Category Archives: International

Las Vegas: The good, the bad, the resort fees

Posted on October 4, 2018 by David McKee

Mark it on your calendar. According to Credit Suisse analyst Cameron McKnight, long-awaited, tantalizingly delayed Resorts World Las Vegas will debut in late 2020, a date “recently … affirmed” by Genting Group. In other good news for Sin City, convention and … Continue reading →

Posted in Arizona, Donald Trump, Economy, G2E, Genting, International, Internet gambling, Law enforcement, Macau, New York, Resort fees, Taxes, Technology, The Strip, Tribal, TV, Wall Street | 1 Comment

Hard Rock A.C. changes bosses; Westworld, the casino

Posted on October 3, 2018 by David McKee

It was our impression that Hard Rock Atlantic City was firing on all cylinders. Imagine our surprise to read that prexy Matt Harkness (pictured) was out and veteran Joe Lupo had taken his place. Harkness came to Hard Rock from … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Culinary Union, Hard Rock International, Idaho, International, Internet gambling, Japan, Law enforcement, Lucky Dragon, MGM Resorts International, Philippines, Regulation, Technology, Tribal | 1 Comment

Follow that puck!; Connecticut casino nixed

Posted on October 2, 2018 by David McKee

$216 million. That’s how much sports betting will be worth to the NHL, according to the American Gaming Association‘s Sara Slane. The new revenue will be achieved “as a result of spending from betting operators on advertising, data and sponsorship … Continue reading →

Posted in AGA, Economy, Foxwoods, Full House Resorts, Greenwood Racing, Indiana, International, Internet gambling, Kentucky, Macau, Massachusetts, Melco Resorts & Entertainment, MGM Resorts International, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Regulation, Reno, Rush Street Gaming, Sports, Sports betting, Transportation | Comments Off on Follow that puck!; Connecticut casino nixed

Big Brother gets caught

Posted on September 20, 2018 by David McKee

In what might be the improbable casino scandal ever, Rivers Casino stands accused of using the eye in the sky to capture personal information from the cellphone screens of two patrons. Why? Supposedly to pass the data on to a … Continue reading →

Posted in International, Internet gambling, Japan, Kazuo Okada, Movies, Pennsylvania, Philippines, Rush Street Gaming, Security, Technology | Comments Off on Big Brother gets caught

The mystery of Talking Stick; Okada strikes again

Posted on September 17, 2018 by David McKee

On August 11, the latest in a series of monsoons wiped out the primary and backup generators at Talking Stick Resort. The casino was expected to reopen later last month but hasn’t, leaving some asking questions. Talking Stick Resort Public Relations … Continue reading →

Posted in Arizona, Caesars Entertainment, Dan Gilbert, Detroit, International, Kazuo Okada, Ohio, Philippines, Technology, Tribal | Comments Off on The mystery of Talking Stick; Okada strikes again

Shelter from the storm; Eldorado enters Atlantic City

Posted on September 14, 2018 by David McKee

Looking for someplace to ride out the storm. Ocean Resort is full through September 15 but comped rooms will be available after that. “We completely understand the concern for families and the community during times like this, so we want to … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Bruce Deifik, Carl Icahn, Charity, Churchill Downs, Eldorado Resorts, Entertainment, Environment, International, Internet gambling, Lake Tahoe, Laughlin, Mohegan Sun, Penn National, Pennsylvania, Pinnacle Entertainment, Regulation, Reno, Rush Street Gaming, Technology, The Strip, Wynn Resorts | Comments Off on Shelter from the storm; Eldorado enters Atlantic City

Suicide squeeze in Macao; Is Atlantic City ready for some football?

