Category Archives: International

Policy change roils Atlantic City; Stratosphere scheduled for makeover

Posted on March 16, 2018 by David McKee

In what we can expect to be a trend rolled out nationwide, Caesars Entertainment is using its Atlantic City casinos to experiment with cutting back on waitresses. It’s not like we didn’t have fair warning of this: One of the … Continue reading →

Posted in ACEP, Atlantic City, Churchill Downs, Dining, Golden Gaming, Harrah's, IGT, International, Internet gambling, Mandalay Bay Massacre, Marketing, Maryland, MGM Mirage, Mississippi, New York, Pennsylvania, Regulation, Scientific Games, Slot routes, Sports, Unite-Here, West Virginia | 2 Comments

Vegas soccer no sure thing; Scientific Games wins thrice over

Posted on March 16, 2018 by David McKee

A perspicacious gentleman named Steven R. Brown wrote the following on Facebook in response to my reportage of the apparent shelving of Wynn Paradise Park: “Steve Wynn‘s creativity can be outlandish at times (Like his idea back in the early … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, Arizona, California, Charity, Detroit, Downtown, Environment, Florida, International, MGM Mirage, Missouri, Ohio, Scientific Games, Sports, Steve Wynn, Texas, The Strip, Wynn Resorts | 1 Comment

Sands Bethlehem becomes Wind Creek; Brazil nixes casinos

Posted on March 12, 2018 by David McKee

Sands Bethlehem‘s buyers are letting no grass grow beneath their feet. The Poarch Bank of Creek Indians will rename the megaresort Wind Creek Bethlehem. It remains to be seen whether they’ll have to deal with unionizing the work force: So … Continue reading →

Posted in Entertainment, Harrah's, International, Japan, Kazuo Okada, Pennsylvania, Politics, Sheldon Adelson, Station Casinos, Tribal, Wall Street, Wynn Resorts | Comments Off

Sands Bethlehem (finally) sold; Stratosphere battered

Posted on March 9, 2018 by David McKee

Never underestimate the power of electronic bingo. It’s the capital derived therefrom that’s enabling the Poarch Band of Creek Indians to make a $1.3 billion purchase of Sands Bethlehem. The tribe is succeeding where Tropicana Entertainment and MGM Resorts International … Continue reading →

Posted in Alabama, Florida, Foxwoods, Golden Gaming, International, Japan, Law enforcement, Macau, Massachusetts, MGM Mirage, Mohegan Sun, Nevada, Pennsylvania, Politics, Regulation, Sheldon Adelson, Singapore, The Strip, Tribal, Tropicana Entertainment, Wall Street | Comments Off

Hard Rock makes sweeping pledge; Wynn dodges a bullet

Posted on February 27, 2018 by David McKee

Having expanded the old Trump Taj Mahal concert venue by over 25%, Hard Rock International is promising the Boardwalk “more live music than Atlantic City has ever seen.” We’re talking 200 live events in Year One. “When’s the first time someone has … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Dining, Entertainment, Environment, Geoff Freeman, Hard Rock International, International, Japan, Macau, Massachusetts, MGM Mirage, Politics, Regulation, Revel, Sexual misconduct, The Strip, Transportation, Wynn Resorts | 3 Comments

Adelson subsidizes foreign policy; Packer’s comeback

Posted on February 23, 2018 by David McKee

Sheldon Adelson‘s at it again. This time, in the cause of escalating Mideast tensions, he’s putting his money where his mouth is. The toupee-crowned supermogul is reported to be offering to foot the bill for at least some of a … Continue reading →

Posted in Alex Meruelo, Atlantic City, Australia, Donald Trump, Glenn Straub, Greenwood Racing, Hard Rock International, International, Internet gambling, James Packer, Lucky Dragon, Macau, Melco Crown Entertainment, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Politics, Regulation, Revel, Sheldon Adelson, Sports, Steve Wynn, The Crown 18, The Strip | Comments Off

