Category Archives: Horseracing

Maryland: Playing the blame game; Island casinos confront Trump

Posted on January 25, 2017 by David McKee

As might be expected, MGM National Harbor‘s opening strapped a jet pack on Maryland casino revenues for December, which came in at $133.5 million, easily surpassing last May’s then-record $104 million. Wagering — as opposed to win — per slot … Continue reading →

Posted in Cordish Co., Donald Trump, Economy, Harrah's, Horseracing, Illinois, International, Internet gambling, Macau, Maine, Maryland, MGM Mirage, Penn National, Racinos, Regulation, Slot routes, Taxes, Tribal | Comments Off

Trump: The Fix is In; Battle of Gettysburg III

Posted on January 16, 2017 by David McKee

Gaming executives who are buddies with Donald Trump just got a rude surprise when attorney general nominee Sen. Jeff Sessions (R) said he was “shocked” by the 2011 reinterpretation of the Wire Act, whereby Internet gaming became legal. This sets … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Donald Trump, Economy, Harrah's, history, Horseracing, Internet gambling, Maryland, Pennsylvania, Problem gambling, Sheldon Adelson, Taxes | Comments Off

Jesus scapegoated for December results; Changing of the guard in New Jersey

Posted on January 11, 2017 by David McKee

Deutsche Bank analyst Carlo Santarelli put in some quality time in Las Vegas recently and came away satisfied with the market, particularly MGM Resorts International, Station Casinos, Boyd Gaming and Penn National Gaming, although he had no new intel on … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Boyd Gaming, California, Economy, Foxwoods, Georgia, Horseracing, Internet gambling, Lucky Dragon, MGM Mirage, Mohegan Sun, Penn National, Politics, Station Casinos, Tribal, Wall Street | Comments Off

Cheerless Christmas in Illinois; Whitewash at Caesars?

Posted on January 9, 2017 by David McKee

Despite two extra weekend days, gaming revenues in Illinois were down 5% last month. For all we know, gamblers may have been saving up for Christmas but we think this points to the increasing prevalence of slot routes (many owned … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Boyd Gaming, Carl Icahn, Churchill Downs, GLPI, Harrah's, Horseracing, Illinois, MGM Mirage, Neil Bluhm, Penn National, Racinos, Slot routes, Sports, The Strip, Unite-Here | Comments Off

Pennsylvania gets a second look; Tioga Downs debuts new casino

Posted on December 6, 2016 by David McKee

Funny that we should have been discussing Pennsylvania yesterday. Fitch Ratings analyst Alex Bumazhny made a field trip to Philadelphia and Bethlehem, and came away impressed by the $164 million expansion of SugarHouse. He concluded that its new features, which … Continue reading →

Posted in Cordish Co., Economy, Harrah's, Horseracing, Lucky Dragon, Macau, Marketing, Melco Crown Entertainment, MGM Mirage, Neil Bluhm, New York, Penn National, Pennsylvania, Racinos, Singapore, Stanley Ho, Taxes, The Strip, Wall Street | 1 Comment

Reboot for Wynn Palace; Does Trump still heart sports betting?

Posted on November 30, 2016 by David McKee

Gaming analysts confirm reports of a slow opening at Wynn Palace in Macao, likening its performance to that of the early days of Studio City — not the sort of comparison Wynn Resorts probably wanted to hear. Room rates have … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Donald Trump, Economy, Horseracing, Internet gambling, Macau, Melco Crown Entertainment, Politics, Racinos, Sports, Steve Wynn | 1 Comment

The day after

Posted on November 9, 2016 by David McKee

This morning’s biggest winners are not politicians or pundits (certainly not the pollsters) but the punters who laid their money on a Donald Trump victory when sites like Betfair had him as a one-in-five underdog or worse. Their wallets are … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Donald Trump, Election, Florida, Harry Reid, Horseracing, Maine, Massachusetts, Nevada, Politics, Racinos, Regulation, Sheldon Adelson, Steve Wynn | 1 Comment

Hollywood Jamul opens; Hutchinson opposes Arkansas casinos

Posted on October 13, 2016 by David McKee

While the eyes of the industry were focused on the closing of Trump Taj Mahal, there was another long-awaited event on Monday: the opening of Hollywood Casino Jamul, near San Diego. Combine in-progress road construction with a new casino and … Continue reading →

Posted in Arkansas, Atlantic City, California, Cannery Casino Resorts, Dining, Election, GLPI, Harrah's, Horseracing, Isle of Capri, New York, Oklahoma, Penn National, Pennsylvania, Pinnacle Entertainment, Politics, Racinos, Taxes, Technology, The Strip, Transportation, Tribal | 1 Comment

Arkansas casino proposal hotly contested; Straub gains support

Posted on September 19, 2016 by David McKee

Although a ballot initiative to legalize casinos in three Arkansas counties could draw some gambling dollars away from Oklahoma, that hasn’t stopped a Sooner State tribe from supporting it. Cherokee Nation Businesses has ponied up $400,000 to support the ballot … Continue reading →

Posted in Arkansas, Atlantic City, Glenn Straub, Horseracing, Internet gambling, Iowa, Missouri, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Politics, Racinos, Regulation, Revel, Tribal | Comments Off

Trailer trash in Boston; New crisis looms in Atlantic City

Posted on July 28, 2016 by David McKee

Massachusetts lawmakers may have thought they’d settled the question of casinos in the Bay State when they voted to baptize three resorts and slot parlor. However, thanks to a ruling by state Attorney General Maura Healey, a ballot question here … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Economy, Election, Horseracing, Lawrence Ho, Macau, Maine, Marketing, Massachusetts, Melco Crown Entertainment, Regulation, Sheldon Adelson | 1 Comment

