Category Archives: Kansas

"Another one bites the dust"

Posted on May 15, 2009 by David McKee

That’s how a reader informed me of Las Vegas-based Golden Gaming‘s decision to bail on Wyandotte County in Kansas. Considering that you’ve got Harrah’s Entertainment, Ameristar Casinos, etc. firmly entrenched across the state line in Kansas City, Mo., and Isle … Continue reading →

Posted in Ameristar, Boyd Gaming, Cordish Co., Current, Economy, Golden Gaming, Harrah's, Isle of Capri, Kansas, Penn National, Regulation, Station Casinos, Wall Street | Comments Off on "Another one bites the dust"

First, some good news

Posted on April 16, 2009 by David McKee

In a refreshing change of pace comes news of a casino that’s on schedule for its opening. OK, so it’s in Dodge City, Kansas, but we’ll take good news wherever we can get it these days. Whoever thought avionics firm … Continue reading →

Posted in Downtown, Economy, Entertainment, Herbst Gaming, Kansas, Labor, LVCVA, Marketing, Mesquite, Sheldon Adelson, Station Casinos, The Strip | Comments Off on First, some good news

Case Bets: Kansas update, Cordish's push, Penn's prudence, taxing sex

Posted on April 3, 2009 by David McKee

Details of Lakes Entertainment‘s just-under-the-wire entry into the Kansas casino derby are beginning to emerge — and it looks a bit half-assed. Particularly non-confidence-inspiring was the admission, “We’re going to go find the cash.” If somebody as flush as Phil … Continue reading →

Posted in Cordish Co., Harrah's, Horseracing, Kansas, MGM Mirage, Taxes, Tropicana Entertainment | Comments Off on Case Bets: Kansas update, Cordish's push, Penn's prudence, taxing sex

Case Bets: CityCenter, Detroit, Boyd in Indiana

Posted on January 19, 2009 by David McKee

CityCenter: Cash cow or calf of gold? It’s received wisdom that, in its worship of the Golden Calf known as CityCenter, half-owner MGM Mirage is prepared to sacrifice some of its high-value properties, including MGM Grand Detroit, even in the … Continue reading →

Posted in Boyd Gaming, Economy, G2E, Indiana, Kansas, Macau, Marketing, MGM Mirage, Station Casinos, The Strip, Tribal, Wall Street | Comments Off on Case Bets: CityCenter, Detroit, Boyd in Indiana

Collapse in Kansas; Herbst is toast

Posted on December 5, 2008 by David McKee

And then there was one. A Cordish Co./Kansas Speedway joint venture has pulled the chicken switch on a $400 million casino project. This leaves avionics firm Butler National Service Corp., with its Dodge City concession, as the only company with … Continue reading →

Posted in Ameristar, Economy, G2E, Harrah's, Herbst Gaming, Horseracing, International, Kansas, Macau, MGM Mirage, Penn National, Pinnacle Entertainment, Regulation | Comments Off on Collapse in Kansas; Herbst is toast

Butera up to old tricks; Dog days for Ruffin; Fowl play

Posted on November 17, 2008 by David McKee

Grasping at straws in his attempt to wrest control of the Tropicana Casino & Resort back from the New Jersey Casino Control Commission, the CEO of Tropicana Entertainment, Scott Butera, has seized upon a letter from state Sen. Richard Codey. … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Columbia Sussex, G2E, Harrah's, Kansas, Marketing, Mississippi, Regulation, Tropicana Entertainment | Comments Off on Butera up to old tricks; Dog days for Ruffin; Fowl play

Macao: Not so fast?

Posted on October 3, 2008 by David McKee

Here’s a how-de-do, to paraphrase Gilbert & Sullivan. The head of the Travel Industry Council of Macau appears to confirm a report that many Chinese citizens will now be restricted to visiting the former Portugese colony on a quarterly basis. … Continue reading →

Posted in Colorado, Kansas, Macau, MGM Mirage, Sheldon Adelson, Steve Wynn, Wall Street | Comments Off on Macao: Not so fast?

Macao: Not so fast?

Posted on October 3, 2008 by David McKee

Here’s a how-de-do, to paraphrase Gilbert & Sullivan. The head of the Travel Industry Council of Macau appears to confirm a report that many Chinese citizens will now be restricted to visiting the former Portugese colony on a quarterly basis. … Continue reading →

Posted in Colorado, Kansas, Macau, MGM Mirage, Sheldon Adelson, Steve Wynn, Wall Street | Comments Off on Macao: Not so fast?

Mohegan Sun in Kansas: D'oh!

Posted on September 22, 2008 by David McKee

A reader in Oklahoma City points out an obvious reason — one which I somehow managed to completely overlook — why the Kansas Lottery‘s casino-selection panel didn’t go with Mohegan Sun, which I foolishly thought to be a prohibitive favorite. … Continue reading →

Posted in Downtown, Kansas, Regulation, Tribal | Comments Off on Mohegan Sun in Kansas: D'oh!

Kansas, Round 2: It's Cordish!

