Category Archives: Maryland

Overexuberance in New Jersey, generosity in Maryland

Posted on December 27, 2013 by David McKee

New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie (R) is setting himself up for a fall with his blue-sky projections of Internet-gambling revenue. Eilers Research has projected that it will take two or three years for gambling revenue to reach $227 million … … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Economy, Goldman Sachs, Harrah's, history, Illinois, Internet gambling, Macau, Maryland, Massachusetts, Regulation, Slot routes, Taxes, The Mob, The Strip, Wall Street | Comments Off

And it’s … MGM again

Posted on December 23, 2013 by David McKee

Add Massachusetts to the roster of states where MGM Resorts International has been approved to operate. It received the unanimous assent of the Massachusetts Gaming Commission earlier today. “The Commission … finds that the Applicant has satisfied its burden of … Continue reading →

Posted in Current, Election, Greenwood Racing, Maryland, Massachusetts, MGM Mirage, Penn National, Regulation, Steve Wynn, Uncategorized | Comments Off

Quote of the Day

Posted on December 23, 2013 by David McKee

“This can be the most commercially successful resort outside of Las Vegas, from a profit standpoint.” — MGM Resorts International CEO James Murren, on the company’s winning bid at National Harbor, on the doorstep of Washington, D.C.

Posted in Economy, Maryland, MGM Mirage | Comments Off

Revel to be sold?; Ryan weighs in on Menominee

Posted on December 20, 2013 by David McKee

Color me stupid but I figured that, with a new marketing team in place, to say nothing of a new CEO, Revel Resort was going to stay its new course awhile. Turns out the property was dickering with prospective buyers … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Current, Hard Rock International, Maryland, MGM Mirage, New York, Politics, Racinos, Revel, Tribal, Wisconsin | 2 Comments

And it’s … MGM

Posted on December 20, 2013 by David McKee

This news is so hot off the wires Howard Stutz has only had time to tweet it but Prince George’s County has chosen MGM Resorts International for its new casino license. Pleas by Greenwood Racing for an extension had been … Continue reading →

Posted in Current, Greenwood Racing, Maryland, Massachusetts, MGM Mirage, Penn National, Regulation | 2 Comments

Poster cuts his losses; Showdown in Lansing

Posted on December 19, 2013 by David McKee

Gaming executive Tim Poster has bounced hither and yon, and now he’s asking to be bounced to the outer fringes of the casino industry. His attorneys will not be challenging the Nevada Gaming Control Board‘s finding of unsuitability and will … Continue reading →

Posted in Charity, Internet gambling, Maryland, MGM Mirage, Mohegan Sun, Regulation, Station Casinos, Steve Wynn, Tribal | Comments Off

Falling out in Philly; Falling apart at Caesars

Posted on December 17, 2013 by David McKee

SugarHouse Casino has finally said what needed to be said: The Philadelphia market is tapped out for casinos. It’s not entirely a disinterested stance; SugarHouse is finishing a $155 million expansion and vulnerable to new competition. But the numbers have … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Greenwood Racing, Harrah's, Internet gambling, Maryland, Massachusetts, Neil Bluhm, Penn National, Pennsylvania, Regulation, Steve Wynn, The Strip, Tilman Fertitta | 1 Comment

Hasta la vista, EuroVegas

Posted on December 13, 2013 by David McKee

His demands having been rejected by the Spanish government, Sheldon Adelson has renounced EuroVegas, his $30 billion grand folly of 12 hotels, six casinos and 18,000 slots in Spain. Considering his hard-nosed stance that the company only concentrate on projects … Continue reading →

Posted in Greenwood Racing, International, Japan, Maryland, Melco Crown Entertainment, MGM Mirage, Penn National, Sheldon Adelson, Wall Street | Comments Off

D-Day nears for Massachusetts, Maryland

Posted on December 9, 2013 by David McKee

This just in: MGM Resorts International has been tentatively approved by the investigative branch of the Massachusetts Gaming Commission, pending the satisfaction of certain matters. That moment is drawing nigh at which point the Massachusetts Gaming Commission must rule upon … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Colony Capital, Cordish Co., Greenwood Racing, Harrah's, Maryland, Massachusetts, MGM Mirage, Pansy Ho, Penn National, Regulation, Stanley Ho, Steve Wynn, Tribal | 1 Comment

Imbalances of power; Vegas to Israel?

Posted on December 6, 2013 by David McKee

It was another bonny month for Maryland, whose casino revenues grew 55% in November, up to $67 million. It’s not an apples/apples comparison, since neither Rocky Gap Casino nor table games were in play a year ago. Tables were responsible … Continue reading →

Posted in Charity, Cordish Co., Economy, Greenwood Racing, Harrah's, Illinois, Macau, Maryland, Melco Crown Entertainment, MGM Mirage, Neil Bluhm, Penn National, Pets, Sheldon Adelson, Stanley Ho, Steve Wynn | Comments Off

Any way out for Caesars?

