Category Archives: International

Strip disappoints, locals casinos dominate; Indiana ignores tribal casino

Posted on August 30, 2017 by David McKee

Poor table play punished the Las Vegas Strip last month, driving revenues down 8%. Locals casinos, by contrast, were up 13%, possibly helped by some end-of-June coin lingering in the slot hoppers. But, if so, what’s the Strip’s excuse for … Continue reading →

Posted in Boulder Strip, Boyd Gaming, Charity, Downtown, Economy, Environment, Harrah's, Indiana, International, Japan, Lake Tahoe, Laughlin, Lawrence Ho, Louisiana, Macau, Majestic Star, Marketing, MGM Mirage, Missouri, Nevada, North Las Vegas, Pansy Ho, Pennsylvania, Regulation, Reno, Sheldon Adelson, Taxes, The Strip, Tribal, West Virginia | Comments Off

SCOTUS sports betting throwdown spurs excitement; Trump’s Mafia ties resurface

Posted on August 22, 2017 by David McKee

Legal wonks are getting all worked up about the Supreme Court‘s upcoming hearing of Christie v. NCAA, with one saying it had the “markings of a sleeper blockbuster.” Wrote Virginia Solicitor General Elbert Lin and deputy Thomas M. Johnson Jr., “The parties … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Australia, Donald Trump, Galaxy Entertainment, Harrah's, International, Japan, Kazuo Okada, Melco Resorts & Entertainment, Philippines, Regulation, Sports, The Mob, The Strip, Wall Street | Comments Off

MGM changes Macao strategy; Protest at the Hard Rock

Posted on August 17, 2017 by David McKee

MGM Resorts International isn’t counting on the whales to make ends meet at its Cotai Strip™ casino. “Our business model is not predicated on the VIP business. Our strategic plan is built on catering to this tremendously emerging more-affluent Chinese customer, a … Continue reading →

Posted in Ameristar, Arizona, Culinary Union, George Maloof, Hard Rock Hotel, International, Internet gambling, Japan, Macau, Marketing, Marnell Gaming, Planet Hollywood, Regulation, Station Casinos, The Strip, Tribal | 3 Comments

Case Bets: Cosmo, Penn, California, Caesars, Boyd, etc.

Posted on August 15, 2017 by David McKee

It’s reinvention time at The Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas, where management is investing $100 million-plus into upgrades of most of its rooms. If you don’t constantly reinvest in your resort project, you end up with Imperial Palace, er, Linq. (Given … Continue reading →

Posted in Boyd Gaming, California, Cordish Co., Cosmopolitan, Greenwood Racing, Harrah's, Indiana, International, Massachusetts, Neil Bluhm, Penn National, Pennsylvania, Politics, Technology, The Strip, Tribal | 1 Comment

House of Bamboo; Adelson beats The Street

Posted on August 9, 2017 by David McKee

It seems frivolous to be discussing casinos when the Korean peninsula could go up in radioactive flames at any moment, but we do what we must. While legalizing casinos in Japan was a slow and agonizing process, they could fade … Continue reading →

Posted in Entertainment, GameCO, Genting, Georgia, Harrah's, Horseracing, International, Internet gambling, Japan, Macau, MGM Mirage, Pennsylvania, Politics, Problem gambling, Regulation, Sheldon Adelson, Singapore, Technology, The Strip, Wall Street | Comments Off

Quote of the Day

Posted on August 9, 2017 by David McKee

“Merchants and entrepreneurs, thriving under the protection of the ruling party, are encouraging a building boom in Pyongyang, and there are more cars in the capital than ever before.” — the New York Times, on the apparent threat of economic … Continue reading →

Posted in Economy, International | Comments Off

Dover downer; Connecticut rewrites the rules

Posted on August 2, 2017 by David McKee

Expect another request for tax cuts from Dover Downs after the Delaware racino posted a 96% decrease in second-quarter profits. (Slots are taxed at a usurious 43%.) While Dover Downs made $32,000, it suffered a 7% decline in casino revenues. … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Cordish Co., Delaware, Foxwoods, GameCO, Greenwood Racing, Harrah's, International, Marketing, MGM Mirage, Mohegan Sun, Pennsylvania, Politics, Racinos, Regulation, Taxes, Technology, Tribal | 1 Comment

Land of the Sinking Hopes?; MGM hearts McCain

Posted on August 1, 2017 by David McKee

If Japanese casinos must be majority-owned by local companies, that suits Sega Sammy Holdings just fine. The company is challenging the likes of Galaxy Entertainment, Las Vegas Sands and MGM Resorts International for one of the initial casino licenses. Of … Continue reading →

Posted in Cordish Co., Foxwoods, G2E, Galaxy Entertainment, Geoff Freeman, Hard Rock International, Harrah's, Horseracing, International, Japan, MGM Mirage, Mohegan Sun, Politics, Problem gambling, Sheldon Adelson, Singapore, Tribal | Comments Off

Palace coup; India: No Goa

Posted on July 26, 2017 by David McKee

While Station Casinos still hasn’t made up its mind whether to add a new hotel tower to Palace Station (with 606 rooms spread over 27 stories), it’s filed plans with the City of Las Vegas, just in case it decides … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, Atlantic City, Boyd Gaming, Dining, Donald Trump, Economy, history, International, Internet gambling, Palms, Regulation, Station Casinos | 1 Comment

Play dirty; Ayre beats the rap

Posted on July 24, 2017 by David McKee

One of the great things about Nevada‘s gambling industry is that it’s a free market. If you’ve got the capitalization and qualify for a license, any number can play. (Actually, some have gotten licensed only to be exposed as empty … Continue reading →

