Category Archives: Kansas

Sifting through the Caesars wreckage

Posted on June 5, 2015 by David McKee

“If this litigation continues, we will take a big step backward because parties won’t at all be incentivized to come together and negotiate.” So says Randall S. Eisenberg, the de facto chief restructuring officer for Caesars Entertainment, which is trying … Continue reading →

Posted in California, Harrah's, Kansas, New York, Oklahoma, Regulation, Steve Wynn, Tribal, Wall Street | 1 Comment

Kansas gets down to brass tacks; Lindsey Graham, man of mystery

Posted on June 2, 2015 by David McKee

After years of waiting, the fate of Kansas‘ seemingly unwanted fourth casino license, long in abeyance came down to three-and-a-half hours of presentations by a trio of rival bidders. The Kansas Lottery Gaming Facilities Review Board will make its choice by … Continue reading →

Posted in Internet gambling, Kansas, New York, Palms, Phil Ruffin, Politics, Regulation, Sheldon Adelson, Taxes, Tribal, World Series of Poker | Comments Off on Kansas gets down to brass tacks; Lindsey Graham, man of mystery

Quote of the Day

Posted on May 22, 2015 by David McKee

“There are actual reports posted as to where the ATMs were that cards were used by Kansas residents … at liquor stores, cigarette shops, strip joints. Casinos was another.” — state Sen. Caryn Tyson (R), justifying the state’s crackdown on welfare recipients.

Posted in Kansas | Comments Off on Quote of the Day

Illinois’ news bad even when it’s good

Posted on May 8, 2015 by David McKee

Illinois‘ casino lobby hopes to stave off (potentially disastrous) expansion, currently working its way through the state house. Unfortunately, last month’s results didn’t give it much ammunition. Revenues were down only 1%, which in any other context would be relatively … Continue reading →

Posted in Boyd Gaming, Derek Stevens, Downtown, GLPI, Harrah's, Illinois, Kansas, Neil Bluhm, Oscar Goodman, Penn National, Riviera, Slot routes, Sports, Wall Street | Comments Off on Illinois’ news bad even when it’s good

Boyd shatters expectations; Dover Downs flounders

Posted on May 1, 2015 by David McKee

Compared to Steve Wynn‘s gloom — and sapped stock price — about Las Vegas’ immediate economic prospects earlier this week, Boyd Gaming CEO Keith Smith was bullish on Sin City. And why not? Boyd reported profits of 31 cents a … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, Boyd Gaming, Delaware, Downtown, Economy, Iowa, Kansas, Louisiana, Planet Hollywood, Racinos, Sports, Taxes, The Strip, Tourism, Wall Street | 1 Comment

Trump blocks progress in Atlantic City; Legal trouble for Penn

Posted on April 15, 2015 by David McKee

Although they enjoyed a same-store increase of 1% last month, Atlantic City casinos pulled in 14% less than last year at this time, grossing $191 million (more than some entire Midwestern states, it should be noted). Twelve percent less coin-in … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Boyd Gaming, Glenn Straub, Harrah's, Internet gambling, Kansas, Massachusetts, MGM Mirage, Mohegan Sun, Ohio, Penn National, Pennsylvania, Politics, Racinos, Regulation, Revel, Tilman Fertitta, Tropicana Entertainment, Trump Entertainment Resorts | Comments Off on Trump blocks progress in Atlantic City; Legal trouble for Penn

Case Bets: Okada, Massachusetts, Connecticut, Ruffin

Posted on March 20, 2015 by David McKee

It’s been a good week for Kazuo Okada. The boss of Universal Entertainment Corp. announced that investigations of him in Japan and the Philippines had closed and given him a clean bill of health. The probes were set off by … Continue reading →

Posted in Foxwoods, Japan, Kansas, Kazuo Okada, Massachusetts, Mississippi, Mohegan Sun, Phil Ruffin, Philippines, Regulation, Steve Wynn, Tribal | Comments Off on Case Bets: Okada, Massachusetts, Connecticut, Ruffin

Hoosier State comeback; Surprise contenders in Ohio

Posted on February 10, 2015 by David McKee

In light of all the gaming growth being experienced in Ohio, results in Indiana are not quite as roseate as in Illinois or Missouri, say. But they’re beating analyst expectations by impressive margins. Crunching the numbers, Deutsche Bank‘s Carlo Santarelli … Continue reading →

Posted in Bally Technologies, Boyd Gaming, Hard Rock International, Harrah's, Kansas, Penn National, Pinnacle Entertainment, Wall Street | 1 Comment

Big month for Isle; Sentence handed down on Caesars gang

Posted on December 10, 2014 by David McKee

Whether it’s that one less weekend day than last year or holiday shopping or whatever, Missouri was down again in November after tantalizing us with a revenue-positive October. The statewide decrease was 4%, with table revenues holding steady but slot revenues pulling … Continue reading →

Posted in Harrah's, Harry Reid, International, Internet gambling, Isle of Capri, Kansas, Missouri, Penn National, Pinnacle Entertainment, The Strip, Tropicana Entertainment | Comments Off on Big month for Isle; Sentence handed down on Caesars gang

Quote of the Day

Posted on November 25, 2014 by David McKee

“I maintained this status for about 10 days, working about 14 hours a day. Several times during this effort, I would email my supervisor back in Kansas with the message, ‘I have fallen in Harrah’s financials and can’t get up.’” … Continue reading →

