Category Archives: Japan

Packer returns

Posted on August 4, 2014 by David McKee

James Packer is back. Undoubtedly encouraged by the recent groundswell of development on the Las Vegas Strip, he’s bought the New Frontier site for a casino development that will be underwritten by the Oaktree Capital Management hedge fund. Construction is to … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Australia, Cosmopolitan, Fontainebleau, Harrah's, International, James Packer, Japan, Macau, Revel, Steve Wynn, Taxes, The Strip, Trump Entertainment Resorts, Wall Street | Comments Off on Packer returns

Japan, land of opportunity

Posted on July 14, 2014 by David McKee

“I think it’s a less likely fit for us, because it’s not clear what the complementary set of skills would be in their case,” said Caesars Entertainment CEO Gary Loveman of gray-market pachinko parlors. That being the case, he might … Continue reading →

Posted in Harrah's, Japan, Macau, MGM Mirage, Regulation, Sheldon Adelson | Comments Off on Japan, land of opportunity

Quote of the Day

Posted on June 27, 2014 by David McKee

“Even with $23 billion in debt, Caesars [Entertainment] feels that they will have no problem raising another $5 billion to build a world-class facility [in] Japan, the world’s latest emerging market, even though they will be competing against better-financed rivals with … Continue reading →

Posted in Harrah's, Japan, Massachusetts | Comments Off on Quote of the Day

So long, Showboat

Posted on June 27, 2014 by David McKee

Normally, when a federally mandated WARN Act notice goes out to casino employees, executives downplay as a mere formality. Not so for Showboat Atlantic City where theoretical closure became actual shutdown in less than 24 hours. Despite having recently posted … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Harrah's, Japan, Massachusetts, New York, Regulation, Revel, Taxes | 1 Comment

Sticky moment in Macao; Debt? What debt?

Posted on June 26, 2014 by David McKee

Macao continues to be a large blessing and a small curse upon the U.S. casino industry. Earlier this month, the Internal Revenue Service acknowledged ramped-up scrutiny of the enclave, where money laundering is a persistent fear — especially in Washington, … Continue reading →

Posted in Harrah's, Japan, Macau, Regulation, Sheldon Adelson, Wall Street | Comments Off on Sticky moment in Macao; Debt? What debt?

Atlantic City: Game over?

Posted on June 23, 2014 by David McKee

Atlantic City‘s last, best hope — sports betting — was swatted away by the U.S. Supreme Court. While keeping mum on its reasoning, the Supremes let stand a federal ban on sports wagering. Found at a charity softball game, Gov. … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Economy, Harrah's, International, Internet gambling, Japan, Lawrence Ho, Mohegan Sun, Sports, Tourism, Transportation | Comments Off on Atlantic City: Game over?

Bernhard: Time to get out; Kabuki theater in Japan

Posted on June 19, 2014 by David McKee

After 13 years chairing the Nevada Gaming Commission, it’s quitting time for Pete Bernhard, who’s leaving 10 months before his term expires. Wasting no time, Gov. Brian Sandoval named Dr. Tony Alamo Jr. to fill Bernhard’s chair and Pat Mulroy … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Boyd Gaming, Harrah's, Internet gambling, Japan, Politics, Regulation, Station Casinos | Comments Off on Bernhard: Time to get out; Kabuki theater in Japan

Icebreak in Japan; Discouragement in New York

Posted on June 18, 2014 by David McKee

Leaving scant room for error, Japan‘s parliament is scheduled to begin debating casino legalization today. “We have to remind ourselves that this is just the start, and until we see gambling become legal, we must keep up our efforts,” said lobbyist … Continue reading →

Posted in Japan, MGM Mirage, Mohegan Sun, New York, Politics, Wall Street | Comments Off on Icebreak in Japan; Discouragement in New York

Japan: Promises, promises; Double-standard in Iowa

Posted on June 13, 2014 by David McKee

Democratic Party lawmaker Yosuke Kondo has casino-legalization in Japan legislation wrapped around his pinkie like a piece of string. Prime Minister Shinzo Abe may favor enabling legislation but right now Kondo holds the trump card. The bill is in a … Continue reading →

Posted in Economy, Election, Iowa, Japan, Politics, Regulation | Comments Off on Japan: Promises, promises; Double-standard in Iowa

A gentleman and a scholar

Posted on June 6, 2014 by David McKee

There are some blog entries one would rather not write. This is one of those occasions. Gentlemanly attorney Robert Faiss, who literally wrote the book on casino regulation in Nevada, died yesterday at age 79. In in an irony he … Continue reading →

Posted in history, Japan, MGM Mirage, Politics, Regulation | Comments Off on A gentleman and a scholar

Abboud: Sinners repent!; Loveman’s orphan

Posted on June 4, 2014 by David McKee

Sounding like anti-casino zealot, Las Vegas Sands Senior Vice President of Government Relations & Community Development Andy Abboud had a dire message for Pennsylvania lawmakers: “Gambling was never supposed to be everywhere. It’s not an entitlement; it’s a vice. It needs to be doled … Continue reading →

