Category Archives: history

Case Bets: California, Florida, Minnesota, Macao

Posted on April 28, 2016 by David McKee

In a dramatic development, the six-tribe coalition that opposed letting PokerStars into California stood aside, clearing the path to unanimous approval by the Assembly Governmental Organization Committee of a bill by state Rep. Adam Gray that would legalize online poker in … Continue reading →

Posted in California, Election, Florida, Galaxy Entertainment, history, Horseracing, Internet gambling, Macau, Minnesota, PokerStars, Politics, Taxes, Tribal | Comments Off on Case Bets: California, Florida, Minnesota, Macao

Fertittas strike it rich(er); Boyd surprises analysts

Posted on April 27, 2016 by David McKee

Red Rock Resorts — aka Station Casinos — split the difference in Wall Street‘s expectations of this week’s IPO, debuting a $19.50 (Street estimates ranged from $18 to $21 a share). Unfortunately, unlike the MGM Growth Partners offering, the goal … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Boulder Strip, Boyd Gaming, Cannery Casino Resorts, Hawaii, history, MGM Mirage, Mississippi, North Las Vegas, Reno, Sheldon Adelson, Sports, Station Casinos, The Strip, Tourism, Wall Street | Comments Off on Fertittas strike it rich(er); Boyd surprises analysts

Save the Riviera!; Soggy March in Louisiana; The blacklist

Posted on April 18, 2016 by David McKee

Local preservationist Kelden Engel is trying to fight the power. He’s seeking 51,000 qualified signatures in a petition drive to halt demolition of the Riviera, currently slated for June. Not only is he racing the clock, he may be fighting … Continue reading →

Posted in Boyd Gaming, Churchill Downs, Eldorado Resorts, Environment, GLPI, Harrah's, history, Isle of Capri, Louisiana, LVCVA, Pinnacle Entertainment, Racinos, Reno, The Strip, Tropicana Entertainment, TV | Comments Off on Save the Riviera!; Soggy March in Louisiana; The blacklist

Internet gaming backstops Atlantic City; Swordplay in Vegas

Posted on April 13, 2016 by David McKee

Traditional casino revenue fell 2% last month in Atlantic City but online winning were up 18%. The entry of PokerStars wasn’t immediately felt, as Resorts Digital‘s market share stood at 12%. behind Borgata ($4 million, 28%), Caesars Interactive (20%), Golden … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Boyd Gaming, Carl Icahn, Glenn Straub, Harrah's, history, Internet gambling, MGM Mirage, Mohegan Sun, PokerStars, Reno, Revel, Riviera, Sheldon Adelson, Tilman Fertitta, Tropicana Entertainment | Comments Off on Internet gaming backstops Atlantic City; Swordplay in Vegas

Sexcapade case closed; GLPI/Pinnacle deal a certainty

Posted on April 12, 2016 by David McKee

Followers of jurisprudence will be denied one of the more prurient evidentiary hearings in history now that Vegas High Roller sexpot Chloe Scordianos has decided to plead guilty to disorderly conduct rather than face trial for committing sex acts in … Continue reading →

Posted in Ameristar, Architecture, Entertainment, Environment, GLPI, Harrah's, history, Illinois, Law enforcement, Missouri, Penn National, Pinnacle Entertainment, Regulation, Riviera, Steve Wynn, The Strip, Tropicana Entertainment | Comments Off on Sexcapade case closed; GLPI/Pinnacle deal a certainty

Wynn vs. Wynn II; T-Mobile Arena arrives

Posted on April 6, 2016 by David McKee

You’ve got to hand this to Elaine Wynn: She doesn’t give up easily. Her attorneys have filed their no less than fifth amended complaint and counterclaim. It references depositions from several Wynn Resorts board members, including former Nevada Gov. Bob Miller. It … Continue reading →

Posted in CityCenter, Entertainment, history, MGM Mirage, Sheldon Adelson, SLS Las Vegas, Sports, Steve Wynn, The Strip | Comments Off on Wynn vs. Wynn II; T-Mobile Arena arrives

Trump: The art of failure, Part II

Posted on March 25, 2016 by David McKee

Donald Trump‘s current ubiquity is causing the spotlight to fall upon his many setbacks in the gaming industry. “If you look at anything that guy has done in this industry, he has a lead thumb — it’s the opposite of a golden touch,” … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, California, Donald Trump, Foxwoods, Harrah's, history, Indiana, The Mob | 1 Comment

DFS in retreat; Pinnacle fights smoking ban

Posted on March 23, 2016 by David McKee

What Attorney General Eric Schneiderman couldn’t do, gun-shy payment processors have accomplished: Put DraftKings and FanDuel out of business in New York State. The two have said they will refrain from taking wagers from the Empire State through the end … Continue reading →

Posted in Churchill Downs, Environment, GLPI, Harrah's, history, Illinois, Internet gambling, Law enforcement, Louisiana, Neil Bluhm, New York, Pennsylvania, Pinnacle Entertainment, Regulation, Sports, Tribal, Tropicana Entertainment, TV | Comments Off on DFS in retreat; Pinnacle fights smoking ban

Quote of the Day

Posted on March 22, 2016 by David McKee

“‘You don’t know anything! Your guys suck! I promote Mike Tyson! I promote heavyweight fights!’ And I notice the three shtarkers he’s with, in trench coats, two of them are putting on gloves and the other one is putting on … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Donald Trump, history | Comments Off on Quote of the Day

