Category Archives: Internet gambling

When a loss is a gain

Posted on September 12, 2014 by David McKee

Come this time next month, we could easily be reporting year/year gains in Atlantic City. Last month, as Revel and Showboat were winding down operations, the Boardwalk was only 1% off last year’s pace. Internet gambling played a role in … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Carl Icahn, Current, Economy, Harrah's, Internet gambling, Mohegan Sun, New York, Revel, Tilman Fertitta, Trump Entertainment Resorts | 1 Comment

He came to buy Atlantic City

Posted on September 12, 2014 by David McKee

Just when you thought Atlantic City had shed several casinos, they’re coming right back. Would-be Revel buyer Glenn Straub would include casino gambling in his larger strategy for the property but make it incidental to other “hobbies.” “Who in the hell … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Glenn Straub, Harrah's, Internet gambling, Politics, Regulation, Revel, Sports, Taxes, Transportation, Trump Entertainment Resorts | 2 Comments

Decision time in Boston

Posted on September 9, 2014 by David McKee

At last, the Massachusetts Gaming Commission is taking up the Steve Wynn vs. Mohegan Sun battle for a Boston-area casino. Hearings began yesterday, with one round going to each challenger. Wynn Resorts surprisingly (given its reputation) lost the swimsuit competition, … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, Cordish Co., Environment, Harrah's, Internet gambling, Maryland, Massachusetts, Mohegan Sun, Penn National, Racinos, Singapore, Steve Wynn | Comments Off

Trump bookmarks Chapter 11; Christie’s canny moves

Posted on September 9, 2014 by David McKee

Trump Entertainment Resorts is back in familiar territory: Chapter 11. It is the fourth time that minority owner Donald Trump‘s casinos have gone insolvent. He may try to wash his hands of the mess, but he gets equity for the use … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Culinary Union, Donald Trump, Harrah's, Internet gambling, Maryland, New York, Pennsylvania, Sports, Tilman Fertitta, Trump Entertainment Resorts | 2 Comments

Trump card played; NBA embraces sports betting

Posted on September 5, 2014 by David McKee

Can casino-based Internet gambling keep going after the host casino has ceased to be? That’s the existential question faced by New Jersey regulators. Although it is closing Trump Plaza, owner Trump Entertainment Resorts wants to continue the property’s online-gambling platform, … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Golden Gaming, Internet gambling, Sports, Technology, Trump Entertainment Resorts | 1 Comment

Illinois: Adding insult to injury; Sheldon’s nuisance

Posted on August 29, 2014 by David McKee

Casino-based slot machines in Illinois are now outnumbered by ones in convenience stores, bars and truck stops. To make the challenge even worse, the Legislature — which goes out of its way to kneecap the Land of Lincoln’s existing casinos … Continue reading →

Posted in Illinois, Internet gambling, Macau, Sheldon Adelson, Slot routes, West Virginia | Comments Off

Loveman’s big score; Slots come to Dayton

Posted on August 28, 2014 by David McKee

“You’re in Baltimore, baby, it says so right there, in big gray block letters on a smokestack at the trash plant just past the entrance.” Caesars Entertainment CEO Gary Loveman, long celebrated as the wizard of database market, also finds … Continue reading →

Posted in Baseball, Cordish Co., Genting, Harrah's, Internet gambling, Marketing, Maryland, Ohio, Penn National, Pinnacle Entertainment, Racinos, Sheldon Adelson, Singapore, The Strip, Transportation, Vietnam | Comments Off

Dispatch from the Boardwalk

Posted on August 13, 2014 by David McKee

As Revel informs the bankruptcy court that it’s dickering with “potential” bidders, a new set of gaming numbers rolls in with the tide. Subtracting the Atlantic Club Hotel from the comparisons, Atlantic City is down 7% year/year. Online gaming revenue, … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Boyd Gaming, Harrah's, Internet gambling, Mohegan Sun, Revel, Tilman Fertitta, Tropicana Entertainment, Trump Entertainment Resorts | 2 Comments

The majesty of the law

Posted on August 12, 2014 by David McKee

For years New Jersey casino regulators have had to endure legislative backchat that they’re overstepping their authority. This week, lawmakers learned that such regulatory authority doesn’t extend as far as they thought. Even in its most dire straits, the Tropicana … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Harrah's, Internet gambling, Massachusetts, Regulation, Sheldon Adelson, Steve Wynn, Trump Entertainment Resorts | 1 Comment

MGM’s comeback; Packer’s presumption

Posted on August 12, 2014 by David McKee

MGM Resorts International is feeling optimistic about getting back into Atlantic City (at a time when so many are getting out), to the point of talking about it publicly. “Borgata continues to be the market leader. We’re pretty excited to be able … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, Atlantic City, Boyd Gaming, Genting, Harrah's, International, Internet gambling, James Packer, Macau, MGM Mirage, New York, Pansy Ho, Regulation, Singapore, Stanley Ho, The Strip | 3 Comments

