Category Archives: International

Caesars’ escape artistry; Boyd goes native

Posted on December 30, 2015 by David McKee

Caesars Entertainment gained some breathing room after U.S. District Judge Shira Scheindlin ruled that “material disputes” involving its removal of guarantees to bondholders required resolution by trial, not summary judgment. Caesars feared the latter, contending that it would contend that it … Continue reading →

Posted in Boyd Gaming, California, Harrah's, International, Macau, Melco Crown Entertainment, Oklahoma, Sheldon Adelson, Tribal, Wall Street | Comments Off

Malice on the Strip; Tribal foes routed

Posted on December 22, 2015 by David McKee

For people with evil in their hearts, the Las Vegas Strip represents a target-rich environment. Most vulnerable are the pedestrians who clog the sidewalks, prey for all manner of harm. Last weekend, it took the form of a rampaging automobile … Continue reading →

Posted in Arizona, Harrah's, International, Lake Las Vegas, Law enforcement, Politics, The Strip, Tourism, Tribal | Comments Off

Big card room bust in California

Posted on December 11, 2015 by David McKee

Earlier this week, American Gaming Association President Geoff Freeman unveiled a stern new set of anti-money laundering guidelines, lest any casinos out there hadn’t gotten the memo that Uncle Sam means business when it comes to enforcing AML rules. As … Continue reading →

Posted in California, Geoff Freeman, International, Internet gambling, Law enforcement, MGM Mirage, Penn National, Regulation, Steve Wynn, Tribal | Comments Off

MGM’s sudden Connecticut ardor; Labor peace in Detroit

Posted on December 8, 2015 by David McKee

Connecticut‘s government is trying to have an MGM Resorts International lawsuit dismissed, but MGM isn’t going away quietly. It’s targeted the no-bid process whereby a Mohegan Sun–Foxwoods Resort Casino joint venture was juiced into a third, off-reservation casino, location still … Continue reading →

Posted in Culinary Union, Detroit, Donald Trump, Economy, Election, Foxwoods, Genting, International, Massachusetts, MGM Mirage, Mohegan Sun, Phil Ruffin, Sheldon Adelson, Singapore, Tourism, Tribal, Wall Street | Comments Off

The ubiquitous Packer; The 27% solution

Posted on December 2, 2015 by David McKee

James Packer has already missed his 2015 deadline for breaking ground on Alon and once again he is taking his eye off the Las Vegas ball. He and his Nobu co-investor, Robert DeNiro, have cut a deal with Antigua and … Continue reading →

Posted in Colorado, Dan Gilbert, Economy, Full House Resorts, International, James Packer, Kentucky, MGM Mirage, Politics, Racinos, Riviera, The Strip | Comments Off

Atlantic City casinos make less, profit more

Posted on November 24, 2015 by David McKee

In a paradoxical development, Atlantic City casinos reported a 61% increase in profitability in Q315. That largesse came even as gross gaming revenues only rose 5%. Cost-containment is credited with being the source of the bounty. Caesars Interactive swung from … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Boyd Gaming, Carl Icahn, Dan Gilbert, Economy, Election, Glenn Straub, Harrah's, Indiana, International, Internet gambling, Massachusetts, MGM Mirage, Mohegan Sun, Ohio, Politics, Revel, Sheldon Adelson, Tilman Fertitta, Tropicana Entertainment, Trump Entertainment Resorts | Comments Off

Tribes 1, NLRB 0; DFS on the rampage

Posted on November 18, 2015 by David McKee

In a big setback for Big Labor, the House of Representatives voted to exempt tribal casinos from National Labor Relations Board oversight. This turns back 11 years of precedent, stemming from a 2004 NLRB ruling that San Manuel Indian Bingo … Continue reading →

Posted in California, International, Internet gambling, New York, Regulation | Comments Off

Caesars gets nuked; Jerry Brown gets spanked

Posted on November 18, 2015 by David McKee

“It’s the ultimate nuclear option to try to go after debtors’ counsel.” That’s what Seton Hall University boffin Stephen Lubben says of junior bondholders’ latest ploy in their knock-down, drag-out fight with Caesars Entertainment. They’re accusing law firm Kirkland & … Continue reading →

Posted in California, Harrah's, International, Taxes, Tribal, Wall Street | Comments Off

SLS gets new patron; Mixed quarter at Caesars

Posted on November 10, 2015 by David McKee

Revolving doors continue to spin, metaphorically, at SLS Las Vegas. No sooner had Hilton Worldwide dropped the property from its Curio brand but Starwood Resorts Worldwide picked up part of the property and slapped its W hotel escutcheon on it. The … Continue reading →

Posted in Harrah's, International, Macau, Marketing, Maryland, Regulation, Sam Nazarian, SLS Las Vegas, Station Casinos, Technology, The Strip | 1 Comment

Caesars: (Almost) everything must go; More angst in Macao

Posted on October 27, 2015 by David McKee

Well, it had to happen eventually. In order to escape bankruptcy, Caesars Entertainment is putting Caesars Entertainment Operating Co. on the market. There are some who are calling this a bluff and others who can’t afford to get in on … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Boyd Gaming, California, Economy, GLPI, Harrah's, Illinois, Indiana, International, Iowa, Lake Tahoe, Lawrence Ho, Louisiana, Marketing, Melco Crown Entertainment, MGM Mirage, Mississippi, Missouri, Ohio, Penn National, Philippines, Regulation, Reno, Sheldon Adelson, Stanley Ho, Steve Wynn, The Strip, Tribal, Wall Street | 1 Comment

