held that “the company … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, Atlantic City, Donald Trump, Foxwoods, GameCO, Glenn Straub, Hard Rock International, Harrah's, Macau, Maryland, MGM Mirage, Mohegan Sun, Pennsylvania, Regulation, Revel, Technology, Tropicana Entertainment | 1 Comment

Pinnacle wins, Boyd loses in Louisiana

Posted on June 20, 2017 by David McKee

After a fairly calamitous May of 2016, last month was smooth sailing for Louisiana casinos, up 6% overall. True, Shreveport/Bossier City was flat but Lake Charles rose 9%, New Orleans increased 5% and Baton Rouge — look out! — was … Continue reading →

Posted in Boyd Gaming, Churchill Downs, Eldorado Resorts, GLPI, Harrah's, Louisiana, Pinnacle Entertainment, Tilman Fertitta, Tropicana Entertainment | Comments Off on Pinnacle wins, Boyd loses in Louisiana

Better times come to Atlantic City; Wynn Boston Harbor sets opening date

Posted on June 15, 2017 by David McKee

May’s gambling grosses are in from the Boardwalk and Atlantic City is up 2.5% since last year — 11% if Trump Taj Mahal is subtracted from the comparison. Terrestrial casinos pulled in $208 million, while Internet gambling grossed a further … Continue reading →

Posted in Affinity Gaming, Architecture, Atlantic City, Boulder Strip, Boyd Gaming, Cannery Casino Resorts, Dan Gilbert, Detroit, Golden Gaming, Goldman Sachs, Harrah's, Internet gambling, Massachusetts, MGM Mirage, Mohegan Sun, North Las Vegas, Palms, Phil Ruffin, SLS Las Vegas, Station Casinos, Steve Wynn, Tilman Fertitta, Tropicana Entertainment, Wall Street | Comments Off on Better times come to Atlantic City; Wynn Boston Harbor sets opening date

Adelson in the catbird seat; Lui has advice for Macao

Posted on June 12, 2017 by David McKee

We’re still a long way from requests for proposals for Japanese megaresorts but one source is already tapping Las Vegas Sands as a finalist. (Hardly a radical prediction, it’s true.) The tip comes from Morningstar Investment Management Asia analyst Chelsey … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Boyd Gaming, Crown Resorts, Galaxy Entertainment, Genting, Harrah's, Japan, Law enforcement, Macau, Melco Crown Entertainment, Oklahoma, Regulation, Scientific Games, Sheldon Adelson, Singapore, Sports, Technology, Tourism, Tribal | Comments Off on Adelson in the catbird seat; Lui has advice for Macao

MGM, Caesars join forces; A casino in Cuba

Posted on June 7, 2017 by David McKee

There’s intrigue surrounding Atlantic City‘s H-Tract, which separates Borgata from Harrah’s Resort. That’s adjacent to 15 acres of land Caesars Entertainment has never developed. MGM Resorts International, for its part, has acreage which it has tried and failed to sell, … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Foxwoods, Hard Rock International, Harrah's, MGM Mirage, Missouri, Mohegan Sun, Regulation, Sheldon Adelson, Singapore, Taxes, The Strip, Tribal | 1 Comment

Illinois becalmed; Freeman breaks with Trump

Posted on June 7, 2017 by David McKee

Lawmakers in Illinois obviously don’t care about the future of the state’s 10 extant casinos, considering the next gaming expansion (following slot routes) that they are preparing to ram through. If they bothered to look at the market, they’d see … Continue reading →

Posted in Boyd Gaming, Cordish Co., Geoff Freeman, GLPI, Golden Gaming, Harrah's, Illinois, Marketing, Maryland, MGM Mirage, Neil Bluhm, Penn National, Philippines, Regulation, Slot routes, Tourism, Wall Street | Comments Off on Illinois becalmed; Freeman breaks with Trump

Macao resurgence continues; Skill-based slots get second wind

Posted on June 2, 2017 by David McKee

As Galaxy Entertainment CEO Lui-Che Woo is fond of pointing out, it will take two years of positive results before Macao can be said to have recovered from its revenue collapse. That being said, May’s results — 24% up — … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Economy, Foxwoods, Galaxy Entertainment, GameCO, Harrah's, Macau, MGM Mirage, Movies, Technology, Tribal, Tropicana Entertainment, Wall Street, Wayne F. Newton | Comments Off on Macao resurgence continues; Skill-based slots get second wind

Hard Rock ups Atlantic City commitment; Japan inspires casino designers

Posted on May 31, 2017 by David McKee

Compared to Carl Icahn‘s half-a-loaf policies, Hard Rock International CEO Jim Allen is Lady Bountiful, at least as concerns [Trump] Taj Mahal. We put The Donald’s name in brackets because it’s one of the first things to go, to be … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, Atlantic City, Carl Icahn, Donald Trump, Election, Glenn Straub, Hard Rock International, Harrah's, Harry Reid, International, Japan, Lawrence Ho, Massachusetts, Melco Crown Entertainment, MGM Mirage, Mohegan Sun, Regulation, Revel, Sahara, SLS Las Vegas, Technology, Unite-Here | 1 Comment

Quote of the Day

Posted on May 31, 2017 by David McKee

“The innovative machines were highly touted when they debuted in Atlantic City in November, and since have started appearing on other casino floors. But their initial reception is proving to be largely a bust. Price revealed that 21 of the machines … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Harrah's, Technology | Comments Off on Quote of the Day