Category Archives: Massachusetts

Ex-cons working casino floors?; Kansas casinos set record

Posted on October 13, 2017 by David McKee

You’d think casinos in Massachusetts, where job applicants far outnumber available positions, could get by without hiring convicted criminals. Think again. A bill before the Lege would open a loophole for people with criminal records to hold down jobs in … Continue reading →

Posted in Boyd Gaming, G2E, GameCO, Harrah's, IGT, International, Kansas, Lawrence Ho, Massachusetts, Melco Crown Entertainment, MGM Mirage, Penn National, Politics, Regulation, Steve Wynn, Technology, Tribal | Comments Off

Mandalay Bay mystery a labyrinth

Posted on October 6, 2017 by David McKee

As the clouds of war gather again over our great country, we’re finally gaining some clarity regarding Mandalay Bay shooter Stephen Paddock. He was that seeming oxymoron: a video poker “whale,” one who didn’t blanch at wagering $100 a spin. … Continue reading →

Posted in Boyd Gaming, Cannery Casino Resorts, Cosmopolitan, Downtown, Harrah's, Illinois, Law enforcement, Mandalay Bay Massacre, Massachusetts, Mesquite, MGM Mirage, Philippines, Politics, Problem gambling, Regulation, Reno, Texas | Comments Off

Wynn takes the lead

Posted on October 4, 2017 by David McKee

Steve Wynn has always been a trendsetter in Las Vegas and we hope his decision to equip his security force with handheld metal detectors is another move the rest of the industry will follow. “Las Vegas is a target city. … Continue reading →

Posted in Boyd Gaming, Entertainment, Florida, G2E, Genting, Harrah's, Law enforcement, Macau, Mandalay Bay Massacre, Massachusetts, MGM Mirage, New York, Philippines, Steve Wynn, Wall Street | 1 Comment

A modest proposal; Boyd on the prowl

Posted on October 3, 2017 by David McKee

Warning: You’re probably not going to like this post. That being said, the catastrophe at Mandalay Bay demands a more proactive response from the casino industry. There is always a certain element of risk in life, but we can ameliorate … Continue reading →

Posted in Boulder Strip, Boyd Gaming, G2E, Geoff Freeman, history, Law enforcement, Louisiana, Macau, Mandalay Bay Massacre, Massachusetts, MGM Mirage, Palms, The Strip, Wall Street | Comments Off

Firebugs in Macao; New slots at Harrah’s

Posted on September 27, 2017 by David McKee

Already slowed by construction fatalities, jinx-prone Grand Lisboa Palace has now been ravaged by fire. The best that CEO Angela Leong could say about the casino’s late-2018 opening date was that it was now uncertain. Sociedade de Jogos de Macau … Continue reading →

Posted in Arizona, Atlantic City, California, Economy, GameCO, Harrah's, Macau, Massachusetts, MGM Mirage, Nevada, Sociedade de Jogos de Macau, Technology, Tribal | Comments Off

MGM Bridgeport … ?!?; Battle lines drawn in Maine

Posted on September 20, 2017 by David McKee

Poor MGM Springfield. It’s not even finished and MGM Resorts International is already off on a snipe hunt in Connecticut. Like Steve Wynn many years ago, it is proposing a casino for Bridgeport. MGM says it is prepared to invest … Continue reading →

Posted in e-sports, Economy, Election, Foxwoods, history, Maine, Marketing, Maryland, Massachusetts, MGM Mirage, Mohegan Sun, Nevada, Politics, Regulation, TV | Comments Off

F-blew: Here we go again; Trop makes Hoosier history

Posted on September 19, 2017 by David McKee

Steven Witkoff hasn’t closed on the Fontainebleau sale yet, never mind receiving a gaming license, and he’s already being cast as the savior of the Las Vegas Strip. However, there are some dark clouds on Fontainebleau’s horizon. Despite the $1.3 … Continue reading →

Posted in Carl Icahn, Eldorado Resorts, Fontainebleau, Genting, history, Indiana, Internet gambling, LVCVA, Marketing, Massachusetts, Penn National, Pennsylvania, Regulation, Reno, Steven Witkoff, The Strip, Tropicana Entertainment | 1 Comment

MGM sells National Harbor; High accolade for Turning Stone

Posted on September 7, 2017 by David McKee

MGM National Harbor continues to grow the Maryland casino market, while taking down its main competitors. (Would we call this a “category killer”?) In the meantime, the small casinos are doing just fine. Last month Penn National Gaming‘s Hollywood Perryville was … Continue reading →

Posted in Economy, Golden Gaming, Harrah's, Illinois, Indiana, Maryland, Massachusetts, MGM Mirage, Neil Bluhm, Penn National, Racinos, Rhode Island, Slot routes, Taxes, Tribal | Comments Off

Icahn’s big score

Posted on August 31, 2017 by David McKee

Did Carl Icahn just take Steven Witkoff to the cleaners? It sure looks that way. Witkoff and his associates paid, according to Bloomberg, $22 million an acre for Fontainebleau. Yes, $22 million. That figure is so dazzling I had to … Continue reading →

Posted in Carl Icahn, Fontainebleau, Genting, Internet gambling, James Packer, Maine, Marketing, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Politics, Steven Witkoff, The Strip | 1 Comment

McCarran under siege; Japan to ban poker?

Posted on August 17, 2017 by David McKee

Sen. Pat McCarran (D) is making more posthumous news. State Sen. Tick Segerblom (D) is renewing his push to rename McCarran International Airport. Since the real–life McCarran was a racist, xenophobe and anti-Semite, the urge to efface his name is understandable. … Continue reading →

Posted in Florida, Foxwoods, Harry Reid, history, Horseracing, Japan, Massachusetts, Melco Crown Entertainment, Mohegan Sun, Penn National, Politics, Regulation, Seminole Tribe, Taxes, Transportation, Wall Street | Comments Off

Case Bets: Cosmo, Penn, California, Caesars, Boyd, etc.

