Category Archives: Internet gambling

Epic failure in Florida; Epic blowhard in Vegas

Posted on February 3, 2012 by David McKee

Neither the very conspicuous efforts of Genting Berhad and Las Vegas Sands nor the quieter ones of Wynn Resorts and Caesars Entertainment were sufficient to overcome entrenched conservatism in the Florida Legislature. State Rep. Erik Fresen (R) waved the surrender … Continue reading →

Posted in Current, Donald Trump, Economy, Election, Genting, Harrah's, Internet gambling, Isle of Capri, Politics, Racinos, Regulation, Sheldon Adelson, Steve Wynn, The Strip, Tribal | 1 Comment

Illinois: They shoot horses, don’t they?; Friday film festival

Posted on January 20, 2012 by David McKee

Score another round for Illinois Gov. Pat Quinn (D): By threatening a drawn-out negotiation process that would put casino expansion hard up against election season — with lawmakers facing the terra incognita of redrawn districts — he may have forced … Continue reading →

Posted in Economy, Election, Environment, Harrah's, Horseracing, Illinois, Internet gambling, Missouri, Ohio, Penn National, Politics, Racinos, Regulation, Rhode Island, Taxes, Tribal | Comments Off on Illinois: They shoot horses, don’t they?; Friday film festival

Florida: How much is too much?; Sheldon Adelson, ventriloquist

Posted on January 20, 2012 by David McKee

Those $2 billion megaresorts mooted for Florida will have a much easier time making their nut if state Rep. Erik Fresen (R, left) holds sway. In an attempt to woo recalcitrant conservatives, Fresen is proposing various restraints on gambling’s growth … Continue reading →

Posted in Economy, Election, Florida, Fontainebleau, Genting, International, Internet gambling, Isle of Capri, Macau, Politics, Racinos, Sheldon Adelson, Tourism | 1 Comment

Another domino wobbles; Western, R.I.P.; Fighting over pocket change?

Posted on January 17, 2012 by David McKee

Add South Carolina to the list of states that could be suddenly taking a more favorable view of casino gambling. What the United Keetowa Band of Cherokee Indians is pitching have to be compacted with Gov. Nikki Haley (R, right). … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, California, Downtown, history, Internet gambling, Iowa, Kansas, Missouri, Ohio, Penn National, Politics, Regulation, South Carolina, Tamares Group, Tribal | 2 Comments

Train robbery in D.C.

Posted on January 16, 2012 by David McKee

As the online-gambling gravy train begins leaving in the station, members of Congress are making one last attempt to derail it. After all, once New Jersey, Illinois, California, the District of Columbia and so forth set up shop as havens … Continue reading →

Posted in California, Columbia Sussex, Cordish Co., Current, Harrah's, Harry Reid, Illinois, Indiana, Internet gambling, Politics, Problem gambling, Racinos, Regulation, Taxes, Tropicana Entertainment | Comments Off on Train robbery in D.C.

Adelson: Whining our future; The online deluge

Posted on January 9, 2012 by David McKee

Apparently there’s no avoiding what has become the story of the day: Sheldon Adelson‘s $5 million dowry to presidential aspirant Newt Gingrich. It’s a gift that comes with a substantial pre-nup; if Gingrich falters in South Carolina, American Crossroads and … Continue reading →

Posted in Alex Yemenidjian, Atlantic City, Boyd Gaming, Colony Capital, Current, Economy, Election, Florida, George Maloof, Harrah's, Harry Reid, Hooters, International, Internet gambling, Marketing, Massachusetts, MGM Mirage, Pennsylvania, Politics, Regulation, Sheldon Adelson, South Carolina, The Strip, Wall Street | 4 Comments

Fight the power

Posted on December 2, 2011 by David McKee

PROTECT IP / SOPA Breaks The Internet from Fight for the Future on Vimeo. Sheldon Adelson and Steve Wynn are huge admirers of the despotic government of China, which censors the Internet wholesale. So I’m sure they just lurve this … Continue reading →

