Category Archives: Iowa

Strip booms in October; Trouble in Tiverton

Posted on November 29, 2016 by David McKee

Not even a 16.5% decline in table wagers could hold back the Las Vegas Strip last month, as gaming revenues shot up 14%, to $563 million. Statewide, casinos didn’t do so badly either, up 11%. The one-armed bandits on the … Continue reading →

Posted in Boulder Strip, Downtown, Economy, Foxwoods, history, Iowa, Japan, Lake Tahoe, Laughlin, Lucky Dragon, Macau, Massachusetts, Mesquite, Mohegan Sun, Nevada, North Las Vegas, Penn National, Rhode Island, Taxes, The Strip | 1 Comment

All right in Atlantic City; Trump: The Asia connection

Posted on November 28, 2016 by David McKee

Columnist Steve Ruddock recently took a deep dive into Atlantic City and found the water to be just fine, thank you. He didn’t just mean his hotel room at Resorts Atlantic City, which he deemed cleaner and better-maintained than many … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Boyd Gaming, Carl Icahn, Donald Trump, Glenn Straub, Harrah's, International, Iowa, Massachusetts, MGM Mirage, Mohegan Sun, Penn National, Regulation, Revel, Tilman Fertitta, Tropicana Entertainment, Trump Entertainment Resorts, Vietnam | 1 Comment

New player in Moulin Rouge saga; Jersey casino backers try to save face

Posted on October 14, 2016 by David McKee

There’s another entrant in the perpetual sweepstakes to redevelop the Moulin Rouge site. This time it’s British firm Psi Key Entertainment. It is proposing a 1,288-room hotel for the acreage. However, Psi Key’s redevelopment plans have to be taken with … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Boyd Gaming, Dining, Downtown, Eldorado Resorts, Election, Hooters, Iowa, Isle of Capri, Marketing, Missouri, Moulin Rouge, Palms, Politics, Station Casinos, The Strip, Westgate LV | 1 Comment

Pittsburgh pleads with Rivers Casino; Strong numbers from Maryland, Illinois

Posted on October 7, 2016 by David McKee

Pittsburgh is essentially saying “Pretty please” to Rush Street Gaming‘s Rivers Casino, begging the latter to keep voluntarily paying $10 million a year to the city, even though Rush Street is no longer under any legal obligation to do so. Pittsburgh Finance … Continue reading →

Posted in Boyd Gaming, Cordish Co., Cosmopolitan, GLPI, Golden Gaming, Harrah's, Illinois, Iowa, Maryland, MGM Mirage, Neil Bluhm, Penn National, Pennsylvania, Racinos, Taxes, Technology, The Strip | 6 Comments

Arkansas casino proposal hotly contested; Straub gains support

Posted on September 19, 2016 by David McKee

Although a ballot initiative to legalize casinos in three Arkansas counties could draw some gambling dollars away from Oklahoma, that hasn’t stopped a Sooner State tribe from supporting it. Cherokee Nation Businesses has ponied up $400,000 to support the ballot … Continue reading →

Posted in Arkansas, Atlantic City, Glenn Straub, Horseracing, Internet gambling, Iowa, Missouri, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Politics, Racinos, Regulation, Revel, Tribal | Comments Off

Freeman’s crusade; Gilbert struggles in Ohio

Posted on September 7, 2016 by David McKee

To describe the new-look American Gaming Association as “activist” would be an understatement of some magnitude. President Geoff Freeman has put the pedal to the metal in his quest for legalized sports betting. Today, Freeman mounted his bully pulpit in … Continue reading →

Posted in Dan Gilbert, Eldorado Resorts, Geoff Freeman, Hard Rock International, Internet gambling, Iowa, New York, Ohio, Penn National, Pennsylvania, Pinnacle Entertainment, Regulation, Sports, Taxes | 2 Comments

Packer in a pickle?; Adelson speaks, R-J listens; Big casino sale in Philippines

Posted on August 29, 2016 by David McKee

We haven’t been able to confirm for certain whether or not James Packer‘s latest attempt to conquer Las Vegas, the casino-resort Alon, is definitely kaput. It definitely hasn’t evolved beyond some exquisitely vague, bare-bones documents filed with Clark County. However, we … Continue reading →

