Category Archives: Massachusetts

MGM prevails, Wynn slowed in Massachusetts

Posted on May 13, 2016 by David McKee

Bowing to the inevitable, the Massachusetts Gaming Commission ratified MGM Resorts International‘s redesign of MGM Springfield, on which the casino company is already hard at work. What was the MGC to do? Tell MGM to go back to Square One? … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, Environment, International, Internet gambling, Massachusetts, MGM Mirage, Mohegan Sun, Politics, Regulation, Steve Wynn, Transportation, Tribal | Comments Off

Wampanoags’ patience rewarded; March Mildness at Vegas sports books

Posted on May 3, 2016 by David McKee

Those who set store by the fable of the tortoise and the hare can take heart from the saga of the Mashpee Wampanoag. It took them a long time to get their act together, federal land-in-trust approval seemed unlikely and … Continue reading →

Posted in California, Economy, history, Massachusetts, Politics, Regulation, Sports, Tribal | Comments Off

Dicey casino drive calls it quits; Steve Wynn’s newest mousetrap

Posted on May 2, 2016 by David McKee

Casino speculator Shawn Scott is skulking out of Maine, his attorney having withdrawn an appeal of Superior Court Justice Michaela Murphy’s ruling on the (in)validity of petitions filed by Scott and his sister Lisa, who was bankrolling the referendum drive. … Continue reading →

Posted in California, Economy, Election, Encore, Entertainment, Kansas, Law enforcement, Louisiana, Macau, Maine, Massachusetts, Mohegan Sun, Sports, Steve Wynn, Tribal | Comments Off

Brockton casino nixed; The sleeping tiger

Posted on May 2, 2016 by David McKee

An “uninspiring” design and a lack of a solid Brockton business plan scuppered Neil Bluhm‘s ambitions in Massachusetts. The state’s gaming commission voted his proposal down, 4-1. “If this were a knockout proposal and a great strategy to lift Brockton, this … Continue reading →

Posted in Delaware, Economy, International, Massachusetts, Neil Bluhm, Politics, Racinos, Regulation, Sheldon Adelson, Singapore, Taxes, Tribal | 2 Comments

It’s official: Boyd buys Cannery; Massachusetts’ agonizing dilemma

Posted on April 26, 2016 by David McKee

Confirming the worst-kept secret in Las Vegas, suddenly acquisitive Boyd Gaming announced that it was buying out Cannery Casino Resorts. The price ($230 million) was toward the lower end of Wall Street had predicted for the deal and means the … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Boulder Strip, Boyd Gaming, Cannery Casino Resorts, Downtown, Economy, Massachusetts, Neil Bluhm, North Las Vegas, Penn National, Regulation, Taxes, The Strip, Tourism, Tribal, Wall Street | Comments Off

What did Wynn know and when did it know it?; MGM REIT a hit

Posted on April 26, 2016 by David McKee

An unwelcome sideshow for Wynn Boston Harbor is playing out in a Massachusetts courtroom, in a court case of “excruciating details.” What is at issue is whether Dustin DeNunzio, Anthony Gattineri and Charles Lightbody attempted to defraud Wynn Resorts by concealing convicted … Continue reading →

Posted in Internet gambling, Law enforcement, Massachusetts, MGM Mirage, Oklahoma, Regulation, Sheldon Adelson, Singapore, Steve Wynn, Tribal, Wall Street | Comments Off

Station: New name, same old shtick

Posted on April 19, 2016 by David McKee

We’re going to have to get used to calling Station Casinos by its new corporate moniker, Red Rock Resorts (ticker symbol RRR). Oh, the Station brand isn’t going anywhere: For consumer-oriented purposes, all the Stations and Wildfires and so on … Continue reading →

Posted in Golden Gaming, Law enforcement, Massachusetts, Penn National, Reno, Slot routes, Station Casinos, Wall Street | Comments Off

Lobbyists win in Atlantic City fight; Untimely reprimand for Bluhm

Posted on April 12, 2016 by David McKee

As Atlantic City fights to maintain its monopoly on casino gambling in New Jersey, it’s getting a lot of help from casino companies themselves — and lobbyists are making out like bandits. The biggest spender to date has been Caesars … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Australia, Boyd Gaming, Downtown, Election, Entertainment, Genting, Greenwood Racing, Harrah's, Illinois, LVCVA, Massachusetts, MGM Mirage, Neil Bluhm, Penn National, Pennsylvania, Regulation, Sheldon Adelson, Singapore, Tourism, Transportation, Tribal | Comments Off

DFS dealt twin setbacks; Stalemate over Atlantic City

Posted on April 11, 2016 by David McKee

“As attorney general, it is my duty to uphold Alabama law, including the laws against illegal gambling. Daily fantasy sports operators claim that they operate legally under Alabama law. However, paid daily fantasy sports contests are in fact illegal gambling … Continue reading →

Posted in Alabama, Atlantic City, Boyd Gaming, Downtown, Economy, Internet gambling, Massachusetts, Politics, Sports, Steve Wynn, Taxes | Comments Off

Penn talks turkey; Celebrity brawl at Aria

Posted on April 11, 2016 by David McKee

Next week Penn National Gaming turns on the Marquee Rewards spigot at the Tropicana Las Vegas. Given some of management’s recent disclosures, it won’t come a day too soon: 85% of Penn’s customer base comes to Sin City but stays … Continue reading →

Posted in Affinity Gaming, Ameristar, Boyd Gaming, CityCenter, Cordish Co., Full House Resorts, Harrah's, Indiana, Isle of Capri, Majestic Star, Marketing, Maryland, Massachusetts, MGM Mirage, Missouri, Ohio, Penn National, Pennsylvania, Pinnacle Entertainment, Racinos, Steve Wynn, Taxes, The Strip, Tourism, Tribal, Tropicana Entertainment, Wall Street, West Virginia | 1 Comment