Posted in Current, Internet gambling, Macau, Regulation, Sheldon Adelson, Steve Wynn, Technology | Comments Off on Fight the power

iTrump, scandal, Sachs and tax

Posted on October 21, 2011 by David McKee

Cyber-Trump. Faux ex-presidential candidate and NBC-TV comedy star Donald Trump has made his views known on Internet gambling … like anybody cares. Prepare for a shocker, folks. The Donald is — Gasp! — in favor of it. There was, of … Continue reading →

Posted in Alabama, Atlantic City, Carl Icahn, Colony Capital, Cretins, Culinary Union, Current, Detroit, Don Barden, Economy, Election, Goldman Sachs, Harrah's, Internet gambling, MGM Mirage, Station Casinos, Steve Wynn, Taxes, The Strip, Tourism | 1 Comment

Strangest gambling scandal ever?

Posted on October 18, 2011 by David McKee

Politics and gambling have literally gone to the dogs in West Virginia. A certain Harry Marshall Rae has pleaded ‘not guilty’ to attempted extortion of Gov.-elect Earl Ray Tomblin (D). At issue is an alleged $50,000 demand — placed on … Continue reading →

Posted in Animals, Current, Internet gambling, Politics, Racinos, The Mob, West Virginia | Comments Off on Strangest gambling scandal ever?

Breakthrough in Massachusetts

Posted on October 13, 2011 by David McKee

This just in … the Massachusetts state Senate voted 24-14 to send casino legalization on to a conference committee, where the House’s version — passed with a crushing majority — already reposes. Differences between the two versions, obviously, will have … Continue reading →

Posted in Bally Technologies, Current, Economy, Florida, Genting, Harrah's, Horseracing, IGT, Internet gambling, Movies, Penn National, Pennsylvania, Politics, Racinos, Regulation, Sheldon Adelson, Slot routes, Sports, Steve Wynn, Taxes, Tribal, Wall Street, WMS Industries | Comments Off on Breakthrough in Massachusetts

Monopoly over Miami

Posted on October 4, 2011 by David McKee

A recent visitor to Las Vegas from the Pacific Rim told me that Sheldon Adelson has worn out his welcome in Macao (which is on pace to eclipse all other gaming markets combined) and is fast doing so in Singapore. … Continue reading →

Posted in Archon Corp., Current, Economy, Florida, Genting, Harrah's, Internet gambling, Laughlin, Macau, Massachusetts, New York, Pennsylvania, Politics, Racinos, Sheldon Adelson, Singapore, Stanley Ho, Steve Wynn, Taxes, Wall Street | Comments Off on Monopoly over Miami

Shakedown at G2E; Riviera quits Colorado, Trump quits humanity

Posted on September 30, 2011 by David McKee

Our beloved casino industry runneth over with individuals, companies and even sovereign nations that have a vested interest in the legalization of Internet poker … and more. Rep. Joe Barton (R-TX, left) knows this, which is why he’s coming to … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Colorado, Current, Dennis Gomes, Donald Trump, Economy, Election, G2E, Internet gambling, Marketing, Politics, Regulation, Reno, Riviera, Sheldon Adelson, Steve Wynn, The Strip | Comments Off on Shakedown at G2E; Riviera quits Colorado, Trump quits humanity

“The Paddy Factor”

Posted on September 29, 2011 by David McKee

(For film buffs: “The Paddy Factor” was the working title of what became the classic gangster movie, The Long Good Friday … and the rest was history.) A new “Paddy factor” got flung into the Vegas equation this week when … Continue reading →

Posted in Current, Harrah's, Horseracing, Illinois, International, Internet gambling, MGM Mirage, Movies, Politics, Racinos, Regulation, Sheldon Adelson, Slot routes, Steve Wynn, Taxes, Technology, The Strip | 1 Comment

Tropicana of Cancer; Bucking the system

Posted on September 27, 2011 by David McKee

Alex Yemenidjian‘s efforts to reboot the Tropicana Las Vegas are sputtering quite badly these days. First, there’s the much-reported mess that is the Mob Experience, currently on the lam from foreclosure. Then a three-month extension of Gladys Knight‘s A Mic … Continue reading →

Posted in Alex Yemenidjian, Atlantic City, Current, Entertainment, Illinois, International, Internet gambling, Neil Bluhm, Regulation, The Strip, Tourism | 2 Comments

G2E 2011: No big deal?

