Category Archives: Macau

Good news, big and small

Posted on August 23, 2018 by David McKee

Last year, commercial casino revenues topped $40 billion for the first time ever, maxing out at $40.3 billion. States with casinos will be happy campers, as that windfall meant $9.2 billion in gambling taxes. The revenue surge was 3.5% according … Continue reading →

Posted in Economy, Internet gambling, Macau, Maryland, New York, Problem gambling, Tribal, Washington State, West Virginia, Wynn Resorts | Comments Off

Playing the Trump card; Manilow renewed

Posted on August 22, 2018 by David McKee

In his latest newsletter, gaming-law expert I. Nelson Rose looks at the impact, real and potential, of retaliatory tariffs on playing cards. Canada and the European Union have imposed 10% import levies on playing cards from the United States, though … Continue reading →

Posted in Donald Trump, Economy, Entertainment, Greenwood Racing, International, Kentucky, Las Vegas Sands, Lucky Dragon, Macau, New Jersey, Ohio, Paragon Gaming, Pennsylvania, Politics, Sports betting, The Crown 18, The Strip, Westgate LV | Comments Off

‘Net, sports betting slow to ramp in Pennsylvania; Enter the Dragons

Posted on August 20, 2018 by David McKee

Three casinos in Pennsylvania have been cleared for Internet gambling. Of the trio, tiny Mount Airy Casino may loom the largest, being affiliated with both 888 and also PokerStars, which has been having a few issues of late. (Interestingly, Presque Isle … Continue reading →

Posted in Alex Meruelo, Caesars Entertainment, Eldorado Resorts, Greenwood Racing, Internet gambling, Macau, Marketing, Pennsylvania, PokerStars, Regulation, SLS Las Vegas, Sociedade de Jogos de Macau, Sports betting, The Strip | Comments Off

Wild card; Parx gets one-finger salute

Posted on August 13, 2018 by David McKee

Move over sports books, here comes … Buffalo Wild Wings?!? Yes, the restaurant business known for its trivia games and spicy food wants to get into the sports-betting business. “As the largest sports bar in America, we believe Buffalo Wild Wings … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Bruce Deifik, DFS, Dining, Economy, Galaxy Entertainment, Greenwood Racing, Hard Rock International, International, Japan, Macau, MGM Mirage, Nevada, Pennsylvania, Société des Bains de Mer, South Korea, Sports betting, Technology, Tourism, West Virginia | Comments Off

Casino revenues surge (almost) everywhere

Posted on August 8, 2018 by David McKee

Maryland casino business continues to boom, up 5.5% last month. MGM National Harbor led the pack with $58 million. It will, however, be a source of dismay to ownership that play continues to trend toward highly taxed (60%) slots and … Continue reading →

Posted in Caesars Entertainment, Churchill Downs, Cordish Co., Dan Gilbert, Eldorado Resorts, Galaxy Entertainment, Golden Gaming, Las Vegas Sands, Lawrence Ho, Macau, Maryland, Melco Resorts & Entertainment, MGM Resorts International, Ohio, Penn National, Pinnacle Entertainment, Racinos, Sheldon Adelson, Sociedade de Jogos de Macau, Taxes, West Virginia, Wynn Resorts | Comments Off

More woes for Wynn; Unlucky 13 in Macao

Posted on August 3, 2018 by David McKee

Update: All charges in this case were dismissed, as the alleged rape was found to be a fabrication. Wynn Las Vegas‘ status as the poster child for sexual assault on the Las Vegas Strip just got another boost. SoCal dentist Poria … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, Caesars Entertainment, Dining, Economy, Election, Georgia, Iowa, Law enforcement, Macau, Marketing, Massachusetts, Politics, Sexual misconduct, Sociedade de Jogos de Macau, Taxes, The Strip, Wall Street, Wynn Resorts | Comments Off

