Category Archives: Maryland

The village idiot; Knuckle-dragging in Maryland

Posted on October 29, 2014 by David McKee

Every city has its cross to bear. In the case of Las Vegas, it’s former steroid user, baseball player and serial dumbass Jose Canseco. He obviously skipped firearm-safety class the day they told you to make sure your gun is … Continue reading →

Posted in Cordish Co., Cretins, Entertainment, Harrah's, International, Maryland, Planet Hollywood, Regulation, Technology, The Strip | Comments Off

Caesars’ shell game; Setback in Japan

Posted on October 21, 2014 by David McKee

“Extend and pretend.” Those are the words of gaming analyst Alan Woinski, describing the debt-management practices of Caesars Entertainment and CEO Gary Loveman: “they extended out the maturities and just put new debt on top of old debt, and the … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Harrah's, Internet gambling, Japan, Louisiana, Maryland, Massachusetts, New York, Politics, Problem gambling, Technology, The Strip, Wall Street | 1 Comment

A renaissance for Atlantic City?

Posted on October 17, 2014 by David McKee

If Gary Green set out to stir debate with his Casino Journal polemic on Atlantic City, he could hardly have succeeded better. For Green, the glass is considerably more than half-full and the Boardwalk is “healthy, viable and sound.” In … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Boyd Gaming, Colony Capital, Current, Economy, Glenn Straub, Harrah's, Maryland, MGM Mirage, Revel, Trump Entertainment Resorts, Wall Street | Comments Off

Atlantic City: Which way is up?; Sheldon Adelson, prophet

Posted on October 16, 2014 by David McKee

Unburdened of four unprofitable casinos, if the revenue in Atlantic City is counted on a “same store” basis (i.e., leaving Revel, Showboat, the Atlantic Club and Trump Plaza out of the picture), the Boardwalk actually saw a 4% increase in … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Boyd Gaming, Colony Capital, G2E, Harrah's, International, Internet gambling, Japan, Macau, Maryland, Mohegan Sun, Revel, Sheldon Adelson, Trump Entertainment Resorts, Wall Street | 1 Comment

Caesars wins times two

Posted on October 10, 2014 by David McKee

Congratulations are in order twice over for Caesars Entertainment. The company is towering over its competitors in the social-gaming sphere, according to Eilers Research. While Zynga still rules Facebook and DoubleDown Casino has thrown a lifeline to International Game Technology, … Continue reading →

Posted in Bally Technologies, Detroit, Entertainment, Environment, Harrah's, IGT, Internet gambling, Maryland, MGM Mirage, World Series of Poker | Comments Off

Maryland: First, the good news; Here, kitty, kitty

Posted on October 7, 2014 by David McKee

Maryland casinos hit another monthly record — $82 million — boosted by Horseshoe Baltimore. Revenues at Maryland Live fell 10%, to $45.5 million — boosted by 50,000 customers over the Labor Day weekend — and Horseshoe raked in $22 million. … Continue reading →

Posted in Alex Yemenidjian, Cordish Co., Entertainment, Harrah's, Maryland, Riviera, The Strip | Comments Off

All Wynn, all the time

Posted on October 1, 2014 by David McKee

Posted in Carl Icahn, Economy, Fontainebleau, G2E, Internet gambling, Macau, Marketing, Maryland, MGM Mirage, Mississippi, Pennsylvania, Politics, Regulation, Sheldon Adelson, Steve Wynn, Tamares Group, Taxes | Comments Off

Sanguine at Penn; Serrano goes Italian

Posted on October 1, 2014 by David McKee

Executives from Penn National Gaming were hosted by J.P. Morgan analysts this week at Global Gaming Expo and gave a fairly mellow outlook on business. Nationally, commerce is seen as stabilizing but not having bottomed out yet, although Penn is “holding … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, Dining, Election, G2E, Harrah's, history, Maryland, Massachusetts, MGM Mirage, New York, Ohio, Penn National, Politics, Racinos, Regulation, Steve Wynn, The Strip, Wall Street, West Virginia | Comments Off

Icahn to rescue Taj?

Posted on September 24, 2014 by David McKee

Always unpredictable, Carl Icahn has thrown Trump Entertainment Resorts a lifeline. He’s talking about making a $100 million purchase of the failing property, rolling his $286 million marker into equity … but he’s demanding what are described as “sizeable concessions” from … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Carl Icahn, Colorado, Election, Harrah's, Isle of Capri, Louisiana, Maryland, Massachusetts, MGM Mirage, Mississippi, Pinnacle Entertainment, Tropicana Entertainment, Trump Entertainment Resorts | Comments Off

Why is this man smiling?; The daffy world of Glenn Straub

Posted on September 19, 2014 by David McKee

“Restructure! Restructure! Restructure! That’s all he ever does because that’s all he can do!” That was a friend of mine, speaking in exasperation of Donald Trump. However, today the remark could be updated to refer to Gary Loveman. The CEO … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, Atlantic City, Donald Trump, Glenn Straub, Harrah's, IGT, Maryland, Massachusetts, MGM Mirage, Revel, Transportation, Wall Street | 1 Comment