Posted on November 22, 2013 by David McKee

Woodfield Consulting Group has put a “strong sell” recommendation on Caesars Entertainment stock, deeming it “a poor equity investment choice that offers low expected return to equity investors with high speculative risk.” Noting that Caesars has six years’ and $17 … Continue reading →

Posted in Economy, Harrah's, Japan, Maryland, Ohio, The Strip, Wall Street | 5 Comments

Racing the clock at Foxwoods, in Philly

Posted on November 15, 2013 by David McKee

It’s entirely possible that Milford voters could pink-slip Crossroads Massachusetts next Tuesday. But even if they don’t, Foxwoods Casino Resort CEO Scott “Woody” Butera is watching the project crumble before his very eyes. The Massachusetts Gaming Commission looked at the … Continue reading →

Posted in CityCenter, Cordish Co., Current, Dining, Election, Foxwoods, Horseracing, Kansas, Maryland, Massachusetts, Penn National, Pennsylvania, Regulation, Steve Wynn, Tomato King Procacci, Wall Street | Comments Off

Big score for Station, little one for Caesars

Posted on November 7, 2013 by David McKee

Station Casinos has a big hit on its hands in the form of Graton Resort & Casino. So many customers turned out for opening day that the doors swung wide an hour early. Ninety minutes later, admittance was being rationed … Continue reading →

Posted in California, Cordish Co., Economy, Harrah's, Macau, Maryland, MTR Gaming, Ohio, Penn National, Pennsylvania, Station Casinos, Tourism, Tribal, Wall Street, West Virginia | Comments Off

Breaking Boyd

Posted on October 31, 2013 by David McKee

Boyd Gaming missed Wall Street expectations last quarter, posting negative earnings of eight cents a share, compared to the $0.01/share profit the Street was anticipating. Deutsche Bank‘s Carlo Santarelli blamed “softer-than-expected net revenues … below the low-end of management’s guidance.” Las … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Boulder Strip, Boyd Gaming, Current, Downtown, Environment, Greenwood Racing, history, Iowa, Louisiana, Maryland, MGM Mirage, Ohio, Penn National, Wall Street | Comments Off

Loveman must go

Posted on October 30, 2013 by David McKee

Suffolk Downs executives are trying to move on after severing ties with Caesars Entertainment. At their suitability hearing with the Massachusetts Gaming Commission (which is expected to approve them), they played dumb. They not only pleaded ignorance of Arik Kislin‘s … Continue reading →

Posted in Colorado, Maryland, Massachusetts, Regulation, The Mob | 1 Comment

MGM: A class act in Maryland; Sands’ convenient poll

Posted on October 29, 2013 by David McKee

MGM Resorts International‘s presentation last week to the Maryland Video Lottery Terminal Location Commission lacked the smell of fear that Penn National Gaming exuded last week. Alluding to Penn’s offer to forfeit all profits and to creative accounting, MGM CEO Jim … Continue reading →

Posted in Cordish Co., Greenwood Racing, Internet gambling, Maryland, MGM Mirage, Penn National, Regulation, Sheldon Adelson, Uncategorized | Comments Off

New casino in Alabama; Potential new scrutiny for Caesars; Second thoughts for Walker?

Posted on October 25, 2013 by David McKee

Alabama Attorney General Luther Strange is throttling the life out of the Cotton State’s electronic bingo industry. But, thanks to tribal sovereignty, the Poarch Band of Creek Indians has been able to this to its advantage. When Wind Creek Wetumpka … Continue reading →

Posted in Alabama, Current, Harrah's, Maryland, Massachusetts, Regulation, Tribal, Wisconsin | Comments Off

Caesars tries to change the subject; Penn makes its case

Posted on October 23, 2013 by David McKee

As Caesars Entertainment skulks away from Massachusetts, tail between legs, a campaign of manufactured outrage continues to be mounted on its behalf. At its baseline is an attempt to minimize the reasons why the Massachusetts Gaming Commission was poised to … Continue reading →

Posted in Harrah's, Horseracing, Internet gambling, Maryland, Massachusetts, MGM Mirage, Penn National, Problem gambling, Regulation, Stanley Ho, The Mob | Comments Off

Santa Claus smiles upon Borgata; No reprieve for Suffolk

Posted on October 22, 2013 by David McKee

Christmas came early for Boyd Gaming and Kris Kringle wore the judicial robes of the Tax Court of New Jersey. “A silver lining to Atlantic City‘s fall from grace for casino operators: the tax bills are lighter when the going gets … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Boyd Gaming, Hard Rock International, Harrah's, Maryland, Massachusetts, MGM Mirage, Mohegan Sun, Neil Bluhm, Penn National, Taxes, Wall Street | 1 Comment

Game time in Massachusetts;

Posted on October 8, 2013 by David McKee

Three casino firms got ready to rumble yesterday, as the Massachusetts Gaming Commission heard pitches from all slot parlor applicants. It was a day characterized as filled with “glitzy renderings and plenty of big promises … soaring music, testimonials, and pictures … Continue reading →

Posted in Cordish Co., Maryland, New York, Penn National, Regulation, Taxes, Tribal, West Virginia | 2 Comments