Category Archives: Maryland

National Harbor opening looms; Murren’s march through Georgia

Posted on October 5, 2016 by David McKee

Lucky Dragon Casino had better enjoy its 15 minutes of fame while they last because all eyes will turn to the East Coast on Dec. 8, when MGM Resorts International opens MGM National Harbor. CEO Jim Murren is already predicting … Continue reading →

Posted in Alabama, Dining, Economy, Florida, Georgia, Harrah's, Internet gambling, Maryland, MGM Mirage, New York, Pennsylvania, Politics, Taxes, Technology, Tribal | 1 Comment

Atlantic City saved

Posted on September 23, 2016 by David McKee

It’s all over. The fat lady hath sung. And Atlantic City lives to gamble another day. Discouraged by poll numbers that showed insurmountable support for the status quo in New Jersey, expansion PAC Our Turn NJ is closing up shop. That … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Carl Icahn, Cordish Co., Election, Entertainment, Harrah's, Illinois, International, Maryland, MGM Mirage, Mohegan Sun, New York, Penn National, Politics, Rhode Island, Slot routes, South Korea, Transportation | 1 Comment

Quote of the Day

Posted on September 14, 2016 by David McKee

“MGM is a good competitor. Let the games begin.” — Cordish Cos. Chairman David Cordish telling MGM Resorts International to bring it on as he breaks ground on a $200 million hotel at Maryland Live.

Posted in Cordish Co., Maryland, MGM Mirage | Comments Off

Caesars dips toe in skill-based slots; MGM National Harbor snares Dylan

Posted on September 12, 2016 by David McKee

Caesars Entertainment is going on the road, as it were, to test-drive its first foray into skill-based slots. It’s going to install six Gamblit Gaming slot carousels at Harrah’s Rincon, with 36 slated for Las Vegas deployment next year. The … Continue reading →

Posted in California, Colorado, Cordish Co., Downtown, Environment, Golden Gaming, Harrah's, Hooters, IGT, Internet gambling, Kansas, Maine, Marketing, Maryland, MGM Mirage, Minnesota, Mississippi, Nebraska, Oklahoma, Penn National, Pennsylvania, Racinos, Scientific Games, Sheldon Adelson, South Dakota, Sports, Technology, The Strip, Tribal, TV, West Virginia, Westgate LV, Wisconsin | 2 Comments

Boulder Station goes union; Neon Museum sets records

Posted on September 7, 2016 by David McKee

Having finally bowed to management’s stipulation of a secret ballot election, as opposed to a card check, the Culinary Union can belatedly claim a victory in its long-running war with Station Casinos. Employees at Boulder Station, under the oversight of … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, Boyd Gaming, California, Charity, Cordish Co., Culinary Union, Downtown, history, Lucky Dragon, Marketing, Maryland, MGM Mirage, North Las Vegas, Palms, Regulation, Station Casinos, Tribal | 1 Comment

Rough justice for Adelson; Horseshoe Baltimore gains strength

Posted on September 6, 2016 by David McKee

In the end, the Macao government was scarcely more generous with Sheldon Adelson than it had been with Steve Wynn. Adelson’s Parisian Macao will open with 100 table games, get another 25 on New Year’s Day and 25 more a … Continue reading →

Posted in Animals, Cordish Co., Genting, Harrah's, Macau, Maryland, MGM Mirage, Regulation, Sheldon Adelson, Stanley Ho, Steve Wynn, Taxes, The Strip, Tourism | 1 Comment

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

Trump Taj: Everybody loses; Mixed bag for Boyd

Posted on August 4, 2016 by David McKee

Labor Day weekend will be the final hurrah for Trump Taj Mahal. Owner Carl Icahn has expressed his intent to close the struggling casino rather than continue to negotiate with striking Unite-Here Local 54. ““I would never have thought Carl … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Boyd Gaming, Carl Icahn, Churchill Downs, Donald Trump, Downtown, Economy, Hawaii, Illinois, Kansas, Louisiana, Maryland, Mississippi, Tropicana Entertainment, Unite-Here | Comments Off

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

Israel moves toward casinos; West Virginia mulls ‘Net betting

Posted on July 13, 2016 by David McKee

We’ve been surprised that Sheldon Adelson isn’t overtly pushing for casinos in Israel, especially upon reading that the city of Eilat “smells and feels a little bit like a very small version of Vegas.” It’s well away from the rest … Continue reading →

Posted in Genting, International, Internet gambling, Maryland, Massachusetts, MGM Mirage, Pennsylvania, Problem gambling, Tribal, West Virginia | Comments Off

Battling along the Boardwalk; Supreme Court gives tribes the brush-off

Posted on July 5, 2016 by David McKee

While the previous record for an Atlantic City casino strike is 34 days, the showdown at Trump Taj Mahal looks like it will go the distance. Neither Local 54 of Unite-Here nor Carl Icahn shows any signs of backing down … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Carl Icahn, Glenn Straub, Golden Gaming, Internet gambling, Law enforcement, Maryland, Pennsylvania, Philippines, Politics, Regulation, Revel, Slot routes, Taxes, Tribal, Unite-Here | 1 Comment

