Category Archives: Louisiana

MGM goes on the attack; Wynn’s new “masterpiece;” Isle out of Louisiana

Posted on August 23, 2016 by David McKee

This story pretty much writes itself. While MGM Resorts International cowboys up and makes it clear who’s sponsoring the ad — not hiding behind some phony-baloney PAC name like “Citizens for a Stronger Connecticut” — but the commercial is a … Continue reading →

Posted in Alabama, Atlantic City, Boyd Gaming, Carl Icahn, Foxwoods, Harrah's, Internet gambling, Isle of Capri, Louisiana, Macau, MGM Mirage, Mohegan Sun, Politics, Racinos, Steve Wynn, Tropicana Entertainment, Wall Street | 1 Comment

Trump Taj: Everybody loses; Mixed bag for Boyd

Posted on August 4, 2016 by David McKee

Labor Day weekend will be the final hurrah for Trump Taj Mahal. Owner Carl Icahn has expressed his intent to close the struggling casino rather than continue to negotiate with striking Unite-Here Local 54. ““I would never have thought Carl … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Boyd Gaming, Carl Icahn, Churchill Downs, Donald Trump, Downtown, Economy, Hawaii, Illinois, Kansas, Louisiana, Maryland, Mississippi, Tropicana Entertainment, Unite-Here | Comments Off

Pinnacle dominates Louisiana; Trump settles Vegas case

Posted on July 22, 2016 by David McKee

Pulled under by the Shreveport/Bossier City market (-6%), June gaming numbers in Louisiana came in 3% off last year’s. Pinnacle Entertainment‘s Boomtown Bossier ($5 million) far outperformed the competition, up 11%. Hardest hit were the Caesars Entertainment properties, with usually reliable … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Boyd Gaming, Carl Icahn, Churchill Downs, Culinary Union, Donald Trump, GLPI, Harrah's, Isle of Capri, Louisiana, Palms, Penn National, Pinnacle Entertainment, Racinos, Slot routes, Station Casinos, Tilman Fertitta, Tropicana Entertainment, Unite-Here | Comments Off

Big win for Wynn; Entertainer gets shrunken head

Posted on July 20, 2016 by David McKee

It’s never too late to count out litigious Somerville Mayor Joseph Curtatone but it looks like Wynn Boston Harbor may finally be inevitable. The casino project received a development permit from the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection. Sore losers Mohegan … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Entertainment, Iowa, Louisiana, Macau, Massachusetts, Mohegan Sun, Regulation, Steve Wynn, Transportation, Tropicana Entertainment, Unite-Here | Comments Off

Riviera site to become a stadium?; Cordish, MGM face off in Maryland

Posted on June 28, 2016 by David McKee

It’s anything but certain that the [your city here] Raiders are coming to Las Vegas, but our civic leaders are moving ahead as though it were a done deal. The preferred site for a Las Vegas Sands-backed stadium, on Tropicana … Continue reading →

Posted in California, Cordish Co., Entertainment, Harrah's, International, Louisiana, LVCVA, Marketing, Maryland, MGM Mirage, Penn National, Politics, Riviera, Sheldon Adelson, Sports, The Strip, Tribal | 1 Comment

The meddlesome Adelson; Wynn Palace postponed again

Posted on June 27, 2016 by David McKee

“Essentially, Pechanga and its allies see no reason to compromise, even an inch,” wrote California Online Poker‘s Steve Ruddock of the intractable position of the Pechanga and Agua Caliente tribes, and their anti-PokerStars allies (who include Sheldon Adelson, meddling in … Continue reading →

Posted in Arkansas, California, Churchill Downs, Election, Foxwoods, Horseracing, Internet gambling, Louisiana, Macau, Marketing, Massachusetts, MGM Mirage, Mohegan Sun, Penn National, Politics, Regulation, Scientific Games, Sheldon Adelson, Steve Wynn, Taxes, Technology, Tribal, Wall Street | Comments Off

