Category Archives: Illinois

Double whammy in Iowa; Desperation in Illinois

Posted on April 17, 2014 by David McKee

Iowa casino regulators took a strong stand in favor of the status quo, after playing it so cool they had expansion advocates fooled. Following the guidance of their own studies, they shot down the Cedar Crossing Casino project, citing its … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Harrah's, Illinois, Penn National, Regulation, Taxes, Warner Gaming | 2 Comments

Self-delusion in Illinois; Grave-robbing at Penn project

Posted on April 16, 2014 by David McKee

That’s a nice pair of rose-colored glasses that state Rep. Robert Rita (D) must be wearing. He says a 10,000-position Chicago megaresort will “capture the revenue in the Chicago market without creating the cannibalization and oversaturation.” In case he hasn’t … Continue reading →

Posted in California, Illinois, Internet gambling, Penn National, Politics, Racinos, Tribal | Comments Off

Paint them black; New ideas for Atlantic City

Posted on April 11, 2014 by David McKee

“Fortunately for police, the chips floated.” That was the undoing of casino cheat Vuong Q. Truong, who tried to hide the better part of $150,000 worth of forged casino chips at the bottom of a lake. No go. The ongoing Truong … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Entertainment, Harrah's, Illinois, International, Marketing, Maryland, Missouri, New York, Penn National, Transportation, West Virginia | 1 Comment

… and it’s Pinnacle; The allure of slot routes

Posted on April 10, 2014 by David McKee

E23, the Albany-area casino proposal, has lifted the curtain on its managing partner and it’s Pinnacle Entertainment. Not to belittle the project but the presence of Pinnacle gives E23 real heft. Community organizer Marlon Anderson called it “a game changer … Continue reading →

Posted in Dan Gilbert, Detroit, Illinois, MGM Mirage, New York, Pinnacle Entertainment, Slot routes | 1 Comment

The Adelson caucus

Posted on March 27, 2014 by David McKee

Online gambling is officially under attack, with bills having been introduced in both houses of Congress to eradicate the U.S. industry. (This must be one of those occasions when it’s OK to be “anti-business.”) As reported earlier the Senate version … Continue reading →

Posted in Illinois, Internet gambling, Missouri, Pinnacle Entertainment, Politics, Regulation, Sheldon Adelson, Slot routes, Tropicana Entertainment | Comments Off

Mega-casino proposed for Chicago; REIT-mania continues

Posted on March 14, 2014 by David McKee

Visualize Foxwoods Resort Casino. Now plunk it down in the middle of Chicago. That’s essentially what state Rep. Robert Rita (D) proposes to do, pitching a 4,000-10,000-position casino for the Windy City. He also would have the State of Illinois … Continue reading →

Posted in Boyd Gaming, Florida, Illinois, Penn National, Pinnacle Entertainment, Racinos, Taxes, Wall Street | Comments Off

Realism in Iowa, depression in Illinois, paradox in Ohio

Posted on March 7, 2014 by David McKee

“The problem is Iowa is not a free-market system It’s set up to encourage big-dollar investments, so the cannibalization issue is one we have to take into consideration.” — Iowa Racing & Gaming Commission Chairman Jeff Lamberti There you have … Continue reading →

Posted in Animals, Boyd Gaming, Economy, Harrah's, Illinois, Iowa, Isle of Capri, MGM Mirage, Neil Bluhm, Ohio, Penn National, Pinnacle Entertainment, Regulation | Comments Off

China: Hands off Hainan

Posted on March 7, 2014 by David McKee

China dealt a severe blow to the hopes of Big Gaming this week, declaring the island of Hainan off-limits for gambling. “We cannot at all allow Hainan to operate casinos,” declared resident Communist Party strongman Luo Baoming. This cannot have … Continue reading →

Posted in Animals, Architecture, Charity, Harrah's, Illinois, International, Kansas, Macau, MGM Mirage, Phil Ruffin, Sports, Stanley Ho | 1 Comment

Case Bets: Sands, Atlantic City, Maryland, Isle of Capri, Churchill Downs, etc.

Posted on February 28, 2014 by David McKee

Las Vegas Sands lost more top executive talent when Sands Bethworks President Robert DeSalvio handed in his notice. He’ll be at the casino through mid-March but the move seems to have caught Sands off-guard. The latter assured reporters that DeSalvio’s … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Churchill Downs, Cordish Co., Foxwoods, Harrah's, Horseracing, Illinois, International, Isle of Capri, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Pennsylvania, Sheldon Adelson, Tilman Fertitta, Wall Street | 1 Comment

Massachusetts: Penn wins

Posted on February 28, 2014 by David McKee

Oh, cruel fate. It looked like that Massachusetts slot parlor was in the bag for Cordish Gaming and the city of Leominster. After all, Massachusetts Gaming Commission Chairman Stephen Crosby had rated the project as “very good,” adding, “Thus our … Continue reading →

