Category Archives: Kentucky

Boffo Christmas for Borgata; ColSux loses again

Posted on January 14, 2015 by David McKee

There wasn’t a lot of Christmas cheer to be had in Atlantic City, where citywide gambling revenues fell 13%. However, for the surviving operators, the take was up 7% on a “same-store” basis (i.e., discounting the casinos that have closed). … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Boyd Gaming, Carl Icahn, Columbia Sussex, Harrah's, history, Internet gambling, Kentucky, Mohegan Sun, Tilman Fertitta, Tropicana Entertainment, Trump Entertainment Resorts | Comments Off

Indiana giveth, Ohio taketh away; Atlantic City fix finds wide support

Posted on December 9, 2014 by David McKee

Depending on whether or not you count free play as taxable revenue, Indiana was down 6% or 7% last month, with customers spending 3% more but visiting 9.5% less. Penn National Gaming‘s Hollywood Lawrenceburg took cross-border competition particularly hard, falling … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Boyd Gaming, Current, Harrah's, Indiana, Kentucky, Ohio, Penn National, Pinnacle Entertainment, Politics, Sheldon Adelson, Taxes, Tropicana Entertainment | 1 Comment

Flat at the Strat and other Case Bets

Posted on November 18, 2014 by David McKee

What a difference a year makes for American Casino & Entertainment Properties. Twelve months ago it was losing $9 million. In 3Q14, it posted a $600K profit. The reversal was achieved, in part, by squeezing customers with higher room rates … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, Boulder Strip, Columbia Sussex, Kentucky, Massachusetts, MGM Mirage, North Las Vegas, Reno, Station Casinos, Steve Wynn, The Strip | Comments Off

The sport of kings in cyberspace

Posted on November 18, 2014 by David McKee

Illinois‘ addiction to gaming revenues resembles that of a heroin junkie in the throes of severe withdrawal. The latest proposed “fix” would create de facto racinos at all of the state’s horse tracks. State Rep. Dwight Kay (R) is pushing … Continue reading →

Posted in Horseracing, Illinois, Kentucky, Technology, Wall Street | Comments Off

Showman Steve; Who’ll take Bucharest?

Posted on November 6, 2014 by David McKee

Rather than hire out entertainment for his Wynncore showroom (the one not occupied by Le Reve), Steve Wynn has taken a DIY approach. He’s producing and co-writing Showstoppers, a revue of some of the most iconic songs from Broadway musicals. … Continue reading →

Posted in Cirque du Soleil, Columbia Sussex, Cordish Co., Current, Entertainment, Genting, Harrah's, International, Kentucky, Maryland, Penn National, Sports, Steve Wynn, The Strip | Comments Off

Kentucky’s failure claims victim

Posted on October 6, 2014 by David McKee

Occasionally, as casino gambling tries to expand in the U.S., some innocent bystander gets taken down. That could literally be the case with the Bavarian Brewery Building, a crenellated fixture of the Covington, Kentucky, skyline since 1877. It 2008 it … Continue reading →

Posted in Columbia Sussex, history, Kentucky, Politics | Comments Off

Has tribal gaming peaked?

Posted on July 24, 2014 by David McKee

That’s the import of remarks by Assistant Secretary for Indian Affairs Kevin Washburn, testifying before a Senate committee. Not only have revenues plateaued in the $26 billion-$28 billion range, they’ve essentially been the same since 2007. Meanwhile, private-sector gambling is … Continue reading →

Posted in Horseracing, Kentucky, Regulation, Technology, Texas, Tribal | Comments Off

Quote of the Day

Posted on July 14, 2014 by David McKee

“We have all the ills of it but none of the benefits of it.” — Kentucky gubernatorial candidate Jack Conway (D), on the issue of casino gambling.

Posted in Economy, Election, Kentucky | Comments Off

Big vote on Boardwalk; Horsey antics in Texas

Posted on June 10, 2014 by David McKee

“It’s going to be a very complicated and difficult negotiation.” So admits Unite-Here President Robert McDevitt of the mid-September scrum when all the casino collective bargaining agreements come up for renewal. McDevitt’s still tasting victory from last week’s vote at … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Boyd Gaming, Donald Trump, Horseracing, Kentucky, MGM Mirage, Racinos, Regulation, Revel, Technology, Texas | Comments Off

Packer sparks protests; Heads roll at Zynga

Posted on April 24, 2014 by David McKee

Just the prospect of a James Packer-owned casino was enough to spur a Buddhist-driven protest march in Sri Lanka. Packer’s Crown Resorts has concessions to develop three resort properties and the Sri Lanka government has been talking out of both … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Churchill Downs, International, Internet gambling, James Packer, Kentucky, Lawrence Ho, Maine, New York, Ohio, Politics | Comments Off

Caesars’ big coup; Foxwoods site revealed

Posted on March 18, 2014 by David McKee

South Korea hasn’t opened its casino business to Western firms … until now. Caesars Entertainment, in partnernship with Hong Kong‘s Lippo Ltd. and OUE Ltd. from Singapore has won preliminary approval for a concession. The project is expected to cost … Continue reading →

Posted in Foxwoods, Genting, Hard Rock Hotel, Harrah's, International, Kentucky, Macau, Massachusetts, Mississippi, Politics, Warner Gaming | Comments Off

Empire State scramble; Stalemate in Kentucky; Too cozy in Ohio?

