Category Archives: Harrah's

Wynn’s new man in Macao; Sheldon’s losing hand

Posted on January 7, 2014 by David McKee

Steve Wynn will continue to be CEO and Chairman of Wynn Macau. However, he’s handing off the presidency to Gamal Aziz. It’s another sign that Macao isn’t just a department of a company like Wynn Resorts but an entity unto … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Foxwoods, Harrah's, Internet gambling, Macau, Massachusetts, Mohegan Sun, Sheldon Adelson, Steve Wynn, Wall Street | 1 Comment

This won’t help A.C. and other case bets

Posted on January 6, 2014 by David McKee

Handle at Meadowlands Racetrack rose 32% (or $55 million) last year. That’s not what Atlantic City casinos need to hear at a time when they’re just trying to tread water. It’s bad enough that Caesars Entertainment and Tropicana Entertainment are … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Cordish Co., Entertainment, Environment, Harrah's, Horseracing, Macau, Maryland, Mohegan Sun, Ohio, Penn National, Planet Hollywood, Tropicana Entertainment | Comments Off on This won’t help A.C. and other case bets

Taiwan in 2019?

Posted on January 3, 2014 by David McKee

It could happen. Enabling legislation to put casinos on Taiwan‘s outer islands has a good chance in parliament, it is reported. Matsu is expected to be the principal beneficiary but, if it can change voters’ minds, Claremont Partners has a … Continue reading →

Posted in Harrah's, International, Macau, New York, Politics, Sheldon Adelson, The Strip, Tribal | Comments Off on Taiwan in 2019?

Caesars turns up heat on Crosby

Posted on January 3, 2014 by David McKee

Perhaps realizing that the previous version of its lawsuit against Massachusetts Gaming Commission Chairman Stephen Crosby was a dog that wouldn’t hunt, Caesars Entertainment has reloaded with an amended complaint. Now it says that Crosby urged Steve Wynn, when the … Continue reading →

Posted in Colony Capital, Cordish Co., Economy, Florida, Harrah's, Massachusetts, Regulation, Steve Wynn | 1 Comment

Goa, Goa, Gone & other Case Bets

Posted on January 2, 2014 by David McKee

Officials in Goa, a former Portugese protectorate off the western coast of India are so worried about gambling that they’re barring locals from entering Goa’s casinos. Considering what a sorry bunch of hulks to the Goanese casino fleet is, the … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Harrah's, International, Mississippi | Comments Off on Goa, Goa, Gone & other Case Bets

Test time in Massachusetts; Penn, PokerStars fight over scraps

Posted on January 2, 2014 by David McKee

Move over, Tolstoy: MGM Resorts International has submitted its formal application for a Massachusetts casino … and it’s 7,000 pages long. The Massachusetts Gaming Commission had better clear its calendar. But that’s nothing compared to 16,034-page Mohegan Tribal Gaming Authority … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, CityCenter, Colony Capital, Hard Rock International, Harrah's, Massachusetts, MGM Mirage, Mohegan Sun, Penn National, Regulation, Steve Wynn, Tropicana Entertainment | Comments Off on Test time in Massachusetts; Penn, PokerStars fight over scraps

Nevada finishing year strong; Christie’s choler

Posted on December 31, 2013 by David McKee

With a little help from one extra weekend day, Nevada gross gaming revenues shot upward 12% statewide in November and 23% on the Strip. Baccarat players lost their shirts, with the house winning 94% more than the previous year. Less … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Boulder Strip, Cordish Co., Current, Downtown, Economy, Harrah's, Laughlin, Maryland, Massachusetts, MGM Mirage, North Las Vegas, Penn National, Regulation, Reno, Steve Wynn, The Strip, Tilman Fertitta, Trump Entertainment Resorts | 2 Comments

Britney: It sucks, bitch

Posted on December 31, 2013 by David McKee

A ways back, when Gary Loveman was all Q-crazy, I pointed out that the letter ‘X’ also carries a high Scrabble value. Little did I suspect that the Aladdin Theater for the Performing Arts would become “the AXIS.” Programming will … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, Cosmopolitan, Entertainment, Harrah's, MGM Mirage, The Strip | 1 Comment

Overexuberance in New Jersey, generosity in Maryland

Posted on December 27, 2013 by David McKee

New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie (R) is setting himself up for a fall with his blue-sky projections of Internet-gambling revenue. Eilers Research has projected that it will take two or three years for gambling revenue to reach $227 million … … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Economy, Goldman Sachs, Harrah's, history, Illinois, Internet gambling, Macau, Maryland, Massachusetts, Regulation, Slot routes, Taxes, The Mob, The Strip, Wall Street | Comments Off on Overexuberance in New Jersey, generosity in Maryland

Case Bets: Britney, Bally, Sheldon & O’Shea’s

Posted on December 27, 2013 by David McKee

Tonight’s a big night for Planet Hollywood, as it debuts its new, Britney Spears headliner show. However, judging from public disinterest in Spears’ recent TV special, Caesars Entertainment may be drawing to a weak hand. “Bally Technologies Inc. received some … Continue reading →

Posted in Bally Technologies, Entertainment, Harrah's, Regulation, Sheldon Adelson, The Strip | Comments Off on Case Bets: Britney, Bally, Sheldon & O’Shea’s

