Category Archives: Massachusetts

Too much amount of wrong; Big deal in Boston

Posted on July 9, 2014 by David McKee

Ownership at The Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas has apparently lost its appetite for charmingly off-kilter variety show Vegas Nocturne. The show is not only rumored to be closing at the Cosmo but SLS Las Vegas has been mooted as its … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, Cosmopolitan, Entertainment, Harrah's, Massachusetts, Mohegan Sun, Sam Nazarian, Steve Wynn, The Strip | Comments Off on Too much amount of wrong; Big deal in Boston

Camptown Races; Concord in Boston

Posted on July 8, 2014 by David McKee

What if they gave a casino and nobody came? That’s what happened to Kansas, which drew nary a bidder on its fourth and final casino license, deemed by many to be too close to Oklahoma (rife with casinos) to be … Continue reading →

Posted in Boyd Gaming, Carl Icahn, Columbia Sussex, Dotty's, Kansas, Laughlin, Massachusetts, Mohegan Sun, Oklahoma, Phil Ruffin, Steve Wynn, Tropicana Entertainment | 1 Comment

Quote of the Day

Posted on July 8, 2014 by David McKee

“I expect there will be for purposes of spending money but I couldn’t wait for them to get their act together, to be candid.” — Massachusetts Secretary of State William Galvin, on the lack of organized opposition to casino repeal.

Posted in Election, Massachusetts | Comments Off on Quote of the Day

Atlantic City: Tide’s out?

Posted on July 7, 2014 by David McKee

New Jersey can’t add new casino or racino sites until late 2016, per Gov. Chris Christie‘s rescue plan. But lawmakers may not wait that long. A 2015 statewide ballot question to add new gambling jurisdictions is “a very real possibility,” according … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Election, Foxwoods, Massachusetts, Politics, Taxes, Tribal, Wall Street | Comments Off on Atlantic City: Tide’s out?

Feeling Moody’s

Posted on July 7, 2014 by David McKee

Here at S&G, we don’t begrudge anyone their right to build casinos. But, in the larger picture, the evidence suggests that Massachusetts and New York State are sailing into the wind. Moody’s Investors Service surveyed casinos in 15 states and, … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Harrah's, Massachusetts, New York, Penn National, Pennsylvania, Steve Wynn, The Strip, Wall Street | Comments Off on Feeling Moody’s

Beat-down in Beantown

Posted on July 2, 2014 by David McKee

It was Boston Mayor Martin Walsh duking it out in a cage match with Revere, Everett, Wynn Resorts and Mohegan Sun, for the edification of the Massachusetts Gaming Commission. Walsh tried to frame it as a debate on frugality: “It’s really … Continue reading →

Posted in Election, Massachusetts, Mohegan Sun, Regulation, Steve Wynn | Comments Off on Beat-down in Beantown

Australia: New promised land?

Posted on July 2, 2014 by David McKee

As Chinese visitation grew 36% in the last year alone, accounting for $7.75 billion dollars of economic impact, Australia is plunging full speed ahead into the race to be the next big gaming thing in the Pacific Rim. Hong Kong … Continue reading →

Posted in Arkansas, Australia, James Packer, Massachusetts, Sheldon Adelson, Singapore, Tourism, Tribal | Comments Off on Australia: New promised land?

What’s in a name?

Posted on July 1, 2014 by David McKee

Quite a lot apparently, if you’re Wynn Boston and you’re going up against local favorite Mohegan Sun. A poll taken by the Center for Policy Analysis at the University of Massachusetts Dartmouth found voters split between 48% in favor of Mohegan … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Colorado, Delaware, Detroit, Economy, Election, Foxwoods, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Louisiana, Massachusetts, Missouri, Mohegan Sun, New York, Pennsylvania, Steve Wynn, The Strip | Comments Off on What’s in a name?

Gearing up for fights in Massachusetts, California and Arkansas

Posted on June 30, 2014 by David McKee

Expect a deluge of dollars to be spent opposing or supporting a casino-repeal ballot question in Massachusetts. Unlike political campaigns, ballot questions have no spending limitation attached to them. So far, the biggest amount spent on a ballot question in … Continue reading →

Posted in Arkansas, Bally Technologies, California, Election, Entertainment, Internet gambling, Maryland, Massachusetts, Mohegan Sun, Penn National, Racinos, Regulation, Shuffle Master, Steve Wynn, The Strip, Tropicana Entertainment | Comments Off on Gearing up for fights in Massachusetts, California and Arkansas

Showboat: The autopsy; Penn: We’re outta here!