Posted in Cannery Casino Resorts, Economy, Election, Harrah's, Harry Reid, Japan, Neil Bluhm, Pennsylvania, Politics, Sheldon Adelson | Comments Off on Abboud: Sinners repent!; Loveman’s orphan

Hot air in Iowa, strong talk in Singapore

Posted on June 2, 2014 by David McKee

Despite the decisive, if not vehement rejection of his casino bid, Cedar Rapids Mayor Ron Corbett wants another bite of the apple. Why? Because it would a smoke-free casino, which Gov. Terry Branstad (R) supports. It’s Corbett who’s blowing smoke … Continue reading →

Posted in California, Environment, Genting, Iowa, Japan, Sheldon Adelson, Singapore, Station Casinos, Tribal | Comments Off on Hot air in Iowa, strong talk in Singapore

Massachusetts: Pay the man; Robbing Peter to wager on Paul

Posted on May 30, 2014 by David McKee

If casino gambling is outlawed in a November referendum, MGM Resorts International and Wynn Resorts want their money back. After all, they’ll be out the $85 million application fee and that’s just for starters. They’d also like to be reimbursed … Continue reading →

Posted in Delaware, Economy, Japan, Maryland, Massachusetts, MGM Mirage, New York, Ohio, Penn National, Pennsylvania, Regulation, Singapore, Steve Wynn | Comments Off on Massachusetts: Pay the man; Robbing Peter to wager on Paul

Cosmo: Now comes the hard part

Posted on May 19, 2014 by David McKee

Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas CEO John Unwin is crowing in triumph over Blackstone Real Estate Partners VII‘s staggeringly lavish purchase of the megaresort over which he presides. “This marks the beginning of the next chapter for The Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas … Continue reading →

Posted in Boyd Gaming, Cosmopolitan, Economy, Harrah's, James Packer, Japan, Melco Crown Entertainment, MGM Mirage, Penn National, Politics, Regulation, Sheldon Adelson, Steve Wynn, Wall Street | 1 Comment

Japan fever

Posted on May 15, 2014 by David McKee

As the window slowly closes on casino legalization during the current session of the Japanese Diet, a fever seems to be overtaking the casino industry. Normally reasonable people are suddenly hyper-exaggerating their projections for gambling in the Land of the … Continue reading →

Posted in Harrah's, Japan, Louisiana, MGM Mirage, Pinnacle Entertainment, Rhode Island, Sheldon Adelson, Steve Wynn, Tribal, Wall Street | Comments Off on Japan fever

Happy anniversary for Adelson; Penn’s legal woes

Posted on May 13, 2014 by David McKee

Smashed entrance doors, overburdened and broken escalators, and 40,000 customers … it was all in a day’s work when Sands Macao opened — can it really be 10 years ago next week? Time flies when you’re Sheldon Adelson. Although Stanley … Continue reading →

Posted in Iowa, Japan, Macau, Massachusetts, Neil Bluhm, Penn National, Racinos, Regulation, Sheldon Adelson, Stanley Ho, Taxes | Comments Off on Happy anniversary for Adelson; Penn’s legal woes

Adelson: I’m nice, really; Casinos go to pot

Posted on May 6, 2014 by David McKee

Three hundred people turned out yesterday at UNLV to hear Sheldon Adelson hold a rap session with the kids about the evils of online gambling. Adelson’s animus, it turns out, was his father’s propensity to gamble his money away at … Continue reading →

Posted in Internet gambling, Japan, M Resort, Penn National, Problem gambling, Regulation, Sheldon Adelson | Comments Off on Adelson: I’m nice, really; Casinos go to pot

Wynn speaks … and speaks

Posted on May 2, 2014 by David McKee

With a dustup with George Clooney still making headlines and a quarterly reporting emerging, Steve Wynn could be expected to be in an expansive mood. He did not disappoint. Ironically, Wynn’s comments about people who “live in a very strange … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, CityCenter, Dining, Economy, Entertainment, International, Japan, Macau, Steve Wynn, Wall Street | 1 Comment

Quote of the Day

Posted on April 28, 2014 by David McKee

“On several occasions the dispute has spilled over to the trade show floor, with LT Game, a unit of Hong Kong listed Paradise Entertainment, claiming its patent protection extends to exhibiting live dealer multi-game systems in Macau. At G2E Asia … Continue reading →

Posted in G2E, Japan, Macau, Shuffle Master, Technology | Comments Off on Quote of the Day

The right amount of wrong ideas

Posted on April 22, 2014 by David McKee

When it comes to the U.S. gaming market, there’s nothing that can stand between James Packer and a bad investment, it seems, common sense least of all. According to Australian media reports, Deutsche Bank wants $1.5 billion-$2 billion for The … Continue reading →

Posted in Cosmopolitan, Dining, Entertainment, Fontainebleau, Harrah's, IGT, International, James Packer, Japan, Macau, Penn National, Pinnacle Entertainment, Station Casinos, The Strip, Wall Street | 1 Comment