Category Archives: Internet gambling

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

Carnage in Pennsylvania; Fortune Cup takes on Sigma Derby

Posted on January 15, 2018 by David McKee

*Slot revenues at Pennsylvania casinos are in and if JP Morgan‘s numbers are correct they were terrible. According to Morgan analysts slot winnings dove 27%, bottoming out at $187.5 million. Worst off was Sands Bethlehem ($25 million), sinking 44%, followed … Continue reading →

Posted in Boyd Gaming, Dan Gilbert, Delaware, Detroit, Eldorado Resorts, GLPI, Greenwood Racing, Harrah's, Internet gambling, Massachusetts, MGM Mirage, Minnesota, Neil Bluhm, Nevada, Penn National, Pennsylvania, Pinnacle Entertainment, Politics, Sheldon Adelson, Sports, Station Casinos, Taxes, Technology, Tourism, Tribal, Wall Street, West Virginia | Comments Off on Carnage in Pennsylvania; Fortune Cup takes on Sigma Derby

Caesars ruins Atlantic City’s Christmas; Abandon ship

Posted on January 15, 2018 by David McKee

December put a bit of a chill on the Atlantic City casino economy, down 2% for the month, with an overall gross of $186 million. Over by the fireplace, Internet gambling was nice and warm, up 13%. Slot revenues were … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Dining, Florida, Glenn Straub, Harrah's, Internet gambling, Kazuo Okada, Law enforcement, MGM Mirage, Mohegan Sun, Nevada, Regulation, Revel, Security, The Strip, Tilman Fertitta, Tropicana Entertainment, TV | Comments Off on Caesars ruins Atlantic City’s Christmas; Abandon ship

Pennsylvania towns shun casinos; Macao mobbed up

Posted on January 5, 2018 by David McKee

Mini-casinos are as popular in Pennsylvania as an outbreak of typhus. Some 936 towns have ixnayed the idea of hosting slot parlors in their back yards. Extant casino operators will have to bid at least $7.5 million (and have a site … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, California, Charity, Churchill Downs, Economy, Foxwoods, Genting, Internet gambling, Law enforcement, LVCVA, Macau, Mandalay Bay Massacre, Maryland, MGM Mirage, Pennsylvania, Regulation, South Korea, Sports, Steve Wynn, Taxes, The Mob, Tourism, Tribal, TV | Comments Off on Pennsylvania towns shun casinos; Macao mobbed up

Strip’s Thanksgiving turkey; Sports betting overhyped?

Posted on December 29, 2017 by David McKee

Despite a neutral calendar (i.e., same number of weekend days) and a 2% increase in baccarat wagers, the Las Vegas Strip managed to plummet 25% in table game win, pulling overall revenue 6% downward. Had it not been for that game, … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Boulder Strip, Delaware, Donald Trump, Hard Rock International, Internet gambling, Lake Tahoe, Laughlin, Lucky Dragon, LVCVA, Mandalay Bay Massacre, Marketing, MGM Mirage, Nevada, North Las Vegas, Regulation, Reno, Sports, Tribal, Trump Entertainment Resorts, TV | 1 Comment

‘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 on ‘Tis the season for buying; Putin drives out Ho

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 on Case Bets

Rethinking riverboats in Louisiana; Santa hearts Boyd; High and dry

Posted on December 21, 2017 by David McKee

Baton Rouge is one of the markets that hews to the archaic practice of mandating that godless gambling be conducted over water. H2O has remarkable cleansing properties on filthy casino lucre, it seems. At any rate, even though L’Auberge Baton … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, Boyd Gaming, Churchill Downs, Current, Economy, Eldorado Resorts, GLPI, Greenwood Racing, Internet gambling, Isle of Capri, Louisiana, Macau, Palms, Penn National, Pennsylvania, Pinnacle Entertainment, Politics, Regulation, Sheldon Adelson, Sports, Station Casinos, Taxes, Tilman Fertitta, Tropicana Entertainment, Wall Street | 1 Comment

Revel bought? Straub says no; R.I.P., Keely Smith

Posted on December 19, 2017 by David McKee

Revel/Ten may have yet another name soon, now that wannabe buyer Bruce Defik has done what Glenn Straub wouldn’t: apply for a New Jersey gaming license. Straub continues to assert that there is no deal in place but “a court … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, Atlantic City, California, Detroit, Dining, Entertainment, Glenn Straub, history, Internet gambling, James Packer, Macau, Melco Resorts & Entertainment, Pennsylvania, Politics, Regulation, Revel, Station Casinos, Taxes, The Strip, Tribal | Comments Off on Revel bought? Straub says no; R.I.P., Keely Smith

Mohegan Sun commits million-dollar boner; Seminoles nettled

Posted on December 15, 2017 by David McKee

Mohegan Sun Pocono Downs made Pennsylvania history in a manner it would rather not, having been slapped with the biggest casino fine in Keystone State history for a slot-machine scam. Already, President Robert Soper had resigned in disgrace last winter … Continue reading →

Posted in Arizona, Florida, Internet gambling, Law enforcement, Mohegan Sun, Pennsylvania, Regulation, Seminole Tribe, Tribal | Comments Off on Mohegan Sun commits million-dollar boner; Seminoles nettled

