Category Archives: Harrah's

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 on Industry braces for post-Reid void

GameCo hearts the Boardwalk; Internet gambling fails in Pennsylvania

Posted on September 29, 2016 by David McKee

GameCo CEO Blaine Graboyes promised that his company’s first skill-based slots would be rolled out in Atlantic City … and he was as good as his word. While the eyes of the industry were on Las Vegas for Global Gaming … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Downtown, Foxwoods, G2E, Harrah's, Internet gambling, Mohegan Sun, Nevada, New York, Pennsylvania, Politics, Regulation, Technology | Comments Off on GameCo hearts the Boardwalk; Internet gambling fails in Pennsylvania

Sheldon’s new errand boy; Caesars: Let’s make a deal

Posted on September 26, 2016 by David McKee

Las Vegas Sands CEO Sheldon Adelson is known to be the Lady Bountiful of the 2016 election, showering promising senatorial candidates with cash. One such hopeful is Arkansas Sen. Tom Cotton (R), who has thrown a legislative Hail Mary, attempting … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Donald Trump, Election, G2E, Genting, GLPI, Harrah's, IGT, Illinois, Internet gambling, New York, Penn National, Politics, Sheldon Adelson, Slot routes, Technology, Unite-Here, Warner Gaming | Comments Off on Sheldon’s new errand boy; Caesars: Let’s make a deal

Atlantic City saved

Posted on September 23, 2016 by David McKee

It’s all over. The fat lady hath sung. And Atlantic City lives to gamble another day. Discouraged by poll numbers that showed insurmountable support for the status quo in New Jersey, expansion PAC Our Turn NJ is closing up shop. That … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Carl Icahn, Cordish Co., Election, Entertainment, Harrah's, Illinois, International, Maryland, MGM Mirage, Mohegan Sun, New York, Penn National, Politics, Rhode Island, Slot routes, South Korea, Transportation | 1 Comment

Adelson expands; Caesars sweetens the pot

Posted on September 23, 2016 by David McKee

Las Vegas Sands never did get around to building that historical museum it promised Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, and it finished its hotel in quick-and-dirty (and fugly) fashion. But that doesn’t mean that Sands is still clinging to CEO Sheldon Adelson‘s pronouncement … Continue reading →

Posted in Culinary Union, Donald Trump, Downtown, Economy, Harrah's, Pennsylvania, Regulation, Sheldon Adelson, Sports, Technology, Wall Street | Comments Off on Adelson expands; Caesars sweetens the pot

Round One to Adelson; Berman honored; Atlantic City winning in polls

Posted on September 21, 2016 by David McKee

Sands China has been getting mad props for its handling of the Parisian rollout last week. Compared to Wynn Palace‘s “passive” approach to the market (and despite a hailstorm of upbeat verbiage from Steve Wynn), analyst Christopher Jones wrote, “The awareness … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Carl Icahn, Election, Harrah's, history, International, Lyle Berman, Macau, Marketing, Melco Crown Entertainment, Mississippi, Nevada, Regulation, Sheldon Adelson, Steve Wynn, The Strip, Transportation, Wall Street, World Series of Poker | 1 Comment

Macao: Dirty money; What Millennial problem?

Posted on September 21, 2016 by David McKee

Is Macao‘s gaming prosperity built on “often shady links to organised crime and racketeering” through the junket business? The South China Morning Post‘s Niall Fraser contends that it is. As of 2013, $202 billion in ill-gotten-gains were flowing through the … Continue reading →

Posted in Boyd Gaming, Downtown, Harrah's, history, International, Internet gambling, Macau, Marketing, MGM Mirage, Pinnacle Entertainment, Riviera, Sheldon Adelson, Steve Wynn, The Mob, The Strip | Comments Off on Macao: Dirty money; What Millennial problem?

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 on Eldorado captures Isle; Adelson thwarted; Perlman dies

Judge to Caesars: Get naked; Bite the wax tadpole

Posted on September 16, 2016 by David McKee

“These folks are going to have to pony up the paper,” said U.S. Bankruptcy Court Judge Benjamin Goldgar, stripping the fig leaf from Caesars Entertainment owners Marc Rowan, David Bonderman and others. They’ll have to reveal details of their personal … Continue reading →

Posted in Dining, Economy, Georgia, Harrah's, International, Lucky Dragon, Macau, Melco Crown Entertainment, MGM Mirage, Sheldon Adelson, Sports, Steve Wynn, Taxes, The Strip, Transportation, Wall Street | Comments Off on Judge to Caesars: Get naked; Bite the wax tadpole

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 on Tribal opponents caught in the act; Freeman gets ratings boost

Analysts not sold yet on Macao recovery; Soggy month for Louisiana

Posted on September 16, 2016 by David McKee

They came, they saw, they were unconvinced. “The re-affirmation that mass is improving was pronounced,” reported Deutsche Bank analyst Carlo Santarelli, adding that projections were all over the place. “We get the sense that expectations remain low with respect to … Continue reading →

Posted in Australia, Boyd Gaming, Churchill Downs, Economy, Eldorado Resorts, Galaxy Entertainment, GLPI, Harrah's, Isle of Capri, Louisiana, Macau, Massachusetts, Melco Crown Entertainment, MGM Mirage, Penn National, Pinnacle Entertainment, Racinos, Sheldon Adelson, South Korea, Steve Wynn, Tilman Fertitta, Tropicana Entertainment, Wall Street | Comments Off on Analysts not sold yet on Macao recovery; Soggy month for Louisiana

