Category Archives: Harrah's

Forcible restraint in Massachusetts; The big winners in Philadelphia

Posted on November 19, 2014 by David McKee

As you’ve read here earlier, the Massachusetts Gaming Commission is eyeing the concept of “play management.” It’s a somewhat paternalistic concept wherein players pre-set a loss limit and are rewarded with free-play credits, points or other incentives for staying within … Continue reading →

Posted in Cordish Co., Foxwoods, Geoff Freeman, Greenwood Racing, Harrah's, Isle of Capri, Macau, Maryland, Massachusetts, Mohegan Sun, Pennsylvania, Regulation, Technology, Tomato King Procacci | 1 Comment

Everybody’s doing it

Posted on November 19, 2014 by David McKee

Building conference centers in Atlantic City, it seems. Add Resorts Atlantic City to the brief list of casino trying to diversify their appeal by going for the meeting business. It won’t be as grand as the one as Harrah’s Resort … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, CityCenter, Harrah's, Internet gambling, Mohegan Sun, Revel, Sports, The Strip, Tourism | Comments Off on Everybody’s doing it

Philadelphia: No surprise here

Posted on November 18, 2014 by David McKee

As expected, the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board gave the last Philadelphia casino license to a partnership of Cordish Gaming and Greenwood Gaming. The flashy Live! Hotel & Casino will nestle in the stadium area in the south part of town. “We’re … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Cordish Co., Economy, Foxwoods, Greenwood Racing, Harrah's, Mohegan Sun, Neil Bluhm, New York, Pennsylvania | Comments Off on Philadelphia: No surprise here

The Philadelphia experiment; Wynn mellows

Posted on November 17, 2014 by David McKee

We’re on the eve of the day the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board is expected to issue the fifth license for the Philadelphia area. It has to be awarded by a convoluted process called a “qualified majority,” whereby all four legislative … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, Cordish Co., Economy, Genting, Harrah's, James Packer, Massachusetts, Neil Bluhm, Pennsylvania, Steve Wynn, The Strip | Comments Off on The Philadelphia experiment; Wynn mellows

Paul pounds Sands; Caesars’ Eight

Posted on November 17, 2014 by David McKee

If he used a computer — which he doesn’t — Sheldon Adelson would have to delete Ron Paul from his list of Facebook “friends.” The libertarian gadfly is the latest U.S. citizen to take umbrage a Adelson’s do-gooder (and dubiously … Continue reading →

Posted in Harrah's, Internet gambling, Macau, Politics, Regulation, Sheldon Adelson | Comments Off on Paul pounds Sands; Caesars’ Eight

Silver breaks ranks; Is NHL a done deal for Vegas?

Posted on November 14, 2014 by David McKee

In a bold, if not completely surprising move, NBA Commission Adam Silver took to the op-ed pages of the New York Times to advocate the nationwide legalization of sports betting. “Times have changed … Gambling has increasingly become a popular and … Continue reading →

Posted in Dotty's, George Maloof, Harrah's, MGM Mirage, Politics, Regulation, Sports, Taxes, The Strip | Comments Off on Silver breaks ranks; Is NHL a done deal for Vegas?

Impossible choice at Trump Taj; Ultimate Poker busts

Posted on November 14, 2014 by David McKee

Ownership of Trump Taj Mahal has handed down to workers a choice that might be described as being between bad and worse: accept the loss of their health and pension benefits or, if Unite-Here continues to pursue an appeal in … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Carl Icahn, Economy, Harrah's, Internet gambling, Michael Gaughan, Sheldon Adelson, Station Casinos, Taxes, Trump Entertainment Resorts | 2 Comments

Quote of the Day

Posted on November 14, 2014 by David McKee

“Loveman said there is “no scenario that makes any sense to us” that would put Caesars through a court-administered reorganization. “These same people have been predicting the bankruptcy of the company since 2009,” Loveman said. “So far, they have been unsuccessful … Continue reading →

Posted in Harrah's, Wall Street | 2 Comments

Hope on the Boardwalk

Posted on November 13, 2014 by David McKee

Down four casinos and counting, Atlantic City suffered a 9% dip last month but a 14% gain on a same-store basis. A 13% fall in slot win and a 12% decline in coin-in seems to have driven the slippage: In … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Boyd Gaming, Current, Harrah's, Internet gambling, MGM Mirage, Mohegan Sun, PokerStars, The Strip, Tilman Fertitta, Tropicana Entertainment, Trump Entertainment Resorts | 1 Comment

Quack Pack attack

Posted on November 13, 2014 by David McKee

Since it’s the altar on which A&E recently sacrificed Longmire, I don’t have warm feelings about Duck Dynasty, although the network itself goes one better, depicting Phil Robertson and his clan as bizarre backwoods cretins. With a pedigree like that, … Continue reading →

Posted in Cretins, Entertainment, Harrah's, The Strip, TV | Comments Off on Quack Pack attack

Showboat sold

Posted on November 12, 2014 by David McKee

For a long time, there’s been talk of Stockton College opening a satellite campus in Atlantic City. Many thought it would land at the Atlantic Club Hotel but, disposing of a non-core asset in a non-gaming transaction, Caesars Entertainment has … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Economy, Harrah's | 1 Comment

Caesars, the morning after

Posted on November 12, 2014 by David McKee

It’s been a day since Bloomberg News broke the story that Caesars Entertainment is gearing up for a Jan. 14 bankruptcy filing, the day Gary Loveman promised would never come. (By filing on the 14th, Caesars avoids paying $225 million … Continue reading →

Posted in Current, Harrah's, International, Regulation, Wall Street | 1 Comment

Caesars: How do they do it?

