Category Archives: Horseracing

Train shows promise; Culinary sabotages Station

Posted on September 25, 2019 by David McKee

* We’re hearing a bit more on the Virgin Trains USA electric railway to Las Vegas. The first shovels are to go into the ground in 2023 and the route will mainly hew to the I-15 median. Completion is expected … Continue reading →

Posted in Caesars Entertainment, California, Churchill Downs, Culinary Union, Dining, Florida, history, Horseracing, Illinois, Kentucky, Marketing, Nevada, Palms, Racinos, Station Casinos, Transportation, Wall Street | 1 Comment

Churchill Downs on the rampage

Posted on September 12, 2019 by David McKee

Churchill Downs execs met with Wall Street analysts and laid out their strategy going forward. The look toward their ‘historical racing’ machines at their titular track as a way to increase its cash flow as well as to help support … Continue reading →

Posted in Churchill Downs, Horseracing, Illinois, Kentucky, Macau, Oklahoma, Oregon, Regulation, The Strip, Tribal, Wall Street, Wynn Resorts | Comments Off

Ohio gallops, Missouri trots

Posted on September 10, 2019 by David McKee

Ohio gambling revenues were up 4% last month, coming in at $164.5 million. Most of that was driven by a particularly good month at the racinos. Hollywood Columbus‘ $19 million represented a 4% gain while Hollywood Toledo hauled in $17 … Continue reading →

Posted in Boyd Gaming, Churchill Downs, Dan Gilbert, Eldorado Resorts, Horseracing, MGM Resorts International, Missouri, Ohio, Penn National | 1 Comment

Furor in Illinois; ‘Carmageddon’ in New Jersey

Posted on September 5, 2019 by David McKee

Charles DeGaulle was famous as The Man Who Said No. That nickname may have to be reassigned to Churchill Downs CEO Bill Carstanjen. His decision not to seek racino status for Arlington International Racecourse has set the Illinois gaming industry and … Continue reading →

Posted in California, Churchill Downs, CityCenter, Cosmopolitan, Horseracing, Illinois, International, Marijuana, MGM Resorts International, New Jersey, Politics, Racinos, Rush Street Gaming, Sports betting, Taxes, Tourism, Transportation | 1 Comment

Massachusetts: Isn’t that special?

Posted on August 26, 2019 by David McKee

Although the Boston Globe gets a bit overheated about Tom O’Connell aspirations for a Region C casino they don’t get it wrong when they say O’Connell and associates “want to rewrite the rule book to suit their needs.” That means, … Continue reading →

Posted in Colorado, Hooters, Horseracing, Macau, Massachusetts, Melco Resorts & Entertainment, MGM Resorts International, Mississippi, Neil Bluhm, New York, Oregon, Paragon Gaming, Penn National, Pennsylvania, Regulation, Rush Street Gaming, Sociedade de Jogos de Macau, Sports betting, Station Casinos, Technology, Tribal, Wynn Resorts | Comments Off

Sands: Waiting for Japan; I-gaming raids hit Singapore, Vietnam

Posted on August 1, 2019 by David McKee

It’s difficult to imagine investors being impatient with Las Vegas Sands but The Motley Fool‘s Travis Hoium suggests that they are. “Unless a new market like Japan hits, that cash flow machine is all Las Vegas Sands has to offer,” … Continue reading →

Posted in Horseracing, Internet gambling, Japan, Las Vegas Sands, Law enforcement, Macau, Maine, Massachusetts, North Carolina, Penn National, Pennsylvania, Pets, Singapore, Sports betting, Vietnam, Wall Street | Comments Off

Churchill Downs’ bet pays off; Mob up at El Cortez

Posted on July 17, 2019 by David McKee

JP Morgan‘s Daniel Politzer expects Churchill Downs to be a winner thrice over in Illinois: first, a lower tax rate on table games, starting in 2020; second, a potential 800 additional gaming positions at Rivers Casino Des Plaines (which will … Continue reading →

