Category Archives: Macau

N.Y. casino expansion in danger; Macao: Full to bursting

Posted on October 3, 2013 by David McKee

A poll on Proposition One, conducted by Parkside Group, shows casino expansion in New York State enjoying a bare majority of 51%. If that doesn’t galvanize Gov. Andrew Cuomo (D) and other supporters into action, it ought to — especially … Continue reading →

Posted in California, Election, Macau, New York, Politics, Station Casinos, Tourism, Transportation, Tribal, Wall Street | Comments Off on N.Y. casino expansion in danger; Macao: Full to bursting

Atlantic City: Exit Pinnacle, turnover at Revel; Invading Japan

Posted on October 1, 2013 by David McKee

It took three years and a frightful loss ($239 million), but Pinnacle Entertainment is finally shot of Lee’s Folly, the Sands Casino Hotel site that ex-CEO Dan Lee bought for $270 million during the boom years … and which promptly … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, International, Japan, Lawrence Ho, Macau, Melco Crown Entertainment, Pinnacle Entertainment, Revel, Sheldon Adelson, Singapore, Station Casinos | 1 Comment

“Mob” exits Trop; Goretorium exiting Vegas?; Adelson keeps losing

Posted on October 1, 2013 by David McKee

Having served its purpose in getting the (rather soporific) Mob Attraction off the ground — including forgiving some lease payments — the Tropicana Las Vegas finds itself kicked to the curb. The Attraction will move to a new site (reputedly … Continue reading →

Posted in Alex Yemenidjian, Current, Entertainment, Harrah's, Macau, Phil Ruffin, Sheldon Adelson, The Strip | Comments Off on “Mob” exits Trop; Goretorium exiting Vegas?; Adelson keeps losing

Busted!; Crystals off the block; Rumble in Macao

Posted on September 27, 2013 by David McKee

Archie Karas (real name Anargyros Karabourniotis), high roller and reputed casino cheat is cooling his butt in a Las Vegas jail cell right now. The advantage player is facing extradition on charges that he bilked Barona Casino out of eight grand … Continue reading →

Posted in CityCenter, Current, Economy, Foxwoods, Macau, Massachusetts, MGM Mirage, Sheldon Adelson, Stanley Ho, The Strip, Tribal | Comments Off on Busted!; Crystals off the block; Rumble in Macao

Bad day for Tomato King and Wynn

Posted on September 25, 2013 by David McKee

While the City of Philadelphia is officially neutral on who should get the last gambling license for the area, it’s not above giving the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board a not-so-gentle-nudge. At a hearing led by Deputy Mayor Alan Greenberger, two … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, Cordish Co., Cosmopolitan, International, Macau, Penn National, Pennsylvania, Regulation, Sheldon Adelson, Singapore, Steve Wynn, Tomato King Procacci, Tourism | Comments Off on Bad day for Tomato King and Wynn

Wall Street comes to the Strip, meets the big boys

Posted on September 24, 2013 by David McKee

Investment firms like J.P. Morgan and Deutsche Bank have been sending emissaries to Las Vegas this week, to meet with all the major gaming firms during Global Gaming Expo. Since the latter is being held at Sands Expo Center, perhaps … Continue reading →

Posted in Current, Economy, G2E, Isle of Capri, Japan, Macau, Marketing, Massachusetts, MGM Mirage, Missouri, Pennsylvania, Sheldon Adelson, Singapore, Steve Wynn, The Strip, Tourism, Wall Street | Comments Off on Wall Street comes to the Strip, meets the big boys

More turmoil at Sands; Pensions want a bigger slice of Caesars

Posted on September 3, 2013 by David McKee

David Sisk, the COO of Sands China, has resigned — the latest casualty of high executive turnover in Sheldon Adelson‘s fiefdom. You’d think that such instability in the upper ranks would give Wall Street an ulcer. But when Sands is … Continue reading →

Posted in Current, Economy, Foxwoods, Harrah's, Macau, Rhode Island, Sheldon Adelson, Wall Street | Comments Off on More turmoil at Sands; Pensions want a bigger slice of Caesars

How much sin in Sin City is too much?; Woe and Ho

Posted on August 27, 2013 by David McKee

Wearing a strap-on dildo seems to be the outer limit of decency in Las Vegas. Any casino that hosts a nightclub is playing with fire to some extent but Las Vegas Sands well and truly burned its fingers with The … Continue reading →

Posted in Current, Harrah's, International, Macau, Ohio, Penn National, Planet Hollywood, Regulation, Sheldon Adelson, Stanley Ho, The Strip | 2 Comments

Better late than never in A.C.

