Category Archives: Illinois

Imbalances of power; Vegas to Israel?

Posted on December 6, 2013 by David McKee

It was another bonny month for Maryland, whose casino revenues grew 55% in November, up to $67 million. It’s not an apples/apples comparison, since neither Rocky Gap Casino nor table games were in play a year ago. Tables were responsible … Continue reading →

Posted in Charity, Cordish Co., Economy, Greenwood Racing, Harrah's, Illinois, Macau, Maryland, Melco Crown Entertainment, MGM Mirage, Neil Bluhm, Penn National, Pets, Sheldon Adelson, Stanley Ho, Steve Wynn | Comments Off

Semi-failure to launch; Crackdown in Illinois

Posted on November 22, 2013 by David McKee

It’s not just Obamacare that’s having Web site glitches in its launch. The same goes for New Jersey‘s ‘Net-betting system. Test player Joseph Brennen attempted logging in from within Atlantic City but kept getting error messages. “It’s frustrating knowing you’re … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Bally Technologies, Economy, IGT, Illinois, International, Internet gambling, Regulation, Slot routes, Technology | Comments Off

SLS arises, Adelson attacks and Atlantic City fights back

Posted on November 20, 2013 by David McKee

“Will the change the game for the north Strip?” So asks the Las Vegas Sun. One could just say “no” and leave it at that, but there’s no getting around that SLS Las Vegas will be in a, um, challenged … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Illinois, Internet gambling, Macau, Sheldon Adelson, Technology | Comments Off

Wynn abandons Philly (again); Scramble at Suffolk

Posted on November 12, 2013 by David McKee

Twice in the past three years, Steve Wynn has pulled out of a casino project in Philadelphia. I don’t blame him. It’s a saturated market and trying to recoup the costs of a $926 million project in a timely manner … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Hard Rock International, Harrah's, history, Illinois, Macau, Massachusetts, MGM Mirage, Neil Bluhm, Pennsylvania, Regulation, Steve Wynn, Taxes, Texas | Comments Off

Penn overboard!; Macao’s zenith

Posted on November 7, 2013 by David McKee

First the good news about Ohio: Gambling revenue was up 47% last month. Now, the bad news. One a same-store basis it was down 2% year/year. Who knew the Buckeye State would get saturated so quickly? The statewide gross was … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Boyd Gaming, Current, Dan Gilbert, Delaware, Economy, Harrah's, Illinois, Internet gambling, Macau, Melco Crown Entertainment, MGM Mirage, Missouri, MTR Gaming, Neil Bluhm, Ohio, Penn National, Racinos, Sheldon Adelson, Stanley Ho, Station Casinos, Tourism, Wall Street | 1 Comment

Let us now praise Scott Walker

Posted on October 30, 2013 by David McKee

For someone often regarded as brash and confrontational, Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker (R) has been mediating an intrastate tribal dispute in a judicious, deliberative fashion. He’s extended the timeline on his yea-or-nay decision, the better to sort through varying figures … Continue reading →

Posted in Dining, Economy, Illinois, The Strip, Tribal, Wisconsin | Comments Off

Case Bets: New York, Wynn, Packer, Atlantic City & Reno

Posted on October 30, 2013 by David McKee

In a positive omen for Tuesday’s casino vote in New York, shares of Castkills-based Empire Resorts (NYNY) leapt 29%, closing at $5.30/share. The company hopes to bring casino gambling to the Concord Hotel, although jostling for the probable two Catskills … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, California, Current, Genting, Harrah's, Illinois, International, James Packer, Melco Crown Entertainment, New York, Reno, Slot routes, Station Casinos, Steve Wynn, Tribal | 4 Comments

War of words in N.Y.; Double standard in Illinois

Posted on October 25, 2013 by David McKee

After keeping a low profile for most of election season, pro-casino forces sprang into gear, rolling out a bevy of TV ads. In an attempt to neutral potential hostility downstate, one commercial points out that New York City‘s two mayor … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Current, Detroit, Economy, Election, Illinois, New York, Politics, Problem gambling, Regulation, Slot routes, Taxes | Comments Off

Caesars: Fiasco in Boston

Posted on October 21, 2013 by David McKee

Suffolk Downs will be moving forward … without Caesars Entertainment. The track dropped Caesars like a bad habit over the weekend. Caesars tried to make it sound like the decision was its own. Spokesman Stephen Cohen threw a hissy fit, … Continue reading →

Posted in Hard Rock International, Harrah's, Illinois, Internet gambling, Massachusetts, MGM Mirage, Neil Bluhm, Problem gambling, Regulation, Slot routes, Steve Wynn, Wall Street | 2 Comments

The bill that wouldn’t die; Taking a wrecking ball to “Jubilee!”

