Category Archives: Japan

Ho upbeat on Macao, Japan; Showdown for Gun Lake Tribe

Posted on May 3, 2017 by David McKee

Macao could be a $45 billion-a-year market again, says Lawrence Ho, who calls himself extremely bullish on the enclave’s prospects. He’s not been snorting coke, according to Union Gaming Group analyst Grant Govertsen, who calls it “achievable target for Macao … … Continue reading →

Posted in Economy, Japan, Lawrence Ho, Macau, Melco Crown Entertainment, Politics, Tribal, Wall Street | Comments Off on Ho upbeat on Macao, Japan; Showdown for Gun Lake Tribe

Quote of the Day

Posted on April 28, 2017 by David McKee

“It’s a stupid number. Let’s assume we have the max, which is five casinos. Now take $40 billion divided by five—that’s $8.5 billion. The largest-grossing casino in the world, Marina Bay Sands, does about $3.2 billion a year. Are you telling … Continue reading →

Posted in Economy, Japan, Singapore, Wall Street | 1 Comment

Crony capitalism at Sands; Ilani Casino packs ’em in

Posted on April 26, 2017 by David McKee

Rob Goldstein isn’t exactly a pauper these days but a swoon in Las Vegas Sands‘ Macao takings also took a chomp out of Goldstein’s wallet. His compensation in 2016 was 19% lower than the year before. By contrast, CEO Sheldon … Continue reading →

Posted in Environment, Japan, Macau, Sheldon Adelson, South Korea, Transportation, Tribal, Wisconsin | Comments Off on Crony capitalism at Sands; Ilani Casino packs ’em in

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 on Saturation in Ohio; Japan: Go big or go home

Atlantic City runs the table; Next, the “Osaka Strip”?

Posted on April 13, 2017 by David McKee

It’ll take a lot more than an extra weekend day to account for a 7% spike in Atlantic City‘s gaming revenue. When you subtract the corpse of Trump Taj Mahal from the body count, the year over year comparison is … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Dan Gilbert, Detroit, Hard Rock International, Harrah's, Internet gambling, Japan, MGM Mirage, Mohegan Sun, PokerStars, Problem gambling, Sports, Tilman Fertitta, Wall Street | Comments Off on Atlantic City runs the table; Next, the “Osaka Strip”?

Cutting the Gordian Knot in Florida; New Hampshire tries yet again

Posted on April 3, 2017 by David McKee

Daily fantasy sports is expected to be legalized in Florida with little fuss. Resolving the casino-gambling impasse — that’s another story. Next week, a committee of the Legislature will try to reconcile two radically different bills. The state Senate one … Continue reading →

Posted in Florida, Japan, New Hampshire, Politics, Problem gambling, Regulation, Seminole Tribe, Singapore, Taxes, Technology, The Strip | Comments Off on Cutting the Gordian Knot in Florida; New Hampshire tries yet again

Shawn The Sham; Cal-Neva in limbo

Posted on March 31, 2017 by David McKee

“They got the signatures to put it on the ballot and they are going to be spending millions of dollars on advertising, probably six weeks prior to this Election Day in November, to convince people to vote for it. It … Continue reading →

Posted in Galaxy Entertainment, Harrah's, Horseracing, International, Japan, Maine, Nevada, North Dakota, Penn National, Politics, Regulation, South Korea, Technology | Comments Off on Shawn The Sham; Cal-Neva in limbo

Trump’s Amman Castle?; Wynn goes 0-for-2

Posted on March 30, 2017 by David McKee

Gambling is illegal in Jordan but that doesn’t stop Donald Trump. The new president’s company has renewed the trademark for a Jordanian casino. This won’t play well with religious hawks in the Hashemite kingdom, who went into full cry when … Continue reading →

Posted in Donald Trump, Genting, Glenn Straub, International, Internet gambling, Japan, Macau, Revel, Steve Wynn, The Strip | Comments Off on Trump’s Amman Castle?; Wynn goes 0-for-2

Raiders prompt magical thinking; Next stop: Yankton?

Posted on March 29, 2017 by David McKee

Boxing promoter Bob Arum has drunk deeply of the NFL-in-Vegas Kool-Aid, telling the Wall Street Journal, “Say  [the Raiders] play the Giants. It’s going to bring 20,000 people coming from New York to watch the game, clutching fistfuls of money … Continue reading →

Posted in Boyd Gaming, Florida, Japan, Law enforcement, Macau, Seminole Tribe, Sheldon Adelson, South Dakota, Sports, Technology, Tourism, Westgate LV | Comments Off on Raiders prompt magical thinking; Next stop: Yankton?

Adelson ban bombs with conservatives

Posted on March 13, 2017 by David McKee

If Sheldon Adelson was hoping to be hailed at the recent Conservative Political Action Conference, he got a rude surprise. Attendees blew a raspberry to his pet cause, Protect America’s Wire Act. One dissident, Institute for Liberty President Andrew Langer … Continue reading →

Posted in Internet gambling, Japan, Law enforcement, Massachusetts, Mohegan Sun, New York, Penn National, Politics, Sheldon Adelson, Singapore, Steve Wynn, Wall Street | Comments Off on Adelson ban bombs with conservatives

More resort fees at MGM; Sands Bethlehem sold?

