Category Archives: Macau

Winning quarter for Wynn

Posted on February 15, 2016 by David McKee

In the current era of managed expectations of all things related to Macao, the 4Q15 report from Wynn Resorts fell into the “better than anticipated” category, with earnings down ‘only’ 17% (superior to Wall Street consensus) and profits just over … Continue reading →

Posted in Economy, Florida, Georgia, Law enforcement, Macau, Melco Crown Entertainment, Nevada, Penn National, Pennsylvania, Regulation, Reno, Seminole Tribe, Sheldon Adelson, Steve Wynn, Texas, The Strip, Wall Street | Comments Off

Taunted in Taunton; Sands’ Chinese generosity

Posted on February 8, 2016 by David McKee

It was bound to happen and finally did: An activist group in Taunton has filed suit to stop the Mashpee Wampanoag tribe from building its dreamt-of casino, Project First Light. The litigants’ argument is as predictable as the filing itself. … Continue reading →

Posted in Macau, Massachusetts, Neil Bluhm, Regulation, Sheldon Adelson, Tribal | Comments Off

Case Bets

Posted on February 2, 2016 by David McKee

Sheldon Adelson once called it “a mistake” but Sands Bethlehem is proving to be a bright spot on the Las Vegas Sands balance sheet. Last year, its profitability rose 9%, adding $108 million to Adelson’s coffers. As the CEO would … Continue reading →

Posted in Election, Macau, Maine, Maryland, MGM Mirage, Pennsylvania, Sheldon Adelson, Tribal | Comments Off

Atlantic City omnibus

Posted on February 2, 2016 by David McKee

If Carl Icahn has his way, executives at Trump Taj Mahal may have to start updating their resumes. Tropicana Atlantic City President Anthony Rodio is expected to add the Taj to his portfolio as well. It’s well past time that inept … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Boyd Gaming, Carl Icahn, Economy, Macau, MGM Mirage, Politics, The Strip, Tropicana Entertainment, Trump Entertainment Resorts, Wall Street | Comments Off

Big government wins in Atlantic City; Sheldon’s money grab

Posted on February 1, 2016 by David McKee

“From the looks on your faces, you don’t like ‘Kumbaya’ moments. I’m sorry for that. It’s time for some tough decisions and some pain as we move forward.” So said Atlantic City Mayor Don Guardian (R) as he acceded to a … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Economy, Glenn Straub, Harrah's, LVCVA, Macau, Politics, Revel, Sheldon Adelson | Comments Off

Strip’s illusory Christmas present; A.C. Trop antes up

Posted on January 29, 2016 by David McKee

Las Vegas Strip gaming revenues were up 8% last month but Deutsche Bank analyst Carlo Santarelli is calling that headline “misleading,” the increase “purely optical.” Volume of table play was down 11% and slot coin-in was 2% less. But increased … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Boulder Strip, Boyd Gaming, Downtown, Economy, Greenwood Racing, Harrah's, Internet gambling, Lake Tahoe, Laughlin, Macau, MGM Mirage, Mohegan Sun, Neil Bluhm, Nevada, North Las Vegas, Penn National, Pennsylvania, Reno, Sheldon Adelson, Technology, The Strip, Tropicana Entertainment, Wall Street | Comments Off

Meet the candidates; Even when Adelson loses, he wins

Posted on January 28, 2016 by David McKee

One of the many first-ever things that Geoff Freeman has done to remake the American Gaming Association in his image is compile a voting guide for industry workers, walking them through the primary and caucus processes in their states, and … Continue reading →

Posted in Economy, Election, Geoff Freeman, Macau, Maryland, Pennsylvania, Politics, Regulation, Sheldon Adelson, Sports, The Strip, Tribal, Wall Street | Comments Off

Quote of the Day

Posted on January 26, 2016 by David McKee

“I guess [the Sands general counsel] could have filed something that said, ‘Dear Public: Our chairman is a little cuckoo.’” — Las Vegas Sands CEO Sheldon Adelson, testifying to the impairment of his job performance caused by painkillers. Interestingly, now … Continue reading →

Posted in Macau, Sheldon Adelson | Comments Off

Another card room busted; Station becomes Red Rock

Posted on January 22, 2016 by David McKee

Scarcely was the ink dry on the American Gaming Association‘s proclamation of improved anti-money-laundering compliance than a plea-bargaining agreement was revealed involving the Normandie Casino, a venerable Gardena, California, card room. According to the Los Angeles Times, the Normandie “failed … Continue reading →

Posted in California, Economy, Geoff Freeman, Internet gambling, Law enforcement, Macau, Massachusetts, MGM Mirage, Neil Bluhm, Pennsylvania, Sheldon Adelson, Station Casinos, Tribal, Wall Street | Comments Off

A Revel by any other name …; Christie abandons Atlantic City

Posted on January 20, 2016 by David McKee

Whatever it’s called when Glenn Straub reopens it, that $2.4 billion turkey along the Boardwalk won’t be named Revel. The new moniker is the least of several uncertainties surrounding the property. For one, Straub hasn’t even finished his gaming-license application yet, … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Election, Glenn Straub, Harrah's, Macau, Politics, Revel, Trump Entertainment Resorts | 1 Comment

Wynn Resorts opens its wallet; Further woes for Macao

Posted on January 14, 2016 by David McKee

The most “george” figure in the casino industry last year would have to be Steve Wynn. Rank-and-file employees at Wynn Macau received a month’s salary as an end-of-year bonus. Senior management is ineligible for bonuses. Now, this is part of … Continue reading →