Posted on October 17, 2013 by David McKee

Illinois legislators continue to butt their heads against Gov. Pat Quinn‘s opposition to casino expansion (and a terrible gambling economy). Impervious to reality, state Rep. Robert Rita (D) is introducing yet another bill for five casinos and airport slot routes. … Continue reading →

Posted in Current, Economy, Entertainment, Harrah's, Illinois, Macau, Mississippi, Ohio, Penn National, Politics, Stanley Ho, The Mob, The Strip | Comments Off

Illinois’ blues; G2E revisited; Ohio, one year later

Posted on October 7, 2013 by David McKee

Illinois‘ casinos got kicked in the pants last month, as revenues and foot traffic were down 9% each. The lone bright spot was Caesars Entertainment, which beat expectations, up 1%. True, Harrah’s Metropolis was off 22% but strong numbers at … Continue reading →

Posted in Boyd Gaming, Economy, G2E, Harrah's, Illinois, New York, Ohio, Penn National | Comments Off

New look for IGT; Bally thinks small; Why see Britney?

Posted on September 24, 2013 by David McKee

There’s a new logo in town and it belongs to International Game Technology. That futuristic type you see is emblematic of the slot-machine company’s ongoing reinvention of itself into an online-gaming provider. The firm may be rolling out new machines … Continue reading →

Posted in Bally Technologies, Entertainment, IGT, Illinois, Internet gambling, Scientific Games, Shuffle Master, Slot routes, The Strip, Wall Street, WMS Industries | Comments Off

Upturn in Illinois, blindsided in Indiana

Posted on September 10, 2013 by David McKee

Could we finally be seeing “green shoots” in Illinois, up 5% last month? Maybe, although such recovery as there was consisted of the force that is Rivers Casino, up 36%. Penn National Gaming‘s three casinos posted a feeble $29 million, … Continue reading →

Posted in Current, Economy, Harrah's, Illinois, Indiana, MGM Mirage, Neil Bluhm, Ohio, Penn National, Pinnacle Entertainment, Racinos, Regulation, Slot routes, Wall Street | Comments Off

“George” deal for Palmer; Resorts World in peril; Walker’s fan dance

Posted on August 30, 2013 by David McKee

Mohegan Sun ran out its host-community agreement with Palmer and it’s pretty clear that no expense will be spared to close the deal, either now or in a couple of months at the ballot box. The Mohegans are promising the … Continue reading →

Posted in Genting, Horseracing, Illinois, Massachusetts, MGM Mirage, Mohegan Sun, New York, Racinos, Regulation, Taxes, Tribal, Wisconsin | 1 Comment

Paging King Solomon

Posted on August 28, 2013 by David McKee

In Wisconsin, Gov. Scott Walker (R) finds himself conducting a tricky balancing act vis-a-vis tribal casino expansion. It’s difficult to decide whether he’s showing restraint or hiding under the mattress. You can make the case for both conclusions. He doesn’t … Continue reading →

Posted in Election, Illinois, New York, Politics, Regulation, Tribal | Comments Off

Gather ye dividends while ye may

Posted on August 16, 2013 by David McKee

Bally Technologies almost hit the $1 billion mark in revenue ($997 million) during the last fiscal year, which earns it our congratulations. Good work, folks. “We made enormous progress in many different ways, including continued growth in wide-area progressive units, … Continue reading →

Posted in Bally Technologies, California, Illinois, International, Regulation, Shuffle Master, Tribal, Wall Street | Comments Off

Revel’s mixed reviews; All systems ‘go’ in Massachusetts

Posted on August 15, 2013 by David McKee

That controversial “You Can’t Lose” promotion being fielded by Revel Resort is a hit with players even as it’s been panned by pundits. “Whoa, Smarty Jones. Not so fast,” cracked one.) The complexity of the deal is even being credited … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Boyd Gaming, Cordish Co., Illinois, International, Marketing, Massachusetts, Mohegan Sun, Neil Bluhm, Penn National, Revel, Sheldon Adelson, Taxes | 2 Comments

Quote of the Day

Posted on August 6, 2013 by David McKee

“It’s not a bar. It’s a gaming facility.” — James Hockenyos, on why his proposed, four-drink-maximum bar with a slot route in Auburn, Illinois, would not really be a bar. Well, I’m certainly glad we’ve got that cleared up.

Posted in Current, Illinois, Slot routes | Comments Off

Hail, Caesars; Some roads lead to Foxwoods; Bluhm disappoints

Posted on July 18, 2013 by David McKee

It’s not every day that Caesars Entertainment CEO Gary Loveman has a good idea. But when he does, it’s a real brainwave. Such has proven to be the case with Caesars’ purchase of social-gaming Web firm Playtika. The latter has … Continue reading →

Posted in Hard Rock International, Harrah's, IGT, Illinois, Internet gambling, Macau, Maryland, Massachusetts, MGM Mirage, Neil Bluhm, Pansy Ho, Penn National, Pennsylvania, Politics, Regulation, Stanley Ho, Station Casinos, Taxes, The Mob, Transportation, Tribal | Comments Off

Missouri misery; Revel inches upward

Posted on July 10, 2013 by David McKee

Sometimes I feel Gary Loveman‘s pain — and that of Anthony Sanfilippo, Virginia McDowell, Peter Carlino … When they look at the kind of numbers states like Missouri are generating, they must want to shake a fist and say, “Gamble, … Continue reading →

Posted in Ameristar, Atlantic City, Boyd Gaming, Colony Capital, Current, Donald Trump, Economy, Harrah's, Illinois, Isle of Capri, MGM Mirage, Missouri, Ohio, Penn National, Pinnacle Entertainment, Revel, Steve Wynn, Wall Street | 3 Comments