Category Archives: Massachusetts

Massachusetts: And then there were two

Posted on May 18, 2015 by David McKee

Last Thursday, casino boosters from Somerset were expected to show up a Massachusetts Gaming Commission hearing and ask for yet another delay to get their act together. Instead, they surprised the MGC and the rest of us by simply pulling … Continue reading →

Posted in Foxwoods, Internet gambling, Massachusetts, New York, Politics, Racinos, Regulation, Sports, Technology | Comments Off

Caesars rethinks pensions; Bluhm wins in Massachusetts

Posted on May 13, 2015 by David McKee

Caesars Entertainment has been feeling the heat for cutting off pension payments to 340 current and former executives. By lumping them in with other unsecured creditors, it gave itself a rationale for the severed payouts, leaving the pensioners to face … Continue reading →

Posted in Foxwoods, Harrah's, Massachusetts, Neil Bluhm, Regulation, Sheldon Adelson, The Strip | 1 Comment

Carey: raptures and wreckage; Vegas’ affordability tested

Posted on May 8, 2015 by David McKee

Our most giddy local gossip merchant experienced multiple verbal orgasms when describing Mariah Carey‘s Caesars Palace residency show. Even the Second Coming of Jesus Christ would have a hard time living up to this nonstop gush. (Helpful hint: If Carey … Continue reading →

Posted in Entertainment, Florida, Harrah's, Massachusetts, MGM Mirage, Politics, Sports, The Strip, Tourism, Transportation, Tribal | 1 Comment

MayPac: Winners and losers; Adelson, Wynn take big hits

Posted on April 30, 2015 by David McKee

Not a punch has been thrown yet but already we know some things about the outcome of the hype-driven Floyd “Money” Mayweather and Manny “Pac-Man” Pacquiao fight, including the fact that with guaranteed purses for both fighters, they win just … Continue reading →

Posted in Economy, Macau, Massachusetts, MGM Mirage, New Hampshire, Politics, Sheldon Adelson, Sports, Steve Wynn, The Strip, Tourism | Comments Off

Shame on Arizona; Big plans for Gold Strike

Posted on April 24, 2015 by David McKee

With Gov. Doug Ducey opposed, along with a state gaming agency that refuses to OK its casino, the Tohono O’odham Nation has to decide whether to insist upon a December opening or bow to the state’s objections. Despite having lost time … Continue reading →

Posted in Arizona, Massachusetts, MGM Mirage, Politics, Regulation, Rhode Island, Tribal | Comments Off

Sands, Penn and Pinnacle report

Posted on April 23, 2015 by David McKee

“Tough to find positives … worse than feared” were the attention-grabbing headlines on Deutsche Bank analyst Carlo Santarelli‘s summary of Las Vegas Sands‘ first-quarter report. Of the crisis in Macao, he wrote, “While management remains optimistic with respect to cost … Continue reading →

Posted in California, GLPI, Indiana, Louisiana, Macau, Massachusetts, MGM Mirage, Missouri, Penn National, Pinnacle Entertainment, Racinos, Sheldon Adelson, Singapore, The Strip, Tribal, Wall Street | Comments Off

Problems for the Pequots, Mohegans; Twin River looks north

Posted on April 22, 2015 by David McKee

A legislative attempt to add three Mashantucket Pequot/Mohegan tribal casinos in Connecticut is running into a buzz saw of legal problems … or at least questions. Since the casinos are gift-wrapped for the tribes in question, state Attorney General George … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, Foxwoods, Harrah's, Macau, Massachusetts, Mohegan Sun, Penn National, Politics, Racinos, Rhode Island, South Korea | Comments Off

Caesars’ ordeal drags on; Adelson wants more

Posted on April 20, 2015 by David McKee

Our long national nightmare — otherwise known as the Caesars Entertainment bankruptcy — will be with us a lot longer: six months, to be precise. Caesars has requested, and is expected to get, an extension until Nov. 15 to file … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Economy, Harrah's, Internet gambling, Macau, Massachusetts, Mohegan Sun, Penn National, Racinos, Regulation, Sheldon Adelson, Wall Street | Comments Off

Trump blocks progress in Atlantic City; Legal trouble for Penn

Posted on April 15, 2015 by David McKee

Although they enjoyed a same-store increase of 1% last month, Atlantic City casinos pulled in 14% less than last year at this time, grossing $191 million (more than some entire Midwestern states, it should be noted). Twelve percent less coin-in … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Boyd Gaming, Glenn Straub, Harrah's, Internet gambling, Kansas, Massachusetts, MGM Mirage, Mohegan Sun, Ohio, Penn National, Pennsylvania, Politics, Racinos, Regulation, Revel, Tilman Fertitta, Tropicana Entertainment, Trump Entertainment Resorts | Comments Off

Pansy Ho on the campaign trail; Connecticut tribes optimistic

Posted on April 13, 2015 by David McKee

MGM China would probably prefer that its co-chairwoman, Pansy Ho, stay out of the headlines, considering the negative publicity she’s generated over the years. But she opened up to the media this week, specifically the newspaper of which she is … Continue reading →

Posted in Downtown, Entertainment, Foxwoods, Hooters, Internet gambling, Macau, Massachusetts, MGM Mirage, Mohegan Sun, Movies, Palms, Pansy Ho, Pennsylvania, Regulation, The Strip, Tourism | Comments Off