Posted on September 12, 2018 by David McKee

Most of Macao‘s casinos are playing a game of chicken with the local government, daring it to enforce its smoking ban. Only 12 of 47 casinos have installed smoking lounges. Personally, I wouldn’t want to get on the wrong side … Continue reading →

Posted in Caesars Entertainment, Environment, Hard Rock International, Harrah's, International, Internet gambling, Kentucky, Macau, Melco Resorts & Entertainment, New Jersey, Oklahoma, Politics, Problem gambling, Regulation, Sociedade de Jogos de Macau, Sports, Sports betting, Texas, Tribal, Virginia | 1 Comment

Titanic exhibit in peril; It’s Greek to them

Posted on September 4, 2018 by David McKee

Luxor‘s display of Titanic relics has hit an iceberg in the form of a bankruptcy court auction against owner Premier Exhibitions. It’s likely the collection will be kept intact, not dispersed to the four winds, although the latter might be … Continue reading →

Posted in Australia, Caesars Entertainment, Downtown, Hard Rock International, history, International, Las Vegas Sands, Marijuana, Melco Resorts & Entertainment, MGM Resorts International, Mohegan Sun, Movies, Penn National, Regulation, Sports betting, Taxes, The Strip, TV, Wall Street, West Virginia | Comments Off on Titanic exhibit in peril; It’s Greek to them

MGM Springfield impresses; The case of the disappearing chairman

Posted on August 27, 2018 by David McKee

It seems Springfield has a tornado to thank for MGM Resorts International‘s interest in the city, the beginning of a seven-year quest that climaxed with the Budweiser Clydesdales leading a parade to the new megaresort. CEO Jim Murren was window-shopping … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Dining, Election, history, International, Marketing, Maryland, Massachusetts, MGM Resorts International, Nevada, Penn National, Philippines, Station Casinos | Comments Off on MGM Springfield impresses; The case of the disappearing chairman

Playing the Trump card; Manilow renewed

Posted on August 22, 2018 by David McKee

In his latest newsletter, gaming-law expert I. Nelson Rose looks at the impact, real and potential, of retaliatory tariffs on playing cards. Canada and the European Union have imposed 10% import levies on playing cards from the United States, though … Continue reading →

Posted in Donald Trump, Economy, Entertainment, Greenwood Racing, International, Kentucky, Las Vegas Sands, Lucky Dragon, Macau, New Jersey, Ohio, Paragon Gaming, Pennsylvania, Politics, Sports betting, The Crown 18, The Strip, Westgate LV | Comments Off on Playing the Trump card; Manilow renewed

When in Rome …

Posted on August 16, 2018 by David McKee

… don’t advertise sports betting. Actually you can’t, thanks to a new “Dignity Decree” that was the first priority of Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte‘s right-wing government. The provocation was a proliferation of gaming advertising during Italy‘s World Cup games. As a … Continue reading →

Posted in Arizona, Australia, Baseball, Boyd Gaming, California, Eldorado Resorts, Environment, International, Marketing, Nevada, Penn National, Politics, Problem gambling, Regulation, Sports, Sports betting, Station Casinos, Tribal, TV, Wall Street | Comments Off on When in Rome …

Wild card; Parx gets one-finger salute

Posted on August 13, 2018 by David McKee

Move over sports books, here comes … Buffalo Wild Wings?!? Yes, the restaurant business known for its trivia games and spicy food wants to get into the sports-betting business. “As the largest sports bar in America, we believe Buffalo Wild Wings … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Bruce Deifik, DFS, Dining, Economy, Galaxy Entertainment, Greenwood Racing, Hard Rock International, International, Japan, Macau, MGM Mirage, Nevada, Pennsylvania, Société des Bains de Mer, South Korea, Sports betting, Technology, Tourism, West Virginia | Comments Off on Wild card; Parx gets one-finger salute

Murren steps in it (again); More casinos join sports-betting arms race

Posted on August 1, 2018 by David McKee

MGM Resorts International has decided that it made a faux pas … not by suing victims of the Mandalay Bay Massacre but by not explaining to employees what it was doing, leaving them open, says CEO Jim Murren, to “media … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Caesars Entertainment, e-sports, International, Lawrence Ho, Macau, Mandalay Bay Massacre, Marketing, Melco Resorts & Entertainment, MGM Resorts International, Sports betting | Comments Off on Murren steps in it (again); More casinos join sports-betting arms race

