Category Archives: Massachusetts

Massachusetts: Penn wins

Posted on February 28, 2014 by David McKee

Oh, cruel fate. It looked like that Massachusetts slot parlor was in the bag for Cordish Gaming and the city of Leominster. After all, Massachusetts Gaming Commission Chairman Stephen Crosby had rated the project as “very good,” adding, “Thus our … Continue reading →

Posted in Cordish Co., Greenwood Racing, Horseracing, Illinois, Massachusetts, Penn National, Politics, Racinos, Regulation, Rhode Island, Slot routes, Wall Street | Comments Off

Revere: Mohegan Sun rising in the east; Dose of reality in New Jersey

Posted on February 26, 2014 by David McKee

Election results are in from Revere, where Suffolk Downs and Mohegan Sun are partnering to build a racino. It wasn’t even close. Casino opponents were heavily outspent and, in the end, heavily outvoted, being crushed in a landslide, 63% to … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Cordish Co., Current, Economy, Election, Greenwood Racing, Internet gambling, Massachusetts, Mohegan Sun, Penn National, Taxes, Tribal | Comments Off

Penn, Cordish ready to rumble in Massachusetts, New York

Posted on February 25, 2014 by David McKee

It seems just yesterday that applicants for slot parlor licensees were kicking the tires in Massachusetts and that Suffolk Downs threw its hat into the racino ring. And here we are today, with the Massachusetts Gaming Commission beginning deliberations on … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, Cordish Co., Massachusetts, Mohegan Sun, New York, Penn National, Politics, Racinos, Regulation | Comments Off

Hey, big spenders

Posted on February 21, 2014 by David McKee

MGM Resorts International has only just handing in its plans for National Harbor, near Washington, D.C., and already the tin cups are rattling. The project doesn’t sound half-fancy: “a 300-suite glass-tower hotel, 3,600 slot machines, 140 gaming tables, a concert … Continue reading →

Posted in Economy, Maryland, Massachusetts, MGM Mirage, Regulation | Comments Off

Sheldon’s boys; Tough questions for the industry

Posted on February 21, 2014 by David McKee

Improbably, Sheldon Adelson has found two U.S. senators to carry water for him on Capitol Hill as he tries to stem the tide of Internet gambling. Both Sen. Dean Heller (R) and Sen. Harry Reid (D) are working to reinstate … Continue reading →

Posted in Culinary Union, Harrah's, Harry Reid, Illinois, Internet gambling, Massachusetts, MGM Mirage, Politics, Problem gambling, Regulation, Sheldon Adelson, Technology | Comments Off

A vote for Leominster; Lopsided race at Suffolk Downs

Posted on February 20, 2014 by David McKee

Describing Leominster as “highly self-contained,” Innovation Group has recommended it for Massachusetts‘ lone slot license. While it may have been independently commissioned by the North Central Massachusetts Chamber of Commerce, the contents of the study will be music to the ears … Continue reading →

Posted in Cordish Co., Economy, Election, Greenwood Racing, Massachusetts, Mohegan Sun, Penn National | 1 Comment

MGM impresses Wall Street

Posted on February 19, 2014 by David McKee

MGM Resorts International didn’t meet Wall Street‘s consensus for the last quarter of 2013, losing eight cents a share instead of earning $0.07 EPS. But analysts were in a forgiving mood. After all, the company had lost $2.50 a share just … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, CityCenter, Economy, Japan, Maryland, Massachusetts, MGM Mirage, The Strip, Wall Street | Comments Off

Shilling for Adelson; Saturation comes to Pennsylvania

Posted on February 18, 2014 by David McKee

After the 9/11 attacks, New York State then-Gov. George Pataki (R) was only to push casinos through as a form of economic stimulus. Now he’s a sock puppet for Sheldon Adelson, preaching the evils of Internet casinos. He’s been parroting … Continue reading →

Posted in Cannery Casino Resorts, Greenwood Racing, Harrah's, Isle of Capri, Massachusetts, MGM Mirage, Neil Bluhm, Penn National, Pennsylvania, Politics, Problem gambling, Sheldon Adelson | Comments Off

Keeping up with the Joneses

Posted on February 17, 2014 by David McKee

Long a money pit for the Saulte Ste. Marie Tribe of Chippewa Indians, the Greektown Casino in downtown Detroit is now owner Dan Gilbert‘s problem. A smoky warren of gambling spaces, the original layout is a clusterf**k that warrants Greektown’s … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, Atlantic City, CityCenter, Dan Gilbert, Detroit, International, Massachusetts, MGM Mirage, Mississippi, Problem gambling, Revel, Rhode Island, Sports | Comments Off

Hard Rock OK’d; Tribal casinos’ power plays; Caesars’ astute move

Posted on February 17, 2014 by David McKee

Instead of being left to rot, Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Sioux City will be permitted to resume construction, with a view toward a late-summer opening. That good news was handed down from the Polk County District Court bench. If … Continue reading →

