Category Archives: Lawrence Ho

Tipping point in Pennsylvania near; Cirque du NFL

Posted on June 23, 2016 by David McKee

“I think gaming expansion money in one form or another is necessary for this budget process to be complete,” spoke Pennsylvania House Majority Leader Dave Reed (R). With Gov. Tom Wolf (D, right) having given way on sales-tax and income-tax … Continue reading →

Posted in Cirque du Soleil, Economy, International, Internet gambling, Lawrence Ho, Macau, Marketing, Melco Crown Entertainment, MGM Mirage, Mississippi, Pennsylvania, Politics, Sheldon Adelson, Slot routes, Sports, Station Casinos, Steve Wynn, Taxes, The Strip, Wall Street | Comments Off on Tipping point in Pennsylvania near; Cirque du NFL

Macao: The 9% solution; It’s a bird, it’s a plane, it’s Steve Wynn

Posted on May 19, 2016 by David McKee

Supply has overrun demand in Macao, where a wave of impending megaresorts is rolling in on an emaciated marketplace. But optimistic noises are being heard at Global Gaming Expo Asia, amid the robotic croupiers and other new toys. “The sentiments … Continue reading →

Posted in Downtown, Economy, Entertainment, G2E, International, Lawrence Ho, Macau, Pennsylvania, Politics, Regulation, Steve Wynn, Taxes | Comments Off on Macao: The 9% solution; It’s a bird, it’s a plane, it’s Steve Wynn

Warm spring for Indiana; Trouble ahead for Packer and Ho

Posted on May 9, 2016 by David McKee

While Illinois casinos were flat last month, the action was livelier next door in Indiana. Admissions declined 4%, meaning that players were spending 9%, as casino revenues rose 5%. The percentage champion was Tropicana Evansville, up 17% on an $11 … Continue reading →

Posted in Ameristar, Boyd Gaming, Donald Trump, Full House Resorts, Harrah's, Indiana, International, James Packer, Lawrence Ho, Macau, Majestic Star, Melco Crown Entertainment, Penn National, Pinnacle Entertainment, Racinos, Sheldon Adelson, Steve Wynn, Tropicana Entertainment, Wall Street | 1 Comment

Pinnacle/GLPI deal gets OK; Hard Rock courts Cypriots

Posted on March 16, 2016 by David McKee

Shareholders of Pinnacle Entertainment have voted to approve a deal whereby all but one of the company’s physical assets would be sold to real estate investment trust Gaming & Leisure Properties, while Pinnacle would continue to exist as a casino-management company. … Continue reading →

Posted in Eldorado Resorts, Foxwoods, GLPI, Hard Rock Hotel, Indiana, International, Lawrence Ho, Louisiana, Massachusetts, MGM Mirage, Mohegan Sun, Ohio, Penn National, Philippines, Pinnacle Entertainment, Racinos, Regulation, Reno, Tribal, Unite-Here, Wall Street, West Virginia | 1 Comment

Big contract from Wynn; Parking debate continues

Posted on January 19, 2016 by David McKee

Wynn Resorts bought locally in its search for a Wynn Everett general contractor. It has let the $1 billion construction contract to Suffolk Construction, biggest in Massachusetts. By choosing a Boston company for this seven-figure deal (plus 4,000 jobs), perhaps … Continue reading →

Posted in California, Florida, GLPI, International, Iowa, Lawrence Ho, Marketing, Massachusetts, MGM Mirage, Missouri, Pinnacle Entertainment, Regulation, Steve Wynn, Technology, The Strip, Tourism, Transportation, Tribal | 2 Comments

Quote of the Day

Posted on December 1, 2015 by David McKee

“It’s no secret that for a long time the rumor was we were going to get [only] 150 tables. Were we flipping out? Of course we were flipping out. But we never went out publicly. There’s no arguing with City Hall. … Continue reading →

Posted in Lawrence Ho, Macau, Regulation | Comments Off on Quote of the Day

Quote of the Day

Posted on November 3, 2015 by David McKee

“There’s no arguing with City Hall. There’s no arguing with the government. There’s only begging and lobbying and more begging.” — Melco Crown Entertainment Co-Chairman Lawrence Ho on doing business in Macao.

