Category Archives: Massachusetts

Caesars’ big bazaar; Psychic powers in Massachusetts; When is a profit not a profit?

Posted on December 4, 2013 by David McKee

Linq is shaping up handsomely and its Ferris wheel just had its last gondola added yesterday. So, if we can put Caesars Entertainment‘s debt problems aside for a second, the company is doing very nicely in the capex department, where … Continue reading →

Posted in Delaware, Harrah's, International, Iowa, Isle of Capri, Louisiana, Massachusetts, Racinos, Regulation, The Strip, Wall Street | Comments Off on Caesars’ big bazaar; Psychic powers in Massachusetts; When is a profit not a profit?

Dancing at the Downs; Sheldon Adelson, Luddite

Posted on December 3, 2013 by David McKee

Suffolk Downs isn’t going to have to perform the limbo to bring its casino project into zoning conformity but some fancy footwork will be required. Instead of one structure, there will have to be two. Non-gaming amenities will be clustered … Continue reading →

Posted in Bally Technologies, Current, Harrah's, IGT, Internet gambling, Massachusetts, Mohegan Sun, Regulation, Sam Nazarian, Sheldon Adelson, Technology | Comments Off on Dancing at the Downs; Sheldon Adelson, Luddite

Mohegan switches sides in Massachusetts; Ghosts in the machine

Posted on December 3, 2013 by David McKee

It’s not quite official but the Mohegan Tribal Gaming Authority has thrown in its lot with Suffolk Downs, one of the dwindling number of candidates for a Massachusetts casino license (and where a big redesign is well underway). Mohegan Sun wasted … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, IGT, Massachusetts, MGM Mirage, Mohegan Sun, Pennsylvania, Technology, Wall Street | Comments Off on Mohegan switches sides in Massachusetts; Ghosts in the machine

Hacienda gets the Dotty’s treatment; Mohegan gets the heck out

Posted on November 25, 2013 by David McKee

When the Dotty’s slot-cafe chain decided to go ‘legit’ by purchasing the Hacienda hotel-casino near Boulder City, it meant some big surprises. For one thing, all employees found themselves without jobs. Dotty’s used the federal WARN Act to pink-slip the … Continue reading →

Posted in Internet gambling, Massachusetts, Mohegan Sun, New Hampshire, New York, Regulation, Sheldon Adelson, Slot routes | Comments Off on Hacienda gets the Dotty’s treatment; Mohegan gets the heck out

Suffolk Downs: Devil in the details; Wynn exculpated

Posted on November 22, 2013 by David McKee

Suffolk Downs has yet to reveal how it will shoehorn a $1 billion casino into the Revere portion of its property. However, its struggle to do so is being made even harder both by opposition groups and Boston politicians who’s … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, Arizona, Downtown, Massachusetts, Mohegan Sun, Racinos, Regulation, Tribal | Comments Off on Suffolk Downs: Devil in the details; Wynn exculpated

Quote of the Day

Posted on November 22, 2013 by David McKee

‘‘I think it is working exactly as it was supposed to, which was to authorize up to three destination resort licenses and one [slots parlor] and to let people make their own decisions about whether they want the facilities in … Continue reading →

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

Unwelcome surprise for Steve Wynn

Posted on November 21, 2013 by David McKee

A bomb just went off under Steve Wynn‘s $1.3 billion casino project in Everett. Multiple felon Charles Lightbody has been bragging upon his supposedly hidden ownership in the land on which Wynn has taken an option. So say confidential sources. … Continue reading →

Posted in Harrah's, Internet gambling, Marketing, Massachusetts, MGM Mirage, Sam Nazarian, Steve Wynn, The Mob, Tourism | 1 Comment

Foxwoods Massachusetts: All the king’s horses …

Posted on November 20, 2013 by David McKee

In what must be the shortest-lived deal in Penn National Gaming‘s history, its nascent partnership with Foxwoods Resort Casino went down to defeat yesterday. Crossroads Massachusetts, as it was called, didn’t just lose — it was crushed. An unofficial tabulation … Continue reading →

Posted in Cordish Co., Foxwoods, Greenwood Racing, Massachusetts, MGM Mirage, Penn National, Regulation, Steve Wynn | Comments Off on Foxwoods Massachusetts: All the king’s horses …

Foxwoods finds a partner and, yes, it’s Penn

Posted on November 18, 2013 by David McKee

By the narrowest of odds, Crossroads Massachusetts caught a couple of breaks late last week. The Foxwoods Resort Casino-led project was found “conditionally” suitable to go forward. The condition imposed by the Massachusetts Gaming Commission was that Foxwoods find the … Continue reading →

Posted in Foxwoods, Massachusetts, New York, Penn National, Regulation, Tribal | Comments Off on Foxwoods finds a partner and, yes, it’s Penn

Racing the clock at Foxwoods, in Philly

Posted on November 15, 2013 by David McKee

It’s entirely possible that Milford voters could pink-slip Crossroads Massachusetts next Tuesday. But even if they don’t, Foxwoods Casino Resort CEO Scott “Woody” Butera is watching the project crumble before his very eyes. The Massachusetts Gaming Commission looked at the … Continue reading →

Posted in CityCenter, Cordish Co., Current, Dining, Election, Foxwoods, Horseracing, Kansas, Maryland, Massachusetts, Penn National, Pennsylvania, Regulation, Steve Wynn, Tomato King Procacci, Wall Street | Comments Off on Racing the clock at Foxwoods, in Philly

