Category Archives: Massachusetts

Flattened

Posted on June 25, 2019 by David McKee

Lord knows how I did it but I picked up a nasty bronchial infection whilst in Chicago and am lying flat on my back as I type this. (Maybe it was having to stare at letters two stories high, spelling … Continue reading →

Posted in Caesars Entertainment, Dining, Illinois, Massachusetts, Rush Street Gaming, Wynn Resorts | Comments Off

Encore ready for its closeup; Reinventing Reno

Posted on June 19, 2019 by David McKee

“Industrial afterthought” Everett becomes home to a five-star casino-hotel starting Sunday. Encore Boston Harbor is obviously optimistic, judging by the $650/night base room rate. Of the three gambling-enabled Massachusetts locales, parent company Wynn Resorts got the plum and now it … Continue reading →

Posted in Economy, Galaxy Entertainment, Kansas, Las Vegas Sands, Macau, Massachusetts, Melco Resorts & Entertainment, MGM Resorts International, Missouri, Planet Hollywood, Reno, Sociedade de Jogos de Macau, Taxes, Wynn Resorts | Comments Off

Don’t bet against Sheldon; Encore Boston says ‘Take the T’

Posted on June 18, 2019 by David McKee

Don’t ever accuse Las Vegas Sands of not thinking big. It’s going to the banks for a $5.9 billion loan, primarily for expansion of Marina Bay Sands. That shouldn’t be much of a risk for financiers because nobody makes good … Continue reading →

Posted in Boyd Gaming, Caesars Entertainment, Genting, Greenwood Racing, history, Internet gambling, Las Vegas Sands, Massachusetts, Penn National, Pennsylvania, Rush Street Gaming, Sheldon Adelson, Singapore, South Korea, Sports betting, Technology, Transportation, Wynn Resorts | Comments Off

Connecticut casino push stalls; Chicago casino fast-tracked

Posted on June 11, 2019 by David McKee

Connecticut casino legislation was yet another exercise in futility this session, with the Lege gaveling the end of business without any gaming bills being passed. However, a special session is anticipated, mainly to address an unrelated litigation settlement. Perhaps then … Continue reading →

Posted in Connecticut, Foxwoods, Illinois, Japan, Massachusetts, MGM Resorts International, Mohegan Sun, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Politics, Sports betting, Wynn Resorts | Comments Off

Plaza gets a refresh; MGM covets Vegas locals

Posted on June 6, 2019 by David McKee

Congratulations to Plaza Hotel CEO Jonathan Jossel. He’s persuaded tight-fisted Tamares Group to invest in a 112-room renovation of the Downtown dowager. The casino is reportedly coming off its best April ever and this has evidently helped Tamares to see its … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, Arizona, Boyd Gaming, CityCenter, Derek Stevens, Dining, Downtown, Dubai, e-sports, Entertainment, Japan, Massachusetts, MGM Resorts International, Tamares Group, Transportation, Wall Street, Wynn Resorts | Comments Off

More Ho, less Packer at Crown; Wynn pays the piper

Posted on June 3, 2019 by David McKee

More Lawrence Ho at Crown Resorts means less James Packer, as the publishing heir sold down his stake to 25%, spinning the decision thusly: “I am still vitally interested in Crown’s success as a world-class resort and gaming business. The … Continue reading →

Posted in Australia, Cosmopolitan, Crown Resorts, Derek Stevens, Dining, Downtown, James Packer, Japan, Lawrence Ho, Massachusetts, Nevada, Politics, Regulation, Sports betting, The Strip, Wall Street, William Hill, Wynn Resorts | Comments Off

Casinos, DFS wrangle in Massachusetts; Harrah’s wins in Louisiana

Posted on May 31, 2019 by David McKee

Debate over sports betting in Massachusetts has brought out a ruction between Boston-based DraftKings, representing the forces of online gambling, and brick-and-mortar casinos, which want to be the sole purveyors of Internet sports bets, with maybe five to seven ‘skins’ … Continue reading →