Wynn’s big surprise; T-Mobile disappoints

Posted on April 7, 2016 by David McKee

As though seeking to steal the thunder from T-Mobile Arena, the ever-clever Steve Wynn used yesterday’s earnings call investor showcase to roll out a new project. If you have a spare $500, then use it to play Wynn Golf Club as … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, Entertainment, Genting, James Packer, Macau, Massachusetts, MGM Mirage, Penn National, Sam Nazarian, Steve Wynn, The Strip, Wall Street, Wayne F. Newton | 1 Comment

Genting comes to Massachusetts; Trump impasse on the Strip

Posted on April 5, 2016 by David McKee

As the Mashpee Wampanoag were preparing to break ground on Project First Light, halfway around the world Genting Malaysia was revealing the details of its management contract with the tribe. Genting holds a seven-year pact, by way of its Genting … Continue reading →

Posted in Culinary Union, Donald Trump, Election, Genting, Geoff Freeman, Massachusetts, Penn National, Phil Ruffin, Sports, Steve Wynn, Taxes, The Strip, Tribal | Comments Off

Shady dealings in D.C.; New bromance between GLPI and Pinnacle

Posted on April 4, 2016 by David McKee

Voters in Washington, D.C., could find themselves voting on a casino initiative this November. A 9,000-square-foot gambling house has been proposed for Anacostia. It would have slots, blackjack and other table games but, strangely enough, no slots or electronic table … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, Delaware, Election, Florida, GLPI, International, Macau, Massachusetts, MGM Mirage, Neil Bluhm, Penn National, Pennsylvania, Pinnacle Entertainment, Racinos, Regulation, Sheldon Adelson, Sports, The Strip, Tourism, Tribal | 1 Comment

Wynn vs. Wynn; ‘Believe’ gets a new name, focus

Posted on April 4, 2016 by David McKee

More details of Elaine Wynn‘s lawsuit against Wynn Resorts, CEO Steve Wynn and General Counsel Kim Sinatra are emerging. She barrages the three with a litany of complaints, one of which seems to imply that her ex got a company … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Cirque du Soleil, Election, Entertainment, Harrah's, Massachusetts, MGM Mirage, Neil Bluhm, New York, Politics, Regulation, Steve Wynn, The Strip | Comments Off

Complications at the Riviera; PokerStars a hit in New Jersey

Posted on April 1, 2016 by David McKee

Implosion of the Riviera could occur as early as June, so doesn’t hesitate to have your picture taken in front of it. However, the timeline could be extended by a number of complications. Now that a demolition firm has been … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Boyd Gaming, Internet gambling, LVCVA, Massachusetts, MGM Mirage, Mohegan Sun, Oklahoma, Penn National, Regulation, Riviera, Steve Wynn, Technology, The Strip, Tribal | Comments Off

Perversity in Macao; MGM Springfield gets underway

Posted on March 29, 2016 by David McKee

In a seemingly perverse move, Macao Chief Executive Fernando Chui rejected a lifeline that the Beijing government was trying to throw to his city. The former had announced its intention to “optimize and adjust” the Individual Visit Scheme that brings … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, Economy, Florida, Foxwoods, Macau, Massachusetts, MGM Mirage, Mohegan Sun, Taxes, Tourism, Tribal | 1 Comment

Penn accentuates the positive

Posted on March 29, 2016 by David McKee

“Wait ’til next year” seems to be Penn National Gaming‘s mantra for the Tropicana Las Vegas. At present, the company is still installing Marquee Rewards, replacing older slot machines and getting out of any leased-game arrangements. It doesn’t expect any … Continue reading →

Posted in California, Cordish Co., Dan Gilbert, Economy, Harrah's, Illinois, Internet gambling, Marketing, Maryland, Massachusetts, MGM Mirage, Penn National, PokerStars, Slot routes, The Strip, Tribal, Wall Street, West Virginia | Comments Off

Pinnacle/GLPI deal gets OK; Hard Rock courts Cypriots

Posted on March 16, 2016 by David McKee

Shareholders of Pinnacle Entertainment have voted to approve a deal whereby all but one of the company’s physical assets would be sold to real estate investment trust Gaming & Leisure Properties, while Pinnacle would continue to exist as a casino-management company. … Continue reading →

Posted in Eldorado Resorts, Foxwoods, GLPI, Hard Rock Hotel, Indiana, International, Lawrence Ho, Louisiana, Massachusetts, MGM Mirage, Mohegan Sun, Ohio, Penn National, Philippines, Pinnacle Entertainment, Racinos, Regulation, Reno, Tribal, Unite-Here, Wall Street, West Virginia | 1 Comment

Wynn Everett gets new name, brushes off criticism

Posted on March 16, 2016 by David McKee

Given his recent obstructionism of Wynn Everett, it should come as no surprise that Somerville Mayor Joseph Curtatone recently made it onto a list of “America’s Worst Politicians.” Presently, the Bostonian blowhard has been vowing to block Steve Wynn‘s project … Continue reading →

Posted in International, Internet gambling, Massachusetts, Politics, Sheldon Adelson, Steve Wynn | Comments Off

Adelson sets the pace; Philippine gaming scandal grows legs

Posted on March 15, 2016 by David McKee

As March gets off to a week start in Macao, operators who don’t yet have a presence on the giant landfill known as Cotai — namely Wynn Resorts, MGM Resorts International and Sociedade de Jogos de Macau — are being … Continue reading →

Posted in Law enforcement, Macau, Marketing, Massachusetts, Melco Crown Entertainment, MGM Mirage, Penn National, Philippines, Regulation, Sheldon Adelson, Stanley Ho, Steve Wynn, Wall Street | Comments Off