Posted in Lawrence Ho, Macau, Melco Crown Entertainment, Regulation | Comments Off on Quote of the Day

Caesars loses Ohio; Parking fees on the Strip?

Posted on November 2, 2015 by David McKee

In a lose-lose scenario, Caesars Entertainment is losing its management contracts at Horseshoe Cincinnati, Horseshoe Cleveland and Thistledown Racino. Even with the valuable Horseshoe brand, all three had been losing business in recent months. Caesars had long ago sold its … Continue reading →

Posted in CityCenter, Current, Dan Gilbert, Harrah's, James Packer, Lawrence Ho, Macau, Marketing, Maryland, MGM Mirage, Ohio, Regulation, Sheldon Adelson, Station Casinos, Steve Wynn, Technology, The Strip, Transportation | 1 Comment

Quote of the Day

Posted on October 29, 2015 by David McKee

“If you go back to January 1 this year, everyone was still hopeful for a quick recovery and the fact the gaming industry was like this bulletproof industry – the idea you could throw grenades at it and it was … Continue reading →

Posted in Lawrence Ho, Macau, Melco Crown Entertainment, Regulation | Comments Off on Quote of the Day

Caesars: (Almost) everything must go; More angst in Macao

Posted on October 27, 2015 by David McKee

Well, it had to happen eventually. In order to escape bankruptcy, Caesars Entertainment is putting Caesars Entertainment Operating Co. on the market. There are some who are calling this a bluff and others who can’t afford to get in on … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Boyd Gaming, California, Economy, GLPI, Harrah's, Illinois, Indiana, International, Iowa, Lake Tahoe, Lawrence Ho, Louisiana, Marketing, Melco Crown Entertainment, MGM Mirage, Mississippi, Missouri, Ohio, Penn National, Philippines, Regulation, Reno, Sheldon Adelson, Stanley Ho, Steve Wynn, The Strip, Tribal, Wall Street | 1 Comment

Japan: Keep moving, nothing to see here; Crisis at Studio City

Posted on October 26, 2015 by David McKee

Despite much chumming of the waters by Union Gaming Securities Asia‘s Grant Govertson, it’s the same old same-old in Japan, where casino legalization has been delayed yet again and probably should be under a news blackout until substantial progress is achieved. … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, Election, Entertainment, Harrah's, International, Internet gambling, James Packer, Japan, Lawrence Ho, Macau, Melco Crown Entertainment, Mississippi, Pets, Politics, Regulation, Sheldon Adelson, Steve Wynn, Tourism, Wall Street | Comments Off on Japan: Keep moving, nothing to see here; Crisis at Studio City

All’s well at Penn; Mulroy’s misdeed; Discomfort at Studio City

Posted on October 22, 2015 by David McKee

Penn National Gaming pleasantly surprised Wall Street, reporting third-quarter revenue of $739 million and $210 million in cash flow, exceeding projections by $8 million and $11 million, respectively. It paid out $109 million in rent to Gaming & Leisure Properties … Continue reading →

Posted in California, Economy, Galaxy Entertainment, GLPI, Illinois, Lawrence Ho, Macau, Marketing, Massachusetts, Melco Crown Entertainment, MGM Mirage, Missouri, Ohio, Penn National, Regulation, Sports, Steve Wynn, The Strip, Tribal, Wall Street | Comments Off on All’s well at Penn; Mulroy’s misdeed; Discomfort at Studio City

Steve Wynn’s an unhappy camper

Posted on October 16, 2015 by David McKee

A decade ago, Steve Wynn would badmouth doing business in Nevada and warble sweet hymns to that capitalist’s paradise, China. How times change. On yesterday’s quarterly earnings call, Wynn was apoplectic about the Chinese government’s shifting policies in re Macao. “In … Continue reading →

Posted in Economy, Galaxy Entertainment, International, Lawrence Ho, Macau, Marketing, Melco Crown Entertainment, MGM Mirage, Regulation, Steve Wynn, The Strip, Wall Street | 4 Comments

