Category Archives: Harrah's

Revel: Has Loveman gone insane?; East St. Louis gets the shaft

Posted on January 29, 2014 by David McKee

You’d think Caesars Entertainment had its hands full with four active casinos in Atlantic City and the defunct Atlantic Club Hotel. But no, CEO Gary Loveman is reported to be considering a bid for $2.6 billion Revel Resort, which Caesars … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Hard Rock Hotel, Harrah's, Illinois, Missouri, Racinos, Regulation, Revel | Comments Off on Revel: Has Loveman gone insane?; East St. Louis gets the shaft

Foxwoods shows persistence & other Case Bets

Posted on January 28, 2014 by David McKee

Foxwoods Massachusetts is back and going all in with a proposal for a $750 million facility in Fall River. This means there is finally a heavyweight contender for the southeastern regional license — albeit a company that voters tossed out … Continue reading →

Posted in California, Election, Foxwoods, Harrah's, Horseracing, Internet gambling, Marketing, Massachusetts, Ohio, Racinos, Texas, Tribal | 1 Comment

Momentum builds in Japan

Posted on January 28, 2014 by David McKee

We’ve been hearing about the U.S. casino companies that want to build megaresorts in Japan, as that company gears up for the 2020 Olympic Games. That’s all well and good. But major forces in Japanese industry are putting some elbow … Continue reading →

Posted in Foxwoods, Harrah's, Horseracing, Japan, Massachusetts, Pennsylvania, Tourism | Comments Off on Momentum builds in Japan

All stories lead to Massachusetts

Posted on January 24, 2014 by David McKee

Since it faces no competition in western Massachusetts, it was mostly theater when MGM Resorts International CEO James Murren presented the project to the Massachusetts Gaming Commission. The latter will have months in which to mull the enormous volume of … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Boyd Gaming, California, Harrah's, International, Internet gambling, Massachusetts, MGM Mirage, Pennsylvania, Taxes, Tribal | Comments Off on All stories lead to Massachusetts

Wynnside Wynncore

Posted on January 23, 2014 by David McKee

If you’re registered on the guestbook at Wynn Las Vegas or Encore you are an invitee to “our new Wynn Insider program. As a Wynn Insider you will be the first to receive information about our resort and you’ll have … Continue reading →

Posted in Current, Harrah's, Marketing, Steve Wynn, The Strip, Tourism | Comments Off on Wynnside Wynncore

Palmetto State stalemate; Wynn strikes again

Posted on January 23, 2014 by David McKee

Back in 2005, the State of South Carolina, bowing to the inevitable, legalized cruise-to-nowhere gambling ships that operate out of Palmetto State ports. Now the Catwaba Indian Nation hopes to leverage that legislation into VLTs for itself. The state says … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Churchill Downs, Harrah's, Horseracing, Internet gambling, Kentucky, South Carolina, The Strip, Tribal | Comments Off on Palmetto State stalemate; Wynn strikes again

Seeking bargains in Japan, Delaware

Posted on January 22, 2014 by David McKee

Osaka‘s government is entertaining proposals for a $5 billion casino, to be built on landfill — hoping to get ahead of the curve should the federal government approve legalized gambling. “We’d need global casino-operators’ involvement and expertise as the business … Continue reading →

Posted in Delaware, Genting, Harrah's, Japan, Macau, MGM Mirage, Racinos, Taxes | Comments Off on Seeking bargains in Japan, Delaware

Case Bets: Massachusetts, Biloxi, Betcoin and Cosmo

Posted on January 22, 2014 by David McKee

In a TV interview, Massachusetts Gaming Commission Chairman Stephen Crosby tipped his hand, indicating that approval of MGM Springfield is far more likely than not. However, the MGC might be making some demands of its own, above and beyond what … Continue reading →

Posted in Cirque du Soleil, Cosmopolitan, Derek Stevens, Downtown, Entertainment, Harrah's, Massachusetts, MGM Mirage, Mississippi, New York, Regulation, Taxes, Technology, The Strip | Comments Off on Case Bets: Massachusetts, Biloxi, Betcoin and Cosmo

Iowa: Gone to the dogs

Posted on January 21, 2014 by David McKee

It looks like the handwriting is on the wall for dog racing in Iowa. It’s a deplorable sport that brings in negligible revenue: an ancient curiosity kept alive by casino revenue. Dog tracks can’t even get the support of city … Continue reading →

Posted in Animals, Economy, Harrah's, Iowa, Politics | Comments Off on Iowa: Gone to the dogs

Winter of discontent

Posted on January 17, 2014 by David McKee

It’s been a grim December for regional casino markets. Even Pennsylvania, once a bastion of strength, ended 2013 with a slight year/year decline. In Connecticut, a 15% revenue decline was reported at Foxwoods Resort Casino, with handle off 21%. Mohegan … Continue reading →

Posted in Boyd Gaming, Economy, Foxwoods, Harrah's, Louisiana, Marketing, Mohegan Sun, Penn National, Pennsylvania, Pinnacle Entertainment, Politics, Sheldon Adelson, Sports, Taxes, The Mob, The Strip, Tourism | Comments Off on Winter of discontent