Posted in Caesars Entertainment, Churchill Downs, DFS, Entertainment, Genting, Internet gambling, Las Vegas Sands, Law enforcement, Louisiana, Massachusetts, Melco Resorts & Entertainment, MGM Mirage, Phil Ruffin, Politics, Problem gambling, Rhode Island, Sports, Sports betting, Taxes, The Strip | Comments Off

Memo from Murren

Posted on May 31, 2019 by David McKee

The MGM 2020 axe continues to fall. Company employees received the following open letter from CEO Jim Murren … “Dear Colleagues: “I want to begin this note by thanking so many of you for your patience, support and focus over … Continue reading →

Posted in Current, Economy, Massachusetts, MGM Resorts International, Tourism, Wynn Resorts | Comments Off

April unkind to Strip; Expansion scramble in Illinois

Posted on May 29, 2019 by David McKee

Las Vegas Strip revenues were down 3.5% last month but for once baccarat was blameless. Luck was with the casinos in the highly volatile game, which saw the house win 5.5% more on 17% higher wagering. Players avoided other table … Continue reading →

Posted in Boulder Strip, Detroit, Downtown, Illinois, Lake Tahoe, Laughlin, Massachusetts, Michigan, North Las Vegas, Penn National, Politics, Regulation, Reno, The Strip, Wynn Resorts | Comments Off

Encore firms up opening date; Bionic money

Posted on May 28, 2019 by David McKee

Global Gaming Business has revealed that Wynn Resorts was so desperate to exit Everett it even held talks with Boston Red Sox owner John Henry to bail it out from the megaresort. Even if the Massachusetts Gaming Commission approved that arrangement (a long … Continue reading →

Posted in Baseball, Dan Gilbert, Detroit, Foxwoods, G2E, Genting, Macau, Massachusetts, MGM Resorts International, Mohegan Sun, Penn National, Pennsylvania, Regulation, Rush Street Gaming, Sports betting, Technology, The Strip, TV, Wall Street, Wynn Resorts | Comments Off

Encore Boston Harbor sale nixed

Posted on May 22, 2019 by David McKee

“We think the best course of action is to discontinue discussions concerning this opportunity.” Just like that, MGM Resorts International left Wynn Resorts at the altar, trying to find a new beau for Encore Boston Harbor. Backlash in Springfield seems … Continue reading →

Posted in Caesars Entertainment, Mandalay Bay Massacre, Massachusetts, MGM Resorts International, Mohegan Sun, Penn National, Regulation, Wall Street, Wynn Resorts | Comments Off

Tribe trumps Trump; Rockford pleads for casino

Posted on May 20, 2019 by David McKee

Despite being thrown off the fast-track legislative calendar by a blast of hot air from Donald Trump, a bill to restore land-in-trust status to the Mashpee Wampanoags has sailed through the House of Representatives, 257-146 in a bipartisan win. “Without support … Continue reading →

Posted in Aristocrat, Caesars Entertainment, Culinary Union, Donald Trump, Genting, Illinois, Indiana, Law enforcement, Marketing, Massachusetts, Nevada, Technology, Tribal, Unite-Here, Wisconsin | 2 Comments

Maddox’s mess; Big Gaming gets image-conscious

Posted on May 20, 2019 by David McKee

“Boston is not up for sale. I like that market. I found the land. I pursued that deal. I entered the agreement with the host community five years ago. I liked that market then. I like that market today.” So … Continue reading →

Posted in Lucky Dragon, Marijuana, Massachusetts, MGM Resorts International, Nevada, Penn National, Regulation, Sexual misconduct, Steve Wynn, The Strip, Wynn Resorts | 1 Comment

Wynn cuts and runs

Posted on May 18, 2019 by David McKee

Wynn Resorts might be willing to pay $20 million to remain licensed in Nevada but $35 million in Massachusetts was Just Too Much evidently to hang onto $2.6 billion Encore Boston Harbor. In one of the most precipitate decisions in memory, … Continue reading →

Posted in Massachusetts, MGM Resorts International, Regulation, Wynn Resorts | 3 Comments

