Category Archives: International

Code of silence; Fan dance in Schenectady

Posted on April 11, 2014 by David McKee

There’s no better way of convincing people you’ve got something to hide than acting like you’re hiding something. Meet Anthony Gattineri of FBT Everett Realty, who could deal a fatal blow to Steve Wynn‘s casino plans in Everett. Gattineri refuses to pledge … Continue reading →

Posted in International, Massachusetts, New York, Regulation, Steve Wynn | Comments Off

Okada thwarted again; Granite State stalemate

Posted on March 30, 2014 by David McKee

Kazuo Okada‘s Universal Entertainment Corp. has pulled out of a deal to develop a $2 billion casino megaresort in the Philippines. Universal isn’t talking but jilted partner Century Properties Group is less reticent. Planning to contest the divorce, it says … Continue reading →

Posted in Delaware, Harrah's, International, Japan, New Hampshire, Politics, Problem gambling, The Strip | Comments Off

Quote of the Day

Posted on March 24, 2014 by David McKee

“Rights matter because you never know when you’re going to need them.” — National Security Agency leaker Edward Snowden, in a surprise address to the 2014 TED conference.

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Massacre in Maine; South Korea, land of opportunity?

Posted on March 20, 2014 by David McKee

Six gambling-expansion bills were mowed down in Maine‘s state Senate last night. Three of the quashed proposals would have provided some form of Native American gambling. (A fourth would have allowed racinos to go from 3,000 slots to 4,500.) Pleasant … Continue reading →

Posted in Dining, Harrah's, International, Maine, Mississippi, New York, Politics, Racinos, Regulation, Tribal | Comments Off

Caesars’ big coup; Foxwoods site revealed

Posted on March 18, 2014 by David McKee

South Korea hasn’t opened its casino business to Western firms … until now. Caesars Entertainment, in partnernship with Hong Kong‘s Lippo Ltd. and OUE Ltd. from Singapore has won preliminary approval for a concession. The project is expected to cost … Continue reading →

Posted in Foxwoods, Genting, Hard Rock Hotel, Harrah's, International, Kentucky, Macau, Massachusetts, Mississippi, Politics, Warner Gaming | Comments Off

New York’s challenge; History repeats itself as farce

Posted on March 13, 2014 by David McKee

Wasting no time, the New York State Gaming Commission appointed three experienced public servants to the Resort Gaming Facility Location Board and gave them a June deadline to accept bids. That’s light speed compared to Massachusetts. It also overshadowed something … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, Boyd Gaming, Economy, International, New Hampshire, New York, Racinos, Tilman Fertitta, Tribal, Trump Entertainment Resorts, Wisconsin | Comments Off

Optimism around the industry

Posted on March 13, 2014 by David McKee

Las Vegas‘ premier casino companies have been showing their wares at the J.P. Morgan Gaming, Lodging, Restaurant & Leisure Management Access Forum. Among the pilgrims was Wynn Resorts CFO Matt Maddox, who reported that Wynncore is increasing revenue per available room … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Boyd Gaming, International, Internet gambling, Japan, Louisiana, Macau, Massachusetts, Mississippi, Sheldon Adelson, Steve Wynn, The Strip, Tilman Fertitta, Wall Street | Comments Off

China: Hands off Hainan

Posted on March 7, 2014 by David McKee

China dealt a severe blow to the hopes of Big Gaming this week, declaring the island of Hainan off-limits for gambling. “We cannot at all allow Hainan to operate casinos,” declared resident Communist Party strongman Luo Baoming. This cannot have … Continue reading →

Posted in Animals, Architecture, Charity, Harrah's, Illinois, International, Kansas, Macau, MGM Mirage, Phil Ruffin, Sports, Stanley Ho | 1 Comment

More slots for the Sunshine State; Sheldon’s big payday

Posted on March 5, 2014 by David McKee

A 453-page casino-enabling bill in the Florida state Senate just got a bit longer when Sen. Maria Sachs added language that would enable six additional counties (Palm Beach, Gadsden, Washington, Lee, Hamilton and Brevard) to have slots at their parimutuels. … Continue reading →

Posted in Arizona, Atlantic City, Environment, Florida, International, Isle of Capri, Macau, Politics, Racinos, Regulation, Revel, Sheldon Adelson, Steve Wynn, Taxes, Transportation, Tribal | 1 Comment

Case Bets: Sands, Atlantic City, Maryland, Isle of Capri, Churchill Downs, etc.