MGM gets panned; Eldorado reaps laurels

Posted on August 3, 2018 by David McKee

First, the good news. Park MGM generated $9 million across the last three quarters, which is pretty good when you consider that it’s essentially a construction site. JP Morgan analyst Joseph Greff opines that this partly makes up for “weak” … Continue reading →

Posted in Eldorado Resorts, Florida, Illinois, Japan, Louisiana, Macau, Marketing, Massachusetts, MGM Resorts International, Ohio, Racinos, Reno, Scientific Games, Sports betting, The Strip, Tropicana Entertainment, Wall Street | Comments Off

Caesars excels, MGM disappoints; So long, Paradise Park

Posted on August 2, 2018 by David McKee

You know how I thought May’s visitation numbers representing Las Vegas finally finding bottom in a visitation decline? Never mind. June was down 1%, mainly driven (pardon the pun) by fewer drive-in visits from California. Fortuitously for the casinos, luck … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Caesars Entertainment, California, Detroit, Economy, Las Vegas Sands, Macau, Mandalay Bay Massacre, Maryland, Massachusetts, Melco Crown Entertainment, MGM Resorts International, Sports, Sports betting, The Strip, Tourism, Wendover, Wynn Resorts | Comments Off

Murren steps in it (again); More casinos join sports-betting arms race

Posted on August 1, 2018 by David McKee

MGM Resorts International has decided that it made a faux pas … not by suing victims of the Mandalay Bay Massacre but by not explaining to employees what it was doing, leaving them open, says CEO Jim Murren, to “media … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Caesars Entertainment, e-sports, International, Lawrence Ho, Macau, Mandalay Bay Massacre, Marketing, Melco Resorts & Entertainment, MGM Resorts International, Sports betting | Comments Off

Culinary loses sense of decency; Inhumanity in Macao

Posted on July 27, 2018 by David McKee

Terry Caudill and the Culinary Union have come to terms on labor pacts for Binion’s Gambling Hall and the Four Queens. The agreement awaits ratification by the 650 employees affected. In the meantime, the Culinary stepped way over the line … Continue reading →

Posted in Animals, Architecture, Culinary Union, Downtown, Election, Internet gambling, Macau, Minnesota, Pennsylvania, Pets, Philippines, Regulation, Station Casinos, Terry Caudill, Tribal, Washington State | Comments Off

Congress hearts Massachusetts tribe; Who let the dogs out?

Posted on July 24, 2018 by David McKee

Against all odds, a bill to clear away legal challenges to the Mashpee Wampanoags and their Project First Light is set to be heard in the U.S. House of Representatives. A star-studded hearing has been set up by Rep. William … Continue reading →

Posted in Animals, Macau, Massachusetts, Neil Bluhm, Politics, Rush Street Gaming, Tribal | 1 Comment

MGM lawsuit shaky; Sports betting slow to gain traction

Posted on July 24, 2018 by David McKee

If MGM Resorts International thinks its federal lawsuit against victims of the Mandalay Bay Massacre will be a speedy way of disposing of all pending cases, it may be in for a rude surprise. Legal experts say the matter could … Continue reading →

Posted in Japan, Law enforcement, Macau, Mandalay Bay Massacre, MGM Resorts International, Mississippi, Ohio, Regulation, Sports, Sports betting | Comments Off

Sheldon’s sphere; Macao renewal delayed

Posted on July 23, 2018 by David McKee

In a wise move, Las Vegas Sands is investing $75 million in the event sphere being built behind Venelazzo by Madison Square Garden Co. By taking an equity position in the innovative venue, Sands presumably gains the potential to redeploy … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, Iowa, Japan, Las Vegas Sands, Macau, MGM Resorts International, Nebraska, Problem gambling, Regulation, Sheldon Adelson, Sociedade de Jogos de Macau, Sports betting, The Strip, Tribal, TV | Comments Off

Sport of kings on wobbly legs; Sports betting races ahead in N.J., N.Y., flags in Pennsylvania