New Jersey loses again; From Russia with casinos

Posted on August 26, 2015 by David McKee

New Jersey‘s quest for sports betting came to a bitter, penultimate roadblock before the Third Circuit Court of Appeals, which deemed the Garden State’s repeal of its sports-betting ban to be a violation of the Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act. … Continue reading →

Posted in Economy, Harrah's, International, Japan, Lawrence Ho, Macau, Politics, South Korea, Taxes | Comments Off on New Jersey loses again; From Russia with casinos

Studio City in trouble; Tribal clash in Massachusetts

Posted on August 13, 2015 by David McKee

Melco Crown Entertainment is in Eeyore mood these days, darkly muttering about a “contingency plan” for Studio City if the Macao government doesn’t give it 400 table games. As far back as its 2014 annual report, the company was making … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Columbia Sussex, Election, Galaxy Entertainment, Geoff Freeman, Internet gambling, Isle of Capri, James Packer, Lawrence Ho, Macau, Massachusetts, Melco Crown Entertainment, MGM Mirage, Mississippi, Neil Bluhm, Pennsylvania, Regulation, Sheldon Adelson, Steve Wynn, The Strip, Tribal | Comments Off on Studio City in trouble; Tribal clash in Massachusetts

Packer plays musical chairs; Atlantic City … the rest of the story

Posted on August 13, 2015 by David McKee

A 41% dive in Crown Resorts prompted James Packer to resign his chairmanship of the company, handing his portfolio to Deutsche Bank veteran Robert Rankin. The change appears to be more cosmetic than substantive, seeing as the brawling billionaire will … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Australia, Cannery Casino Resorts, Harrah's, Internet gambling, James Packer, Lawrence Ho, Macau, Marketing, Melco Crown Entertainment, Mohegan Sun, Stanley Ho, The Strip, Tilman Fertitta, Tropicana Entertainment, Trump Entertainment Resorts | 1 Comment

Bluhm presses case in Massachusetts; Lawrence Ho tells it like it is

Posted on August 10, 2015 by David McKee

Despite having to wait at least until early next year to start building, a potential Brockton casino could be “up and running by 2018,” sometime in the second quarter, according to Neil Bluhm. “We are shovel-ready to go.” Unfortunately for … Continue reading →

Posted in Entertainment, Illinois, Lawrence Ho, Macau, Massachusetts, Melco Crown Entertainment, MGM Mirage, Neil Bluhm, Regulation, Sam Nazarian, Tribal | 1 Comment

What’s up, Macao?; Strange plan from Full House

Posted on August 6, 2015 by David McKee

Lawrence Ho minces few words in an interview with Bloomberg News about the autumn opening of Studio City, the $3.2 billion rescue project of Melco Crown Entertainment. It’s difficult to decide what’s strangest about the project. Is it having Batman, … Continue reading →

Posted in Dan Lee, Galaxy Entertainment, Indiana, Kentucky, Lawrence Ho, Macau, Melco Crown Entertainment, Ohio, Regulation, Transportation | Comments Off on What’s up, Macao?; Strange plan from Full House

Caesars ups the ante; Packer: Fear and loathing

Posted on July 21, 2015 by David McKee

Caesars Entertainment stock rallied today on news that the company had palliated its junior creditors by offering them a $200 million forbearance fee along with 10% ownership of the REIT, which it characterized as “a substantial improvement in recoveries.” Caesars … Continue reading →

Posted in Australia, Harrah's, James Packer, Laughlin, Lawrence Ho, Louisiana, Macau, The Strip, Wall Street | Comments Off on Caesars ups the ante; Packer: Fear and loathing

From Russia with baccarat; Massachusetts tribe has no quit in it

Posted on July 6, 2015 by David McKee

North Korean, South Korean and northern Chinese punters will relatively soon have at least two opportunities to take short-hop flights to Vladivostok, where two casinos — relatively modest in budget by American standards — are in progress. The junior of the … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, CityCenter, Donald Trump, history, International, Lawrence Ho, Massachusetts, New York, Racinos, Regulation, Slot routes, Technology, The Strip, Tribal | Comments Off on From Russia with baccarat; Massachusetts tribe has no quit in it