Category Archives: Marketing

Loveman’s chickens come home to roost; Are casinos blowing off a $12 trillion demographic?

Posted on August 29, 2016 by David McKee

As cheap as it’s been lately, we hope you haven’t bought any Caesars Entertainment stock. Shares dropped 12% and kept falling right after Judge Benjamin Goldgar declined to extend protection of Caesars from creditor litigation any longer, which means that … Continue reading →

Posted in Alabama, Boyd Gaming, Cannery Casino Resorts, Genting, Harrah's, International, Marketing, MGM Mirage, Station Casinos, Wall Street | Comments Off on Loveman’s chickens come home to roost; Are casinos blowing off a $12 trillion demographic?

Lucky Dragon gets another step ahead; ETGs a hit at Sands Bethlehem

Posted on August 25, 2016 by David McKee

Lucky Dragon Casino is speeding to completion while Resorts Las Vegas and Alon can’t get out of the starting blocks. (Resorts World did Tweet that it had finished paving its parking garage, making it Las Vegas‘ most high-budgeted place to put … Continue reading →

Posted in Affinity Gaming, Dining, Florida, Genting, Harrah's, International, Internet gambling, Lucky Dragon, Marketing, Nevada, Pennsylvania, Regulation, Sheldon Adelson, Taxes, Technology, Tourism, Tribal | 2 Comments

Case Bets: Wynn Boston Harbor, sports betting, cockfighting and a fire

Posted on August 11, 2016 by David McKee

There’s big money to be made at Wynn Boston Harbor. Primary contractor Suffolk Construction is hoping to entice subcontractors with a bundle of bids valued at $1 billion for services and supplies. That’s almost half the construction budget for the … Continue reading →

Posted in Animals, CityCenter, Geoff Freeman, Law enforcement, Marketing, Massachusetts, MGM Mirage, Sports, Steve Wynn, The Strip, Tribal | Comments Off on Case Bets: Wynn Boston Harbor, sports betting, cockfighting and a fire

Missouri is doing just fine, thanks; Cautious hope for Moulin Rouge

Posted on August 10, 2016 by David McKee

Pinnacle Entertainment did a masterful job of managing expectations in its quarterly earnings call, citing disruptive road work around Ameristar St. Charles as a potential setback from the property. Today, Missouri released its July gaming results and — surprise — … Continue reading →

Posted in Ameristar, Downtown, Environment, G2E, Golden Gaming, Harrah's, Isle of Capri, Macau, Marketing, Melco Crown Entertainment, MGM Mirage, Missouri, Moulin Rouge, Penn National, Pinnacle Entertainment, Sports, Steve Wynn, Tropicana Entertainment | Comments Off on Missouri is doing just fine, thanks; Cautious hope for Moulin Rouge

New vibe for Venetian; Atlantic City workers flee to D.C.

Posted on August 9, 2016 by David McKee

  For the first time in 17 years, The Venetian is using TV advertising. We’re not only impressed by the length of the abstention but also by the fact that Las Vegas Sands has done so well without the assistance of … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Cosmopolitan, Election, Entertainment, Environment, Harrah's, Marketing, Maryland, MGM Mirage, Sheldon Adelson, The Strip, TV | Comments Off on New vibe for Venetian; Atlantic City workers flee to D.C.

Nevada’s oldest casino turns 85; Flynt doubles down on Lucky Lady

Posted on August 2, 2016 by David McKee

Contrary to the impression of many, yours truly included, the oldest operating casino in Nevada isn’t the Golden Gate but the 85-year-old Railroad Pass, just outside of Boulder City. It even still has its original vault. New owner Joe DeSimone … Continue reading →

Posted in Australia, Boulder Strip, California, Entertainment, Galaxy Entertainment, history, International, Macau, Marketing, MGM Mirage, Technology, The Strip | Comments Off on Nevada’s oldest casino turns 85; Flynt doubles down on Lucky Lady

Land of the Rising Hopes; Delaware racinos struggle

Posted on August 1, 2016 by David McKee

It will take a constitutional amendment to make it happen but casinos could be back on the political agenda in Japan. In a promising development, he strengthened his position in the Diet, apparently freeing his Liberal Democratic Party from its … Continue reading →

Posted in Boulder Strip, Delaware, Florida, Japan, Kazuo Okada, Macau, Marketing, MGM Mirage, Mohegan Sun, Politics, Steve Wynn, Taxes, Tribal, Wall Street | Comments Off on Land of the Rising Hopes; Delaware racinos struggle

Trailer trash in Boston; New crisis looms in Atlantic City

Posted on July 28, 2016 by David McKee

Massachusetts lawmakers may have thought they’d settled the question of casinos in the Bay State when they voted to baptize three resorts and slot parlor. However, thanks to a ruling by state Attorney General Maura Healey, a ballot question here … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Economy, Election, Horseracing, Lawrence Ho, Macau, Maine, Marketing, Massachusetts, Melco Crown Entertainment, Regulation, Sheldon Adelson | 1 Comment

Analysts: Buy Penn!; Veteran columnist calls it quits

Posted on July 28, 2016 by David McKee

According to J.P. Morgan analyst Joseph Greff, “meaningful contributions” from the Tropicana Las Vegas, Plainridge Park Casino and Illinois slot route Prairie State Gaming drove a 14.5% improvement in Penn National Gaming‘s cash flow last quarter. M Resort hit a … Continue reading →