Wall Street loves Wynn, Penn, MGM

Posted on May 15, 2019 by David McKee

JP Morgan analyst Joseph Greff issued a post-1Q19 bulletin in which he named Wynn Resorts (growth), Penn National Gaming (value for share price) and MGM Resorts International (event-driven revenue) as his top picks in the gambling sphere. Wynn got a … Continue reading →

Posted in Arkansas, Caesars Entertainment, DFS, Dining, Eldorado Resorts, Election, Internet gambling, Iowa, Japan, Las Vegas Sands, Macau, Massachusetts, Melco Resorts & Entertainment, MGM Resorts International, Penn National, Pennsylvania, Pets, Pinnacle Entertainment, Problem gambling, Racinos, Sports betting, The Strip, Tilman Fertitta, Transportation, Wall Street, Wynn Resorts | Comments Off

MGM, Adelson tussle for Japan; Wynn pouts over fine

Posted on May 13, 2019 by David McKee

Everybody wants to be in Osaka, now that it’s open for casino development and the Osakanese government strongly covets a casino, one hopefully that would be open in time for the 2025 World Expo. Among the entrants, Las Vegas Sands, … Continue reading →

Posted in Dining, Galaxy Entertainment, Genting, Japan, Las Vegas Sands, Lotteries, Massachusetts, Melco Resorts & Entertainment, MGM Resorts International, Mohegan Sun, Politics, Regulation, Singapore, Sports betting, Transportation, Tribal, Wynn Resorts | Comments Off

Macao saves Wynn; Soaked in Missouri

Posted on May 10, 2019 by David McKee

If it were just a question of Las Vegas Strip performance, Wynn Resorts would have very little good news to report. Gross gaming revenue ($166 million) was down 19% in 1Q19, its impact softened by an 11% increase in slot … Continue reading →

Posted in Affinity Gaming, Boyd Gaming, Caesars Entertainment, Connecticut, Eldorado Resorts, Foxwoods, Macau, Massachusetts, Melco Resorts & Entertainment, MGM Resorts International, Missouri, Mohegan Sun, Penn National, Politics, Sports betting, The Strip, Wall Street, Wynn Resorts | Comments Off

Wynn balks at Beantown penalty

Posted on May 6, 2019 by David McKee

Although it was willing to pay at least $20 million to remain licensed in Nevada, it appears that Wynn Resorts is unwilling to take its $35 million dose of castor oil in Massachusetts. “We are in the process of reviewing … Continue reading →

Posted in Australia, Charity, Cirque du Soleil, Crown Resorts, Downtown, Entertainment, Florida, Illinois, Internet gambling, Macau, Massachusetts, Movies, Pennsylvania, Regulation, Resort fees, Seminole Tribe, Sports betting, The Strip, Tilman Fertitta, Wynn Resorts | Comments Off

Eldorado strong, Penn stronger; Caesars screws you

Posted on May 3, 2019 by David McKee

Were it not for inclement weather, Eldorado Resorts would have exceeded Wall Street’s consensus $172 million cash-flow prediction by $8 million for 1Q19, not come up $5 million short. For instance, Reno (pictured) had snow in 24 of February’s 28 days … Continue reading →

Posted in Arizona, Atlantic City, Caesars Entertainment, Colorado, Cordish Co., Cretins, Culinary Union, Detroit, Dining, Economy, Eldorado Resorts, Florida, Hard Rock International, Illinois, Internet gambling, Iowa, Macau, Massachusetts, MGM Resorts International, Mississippi, Penn National, Pennsylvania, Pinnacle Entertainment, Racinos, Regulation, Reno, Sports betting, Station Casinos, Tribal, Wall Street, West Virginia, Wynn Resorts | Comments Off

Quote of the Day

Posted on May 2, 2019 by David McKee

“One of the key metrics by which we will measure that success will be the overall well-being, safety, and welfare of the employees. A second but equally important metric is the importance of compliance and communication with the regulator. This … Continue reading →

Posted in Massachusetts, Regulation, Sexual misconduct, Wynn Resorts | Comments Off