Posted on March 3, 2017 by David McKee

It was show time for the big boys at the J.P. Morgan Gaming, Lodging, Restaurant & Leisure Management Access Forum, starting with MGM Resorts International, which had to get started by explaining why fourth-quarter numbers had been “coming in well below … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, Atlantic City, California, Donald Trump, Economy, Hard Rock International, Harrah's, Harry Reid, Japan, Macau, Maryland, Massachusetts, MGM Mirage, Penn National, Pennsylvania, Pinnacle Entertainment, Seminole Tribe, Sheldon Adelson, Singapore, Sports, Steve Wynn, The Strip, Tourism, Transportation, Tribal, Tropicana Entertainment, Wall Street | 1 Comment

Wayne Newton, Mr. Convention; Adelson covets Vietnam

Posted on March 1, 2017 by David McKee

If you doubted that the convention business is the new face of Las Vegas, it trotted out the pretty visage of Wayne Newton. The latter’s Casa de Shenandoah is promoting itself as the new place to hold your meeting, offering to … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Economy, GLPI, Hard Rock International, Harrah's, Illinois, Japan, Lawrence Ho, Macau, Marketing, Melco Crown Entertainment, Penn National, Politics, Racinos, Regulation, Sheldon Adelson, Singapore, South Korea, Technology, Tourism, Tropicana Entertainment, Vietnam, Wayne F. Newton | Comments Off on Wayne Newton, Mr. Convention; Adelson covets Vietnam

Caesars’ highway robbery; Good news for problem gamblers

Posted on February 24, 2017 by David McKee

What do you do when you’ve just lost $435 million? Bust out a new round of resort fees, of course! That’s Caesars Entertainment‘s answer. Keeping up with the Joneses on the Las Vegas Strip, Caesars will implement two tiers of … Continue reading →

Posted in Foxwoods, Genting, Harrah's, Japan, Macau, Massachusetts, Melco Crown Entertainment, MGM Mirage, Mohegan Sun, Penn National, Pennsylvania, Politics, Problem gambling, Sheldon Adelson, Steve Wynn, The Strip, Transportation, Wall Street | Comments Off on Caesars’ highway robbery; Good news for problem gamblers

Ho taunts Adelson; Turnover at Wynn

Posted on February 23, 2017 by David McKee

Both Sheldon Adelson and Jim Murren have anted up $10 billion for a Japanese megaresort.  The fever is catching. Melco Crown International CEO Lawrence Ho went completely off his rocker and vowed to spend any amount whatsoever for a casino … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, International, Japan, Law enforcement, Lawrence Ho, Macau, Melco Crown Entertainment, MGM Mirage, Regulation, Scientific Games, Sheldon Adelson, Steve Wynn, The Strip | 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 on Penn National backpedals; Feral bunnies terrorize Vegas

Adelson out of stadium deal; Tepid December on Strip

Posted on January 31, 2017 by David McKee

It didn’t take long for Sandoval’s Folly, the mooted [your city here] Raiders stadium to blow up in the governor’s face. With characteristic irascibility, Las Vegas Sands CEO Sheldon Adelson withdrew from the project, taking his $650 million with him. … Continue reading →

Posted in Boulder Strip, Cordish Co., Cretins, Downtown, Economy, Foxwoods, GLPI, Harrah's, Horseracing, Japan, Laughlin, Maryland, MGM Mirage, Mohegan Sun, Nevada, North Las Vegas, Penn National, Politics, Regulation, Reno, Sheldon Adelson, Sports, The Strip, Tribal, Virginia, Wall Street, West Virginia | Comments Off on Adelson out of stadium deal; Tepid December on Strip

New Deal; Same old same-old at Wynncore

Posted on January 30, 2017 by David McKee

In a dramatic semi-reversal, Georgia Gov. Nathan Deal (R) has said he is open “to keep the discussion going” on casinos in the state. The governor’s sudden open mindedness comes with several caveats, including the assurance that casino gambling won’t detract … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, Delaware, Donald Trump, Election, Georgia, Japan, Massachusetts, MGM Mirage, Penn National, Politics, Regulation, Sheldon Adelson, South Carolina, Sports, Steve Wynn, Taxes, The Strip | Comments Off on New Deal; Same old same-old at Wynncore

Caesars liberated from bankruptcy; Wynn pitches tantrum

Posted on January 19, 2017 by David McKee

It’s not the end, nor the beginning of the end but the end of the beginning for the Caesars Entertainment bankruptcy, to paraphrase Winston Churchill.  So protracted has the bankruptcy been that its quiet resolution comes as an anticlimax.”I’ve never … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, Donald Trump, Georgia, Harrah's, International, Japan, Macau, Maryland, MGM Mirage, Politics, South Korea, Steve Wynn, Wall Street | 1 Comment

Quote of the Day

Posted on January 11, 2017 by David McKee

“We have not considered that yet. Because we need to do well on our Grand Lisboa Palace project now, as the project is in full swing.” — Sociedade de Jogos de Macau Executive Director Angela Leong, dismissing rumors of a … Continue reading →

Posted in Japan, Macau, Sociedade de Jogos de Macau | Comments Off on Quote of the Day

2017: Boom or bust?

Posted on January 4, 2017 by David McKee

Vital Vegas, whose predictive skills are superior to ours, recently came out with a blockbuster, forecasting that Las Vegas Sands or MGM Resorts International or Wynn Resorts (or maybe some combination of the above) might be headed into bankruptcy. “Tectonic … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Detroit, Economy, Harrah's, Japan, Macau, MGM Mirage, Regulation, Sheldon Adelson, Steve Wynn, Wall Street | 1 Comment