Posted in Australia, Crown Resorts, Culinary Union, Donald Trump, Genting, International, Internet gambling, James Packer, Law enforcement, Nevada, Regulation | Comments Off

Revel: The great silence; Strangulation in Japan

Posted on July 19, 2017 by David McKee

“Atlantic City casino owner clueless over $220M offer.” So read one of the headlines about the mystery New York City private equity firm that is ostensibly proffering $220 million (up from $200 million) for Revel and owner Glenn Straub‘s professions of … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, GameCO, Glenn Straub, International, Internet gambling, Japan, Macau, Mohegan Sun, Regulation, Revel, The Mob, Wall Street | Comments Off

Becalmed in Atlantic City; The friends of Sheldon Adelson

Posted on July 13, 2017 by David McKee

Casinos in Atlantic City would have been up 11% last month — were it not for the big, fat zero that is Trump Taj Mahal in same-store revenue comparisons. Instead, they were dead even with June 2016, redeemed only by … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Dan Gilbert, Detroit, Donald Trump, Election, Harrah's, International, Internet gambling, Japan, MGM Mirage, Mohegan Sun, Politics, Sheldon Adelson, Sports, Tilman Fertitta, Tropicana Entertainment | Comments Off

Macao takes the long view; Skill-based slots bomb in Europe

Posted on July 12, 2017 by David McKee

Macao gaming operators are off the hot seat as it appears increasingly inevitable that their casino concessions will be renewed rather than re-bid or nationalized. However, that may come at a price — literally. The casino magnates aren’t completely out … Continue reading →

Posted in Boyd Gaming, Dan Gilbert, Foxwoods, Harrah's, Indiana, International, Macau, MGM Mirage, Ohio, Politics, Regulation, Taxes, Technology | Comments Off

Slot routes thwarted in Pennsylvania; Crown 18 convicted

Posted on July 11, 2017 by David McKee

Gaming issues are holding the Pennsylvania state budget hostage. House Majority Leader Dave Reed (R) is saying ‘no deal,’ even as Senate President Pro Tempore Joe Scarnati (R) is remarking that an agreement is “more or less” in place. The latest … Continue reading →

Posted in Economy, Genting, International, Internet gambling, Law enforcement, Lawrence Ho, Macau, Pennsylvania, Philippines, Politics, Regulation, Slot routes, The Crown 18, Wall Street | Comments Off

What happens in Vegas goes to France; Big setback for Japan

Posted on July 10, 2017 by David McKee

French President Emmanuel Macron could be collateral damage of a made-in-Vegas scandal involving the 2016 Consumer Electronics Show. At the time, Macron was minister of the economy but had the ill judgment to headline a “French Tech Night” that was … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Election, Harrah's, International, Japan, MGM Mirage, Regulation, Sheldon Adelson, Singapore, Sports, Wall Street | Comments Off

Best Western Stratosphere?; Atlantic City rescued in nick of time

Posted on July 6, 2017 by David McKee

* Golden Entertainment will be facing a fait accompli when it takes over the Stratosphere and Aquarius Casino Resort from American Casino & Entertainment Properties. Outgoing owner ACEP has inked a pact with Best Western to manage the two flagship … Continue reading →

Posted in ACEP, Atlantic City, Boulder Strip, Economy, Golden Gaming, Goldman Sachs, Hard Rock Hotel, International, Japan, Kazuo Okada, Laughlin, Lawrence Ho, Melco Crown Entertainment, MGM Mirage, Philippines, Politics, The Strip | 1 Comment

Arizona tribe moves ahead; The king and Adelson

Posted on July 3, 2017 by David McKee

Having beaten the system and Gov. Doug Ducey (R), the Tohono O’odham tribe in Arizona is moving ahead with construction of its permanent, Class III casino, with an eye toward completion by spring of 2019. The tribe has been getting … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, Arizona, International, Macau, Regulation, Sheldon Adelson, Tribal, Wall Street, Wisconsin | Comments Off

Days of wine and roses; SCOTUS to weigh Bradley Act

Posted on June 27, 2017 by David McKee

After seven years of hesitation, The Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas has committed to a purpose for its top four hotel floors. They’ll be high-roller suites known as the Boulevard Penthouse will be the most expensive hotel rooms known to man. … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, Australia, Cosmopolitan, Dining, Harrah's, history, International, Massachusetts, PokerStars, Regulation, Sports, The Strip, Tribal | Comments Off

E-sports: The fix is in; Reno’s renaissance

Posted on June 22, 2017 by David McKee

E-sports are barely out of the gate and already match-fixing is a serious concern. South Korea has seen a scandal involving ties to organized crime and to contestants throwing games. Although players with posturing names like Joshua “steel” Nissan seem … Continue reading →

Posted in Dining, Downtown, Economy, International, MGM Mirage, Regulation, Reno, South Korea, Technology | Comments Off

The heat is on; As Vegas warms up, so does its economy

Posted on June 21, 2017 by David McKee

Two of the nation’s premier casino markets — Las Vegas and Phoenix — are grappling with Baghdad-size temperatures, with more to come, not for months but years. (See video embed.) Coping with the Las Vegas Strip, if you dare, mandates … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Delaware, Economy, Environment, Genting, Golden Gaming, International, Internet gambling, MGM Mirage, Neil Bluhm, Nevada, Pennsylvania, The Strip, Wall Street | Comments Off