Showboat to sail again?; The plague of resort fees

Posted on February 22, 2018 by David McKee

Although Caesars Entertainment may have thought it removed a competitor from the board when it stripped the Showboat of its gaming entitlement, think again. Owner Bart Blatstein has taken the opening steps toward returning the Showboat to the gambling seas. … Continue reading →

Posted in Arizona, Atlantic City, Cordish Co., Environment, Genting, Hard Rock International, Harrah's, International, Maryland, Revel, The Strip | 1 Comment

MGM’s sincerity challenged; Probe continues at Wynncore

Posted on February 13, 2018 by David McKee

“Is this legislature capable of setting a course and sticking with it?” That’s the very legitimate question posed by the editorial board of The Day, with regard to the Lege’s rather addled behavior on whether to stand by the satellite casino … Continue reading →

Posted in Election, Foxwoods, Hard Rock International, Harrah's, International, Japan, Macau, MGM Mirage, Mohegan Sun, Politics, Regulation, Sexual misconduct, Singapore, Taxes, Wynn Resorts | Comments Off

Mohegan Sun strikes again; Magic 8s in Pennsylvania

Posted on February 12, 2018 by David McKee

Even as Steve Wynn was on his way out at Wynn Resorts, the casino he bested for the Boston-area gaming concession, Mohegan Sun, was launching a legal counterattack. It demanded that Wynn Resorts’ license be pulled and the project awarded to Mohegan … Continue reading →

Posted in Animals, Cordish Co., Greenwood Racing, International, Macau, Massachusetts, Mohegan Sun, Ohio, Penn National, Pennsylvania, Sexual misconduct, Sheldon Adelson, Steve Wynn | Comments Off

Vici victorious on the Street; Macao monopoly threatened

Posted on February 6, 2018 by David McKee

MGM Resorts International is definitely going to have to sweeten its offer for Vici Properties after the latter had a hugely successful IPO, hitting $1.2 billion. Shares of the REIT were sufficiently in demand that Vici is going to enlarge … Continue reading →

Posted in Australia, Harrah's, International, Internet gambling, Macau, MGM Mirage, Wall Street | Comments Off

New York-New York boosts thrill quotient; Seminoles play with fire

Posted on January 23, 2018 by David McKee

As rollercoaster rides go, New York-New York‘s is reassuringly tame. Perhaps in recognition of that, MGM Resorts International is going to kick things up a notch with digital augmentation. According to the Los Angeles Times, “The 3½-minute virtual reality experience … Continue reading →

Posted in Charity, Donald Trump, Election, Florida, Genting, International, Internet gambling, Japan, Massachusetts, MGM Mirage, Politics, Problem gambling, Seminole Tribe, Taxes, Technology, The Strip | 1 Comment

State of the Strip; Air Area 51

Posted on January 10, 2018 by David McKee

Deutsche Bank analyst Carlo Santarelli met with a number of casino companies recently and came away with a sanguine prospect for the Las Vegas Strip. As for the operators, “Overall, we felt commentary pertaining to the LV locals market, regional … Continue reading →

Posted in Affinity Gaming, Ameristar, Atlantic City, Boyd Gaming, Culinary Union, Economy, Eldorado Resorts, Entertainment, Harrah's, Indiana, International, Isle of Capri, Kentucky, Macau, MGM Mirage, Missouri, Penn National, Pennsylvania, Pinnacle Entertainment, Reno, Sports, The Strip, Tropicana Entertainment, Wall Street | Comments Off

Unlucky Dragon; Gaughan plays Lady Bountiful

Posted on January 8, 2018 by David McKee

Business at the semi-defunct Lucky Dragon casino must have really been sucking wind if it closed six weeks before Chinese New Year, which one would expect to be the property’s sweet spot. Lucky Dragon management is putting a brave face … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Harrah's, International, Iowa, Japan, Louisiana, Lucky Dragon, Macau, Massachusetts, MGM Mirage, Michael Gaughan, Regulation, SLS Las Vegas, Sociedade de Jogos de Macau, Taxes, The Strip, Wall Street | 1 Comment