Case Bets: Atlantic City, Wisconsin & Illinois

Posted on January 17, 2014 by David McKee

Transparency in gaming sustained a couple of blows this week. A proposed ‘black book’ to keep felons out of Illinois slot routes was blocked by legislative forces this week. The excuse given was that the Illinois Gaming Board was acting … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Cordish Co., Harrah's, Illinois, Politics, Regulation, Tilman Fertitta, Tribal, Tropicana Entertainment, Wisconsin | Comments Off on Case Bets: Atlantic City, Wisconsin & Illinois

Online gambling is …

Posted on January 15, 2014 by David McKee

… a success, according to Seeking Alpha. On the other hand, Telsey Advisor Group projects New Jersey to flop, eventually only grossing $90 million, not the half-billion envisioned by some. Bloomberg Businessweek reports “mildly disappointing” numbers and that Internet wagering … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Boyd Gaming, Economy, Harrah's, Internet gambling, Pennsylvania, Problem gambling, Revel, Tourism, Trump Entertainment Resorts | Comments Off on Online gambling is …

A tale of two cities

Posted on January 15, 2014 by David McKee

On Jan. 21, at 9 p.m., Bloomberg Television will be airing this documentary. Based on the trailer, I’m not impressed, as it yokes together an Atlantic City betting spree with unrelated — and hardly new — scenes of Las Vegas‘ … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Boyd Gaming, Economy, Harrah's, MGM Mirage, Steve Wynn, TV | Comments Off on A tale of two cities

Biloxi comes back

Posted on January 13, 2014 by David McKee

Time was when Biloxi was considered one of the three premier casino resorts in America. That, of course, was before Hurricane Katrina literally swept the city’s casino fleet from its moorings. The city has been trying to right the ship … Continue reading →

Posted in Economy, Hard Rock International, Harrah's, history, Iowa, MGM Mirage, Mississippi, Regulation | Comments Off on Biloxi comes back

Frigid winter for Midwest casinos

Posted on January 10, 2014 by David McKee

Blame it on brutal weather or whatever your like but Midwest casino revenues have been dismal in December and it’s my doleful duty to report them. Missouri dipped 11%. Positive performers, like Pinnacle Entertainment‘s River City (+6%) were few. Of … Continue reading →

Posted in Ameristar, Boyd Gaming, Current, Economy, Harrah's, Indiana, Iowa, Isle of Capri, Missouri, Penn National, Pinnacle Entertainment, Racinos, Tropicana Entertainment, Wall Street | 2 Comments

Florida: Death by a thousand cuts; New player in Macao

Posted on January 10, 2014 by David McKee

Casino expansion in Florida may be nominally on the table for the incoming Lege but it looks D.O.A. Both Senate President Don Gaetz (R) and possibly Speaker of the House Will Weatherford (R) want preferatory constitutional amendments that would require … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Florida, Genting, Harrah's, Kansas, Macau, Penn National, Politics, Sheldon Adelson, Stanley Ho, Tropicana Entertainment | Comments Off on Florida: Death by a thousand cuts; New player in Macao

Genting: We bombed in Miami; Jockeying for position in Massachusetts

Posted on January 10, 2014 by David McKee

It took almost no time at all for Genting Group’s latest Miami proposal to draw heavy political criticism. State Sen. Gwen Margolis (D), who represents the area, thinks a slot parlor is too downscale for the neighborhood. She also points … Continue reading →

Posted in Genting, Harrah's, Massachusetts, MGM Mirage, Mohegan Sun, Penn National, Politics, Racinos, Steve Wynn, Transportation | Comments Off on Genting: We bombed in Miami; Jockeying for position in Massachusetts

Second chances for Caesars, Hard Rock

Posted on January 9, 2014 by David McKee

In a bit of good news for Caesars Entertainment, the government of South Korea is considering a relaxation of its casino-bidding rules. Specifically, the requirement of a BBB bond rating may be knocked down a bit — and bond ratings … Continue reading →

Posted in Harrah's, International, Iowa, Maryland, MGM Mirage, Penn National, Wall Street, Warner Gaming | Comments Off on Second chances for Caesars, Hard Rock

Illinois freezes; Concierges outsourced

Posted on January 8, 2014 by David McKee

“Dec regional gaming revs should be coming out from the states this week and next and it won’t be pretty.” So warns Todd Jordan, aka @HedgeyeSnakeye. Case in point, Illinois, where revenues tumbled 13%. Even market leader Rivers Casino was … Continue reading →

Posted in Boyd Gaming, Current, Economy, Harrah's, Illinois, MGM Mirage, Penn National, The Strip | Comments Off on Illinois freezes; Concierges outsourced

Britney F. Spears & other Case Bets

Posted on January 7, 2014 by David McKee

Strip gyp: What does $25,000 buy you? At Planet Hollywood it will get you one-twentieth of a minute with Britney F. Spears. Either the currency of celebrity has become inflated beyond measure or our 15 minutes of fame have shrunk … Continue reading →

Posted in Dining, Entertainment, Genting, Harrah's, Macau, New York, Planet Hollywood, Racinos, Regulation, Sam Nazarian, The Strip | Comments Off on Britney F. Spears & other Case Bets