Category Archives: Marijuana

A change of heart on loco weed; Miller briefs Congress

Posted on February 11, 2019 by David McKee

In a development certain to make Nevada resort owners grind their teeth in envy, cannabis is predicted to be this year’s wellness trend. As you know, Nevada gaming regulators have hung a “Do Not Enter” sign on the recreational-marijuana industry … Continue reading →

Posted in Affinity Gaming, AGA, Architecture, Boyd Gaming, Caesars Entertainment, Economy, Eldorado Resorts, Geoff Freeman, history, Japan, Marijuana, Penn National, Politics, Regulation, Taxes | 2 Comments

Philly Live shows signs of life; Sports betting no cure-all

Posted on January 7, 2019 by David McKee

Cordish Gaming‘s $700 million Philadelphia casino project (now with 100% less Watouche “Bob” Manoukian) has been postponed two years. However, in a sign of forward progress, Cordish has signed a general contractor and pledged “substantial completion” by 2020. It remains … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, Atlantic City, Boyd Gaming, Caesars Entertainment, Colorado, Cordish Co., Horseracing, Louisiana, Marijuana, MGM Resorts International, Nevada, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Penn National, Pennsylvania, Sports betting, Taxes, Wall Street | 3 Comments

Sin City still sinful; Pot comes to the Strip

Posted on November 26, 2018 by David McKee

Las Vegas beat out Los Angeles by a comfortable margin to nab the top spot on WalletHub‘s survey of America‘s most-sinful cities, a category dominated by such activities as pathological gambling and smoking. Casino-enhanced cities dominated the list, with North … Continue reading →

Posted in Arizona, CityCenter, Cordish Co., Detroit, DFS, Dubai, Election, Florida, Galaxy Entertainment, Georgia, Greenwood Racing, Japan, Macau, Marijuana, MGM Resorts International, Missouri, North Las Vegas, Pansy Ho, Pennsylvania, Regulation, Slot routes, Société des Bains de Mer, Sports betting, Taxes, The Strip | Comments Off

Sports betting a ‘go’ in Rhode Island; Reefer gladness in Vegas

Posted on November 16, 2018 by David McKee

Getting a leg up on Massachusetts, casinos in Rhode Island will start taking sports bets in a week or so. Workers are putting the finishing touches on Twin River Casino‘s new sports book. Tiverton Casino Hotel will follow at some … Continue reading →

Posted in Baseball, Caesars Entertainment, Dining, Election, International, Marijuana, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Pets, Rhode Island, Sheldon Adelson, Sports, Sports betting, Taxes, The Strip, TV | Comments Off

Steve Wynn makes out like a bandit; Smoke ’em while you’ve got ’em

Posted on November 9, 2018 by David McKee

Steve Wynn‘s liquidation of his stake in Wynn Resorts may have seemed like an act of petulance but — in light of subsequent movement in the stock market — it appears highly astute. Since El Steve’s big sale WYNN has … Continue reading →

Posted in Colorado, Dan Lee, Economy, Elaine Wynn, Entertainment, Full House Resorts, Georgia, Japan, Law enforcement, Macau, Marijuana, MGM Resorts International, Steve Wynn, The Strip, Tourism, Transportation, Wall Street, Wynn Resorts | 2 Comments

Tribal gaming bigger than ever; Sessions out in D.C.

Posted on November 8, 2018 by David McKee

There’s been a round-robin at Seminole Gaming. The chair left vacant by Joe Lupo at Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Tampa will be filled by Seminole Casino Coconut Creek President Steve Bonner, a 16-year veteran of Coconut Creek. General Manager Larry Buck … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Caesars Entertainment, California, Colorado, Economy, Florida, Las Vegas Sands, Marijuana, Marketing, Massachusetts, MGM Resorts International, Mohegan Sun, Nevada, Oklahoma, Regulation, Scientific Games, Seminole Tribe, Steve Wynn, The Strip, Tribal, Vermont, Wynn Resorts | Comments Off

Election Special: Winners and losers

Posted on November 7, 2018 by David McKee

In a victory for the state of Arkansas, voters approved casinos in four locations across the state, 54% to 46%, a convincing mandate by any measure, and a big win for a variety of pro-casino companies that included Warner Gaming and Delaware North. … Continue reading →

Posted in Arkansas, Caesars Entertainment, Culinary Union, DFS, Election, Florida, Georgia, Harry Reid, International, Marijuana, MGM Resorts International, Nevada, Pennsylvania, Politics, Racinos, Seminole Tribe, Sheldon Adelson, Sports, Sports betting, Virginia, Warner Gaming, Wisconsin | Comments Off