Shifty speculation in Massachusetts; Hoosiers spend more

Posted on July 8, 2016 by David McKee

Two Boston-area mayors are digging in against a slot parlor proposed for Revere. New Revere Mayor Brian Arrigo and Somerville Mayor Joseph Curtatone (below) have both voiced opposition to the project, which would be near Suffolk Downs (the ballot question is … Continue reading →

Posted in Boyd Gaming, Full House Resorts, Harrah's, Horseracing, Law enforcement, Majestic Star, Massachusetts, Neil Bluhm, Penn National, Pennsylvania, Pinnacle Entertainment, Racinos, Regulation, Steve Wynn, Taxes, Tropicana Entertainment | Comments Off

Icahn leaves Taj workers nostalgic for Trump; Megaresort proposed for NYC

Posted on July 7, 2016 by David McKee

You can measure the acrimony between Unite-Here Local 54 and Tropicana Entertainment by the fact that striking workers at Trump Taj Mahal are using Donald Trump as a stick with which to beat Carl Icahn. By astutely negotiating a pact … Continue reading →

Posted in California, Carl Icahn, Charity, Cordish Co., Cosmopolitan, Donald Trump, Election, Entertainment, Genting, Georgia, Glenn Straub, Harrah's, Horseracing, Illinois, Macau, Marketing, Melco Crown Entertainment, MGM Mirage, New York, Regulation, Revel, Stanley Ho, Tribal, Tropicana Entertainment, Trump Entertainment Resorts, Unite-Here | Comments Off

The meddlesome Adelson; Wynn Palace postponed again

Posted on June 27, 2016 by David McKee

“Essentially, Pechanga and its allies see no reason to compromise, even an inch,” wrote California Online Poker‘s Steve Ruddock of the intractable position of the Pechanga and Agua Caliente tribes, and their anti-PokerStars allies (who include Sheldon Adelson, meddling in … Continue reading →

Posted in Arkansas, California, Churchill Downs, Election, Foxwoods, Horseracing, Internet gambling, Louisiana, Macau, Marketing, Massachusetts, MGM Mirage, Mohegan Sun, Penn National, Politics, Regulation, Scientific Games, Sheldon Adelson, Steve Wynn, Taxes, Technology, Tribal, Wall Street | Comments Off

High-stakes legal challenge in Florida; Free-for-all in New York

Posted on June 7, 2016 by David McKee

A relatively obscure dispute in the Florida panhandle could have huge ramifications for the state’s casino industry. Four years ago, voters in Gadsden County approved slot machines for Gretna Racing, a joint venture of two Tallahassee lobbyists and the Poarch Bank … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, Atlantic City, Delaware, Economy, Election, Florida, Genting, Harrah's, Horseracing, Internet gambling, MGM Mirage, Nevada, New York, Politics, Racinos, Regulation, Seminole Tribe, Sheldon Adelson, The Strip | Comments Off

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

Doldrums in Louisiana; Free play imperiled in Pennsylvania

Posted on March 14, 2016 by David McKee

Louisiana gaming revenues, aided by Leap Day, were flat last month, which is pretty surprising because most of the brand names had revenue-negative months. Lake Charles led the state with $74 million. Golden Nugget had a signal month, up 37% … Continue reading →

Posted in Boyd Gaming, Churchill Downs, Eldorado Resorts, Election, GLPI, Greenwood Racing, Harrah's, Horseracing, Idaho, Isle of Capri, Louisiana, Maine, Penn National, Pennsylvania, Pinnacle Entertainment, Taxes, Tilman Fertitta, Tropicana Entertainment, West Virginia | Comments Off

Vietnam War logic in New Jersey; Tribal corruption in Florida

Posted on March 8, 2016 by David McKee

New Jersey will no longer have the distinction of possessing the second-lowest casino tax rate if Assemblyman Ralph Caputo (D, left) gets his way. He’s talking about imposing at least a 40% levy on proposed north New Jersey casinos, perhaps … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Carl Icahn, Florida, Hard Rock International, Horseracing, International, Mississippi, New York, Politics, Regulation, Taxes, Tribal, Tropicana Entertainment | Comments Off

Crystals sold; Struggles in California

Posted on March 2, 2016 by David McKee

This morning, Real Estate Alert published a story saying that MGM Resorts International and Dubai World had liquidated Crystals, the high-end retail mall at CityCenter, to Simon Property Partnership. The transaction was valued at $1.1 billion and change, which means … Continue reading →

Posted in Australia, California, CityCenter, Dubai, Horseracing, Internet gambling, MGM Mirage, Regulation, Technology, The Strip, Tribal, Wall Street | Comments Off

Painful progress for Seminole compact; Casinos dead in Georgia

Posted on March 1, 2016 by David McKee

It will be back to the negotiating table for Florida Gov. Rick Scott (R), if a state House of Representatives version of the compact with Seminole Tribe is accepted in the state Senate. The compromise version of the compact adds slots … Continue reading →

Posted in Florida, Georgia, GLPI, Horseracing, Maryland, Massachusetts, MGM Mirage, Penn National, Pinnacle Entertainment, Politics, Racinos, Regulation, Rhode Island, Seminole Tribe, Sheldon Adelson, Tourism, Unite-Here | 2 Comments

End of Caesars bankruptcy in sight?; Seminole compact upsized

Posted on February 19, 2016 by David McKee

One year and millions of pages of documents later, we’re nearing resolution in Richard Davis‘ investigation of the Caesars Entertainment bankruptcy. His report on the company’s attempted restructuring is due at year’s end. At its heart will be several controversial … Continue reading →

Posted in Florida, Harrah's, Horseracing, Massachusetts, Penn National, Politics, Problem gambling, Regulation, Seminole Tribe, Sports, Steve Wynn, Technology | Comments Off