Category Archives: International

The mystery of Steve Wynn; DFS steps in it

Posted on September 24, 2015 by David McKee

For the third time, Steve Wynn has pulled back from Atlantic City. This time he’s yanking Wynn Interactive‘s application for an online casino. The move comes an awfully long time after Wynn announced his opposition to Internet wagering, so who knows … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Culinary Union, Election, Genting, Geoff Freeman, Harrah's, International, Internet gambling, New York, Oklahoma, PokerStars, Regulation, Sheldon Adelson, Sports, Steve Wynn, Taxes, Tribal | 1 Comment

Savior for Showboat?; Steve Wynn to build locals casino

Posted on September 16, 2015 by David McKee

Bart Blatstein has emerged as the potential savior for the Showboat, currently a millstone around Stockton University‘s neck. If so, it will be a bittersweet coup for the developer, as it’s the second time he’s missed out on a gaming … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Charity, Economy, Glenn Straub, Harrah's, International, Marketing, Massachusetts, New York, Racinos, Steve Wynn, Taxes, The Strip, Trump Entertainment Resorts | 2 Comments

Georgia on their minds; How to kill a casino

Posted on September 14, 2015 by David McKee

MGM National Harbor President Lorenzo Creighton dangles some shiny objects and big numbers before Georgia newspaper readers, promising even bigger things for Atlanta, as MGM Resorts International tries to counter lawmakers’ congenital opposition to gambling with suasion and seductive dollar … Continue reading →

Posted in Boyd Gaming, Culinary Union, Derek Stevens, Detroit, Downtown, Economy, Georgia, Horseracing, International, James Packer, Maryland, MGM Mirage, Penn National, Politics, Sheldon Adelson, Steve Wynn, Taxes | Comments Off on Georgia on their minds; How to kill a casino

Case Bets: Caesars, Detroit, New York & Steve Wynn

Posted on September 9, 2015 by David McKee

In one of the industry’s more bizarre developments, Harrah’s Tunica will become an assisted-living facility if buy TJM Properties has its druthers. Caesars Entertainment Operating Co. has asked a bankruptcy court to approve the sale. It won’t bring in that … Continue reading →

Posted in Detroit, Economy, G2E, Harrah's, International, Internet gambling, Massachusetts, MGM Mirage, Mississippi, New York, Regulation, Steve Wynn, Technology, Transportation | Comments Off on Case Bets: Caesars, Detroit, New York & Steve Wynn

Ohio: Dan Gilbert’s downfall; Icahn meets Randy the Rat

Posted on September 9, 2015 by David McKee

Ohio‘s slot hoppers have been emptied for August and it was a month marked by some dramatic swings of fate. Belterra Park‘s $6 million haul won’t blow anybody away but, at $145/slot/day, it’s doing an acceptable average and improved 41% … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Carl Icahn, Dan Gilbert, Eldorado Resorts, Environment, GLPI, Hard Rock International, Harrah's, International, Ohio, Penn National, Pinnacle Entertainment, Trump Entertainment Resorts, Unite-Here | Comments Off on Ohio: Dan Gilbert’s downfall; Icahn meets Randy the Rat

Bidding war in cyberspace; Adelson flexes Macao muscles

Posted on September 2, 2015 by David McKee

Having been outbid by GVC Holdings and jilted by Bwin.Party Digital Entertainment, Israeli-based 888 Holdings is upping the ante again in what is shaping up as the bidding war of the year. Meanwhile, Internet gamblers can look forward to a new … Continue reading →

Posted in Galaxy Entertainment, International, Macau, Neil Bluhm, New York, Racinos, Sheldon Adelson, Stanley Ho | Comments Off on Bidding war in cyberspace; Adelson flexes Macao muscles

Atlantic City profits grow; Good and bad news for Caesars

Posted on August 26, 2015 by David McKee

Second-quarter operating profits in Atlantic City were up everywhere except for — you guessed it — Trump Taj Mahal. The Taj swung from a $2 million profit in 2Q14 to a $900,000 loss, another testament to CEO Bob Griffin‘s inspiring leadership. … Continue reading →

Posted in Arizona, Atlantic City, Boyd Gaming, Carl Icahn, Genting, Georgia, Harrah's, history, International, Mohegan Sun, Politics, Regulation, Revel, Sheldon Adelson, Technology, The Strip, Tilman Fertitta, Tribal, Trump Entertainment Resorts | Comments Off on Atlantic City profits grow; Good and bad news for Caesars

New Jersey loses again; From Russia with casinos

Posted on August 26, 2015 by David McKee

New Jersey‘s quest for sports betting came to a bitter, penultimate roadblock before the Third Circuit Court of Appeals, which deemed the Garden State’s repeal of its sports-betting ban to be a violation of the Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act. … Continue reading →

Posted in Economy, Harrah's, International, Japan, Lawrence Ho, Macau, Politics, South Korea, Taxes | Comments Off on New Jersey loses again; From Russia with casinos

Meet Galaxy Entertainment; The lion grumbles; Steve Wynn gets in touch with inner Scrooge

Posted on July 31, 2015 by David McKee

In Macao, “a pharaonic exercise in overbuilding” may be a canny strategy for a post-crisis economy. Once the Chinese government drives the money launderers from the Macanese temple and develops adjacent Hengqin Island into a family friendly plethora of resorts … Continue reading →

