Category Archives: Internet gambling

Bullish Boyd; Inside Station’s crystal ball

Posted on November 13, 2017 by David McKee

Deutsche Bank analyst Carlo Santarelli met with Boyd Gaming‘s brain trust and liked what he heard, but I’ll let him tell it in his own words: “Within Las Vegas, management is encouraged by unrated play, particularly in the Downtown segment, … Continue reading →

Posted in Boyd Gaming, Downtown, Economy, Florida, IGT, Internet gambling, Marketing, Palms, Reno, Seminole Tribe, Sports, Station Casinos, Taxes, Technology, Tribal, Wall Street | Comments Off

Ohio defies the calendar; Pennsylvania vote pricks Adelson’s balloon

Posted on November 8, 2017 by David McKee

Ohio gaming revenues powered up 5.5% last month despite a supposedly “unfavorable” calendar (one less weekend day). Except for a flat outcome at Thistledown Racino ($9.5 million), everyone was revenue positive for the month. Even Jack Cleveland snapped out of … Continue reading →

Posted in Dan Gilbert, Eldorado Resorts, Genting, Hard Rock International, Internet gambling, Japan, Ohio, Penn National, Pennsylvania, Pinnacle Entertainment, Politics, Racinos, Sheldon Adelson, Singapore, South Korea, Tourism | Comments Off

Strip waxes, LV locals wane; Caesars sticks it to you

Posted on October 31, 2017 by David McKee

Gaming revenues inched up 3% in Nevada last August, while the Las Vegas Strip was up 5%, to $568 million. JP Morgan analyst Joseph Greff wrote that the latter implied “strong 3Q for MGM table games given WYNN and LVS’ combined 3Q … Continue reading →

Posted in Boulder Strip, Downtown, Economy, Entertainment, Genting, Greenwood Racing, Harrah's, International, Internet gambling, Lake Tahoe, Laughlin, Mesquite, MGM Mirage, Nevada, North Las Vegas, Pennsylvania, Regulation, Reno, Sheldon Adelson, Steve Wynn, The Strip, Wall Street | Comments Off

“A gambling state without parallel”

Posted on October 30, 2017 by David McKee

It’s up to Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Wolf (D) now. [Update: Wolf got off the fence with uncharacteristic alacrity and signed the bill.) The state House has passed the most sweeping expansion of gambling S&G has ever seen. It includes Internet … Continue reading →

Posted in Eldorado Resorts, Harrah's, Internet gambling, Penn National, Pennsylvania, Politics, Slot routes, Sports, Taxes | Comments Off

Major casino expansion mooted for Pennsylvania; Big wins for Florida, Wisconsin tribes

Posted on October 27, 2017 by David McKee

Gaming expansion is creeping forward in Pennsylvania. The state Senate has passed and sent to the House a bill that would add 10 satellite casinos to the Keystone State. Eldorado Resorts‘ Presque Isle Downs would be juiced in for one … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, Eldorado Resorts, Florida, Hard Rock International, Internet gambling, Penn National, Pennsylvania, Politics, Reno, Seminole Tribe, Slot routes, Station Casinos, Taxes, Tribal, Wisconsin | Comments Off

Smooth talk in Bridgeport; Sands Bethlehem for sale (again)?

Posted on October 25, 2017 by David McKee

“Sharp dressed, smooth talker” Uri Clinton met with Bridgeport residents in an effort to convince them that MGM Resorts International has their best interests at heart in its pursuit of Bridgeport as a casino site. Perhaps naively, Clinton hopes that … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Downtown Grand, Economy, Foxwoods, Geoff Freeman, Glenn Straub, Internet gambling, MGM Mirage, Mohegan Sun, New York, Pennsylvania, Problem gambling, Regulation, Revel, Sheldon Adelson, Taxes, Tribal, Wall Street | Comments Off

Strange bedfellows indeed; Massachusetts responds to Vegas massacre

Posted on October 17, 2017 by David McKee

Ex-Indiana Gov. Mike Pence‘s anti-casino past came back to bite him in the keester this week. A lengthy exposé reveals that, even as Pence was publicly posturing about “no expansion of gaming” in Indiana — although Pence never clearly defined … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, California, Centaur Gaming, Charity, Delaware, Donald Trump, e-sports, G2E, Gary Goett, Indiana, Internet gambling, Mandalay Bay Massacre, Maryland, Massachusetts, Nevada, Politics, Regulation, Sheldon Adelson, Station Casinos, Technology, Tribal | Comments Off

Quote of the Day

Posted on October 13, 2017 by David McKee

“Cryptocurrencies scare the devil out of many people. There is a freedom—an anonymity—about them, and that freedom is used by some to stay under the radar while doing the devil’s work. Others view it a way to have the license … Continue reading →

Posted in Internet gambling, Regulation, Technology | Comments Off

Warm September for Atlantic City

Posted on October 13, 2017 by David McKee

Things continue to look up for the Boardwalk. Last month, Atlantic City casinos showed a 2.5% revenue increase on a same-store basis. Toss the dead weight of Trump Taj Mahal out of the year/year comparison and the growth is an … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Dan Gilbert, Detroit, Entertainment, Glenn Straub, Hard Rock International, Harrah's, Internet gambling, Marketing, MGM Mirage, Mohegan Sun, Revel, Tilman Fertitta, Tropicana Entertainment, Trump Entertainment Resorts, Wall Street | Comments Off

Atlantic Club sold … again; Jackpot Blitz deemed a winner

Posted on October 12, 2017 by David McKee

Late last month, the porte cochere of the Atlantic Club collapsed. As metaphors for the long-suffering property go, you can’t get much better than that. Despite this recent debacle, owner TPM Properties has actually found a buyer for the bounced-around … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Colony Capital, Entertainment, G2E, GameCO, Harrah's, International, Internet gambling, Lake Tahoe, Mandalay Bay Massacre, Paragon Gaming, Technology, The Strip, Westgate LV | 1 Comment