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

NHL makes it official; Isle opens new casino

Posted on June 23, 2016 by David McKee

Fortunately, it looks like we won’t have to worry about our NHL-franchise-to-be playing under a cliched name like “Las Vegas Gamblers.” Says majority owner Bill Foley, speaking of the league, “They’d prefer we don’t go in that direction.” Also, Foley seems … Continue reading →

Posted in Donald Trump, Election, Entertainment, Iowa, Isle of Capri, Maryland, MGM Mirage, New York, Rhode Island, Sports, The Mob, The Strip, Westgate LV | Comments Off

Atlantic City goes to pot; MGM, Boyd, Pinnacle, Red Rock Resorts meet The Street

Posted on June 17, 2016 by David McKee

We’ve come a long way from the days of Reefer Madness. Latest case in point: Atlantic City, where Assemblyman Reed Gusciora (D) is pushing recreational “tea” as a cure to the city’s penurious condition. Weed would be legalized on the Boardwalk and … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Boulder Strip, Boyd Gaming, Cannery Casino Resorts, CityCenter, Economy, Georgia, Glenn Straub, Harrah's, Illinois, Indiana, Internet gambling, Macau, Marketing, Maryland, MGM Mirage, Mississippi, Missouri, Palms, Pinnacle Entertainment, Politics, Reno, Scientific Games, Station Casinos, The Strip, Wall Street | Comments Off

Straub forges ahead; Caesars bankruptcy stymied

Posted on June 8, 2016 by David McKee

Glenn Straub still doesn’t have a new name for Revel but that’s not stopping him from reopening the casino — and on schedule, too. He expects to have 40% of the casino floor operational within a week. Straub will reopen … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Boyd Gaming, Dining, Entertainment, Glenn Straub, Harrah's, Marketing, Maryland, MGM Mirage, Regulation, Revel, The Strip, Unite-Here | Comments Off

Wynn disses douchebags; Showboat sails again

Posted on June 7, 2016 by David McKee

In a characteristic about-face, former nightlife enthusiast Steve Wynn is belittling Millenials (“sort of short on brains”), social media (“dim-witted time”), while conceding the importance of non-gaming revenue to today’s Las Vegas. Said Wynn of the nightlife generation, “we’re doing well … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Cordish Co., Cretins, Economy, Entertainment, Golden Gaming, Harrah's, history, Macau, Maryland, Penn National, Steve Wynn, The Strip | Comments Off

Penn talks turkey; Celebrity brawl at Aria

Posted on April 11, 2016 by David McKee

Next week Penn National Gaming turns on the Marquee Rewards spigot at the Tropicana Las Vegas. Given some of management’s recent disclosures, it won’t come a day too soon: 85% of Penn’s customer base comes to Sin City but stays … Continue reading →

Posted in Affinity Gaming, Ameristar, Boyd Gaming, CityCenter, Cordish Co., Full House Resorts, Harrah's, Indiana, Isle of Capri, Majestic Star, Marketing, Maryland, Massachusetts, MGM Mirage, Missouri, Ohio, Penn National, Pennsylvania, Pinnacle Entertainment, Racinos, Steve Wynn, Taxes, The Strip, Tourism, Tribal, Tropicana Entertainment, Wall Street, West Virginia | 1 Comment

Unhappy Easter in Illinois; Money-laundering mess in Sparks

Posted on April 7, 2016 by David McKee

Easter, if you can believe it, is being blamed for a 2% decline in Illinois casino revenues last month. Argosy Belle continued to be the problem child of the state, down 13% (to $5 million). Slot-route competition continued to do … Continue reading →

Posted in Boyd Gaming, Cordish Co., Dan Gilbert, GLPI, Harrah's, Illinois, International, Internet gambling, Laughlin, Law enforcement, Macau, Maryland, MGM Mirage, Penn National, Racinos, Regulation, Riviera, The Strip, Tourism | 1 Comment

Penn accentuates the positive

Posted on March 29, 2016 by David McKee

“Wait ’til next year” seems to be Penn National Gaming‘s mantra for the Tropicana Las Vegas. At present, the company is still installing Marquee Rewards, replacing older slot machines and getting out of any leased-game arrangements. It doesn’t expect any … Continue reading →

Posted in California, Cordish Co., Dan Gilbert, Economy, Harrah's, Illinois, Internet gambling, Marketing, Maryland, Massachusetts, MGM Mirage, Penn National, PokerStars, Slot routes, The Strip, Tribal, Wall Street, West Virginia | Comments Off

DFS becomes political football; More trouble for PokerStars

Posted on March 28, 2016 by David McKee

Add Yahoo to the list of daily fantasy sports providers that are tiptoeing out of New York State under an accord with state Attorney General Eric Schneiderman. The latter has said that if the issue can’t be resolved in the … Continue reading →

Posted in Arizona, Election, Florida, Harrah's, Indiana, Internet gambling, Law enforcement, Maryland, Minnesota, Missouri, New York, Oklahoma, PokerStars, Politics, South Korea, Wisconsin | Comments Off