Category Archives: Massachusetts

McCheese baffles Wynn; Straub thwarted again

Posted on October 12, 2015 by David McKee

Boston Mayor Martin “McCheese” Walsh has Wynn Everett President Robert DeSalvio “baffled” with his schizoid approach to the hotel-casino. After having an apparently conciliatory meeting with Walsh, DeSalvio was bushwhacked by a McCheese-launched lawsuit to halt construction on Wynn Everett. “We … Continue reading →

Posted in Arizona, Atlantic City, Glenn Straub, Harrah's, Horseracing, Massachusetts, Mohegan Sun, New York, Racinos, Revel, Steve Wynn, Tribal, Wall Street | Comments Off on McCheese baffles Wynn; Straub thwarted again

No boost for Illinois; The wrath of Wynn

Posted on October 7, 2015 by David McKee

So much for the invigorating effect of Labor Day weekend. Even with a holiday, September in Illinois still saw a decline in casino revenue. Casinos in the Land of Lincoln were down 5% for the month. Foot traffic fell 2% … Continue reading →

Posted in Boyd Gaming, GLPI, Harrah's, Illinois, Massachusetts, MGM Mirage, Neil Bluhm, Penn National, Regulation, Slot routes, Sports, Steve Wynn | Comments Off on No boost for Illinois; The wrath of Wynn

MGM reassures Springfield; New gig for Loveman

Posted on October 6, 2015 by David McKee

MGM Resorts International President William Hornbuckle‘s promptly arranged visit to Springfield took on the nature of a damage-control effort yesterday. Hornbuckle made an unequivocal commitment to the city, saying, “We have not gone anywhere, we will not go anywhere and we … Continue reading →

Posted in Boyd Gaming, Florida, Harrah's, Massachusetts, MGM Mirage, Regulation, Technology | Comments Off on MGM reassures Springfield; New gig for Loveman

MGM sends emissary to Springfield; Florida tribe takes a loss

Posted on October 5, 2015 by David McKee

Undoubtedly realizing that it laid a public-relations egg with its scaled-down redesign of MGM Springfield, parent company MGM Resorts International is sending President William Hornbuckle to Springfield to mend fences with Mayor Domenic Sarno. Actually, Sarno has been in MGM’s … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, Economy, Florida, Massachusetts, MGM Mirage, Penn National, Regulation, Steve Wynn, Tribal, Wall Street | Comments Off on MGM sends emissary to Springfield; Florida tribe takes a loss

Turning point for Wynn; Breakthrough for PokerStars

Posted on October 1, 2015 by David McKee

Earlier this week, the Everett Planning Board unanimously assented to Wynn Everett‘s site plan. The Medford Patch described this vote as “the most critical local permit needed by Wynn.” The resort-to-be can start pulling building permits now, with the actual … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Economy, Environment, Harrah's, Internet gambling, Massachusetts, MGM Mirage, Mohegan Sun, PokerStars, Politics, Regulation, Sheldon Adelson, Steve Wynn, The Strip, Transportation, Tribal | 1 Comment

Baccarat slays the Strip; Do gambling and pot mix?

Posted on September 30, 2015 by David McKee

Lack of a Labor Day weekend had a minimal effect on Nevada statewide gaming revenues in August (-1%). Lower and luckier baccarat play — 17% less drop and 24% less winnings for the house — hurt particularly (especially when one … Continue reading →

Posted in Economy, Galaxy Entertainment, Macau, Maine, Massachusetts, Penn National, South Dakota, The Strip, Tribal, Wall Street | Comments Off on Baccarat slays the Strip; Do gambling and pot mix?

