Category Archives: Iowa

Unlucky Dragon; Gaughan plays Lady Bountiful

Posted on January 8, 2018 by David McKee

Business at the semi-defunct Lucky Dragon casino must have really been sucking wind if it closed six weeks before Chinese New Year, which one would expect to be the property’s sweet spot. Lucky Dragon management is putting a brave face … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Harrah's, International, Iowa, Japan, Louisiana, Lucky Dragon, Macau, Massachusetts, MGM Mirage, Michael Gaughan, Regulation, SLS Las Vegas, Sociedade de Jogos de Macau, Taxes, The Strip, Wall Street | 1 Comment

The Deal of the Year

Posted on December 19, 2017 by David McKee

Ever-ravenous Penn National Gaming gulped down Pinnacle Entertainment over the weekend, paying $2.8 billion for a collection of top-quality gaming assets. Among other benefits, the deal strengthens Penn’s position in its home state, as it gets The Meadows racino, doubling … Continue reading →

Posted in Ameristar, Boyd Gaming, Colorado, Economy, Eldorado Resorts, GLPI, International, Iowa, Louisiana, Massachusetts, Missouri, Ohio, Penn National, Pennsylvania, Pinnacle Entertainment, Racinos, Station Casinos, Taxes, Tourism, Transportation, Wall Street | 3 Comments

Good news for Sheldon and other Case Bets

Posted on November 30, 2017 by David McKee

Singapore‘s casinos are looking at an up year in 2018, according to normally cautious Fitch Ratings analyst Alex Bumazhny. “Singapore [gross gaming revenue] grew by around 10 percent year-on-year in first half 2017, after falling by around 30 percent over 2015 to … Continue reading →

Posted in Ameristar, Australia, Crown Resorts, Genting, Harrah's, International, Iowa, Law enforcement, Mandalay Bay Massacre, Pinnacle Entertainment, Regulation, Sheldon Adelson, Singapore, The Crown 18, Tribal, Wall Street | Comments Off

Case Bets

Posted on November 28, 2017 by David McKee

Council Bluffs, Iowa, isn’t reacting so well to the revival of a 2007 casino plan by the Ponca Tribe of Nebraska to open in nearby Carter Lake. First off, the proposed site was ostensibly intended for an as-yet-unbuilt tribal medical … Continue reading →

Posted in Ameristar, Atlantic City, Harrah's, Iowa, Japan, Mandalay Bay Massacre, MGM Mirage, Regulation, Sports, Taxes, Tribal | Comments Off

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

Caesars bets on Hoosier tracks; Trump precedent revisted

Posted on November 20, 2017 by David McKee

Centaur Gaming, benefactor of Mike Pence (not that it did them any good), is back in the news. Caesars Entertainment already owns the two most lucrative casinos in Indiana, is doubling down on its commitment to the Hoosier State. By … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, CityCenter, Donald Trump, Economy, Harrah's, Indiana, Iowa, Nevada, Racinos, Regulation, Tourism, Transportation, Tribal, Wisconsin | 1 Comment

Clean slate at Caesars; Heresy at G2E; Another Revel mystery

Posted on October 9, 2017 by David McKee

“Twenty-five years ago Caesars [Entertainment] was the premier name internationally but they dropped the ball,” said C.G. Anderson Partners analyst Greg Bousquette of the company that must find a way to become relevant after spending years snarled in debt, then in … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Colorado, Economy, Entertainment, G2E, Glenn Straub, Harrah's, Iowa, Japan, Macau, Mandalay Bay Massacre, Neil Bluhm, New York, Pennsylvania, Regulation, Revel, Singapore, South Korea, Technology, The Strip, Wall Street | Comments Off

Galaxy dominates Macao; Costner’s casino flops

Posted on September 1, 2017 by David McKee

For a company that entered Macao with zero casino experience, Galaxy Entertainment is taking the veterans to school. In 2Q17, its cash flow grew 45%, to $420 million, a figure not seen since 2012. Galaxy is also leading the pack in terms … Continue reading →