Posted on February 28, 2014 by David McKee

Las Vegas Sands lost more top executive talent when Sands Bethworks President Robert DeSalvio handed in his notice. He’ll be at the casino through mid-March but the move seems to have caught Sands off-guard. The latter assured reporters that DeSalvio’s … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Churchill Downs, Cordish Co., Foxwoods, Harrah's, Horseracing, Illinois, International, Isle of Capri, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Pennsylvania, Sheldon Adelson, Tilman Fertitta, Wall Street | 1 Comment

Of India and Indians

Posted on February 24, 2014 by David McKee

Nevada tourism officials are looking beyond China and toward India. It’s country of 50 million passports and Lt. Gov. Brian Krolicki would like to capture more of them and more of the 600,000 Indians who visited the U.S. last year. … Continue reading →

Posted in International, Internet gambling, Kentucky, Pokergeddon, Tourism | Comments Off

Keeping up with the Joneses

Posted on February 17, 2014 by David McKee

Long a money pit for the Saulte Ste. Marie Tribe of Chippewa Indians, the Greektown Casino in downtown Detroit is now owner Dan Gilbert‘s problem. A smoky warren of gambling spaces, the original layout is a clusterf**k that warrants Greektown’s … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, Atlantic City, CityCenter, Dan Gilbert, Detroit, International, Massachusetts, MGM Mirage, Mississippi, Problem gambling, Revel, Rhode Island, Sports | Comments Off

Pinnacle beats The Street; MGM goes electric

Posted on February 12, 2014 by David McKee

Pinnacle Entertainment did a brilliant job of managing Wall Street‘s expectations, its cash flow coming in $5 million above analysts’ consensus, driven by lower operating expenses. J.P. Morgan‘s Joseph Greff called the results “better than feared,” which tells you how … Continue reading →

Posted in Ameristar, Environment, Foxwoods, International, Internet gambling, Maryland, Massachusetts, MGM Mirage, Missouri, Ohio, Pinnacle Entertainment, Transportation, Tribal, Wall Street | Comments Off

The hypocrisy of Steve Wynn

Posted on February 3, 2014 by David McKee

Like a couple of crotchety codgers sitting in their rocking chairs, Steve Wynn has joined Sheldon Adelson in the “You kids get off my lawn” club when it comes to Internet gambling. (Not that he has allowed this to stop … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Delaware, Economy, International, Internet gambling, Massachusetts, Pennsylvania, Racinos, Regulation, Revel, Sheldon Adelson, Steve Wynn, Taxes | Comments Off

Super Bowl hits Vegas jackpot; Hope for Caesars overseas

Posted on February 3, 2014 by David McKee

“It was embarrassing, humiliating and unbearable,” but when the Super Bowl was over, Nevada sports books had cleaned up … except for that safety on the first play from scrimmage, costly for the Denver Broncos and the books alike. Heavy … Continue reading →

Posted in Aristocrat, Atlantic City, Bally Technologies, Boyd Gaming, Harrah's, International, LVCVA, MGM Mirage, Revel, Sheldon Adelson, Sports, Steve Wynn, The Strip, Tourism | Comments Off

Now everybody wants it

Posted on January 29, 2014 by David McKee

Like a Smith College student ‘experimenting’ with same-sex dalliance, the Massachusetts Lottery wants experimental online gambling, with a view toward possible for-money play somewhere down the road. “[I]in the interests of preserving and protecting the Lottery, we simply want to … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Delaware, International, Internet gambling, Macau, Massachusetts | Comments Off

All stories lead to Massachusetts

Posted on January 24, 2014 by David McKee

Since it faces no competition in western Massachusetts, it was mostly theater when MGM Resorts International CEO James Murren presented the project to the Massachusetts Gaming Commission. The latter will have months in which to mull the enormous volume of … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Boyd Gaming, California, Harrah's, International, Internet gambling, Massachusetts, MGM Mirage, Pennsylvania, Taxes, Tribal | Comments Off

Second chances for Caesars, Hard Rock

Posted on January 9, 2014 by David McKee

In a bit of good news for Caesars Entertainment, the government of South Korea is considering a relaxation of its casino-bidding rules. Specifically, the requirement of a BBB bond rating may be knocked down a bit — and bond ratings … Continue reading →

Posted in Harrah's, International, Iowa, Maryland, MGM Mirage, Penn National, Wall Street, Warner Gaming | Comments Off

Taiwan in 2019?

Posted on January 3, 2014 by David McKee

It could happen. Enabling legislation to put casinos on Taiwan‘s outer islands has a good chance in parliament, it is reported. Matsu is expected to be the principal beneficiary but, if it can change voters’ minds, Claremont Partners has a … Continue reading →

Posted in Harrah's, International, Macau, New York, Politics, Sheldon Adelson, The Strip, Tribal | Comments Off

Goa, Goa, Gone & other Case Bets

Posted on January 2, 2014 by David McKee

Officials in Goa, a former Portugese protectorate off the western coast of India are so worried about gambling that they’re barring locals from entering Goa’s casinos. Considering what a sorry bunch of hulks to the Goanese casino fleet is, the … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Harrah's, International, Mississippi | Comments Off