Louisiana gets hammered; Three states legalize DFS

Posted on June 20, 2016 by David McKee

As we’ve noted before, May was hard on Midwest casino operators, nowhere more so than in Louisiana, where gambling revenue was down 13%. This marks seven months of same-store decline for the Pelican State, an exceptional slump, with the usually … Continue reading →

Posted in Boyd Gaming, California, Churchill Downs, Colorado, Economy, Eldorado Resorts, GLPI, Golden Gaming, Harrah's, Internet gambling, Isle of Capri, Louisiana, MGM Mirage, Missouri, Nevada, New York, Pinnacle Entertainment, Regulation, Sports, The Strip, Tilman Fertitta, Tribal, Tropicana Entertainment, Wall Street | 2 Comments

Caesars’ slippery slope; Parx, Sands lead Pennsylvania

Posted on May 19, 2016 by David McKee

In 20 years of covering the gaming industry, I have rarely seen an example of looting a company so brazen as the “sale” of Total Rewards from Caesars Entertainment Operating Co. to parent Caesars Entertainment for $0.00. And since Big … Continue reading →

Posted in Boyd Gaming, Churchill Downs, Cordish Co., Dining, Eldorado Resorts, Entertainment, Greenwood Racing, Harrah's, Isle of Capri, Kansas, Louisiana, Mohegan Sun, Neil Bluhm, Oklahoma, Penn National, Pennsylvania, Pinnacle Entertainment, Planet Hollywood, Sheldon Adelson, Texas, Tribal | Comments Off

Balmy spring for Ohio, Missouri; Pinnacle beats estimates

Posted on May 10, 2016 by David McKee

Ohio had a particularly good April, with gaming revenue up 9%. Coin-in rose 8% at the slots while table game revenue was up 5% despite 3% less wagering. Penn National Gaming, Caesars Entertainment and Pinnacle Entertainment all posted revenue-positive months, … Continue reading →

Posted in Ameristar, Dan Gilbert, Eldorado Resorts, Golden Gaming, Hard Rock International, Harrah's, Isle of Capri, Louisiana, Missouri, Ohio, Penn National, Pinnacle Entertainment, Tropicana Entertainment, Wall Street | Comments Off

Dicey casino drive calls it quits; Steve Wynn’s newest mousetrap

Posted on May 2, 2016 by David McKee

Casino speculator Shawn Scott is skulking out of Maine, his attorney having withdrawn an appeal of Superior Court Justice Michaela Murphy’s ruling on the (in)validity of petitions filed by Scott and his sister Lisa, who was bankrolling the referendum drive. … Continue reading →

Posted in California, Economy, Election, Encore, Entertainment, Kansas, Law enforcement, Louisiana, Macau, Maine, Massachusetts, Mohegan Sun, Sports, Steve Wynn, Tribal | Comments Off

Save the Riviera!; Soggy March in Louisiana; The blacklist

Posted on April 18, 2016 by David McKee

Local preservationist Kelden Engel is trying to fight the power. He’s seeking 51,000 qualified signatures in a petition drive to halt demolition of the Riviera, currently slated for June. Not only is he racing the clock, he may be fighting … Continue reading →

Posted in Boyd Gaming, Churchill Downs, Eldorado Resorts, Environment, GLPI, Harrah's, history, Isle of Capri, Louisiana, LVCVA, Pinnacle Entertainment, Racinos, Reno, The Strip, Tropicana Entertainment, TV | Comments Off

Smoke gets in their eyes; Tax breaks all around

Posted on April 14, 2016 by David McKee

Yesterday morning, it looked like Baton Rouge casinos were going to have to brace themselves for a smoking ban. Today, they’re lighting up celebratory cigars in relief: While proponents of the smoking ban on the city council had six votes, … Continue reading →

Posted in Boyd Gaming, Environment, GLPI, Harrah's, Louisiana, New York, Pinnacle Entertainment, Regulation, Reno, Taxes, Tribal, Tropicana Entertainment, Wall Street | Comments Off