Posted on March 5, 2014 by David McKee

Casino expansion continues to speed along in New York State, where college president Mark Gearan (right) has been formally installed as New York State Gaming Commission chairman, filling out the five-member body. Prior to taking office, he was presented with some … Continue reading →

Posted in Cordish Co., Downtown, Entertainment, Horseracing, Kentucky, New York, Ohio, Penn National, Politics, Racinos, Regulation, Technology, The Strip | Comments Off

Case Bets: Sands, Atlantic City, Maryland, Isle of Capri, Churchill Downs, etc.

Posted on February 28, 2014 by David McKee

Las Vegas Sands lost more top executive talent when Sands Bethworks President Robert DeSalvio handed in his notice. He’ll be at the casino through mid-March but the move seems to have caught Sands off-guard. The latter assured reporters that DeSalvio’s … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Churchill Downs, Cordish Co., Foxwoods, Harrah's, Horseracing, Illinois, International, Isle of Capri, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Pennsylvania, Sheldon Adelson, Tilman Fertitta, Wall Street | 1 Comment

Of India and Indians

Posted on February 24, 2014 by David McKee

Nevada tourism officials are looking beyond China and toward India. It’s country of 50 million passports and Lt. Gov. Brian Krolicki would like to capture more of them and more of the 600,000 Indians who visited the U.S. last year. … Continue reading →

Posted in International, Internet gambling, Kentucky, Pokergeddon, Tourism | Comments Off

Market8 endorsed; Web casinos raided; Gridlock in Kentucky, Florida

Posted on February 12, 2014 by David McKee

Market8 is emerging as the frontrunner in the competition for a Philadelphia casino license. Three area politicians have come forward in support of Ken Goldenberg‘s project, which will be run by Mohegan Sun. As part of a joint communique, First … Continue reading →

Posted in Florida, Internet gambling, Kentucky, Mohegan Sun, Pennsylvania, Politics, Regulation, Tribal | Comments Off

Showdown over Philadelphia

Posted on January 29, 2014 by David McKee

“We need to offer something more than a casino,” said Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board member Gregory Fajt at yesterday’s hearings, at which The Provence and Hollywood Casino made their cases. The Provence promised to be something and Hollywood, almost defiantly, … Continue reading →

Posted in Charity, Current, Economy, Isle of Capri, Kentucky, Penn National, Pennsylvania | Comments Off

Palmetto State stalemate; Wynn strikes again

Posted on January 23, 2014 by David McKee

Back in 2005, the State of South Carolina, bowing to the inevitable, legalized cruise-to-nowhere gambling ships that operate out of Palmetto State ports. Now the Catwaba Indian Nation hopes to leverage that legislation into VLTs for itself. The state says … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Churchill Downs, Harrah's, Horseracing, Internet gambling, Kentucky, South Carolina, The Strip, Tribal | Comments Off

Toxic overconfidence at Wynn; Persistence in Kentucky

Posted on January 8, 2014 by David McKee

Whoops. It seems like Wynn Resorts was a little coy (or careless) about how it intended to clean up a toxic-waste site (home to “volatile organic compounds, petroleum hydrocarbons, PCBs, and evidence of sulfuric acids and other substances“) in Everett. Bostonians … Continue reading →

Posted in Boyd Gaming, Environment, Internet gambling, Kansas, Kentucky, Massachusetts, Politics, Sheldon Adelson, Steve Wynn, Taxes | 2 Comments

Kentucky: Let’s try this again; The smell of money

Posted on December 26, 2013 by David McKee

There will be yet another push for casino gambling in the Kentucky Legislature, with hopes of getting a constitutional amendment on the 2014 ballot. The move has bipartisan sponsorship. Dan Seum (R) is carrying the ball in the state Senate … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, Kentucky, Oklahoma, Racinos, Transportation, Tribal | Comments Off

Adelson’s bogus poll & other fun with numbers

Posted on December 6, 2013 by David McKee

To hear Sheldon Adelson tell it, 70% of Americans share his die-hard opposition to Internet gambling. He even bought a poll from The Tarrance Group to prove its point. Unfortunately for the Sultan of Sands, the monarch has no clothes. … Continue reading →

Posted in Alabama, Atlantic City, Cretins, Economy, Greenwood Racing, Harrah's, Internet gambling, Kentucky, Massachusetts, MGM Mirage, Pennsylvania, Regulation, Sheldon Adelson, Taxes, Technology, Tribal | 1 Comment