Category Archives: Massachusetts

Eyeball-to-eyeball in Pennsylvania; The tomato cans cometh

Posted on June 26, 2017 by David McKee

Pennsylvania‘s i-gaming legislation could fall apart, as New York State’s shamefully did (Gary Pretlow should change his name to Mr. Useless) but both houses are presently trying to find a satisfactory middle ground. Slot routes stick in the craw of … Continue reading →

Posted in Horseracing, Internet gambling, Massachusetts, New York, Pennsylvania, Philippines, Politics, Regulation, Slot routes, Sports, Taxes, The Strip, Tribal | Comments Off

DFS mega-merger stalled; Regulating e-sports

Posted on June 26, 2017 by David McKee

It looks like the Trump administration isn’t going to be completely laissez-faire, at least as far as the DraftKings/FanDuel merger is concerned. In cooperation with the State of California and the District of Columbia, the Federal Trade Commission has filed … Continue reading →

Posted in California, Foxwoods, Internet gambling, Massachusetts, MGM Mirage, Mohegan Sun, Nevada, Regulation, Sports | Comments Off

Better times come to Atlantic City; Wynn Boston Harbor sets opening date

Posted on June 15, 2017 by David McKee

May’s gambling grosses are in from the Boardwalk and Atlantic City is up 2.5% since last year — 11% if Trump Taj Mahal is subtracted from the comparison. Terrestrial casinos pulled in $208 million, while Internet gambling grossed a further … Continue reading →

Posted in Affinity Gaming, Architecture, Atlantic City, Boulder Strip, Boyd Gaming, Cannery Casino Resorts, Dan Gilbert, Detroit, Golden Gaming, Goldman Sachs, Harrah's, Internet gambling, Massachusetts, MGM Mirage, Mohegan Sun, North Las Vegas, Palms, Phil Ruffin, SLS Las Vegas, Station Casinos, Steve Wynn, Tilman Fertitta, Tropicana Entertainment, Wall Street | Comments Off

Bonacic: Let’s make a deal; Freeman makes sports-betting case

Posted on June 14, 2017 by David McKee

You could soon be able to play Internet poker in New York State — by going to a casino. That’s the compromise proposed by Senate Racing, Wagering & Gaming Committee Chairman John Bonacic (R). Only casinos and racinos would be eligible to … Continue reading →

Posted in Economy, Genting, Geoff Freeman, Internet gambling, Lawrence Ho, Massachusetts, New York, Philippines, Politics, Regulation, Sports, Taxes | Comments Off

Casino shootout in Manila; Twin Rivers shafts employees

Posted on June 5, 2017 by David McKee

“The work of the ISIS is more cruel and brutal.” With those words, Filipino despot Rodrigo Duterte downplayed a Manila casino shooting that was, in its own way, cruel and brutal. Degenerate gambler Jesse Carlos ran amuck in Resorts World … Continue reading →

Posted in Genting, Law enforcement, Lawrence Ho, Massachusetts, Melco Crown Entertainment, Penn National, Philippines, Problem gambling, Regulation, Rhode Island | Comments Off

Hard Rock ups Atlantic City commitment; Japan inspires casino designers

Posted on May 31, 2017 by David McKee

Compared to Carl Icahn‘s half-a-loaf policies, Hard Rock International CEO Jim Allen is Lady Bountiful, at least as concerns [Trump] Taj Mahal. We put The Donald’s name in brackets because it’s one of the first things to go, to be … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, Atlantic City, Carl Icahn, Donald Trump, Election, Glenn Straub, Hard Rock International, Harrah's, Harry Reid, International, Japan, Lawrence Ho, Massachusetts, Melco Crown Entertainment, MGM Mirage, Mohegan Sun, Regulation, Revel, Sahara, SLS Las Vegas, Technology, Unite-Here | 1 Comment

SLS: What’s in a name?