Posted in Australia, Environment, International, Internet gambling, Iowa, James Packer, MGM Mirage, Mississippi, Philippines, Problem gambling, Regulation, Sheldon Adelson, Sports, Taxes, The Strip, Tilman Fertitta, Tribal | Comments Off

New casinos propel Iowa; Cal Neva goes bankrupt

Posted on August 8, 2016 by David McKee

We don’t report Iowa casino results very much, partly because the market overwhelmingly consists of small casinos with grosses to match. Given their modest grosses, a minor fluctuation can be magnified. Even so, last month’s 5% bounce is worth discussing. … Continue reading →

Posted in Ameristar, Boyd Gaming, Dan Gilbert, Eldorado Resorts, Election, Harrah's, Iowa, Isle of Capri, Lake Tahoe, Massachusetts, Ohio, Penn National, Pinnacle Entertainment, Reno, Scientific Games, Wall Street, Warner Gaming | Comments Off

Big win for Wynn; Entertainer gets shrunken head

Posted on July 20, 2016 by David McKee

It’s never too late to count out litigious Somerville Mayor Joseph Curtatone but it looks like Wynn Boston Harbor may finally be inevitable. The casino project received a development permit from the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection. Sore losers Mohegan … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Entertainment, Iowa, Louisiana, Macau, Massachusetts, Mohegan Sun, Regulation, Steve Wynn, Transportation, Tropicana Entertainment, Unite-Here | Comments Off

The card-room hustle; Sheldon, can you spare $6 million?

Posted on July 15, 2016 by David McKee

“In the 16 years we’ve been down there, I’ve paid the city $80.5 million in tax revenue. We saved the city from bankruptcy. We’ve been paying the city payroll including the Police Department for the last 16 years and I don’t … Continue reading →

Posted in California, Election, Internet gambling, Iowa, Ohio, Oklahoma, Sheldon Adelson, Taxes, Tribal, Warner Gaming | Comments Off

Acrimony grows at Taj; Racism in Nebraska election race

Posted on July 14, 2016 by David McKee

As protests against Carl Icahn spilled over into New York City, his casino CEO, Anthony Rodio, sent ominously mixed signals about the future of Trump Taj Mahal. On the one hand, he offered a partial restoration of health benefits and … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Boyd Gaming, Carl Icahn, Donald Trump, Entertainment, Galaxy Entertainment, Iowa, Lake Tahoe, Macau, MGM Mirage, Minnesota, Nebraska, Racinos, Regulation, Tribal, Tropicana Entertainment, Unite-Here | Comments Off

Poker hands across the ocean; New offer in Caesars bankruptcy

Posted on July 13, 2016 by David McKee

Spurning Nevada and Delaware, the state of New Jersey is exploring an online-poker compact with the United Kingdom. The deal, if consummated, would allow the two entities to share players and liquidity. “Even when you discount children and non-gamblers, it gives … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Glenn Straub, Harrah's, International, Internet gambling, Iowa, MGM Mirage, Regulation, Revel, Technology, The Strip, Transportation, Warner Gaming | Comments Off

NHL makes it official; Isle opens new casino

Posted on June 23, 2016 by David McKee

Fortunately, it looks like we won’t have to worry about our NHL-franchise-to-be playing under a cliched name like “Las Vegas Gamblers.” Says majority owner Bill Foley, speaking of the league, “They’d prefer we don’t go in that direction.” Also, Foley seems … Continue reading →

Posted in Donald Trump, Election, Entertainment, Iowa, Isle of Capri, Maryland, MGM Mirage, New York, Rhode Island, Sports, The Mob, The Strip, Westgate LV | Comments Off

Indiana celebrates 20 years of casinos; Racinos gain traction in Nebraska

Posted on June 13, 2016 by David McKee

“I read that one of the steel plants is closing more lines. We have 70 jobs open right now,” says Horseshoe Hammond General Manager Dan Nita, alluding to the resiliency of the Indiana casino industry, which is celebrating 20 years. … Continue reading →

