Category Archives: Illinois

Dismay in Wisconsin; Disorder at SLS

Posted on January 29, 2015 by David McKee

Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker (R) has managed to bring Democrats and Republicans together — in opposition to his decision to nix a proposed Menominee Nation casino. Lawmakers cited the $250 million bond posted by the Menominee and the tribe’s promise … Continue reading →

Posted in Dining, Economy, Illinois, International, Internet gambling, James Packer, Politics, Regulation, Sam Nazarian, The Strip, Tribal, Wisconsin | Comments Off

Caesars wins big

Posted on January 28, 2015 by David McKee

Ruling earlier than expected, U.S. Bankruptcy Court Judge Kevin Gross handed Caesars Entertainment a massive, possibly decisive victory in its bankruptcy fight, transferring the case from Wilmington to Chicago. Gross ruled that Caesars, despite some behavior that “on its face … Continue reading →

Posted in Current, Delaware, Harrah's, Illinois, Wall Street | 1 Comment

Caesars on the defensive

Posted on January 27, 2015 by David McKee

It’s Chicken Little time at Caesars Entertainment, where the company is sketching gloom-and-doom scenarios unless the court system goes along with its preferred timeline for a prepackaged bankruptcy. “If you go to the earlier filing day, you likely jettison the [restructuring support agreement],” … Continue reading →

Posted in Carl Icahn, Delaware, Environment, Fontainebleau, Harrah's, Illinois, Louisiana, Wall Street | Comments Off

Where will the Caesars fight be fought?

Posted on January 26, 2015 by David McKee

In the battle between Caesars Entertainment and its dissident creditors, the opening route — the choice of venue — may be the decisive one. As noted previously, Caesars wants the case heard in Chicago and not in Wilmington, even though … Continue reading →

Posted in Delaware, Economy, Harrah's, Illinois, Macau, Massachusetts, MGM Mirage, Sports, The Strip, Wall Street | Comments Off

Casinos slump in Illinois, boom in Arkansas

Posted on January 20, 2015 by David McKee

Never mind that Illinois casino admissions were down 1.4 million last year and the state’s gambling houses brought in $87 million less than in 2013. Politicians are preparing to try and ram another big gaming expansion through the Legislature, counting … Continue reading →

Posted in Arkansas, Economy, Illinois, MGM Mirage, Penn National, Politics, Racinos, Taxes, Technology | Comments Off

Loveman succeeds: Caesars bankrupt

Posted on January 15, 2015 by David McKee

Not wasting any time, CEO Gary Loveman put Caesars Entertainment Operating Co. into Chapter 11 today, filing the motion in Chicago to circumvent a Delaware lawsuit. (The reason for the Windy City filing may go a lot deeper than proximity … Continue reading →

Posted in Boyd Gaming, Delaware, Economy, GLPI, Harrah's, Illinois, Lake Tahoe, Louisiana, Mississippi, New York, Penn National, Pinnacle Entertainment, Racinos, The Strip, Tilman Fertitta, Wall Street | Comments Off

New day at the AGA; Illinois casinos feel the slot-route squeeze

Posted on January 14, 2015 by David McKee

For the first time, a Native American gaming enterprise has become part of the American Gaming Association, as Seminole Hard Rock Gaming has cracked what had been the lobbyist equivalent of a whites-only country club. It’s part of an image … Continue reading →

Posted in Alabama, Economy, Geoff Freeman, Greenwood Racing, Hard Rock International, Illinois, LVCVA, Missouri, Penn National, Slot routes, Tribal | 1 Comment

Turning point for Illinois?; Cuomo creates a mess

Posted on January 7, 2015 by David McKee

Santa Claus was extra generous to casinos in Illinois last month (and they sure could use a little Kringle largesse). Revenues grew to 6%, visitation was up 5% and spend per visitor rose 1%. All that added up to a … Continue reading →

Posted in Boyd Gaming, Current, Economy, Foxwoods, Hard Rock International, Harrah's, Illinois, MGM Mirage, Mohegan Sun, Neil Bluhm, New York, Penn National, Wall Street | 1 Comment

Illinois disappoints, Ohio surprises and Golden Nugget opens early

Posted on December 8, 2014 by David McKee

Except for a mild, 2% increase at Harrah’s Joliet, it was a very schizoid November for Illinois, whose casinos came in 4% below last year. There was one less weekend day, which some will cite as an alibi … but then … Continue reading →

Posted in Boyd Gaming, Genting, GLPI, Hard Rock International, Harrah's, Illinois, Louisiana, MGM Mirage, MTR Gaming, Neil Bluhm, New York, Ohio, Penn National, Pinnacle Entertainment, Racinos, Tilman Fertitta | 1 Comment

The sport of kings in cyberspace

Posted on November 18, 2014 by David McKee

Illinois‘ addiction to gaming revenues resembles that of a heroin junkie in the throes of severe withdrawal. The latest proposed “fix” would create de facto racinos at all of the state’s horse tracks. State Rep. Dwight Kay (R) is pushing … Continue reading →

Posted in Horseracing, Illinois, Kentucky, Technology, Wall Street | Comments Off