Posted in Economy, International, Law enforcement, Macau, Marketing, Regulation, Stanley Ho, Steve Wynn, Tribal, Wall Street | Comments Off

Crosby: DFS equals Internet gambling; Macao’s newfound love for slot players

Posted on January 13, 2016 by David McKee

Although state Attorney General Maura Healey continues to draw a road map for daily fantasy sports in Massachusetts, the state’s gambling regulatory body has stepped forward to volunteer its services as an enforcement agent. Yes, DFS would be classified as … Continue reading →

Posted in Illinois, Internet gambling, Macau, Marketing, Massachusetts, MGM Mirage, Missouri, New York, Penn National, Regulation, Stanley Ho, Tribal, Tropicana Entertainment, Wall Street | Comments Off

Gaming forecast: Moderately sunny; Adelson + R-J = bad news

Posted on January 12, 2016 by David McKee

Deutsche Bank analyst Carlo Santarelli hung out along the Las Vegas Strip last week and “found few signs of caution as forward indicators remain favorable in most key areas.” Both New Year’s Eve business and convention calendars for the first … Continue reading →

Posted in Economy, Harrah's, Law enforcement, Louisiana, Macau, MGM Mirage, Sheldon Adelson, Technology, The Strip, Transportation | Comments Off

Arc de scandale; New Illinois casino nominee

Posted on January 7, 2016 by David McKee

Macao is still reeling from an embezzlement scandal involving a Wynn Macau junket operator and now $13 million has gone missing from L’Arc, a sublicensee of Sociedade de Jogos de Macau and owned by SJM’s Angela Leong. This immediately raised … Continue reading →

Posted in Foxwoods, Galaxy Entertainment, Illinois, Macau, Massachusetts, MGM Mirage, Mohegan Sun, Penn National, Regulation, Sheldon Adelson, Stanley Ho, Steve Wynn, Wall Street | Comments Off

Adelson’s endurance; Doom for Dotty’s?

Posted on January 6, 2016 by David McKee

Outwardly, Sheldon Adelson maintains an air of placidity regarding business affairs in Macao, where gaming revenue dropped 34% in 2015. However, it can’t much please him to pick up his morning newspaper and read that Wall Street is expecting more of the … Continue reading →

Posted in Cosmopolitan, Dotty's, Economy, Macau, Regulation, Sam Nazarian, Sheldon Adelson, Wall Street | 1 Comment

Suffolk Downs fights back; Scrum in New Jersey Lege

Posted on January 5, 2016 by David McKee

Boston Mayor Martin Walsh may well have thrown in the towel in his lawsuit against Wynn Everett (technically against the Massachusetts Gaming Commission) but a quartet of Suffolk Downs workers aren’t letting Judge Janet Sanders‘ dismissal of aforesaid lawsuit go … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Colony Capital, Entertainment, Glenn Straub, Macau, Massachusetts, MGM Mirage, Politics, Racinos, Regulation, Revel, Stanley Ho, Steve Wynn, The Strip | 1 Comment

Another day in Adelsonia

Posted on January 5, 2016 by David McKee

After a weeks of ham-handed “managing” of the Las Vegas Review-Journal, controversial executive Michael Schroeder got the heave-ho, the apparent price of having brought unwanted attention to Sheldon Adelson‘s ownership. He was also an ethical cancer on the R-J, having … Continue reading →

Posted in Donald Trump, Harrah's, Macau, Politics, Regulation, Sheldon Adelson, Steve Wynn, The Mob, The Strip | Comments Off

Macao ends 2015 quietly; Record visitation not good enough for Vegas

Posted on January 4, 2016 by David McKee

That “squish” you heard from across the sea was Macao‘s gaming market reporting a decrease of 21% last month, practically good news when measured against November’s 32% plunge. Mind you, Macanese casinos were averaging $74 million in win per day, … Continue reading →

Posted in Economy, Eldorado Resorts, Environment, Horseracing, LVCVA, Macau, Melco Crown Entertainment, MGM Mirage, Sheldon Adelson, Steve Wynn, The Strip, Tourism, Wall Street, West Virginia | Comments Off

Caesars’ escape artistry; Boyd goes native

Posted on December 30, 2015 by David McKee

Caesars Entertainment gained some breathing room after U.S. District Judge Shira Scheindlin ruled that “material disputes” involving its removal of guarantees to bondholders required resolution by trial, not summary judgment. Caesars feared the latter, contending that it would contend that it … Continue reading →

Posted in Boyd Gaming, California, Harrah's, International, Macau, Melco Crown Entertainment, Oklahoma, Sheldon Adelson, Tribal, Wall Street | Comments Off

All Adelson, all the time; Full House on the move

Posted on December 18, 2015 by David McKee

(Update: The Adelson-influenced meddling has already begun.) Now that Sheldon Adelson owns the Las Vegas Review-Journal, the paper’s prime topic of coverage has become … itself. There’s no shortage of entrail-reading, as pundits try to parse the casino mogul’s intentions. … Continue reading →

Posted in Colorado, Dan Lee, Harrah's, Harry Reid, Internet gambling, Lake Tahoe, Macau, MGM Mirage, Politics, Sheldon Adelson, Steve Wynn | 1 Comment