Posted in Economy, Galaxy Entertainment, International, Macau, MGM Mirage, Regulation, Reno, Steve Wynn, The Strip, Tribal, Wall Street, Wisconsin | Comments Off on Meet Galaxy Entertainment; The lion grumbles; Steve Wynn gets in touch with inner Scrooge

Venetian Bangkok?; Online gaming gains a champion

Posted on July 28, 2015 by David McKee

Las Vegas Sands has let it be known that, should Thailand legalize casinos, it would like to get a foot in the door — in the form of a metaresort like its $5.7 billion Marina Bay Sands in Singapore. That’s … Continue reading →

Posted in Florida, International, Japan, Seminole Tribe, Sheldon Adelson, Singapore, South Korea | Comments Off on Venetian Bangkok?; Online gaming gains a champion

Mirage sold?; Cosmo post-mortem; Ivey counterattacks

Posted on July 28, 2015 by David McKee

Our crackerjack research department at LVA is hot on the trail of a report that MGM Resorts International is going to shuck one of its signature properties, The Mirage, lock, stock and volcano. A sale of the megaresort that changed … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Boyd Gaming, Cosmopolitan, Idaho, International, MGM Mirage, North Las Vegas, Riviera, Steve Wynn, Tamares Group, Technology, The Strip, Tribal | 1 Comment

Up in smoke

Posted on July 27, 2015 by David McKee

We know that Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas owner Blackstone Group wanted to change perceptions of the property but I don’t this is what they had in mind. One measly cigarette seems to have been all it took to send the … Continue reading →

Posted in Cosmopolitan, history, Horseracing, International, Macau, Monte Carlo fire, Pinnacle Entertainment, The Strip | Comments Off on Up in smoke

Quote of the Day

Posted on July 23, 2015 by David McKee

“Bigger projects’ best hope for success depends on Vietnam’s government changing course, and that’s not a smart money bet.” — Forbes correspondent Muhammad Cohen on the difficulty of large-scale casino development in Vietnam.

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

Vetting the candidates

Posted on July 23, 2015 by David McKee

Although Paddy Power has lengthened his odds for gaining the White House to 12/1, New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie (R) would be one of the most supportive — if not the most supportive — candidates toward the gaming industry. He’s … Continue reading →

Posted in Arkansas, Election, Florida, International, New York, Politics, Regulation, Tribal | Comments Off on Vetting the candidates

Panning for gold in Macao

Posted on July 23, 2015 by David McKee

Wall Street analysts succeeded in setting their expectation for Las Vegas Sands performance in Macao so low that the company was able to exceed them despite deep, double-digit declines in revenue, including 14% less revenue per hotel room. Lower marketing costs … Continue reading →

Posted in Economy, International, Japan, MGM Mirage, Regulation, Sheldon Adelson, Singapore, South Korea, The Strip, Wall Street | Comments Off on Panning for gold in Macao

Quote of the Day

Posted on July 22, 2015 by David McKee

“As Macau also is painfully aware, what Beijing gives it can readily take away, and it’s difficult to believe the Communist Party has gone to the trouble it has to cut off illicit money flows through the South China Sea … Continue reading →

Posted in International, Macau, Regulation, South Korea | Comments Off on Quote of the Day

SLS: The news just gets worse

Posted on July 17, 2015 by David McKee

Despite SLS Las Vegas having lost $183 million in its first eight months of operation, against pitiful revenues of $88 million, President Scott Kreeger insists that owner Stockbridge Capital is in it for the long haul. It has to be, Sam … Continue reading →

Posted in Alabama, Entertainment, International, Internet gambling, Marketing, Politics, Racinos, Revel, Sam Nazarian, SLS Las Vegas, Station Casinos, Taxes, Wall Street | 3 Comments

Mirage volcano muzzled; Macao gives the industry hope

Posted on July 14, 2015 by David McKee

One of Vegas’ most iconic attractions is getting minimized. The Mirage volcano will now only erupt twice on weeknights and thrice on weekends. This austerity move is a concession to MGM Resorts International‘s huge debt overhang. It was also supposedly … Continue reading →

Posted in Economy, Environment, Harrah's, International, Macau, Melco Crown Entertainment, MGM Mirage, Mississippi, Philippines, Sheldon Adelson, South Korea, Station Casinos, Steve Wynn, Taxes, The Strip, Tourism | Comments Off on Mirage volcano muzzled; Macao gives the industry hope

Wynn: Massachusetts vs. Boston; Crisis and opportunity at Station

Posted on July 13, 2015 by David McKee

Steve Wynn appears to be losing patience with the obstacles being thrown in his way by seemingly vanquished adversaries in his long fight to get a Boston-area casino. He’s filed a defamation suit against the city, after a lawsuit championed … Continue reading →

Posted in Culinary Union, Eldorado Resorts, Election, Georgia, history, International, Massachusetts, MGM Mirage, New York, Politics, Regulation, Sam Nazarian, Slot routes, Station Casinos, Steve Wynn | Comments Off on Wynn: Massachusetts vs. Boston; Crisis and opportunity at Station

Poor Phil Ruffin

Posted on July 13, 2015 by David McKee

First he gets skunked in his attempt to secure the last Kansas casino license, now’s he being used as a prop in Donald Trump‘s traveling freak show. Ruffin, by the way, is Trump’s designated mandarin of China policy. If the Chinese … Continue reading →

Posted in Donald Trump, International, Kansas, Phil Ruffin, Sheldon Adelson | Comments Off on Poor Phil Ruffin