Trouble at the Trop; Liberace resurgence in Vegas

Posted on March 18, 2016 by David McKee

After a methodical — or at least slow-moving — investigation, FBI agents dropped the hammer on Tropicana Las Vegas‘ resident illusionist, Jan Rouven. The latter is accused of felony child pornography, having allegedly had myriad violent child-porn images and videos … Continue reading →

Posted in ABBA, Alex Yemenidjian, Economy, Entertainment, history, Law enforcement, Penn National, Riviera, Steve Wynn, The Strip, Wayne F. Newton | Comments Off on Trouble at the Trop; Liberace resurgence in Vegas

Rosy prospects for Boyd; Victories in Indian Country

Posted on March 10, 2016 by David McKee

Top Boyd Gaming executives sat down with JP Morgan analyst Joseph Greff and sketched out their program for the coming year, with includes new restaurant concepts at 12 casinos (including 20 new restaurants this year) and 167 hotel rooms at … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, Atlantic City, Boyd Gaming, Election, history, Illinois, International, Law enforcement, Louisiana, Massachusetts, Melco Crown Entertainment, MGM Mirage, Nevada, Philippines, Taxes, Tribal, Wall Street | 1 Comment

New York blesses three casinos; Sinatra hangout resurrected

Posted on December 23, 2015 by David McKee

Not a discouraging word was to be heard as the New York State Gaming Commission unanimously approved licenses for three casinos in various upstate market. (Tioga Downs‘ turn comes later, as it was delayed entrant to the process.) This removes … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, Genting, history, Lake Tahoe, Neil Bluhm, New York, Regulation, Taxes | 1 Comment

When you wish upon a star

Posted on December 21, 2015 by David McKee

Despite a shakeup by Gov. Greg Abbott (R, below), the Texas Racing Commission still has a death wish when it comes to “instant racing.” When, in keeping with Abbott’s wishes, the TRC held a vote to repeal the VLT gambling, … Continue reading →

Posted in California, Dining, history, Horseracing, New York, Racinos, Regulation, Texas | Comments Off on When you wish upon a star

‘Jubilee’ axed; DFS banned and reprieved

Posted on December 14, 2015 by David McKee

It was probably a mercy to Ffolliott “Fluff” LeCoque that the Las Vegas showbiz legend died two days before Caesars Entertainment buried a dagger in the heart of Jubilee. LeCoque had been part of the original cast and went on to … Continue reading →

Posted in Entertainment, Florida, Hard Rock International, Harrah's, history, Horseracing, Internet gambling, Law enforcement, New York, Politics, Racinos, Regulation, Seminole Tribe, Taxes, The Strip, Tribal | 1 Comment

Happy birthday, Frank Sinatra

Posted on December 12, 2015 by David McKee

Here’s to the 100th anniversary of the birth of Francis Albert Sinatra, the man arguably more synonymous with Las Vegas than any other.

Posted in Entertainment, history, The Strip | 1 Comment

Quote of the Day

Posted on December 9, 2015 by David McKee

“He seemed now to be also the embodiment of the fully emancipated male, perhaps the only one in America, the man who can do anything he wants, anything, can do it because he has money, the energy, and no apparent … Continue reading →

Posted in Environment, history | Comments Off on Quote of the Day

Caesars gets the boot; Impatience in New York

Posted on December 1, 2015 by David McKee

Lawyers for Caesars Entertainment will be burning a little extra midnight oil after they lost a case that will enable the National Retirement Fund to kick Caesars — its largest donor — out of the fund. That makes Caesars liable … Continue reading →

Posted in California, Election, Foxwoods, Harrah's, history, Internet gambling, Mississippi, Mohegan Sun, New York, Pennsylvania, Regulation, Technology, Tribal | Comments Off on Caesars gets the boot; Impatience in New York

Boardwalk of Broken Dreams; Adelson strikes again

Posted on September 28, 2015 by David McKee

As Donald Trump continues to boast of his business expertise, the Boston Globe examines his less-than-stellar track record in Atlantic City, scene of four bankruptcies. (Five, if you count the current insolvency of Trump Entertainment Resorts, in which he holds … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Donald Trump, Election, Harrah's, history, International, Japan, MGM Mirage, Sheldon Adelson, The Strip, Transportation, Trump Entertainment Resorts, TV | Comments Off on Boardwalk of Broken Dreams; Adelson strikes again

This just in …

Posted on September 18, 2015 by David McKee

It’s a big day for the Mashpee Wampanoag Tribe. Much sooner than expected, the Interior Department took 321 acres of Massachusetts land into trust for the tribe. Most of that acreage (170 of it) is in Mashpee but another 151 … Continue reading →

Posted in Current, history, Massachusetts, Neil Bluhm, Regulation, Tribal | Comments Off on This just in …

China comes to Las Vegas’ rescue; MGM chock-full of cultural initiatives

Posted on September 18, 2015 by David McKee

High-speed rail to Las Vegas is “on” again, with China emerging as Sin City’s savior. The budget for the China Railway Group/XpressWest Enterprises  joint venture hasn’t been disclosed but $100 million in startup capital has been committed to fund the … Continue reading →

Posted in California, CityCenter, history, Massachusetts, MGM Mirage, The Strip, Transportation | Comments Off on China comes to Las Vegas’ rescue; MGM chock-full of cultural initiatives