Case Bets: Multimedia, Philadelphia, Maryland

Posted on September 17, 2014 by David McKee

Here’s a vivid account of Multimedia Games‘ reversal of fortune, how a company focused on B-level gaming markets established a presence in Nevada, Atlantic City and Pennsylvania, and improved its value sufficiently to make it a takeover target for Global … Continue reading →

Posted in Cordish Co., Global Cash Access, Harrah's, Marketing, Maryland, MGM Mirage, Penn National, Pennsylvania, Problem gambling, Regulation, Technology | 1 Comment

Cycle of futility; Hard luck in Indian Country

Posted on September 15, 2014 by David McKee

As the casino industry braces itself for Global Gaming Expo, this could hardly be a worse moment to be hawking slot machines. Not only is it undergoing a painful contraction but new markets (like Boston and Washington, D.C.) are a … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Bally Technologies, California, Economy, G2E, Harrah's, IGT, Maryland, Massachusetts, Mississippi, Revel, Scientific Games, Station Casinos, Tribal, Trump Entertainment Resorts | Comments Off

Decision time in Boston

Posted on September 9, 2014 by David McKee

At last, the Massachusetts Gaming Commission is taking up the Steve Wynn vs. Mohegan Sun battle for a Boston-area casino. Hearings began yesterday, with one round going to each challenger. Wynn Resorts surprisingly (given its reputation) lost the swimsuit competition, … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, Cordish Co., Environment, Harrah's, Internet gambling, Maryland, Massachusetts, Mohegan Sun, Penn National, Racinos, Singapore, Steve Wynn | Comments Off

Trump bookmarks Chapter 11; Christie’s canny moves

Posted on September 9, 2014 by David McKee

Trump Entertainment Resorts is back in familiar territory: Chapter 11. It is the fourth time that minority owner Donald Trump‘s casinos have gone insolvent. He may try to wash his hands of the mess, but he gets equity for the use … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Culinary Union, Donald Trump, Harrah's, Internet gambling, Maryland, New York, Pennsylvania, Sports, Tilman Fertitta, Trump Entertainment Resorts | 2 Comments

The fees that ate Las Vegas

Posted on September 3, 2014 by David McKee

First, the good news. Harrah’s Las Vegas casino floor, one of the most claustrophobic and unpleasant in town is getting a makeover. And, while they’re at it, Caesars Entertainment is converting the space formerly occupied by The Cafe at Harrah’s and … Continue reading →

Posted in Dining, Harrah's, International, Maryland, Ohio, Phil Ruffin, Planet Hollywood, Regulation, Singapore, The Strip | Comments Off

Loveman’s big score; Slots come to Dayton

Posted on August 28, 2014 by David McKee

“You’re in Baltimore, baby, it says so right there, in big gray block letters on a smokestack at the trash plant just past the entrance.” Caesars Entertainment CEO Gary Loveman, long celebrated as the wizard of database market, also finds … Continue reading →

Posted in Baseball, Cordish Co., Genting, Harrah's, Internet gambling, Marketing, Maryland, Ohio, Penn National, Pinnacle Entertainment, Racinos, Sheldon Adelson, Singapore, The Strip, Transportation, Vietnam | Comments Off

Caesars has a live one, Revel not

Posted on August 27, 2014 by David McKee

Even though it’s still on pace to close Aug. 31, Showboat‘s last chapter may have yet to be written. Caesars Entertainment spokesman Gary Thompson told reporters that multiple expressions of interest in the property have been received. He added that … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Dining, Economy, Harrah's, Maryland, Pennsylvania, Revel | Comments Off

Horseshoe Baltimore launches; Hypocrisy in Indiana

Posted on August 26, 2014 by David McKee

On a “gritty stretch of Russell Street” in Baltimore, partners Caesars Entertainment and Rock Gaming are preparing to bust out their latest inner-city casino. Not only will it provide commendable urban renewal, it will also give Maryland Live! its most … Continue reading →

Posted in Affinity Gaming, Baseball, Cordish Co., Dan Gilbert, Harrah's, Indiana, Maryland, MGM Mirage, Politics, Wall Street | 1 Comment

Exit Revel, eight days early

Posted on August 18, 2014 by David McKee

Labor Day has taken on a cruel, new meaning in Atlantic City, where it will mark the closure of Revel‘s hotel. (The casino will stay open until dawn on Sept. 2.) This takes away eight days of employment that soon-to-be-jobless … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Cordish Co., Delaware, Economy, Harrah's, Maryland, Racinos, Revel, Steve Wynn, The Strip | 1 Comment

Atlantic City: Worse to come

Posted on August 15, 2014 by David McKee

If you thought this year’s shrinkage of the Atlantic City casino market from 12 casinos to eight was bad, brace yourself. A Deutsche Bank report predicts more contraction to come. Resorts Atlantic City and Trump Taj Mahal have been marked … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Boyd Gaming, Dining, Harrah's, Marketing, Maryland, Mohegan Sun, New York, Regulation, Revel, Tilman Fertitta, Tropicana Entertainment, Trump Entertainment Resorts | 2 Comments