Posted in Churchill Downs, Downtown, El Cortez, Horseracing, Illinois, Massachusetts, MGM Mirage, Neil Bluhm, New York, Politics, Racinos, Rush Street Gaming, Taxes, The Mob, Wall Street, Wynn Resorts | Comments Off

The unkindest cuts of all

Posted on May 3, 2019 by David McKee

Apparently Las Vegas casinos—and specifically those of MGM Resorts International—have not learned from the ill-will generated by resort fees and paid parking. Now, as discovered by Scott Roeben, MGM is instigating an insidious “surge pricing” for sundries like water and … Continue reading →

Posted in Caesars Entertainment, Churchill Downs, Entertainment, Genting, Horseracing, Japan, Las Vegas Sands, Macau, MGM Resorts International, Resort fees, Singapore, Sociedade de Jogos de Macau, The Strip | 1 Comment

Putting problem gaming on notice; Station has a hit

Posted on May 1, 2019 by David McKee

“Whilst the vast majority of our customers enjoy our products responsibly, it is high time that the industry did more to protect its customers from potential harm.” Thus spake GVC CEO Kenny Alexander in a dramatic change of policy. Along … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Caesars Entertainment, Connecticut, Foxwoods, Horseracing, International, Kazuo Okada, Marketing, Massachusetts, MGM Resorts International, Mohegan Sun, New Jersey, Palms, Philippines, Problem gambling, Sports, Station Casinos, TV, Wall Street, William Hill | Comments Off

Seminoles to the rescue; Rosenstein’s mess

Posted on April 30, 2019 by David McKee

Florida could move from the “no” into the “yes” column on sports betting. Maybe. A new compact with the Seminole Tribe would incorporate sports betting into the mix of games permitted in the Sunshine State. Gov. Ron DeSantis (R) is keeping … Continue reading →

Posted in Delaware, Economy, Florida, Genting, Horseracing, Law enforcement, Lotteries, New York, Politics, Rush Street Gaming, Seminole Tribe, Sheldon Adelson, Sports betting, Technology | Comments Off

Boyd, Churchill Downs garner raves; Indiana governor seduced

Posted on April 26, 2019 by David McKee

Boyd Gaming got a good review on Wall Street today, lauded both for slightly surpassing revenue expectations and for moving quickly to deleverage in the wake of the Valley Forge, Belterra and Ameristar acquisitions. Downtown continues to be Boyd’s bastion … Continue reading →

Posted in Ameristar, Boyd Gaming, Caesars Entertainment, California, Charity, Churchill Downs, Current, Derek Stevens, Downtown, Florida, Hawaii, Horseracing, Illinois, Iowa, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Mississippi, Ohio, Palms, Pennsylvania, Politics, Racinos, Rhode Island, Slot routes, Spectacle Entertainment, Sports betting, Station Casinos, Taxes, Tribal, Wall Street, West Virginia, Westgate LV | 1 Comment

Case Bets

Posted on April 24, 2019 by David McKee

It’s early yet but the House Finance Committee of the Colorado Lege has overwhelmingly voted through a sports-betting bill. The would-be law has to survive three more votes in the House before moving along to the state Senate. However, it … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, Colorado, history, Horseracing, Indiana, Majestic Star, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, PokerStars, Politics, Regulation, Sports, Sports betting, Taxes | Comments Off

Sands gets spanked; Palms (almost) loses its name

Posted on April 22, 2019 by David McKee

Las Vegas Sands is on its way out of Pennsylvania but not before receiving two swift kicks in the posterior from Keystone State regulators. The casino was fined $120,000 for allowing underage gaming and $110,000 for offenses related to the … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, Boyd Gaming, Caesars Entertainment, Churchill Downs, CityCenter, Eldorado Resorts, Environment, Greenwood Racing, history, Horseracing, Indiana, Japan, Las Vegas Sands, Law enforcement, Mississippi, Mohegan Sun, Ohio, Palms, Penn National, Pennsylvania, Regulation, Resort fees, Rush Street Gaming, Slot routes, Station Casinos, Technology, Tribal, Virgin Hotels, Wisconsin | Comments Off