New York: Turning the page; Cal-Neva is on the clock

Posted on December 15, 2017 by David McKee

‘Wait three years’ is the new rationale coming out of Albany, now that three new casinos in upstate New York have failed to meet Year One revenue projections. Taking the glass-half-full perspective, state Sen. John Bonacic says that the casinos were … Continue reading →

Posted in Economy, Genting, Internet gambling, Japan, Lake Tahoe, Massachusetts, Neil Bluhm, New York, Penn National, Politics, Problem gambling, Racinos, Regulation, Sports, Taxes, Tribal | 1 Comment

Atlantic City: There’s life after Trump; Bluhm dominates in Pennsylvania

Posted on December 14, 2017 by David McKee

Finally liberated from year/year comparisons that included the dying Trump Taj Mahal, casinos in Atlantic City experienced 3% revenue growth last month. Internet gambling did even better, leaping 20%. For the lifetime of ‘Net betting in New Jersey, this brings … Continue reading →

Posted in Animals, Atlantic City, Carl Icahn, Delaware, Greenwood Racing, Harrah's, Internet gambling, MGM Mirage, Mohegan Sun, Movies, Neil Bluhm, Nevada, Pennsylvania, PokerStars, Politics, Racinos, Sheldon Adelson, Tilman Fertitta, Tropicana Entertainment, Trump Entertainment Resorts | Comments Off on Atlantic City: There’s life after Trump; Bluhm dominates in Pennsylvania

Senators have hissy fit; Vegas: Back to normal or not?

Posted on December 4, 2017 by David McKee

With Pennsylvania having joined the roster of Internet-gambling jurisdictions, Sens. Dianne Feinstein (D) and Lindsey Graham (R) are pushing the panic button, hard. In a concession to the reality that the Senate won’t be able to rewrite the Wire Act, … Continue reading →

Posted in California, Donald Trump, Economy, Entertainment, Foxwoods, Harrah's, Internet gambling, Japan, Lawrence Ho, Mandalay Bay Massacre, Melco Resorts & Entertainment, MGM Mirage, Mohegan Sun, Nevada, Politics, Steve Wynn, Taxes, The Strip | Comments Off on Senators have hissy fit; Vegas: Back to normal or not?

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 on The Main Event; Macao roars

Strip loses, locals joints win; Aristocrat hooks Big Fish

Posted on November 30, 2017 by David McKee

Given the robustness of October 2017, last month’s Las Vegas Strip revenues ($529 million) were already facing a difficult comparison and the Stephen Paddock shooting spree didn’t help matters. Gambling revenues fell 6% last month along Las Vegas Boulevard. (Statewide, … Continue reading →

Posted in Aristocrat, Boulder Strip, Churchill Downs, Downtown, Entertainment, Internet gambling, Lake Tahoe, Laughlin, Mandalay Bay Massacre, Mesquite, North Las Vegas, Reno, Technology, The Strip | 2 Comments

Curtains for Trump Plaza; Prez “downright dumb” about tribes

Posted on November 22, 2017 by David McKee

It’s dynamite time for Trump Plaza in Atlantic City — and about time. The pertinent question seems to be how owner Carl Icahn is going to get rid of this eyesore or, more specifically, how he’s going to pay for it. Rather … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Carl Icahn, Donald Trump, Harrah's, International, Internet gambling, Minnesota, Politics, Sam Nazarian, Taxes, Transportation, Tribal | 2 Comments

A sensible proposal

Posted on November 22, 2017 by David McKee

Under the right circumstances, driving down the Las Vegas Strip (preferably by night) can be a hedonistic experience. Too often, however, it is a bumper-to-bumper nightmare. Something needs to be done and Clark County Commissioner Chris Giunchigliani (D) has stepped … Continue reading →

Posted in Entertainment, Indiana, Internet gambling, Iowa, Louisiana, Mandalay Bay Massacre, MGM Mirage, Mohegan Sun, Movies, Pennsylvania, The Strip, Transportation, Tropicana Entertainment | 3 Comments

Quote of the Day

Posted on November 20, 2017 by David McKee

“Combined, the state’s legal online casinos now generate enough monthly gross revenue to rank as the fifth-largest casino in Atlantic City. Online gambling has accounted for nearly 10 percent of New Jersey‘s total casino revenue in 2017. And it appears … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Internet gambling | Comments Off on Quote of the Day

Quote of the Day

Posted on November 17, 2017 by David McKee

“The guys at Metal Casino told me that their brand was all about being true, relevant and dedicated to the customer and that really resonated with me. To me, that translated as keeping it real, keeping it original, and doing … Continue reading →

Posted in Entertainment, Internet gambling | Comments Off on Quote of the Day

Stable in Atlantic City; Saturated in Pennsylvania

Posted on November 16, 2017 by David McKee

Casino business in Atlantic City was flat last month (not bad with one less weekend day), with the surviving casinos grossing $186 million. Internet revenue shot up 23.5% to $20.5 million. Slots were up 1% but tables, where wagering was down … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Dan Gilbert, Detroit, Eldorado Resorts, Glenn Straub, Greenwood Racing, Harrah's, Internet gambling, Massachusetts, MGM Mirage, Mohegan Sun, Neil Bluhm, Penn National, Pennsylvania, Pinnacle Entertainment, PokerStars, Racinos, Sheldon Adelson, Tilman Fertitta, Tropicana Entertainment | Comments Off on Stable in Atlantic City; Saturated in Pennsylvania