Posted in Economy, Galaxy Entertainment, Iowa, Macau, Melco Resorts & Entertainment, MGM Mirage, Movies, Paragon Gaming, Sahara, Sam Nazarian, Sheldon Adelson, SLS Las Vegas, Sociedade de Jogos de Macau, South Dakota, Steve Wynn, Wall Street | Comments Off

Fertitta scourges Pelican State rules; Macao biz booms for Wynn

Posted on August 21, 2017 by David McKee

“Let’s not kid ourselves: that barge is concrete. It’s not going anywhere.” With those words, Tilman Fertitta launched one of several broadsides at absurd Louisiana regulations on casinos. Not only do Pelican State casinos still have to sit in water, … Continue reading →

Posted in Boyd Gaming, Churchill Downs, Eldorado Resorts, Entertainment, Environment, Foxwoods, GLPI, Greenwood Racing, Harrah's, Internet gambling, Iowa, Isle of Capri, Japan, Louisiana, Macau, MGM Mirage, Pennsylvania, Pinnacle Entertainment, Politics, Problem gambling, Racinos, Regulation, Sheldon Adelson, Steve Wynn, Tilman Fertitta, Tropicana Entertainment, Warner Gaming | Comments Off

Mohegan Sun rules; Conflict over e-sports

Posted on July 25, 2017 by David McKee

Executives at Mohegan Gaming Entertainment can take a victory lap this morning. Readers of USA Today voted Mohegan Sun the finest casino in America, edging out Caesars Palace for the top spot. Bracketing Caesars was another tribal casino, Pechanga Resort … Continue reading →

Posted in Arizona, Atlantic City, California, Downtown, e-sports, Foxwoods, Harrah's, Iowa, Louisiana, MGM Mirage, Mohegan Sun, Pinnacle Entertainment, Regulation, Reno, Sheldon Adelson, Station Casinos, Steve Wynn, The Strip, Tourism, Tribal | 2 Comments

Cuomo’s missed bet; Next stop, Vietnam

Posted on July 13, 2017 by David McKee

Resorts World Catskills still hasn’t weighed in and yet it’s already looking like New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo‘s bet on upstate casinos has crapped out. After an initial flurry of lookie-lous, the first three casinos are struggling to regain their … Continue reading →

Posted in Economy, Eldorado Resorts, Genting, Internet gambling, Iowa, Japan, Neil Bluhm, New York, Pennsylvania, Politics, Regulation, Slot routes, Vietnam | Comments Off

Okada in the cross-hairs; Oregon poker rooms (sorta) saved

Posted on June 22, 2017 by David McKee

Could it be? Dare we hope? Gamey gaming mogul Kazuo Okada is in danger of losing his Nevada license. (Steve Wynn is quietly celebrating somewhere.) Already he’s been suspended by his own company, Universal Entertainment Corp., and his dreams of … Continue reading →

Posted in Cordish Co., Greenwood Racing, Iowa, Isle of Capri, Japan, Kazuo Okada, Missouri, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Politics, Regulation, Sports, Steve Wynn, Texas, Westgate LV | Comments Off

Sands Bethlehem sale fizzles; Packer peddles Alon acreage

Posted on May 25, 2017 by David McKee

For the second time, Las Vegas Sands has decided that Sands Bethlehem was too valuable to sell, especially after it set a state record for table game revenue. (Earlier, Sands was bruited to be in talks with Tropicana Entertainment to … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Charity, Eldorado Resorts, Harrah's, Internet gambling, Iowa, Isle of Capri, James Packer, Macau, Melco Crown Entertainment, MGM Mirage, Pennsylvania, Phil Ruffin, Sheldon Adelson, Slot routes, Steve Wynn, The Strip, Tropicana Entertainment | Comments Off