Nebraskans hope fifth time is the charm

Posted on April 15, 2019 by David McKee

It’s try-again time for casinos in Nebraska. Ho-Chunk Inc. CEO Lance Morgan announced last week that ballot language had been filed with the secretary of state’s office to authorize casino gambling at the state’s horse tracks, generating a projected $50 … Continue reading →

Posted in Election, Horseracing, Iowa, Nebraska, Racinos, Tribal | Comments Off

Run for the roses; Friends of Dorothy

Posted on March 28, 2019 by David McKee

I’ve got a horse right here, his name is … no, not Paul Revere but Game Winner and he’s favored to win the annual run for the roses at Churchill Downs. At least that’s what Kentucky Derby Online Betting says. KDOB … Continue reading →

Posted in Churchill Downs, Current, Entertainment, Horseracing, Marketing, Mohegan Sun, Movies, Palms, Regulation, Station Casinos, Technology, Tribal | 3 Comments

Blackout at Boyd; Virginia ponies propped up

Posted on March 27, 2019 by David McKee

Boyd Gaming appears to have stepped in it, big time, according to former Ameristar St. Charles sales director Kim Carpenter. She’s suing the casino over her dismissal, which she alleges followed her complaints about sexual discrimination and retaliation. After booking a … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, Boyd Gaming, Economy, Horseracing, MGM Resorts International, Mississippi, Missouri, Nevada, Racinos, Reno, Rhode Island, Sports, Sports betting, Station Casinos, The Strip, Tribal, Virginia | 4 Comments

Gaming speaks: Penn, Boyd, Eldorado, Churchill Downs

Posted on March 15, 2019 by David McKee

One of the few CEOs to grace JP Morgan‘s hotel-and-leisure forum was Penn National Gaming‘s Tim Wilmot. He reported that the “regional consumer remains solid and trends are largely consistent with that seen 2018.” Furthermore, Penn is “seeing good growth … Continue reading →

Posted in Boyd Gaming, Caesars Entertainment, Churchill Downs, Economy, Eldorado Resorts, Horseracing, Illinois, Japan, Kentucky, Marketing, Nevada, Penn National, Pennsylvania, Pinnacle Entertainment, Racinos, Reno, Sports betting, The Strip, Tropicana Entertainment, Wall Street | Comments Off

Quote of the Day

Posted on March 14, 2019 by David McKee

“With around 265,000 pints of Guinness expected to be consumed, the press will be keeping a close eye on fans to see how the festival will respond to any upsets. Race meets last year were marred with after-dark bouts of … Continue reading →

Posted in Horseracing, International | Comments Off

Controversy embroils Wynn in Massachusetts

Posted on March 12, 2019 by David McKee

Sheldon Adelson‘s old sparring partner, Judge Elizabeth Gonzalez, was ruling on a Steve Wynn lawsuit last week, dismissing litigation against the Massachusetts Gaming Commission in light of the latter’s abject subjugation, er, settlement with Wynn. “The commission executed this action … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, CityCenter, Florida, Hard Rock International, Horseracing, Majestic Star, Massachusetts, MGM Resorts International, Minnesota, Mississippi, Nevada, Problem gambling, Regulation, Sports betting, Steve Wynn, Tribal, Wynn Resorts | Comments Off

Busy week for MGM; Adelson’s grim prognosis

Posted on March 12, 2019 by David McKee

Congratulations to MGM Resorts International on becoming the official casino sponsor of the Boston Red Sox (known around my house as “the Evil Empire”). I’m not sure how I feel about the MGM logo going up on the Green Monster, … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Baseball, Eldorado Resorts, history, Horseracing, Internet gambling, Japan, Las Vegas Sands, Laughlin, Massachusetts, MGM Resorts International, Michigan, Mississippi, Politics, Problem gambling, Real Estate, Regulation, Security, Sheldon Adelson, Sports, Sports betting, Steve Wynn, Taxes, Technology, Tribal, Tropicana Entertainment, William Hill | 1 Comment