Where’s the outrage?; Religion and slots mix

Posted on January 3, 2018 by David McKee

Donald Trump‘s move to take tips out of workers’ pockets and put them in managements hands has poked an 800-lb. gorilla, in the form of the AFL-CIO. It was wrong when Steve Wynn did it as business policy and it’s … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Charity, Donald Trump, International, Macau, Pennsylvania, Station Casinos, Technology, The Strip, Tribal, Wall Street | Comments Off

‘Tis the season for buying; Putin drives out Ho

Posted on December 27, 2017 by David McKee

Carl Icahn could make another big score soon: Tropicana Entertainment has been cited as a likely takeover candidate by Wall Street analysts. The combination of saturated markets and low interests has led stock pickers to predict that the industry will … Continue reading →

Posted in Boyd Gaming, Carl Icahn, Cosmopolitan, Eldorado Resorts, Glenn Straub, Golden Gaming, Greenwood Racing, Harrah's, International, Internet gambling, Lawrence Ho, MGM Mirage, Neil Bluhm, Pennsylvania, Revel, Sheldon Adelson, Taxes, Tilman Fertitta, Tropicana Entertainment, Wall Street | Comments Off

Case Bets

Posted on December 27, 2017 by David McKee

“The Trump administration seems a lot more aggressive on wanting to get this done,” says Ho-Chunk tribal President Wilfrid Cleveland. “This” is a new casino, plus water park and retail mall in Beloit, Wisconsin. Says Cleveland, “The atmosphere is changing. Even in … Continue reading →

Posted in Boyd Gaming, Colorado, International, Internet gambling, Law enforcement, M Resort, Pennsylvania, Politics, Regulation, Tribal, Wisconsin | Comments Off

The Deal of the Year

Posted on December 19, 2017 by David McKee

Ever-ravenous Penn National Gaming gulped down Pinnacle Entertainment over the weekend, paying $2.8 billion for a collection of top-quality gaming assets. Among other benefits, the deal strengthens Penn’s position in its home state, as it gets The Meadows racino, doubling … Continue reading →

Posted in Ameristar, Boyd Gaming, Colorado, Economy, Eldorado Resorts, GLPI, International, Iowa, Louisiana, Massachusetts, Missouri, Ohio, Penn National, Pennsylvania, Pinnacle Entertainment, Racinos, Station Casinos, Taxes, Tourism, Transportation, Wall Street | 3 Comments

Malaise in Illinois, optimism in Ohio; Frissora’s smooth move

Posted on December 8, 2017 by David McKee

Illinois casinos have never recovered from the double-whammy of the Great Recession and a smoking band, and now they have to contend with slot routes. Last month they were down 2.5% statewide($108.5 million). Taking a closer look, two riverboats were … Continue reading →

Posted in Boyd Gaming, Dan Gilbert, Eldorado Resorts, GLPI, Hard Rock International, Harrah's, Illinois, Indiana, International, MGM Mirage, Ohio, Penn National, Pennsylvania, Pinnacle Entertainment, Politics, Racinos, Sheldon Adelson | Comments Off

The Main Event; Macao roars

Posted on December 1, 2017 by David McKee

Monday is the big day: Oral arguments in the Supreme Court over Christie v. NCAA. It’s an understatement to say the gaming industry is getting pretty excited over the hearing, which is expected to lead to a rejection of the … Continue reading →

Posted in Baseball, Economy, history, International, Internet gambling, Macau, Mississippi, Nevada, Problem gambling, Regulation, Sheldon Adelson, Sports, Steve Wynn, Wall Street | Comments Off

Good news for Sheldon and other Case Bets

Posted on November 30, 2017 by David McKee

Singapore‘s casinos are looking at an up year in 2018, according to normally cautious Fitch Ratings analyst Alex Bumazhny. “Singapore [gross gaming revenue] grew by around 10 percent year-on-year in first half 2017, after falling by around 30 percent over 2015 to … Continue reading →

Posted in Ameristar, Australia, Crown Resorts, Genting, Harrah's, International, Iowa, Law enforcement, Mandalay Bay Massacre, Pinnacle Entertainment, Regulation, Sheldon Adelson, Singapore, The Crown 18, Tribal, Wall Street | Comments Off