Posted on August 21, 2013 by David McKee

Under the leadership of the Atlantic City Alliance, the Boardwalk is finally getting its act together. (Makes you feel like a proud papa, doesn’t it?) Now through 2016, the ACA will offer $1 million in annual subsidies to conventions. The … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Boyd Gaming, Current, Economy, Florida, Macau, Racinos, Revel, Tourism | 1 Comment

Rising son goes to Land of Rising Sun; The man who would be emperor

Posted on August 16, 2013 by David McKee

After a calamitous and incoherent venture into the U.S. gaming industry, James Packer has stuck pretty close to the markets he knows best: Australia and Macao. But he’s feeling his oats again, looking toward Manila, Sri Lanka (which I still … Continue reading →

Posted in Genting, International, James Packer, Lawrence Ho, Macau, Melco Crown Entertainment, Regulation, Stanley Ho | Comments Off on Rising son goes to Land of Rising Sun; The man who would be emperor

Hope for Caesars; Dopes at Boyd

Posted on August 15, 2013 by David McKee

Perhaps the best thing yet to happen for Caesars Entertainment‘s Suffolk Downs project was a gift from the Massachusetts Gaming Commission. The latter’s chairman, Stephen Crosby, said that surrounding-community agreements would play an important role in choosing which operator gets … Continue reading →

Posted in Boyd Gaming, Current, Entertainment, Harrah's, International, Macau, Maryland, Mississippi, The Strip | Comments Off on Hope for Caesars; Dopes at Boyd

Murren disses Adelson; Caesars bows out of Macao; Clerical choler

Posted on August 12, 2013 by David McKee

“Maybe because he’s rich he thinks people care about what he has to say. It’s obvious we know Las Vegas better than he does.” With those wordsMGM Resorts International CEO Jim Murren laid a surprisingly blunt smackdown on Las Vegas … Continue reading →

Posted in Current, Florida, Harrah's, James Packer, Lawrence Ho, Macau, Massachusetts, MGM Mirage, Problem gambling, Sheldon Adelson, Stanley Ho, Steve Wynn, The Strip, Wall Street | 3 Comments

Quote of the Day

Posted on August 9, 2013 by David McKee

“I think the Macau government has made it very clear that it will treat every junket application in a fair and equitable way. So if anybody gets a licence I don’t see any problem for any of the concessionaires to … Continue reading →

Posted in Macau, Regulation, Stanley Ho, The Mob | Comments Off on Quote of the Day

MGM’s half-full glass

Posted on August 6, 2013 by David McKee

Today it was MGM Resorts International‘s turn to do the “We didn’t lose as much money as last year” thing. The size of the decrease, at least, was impressive and MGM China produced its best numbers ever. The company’s performance … Continue reading →

Posted in CityCenter, Current, Detroit, Economy, Harrah's, Macau, Mississippi, The Strip, Wall Street | 1 Comment

Cosmo plunges again; Nevada signals surrender

Posted on August 5, 2013 by David McKee

Would somebody please sack the so-called casino management and marketing staff at The Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas. Everything at the Cosmo is improving except the gambling floor, which took a 20% nosedive in 2Q13, to $31 million. Losses were 25% … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Colony Capital, Cosmopolitan, Current, Dining, Internet gambling, Macau, MGM Mirage, Regulation, Sheldon Adelson, Singapore, Stanley Ho, Steve Wynn, The Mob, The Strip | 5 Comments

Quote of the Day

Posted on August 4, 2013 by David McKee

“China: A backward country with no minimum wage, safety and environmental regulations, civil rights, or workers’ rights … which the United States should start imitating as soon as possible. Not really Communist any more (see Business Friendly).” — very true and … Continue reading →

Posted in Macau, Sheldon Adelson, Steve Wynn | Comments Off on Quote of the Day

Silly in Philly; Dinosaurs in Macao; New York’s choice

Posted on July 31, 2013 by David McKee

From the silly file. There’s no reason that any Joe Blow can’t apply for a casino license in Philadelphia. But I get a kick out of fruit-and-vegetable mogul Joseph “Tomato King” Procacci thinking he can actually outdo the likes of … Continue reading →

Posted in Animals, Election, Isle of Capri, Macau, New York, Penn National, Pennsylvania, Problem gambling, Regulation, Stanley Ho, Steve Wynn, Taxes | Comments Off on Silly in Philly; Dinosaurs in Macao; New York’s choice

Adelson loses (again), as does Simpson; Internet stampede in Jersey

Posted on July 31, 2013 by David McKee

Continuing his recent string of futility in the court system, Sheldon Adelson wore the gold sombrero yesterday, after went 0-for-12 in Clark County District Court. Next stop, the Nevada Supreme Court, which has been friendly to the mogul in the … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Boyd Gaming, Cretins, Current, Genting, Harrah's, Internet gambling, Macau, Regulation, Sheldon Adelson, Singapore, Station Casinos | Comments Off on Adelson loses (again), as does Simpson; Internet stampede in Jersey

Early reckoning in Macao; Big Gaming’s growing pains

Posted on July 30, 2013 by David McKee

One shouldn’t read too much into anything the Macao government says about casino operators. It likes to keep them guessing — especially U.S. ones. Still, it’s worth noting that Secretary for Economy & Finance Francis Tam Pak Yuen has floated … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Delaware, Economy, Genting, Harrah's, Macau, MGM Mirage, New Hampshire, New York, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Problem gambling, Racinos, Regulation, Sheldon Adelson, Stanley Ho, Tropicana Entertainment | Comments Off on Early reckoning in Macao; Big Gaming’s growing pains

One Angry Man; MGM expansion bodes well

Posted on July 25, 2013 by David McKee

Y’know, if I was reporting a 120% profit increase in 2Q13, I might stop and enjoy the moment. I certainly wouldn’t choose that moment to be a dick. Obviously, I am not Sheldon Adelson. Proffering evidence that his second infancy … Continue reading →

Posted in Current, Economy, Harrah's, International, Macau, Maryland, Massachusetts, MGM Mirage, Penn National, Sheldon Adelson, Steve Wynn, Tourism, Wall Street | 1 Comment