Mohegan Sun scolded; Atlantic Club’s death throes

Posted on December 24, 2013 by David McKee

City fathers in Palmer, Massachusetts, have had a sudden falling-out with Mohegan Tribal Gaming Authority. They’ve accused Mohegan Sun of deliberately tanking the Nov. 5 election through “a deliberate pattern of delay and mismanagement.” As such, they’ll be joining the … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Cordish Co., Hard Rock International, Harrah's, Indiana, Massachusetts, Mohegan Sun, Regulation, Revel, Steve Wynn, Taxes, Tilman Fertitta, Tropicana Entertainment, Trump Entertainment Resorts | Comments Off on Mohegan Sun scolded; Atlantic Club’s death throes

Adelson undeterred; Winners and losers

Posted on December 23, 2013 by David McKee

I’m not sure which part of this story is more alarming: That Affinity Gaming was the victim of a widespread identity-theft scheme for seven months … or that the company didn’t disclose it until late this year. It certainly makes … Continue reading →

Posted in Affinity Gaming, Atlantic City, California, Dan Gilbert, Detroit, Environment, Florida, Harrah's, Horseracing, International, Internet gambling, Japan, Macau, New York, Ohio, Penn National, Problem gambling, Sheldon Adelson, Singapore, Stanley Ho | Comments Off on Adelson undeterred; Winners and losers

Curtains for Atlantic Club; Foxwoods rides again

Posted on December 23, 2013 by David McKee

In a curious bankruptcy-court resolution, the Atlantic Club Hotel was sold to two buyers. Tropicana Entertainment — probably getting the better part of the deal — paid $8.4 million for the gambling equipment and player database. Caesars Entertainment spent $15 … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, CityCenter, Colony Capital, Foxwoods, Harrah's, Massachusetts, Regulation, Steve Wynn, The Strip, Tribal, Tropicana Entertainment, Wall Street, Wisconsin | Comments Off on Curtains for Atlantic Club; Foxwoods rides again

Is Loveman insane?

Posted on December 20, 2013 by David McKee

There are two bids on the table for Colony Capital‘s grind-joint Atlantic Club Hotel and one of them is from — wait for it — Caesars Entertainment. Now you’re saying to yourself, “Hey, David, isn’t Caesars in the process of … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Colony Capital, Current, Harrah's, history, Tropicana Entertainment | 4 Comments

A good week for Packer, Wynn and Caesars

Posted on December 18, 2013 by David McKee

James Packer didn’t get permission to open a casino at his planned, $400 million resort in Sri Lanka (though he may have gotten something better) — but he wasn’t forbidden, either. The Sri Lankan government is keeping its options open even … Continue reading →

Posted in Florida, Harrah's, International, James Packer, Macau, Massachusetts, Mississippi, Regulation | Comments Off on A good week for Packer, Wynn and Caesars

Falling out in Philly; Falling apart at Caesars

Posted on December 17, 2013 by David McKee

SugarHouse Casino has finally said what needed to be said: The Philadelphia market is tapped out for casinos. It’s not entirely a  disinterested stance; SugarHouse is finishing a $155 million expansion and vulnerable to new competition. But the numbers have … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Greenwood Racing, Harrah's, Internet gambling, Maryland, Massachusetts, Neil Bluhm, Penn National, Pennsylvania, Regulation, Steve Wynn, The Strip, Tilman Fertitta | 1 Comment

The case against Crosby

Posted on December 13, 2013 by David McKee

As expected, the Massachusetts Gaming Commission fired off a broadside against Caesars Entertainment. It defended its Investigations & Enforcement Bureau as “comprised of seasoned investigators, [who act] independently to protect the public interest.” That’s partly a defense of the IEB … Continue reading →

Posted in Election, Florida, Foxwoods, Harrah's, Massachusetts, MGM Mirage, Regulation, Steve Wynn, Tribal | 1 Comment

‘Twas the toga before Christmas

Posted on December 12, 2013 by David McKee

While it was saying “Bah, humbug!” to the Massachusetts Gaming Commission, along with a lump of coal, Caesars Entertainment released this cheerful swatch of Christmas kitch to the public. (Special thanks to those entertainers — like Taylor Hicks — who … Continue reading →

Posted in Current, Entertainment, Harrah's, The Strip | Comments Off on ‘Twas the toga before Christmas

Sioux City mess

Posted on December 12, 2013 by David McKee

Hard Rock International and Sioux City Entertainment find themselves in a pickle not of their own making in Iowa. Due to a rupture between Penn National Gaming and nonprofit Missouri River Historical Development, holder of the casino license, Penn found itself … Continue reading →

Posted in Detroit, Hard Rock International, Harrah's, Iowa, MGM Mirage, Ohio, Penn National, Racinos, Regulation, Technology, Tribal | Comments Off on Sioux City mess

Sore losers; Poker Stars’ ticket punched

Posted on December 12, 2013 by David McKee

Update: Fallout from the lawsuit might force Stephen Crosby to step down. (Caesars is suing him for damages, among other things.) “Chairman Crosby and members of the commission’s staff have made untrue and misleading statements about plaintiffs and their affiliates. … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Election, Harrah's, Internet gambling, Massachusetts, Regulation, Tribal, Trump Entertainment Resorts, Wisconsin | Comments Off on Sore losers; Poker Stars’ ticket punched