Posted on November 11, 2014 by David McKee

This just in: Working with “key senior creditors,” Caesars Entertainment Operating Co. is reported to be arranging a prepackaged bankruptcy, with a target date of Jan. 14. How does Gary Loveman keep his job? If he were a cat, he’d … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Economy, Harrah's, Macau, Ohio, Regulation, The Strip, Wall Street, World Series of Poker | Comments Off on Caesars: How do they do it?

Ohio’s big haul; NY Times’ whack job

Posted on November 10, 2014 by David McKee

Ohio has matured rapidly as a casino market, bigger than Illinois, almost as large as Missouri but still a long way from Indiana‘s monthly grosses. Still, a 38% increase in casino revenue from last year is nothing at which to … Continue reading →

Posted in Hard Rock International, Harrah's, IGT, Mohegan Sun, MTR Gaming, New York, Ohio, Penn National, Pennsylvania, Racinos, Sheldon Adelson | Comments Off on Ohio’s big haul; NY Times’ whack job

Missouri miracle; Guarded hope in Illinois, Indiana

Posted on November 10, 2014 by David McKee

Finally, there was good news for saturated gaming markets. Missouri was up 2% last month, although the result was a bit lopsided. The St. Louis market rose 3% while the Kansas City area slipped 2%. The latter appears to be … Continue reading →

Posted in Ameristar, Boyd Gaming, Donald Trump, GLPI, Harrah's, Illinois, Indiana, Majestic Star, MGM Mirage, Missouri, Neil Bluhm, Ohio, Penn National, Pinnacle Entertainment, Slot routes, Tropicana Entertainment | Comments Off on Missouri miracle; Guarded hope in Illinois, Indiana

Showman Steve; Who’ll take Bucharest?

Posted on November 6, 2014 by David McKee

Rather than hire out entertainment for his Wynncore showroom (the one not occupied by Le Reve), Steve Wynn has taken a DIY approach. He’s producing and co-writing Showstoppers, a revue of some of the most iconic songs from Broadway musicals. … Continue reading →

Posted in Cirque du Soleil, Columbia Sussex, Cordish Co., Current, Entertainment, Genting, Harrah's, International, Kentucky, Maryland, Penn National, Sports, Steve Wynn, The Strip | Comments Off on Showman Steve; Who’ll take Bucharest?

Election ’14: The day after

Posted on November 6, 2014 by David McKee

MGM Resorts International didn’t wait for the ballots to get cold. It had equipment on site in downtown Springfield yesterday, conducting “geotechnical soil assessments” on the future site of the parking garage. Laying out a timeline for the project MGM … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Boyd Gaming, California, Election, Georgia, Harrah's, Internet gambling, Massachusetts, MGM Mirage, PokerStars, Regulation, Sheldon Adelson, Tribal, Wall Street | 1 Comment

Linking to The Linq; Tribal Internet push

Posted on November 4, 2014 by David McKee

After an unhappy interregnum as The Quad, the former Imperial Palace officially becomes The Linq today. (What was up with that Quad nonsense anyway?) It might as well be called “The Millennial,” given the number of amenities targeted to that … Continue reading →

Posted in California, Dining, Donald Trump, Environment, GTECH, Harrah's, IGT, Internet gambling, Technology, The Strip, Tribal | Comments Off on Linking to The Linq; Tribal Internet push

Decision time; Failure in Japan

Posted on November 4, 2014 by David McKee

Casino supporters showed up in force in Springfield, Massachusetts, touting the charitable benefits — not to mention the employment ones — that would stem from an MGM Resorts International casino. For instance, MGM would continue its sponsorship of a local … Continue reading →

Posted in Charity, Election, Genting, Harrah's, Japan, Massachusetts, MGM Mirage, Neil Bluhm, Politics, Sheldon Adelson | Comments Off on Decision time; Failure in Japan

Wynn’s oysters schucked

Posted on November 3, 2014 by David McKee

Details of Steve Wynn‘s site-remediation plan are starting to emerge and they include rendering tainted soil inert by mixing it with cement. What they don’t include anymore are oyster beds to process polluted Mystic River water. Government officials nixed this … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Boyd Gaming, Environment, Harrah's, International, Internet gambling, Massachusetts, PokerStars, Politics, Steve Wynn, Terry Caudill, Transportation | 1 Comment