Posted in Alabama, California, Economy, Election, Entertainment, Fontainebleau, Illinois, M Resort, Marketing, Massachusetts, MGM Mirage, Penn National, Politics, Sheldon Adelson, Slot routes, Station Casinos, The Strip, Tribal, Wall Street | Comments Off on Analysts: Buy Penn!; Veteran columnist calls it quits

Poker players 1, Adelson 0; Competition in Maryland gets ugly

Posted on July 27, 2016 by David McKee

For the first time in anyone’s recollection, the Republican Party has dropped its opposition to Internet poker from the election platform. It’s a win for the Poker Players Alliance, which lobbied for the change of heart. This doesn’t mean the … Continue reading →

Posted in Cordish Co., Donald Trump, Election, Harrah's, Indiana, Marketing, Maryland, MGM Mirage, Politics, Sheldon Adelson | Comments Off on Poker players 1, Adelson 0; Competition in Maryland gets ugly

Quote of the Day

Posted on July 27, 2016 by David McKee

“[W]e’re going to spend millions now marketing to them, because hey, before you know it, it’s 2030, and we’ve missed our shot. It’s like marketing a car to 6-year-olds so they’ll want to drive it when they’re old enough.” — … Continue reading →

Posted in Marketing, Technology | Comments Off on Quote of the Day

Casino lingo that’s getting tired

Posted on July 25, 2016 by David McKee

Why is “Millennials” a more overused term than “skill-based slots”? Read more and find out.

Posted in Current, Marketing, Technology | Comments Off on Casino lingo that’s getting tired

Quote of the Day

Posted on July 15, 2016 by David McKee

“Amen. I recently took over a property, and using good old-fashioned guest interactions, we have seen an increase in gaming revenue of 9% in just six months. While it takes really smart people to run these businesses, it’s not as complicated … Continue reading →

Posted in Marketing | Comments Off on Quote of the Day

Lean June in Atlantic City; Respect for the riff raff

Posted on July 13, 2016 by David McKee

Just when it should have been booming with the summer season, Atlantic City casino revenue fell 4% — $197.5 million — although online casino revenues rose 41% (to $16 million). Resorts Digital — aka PokerStars — is still bringing up the … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Boyd Gaming, Harrah's, International, Internet gambling, Marketing, Mohegan Sun, PokerStars, Regulation, Tilman Fertitta, Tropicana Entertainment | Comments Off on Lean June in Atlantic City; Respect for the riff raff

Icahn leaves Taj workers nostalgic for Trump; Megaresort proposed for NYC

Posted on July 7, 2016 by David McKee

You can measure the acrimony between Unite-Here Local 54 and Tropicana Entertainment by the fact that striking workers at Trump Taj Mahal are using Donald Trump as a stick with which to beat Carl Icahn. By astutely negotiating a pact … Continue reading →

Posted in California, Carl Icahn, Charity, Cordish Co., Cosmopolitan, Donald Trump, Election, Entertainment, Genting, Georgia, Glenn Straub, Harrah's, Horseracing, Illinois, Macau, Marketing, Melco Crown Entertainment, MGM Mirage, New York, Regulation, Revel, Stanley Ho, Tribal, Tropicana Entertainment, Trump Entertainment Resorts, Unite-Here | Comments Off on Icahn leaves Taj workers nostalgic for Trump; Megaresort proposed for NYC

What’s the verdict, Jack, er, Dan?; AGA & NIGA join forces

Posted on July 7, 2016 by David McKee

Cleveland Cavaliers playoff games were good for Dan Gilbert‘s casino businesses. His Jack Cleveland casino was up 13%, to $16 million last month. It’s far too soon for a verdict on the “Jack” (as in “up yours, asshole”) brand, which … Continue reading →

Posted in Dan Gilbert, Eldorado Resorts, G2E, Geoff Freeman, Hard Rock International, Internet gambling, Marketing, Massachusetts, MGM Mirage, Ohio, Penn National, Pennsylvania, Pinnacle Entertainment, Sheldon Adelson, Slot routes | Comments Off on What’s the verdict, Jack, er, Dan?; AGA & NIGA join forces

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 on The meddlesome Adelson; Wynn Palace postponed again

Quote of the Day

Posted on June 27, 2016 by David McKee

“You have to give people an experience that makes them want to come back, and non-gambling amenities are a big part of that. Competition being what it is, we’re going to give people a reason to come back here and … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Marketing, Tropicana Entertainment | Comments Off on Quote of the Day

Tipping point in Pennsylvania near; Cirque du NFL

Posted on June 23, 2016 by David McKee

“I think gaming expansion money in one form or another is necessary for this budget process to be complete,” spoke Pennsylvania House Majority Leader Dave Reed (R). With Gov. Tom Wolf (D, right) having given way on sales-tax and income-tax … Continue reading →

Posted in Cirque du Soleil, Economy, International, Internet gambling, Lawrence Ho, Macau, Marketing, Melco Crown Entertainment, MGM Mirage, Mississippi, Pennsylvania, Politics, Sheldon Adelson, Slot routes, Sports, Station Casinos, Steve Wynn, Taxes, The Strip, Wall Street | Comments Off on Tipping point in Pennsylvania near; Cirque du NFL