Posted on August 15, 2017 by David McKee

It’s reinvention time at The Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas, where management is investing $100 million-plus into upgrades of most of its rooms. If you don’t constantly reinvest in your resort project, you end up with Imperial Palace, er, Linq. (Given … Continue reading →

Posted in Boyd Gaming, California, Cordish Co., Cosmopolitan, Greenwood Racing, Harrah's, Indiana, International, Massachusetts, Neil Bluhm, Penn National, Pennsylvania, Politics, Technology, The Strip, Tribal | 1 Comment

#5,001

Posted on August 14, 2017 by David McKee

Yes, this is the 5,001st Stiffs & Georges post and let me start with a big thank-you to all of you, the readers, for making it possible. If it weren’t for your support I’d probably have hung it up long … Continue reading →

Posted in Alabama, Atlantic City, Donald Trump, Georgia, Hard Rock International, Harrah's, James Packer, Kansas, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Pennsylvania, Politics, Regulation, Sam Nazarian, Seminole Tribe, Sheldon Adelson, SLS Las Vegas, Station Casinos, Steve Wynn, The Strip | 5 Comments

The allure of Brazil; DraftKings blows a gasket

Posted on July 27, 2017 by David McKee

Jan Jones Blackhurst has really been racking up the frequent-flier miles on behalf of Caesars Entertainment, having made multiple trips to Brazil to assess the potential for casinos down there. She’s narrowed down the possible sites to Brasilia, Sao Paulo, Salvador … Continue reading →

Posted in Australia, Brazil, Economy, GameCO, Harrah's, Internet gambling, Macau, Massachusetts, MGM Mirage, Oklahoma, Sheldon Adelson, Steve Wynn, Technology, The Strip, Tribal | Comments Off

Pennsylvania: Small is lucrative; Sleazy doings in Maine

Posted on July 24, 2017 by David McKee

Lawmakers in Pennsylvania have passed an unbalanced budget but are still undecided on how (not “if”) to expand gambling to cover the shortfall. One late-entrant idea that is gaining more traction than anything else is the proposal of mini-casinos, 10 … Continue reading →

Posted in Affinity Gaming, Election, Foxwoods, Genting, Harrah's, Maine, Massachusetts, MGM Mirage, Mohegan Sun, Neil Bluhm, Penn National, Pennsylvania, Politics, Regulation, Tribal | Comments Off

Wynn: The inevitable happens; Tribes have boffo year

Posted on July 20, 2017 by David McKee

We knew this day had to come: Wynn Resorts is going to charge for self-parking at Wynncore, starting August 7. The fee structure is very much like those of other Strip casinos that have gone the self-parking route, although offering … Continue reading →

Posted in Entertainment, Harrah's, Law enforcement, Massachusetts, MGM Mirage, Penn National, Politics, Station Casinos, Steve Wynn, The Strip | Comments Off

Two decades in Detroit; Juliano out at Sands

Posted on July 19, 2017 by David McKee

Can it really be 20 years since casinos were legalized in Detroit? (It’s been 18 years since MGM Grand Detroit opened.) Time flies and so does casino lucre — straight into city coffers. Then-Gov. John Engler (R) had to dragged kicking … Continue reading →

Posted in Detroit, Economy, history, Internet gambling, Law enforcement, Massachusetts, MGM Mirage, New Hampshire, Pennsylvania, Politics, Sheldon Adelson, Steve Wynn, Taxes, Tropicana Entertainment | Comments Off

Wynn faces tough path in Japan; Sweetheart deal for Saucier

Posted on July 17, 2017 by David McKee

Things haven’t been going well for Kazuo Okada but he could still play spoiler to Steve Wynn‘s casino aspirations in Japan. Litigation between the two could tarnish Wynn’s image. Already, Wynn is swimming upstream, with MGM Resorts International and Las … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, California, Florida, Genting, Japan, Kazuo Okada, Marketing, Massachusetts, MGM Mirage, Nevada, New York, Politics, Regulation, Sheldon Adelson, Steve Wynn, Wall Street | Comments Off

Adelson up to new mischief; DFS mega-merger kaput

Posted on July 17, 2017 by David McKee

If you don’t know Rep. Charlie Dent (R), you will soon. Sheldon Adelson has the Pennsylvania congressman by the short and curlies, holding expansion at Sands Bethlehem hostage to passage of Restore America’s Wire Act, his pet cause. Consequently, Dent … Continue reading →

Posted in California, Environment, Internet gambling, Law enforcement, Macau, Massachusetts, Penn National, Pennsylvania, Politics | Comments Off

Next stop, East Windsor; Everybody (in Vegas) must get stoned

Posted on June 29, 2017 by David McKee

“Make no mistake about it – the legislation I signed today is about jobs for the residents of Connecticut, and securing those jobs in our state.” With those words, Nutmeg State Gov. Dannel Malloy (D) affixed his signature approving a … Continue reading →

Posted in Donald Trump, Foxwoods, Geoff Freeman, Massachusetts, MGM Mirage, Mohegan Sun, Nevada, Politics, Regulation, Sheldon Adelson, Sports, Taxes, Tribal | Comments Off

Days of wine and roses; SCOTUS to weigh Bradley Act

Posted on June 27, 2017 by David McKee

After seven years of hesitation, The Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas has committed to a purpose for its top four hotel floors. They’ll be high-roller suites known as the Boulevard Penthouse will be the most expensive hotel rooms known to man. … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, Australia, Cosmopolitan, Dining, Harrah's, history, International, Massachusetts, PokerStars, Regulation, Sports, The Strip, Tribal | Comments Off