Penn bullish on Trop; Boyd wows Wall Street

Posted on July 27, 2018 by David McKee

M Resort and Tropicana Las Vegas are no longer the charity cases of Penn National Gaming. The company made a point of lauding them during this week’s earnings call, with JP Morgan analyst Joseph Greff characterizing their performance — along … Continue reading →

Posted in Boyd Gaming, Derek Stevens, Downtown, Geoff Freeman, Illinois, Indiana, International, Las Vegas Sands, M Resort, Massachusetts, Missouri, Ohio, Penn National, Pennsylvania, Pinnacle Entertainment, Racinos, Sheldon Adelson, Slot routes, The Strip, Tribal, Wall Street | 1 Comment

Big trouble in not-so-little China

Posted on July 19, 2018 by David McKee

In his latest column, gaming-law expert I. Nelson Rose contends that U.S.-owned casinos in Macao are on dangerous ground, caught in the cross-hairs of the U.S./China trade war. He begins by recapitulating China’s highly targeted retaliations, which make red states … Continue reading →

Posted in Caesars Entertainment, Donald Trump, Genting, International, Las Vegas Sands, MGM Mirage, Sheldon Adelson, Steve Wynn, The Strip | Comments Off on Big trouble in not-so-little China

Quote of the Day

Posted on July 17, 2018 by David McKee

“No prior president has ever abased himself more abjectly before a tyrant. Not only did President Trump fail to speak the truth about an adversary; but speaking for America to the world, our president failed to defend all that makes … Continue reading →

Posted in Donald Trump, International | Comments Off on Quote of the Day

Indian giver; Casinos in India?

Posted on July 11, 2018 by David McKee

We’ve warned against turning the tribal-recognition process over to Congress and a bill singling out a California tribe for special treatment would seem to be an object lesson in the “Why.” Rep. Doug LaMalfa (R) wants to reinstate Ruffey Rancheria, … Continue reading →

Posted in California, history, International, Internet gambling, Politics, Problem gambling, Regulation, Tribal | Comments Off on Indian giver; Casinos in India?

Sheldon snuggles up to Commies; Elaine tests her clout

Posted on July 10, 2018 by David McKee

If toupée-collecting Sheldon Adelson were offered the chance to build Venetian Tehran he’d immediately become a peacenik regarding Iran, a country he lusts to nuke. Instead of making nice with mullahs, he’s doing the next best thing, warbling sweet nothings to Kim … Continue reading →

Posted in Caesars Entertainment, Elaine Wynn, Galaxy Entertainment, history, Illinois, International, Las Vegas Sands, Macau, Massachusetts, MGM Mirage, Nevada, Planet Hollywood, Politics, Regulation, Sexual misconduct, Sheldon Adelson, South Korea, Sports, Steve Wynn, The Strip, Unite-Here, Wynn Resorts | Comments Off on Sheldon snuggles up to Commies; Elaine tests her clout

Penn outperforms in Massachusetts; Horse sense in Indiana

Posted on June 28, 2018 by David McKee

Penn National Gaming had a happy surprise for the Massachusetts Gaming Commission when the latter dropped by Plainridge Park for a look-see. The racino, which the Boston Globe long tried to paint as a failure, has just come off its … Continue reading →

Posted in Boyd Gaming, Centaur Gaming, Downtown, Economy, Eldorado Resorts, Entertainment, Harrah's, Horseracing, Indiana, International, Japan, Law enforcement, Louisiana, Marijuana, Marketing, Massachusetts, Mississippi, Penn National, Pennsylvania, Pinnacle Entertainment, Planet Hollywood, Regulation, Singapore, Taxes, The Strip, Tourism, Wall Street | Comments Off on Penn outperforms in Massachusetts; Horse sense in Indiana

Quote of the Day

Posted on June 28, 2018 by David McKee

“The risks for Sheldon Anderson’s [sic] Sands casinos are quite high. It is quite possible that China will target his casinos specifically because he is a [Donald] Trump crony. It is possible they will ratchet up police surveillance of his … Continue reading →

Posted in Donald Trump, International, Macau, Sheldon Adelson, South Korea | Comments Off on Quote of the Day