Foxwoods, Suffolk struggling in Massachusetts

Posted on November 14, 2013 by David McKee

Foxwoods Resorts Casino‘s inability to keep its financial house in order has, as predicted, caught up with it in Massachusetts. The tribally owned casino’s debt burden put it in the hot seat before the Massachusetts Gaming Commission. Chairman Stephen Crosby … Continue reading →

Posted in Election, Foxwoods, Genting, Harrah's, Internet gambling, Massachusetts, New York, Racinos, Technology, The Mob, The Strip | 1 Comment

Looking for a few good gamblers; Loveman lauded

Posted on November 14, 2013 by David McKee

If you live in New Jersey, this may be your lucky day. The state is looking for players to try out its i-gaming system ahead of the Nov. 26 launch. A month into real-money play, New Jersey will permit bonus … Continue reading →

Posted in Florida, Harrah's, Internet gambling, Massachusetts, Regulation, Steve Wynn | 1 Comment

Misery in Missouri; Massachusetts upended; Ho associate nabbed

Posted on November 12, 2013 by David McKee

Today’s gaming numbers out of Missouri are so depressing I hardly feel like sharing them. Year over year, only two casinos were revenue-positive. One was — no surprise — River City, in St. Louis. The other was — mild surprise … Continue reading →

Posted in Harrah's, International, Isle of Capri, Lawrence Ho, Massachusetts, Missouri, Penn National, Pinnacle Entertainment, Regulation, Taxes, Tribal | 1 Comment

Wynn abandons Philly (again); Scramble at Suffolk

Posted on November 12, 2013 by David McKee

Twice in the past three years, Steve Wynn has pulled out of a casino project in Philadelphia. I don’t blame him. It’s a saturated market and trying to recoup the costs of a $926 million project in a timely manner … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Hard Rock International, Harrah's, history, Illinois, Macau, Massachusetts, MGM Mirage, Neil Bluhm, Pennsylvania, Regulation, Steve Wynn, Taxes, Texas | Comments Off on Wynn abandons Philly (again); Scramble at Suffolk

N.Y. claims first casualty: Steve Wynn; Walker’s waiting game

Posted on November 11, 2013 by David McKee

For the second time, Steve Wynn is pulling out of contention for the one remaining Philadelphia casino license. In a prepared statement, Wynn Resorts said its board had recently met, conducted a feasibility study and “decided that the best course … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, Charity, Current, Isle of Capri, Massachusetts, New York, Penn National, Pennsylvania, Steve Wynn, Tomato King Procacci, Tribal, Wisconsin | 2 Comments

Suffolk Downs: Life after Caesars; PokerStars nixed?

Posted on November 8, 2013 by David McKee

Another day, another occasion to scratch one’s head over the casino-averse culture in Massachusetts. The Boston Globe‘s Shirley Leung does her usual Chicken Little routine, lamenting that the Bay State may get no casinos at all. (Fret not, Shirley, somebody … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Colony Capital, Election, Foxwoods, Greenwood Racing, Internet gambling, Maine, Massachusetts, Mohegan Sun, Pokergeddon, Racinos, Regulation, Rhode Island, Taxes, Tribal | 1 Comment

Indiana up and down; Garber agonistes

Posted on November 8, 2013 by David McKee

Casinos in Indiana grossed 3% less last month but still far outperformed ($193 million) neighboring Illinois and Ohio. Patron traffic was 9% down but visitor spend rose 7%. Penn National Gaming‘s Hollywood Lawrenceburg got absolutely hammered by new competition from … Continue reading →

Posted in Boyd Gaming, Charity, Cordish Co., Current, Economy, Harrah's, Indiana, Internet gambling, Japan, Massachusetts, MGM Mirage, Ohio, Penn National, Pinnacle Entertainment, Racinos, Regulation, Station Casinos, Tropicana Entertainment | Comments Off on Indiana up and down; Garber agonistes

MGM Springfield keeps its fingers crossed

Posted on November 7, 2013 by David McKee

And then there was one … MGM Springfield. But you won’t hear MGM Resorts International execs popping champagne corks or seeing them do victory laps. The Massachusetts Gaming Commission has already warned that it’s not required to issue a license. … Continue reading →

Posted in Dan Gilbert, Horseracing, Macau, Massachusetts, MGM Mirage, Mohegan Sun, Neil Bluhm, Racinos, Regulation, Reno, Stanley Ho, Uncategorized | Comments Off on MGM Springfield keeps its fingers crossed

Election Special: No surprise in New York, big surprise in Massachusetts

Posted on November 6, 2013 by David McKee

Massachusetts may not be ready for casino gambling (unless Steve Wynn is building it). Voters said no and again no yesterday, in a series of referendums. Mohegan Sun is — quite understandably — asking for a recount. Its casino proposal … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Current, Election, Foxwoods, Massachusetts, MGM Mirage, Mohegan Sun, New York, Politics, Regulation, Steve Wynn, World Series of Poker | 2 Comments

Quote of the Day

Posted on November 6, 2013 by David McKee

“We understand transactions and licensing agreements. We understand how the [Caesars Entertainment–Gansevoort Hotel Group] relationship worked. Regulators need to be both reasonable and intelligent.” — Nevada Gaming Control Board Chairman A.G. Burnett, criticizing the Massachusetts Gaming Commission for “gotcha gaming … Continue reading →

Posted in Harrah's, Massachusetts, Regulation, The Mob | Comments Off on Quote of the Day