Packer bows out; Adelson puts moves on Brazil

Posted on May 12, 2017 by David McKee

There’s now 100% less “Crown” in Melco Crown Entertainment. Colorful casino baron James Packer has sold his share in the company for $1.2 billion. Reuters describes the move as “ending a fraught offshore expansion and freeing up cash for new … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, Atlantic City, Australia, Boyd Gaming, Harrah's, International, Internet gambling, Iowa, James Packer, Japan, Lawrence Ho, Melco Crown Entertainment, MGM Mirage, Mohegan Sun, Politics, Problem gambling, Regulation, Sheldon Adelson, Sports, Station Casinos, The Crown 18, The Strip, Wall Street | Comments Off

Wynn: Paradise deferred

Posted on April 26, 2017 by David McKee

Perhaps it’s the distraction caused by casino legalization in Japan. Perhaps it’s the cost creep (now up to $2.4 billion) at Wynn Boston Harbor. Whatever the reason, Wynn Resorts has scaled down its plans for Wynn Paradise Park. Rest assured, … Continue reading →

Posted in Ameristar, Economy, Entertainment, Indiana, Iowa, Macau, Massachusetts, Mississippi, Steve Wynn, The Strip, Wall Street, Warner Gaming | Comments Off

Conservatives diss Adelson; Penn loses court battle

Posted on April 21, 2017 by David McKee

If Attorney General Jeff Sessions goes ahead with a ban on Internet gambling, he could be in for a world of hurt. Never mind the states with online casinos. He’d be messing with the states that have online lotteries, a … Continue reading →

Posted in Charity, Donald Trump, Florida, Genting, Internet gambling, Iowa, Penn National, Pennsylvania, Politics, Regulation, Sheldon Adelson, Taxes | 1 Comment

Saturation in Ohio; Japan: Go big or go home

Posted on April 17, 2017 by David McKee

Ohio Gov. John Kasich (R) leveled the playing field when he allowed third-party racinos to join the juiced-in Penn National Gaming and Caesars Entertainment casinos in the Buckeye State. The question now is how level a playing field is a … Continue reading →

Posted in Detroit, Economy, Genting, GLPI, Hard Rock International, Harrah's, International, Internet gambling, Iowa, Japan, New York, Ohio, Penn National, Pennsylvania, Pinnacle Entertainment, Technology, Wall Street | Comments Off

Governors to Sessions: Butt out!

Posted on April 11, 2017 by David McKee

If Attorney General Jeff Sessions was thinking about re-reinterpreting the Federal Wire Act, he might want to think again. The National Governors Association composed a letter to Sessions in which it said, “States are best equipped to enforce and regulate … Continue reading →

Posted in Internet gambling, Iowa, Minnesota, Politics, Tribal | Comments Off

Wynn shows Adelson up; Schenectady casino opens tonight

Posted on February 8, 2017 by David McKee

Contrary to crude insinuations by the Las Vegas Review-Journal, Steve Wynn‘s gift of $7 million in company stock late last year went mainly toward medical research at the University of Iowa’s Wynn Institute for Vision Research ($5 million), while another $1.7 … Continue reading →

Posted in Animals, Charity, Economy, Harrah's, Iowa, Maine, Marketing, Neil Bluhm, New York, Sheldon Adelson, Sports, Steve Wynn, Technology, The Strip, Tribal | 1 Comment

Penn National backpedals; Feral bunnies terrorize Vegas

Posted on February 2, 2017 by David McKee

Penn National Gaming released fourth-quarter numbers and, according to Deutsche Bank‘s Carlo Santarelli acknowledged a “difficult start” at Hollywood Jamul (this despite having an extra-long runway to get the new property aloft). Santarelli called the tribal casino a “drag” on … Continue reading →

Posted in Animals, Atlantic City, California, Dining, Donald Trump, Election, Glenn Straub, GLPI, Hard Rock International, history, Illinois, Iowa, Japan, Macau, Marketing, Penn National, Regulation, Revel, Sheldon Adelson, Slot routes, Steve Wynn, Technology, The Strip, Tribal, Trump Entertainment Resorts, Wall Street, West Virginia | Comments Off