Posted in Cordish Co., Greenwood Racing, Horseracing, Illinois, Massachusetts, Penn National, Politics, Racinos, Regulation, Rhode Island, Slot routes, Wall Street | Comments Off

Sheldon’s boys; Tough questions for the industry

Posted on February 21, 2014 by David McKee

Improbably, Sheldon Adelson has found two U.S. senators to carry water for him on Capitol Hill as he tries to stem the tide of Internet gambling. Both Sen. Dean Heller (R) and Sen. Harry Reid (D) are working to reinstate … Continue reading →

Posted in Culinary Union, Harrah's, Harry Reid, Illinois, Internet gambling, Massachusetts, MGM Mirage, Politics, Problem gambling, Regulation, Sheldon Adelson, Technology | Comments Off

Discontent in Beantown; Sands, Day 4

Posted on February 14, 2014 by David McKee

Boston Mayor Martin J. Walsh (right) wants the awarding of a Beantown-area casino put off … mainly so he’ll have more time to cadge and scheme his way into “host community” status, where the big money is to be found. Steve … Continue reading →

Posted in Dining, Illinois, Massachusetts, MGM Mirage, Mississippi, Mohegan Sun, Pennsylvania, Sheldon Adelson, Slot routes, Steve Wynn | 1 Comment

The Midwest: First the good news …

Posted on February 10, 2014 by David McKee

Casino revenue in the Buckeye State vaulted 56%, as several new racinos came on line. The not such good news is that Ohio casinos are merrily cannibalizing themselves, down 16% on a year/year basis. Hollywood Columbus, in particular, continues to … Continue reading →

Posted in Boyd Gaming, Current, Hard Rock International, Harrah's, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Isle of Capri, MGM Mirage, Missouri, Neil Bluhm, Ohio, Penn National, Pinnacle Entertainment, Politics, Racinos, Wall Street | 1 Comment

Revel: Has Loveman gone insane?; East St. Louis gets the shaft

Posted on January 29, 2014 by David McKee

You’d think Caesars Entertainment had its hands full with four active casinos in Atlantic City and the defunct Atlantic Club Hotel. But no, CEO Gary Loveman is reported to be considering a bid for $2.6 billion Revel Resort, which Caesars … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Hard Rock Hotel, Harrah's, Illinois, Missouri, Racinos, Regulation, Revel | Comments Off

No fun in Florida; Playing it safe in Illinois; Big flush at Borgata

Posted on January 27, 2014 by David McKee

Gov. Rick Scott (R, left) doesn’t want any gambling-expansion talk cluttering up his reelection bid, spoiling the fun for the rest of us. So no racinos, Naples or Palm Beach, no new gambling offerings, Seminole Tribes, and no destination resorts, … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Election, Florida, Genting, Hard Rock International, Illinois, Politics, Racinos, Regulation, Sheldon Adelson | Comments Off

Getting serious in Massachusetts; i-Flop in Delaware

Posted on January 27, 2014 by David McKee

A drive to repeal Massachusetts‘ casino-enabling legislation has got Bay State operators-to-be taking it very seriously. They’ve filed with the state Supreme Court to have it stricken from the state ballot. (The state’s attorney general, Martha Coakley, pictured, has already … Continue reading →

Posted in Cannery Casino Resorts, Delaware, Election, Illinois, Internet gambling, Massachusetts, Mohegan Sun, Penn National, Regulation, Slot routes | Comments Off

Case Bets: Atlantic City, Wisconsin & Illinois

Posted on January 17, 2014 by David McKee

Transparency in gaming sustained a couple of blows this week. A proposed ‘black book’ to keep felons out of Illinois slot routes was blocked by legislative forces this week. The excuse given was that the Illinois Gaming Board was acting … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Cordish Co., Harrah's, Illinois, Politics, Regulation, Tilman Fertitta, Tribal, Tropicana Entertainment, Wisconsin | Comments Off

Illinois freezes; Concierges outsourced

Posted on January 8, 2014 by David McKee

“Dec regional gaming revs should be coming out from the states this week and next and it won’t be pretty.” So warns Todd Jordan, aka @HedgeyeSnakeye. Case in point, Illinois, where revenues tumbled 13%. Even market leader Rivers Casino was … Continue reading →

Posted in Boyd Gaming, Current, Economy, Harrah's, Illinois, MGM Mirage, Penn National, The Strip | Comments Off

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

Buyers and potential sellers

Posted on December 9, 2013 by David McKee

Spend a few minutes this morning with Revel Resort CEO Scott Kreeger, even if some of his answers are exquisitely vague. Having been checkmated by voters in Milford, Massachusetts, is no discouragement to Penn National Gaming parent company Gaming & … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Hard Rock International, Harrah's, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Massachusetts, Ohio, Penn National, Pinnacle Entertainment, Revel | Comments Off