Wisdom from G2E; Sisolak lights up

Posted on October 10, 2018 by David McKee

This week’s Global Gaming Expo gives Wall Street analysts plenty of time to sniff around the big gaming operators and manufacturers, trying to suss out trends. Credit Suisse analyst Cameron McKnight, the new kid on the block, says that 3Q18 … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Boyd Gaming, Caesars Entertainment, Economy, Eldorado Resorts, Election, G2E, GLPI, Golden Gaming, Illinois, Indiana, Isle of Capri, Las Vegas Sands, Macau, Mandalay Bay Massacre, Marijuana, Marketing, MGM Resorts International, Mississippi, Nevada, Palms, Penn National, Sports, Station Casinos, Tilman Fertitta, Tourism, Tribal, Tropicana Entertainment, Wall Street | Comments Off

MGM: Riding out the storm

Posted on September 24, 2018 by David McKee

As Golden Week nears in Macao, hotel rooms are sold out at all Wynn Macau properties. MGM Grand Paradise has one night open while struggling MGM Cotai has three nights of vacancies (and this without its full complement of rooms). … Continue reading →

Posted in Caesars Entertainment, Downtown, Environment, Hard Rock International, Las Vegas Sands, Macau, Marijuana, MGM Resorts International, Ohio, Oklahoma, Taxes, The Strip, Wall Street, Wynn Resorts | 1 Comment

Titanic exhibit in peril; It’s Greek to them

Posted on September 4, 2018 by David McKee

Luxor‘s display of Titanic relics has hit an iceberg in the form of a bankruptcy court auction against owner Premier Exhibitions. It’s likely the collection will be kept intact, not dispersed to the four winds, although the latter might be … Continue reading →

Posted in Australia, Caesars Entertainment, Downtown, Hard Rock International, history, International, Las Vegas Sands, Marijuana, Melco Resorts & Entertainment, MGM Resorts International, Mohegan Sun, Movies, Penn National, Regulation, Sports betting, Taxes, The Strip, TV, Wall Street, West Virginia | Comments Off

Strip gets hammered, locals not so much

Posted on August 30, 2018 by David McKee

While some analysts were expecting the Las Vegas Strip to be only slightly off last year’s pace (another benchmark that seems unlikely to be repeated, shades of 2007), their guidance evidently didn’t foresee an almost 6% miss, coming at $533 … Continue reading →

Posted in Boulder Strip, Downtown, Lake Tahoe, Laughlin, Marijuana, North Las Vegas, Reno, The Strip | Comments Off

Churchill Downs deal goes south; Robocops at Pechanga

Posted on July 10, 2018 by David McKee

Early yesterday, Churchill Downs and Eldorado Resorts announced that they were deep-sixing the sale of Eldorado’s Lady Luck Vicksburg, although Churchill Downs’ purchase of Presque Isle Downs remains in play. Evidently, Churchill Downs was uncomfortable with Federal Trade Commission inquiries … Continue reading →

Posted in Arizona, Caesars Entertainment, California, Churchill Downs, Eldorado Resorts, Environment, Mandalay Bay Massacre, Marijuana, Minnesota, Mississippi, Nevada, Pennsylvania, Regulation, Security, Sports betting, Technology, Tribal, Wall Street, World Series of Poker | Comments Off

Penn outperforms in Massachusetts; Horse sense in Indiana

Posted on June 28, 2018 by David McKee

Penn National Gaming had a happy surprise for the Massachusetts Gaming Commission when the latter dropped by Plainridge Park for a look-see. The racino, which the Boston Globe long tried to paint as a failure, has just come off its … Continue reading →

Posted in Boyd Gaming, Centaur Gaming, Downtown, Economy, Eldorado Resorts, Entertainment, Harrah's, Horseracing, Indiana, International, Japan, Law enforcement, Louisiana, Marijuana, Marketing, Massachusetts, Mississippi, Penn National, Pennsylvania, Pinnacle Entertainment, Planet Hollywood, Regulation, Singapore, Taxes, The Strip, Tourism, Wall Street | Comments Off

Sports betting: Winners and losers; MGM mulls more Strip buys

Posted on June 6, 2018 by David McKee

According to gaming-law expert I. Nelson Rose, the Supreme Court‘s ruling on sports betting goes far, far beyond gambling: “For the first time in American history, the U.S. Supreme Court expressly held that the federal government cannot order states, or … Continue reading →