Caesars’ unmagical empire

Posted on August 11, 2014 by David McKee

Caesars Entertainment ” hasn’t posted a profit since late 2009″ and it kept that perfect streak alive today, more than doubling its 2Q13 loss of $212 million. The company lost $466 million — and I don’t think we can blame it … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Harrah's, Internet gambling, Iowa, Maryland, Pennsylvania, Regulation, Reno, Revel, The Strip, Tribal, Wall Street | Comments Off

No gold rush in California

Posted on August 11, 2014 by David McKee

In a huge setback for Internet gambling, California‘s legislature is calling it a day. State Sen. Lou Correa (D) is not only withdrawing his i-gaming bill from consideration, he’s being termed out at the end of the session, so the cause … Continue reading →

Posted in California, Harrah's, International, Internet gambling, Isle of Capri, James Packer, Melco Crown Entertainment, Missouri, Ohio, Penn National, Pinnacle Entertainment, Politics, Regulation, Sheldon Adelson, Tropicana Entertainment | Comments Off

Good Caesars and Bad Caesars

Posted on August 6, 2014 by David McKee

That’s how a bondholder lawsuit distinguishes between Caesars Entertainment Operating Co. and Caesars Growth Partners. It castigates the toga-clad companies for — for instance — transferring Caesars Interactive (worth: $779 million) “for little or no consideration.” Similarly, Octavius Tower and … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Harrah's, Internet gambling, Louisiana, The Strip, Tilman Fertitta, Wall Street | Comments Off

Illiterate and accused; Revel: Rewarding failure

Posted on July 31, 2014 by David McKee

People who state their career goal as “trynna get rich” should probably be arrested for crimes against the English language. In the case of Izyiah Plummer (right), though, the charges are much more grave: the July 21 armed robbery of Caesars … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Harrah's, Herbst Gaming, Internet gambling, Louisiana, Maryland, Planet Hollywood, Revel, The Strip, Tropicana Entertainment, Wall Street | Comments Off

Wynn: Most happy fella

Posted on July 30, 2014 by David McKee

We’ve gotten to inured to headlines that say such-and-such a quarter was “rescued by Macao” that I did a double-take today. The lead item on a newsletter was “Wynn Resorts Q2 results boosted by Las Vegas.” It’s nice that the … Continue reading →

Posted in Bally Technologies, IGT, International, Internet gambling, Macau, Scientific Games, Sheldon Adelson, Sports, Steve Wynn, The Strip, Wall Street | Comments Off

Gaming industry gets mixed notices

Posted on July 23, 2014 by David McKee

American Gaming Association data on the health of the casino industry continues to be parceled out. Today we learned that Louisiana has 2.2X as many casino employees as Ohio but they make 2.7X as much. Mind you, the Buckeye State’s … Continue reading →

Posted in Economy, IGT, International, Internet gambling, Louisiana, Ohio, Racinos, Wall Street | Comments Off

Power play in Vegas; Positive talk in Pennsylvania

Posted on July 22, 2014 by David McKee

Las Vegas Sands and Bwin shareholder, and all-around string-puller Jason Ader is committing 350 million of (other people’s) dollars to bringing a Major League Soccer franchise to Las Vegas. Much of the investment would be realized through the EB-5 visa … Continue reading →

Posted in Downtown, Harrah's, International, Internet gambling, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Regulation, Sports, Tribal | Comments Off

Take my casino, please; Nail-biter in Iowa

Posted on July 17, 2014 by David McKee

Rather than accept three potential casino closings as a fait accompli, Unite-Here is out beating the bushes for potential buyers. Given, the casinos aren’t Unite-Here’s to sell but there’s no law that says the union can’t play matchmaker. “We want the world … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Carl Icahn, Columbia Sussex, GTECH, Hard Rock International, Harrah's, IGT, Internet gambling, Iowa, Penn National, Regulation, Revel, Technology, Tropicana Entertainment, Trump Entertainment Resorts | 1 Comment

Russian roulette in Boston

Posted on July 16, 2014 by David McKee

Due to Boston Mayor Martin Walsh‘s refusal to go to arbitration with Wynn Resorts, the Massachusetts Gaming Commission finds itself in an unexpected role. It’s mulling other surrounding-community agreements from around the state and trying to measure the economic impact … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Delaware, Foxwoods, Genting, International, Internet gambling, Massachusetts, MGM Mirage, Mohegan Sun, New York, Regulation, Rhode Island, Steve Wynn | Comments Off

Terra incognita

Posted on July 15, 2014 by David McKee

Boldly going where no tribe has gone before, the Iipay Nation of Santa Ysabel is days from launching PrivateTable.com. In the Iipay Nation’s viewpoint, tribal sovereignty overrides California law, permitting it to go it alone as an i-poker provider. The idea … Continue reading →

Posted in California, Downtown, Internet gambling, Regulation, Slot routes, Station Casinos, Tribal | Comments Off