Posted on May 30, 2017 by David McKee

Quite a lot, from the looks of things. Back in 2014, then-U.S. Sen. Harry Reid (D) prophesied that, in a few years, nobody would be talking about the Sahara anymore; they’d all be talking about SLS Las Vegas. Guess not, … Continue reading →

Posted in Foxwoods, Harry Reid, James Packer, Massachusetts, MGM Mirage, Mohegan Sun, Politics, Sahara, Sam Nazarian, SLS Las Vegas, Steve Wynn, The Strip | 1 Comment

Connecticut casino faces uncertain future; Japanese cities protest casino process

Posted on May 26, 2017 by David McKee

Connecticut‘s controversial satellite casino has been voted through the state Senate. This prompted a swift response from the Schaghticoke Tribal Nation, which promised a lawsuit (probably financed by MGM Resorts International). Gov. Dannel Malloy (D) threw his support behind the satellite … Continue reading →

Posted in California, Economy, Foxwoods, Harrah's, Japan, Massachusetts, MGM Mirage, Mohegan Sun, Politics, Sheldon Adelson, Transportation, Tribal | Comments Off

Solution in search of a problem; Trump causes Macao jitters

Posted on May 18, 2017 by David McKee

As it its civic duty, Plainridge Park racino pays into the local Community Mitigation Fund. Now it’s being ill-repaid by Norfolk District Attorney Michael Morrissey, who wants 75 dimes of CMF money to investigate crimes his office says are “stemming directly” … Continue reading →

Posted in Arizona, Donald Trump, Law enforcement, Macau, Massachusetts, MGM Mirage, Penn National, Politics, Regulation, Sheldon Adelson, Steve Wynn, The Strip, Tourism, Tribal, Wall Street | Comments Off

Connecticut tribes go on attack; Adelson discovers 21st century

Posted on May 9, 2017 by David McKee

MGM Resorts International is getting hoist on its own petard in a new attack ad, which uses quotes cherry-picked from Massachusetts Casino Commission testimony to show CEO Jim Murren and President Bill Hornbuckle coveting the Connecticut customer base. Naturally, the Mashantucket Pequots … Continue reading →

Posted in Donald Trump, Foxwoods, Marketing, Massachusetts, MGM Mirage, Mohegan Sun, New York, Regulation, Sheldon Adelson, Technology, Tribal, TV | Comments Off

Wynn: Paradise deferred

Posted on April 26, 2017 by David McKee

Perhaps it’s the distraction caused by casino legalization in Japan. Perhaps it’s the cost creep (now up to $2.4 billion) at Wynn Boston Harbor. Whatever the reason, Wynn Resorts has scaled down its plans for Wynn Paradise Park. Rest assured, … Continue reading →

Posted in Ameristar, Economy, Entertainment, Indiana, Iowa, Macau, Massachusetts, Mississippi, Steve Wynn, The Strip, Wall Street, Warner Gaming | Comments Off

Big bounce in Louisiana; Poker and booze go better together

Posted on April 19, 2017 by David McKee

Compared with a flood-plagued March of 2015, business was booming at Louisiana casinos, up 10%, especially Baton Rouge (+20.5%), although New Orleans was flat. JP Morgan analyst Joseph Greff is predicting less salubrious results in April, blaming the Easter Bunny, among … Continue reading →

Posted in Boyd Gaming, Churchill Downs, Economy, Eldorado Resorts, Foxwoods, Genting, GLPI, Harrah's, IGT, Internet gambling, Isle of Capri, Louisiana, Massachusetts, MGM Mirage, Mohegan Sun, Pinnacle Entertainment, Politics, Regulation, South Korea, Taxes, Tilman Fertitta, Tourism, Tribal, Tropicana Entertainment, Wall Street | Comments Off

Prospects and pitfalls in Connecticut; Roulette makes a comeback

Posted on April 18, 2017 by David McKee

Could the East Windsor satellite casino be a Machiavellian plot to extract the Mashantucket Pequots and the Mohegan Tribe from their obligations to the State of Connecticut? Probably not but state Attorney General George Jepsen has already opined that the … Continue reading →

Posted in Entertainment, Foxwoods, Massachusetts, MGM Mirage, Mohegan Sun, Penn National, Politics, Sheldon Adelson | 1 Comment