Posted on September 27, 2011 by David McKee

I’ve been debating whether or not to give Global Gaming Expo a pass this year and this morning’s dispatch from Deutsche Bank‘s Carlo Santarelli didn’t exactly quicken my pulse. His prediction? A “quiet” G2E, due to slow growth in the … Continue reading →

Posted in CityCenter, Current, Economy, G2E, International, Internet gambling, James Packer, Lawrence Ho, Macau, Marketing, Melco Crown Entertainment, MGM Mirage, Regulation, Sheldon Adelson, Stanley Ho, Steve Wynn, Tourism, Wall Street | Comments Off on G2E 2011: No big deal?

Caesars’ big Asian bet; Playing with yourself in Vegas

Posted on September 23, 2011 by David McKee

It’s amazing what you can do when you simply punt your debt burden a few years down the road. In the case of Caesars Entertainment, it means you’ve got an extra $470 million lying around to build Caesars Palace Longmu … Continue reading →

Posted in Alex Yemenidjian, Architecture, Current, Election, Harrah's, International, Internet gambling, M Resort, Macau, Marketing, MGM Mirage, Movies, Penn National, Regulation, Sheldon Adelson, Tamares Group, Taxes, Technology, Warner Gaming | Comments Off on Caesars’ big Asian bet; Playing with yourself in Vegas

Quote of the Day

Posted on September 22, 2011 by David McKee

“But land-based operators, particularly casinos, have one enormous disadvantage: They have all the expenses connected with massive real estate holdings and tens of thousands of employees. Online casinos are cheaper to set up and cost less to maintain, even including … Continue reading →

Posted in Economy, Harrah's, Internet gambling | Comments Off on Quote of the Day

At long last, Octavius; Power plays at Hilton, Beso

Posted on September 14, 2011 by David McKee

Good news for whales and business travelers: The long-in-abeyance Octavius Tower at Caesars Palace has been finished inside and out, and will open for business on Jan. 2, 2012. The ginormous, high-tech hotel rooms are perfect for the customer with … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, California, CityCenter, Colony Capital, Current, Dining, Goldman Sachs, Harrah's, Internet gambling, The Strip, Tilman Fertitta, Tourism | 1 Comment

Boardwalk brinkmanship

Posted on September 13, 2011 by David McKee

As the hours tick away toward this week’s expiration of labor agreements at nine Atlantic City casinos, managements are all but daring Culinary Union parent Unite Here to strike. Caesars Entertainment had the brass to declare it was continuing “to … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Boyd Gaming, Colony Capital, Culinary Union, Current, Dennis Gomes, Detroit, Economy, Harrah's, International, Internet gambling, Marketing, MGM Mirage, Neil Bluhm, Pennsylvania, Racinos, Regulation | 2 Comments

How to get things done in Macao? Bribery!

Posted on September 12, 2011 by David McKee

OK, so it’s called “paying a premium,” but Steve Wynn finally pried 51 acres of Cotai Strip™ landfill real estate loose from Macao by forking over $193 million ($3.8 million an acre), plus annual lease payments. In return. he’s got … Continue reading →

Posted in Current, Election, Florida, Genting, International, Internet gambling, James Packer, Lawrence Ho, Macau, Melco Crown Entertainment, MGM Mirage, Politics, Racinos, Regulation, Sheldon Adelson, Stanley Ho, Steve Wynn, Tribal, Wall Street | Comments Off on How to get things done in Macao? Bribery!