Crime and plentitude at G2E

Posted on September 30, 2015 by David McKee

Internet gambling having been temporarily moved to a back burner, thanks to Sheldon Adelson, the American Gaming Association has turned its attention at Global Gaming Expo to organized crime, which continues to be a shadowy partner to gambling, at least … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Boyd Gaming, G2E, Genting, Geoff Freeman, Internet gambling, Macau, Maine, Massachusetts, MGM Mirage, Mohegan Sun, Neil Bluhm, Penn National, Scientific Games, Sheldon Adelson, Technology, The Mob, The Strip, Tribal, Wall Street | Comments Off on Crime and plentitude at G2E

Shocker from Sheldon; Massachusetts on horns of a dilemma

Posted on September 29, 2015 by David McKee

After a half-dozen years of banging its head on the door of the Florida Legislature, a frustrated Las Vegas Sands is calling it quits in the Sunshine State. Despite having poured millions of dollars into the Florida GOP and its … Continue reading →

Posted in Florida, Foxwoods, Georgia, Harrah's, Massachusetts, MGM Mirage, Mohegan Sun, Neil Bluhm, Politics, Regulation, Seminole Tribe, Sheldon Adelson, Tribal | 1 Comment

Big players accentuate the positive

Posted on September 29, 2015 by David McKee

Deutsche Bank analyst Carlo Santarelli has been a busy man these past few days, meeting with the top companies in gaming. In no special order … Boyd Gaming took the usual line on REIT conversion and acquisitions, basically saying, “If … Continue reading →

Posted in Ameristar, Boyd Gaming, Colorado, Downtown, Economy, Florida, GLPI, Illinois, International, Isle of Capri, Louisiana, Macau, Marketing, Massachusetts, MGM Mirage, Penn National, Pinnacle Entertainment, Sports, Steve Wynn, Texas, The Strip, Tilman Fertitta, Wall Street | Comments Off on Big players accentuate the positive

Quote of the Day

Posted on September 29, 2015 by David McKee

“Under federal law, the state cannot stop an Indian casino from opening, but the Gaming Commission can help it succeed, by denying the Brockton license. Given the debt Massachusetts owes to the Wampanoags, that only seems right.” — the editorial … Continue reading →

Posted in Massachusetts, Neil Bluhm, Regulation, Tribal | Comments Off on Quote of the Day

Boston offers Wynn olive branch; MGM played for a sucker in Springfield?

Posted on September 25, 2015 by David McKee

Could the war of words between Steve Wynn and Boston Mayor Martin “McCheese” Walsh soon be coming to an end? Wynn, who last month declared himself finished with an “obviously irresponsible” Walsh, had a phone chat with McCheese to discuss … Continue reading →

Posted in Election, Foxwoods, LVCVA, Massachusetts, MGM Mirage, Mohegan Sun, Regulation, Steve Wynn, Taxes, The Strip, Transportation | Comments Off on Boston offers Wynn olive branch; MGM played for a sucker in Springfield?

Caesars on the brink; MGM gives Massachusetts a surprise

Posted on September 24, 2015 by David McKee

For want of $2 billion from Caesars Entertainment Operating Co., creditors are withholding their support for the reorganization scheme CEOC intended to present in bankruptcy court. A last-minute solution seems unlikely, if only because junior bondholders like Appaloosa Management and Tennenbaum Capital … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, Derek Stevens, Downtown, Harrah's, Massachusetts, MGM Mirage, Neil Bluhm, Ohio, Penn National, Regulation, Scientific Games, Tribal, Wall Street | 1 Comment

This just in …

Posted on September 18, 2015 by David McKee

It’s a big day for the Mashpee Wampanoag Tribe. Much sooner than expected, the Interior Department took 321 acres of Massachusetts land into trust for the tribe. Most of that acreage (170 of it) is in Mashpee but another 151 … Continue reading →

Posted in Current, history, Massachusetts, Neil Bluhm, Regulation, Tribal | Comments Off on This just in …

China comes to Las Vegas’ rescue; MGM chock-full of cultural initiatives

Posted on September 18, 2015 by David McKee

High-speed rail to Las Vegas is “on” again, with China emerging as Sin City’s savior. The budget for the China Railway Group/XpressWest Enterprises  joint venture hasn’t been disclosed but $100 million in startup capital has been committed to fund the … Continue reading →