Japan: Keep moving, nothing to see here; Crisis at Studio City

Posted on October 26, 2015 by David McKee

Despite much chumming of the waters by Union Gaming Securities Asia‘s Grant Govertson, it’s the same old same-old in Japan, where casino legalization has been delayed yet again and probably should be under a news blackout until substantial progress is achieved. … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, Election, Entertainment, Harrah's, International, Internet gambling, James Packer, Japan, Lawrence Ho, Macau, Melco Crown Entertainment, Mississippi, Pets, Politics, Regulation, Sheldon Adelson, Steve Wynn, Tourism, Wall Street | Comments Off

Texas lottery gives guv Grief; The Incredible Shrinking Casino

Posted on October 23, 2015 by David McKee

Those cowpokes who run the Texas Lottery Commission have gotten a bit off the ranch. Of a proverbial fact-finding mission to the Delaware lottery, Executive Director Gary Grief said, “We were particularly interested to learn about your sports betting, Internet wagering … Continue reading →

Posted in Delaware, Horseracing, International, Internet gambling, Massachusetts, MGM Mirage, Penn National, Racinos, Regulation, Texas | Comments Off

Adelson crashes MGM’s party; More trouble for DFS

Posted on October 22, 2015 by David McKee

Sheldon Adelson has a genius for sucking the air out of whatever room he enters. After MGM Resorts International laid the groundwork for a casino debate in Georgia, offering to invest $1 billion in an Atlanta pleasure palace, Adelson has … Continue reading →

Posted in Boyd Gaming, Donald Trump, Economy, Election, Florida, Georgia, International, Internet gambling, Kansas, Macau, Maryland, MGM Mirage, Penn National, Politics, Regulation, Sheldon Adelson, Singapore, The Strip | Comments Off

Steve Wynn’s an unhappy camper

Posted on October 16, 2015 by David McKee

A decade ago, Steve Wynn would badmouth doing business in Nevada and warble sweet hymns to that capitalist’s paradise, China. How times change. On yesterday’s quarterly earnings call, Wynn was apoplectic about the Chinese government’s shifting policies in re Macao. “In … Continue reading →

Posted in Economy, Galaxy Entertainment, International, Lawrence Ho, Macau, Marketing, Melco Crown Entertainment, MGM Mirage, Regulation, Steve Wynn, The Strip, Wall Street | 4 Comments

DFS rose fast, fell faster

Posted on October 15, 2015 by David McKee

This just in: Nevada has lowered the boom on DFS operators. The fat’s in the fire for daily fantasy sports — and New Jersey might want to rethink its push for unregulated sports betting in the Garden State. According to … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Geoff Freeman, International, Louisiana, New York, Regulation, Sheldon Adelson, Sports, Texas, TV | Comments Off

Fourth time the charm?; Paging Sheldon Adelson

Posted on October 14, 2015 by David McKee

Gaming-management company Foundation Gaming Group likes DiamondJacks Casino in Vicksburg, it’s buying the place outright — a change of style for Foundation, which prefers running casinos to owning them. There may be some nostalgia in the decision by Foundation COO … Continue reading →

Posted in Colony Capital, Downtown, Genting, International, Isle of Capri, Louisiana, Mississippi, Sheldon Adelson, Technology, The Strip | 2 Comments

Dan Lee’s Colorado lode; The Caranos take Reno

Posted on October 5, 2015 by David McKee

Since overthrowing the leadership of Full House Resorts, new CEO Dan Lee has been chock-full of initiatives. His latest is to drop $30 million to acquire Bronco Billy’s Casino & Hotel, in Cripple Creek, Colorado. The move comes as Colorado … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Colorado, Dan Lee, Delaware, Dining, Eldorado Resorts, Full House Resorts, International, Internet gambling, Marketing, MGM Mirage, PokerStars, Reno, Scientific Games | Comments Off

Big players accentuate the positive

Posted on September 29, 2015 by David McKee

Deutsche Bank analyst Carlo Santarelli has been a busy man these past few days, meeting with the top companies in gaming. In no special order … Boyd Gaming took the usual line on REIT conversion and acquisitions, basically saying, “If … Continue reading →

Posted in Ameristar, Boyd Gaming, Colorado, Downtown, Economy, Florida, GLPI, Illinois, International, Isle of Capri, Louisiana, Macau, Marketing, Massachusetts, MGM Mirage, Penn National, Pinnacle Entertainment, Sports, Steve Wynn, Texas, The Strip, Tilman Fertitta, Wall Street | Comments Off

Boardwalk of Broken Dreams; Adelson strikes again

Posted on September 28, 2015 by David McKee

As Donald Trump continues to boast of his business expertise, the Boston Globe examines his less-than-stellar track record in Atlantic City, scene of four bankruptcies. (Five, if you count the current insolvency of Trump Entertainment Resorts, in which he holds … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Donald Trump, Election, Harrah's, history, International, Japan, MGM Mirage, Sheldon Adelson, The Strip, Transportation, Trump Entertainment Resorts, TV | Comments Off

Wrist-slaps in New Jersey; China tries to sever chains

Posted on September 25, 2015 by David McKee

First, the good news. New Jersey‘s geolocation and age-verification technology is catching underage gamblers. The bad news is that wannabe adolescent Phil Iveys are getting onto casino Internet sites and wagering. So are self-excluded players. The New Jersey Division of Gaming … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Australia, Boyd Gaming, International, Internet gambling, Maryland, Mississippi, Mohegan Sun, Philippines, Regulation, Sheldon Adelson, South Korea, Tropicana Entertainment | Comments Off