Category Archives: Massachusetts

Election Day!; Mad Max; Deadpan humor in Wisconsin

Posted on November 5, 2013 by David McKee

Today’s a big day for casino-related votes in New York State and Massachusetts. In the former, New York City holds the key to the outcome. The Five Boroughs are expected to represent for 42% of statewide voting. Mind you, NYC wouldn’t … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Current, Economy, Election, Foxwoods, Harrah's, history, Horseracing, Marketing, Massachusetts, MGM Mirage, Mohegan Sun, New York, Pennsylvania, Politics, Racinos, The Strip, Tourism, Tribal, Wisconsin | Comments Off on Election Day!; Mad Max; Deadpan humor in Wisconsin

Suffolk Downs postscript

Posted on November 4, 2013 by David McKee

Caesars Entertainment being out of the Suffolk Downs equation, the would-be racino has been dubbed “a headless horseman” by opponents and faces an uncertain fate at the ballot box. One might well question Suffolk owner Richard Fields on why his … Continue reading →

Posted in Colorado, Current, Harrah's, Massachusetts, Problem gambling, Regulation, Wall Street | Comments Off on Suffolk Downs postscript

What makes a ‘surrounding community’?

Posted on November 1, 2013 by David McKee

Google Maps, that’s what. The Massachusetts town of Bolton wants “surrounding community” consideration from Leominster, where Cordish Gaming hopes to built a $203 million slot parlor. As with many towns across the state, Bolton’s concerns center upon traffic. Cordish maintains … Continue reading →

Posted in Cordish Co., Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Regulation | 1 Comment

Big win for Wynn; Murren in the spotlight; Lies, damned lies and Sheldon Adelson

Posted on November 1, 2013 by David McKee

In a disappointing but entirely predictable result, the Nevada Supreme Court ruled that Nevada law permits employers to confiscate and redistribute tips received by employees (euphemistically referred to as “tip sharing”). Now, if a I stuck a gun in your … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Boyd Gaming, Election, Florida, Harrah's, Marketing, Massachusetts, MGM Mirage, New York, Palms, Pennsylvania, Revel, Sheldon Adelson, Sports, Steve Wynn, The Mob, Tourism | 3 Comments

Quote of the Day

Posted on October 31, 2013 by David McKee

“Obviously, there’s been an awful lot of activity and drama there. But we like the process, it’s been very transparent to us, and we believe there’s no reason why we will not be found suitable.” — MGM Resorts International CEO … Continue reading →

Posted in Massachusetts, MGM Mirage, Regulation | Comments Off on Quote of the Day

Good news, bad news for Suffolk Downs; Wynn shaken down

Posted on October 31, 2013 by David McKee

Congratulations, Suffolk Downs. You’ve been approved as a casino bidder — but the voters might nix the whole shebang. Although Suffolk Downs is bereft of an operator, having given Caesars Entertainment the heave-ho. (The latter remains in deep water, financially, making noises … Continue reading →

Posted in Foxwoods, Hard Rock International, Harrah's, Horseracing, Internet gambling, Massachusetts, Mohegan Sun, Neil Bluhm, Oklahoma, Problem gambling, Regulation, Sheldon Adelson, Steve Wynn, Tribal | Comments Off on Good news, bad news for Suffolk Downs; Wynn shaken down

Loveman must go

Posted on October 30, 2013 by David McKee

Suffolk Downs executives are trying to move on after severing ties with Caesars Entertainment. At their suitability hearing with the Massachusetts Gaming Commission (which is expected to approve them), they played dumb. They not only pleaded ignorance of Arik Kislin‘s … Continue reading →

Posted in Colorado, Maryland, Massachusetts, Regulation, The Mob | 1 Comment

Third degree for Cantor; Suffolk moves ahead

Posted on October 29, 2013 by David McKee

Cantor Gaming finds itself in the midst of a giant pincer movement, under investigation by at least five federal agencies and the Nevada Gaming Control Board. When ex-bookie-in-chief Colbert got a slap on the wrist from the feds, I figured … Continue reading →

Posted in Cantor Gaming, Economy, Hard Rock International, Harrah's, Macau, Massachusetts, Neil Bluhm, Regulation, Sheldon Adelson, Steve Wynn | Comments Off on Third degree for Cantor; Suffolk moves ahead

MGM’s, Wynn’s odds worsen in Massachusetts

Posted on October 28, 2013 by David McKee

Did anyone envision a scenario whereby all three of Massachusetts‘ casinos could be tribally owned? It could happen. Leaving aside the chance of expanded gambling in Connecticut, the prospect that MGM Resorts International will be weighed in the balance and … Continue reading →

Posted in Cordish Co., Entertainment, Foxwoods, Greenwood Racing, Harrah's, Macau, Massachusetts, MGM Mirage, Mohegan Sun, Pansy Ho, Penn National, Regulation, Steve Wynn, The Strip, Tourism, Tribal | Comments Off on MGM’s, Wynn’s odds worsen in Massachusetts

Quote of the Day

Posted on October 28, 2013 by David McKee

“They’ve got a piece of property that they can’t use. Massachusetts has got a piece of property that’s dirty and they can’t use. I’m the damn fool that wants to come and spend a billion and two or three hundred … Continue reading →