Posted on July 18, 2018 by David McKee

Were it not for racinos, we’d probably be talking about the sport of kings in the past tense. Handle at racetracks has fallen 50% in the last 15 years. However, slot machines have infused a billion dollars a year, keeping … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Caesars Entertainment, Cordish Co., DFS, Dining, Greenwood Racing, Horseracing, Internet gambling, Macau, New York, Pennsylvania, Problem gambling, Racinos, Regulation, Sociedade de Jogos de Macau, Sports, Sports betting, Station Casinos, Taxes, The Strip, Tilman Fertitta | 1 Comment

Wynn Resorts fights back; Rage against the (slot) machine

Posted on July 17, 2018 by David McKee

Not taking charges of promising kickbacks lying down, Wynn Resorts has countersued Anthony Gattineri. The latter has thrown yet another spanner into the Encore Boston Harbor works by suing the company for an $18 million, under-the-table promise he says was … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, history, Internet gambling, Macau, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Penn National, Rhode Island, Sahara, Sam Nazarian, SLS Las Vegas, Wisconsin, Wynn Resorts | 1 Comment

Busted!

Posted on July 13, 2018 by David McKee

Former New York Knicks great Charles Oakley fouled out big-time at The Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas. The veteran roundballer, who made $46 million during his playing career, wound up in the clink over a $100 casino chip. Oakley tried to … Continue reading →

Posted in Cosmopolitan, Culinary Union, Florida, Fontainebleau, Genting, history, Law enforcement, Macau, New York, Penn National, Problem gambling, Regulation, Sports, The Strip | 1 Comment

MGM: Time to buy; Arkansas casinos one step closer

Posted on July 11, 2018 by David McKee

As of today, Hard Rock Rocksino, in Ohio, is official part of MGM Growth Properties. However, until MGP finds a new tenant, Hard Rock International will continue to run the place. It’s a win-win for Hard Rock and MGP. For … Continue reading →

Posted in Arkansas, Atlantic City, Dining, Election, Genting, Hard Rock International, history, Las Vegas Sands, Macau, MGM Mirage, Mississippi, Ohio, The Strip, Wall Street | Comments Off

Sheldon snuggles up to Commies; Elaine tests her clout

Posted on July 10, 2018 by David McKee

If toupée-collecting Sheldon Adelson were offered the chance to build Venetian Tehran he’d immediately become a peacenik regarding Iran, a country he lusts to nuke. Instead of making nice with mullahs, he’s doing the next best thing, warbling sweet nothings to Kim … Continue reading →

Posted in Caesars Entertainment, Elaine Wynn, Galaxy Entertainment, history, Illinois, International, Las Vegas Sands, Macau, Massachusetts, MGM Mirage, Nevada, Planet Hollywood, Politics, Regulation, Sexual misconduct, Sheldon Adelson, South Korea, Sports, Steve Wynn, The Strip, Unite-Here, Wynn Resorts | Comments Off

Atlantic City, the morning after; On the dole in Delaware

Posted on July 5, 2018 by David McKee

Even as it celebrates its debut in Atlantic City, Hard Rock International is pining for the New York City area, especially since it has an exclusive contract to operate a casino at Meadowlands. In a display of rather poor taste, Hard … Continue reading →

Posted in Ameristar, Atlantic City, Bruce Deifik, Delaware, Galaxy Entertainment, Hard Rock International, Indiana, Macau, New York, Penn National, Pinnacle Entertainment, Racinos, Sports, Taxes, Wall Street | 1 Comment

Quote of the Day

Posted on June 28, 2018 by David McKee

“The risks for Sheldon Anderson’s [sic] Sands casinos are quite high. It is quite possible that China will target his casinos specifically because he is a [Donald] Trump crony. It is possible they will ratchet up police surveillance of his … Continue reading →

Posted in Donald Trump, International, Macau, Sheldon Adelson, South Korea | Comments Off