Steve and Elaine: At it again

Posted on March 29, 2016 by David McKee

Elaine Wynn has a message for the Wynn Resorts board of directors, on which she used to sit: Set my stock free! She has filed a lawsuit to that effect, arguing that since Kazuo Okada has been ousted from the … Continue reading →

Posted in Louisiana, Steve Wynn, Tourism | Comments Off

DFS in retreat; Pinnacle fights smoking ban

Posted on March 23, 2016 by David McKee

What Attorney General Eric Schneiderman couldn’t do, gun-shy payment processors have accomplished: Put DraftKings and FanDuel out of business in New York State. The two have said they will refrain from taking wagers from the Empire State through the end … Continue reading →

Posted in Churchill Downs, Environment, GLPI, Harrah's, history, Illinois, Internet gambling, Law enforcement, Louisiana, Neil Bluhm, New York, Pennsylvania, Pinnacle Entertainment, Regulation, Sports, Tribal, Tropicana Entertainment, TV | Comments Off

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

Doldrums in Louisiana; Free play imperiled in Pennsylvania

Posted on March 14, 2016 by David McKee

Louisiana gaming revenues, aided by Leap Day, were flat last month, which is pretty surprising because most of the brand names had revenue-negative months. Lake Charles led the state with $74 million. Golden Nugget had a signal month, up 37% … Continue reading →

Posted in Boyd Gaming, Churchill Downs, Eldorado Resorts, Election, GLPI, Greenwood Racing, Harrah's, Horseracing, Idaho, Isle of Capri, Louisiana, Maine, Penn National, Pennsylvania, Pinnacle Entertainment, Taxes, Tilman Fertitta, Tropicana Entertainment, West Virginia | Comments Off

Rosy prospects for Boyd; Victories in Indian Country

Posted on March 10, 2016 by David McKee

Top Boyd Gaming executives sat down with JP Morgan analyst Joseph Greff and sketched out their program for the coming year, with includes new restaurant concepts at 12 casinos (including 20 new restaurants this year) and 167 hotel rooms at … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, Atlantic City, Boyd Gaming, Election, history, Illinois, International, Law enforcement, Louisiana, Massachusetts, Melco Crown Entertainment, MGM Mirage, Nevada, Philippines, Taxes, Tribal, Wall Street | 1 Comment

Does Gilbert know Jack?; Caesars’ big finish

Posted on February 24, 2016 by David McKee

Will a Horseshoe by any other name earn as much? We’re going to find out because Rock Gaming owner Dan Gilbert is going to rebrand his casinos under the Jack Entertainment banner, presumably a tip of the hat to … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Colorado, Dan Gilbert, Florida, Harrah's, Isle of Capri, Louisiana, Marketing, Maryland, Mississippi, Ohio, Penn National, Regulation, Technology, The Strip, Wall Street | Comments Off

Wall Street loves it some Boyd; Wolf at the door

Posted on February 17, 2016 by David McKee

Boyd Gaming came out with its figures for 4Q15 and Wall Street is fairly singing the company’s praises. “We believe that BYD’s diversified, domestic regional gaming portfolio should continue to benefit from continued U.S. jobs growth and lower gas prices. … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Boyd Gaming, Downtown, Greenwood Racing, Hawaii, Internet gambling, Iowa, Kansas, Louisiana, Mohegan Sun, Pennsylvania, PokerStars, Sheldon Adelson, Taxes, Technology, Transportation, Wall Street | Comments Off

Plainridge bounces back; Unhappy new year in Louisiana

Posted on February 16, 2016 by David McKee

Penn National Gaming has been rather defensive — and understandably so — about the performance of Plainridge Park, which has seen business steadily decline from month to month. However, Penn reversed the slippage last month, increasing revenues 11%. Penn spent … Continue reading →

Posted in Boyd Gaming, Churchill Downs, Harrah's, Louisiana, Marketing, Massachusetts, Penn National, Pinnacle Entertainment, Racinos, Tilman Fertitta | Comments Off