Quote of the Day

Posted on April 6, 2017 by David McKee

“The Las Vegas casino giant said Tuesday the material was transported to licensed landfills across the country over the course of about seven months and filled more than 8,800 truckloads and 4,300 railcars.” — Mind-boggling statistics on Wynn Resorts‘ cleanup … Continue reading →

Posted in Environment, Massachusetts, Steve Wynn | Comments Off

Trump keeps them guessing; Meet your new neighbor, Steve Wynn

Posted on April 4, 2017 by David McKee

Could the president of the United States build a Las Vegas casino? That’s regulatory terra incognito that Nevada regulators will have to explore as Phil Ruffin and Donald Trump continue with their plan to erect a Trump-branded casino next door … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, Donald Trump, Economy, Law enforcement, Massachusetts, MGM Mirage, Movies, New York, Phil Ruffin, Regulation, Riviera, Sports, Steve Wynn, The Mob, The Strip | Comments Off

Reading Trump’s tea leaves; Paper to MGM: Give us your money — or else!

Posted on March 27, 2017 by David McKee

What does the nascent Trump administration bode of tribal gaming? That question is vigorously bandied about in the new issue of Global Gaming Business. Although fairly circumspect in his opinions, National Indian Gaming Association Chairman Ernest Stevens Jr. sees cause … Continue reading →

Posted in California, Downtown, Economy, Entertainment, Foxwoods, history, Indiana, Macau, Massachusetts, MGM Mirage, Mohegan Sun, Neil Bluhm, New York, North Las Vegas, Philippines, Politics, Steve Wynn, The Mob, Tribal | Comments Off

Freeman attacks Yucca Mountain; Brawl in Connecticut

Posted on March 20, 2017 by David McKee

Back when Frank Fahrenkopf was its president, the American Gaming Association was little seen or heard, as Fahrenkopf played a flawless defensive game behind the scenes. Washington, D.C., never laid a glove on Big Gaming (although eugenicist and sometime Congressman Steve … Continue reading →

Posted in Donald Trump, Entertainment, Foxwoods, Geoff Freeman, Harry Reid, history, Massachusetts, MGM Mirage, Mohegan Sun, New York, Politics, Problem gambling, South Korea, The Strip, Tourism, Transportation, Tribal, Westgate LV | Tagged Winnie the Pooh | Comments Off

Legal trouble for Mohegan, Foxwoods; The gospel according to Slammy

Posted on March 15, 2017 by David McKee

It looks as though the constitutionality of a no-bid, off-reservation casino for Mohegan Sun and Foxwoods Resort Casino may be an issue after all. Connecticut Attorney General George Jepsen issued an opinion that the legal risks with the unusual deal “are not … Continue reading →

Posted in California, Downtown, Economy, Foxwoods, Massachusetts, MGM Mirage, Mohegan Sun, Penn National, Pennsylvania, Sports, The Strip | Comments Off

Adelson ban bombs with conservatives

Posted on March 13, 2017 by David McKee

If Sheldon Adelson was hoping to be hailed at the recent Conservative Political Action Conference, he got a rude surprise. Attendees blew a raspberry to his pet cause, Protect America’s Wire Act. One dissident, Institute for Liberty President Andrew Langer … Continue reading →

Posted in Internet gambling, Japan, Law enforcement, Massachusetts, Mohegan Sun, New York, Penn National, Politics, Sheldon Adelson, Singapore, Steve Wynn, Wall Street | Comments Off

MGM tipped as Sands Bethlehem buyer

Posted on March 5, 2017 by David McKee

It’s definite: Las Vegas Sands is shopping Sands Bethlehem, no matter what Ron Reese tells you. Company executives visited Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board Commissioner Richard G. Jewell with the news, which he confirmed to the Allentown Morning Call. Corroboration came … Continue reading →

Posted in Carl Icahn, Georgia, Internet gambling, Maryland, Massachusetts, MGM Mirage, Movies, New York, Pennsylvania, Politics, Regulation, Sheldon Adelson, Slot routes, Tropicana Entertainment | Comments Off