Atlantic City: Some win, most lose

Posted on September 14, 2016 by David McKee

Just when things were looking up, August casino revenues in Atlantic City fell 7%. Some consolation was to be derived from a 32% increase in Internet revenue, up to $16 million. Slot revenue of $167 million was down 5% on … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Carl Icahn, Harrah's, Internet gambling, MGM Mirage, Mohegan Sun, PokerStars, Tilman Fertitta, Tropicana Entertainment | Comments Off on Atlantic City: Some win, most lose

Parisian opens amid uncertainty; Jones attacks old-boy network

Posted on September 13, 2016 by David McKee

While Sheldon Adelson‘s Las Vegas Review-Journal covered the opening of Wynn Palace from a safe distance, it has sent Richard Velotta to Macao to be on hand for today’s opening of Parisian Macao. What he discovered, among other things, was … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, Boyd Gaming, California, Galaxy Entertainment, Harrah's, IGT, International, Japan, Macau, Melco Crown Entertainment, MGM Mirage, Nevada, Pinnacle Entertainment, Scientific Games, Sheldon Adelson, South Korea, Station Casinos, Steve Wynn, Wall Street | Comments Off on Parisian opens amid uncertainty; Jones attacks old-boy network

Shady dealing in Massachusetts; Caesars mediation breaks down

Posted on September 12, 2016 by David McKee

Shadowy casino speculator Eugene McCain is trying to make his coveted Revere slot a fait accompli by having a special election held prior to November in which local voters would express their ‘yea’ or ‘nay’ before statewide voters weigh in … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Election, Harrah's, International, Marketing, Massachusetts, Mohegan Sun, Philippines, Regulation, Technology, Tilman Fertitta, Tropicana Entertainment, Unite-Here | 2 Comments

Caesars dips toe in skill-based slots; MGM National Harbor snares Dylan

Posted on September 12, 2016 by David McKee

Caesars Entertainment is going on the road, as it were, to test-drive its first foray into skill-based slots. It’s going to install six Gamblit Gaming slot carousels at Harrah’s Rincon, with 36 slated for Las Vegas deployment next year. The … Continue reading →

Posted in California, Colorado, Cordish Co., Downtown, Environment, Golden Gaming, Harrah's, Hooters, IGT, Internet gambling, Kansas, Maine, Marketing, Maryland, MGM Mirage, Minnesota, Mississippi, Nebraska, Oklahoma, Penn National, Pennsylvania, Racinos, Scientific Games, Sheldon Adelson, South Dakota, Sports, Technology, The Strip, Tribal, TV, West Virginia, Westgate LV, Wisconsin | 2 Comments

Glenn Straub flakes out; Adelson woos South Korea

Posted on September 12, 2016 by David McKee

Glenn Straub‘s reputation for mercurial behavior was reinforced last week when he blew his stack before the Casino Reinvestment Development Authority. What was the flashpoint? The CRDA wanted Straub to come up with a new landscaping plan for Revel, in … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Glenn Straub, Harrah's, Japan, Massachusetts, MGM Mirage, Mohegan Sun, Regulation, Revel, Sheldon Adelson, Singapore, South Korea, Steve Wynn | 1 Comment

Rough justice for Adelson; Horseshoe Baltimore gains strength

Posted on September 6, 2016 by David McKee

In the end, the Macao government was scarcely more generous with Sheldon Adelson than it had been with Steve Wynn. Adelson’s Parisian Macao will open with 100 table games, get another 25 on New Year’s Day and 25 more a … Continue reading →

Posted in Animals, Cordish Co., Genting, Harrah's, Macau, Maryland, MGM Mirage, Regulation, Sheldon Adelson, Stanley Ho, Steve Wynn, Taxes, The Strip, Tourism | 1 Comment

The IRS won’t be denied; Philippines a hotbed of uncertainty

Posted on September 6, 2016 by David McKee

Could the federal government have to invade Miccosukee Tribe of Florida land in order to shut down the band’s casino? That’s one possible scenario (placing a lien on gaming revenues is another) if the tribe continues to defy the Internal … Continue reading →

Posted in Downtown, Florida, Harrah's, Internet gambling, MGM Mirage, Philippines, Sports, Taxes, Tribal, Wall Street | Comments Off on The IRS won’t be denied; Philippines a hotbed of uncertainty

What if they gave a tax and nobody paid?; Fewer comps for video poker?

Posted on September 2, 2016 by David McKee

Just when it seemed there was no line in the sand that casinos wouldn’t draw regarding taxation, gambling halls in Pennsylvania have finally had enough of state levies. Paying $5 million for five years (and $250,000 a year after that) … Continue reading →

Posted in Cosmopolitan, Harrah's, MGM Mirage, Neil Bluhm, Penn National, Pennsylvania, Politics, Technology, The Strip | 1 Comment

Win for Wynn; Russia’s Donald Trump

Posted on September 1, 2016 by David McKee

So maybe Wynn Palace made a difference, after all. Macao gambling revenue, which analysts expected to be anywhere from 1% up to 3% down last month, actually grew 1%. (Kudos to those analysts who bet the house would win.) With Sands … Continue reading →

Posted in Animals, California, Donald Trump, Florida, Galaxy Entertainment, Harrah's, IGT, International, Japan, Law enforcement, Lawrence Ho, Macau, Melco Crown Entertainment, Regulation, Sheldon Adelson, Steve Wynn, Taxes, Technology, Tribal | Comments Off on Win for Wynn; Russia’s Donald Trump