Posted in Economy, Massachusetts, Steve Wynn | Comments Off on Quote of the Day

The importance of being Steve Wynn; Sheldon’s fan club

Posted on October 25, 2013 by David McKee

“Even the Red Sox aren’t that popular in Everett,” says Steve Wynn, alluding to recent poll numbers. Heady stuff. So, while he comes down off Cloud Nine, let’s look at a pretty impressive 3Q13 — if not as boffo as … Continue reading →

Posted in Economy, Entertainment, Hard Rock International, Macau, Massachusetts, Pennsylvania, Regulation, Sheldon Adelson, Steve Wynn, The Strip, Wall Street | 2 Comments

Quote of the Day

Posted on October 25, 2013 by David McKee

“[B]asically these states are asking us to come and spend billions of dollars. Now if we were any other business, they would stand on their head and spit wooden nickels to get billions of dollars invested from any other business. … Continue reading →

Posted in Massachusetts, Pennsylvania, Regulation, Steve Wynn | Comments Off on Quote of the Day

New casino in Alabama; Potential new scrutiny for Caesars; Second thoughts for Walker?

Posted on October 25, 2013 by David McKee

Alabama Attorney General Luther Strange is throttling the life out of the Cotton State’s electronic bingo industry. But, thanks to tribal sovereignty, the Poarch Band of Creek Indians has been able to this to its advantage. When Wind Creek Wetumpka … Continue reading →

Posted in Alabama, Current, Harrah's, Maryland, Massachusetts, Regulation, Tribal, Wisconsin | Comments Off on New casino in Alabama; Potential new scrutiny for Caesars; Second thoughts for Walker?

Slots and torts; Menominee don’t quit; Caesars scapegoats Suffolk

Posted on October 24, 2013 by David McKee

If you’ve probably seen, if there’s anything the manufacturing sector of the gaming industry likes to do better than make new slot games is to sue one another for patent infringement. The fun may be coming to an end. Rep. … Continue reading →

Posted in International, Internet gambling, Massachusetts, Regulation, Station Casinos, Taxes, Technology, Tribal, Wisconsin | Comments Off on Slots and torts; Menominee don’t quit; Caesars scapegoats Suffolk

Has Sheldon Adelson lost it?

Posted on October 23, 2013 by David McKee

Last night, Sheldon Adelson went to mind-boggling extremes and into the realm of the sort of rhetoric one associates with some of the worse regimes of modern history, advocating a unilateral, first-strike, nuclear attack on Iran. “Then you say, ‘See! The next … Continue reading →

Posted in International, Massachusetts, Sheldon Adelson | Comments Off on Has Sheldon Adelson lost it?

Caesars tries to change the subject; Penn makes its case

Posted on October 23, 2013 by David McKee

As Caesars Entertainment skulks away from Massachusetts, tail between legs, a campaign of manufactured outrage continues to be mounted on its behalf. At its baseline is an attempt to minimize the reasons why the Massachusetts Gaming Commission was poised to … Continue reading →

Posted in Harrah's, Horseracing, Internet gambling, Maryland, Massachusetts, MGM Mirage, Penn National, Problem gambling, Regulation, Stanley Ho, The Mob | Comments Off on Caesars tries to change the subject; Penn makes its case

Parx: Pay as you go; Muted rapture in California

Posted on October 23, 2013 by David McKee

Parx Casino in Raynham, Massachusetts, will cost $277 million. Parx has $231 million in the kitty. How does the company propose to make ends meet? It will erect a temporary slot facility while the permanent one is built. This temporary … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, California, Encore, Internet gambling, Massachusetts, Racinos, Revel, Station Casinos, Tribal, Trump Entertainment Resorts | Comments Off on Parx: Pay as you go; Muted rapture in California

Santa Claus smiles upon Borgata; No reprieve for Suffolk

Posted on October 22, 2013 by David McKee

Christmas came early for Boyd Gaming and Kris Kringle wore the judicial robes of the Tax Court of New Jersey. “A silver lining to Atlantic City‘s fall from grace for casino operators: the tax bills are lighter when the going gets … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Boyd Gaming, Hard Rock International, Harrah's, Maryland, Massachusetts, MGM Mirage, Mohegan Sun, Neil Bluhm, Penn National, Taxes, Wall Street | 1 Comment

Caesars: Fiasco in Boston

Posted on October 21, 2013 by David McKee

Suffolk Downs will be moving forward … without Caesars Entertainment. The track dropped Caesars like a bad habit over the weekend. Caesars tried to make it sound like the decision was its own. Spokesman Stephen Cohen threw a hissy fit, … Continue reading →

Posted in Hard Rock International, Harrah's, Illinois, Internet gambling, Massachusetts, MGM Mirage, Neil Bluhm, Problem gambling, Regulation, Slot routes, Steve Wynn, Wall Street | 2 Comments

What’s Steve Wynn thinking?; Best news of the week

Posted on October 18, 2013 by David McKee

If Steve Wynn is trying to talk himself out of contention in Massachusetts, he’s doing a good job of it. Yesterday, he told the Massachusetts Gaming Commission, “We’re scared to death — not that you won’t pick us, but that … Continue reading →

Posted in ABBA, Alex Yemenidjian, Current, Election, Entertainment, Macau, Massachusetts, MGM Mirage, New York, Regulation, Steve Wynn, The Strip | 2 Comments