Posted in Ameristar, Don Barden, Donald Trump, Economy, Election, Entertainment, Genting, Harrah's, Indiana, Iowa, Majestic Star, Marketing, Minnesota, Nebraska, Pinnacle Entertainment, Sheldon Adelson, Singapore, Tribal, Warner Gaming | Comments Off

Dan Lee raises Hoosier hackles; Sioux City mess not done yet

Posted on June 2, 2016 by David McKee

Indiana Gov. Mike Pence (R) has made it pretty clear that there aren’t going to be any new casinos on his watch, just riverboats converted to onshore facilities. Try telling that to Full House Resorts CEO Dan Lee, however. The … Continue reading →

Posted in Charity, Dan Lee, Full House Resorts, Indiana, Iowa, New Hampshire, Penn National, Politics, Racinos | Comments Off

Straub: Name my casino!; RAWA breathes its last … for now

Posted on May 27, 2016 by David McKee

Glenn Straub has either thrown up his hands over the task of renaming Revel or is feeling the spirit of democracy. Either way, he’s taking suggestions from the Twitterverse as to potential new monikers, with a $10,000 for the winning … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Charity, Downtown, Election, Entertainment, Glenn Straub, history, Internet gambling, Iowa, MGM Mirage, Mohegan Sun, Neil Bluhm, New York, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Phil Ruffin, Politics, Revel, Sports, Tamares Group, Taxes, The Strip, Transportation, Tribal | 1 Comment

PokerStars camel meets eye of needle; Penn loses last-gasp appeal

Posted on May 25, 2016 by David McKee

California state Rep. Adam Gray‘s online-gaming bill comes under some close scrutiny from analysts Steven Eichorn and Jeff Ifrah. As expected, there is no “bad actor” clause that would explicitly keep Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act scofflaws like PokerStars out … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Boyd Gaming, California, Genting, Internet gambling, Iowa, Law enforcement, MGM Mirage, New York, Penn National, PokerStars, Politics, Regulation, Singapore, Stanley Ho, Tribal | Comments Off

Poker Stars changes Atlantic City landscape; MGM budges (slightly) on parking fees

Posted on May 12, 2016 by David McKee

An extra month helped Atlantic City post a banner April, up 6%. Citywide, 5% higher slot handle produced a corresponding increase in revenue, while 4.5% table-game wagering translated into 10% more winnings for the house. Borgata ($56 million) was up … Continue reading →

Posted in Ameristar, Atlantic City, Boyd Gaming, CityCenter, Golden Gaming, Harrah's, International, Internet gambling, Iowa, Isle of Capri, MGM Mirage, Mohegan Sun, Pinnacle Entertainment, PokerStars, Racinos, Sports, The Strip, Tropicana Entertainment, Warner Gaming | Comments Off

Ethnic insensitivity in Oregon; Penn’s last stand in Iowa

Posted on April 20, 2016 by David McKee

A TV ad campaign for Oregon state-sponsored VLTs has riled up the Coquille Indian Tribe, not least because it depicts the Lewis & Clark Expedition happening upon video gaming in wilderness that has been ethnically cleansed of Native Americans. Coquille Chairman … Continue reading →

Posted in California, Delaware, Economy, Internet gambling, Iowa, Macau, Marketing, Penn National, Regulation, Tourism, Transportation, Tribal, Warner Gaming | Comments Off

Ohio leads the Midwest; Boyd a good neighbor in Iowa

Posted on March 28, 2016 by David McKee

With gaming expansion off the table in all Midwestern states (other than a potential tribal casino in Indiana), Ohio has been making out like a bandit, its gaming revenues up 13% from last year, as the state’s industry is now … Continue reading →

Posted in Boyd Gaming, California, Charity, Economy, Florida, Foxwoods, Idaho, Iowa, Mohegan Sun, Neil Bluhm, New York, Ohio, Oklahoma, South Dakota, Tribal | 1 Comment