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Election Special

Posted on November 5, 2014 by David McKee

Where gaming-related issues were concerned, there was one big race last night and a bunch of also-rans. The main event, of course, was Massachusetts, where casino repeal went down to defeat 60% to 40%, good news for Penn National Gaming, … Continue reading →

Posted in California, Colorado, Economy, Entertainment, Illinois, Isle of Capri, Kansas, Massachusetts, MGM Mirage, Penn National, Pinnacle Entertainment, Racinos, Rhode Island, South Dakota, Station Casinos, Steve Wynn, Tribal, Wisconsin | 2 Comments

Mark your ballots; Trump Taj: Welfare queen

Posted on November 3, 2014 by David McKee

Tomorrow we get to exercise that precious franchise, the vote. So don’t oversleep, ‘kay? As everyone knows by now, the big rumble is in Massachusetts, where an attempt to repeal the state’s casino law is failing by a substantial margin in … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, California, Colorado, Election, Kansas, Massachusetts, MGM Mirage, Penn National, Politics, Racinos, Regulation, Rhode Island, South Dakota, Station Casinos, Steve Wynn, Tribal, Trump Entertainment Resorts | Comments Off on Mark your ballots; Trump Taj: Welfare queen

Election Special: What’s at stake; Fire sale at Trump

Posted on October 28, 2014 by David McKee

We know the big enchilada is Massachusetts, where repeal of the state’s casino law is on the ballot. It looks like it’s going to lose big-time, but anti-gambling sentiment runs deep in parts of the state. We’ve already been over … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, California, Charity, Colorado, Election, Environment, Kansas, Marketing, Massachusetts, Racinos, South Carolina, South Dakota, Station Casinos, Steve Wynn, Technology, Tribal, Trump Entertainment Resorts | 1 Comment

Show Me some results; Wynn vindicated

Posted on October 10, 2014 by David McKee

Wall Street analysts expressed disappointment with last month’s gaming revenues from Missouri. Even a 5%  increase in spending couldn’t offset an 8% decline in foot traffic. A bright spot was that, for the quarter, Pinnacle Entertainment beat J.P. Morgan analyst … Continue reading →

Posted in Economy, Harrah's, Isle of Capri, Japan, Kansas, Massachusetts, Missouri, Mohegan Sun, Penn National, Pinnacle Entertainment, Regulation, Singapore, Steve Wynn, Wall Street | Comments Off on Show Me some results; Wynn vindicated

MGM’s urban renewal; Ruffin rides again

Posted on August 4, 2014 by David McKee

Despite an atmosphere of uncertainty in Massachusetts, executives at MGM Resorts International are putting their faith in a November victory at the ballot box. They’ve closed on the purchase of two tornado-damaged buildings, the Springfield State Armory (shown) and the … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, Boyd Gaming, Economy, Election, Kansas, Massachusetts, MGM Mirage, Penn National, Phil Ruffin, Racinos, Taxes, Tribal | Comments Off on MGM’s urban renewal; Ruffin rides again

Strange doings in Alabama

Posted on July 18, 2014 by David McKee

Continuing its persecution of the Poarch Creek Band of Indians, the State of Alabama is taking them to federal appeals court. And it looks like state Attorney General Luther Strange might have a leg to stand on. He’s citing the … Continue reading →

Posted in Alabama, Kansas, Oklahoma, Regulation, South Carolina, Tribal | Comments Off on Strange doings in Alabama

So long, Sullivan County

Posted on July 10, 2014 by David McKee

New York State’s Gaming Commission has picked the last two members of the casino-siting committee and it’s pretty bad news for the Catskills region. Both of the finalists are cronies of Gov. Andrew Cuomo (D), as are the three already-seated … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Harrah's, Internet gambling, Isle of Capri, Kansas, Missouri, New York, Penn National, Pinnacle Entertainment, Politics, Regulation, Tropicana Entertainment | 1 Comment

Camptown Races; Concord in Boston

Posted on July 8, 2014 by David McKee

What if they gave a casino and nobody came? That’s what happened to Kansas, which drew nary a bidder on its fourth and final casino license, deemed by many to be too close to Oklahoma (rife with casinos) to be … Continue reading →

Posted in Boyd Gaming, Carl Icahn, Columbia Sussex, Dotty's, Kansas, Laughlin, Massachusetts, Mohegan Sun, Oklahoma, Phil Ruffin, Steve Wynn, Tropicana Entertainment | 1 Comment

Station’s big hit; Tribal roundup

Posted on July 8, 2014 by David McKee

There’s no doubt that Graton Resort, less than an hour’s driving distance from San Francisco, has been a success for Station Casinos. We just didn’t know how much. In addition to earning a $7.4 million management fee during 1Q14, Station … Continue reading →

Posted in California, Florida, Kansas, Regulation, Station Casinos, Technology, Tribal, Wall Street | 1 Comment

What’s in a name?

Posted on July 1, 2014 by David McKee

Quite a lot apparently, if you’re Wynn Boston and you’re going up against local favorite Mohegan Sun. A poll taken by the Center for Policy Analysis at the University of Massachusetts Dartmouth found voters split between 48% in favor of Mohegan … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Colorado, Delaware, Detroit, Economy, Election, Foxwoods, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Louisiana, Massachusetts, Missouri, Mohegan Sun, New York, Pennsylvania, Steve Wynn, The Strip | Comments Off on What’s in a name?