Posted in Churchill Downs, CityCenter, Cordish Co., DFS, Dubai, Fontainebleau, Genting, GLPI, Golden Gaming, Hard Rock International, Harrah's, Law enforcement, Marijuana, Maryland, MGM Mirage, Ohio, Penn National, Sports, West Virginia | 1 Comment

Japan “better than feared.” Mixed bag in Louisiana

Posted on April 17, 2018 by David McKee

How do evolving casino casino regulations in Japan look? Well, how does ‘not as bad as expected’ sound? Trust me, that’s good news. And don’t take my word: Take that of Morgan Stanley. Taxes will be set at 30%, which … Continue reading →

Posted in Boyd Gaming, Churchill Downs, Dan Gilbert, Detroit, Eldorado Resorts, Florida, Galaxy Entertainment, GLPI, Harrah's, Isle of Capri, Japan, Louisiana, Marijuana, Massachusetts, MGM Mirage, Nevada, Penn National, Philippines, Pinnacle Entertainment, Politics, Sheldon Adelson, Taxes, Tilman Fertitta, Tropicana Entertainment, Wall Street | Comments Off

Pot comes to casinos, sorta; Terrible February in Illinois

Posted on March 7, 2018 by David McKee

In a deft bit of regulatory jujitsu, the Nevada Gaming Association has ruled that casinos can hold marijuana-related conferences, provided that they refrain from doing business with the marijuana industry (a somewhat vague directive, admittedly) nor directly involve themselves in … Continue reading →

Posted in Boyd Gaming, California, Environment, Hard Rock International, Illinois, Marijuana, Marketing, MGM Mirage, Nevada, Ohio, Penn National, Regulation | Comments Off

Beauregard the Buzzkill; Arkansas tries for casinos

Posted on January 9, 2018 by David McKee

Attorney General Jefferson Beauregard Sessions has detected that Americans are enjoying themselves and it’s got to stop, forthwith. He’s declared war on marijuana-friendly laws across this great land, misguidedly making loco weed his department’s top law-enforcement priority. Beauregard is flying … Continue reading →

Posted in Arkansas, Boyd Gaming, Colorado, Dan Gilbert, Eldorado Resorts, Election, Hard Rock International, Law enforcement, Macau, Marijuana, Melco Resorts & Entertainment, Nevada, Ohio, Penn National, Pinnacle Entertainment, Problem gambling, Regulation, Sociedade de Jogos de Macau, Sports, The Strip, Tribal | Comments Off

E-sports comes to Macao; Donald Trump, thief

Posted on December 13, 2017 by David McKee

Staying with the curve, Macao is going after the e-sports phenomenon. Sociedade de Jogos de Macau held the protectorate’s first e-sports tournament, at Grand Lisboa. Nine international teams competed for a $300K pot. “E-Sports is an emerging industry with huge growth … Continue reading →

Posted in Boulder Strip, Donald Trump, e-sports, Galaxy Entertainment, Macau, Marijuana, Melco Resorts & Entertainment, Philippines, Security, Sociedade de Jogos de Macau, Steve Wynn, Westgate LV | Comments Off

Stratosphere: Sartini takes charge; Dadaist policy at MGM

Posted on November 6, 2017 by David McKee

“It’s more appreciated now than it was 20 years ago,” says Golden Entertainment CEO Blake Sartini of his new trophy property, the Stratosphere. Boy, is he right (as usual). What used to be called “Stupak’s Stump” or the “Tower of … Continue reading →

Posted in Donald Trump, Foxwoods, Golden Gaming, Illinois, Japan, Marijuana, MGM Mirage, Mohegan Sun, Pennsylvania, Politics, Sheldon Adelson, Slot routes, Steve Wynn, Taxes, The Strip | Comments Off

New MGM ad stirs controversy; Macao heightens security

Posted on October 19, 2017 by David McKee

Among the victims of Stephen Paddock‘s domestic terrorism was MGM Resorts International‘s “Welcome to the Show” ad campaign. The aftermath of a mass murder was hardly the time to be proclaiming that you’re “in the ‘Holy Sh*t!’ business” or to promise … Continue reading →

Posted in Genting, Harrah's, Macau, Mandalay Bay Massacre, Marijuana, Marketing, Maryland, MGM Mirage, Pennsylvania, Philippines, Regulation, Technology, The Strip, TV, Unite-Here | Comments Off