Pugilism pays off for Vegas; Ho dissed by son

Posted on October 4, 2017 by David McKee

Those tomato cans Floyd Mayweather and Conor McGregor were very good for business when they battled on August 26. “It could be a while before we see money like this bet on a fight again,” said Betfair‘s Katie Baylis. Indeed. Betfair … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, Australia, Internet gambling, Japan, Lawrence Ho, Macau, Mesquite, Sports, Stanley Ho, The Strip | Comments Off

F-blew: Here we go again; Trop makes Hoosier history

Posted on September 19, 2017 by David McKee

Steven Witkoff hasn’t closed on the Fontainebleau sale yet, never mind receiving a gaming license, and he’s already being cast as the savior of the Las Vegas Strip. However, there are some dark clouds on Fontainebleau’s horizon. Despite the $1.3 … Continue reading →

Posted in Carl Icahn, Eldorado Resorts, Fontainebleau, Genting, history, Indiana, Internet gambling, LVCVA, Marketing, Massachusetts, Penn National, Pennsylvania, Regulation, Reno, Steven Witkoff, The Strip, Tropicana Entertainment | 1 Comment

Blitzkrieg

Posted on September 13, 2017 by David McKee

(This is one in an occasional series of CEO interviews.) One of the products you’ll undoubtedly see at Global Gaming Expo is an 84-inch touchscreen, multi-game product called Jackpot Blitz. It’s an effort to bring fresh and younger players to … Continue reading →

Posted in International, Internet gambling, Macau, Marketing, Regulation, Technology, The Strip | 1 Comment

Wynn scolds Japan; Dan Gilbert gets something right

Posted on September 11, 2017 by David McKee

Despite height restrictions and an indifferent (at best) local government, Steve Wynn seems hellbent on putting a casino in Tokyo. Like everybody else, he’s also looking at Yokohama and Osaka — likelier finalists in the Japan casino derby. In an … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, Dan Gilbert, Internet gambling, Japan, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Politics, Regulation, South Dakota, Steve Wynn, Taxes | 1 Comment

New player in Japan; Culinary slams Trump

Posted on September 5, 2017 by David McKee

Even as the number of front-running Japanese cities for casino developers shrinks, Yokohama and Tokyo having evidently opted out, there’s a dark-horse developer entering the sweepstakes. Macao junket operator Suncity is pledging $10 billion against the prospect of a Japanese … Continue reading →

Posted in Culinary Union, Donald Trump, Genting, International, Internet gambling, Japan, Macau, Melco Resorts & Entertainment, Problem gambling, Regulation, The Strip, Vietnam | Comments Off

Icahn’s big score

Posted on August 31, 2017 by David McKee

Did Carl Icahn just take Steven Witkoff to the cleaners? It sure looks that way. Witkoff and his associates paid, according to Bloomberg, $22 million an acre for Fontainebleau. Yes, $22 million. That figure is so dazzling I had to … Continue reading →

Posted in Carl Icahn, Fontainebleau, Genting, Internet gambling, James Packer, Maine, Marketing, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Politics, Steven Witkoff, The Strip | 1 Comment

Kansas Crossing struggles; Their indecision is final

Posted on August 29, 2017 by David McKee

Here’s a man-bites-dog story to start your day. Kansas Crossing casino is shortening hours and reducing payroll. Apparently four casinos is one too many for the Sunflower State. Although expected to rake in $3 million a month, the casino has … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, Genting, Internet gambling, Kansas, New York, Pennsylvania, Politics, Slot routes, Taxes | 1 Comment

F-blew sale rumored; New Jersey legitimizes DFS

Posted on August 28, 2017 by David McKee

According to VitalVegas, Carl Icahn finally has finally hooked a big one and the upshot will be a long-delayed sale of Fontainebleau for $650 million. Uncle Carl has long since recouped his bargain-basement purchase price by selling off everything wasn’t … Continue reading →

Posted in Affinity Gaming, Atlantic City, Boulder Strip, Boyd Gaming, Carl Icahn, Derek Stevens, Donald Trump, Downtown, Fontainebleau, Genting, GLPI, Hard Rock Hotel, Harrah's, history, Internet gambling, Lucky Dragon, LVCVA, M Resort, MGM Mirage, North Las Vegas, Palms, Penn National, Politics, SLS Las Vegas, Station Casinos, Taxes, Terry Caudill, The Strip, Wall Street, Westgate LV | 1 Comment

Adelson goes to London — sorta; Comanches zing Zinke

Posted on August 24, 2017 by David McKee

Having taken forever to build Sands Cotai Central, owner Sheldon Adelson is wasting no time re-doing it. According to Macau Business Daily, the metaresort’s four hotels — St. Regis, Sheraton Grand, Conrad and Holiday Inn — will be redecorated in a … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, Dennis Gomes, Environment, Internet gambling, Macau, Oklahoma, Regulation, Sheldon Adelson, Sports, Taxes, Texas, Tribal | Comments Off

How Conor McGregor is like Donald Trump & other news

Posted on August 23, 2017 by David McKee

Not since the election of Donald Trump have oddsmakers been poised to take such a shellacking as at this weekend’s showdown between tomato cans Floyd Mayweather Jr. and boxing debutante Conor McGregor. Despite Mayweather’s proven track record, sports books have … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, George Maloof, Harrah's, Internet gambling, MGM Mirage, Michael Gaughan, New York, PokerStars, Sports, Steve Wynn, Taxes, Technology, The Strip, Tilman Fertitta, Tribal, Westgate LV | Comments Off