Posted on September 19, 2008 by David McKee

OK, I was wrong. Incredibly wrong. As you’ll hear on the next Vegas Gang podcast, I stuck by my prediction that Kansas‘ largest casino contract, the one for the greater Kansas City area, would go to Mohegan Sun. Why? Biggest … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Columbia Sussex, Current, Golden Gaming, Kansas, Mississippi, Penn National, Pinnacle Entertainment, Sheldon Adelson, Tribal, Tropicana Entertainment | Comments Off on Kansas, Round 2: It's Cordish!

Alaska nixes gambling; Politics here, Harrah's there

Posted on September 2, 2008 by David McKee

With Alaska and its governor all over the news of late, I got to wondering what had become of that ballot initiative, backed by bar owners, to expand gambling in Alaska. As it happens, the initiative was voted down, the … Continue reading →

Posted in Alaska, Detroit, Election, Internet gambling, Kansas, Politics, Tribal | Comments Off on Alaska nixes gambling; Politics here, Harrah's there

Trop to Eldorado: "Never mind"

Posted on August 25, 2008 by David McKee

In the strongest sign to date that company owner William J. Yung III has been banished to the doghouse, Tropicana Entertainment formally reneged on its sale of Casino Aztar to Reno-based Eldorado Resorts. The latter could walk away with as … Continue reading →

Posted in Columbia Sussex, Harrah's, Indiana, Kansas, Regulation | Comments Off on Trop to Eldorado: "Never mind"

Kansas, Round 1: It's Harrah's, Penn

Posted on August 22, 2008 by David McKee

Score one victory each for Harrah’s Entertainment and Penn National Gaming in the first round of casino concessions awarded in Kansas today (with Round 2 to follow in a month). But there’s really only one winner … …. and it’s … Continue reading →

Posted in Ameristar, Harrah's, Kansas, Movies, Penn National | Comments Off on Kansas, Round 1: It's Harrah's, Penn

Trop turnaround?

Posted on August 12, 2008 by David McKee

While the New Jersey Casino Control Commission continues to bobble the sale of the Atlantic City Tropicana, at least its stewardship has arrested and perhaps finally the property's decline. While a 5.5% decline in business is nothing to crow over, … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Boyd Gaming, Colorado, Columbia Sussex, Donald Trump, Harrah's, Kansas, Station Casinos, Tribal | Comments Off on Trop turnaround?

Don't tax me, bro!

Posted on August 6, 2008 by David McKee

Guess who's kvetching about his property tax bill? Why it's our old buddy, Columbia Sussex CEO William J. Yung III — or at least his surrogates at Horizon Vicksburg. It's been the better part of a year since Yung announced … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Columbia Sussex, Kansas, Mississippi, Morgans Hotel Group, Pennsylvania, Pinnacle Entertainment, Sheldon Adelson, Taxes, Tribal | Comments Off on Don't tax me, bro!

Isle reduces risk in Florida

Posted on August 5, 2008 by David McKee

As we’re seeing, it’s not always a bad idea to scrap or delay an expansion. Such is the case with Isle of Capri‘s decision to allow the expiration of an agreement with Florida Gaming Corp. to turn Miami Jai-Alai into … Continue reading →

Posted in Boyd Gaming, Florida, Isle of Capri, Kansas, Tribal | Comments Off on Isle reduces risk in Florida

Moulin Rouge project puts cart before horse

Posted on March 6, 2008 by David McKee

A group hoping to revive the long-faded glories of the Moulin Rouge hasn’t found construction financing. But no matter: They’ve signed a casino-management team; Epic Gaming, a company whose only other ongoing concern is a tribal casino in Oklahoma, with … Continue reading →

Posted in Downtown, Kansas, Tribal | Comments Off on Moulin Rouge project puts cart before horse

Ameristar scraps project: "Et tu, Missouri?"

Posted on February 22, 2008 by David McKee

Ameristar Casinos has pulled the plug on $100 million or more in renovations and expansion of its Kansas City riverboat complex, including the addition of a hotel tower, taking a $4.5 million write-down in the process. It cited a combination … Continue reading →

Posted in Ameristar, Election, Kansas | Comments Off on Ameristar scraps project: "Et tu, Missouri?"

Case Bets: Macao, California

Posted on February 4, 2008 by David McKee

According to Bear Stearns, higher VIP play and increased tourism pushed Macao's December gambling revenues above the $1 billion mark for the month — a 38% increase from last December. California may be too close to call for Super Tuesday … Continue reading →

Posted in California, Election, Kansas, Macau | Comments Off on Case Bets: Macao, California

Case Bets: So long, HET … and plenty more

Posted on January 28, 2008 by David McKee

According to Bear Stearns, the privatization of Harrah’s Entertainment closed on schedule. HET stock finished trading just three cents shy of the $90/share buyout price. Voters in Miami-Dade County will be asked whether to allow

Posted in Atlantic City, Columbia Sussex, Election, Harrah's, Kansas, Laughlin, Sheldon Adelson | Comments Off on Case Bets: So long, HET … and plenty more