Missouri miracle; Guarded hope in Illinois, Indiana

Posted on November 10, 2014 by David McKee

Finally, there was good news for saturated gaming markets. Missouri was up 2% last month, although the result was a bit lopsided. The St. Louis market rose 3% while the Kansas City area slipped 2%. The latter appears to be … Continue reading →

Posted in Ameristar, Boyd Gaming, Donald Trump, GLPI, Harrah's, Illinois, Indiana, Majestic Star, MGM Mirage, Missouri, Neil Bluhm, Ohio, Penn National, Pinnacle Entertainment, Slot routes, Tropicana Entertainment | Comments Off

Election Special

Posted on November 5, 2014 by David McKee

Where gaming-related issues were concerned, there was one big race last night and a bunch of also-rans. The main event, of course, was Massachusetts, where casino repeal went down to defeat 60% to 40%, good news for Penn National Gaming, … Continue reading →

Posted in California, Colorado, Economy, Entertainment, Illinois, Isle of Capri, Kansas, Massachusetts, MGM Mirage, Penn National, Pinnacle Entertainment, Racinos, Rhode Island, South Dakota, Station Casinos, Steve Wynn, Tribal, Wisconsin | 2 Comments

Fighting on in New Jersey; One-armed banditry

Posted on October 28, 2014 by David McKee

Monmouth Park may have been stayed from offering NFL and World Series bets, among others, but state Sen. Raymond Lesniak (D) isn’t giving up fighting the good fight, describing it as “the last hurrah.” Describing an Atlantic City that’s devoid … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Entertainment, Foxwoods, Harry Reid, Illinois, Macau, Mohegan Sun, Racinos, Sports, Steve Wynn, Technology, The Strip | Comments Off

N.Y.: Accentuate the negative; Sheldon’s change of heart

Posted on October 27, 2014 by David McKee

“The economy is so depressed around here, anything is a plus. That’s how bad it is around here.” With that backhanded endorsement, the owner of Pepe’s Bar-B-Q in Binghamton, N.Y., gave his blessing to casinos in the area. In order to … Continue reading →

Posted in CityCenter, Economy, Greenwood Racing, Hard Rock International, Illinois, MGM Mirage, Neil Bluhm, New York, Pennsylvania, Sheldon Adelson, Slot routes, The Strip | Comments Off

Caesars flirts with Chapter 11; MGM sells relic

Posted on October 17, 2014 by David McKee

Caesars Entertainment CEO Gary Loveman has as much as said bankruptcy would happen over his dead body. Funeral services may be held in January. Caesars, y’see, has filed for an amendment on its debt that would give senior bondholders first … Continue reading →

Posted in Harrah's, Herbst Gaming, Illinois, MGM Mirage, Regulation, Slot routes, Wall Street | Comments Off

Wynn: What, me worry?; Clouds over Wisconsin

Posted on September 23, 2014 by David McKee

Steve Wynn is taking the softness of the Macao market in stride. “When you see that kind of adjustment, you adjust your business. You take tables away from VIP and put them into mass or premium mass,” he told Chinese reporters. … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Economy, Florida, Hard Rock International, Illinois, Japan, Macau, Politics, Sheldon Adelson, Steve Wynn, Tribal, Trump Entertainment Resorts, Wisconsin | Comments Off

Bad news in New York and Macao

Posted on September 22, 2014 by David McKee

In a setback for all regions of New York State that are eligible for a casino (or two), the casino-siting board has made it clear it’s taking a serious look at the “up to four” clause in the licensing process. … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, California, Economy, Illinois, Internet gambling, Macau, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Regulation, Wall Street, West Virginia | Comments Off

VLTs come to Texas; Slots inundate Illinois; Gomes honored

Posted on September 19, 2014 by David McKee

Casino gambling has finally got its foot in the door of Texas (not counting a pair of tribal casinos on the Mexican border). Late last month, the Texas Racing Commission voted overwhelmingly to approve “historical racing” VLTs at Texas tracks, effective … Continue reading →

Posted in Bally Technologies, Charity, Dennis Gomes, Economy, Illinois, Racinos, Regulation, Slot routes, Technology, Texas | 1 Comment

Dispatches from Iowa and Illinois

Posted on September 8, 2014 by David McKee

August was a good month for Iowa, as casino revenues rose 4%. The big winner was Pinnacle Entertainment‘s Ameristar Council Bluffs, up 7% with a $15 million gross. Caesars Entertainment had mixed results, with Horseshoe Casino ($16 million) down 3% … Continue reading →

Posted in Boyd Gaming, Harrah's, Illinois, Iowa, Isle of Capri, MGM Mirage, Neil Bluhm, Penn National, Pinnacle Entertainment, Trump Entertainment Resorts, Warner Gaming | Comments Off

Revel: A quiet death

Posted on September 3, 2014 by David McKee

“Gaming in Atlantic City isn’t dead, but it has to go on a crash diet to survive.” That’s the coroner’s verdict of the Newark Star-Ledger, in which former Atlantic Club worker Bill Terrigino adds his voice to the chorus that … Continue reading →

Posted in Alex Yemenidjian, Architecture, Atlantic City, Illinois, Marketing, MGM Mirage, Revel, Sam Nazarian, Slot routes, The Strip, Trump Entertainment Resorts | 3 Comments