No megaresorts in Florida’s future; Big experiment at Sands Bethlehem

Posted on April 8, 2015 by David McKee

Bowing to political realities, Florida state Rep. Dana Young (R, left) has Slim-Fasted her omnibus gambling-expansion bill from 300 pages to 60. Among the items gone into the shredder was a provision for two casino megaresorts in South Florida. So, … Continue reading →

Posted in Animals, Atlantic City, Entertainment, Florida, Genting, Macau, Marketing, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Pennsylvania, Politics, Racinos, Sheldon Adelson, Singapore, Taxes, Technology | 1 Comment

Reid-Adelson lovefest; Massachusetts meddling

Posted on April 7, 2015 by David McKee

Now that he’s no longer standing for reelection, Sen. Harry Reid (D) has flung himself fully into the arms of Sheldon Adelson, calling for a ban on online gambling that might even extend to Nevada‘s fledgling I-poker industry (although Reid’s … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, CityCenter, Harry Reid, Illinois, Internet gambling, Macau, Massachusetts, MGM Mirage, Politics, Regulation, Rhode Island, Sheldon Adelson, Taxes, The Strip, Wall Street | Comments Off

Wynn Everett halted, board election blasted

Posted on April 6, 2015 by David McKee

It looks like Wynn Resorts jumped the gun, purchasing land from the MBTA without getting the go-ahead from Secretary of Energy & Environmental Affairs Matthew Beaton beforehand. Although Wynn was found to be “suitable on substantially all of the 59 conditions,” construction work … Continue reading →

Posted in Massachusetts, Steve Wynn, Transportation, Wall Street | 1 Comment

Case Bets: Okada, Massachusetts, Connecticut, Ruffin

Posted on March 20, 2015 by David McKee

It’s been a good week for Kazuo Okada. The boss of Universal Entertainment Corp. announced that investigations of him in Japan and the Philippines had closed and given him a clean bill of health. The probes were set off by … Continue reading →

Posted in Foxwoods, Japan, Kansas, Kazuo Okada, Massachusetts, Mississippi, Mohegan Sun, Phil Ruffin, Philippines, Regulation, Steve Wynn, Tribal | Comments Off

MGM’s REIT risk; Will Lone Star State go for gambling?

Posted on March 18, 2015 by David McKee

Investor Jonathan Litt‘s proposed conversion of MGM Resorts International isn’t just another random case of REITmania. According to Forbes, MGM is expected to return to profitability this year and “some of those expected profits will leak into government coffers.” REITs are … Continue reading →

Posted in Economy, Macau, Maryland, Massachusetts, MGM Mirage, Politics, Regulation, Sheldon Adelson, Sports, Texas, Wall Street | 2 Comments

Paradox at Revel; Further delay in Massachusetts

Posted on March 17, 2015 by David McKee

Florida developer Glenn Straub remains thwarted in his attempts to purchase Revel. His primary obstacle is Judge Gloria Burns, who seems bent upon charting a course for Chapter 7 liquidation. Although, out of 20 bids, Straub’s is the only one … Continue reading →

Posted in Foxwoods, Glenn Straub, Hard Rock International, Harrah's, Macau, Massachusetts, Ohio, Regulation, Revel, Station Casinos, Westgate LV | Comments Off

The torments of Glenn Straub; Icahn wins another round

Posted on March 13, 2015 by David McKee

“I keep waiting for the elevator doors to open and somebody to walk out carrying bags of money. We keep hearing about people with money wanting to make bids. I haven’t seen them yet.” So said Glenn Straub, who continues to … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Cantor Gaming, Carl Icahn, Glenn Straub, Harrah's, Horseracing, Idaho, Massachusetts, MGM Mirage, New Hampshire, Politics, Revel, Sports, Technology, Trump Entertainment Resorts, Wall Street, Westgate LV | 2 Comments

Caesars pensioners find sympathetic ear

Posted on March 13, 2015 by David McKee

Caesars Entertainment‘s cutoff of payments to several dozen pensioners drew the attention of the Nevada Gaming Control Board, taking up the bulk of Wednesday’s hearing. NGCB Terry Johnson member told Caesars attorneys, “The pensioners are an important matter that should not … Continue reading →

Posted in Boyd Gaming, Harrah's, Louisiana, Marketing, Massachusetts, New York, Racinos, Regulation, Revel, Tribal, Tropicana Entertainment | Comments Off

The clock is running in Japan, Florida, Connecticut

Posted on March 11, 2015 by David McKee

Major casino companies are beginning to lose patience with Japan‘s impotent government and are casting their eyes toward South Korea. “This will take leadership. At some point someone is going to have to say ‘this is important to us, let’s push this … Continue reading →

Posted in Florida, Foxwoods, Hard Rock International, International, Japan, Marketing, Massachusetts, MGM Mirage, Mohegan Sun, New York, Politics, Sheldon Adelson, The Strip | Comments Off

Big Gaming speaks

Posted on March 9, 2015 by David McKee

Last week, the great and powerful of the casino industry attended a show-and-tell at the J.P. Morgan Gaming, Lodging, Restaurant & Leisure Management Access Forum. Here’s what they had to say … Wynn Resorts: The company is looking to make … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Boyd Gaming, Economy, Genting, James Packer, Japan, Louisiana, Macau, Massachusetts, MGM Mirage, Ohio, Penn National, Politics, Problem gambling, Rhode Island, Singapore, Steve Wynn, The Strip, Wall Street | Comments Off