Posted in Florida, Foxwoods, Genting, Harrah's, Internet gambling, Iowa, Massachusetts, Mohegan Sun, Penn National, Regulation, Rhode Island, Tribal, Wall Street, Warner Gaming | 1 Comment

Discontent in Beantown; Sands, Day 4

Posted on February 14, 2014 by David McKee

Boston Mayor Martin J. Walsh (right) wants the awarding of a Beantown-area casino put off … mainly so he’ll have more time to cadge and scheme his way into “host community” status, where the big money is to be found. Steve … Continue reading →

Posted in Dining, Illinois, Massachusetts, MGM Mirage, Mississippi, Mohegan Sun, Pennsylvania, Sheldon Adelson, Slot routes, Steve Wynn | 1 Comment

Battle of Sands widens

Posted on February 13, 2014 by David McKee

Las Vegas Sands‘ Web sites remain “under maintenance,” as the company reels from a vast and invasive cyber-attack. In addition to the FBI, the Secret Service has taken an interest in the matter. The assault is a boon for third-party … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, Internet gambling, Massachusetts, MGM Mirage, Politics, Problem gambling, Sheldon Adelson, The Strip | Comments Off

Pinnacle beats The Street; MGM goes electric

Posted on February 12, 2014 by David McKee

Pinnacle Entertainment did a brilliant job of managing Wall Street‘s expectations, its cash flow coming in $5 million above analysts’ consensus, driven by lower operating expenses. J.P. Morgan‘s Joseph Greff called the results “better than feared,” which tells you how … Continue reading →

Posted in Ameristar, Environment, Foxwoods, International, Internet gambling, Maryland, Massachusetts, MGM Mirage, Missouri, Ohio, Pinnacle Entertainment, Transportation, Tribal, Wall Street | Comments Off

Massachusetts slams Mohegans, Foxwoods; Mohegan slams Wynn

Posted on February 11, 2014 by David McKee

Following a stinging expose of Mohegan Sun and Foxwoods Resort Casino‘s habit of placing liens on the homes of casino debtors. Massachusetts Attorney General Martha Coakley was moved to action. She is urging the Massachusetts Gaming Commission to prohibit the … Continue reading →

Posted in Environment, Foxwoods, Massachusetts, Mohegan Sun, New York, Regulation, Steve Wynn, Taxes | 1 Comment

Quote of the Day

Posted on February 11, 2014 by David McKee

“They’re not building casinos in Dover or Wellesley.” — Stop Predatory Gambling Foundation Executive Director Les Bernal taking an oblique pot shot at Wellesley resident Gary Loveman.

Posted in Harrah's, Massachusetts | Comments Off

Churchill Downs gets singed, casino creditors get burnt

Posted on February 10, 2014 by David McKee

Nick Ribis, a contentious figure in the Atlantic City casino scene is at it again. Or so contends a lawsuit by Churchill Downs. The racino company claims it paid Ribis $2.5 million “to develop and operate” Internet gambling on its … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Churchill Downs, Colony Capital, Florida, Foxwoods, Harrah's, Horseracing, Internet gambling, Massachusetts, Mohegan Sun, Racinos, Revel, Sam Nazarian, Tribal | 1 Comment

Foxwoods on the clock; Japan, land of opportunity

Posted on February 6, 2014 by David McKee

Foxwoods Massachusetts has most of what it needs: money, civic support, a name brand. But it doesn’t have a site. Foxwoods and Fall River have given themselves 30 days to remedy that, a tight timespan, further complicated by the likelihood … Continue reading →

Posted in Cordish Co., Foxwoods, Japan, Maryland, Massachusetts, Pennsylvania, Problem gambling | Comments Off

The many faces of Steve Wynn

Posted on February 4, 2014 by David McKee

It’s great sport following the tortuous circumlocutions through which Wynn Resorts is putting itself, trying to square its varying positions on Internet gambling. El Steve declared himself against it in an interview with Jon Ralston, although he game himself a … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Harrah's, Internet gambling, Macau, Massachusetts, Regulation, Steve Wynn | 1 Comment

Super Blowout

Posted on February 4, 2014 by David McKee

And, no, I don’t mean what happened on the field last Sunday at the Super Bowl. Nevada‘s sports books surpassed last year’s record $99 million handle and it wasn’t even close — $119 million. The nearly $20 million in profit … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, Election, Florida, Foxwoods, Harrah's, history, Massachusetts, Regulation, Sports, The Strip, Tribal | Comments Off

The hypocrisy of Steve Wynn

Posted on February 3, 2014 by David McKee

Like a couple of crotchety codgers sitting in their rocking chairs, Steve Wynn has joined Sheldon Adelson in the “You kids get off my lawn” club when it comes to Internet gambling. (Not that he has allowed this to stop … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Delaware, Economy, International, Internet gambling, Massachusetts, Pennsylvania, Racinos, Regulation, Revel, Sheldon Adelson, Steve Wynn, Taxes | Comments Off