Posted on June 30, 2014 by David McKee

Leaving aside the human effect, in cold business calculus, Caesars Entertainment‘s closure of the Showboat Atlantic City makes sense. At least that’s what Mayor Don Guardian is saying echoed by Wall Street. “The closure makes financial sense for Caesars and … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Boyd Gaming, Delaware, Economy, Harrah's, Massachusetts, New York, Penn National, Pennsylvania, Racinos, Taxes, Wall Street | 1 Comment

Quote of the Day

Posted on June 27, 2014 by David McKee

“Even with $23 billion in debt, Caesars [Entertainment] feels that they will have no problem raising another $5 billion to build a world-class facility [in] Japan, the world’s latest emerging market, even though they will be competing against better-financed rivals with … Continue reading →

Posted in Harrah's, Japan, Massachusetts | Comments Off on Quote of the Day

Boffo May in Vegas; The power of convenience

Posted on June 27, 2014 by David McKee

Wall Street was pleasantly surprised by May’s gambling numbers from Nevada and especially the Las Vegas Strip, which was up 17%. Statewide, revenues rose 8%, reflecting the dilutive effect of an 8% decline in locals gaming revenue. A 3% dip … Continue reading →

Posted in Boulder Strip, Downtown, Economy, Election, Hard Rock International, Harrah's, Illinois, Laughlin, Massachusetts, MGM Mirage, Mohegan Sun, North Las Vegas, Ohio, Penn National, Problem gambling, Racinos, Regulation, Slot routes, The Strip, Wall Street | 3 Comments

So long, Showboat

Posted on June 27, 2014 by David McKee

Normally, when a federally mandated WARN Act notice goes out to casino employees, executives downplay as a mere formality. Not so for Showboat Atlantic City where theoretical closure became actual shutdown in less than 24 hours. Despite having recently posted … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Harrah's, Japan, Massachusetts, New York, Regulation, Revel, Taxes | 1 Comment

Massachusetts: A call to action

Posted on June 26, 2014 by David McKee

Casino companies in Massachusetts “could” or “may” team up to fight the repeal effort currently underway. How about “must” or “should”? If ever there were an imperative for joint action, this is it. Perhaps even Wynn Resorts and Mohegan Sun could … Continue reading →

Posted in Economy, Election, Foxwoods, Geoff Freeman, Horseracing, IGT, Internet gambling, Massachusetts, MGM Mirage, Mohegan Sun, Penn National, Politics, Steve Wynn | Comments Off on Massachusetts: A call to action

Massachusetts: The morning after

Posted on June 25, 2014 by David McKee

Although Wynn Resorts is keeping mum on this week’s Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court ruling, others are not taking it lying down. Faced with a do-or-die referendum on casino gambling in the Bay State, MGM Resorts International promised it was “fully … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Election, Geoff Freeman, Harrah's, Internet gambling, Macau, Massachusetts, MGM Mirage, Mohegan Sun, Penn National, PokerStars, Politics, Regulation, Sports, Steve Wynn | Comments Off on Massachusetts: The morning after

Casinos get November surprise

Posted on June 24, 2014 by David McKee

In news that Deutsche Bank analyst Carlo Santarelli called a “fiasco,” the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court has decided to allow Bay State voters to decide whether or not to repeal the state’s casino law. Hardest-hit in a worst-case scenario would … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Internet gambling, Massachusetts, MGM Mirage, Mohegan Sun, Penn National, Reno, Sports, Steve Wynn | 1 Comment

Et tu, Thrillist?; Bed-hopping in N.Y.

Posted on June 23, 2014 by David McKee

Poor Sam Nazarian. He’s still two months away from opening SLS Las Vegas and Thrillist has gone and jumped the gun. It’s crowned The Cromwell “already Vegas coolest hotel.” Not even an unfinished parking garage could dampen their enthusiasm, motivated … Continue reading →

Posted in Churchill Downs, Cordish Co., Hard Rock International, Harrah's, Iowa, Massachusetts, MGM Mirage, Neil Bluhm, New York, Penn National, Racinos, The Strip, Tribal | Comments Off on Et tu, Thrillist?; Bed-hopping in N.Y.

Gentlemen, grab your joysticks; Massachusetts: Another day, another poll

Posted on June 20, 2014 by David McKee

Video-game/slot hybrids have been licensed by the Nevada Gaming Commission and will be on display for your entertainment at the next Global Gaming Expo. The lucky winner was Gamblit Gaming, which is owned by American Capital by way of Hard … Continue reading →

Posted in Election, G2E, Hard Rock International, Harrah's, Internet gambling, Massachusetts, New York, Regulation, Technology, Uncategorized | Comments Off on Gentlemen, grab your joysticks; Massachusetts: Another day, another poll

Revel to close, barring a miracle; Gaughan memorialized

Posted on June 19, 2014 by David McKee

That’s the message coming from top Revel Resort brass, who sent a letter to casino employees cautioning them that — unless the property can be sold by Aug. 18 — they all may be out of jobs: “If Revel is unable … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Downtown, Economy, Fontainebleau, Hard Rock International, Harrah's, history, Massachusetts, Tribal | 1 Comment

Mohegan Sun: It’s us or nobody; Tunica blues

Posted on June 19, 2014 by David McKee

Eastern Massachusetts voters would rather have a Mohegan Sun casino than a Wynn Resorts one. So claims a poll paid for by Mohegan Sun … so draw your own conclusions. It also shows casino-law repeal only getting 35% of the … Continue reading →

Posted in Delaware, Economy, Election, Harrah's, Massachusetts, Mississippi, Mohegan Sun, Politics, Steve Wynn, Taxes | Comments Off on Mohegan Sun: It’s us or nobody; Tunica blues