Posted in California, CityCenter, history, Massachusetts, MGM Mirage, The Strip, Transportation | Comments Off on China comes to Las Vegas’ rescue; MGM chock-full of cultural initiatives

MGM lashes out; Doldrums in Louisiana

Posted on September 18, 2015 by David McKee

It took a while but MGM Resorts International is pushing back against Connecticut‘s attempts to build a satellite version of its tribal casinos, to interdict gamblers who might otherwise play at MGM Grand Springfield. Although he didn’t hint at litigation … Continue reading →

Posted in Boyd Gaming, Churchill Downs, Columbia Sussex, Foxwoods, GLPI, Harrah's, Isle of Capri, Louisiana, Massachusetts, MGM Mirage, Mississippi, Mohegan Sun, Pinnacle Entertainment, Tilman Fertitta, Tropicana Entertainment | 2 Comments

Asia, land of opportunity

Posted on September 17, 2015 by David McKee

Asia “can comfortably absorb” the 30 new casinos that are slated to open between now and 2020, says a CLSA Ltd. report. The region is trending toward the bigger-is-better approach, as many of the new casinos are megaresorts that could … Continue reading →

Posted in Delaware, Internet gambling, Japan, Macau, Massachusetts, Penn National, Racinos, Regulation, South Korea, Tribal, Vietnam | Comments Off on Asia, land of opportunity

Fantasy sports pushback; Wynn “punished enough”

Posted on September 17, 2015 by David McKee

If the glutting of our TV screens with obnoxious FanDuel and DraftKings ads has not been enough to trigger a backlash, it has been sufficient to inspire Wynn Las Vegas‘ resourceful sports books director, Johnny Avello, to devise his version of … Continue reading →

Posted in California, Geoff Freeman, Macau, Massachusetts, Politics, Sports, Steve Wynn, TV, Wall Street | Comments Off on Fantasy sports pushback; Wynn “punished enough”

A lesson from Ohio; Murren goes to Georgia; Big changes at Sands

Posted on September 16, 2015 by David McKee

Two years ago, Ohio was grappling with what J.P. Morgan analysts called “a sluggish ramp” for its casino industry. He may have been against casinos before he was for them but Gov. John Kasich‘s supersized version of predecessor Ted Strickland‘s … Continue reading →

Posted in CityCenter, Economy, Election, Foxwoods, Galaxy Entertainment, Geoff Freeman, Georgia, Harrah's, Horseracing, Isle of Capri, M Resort, Macau, Massachusetts, MGM Mirage, Midnight Jim Gibbons, Mohegan Sun, Ohio, Penn National, Politics, Problem gambling, Regulation, Sheldon Adelson, Steve Wynn, Taxes, The Strip, Wall Street | Comments Off on A lesson from Ohio; Murren goes to Georgia; Big changes at Sands

Savior for Showboat?; Steve Wynn to build locals casino

Posted on September 16, 2015 by David McKee

Bart Blatstein has emerged as the potential savior for the Showboat, currently a millstone around Stockton University‘s neck. If so, it will be a bittersweet coup for the developer, as it’s the second time he’s missed out on a gaming … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Charity, Economy, Glenn Straub, Harrah's, International, Marketing, Massachusetts, New York, Racinos, Steve Wynn, Taxes, The Strip, Trump Entertainment Resorts | 2 Comments

Bluhm restless in Massachusetts; Adelson’s latest innovation

Posted on September 10, 2015 by David McKee

Few regulatory bodies move as slothfully as the Massachusetts Gaming Commission and it’s got one would-be developer, Neil Bluhm, kind of antsy. “I’ve got other things to do,” he told the Boston Globe, adding, “Do I want to be here? Yes. … Continue reading →

Posted in Entertainment, Foxwoods, Genting, Harrah's, Massachusetts, Mohegan Sun, Neil Bluhm, Planet Hollywood, Regulation, Sheldon Adelson, Singapore, Taxes, The Strip, Tribal | 1 Comment