Category Archives: Massachusetts

Motivated in Massachusetts; Naked at Horseshoe

Posted on September 12, 2013 by David McKee

If there’s anything to be learned from this week’s Hard Rock International face-plant in West Springfield, it’s not to take anything for granted. HRI made the mistake of believing its own poll, indeed, venerating it like holy writ, and got a … Continue reading →

Posted in Dining, Foxwoods, Hard Rock International, Harrah's, Louisiana, Massachusetts, Regulation, The Strip, Tribal | Comments Off

Massachusetts: One win, one loss, one surrender

Posted on September 11, 2013 by David McKee

In a real shocker, residents of West Springfield rejected Hard Rock International — and $18 million a year. Local media obligingly regurgitated over and over again Hard Rock-sourced poll numbers that showed the casino eking out a narrow win. When … Continue reading →

Posted in Current, Hard Rock International, Massachusetts, MGM Mirage, Mohegan Sun, Neil Bluhm, Penn National, Regulation | Comments Off

Boston capitulates, Wynn wins (for now)

Posted on September 6, 2013 by David McKee

It was eyeball-to-eyeball and Boston Mayor Thomas Menino just blinked. Threatened with the termination of Steve Wynn‘s Everett project were Boston to be deemed a host community, Menino’s administration folded like a pup tent. “Based on the new information provided … Continue reading →

Posted in Current, Harrah's, Massachusetts, Penn National, Racinos, Regulation, Steve Wynn | Comments Off

Beantown Brawl: Wynn vs. Menino

Posted on September 5, 2013 by David McKee

It wasn’t exactly a Profile in Courage day for the Massachusetts Gaming Commission yesterday. It told the cities of Everett and Boston to work out their feud over a proposed Steve Wynn casino between themselves. Now what do you think … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, Election, Harrah's, Massachusetts, Penn National, Pennsylvania, Racinos, Regulation, Steve Wynn, Tomato King Procacci | 2 Comments

Massachusetts: Carlino’s Way

Posted on September 4, 2013 by David McKee

Penn National Gaming‘s bid to get into Massachusetts is taking a turn for the bizarre. In a surrealistic proposal, it has taken out an option to buy on Plainridge Race Course. But … the option is condition on Penn being … Continue reading →

Posted in Harrah's, Massachusetts, Mohegan Sun, Penn National, Racinos, Regulation | Comments Off

I’m shocked, shocked!

Posted on September 4, 2013 by David McKee

If you thought Pennsylvania‘s casino-selection process was more than a bit fishy, you’re not alone. Pennsylvania State Police Lt. Col. Ralph Periandi (ret.) tried to probe whether then-Gov. Ed Rendell (D) and “members of his administration and others in state … Continue reading →

Posted in Don Barden, Foxwoods, Massachusetts, Neil Bluhm, Pennsylvania, Politics, The Mob, Tribal | Comments Off

Foxwoods: Mo’ money; Hard Rock brings it on; Wishful thinking at Cosmo

Posted on September 3, 2013 by David McKee

Caved, shaken down, outfoxed: Take your choice of term as Foxwoods Massachusetts has seemingly capitulated to Milford selectmen and raised its downpayment from $18 million to $34 million. All it took was a few grumblings from the aforementioned selectmen and … Continue reading →

Posted in Cosmopolitan, Dining, Economy, Entertainment, Foxwoods, Hard Rock International, Massachusetts, MGM Mirage, Sheldon Adelson, Steve Wynn | Comments Off

Quote of the Day

Posted on August 30, 2013 by David McKee

“It certainly impacts my line of thinking in terms of what these licenses are worth.[Foxwoods] needs to package the best deal possible and, right now, they’re third in the list of three.” — Milford Board of Selectman Chairman William Buckley, … Continue reading →

Posted in Foxwoods, Harrah's, Massachusetts, Steve Wynn | Comments Off

“George” deal for Palmer; Resorts World in peril; Walker’s fan dance

Posted on August 30, 2013 by David McKee

Mohegan Sun ran out its host-community agreement with Palmer and it’s pretty clear that no expense will be spared to close the deal, either now or in a couple of months at the ballot box. The Mohegans are promising the … Continue reading →

Posted in Genting, Horseracing, Illinois, Massachusetts, MGM Mirage, Mohegan Sun, New York, Racinos, Regulation, Taxes, Tribal, Wisconsin | 1 Comment

Loveman, Loveman everywhere

Posted on August 29, 2013 by David McKee

Racetrack owner Richard Fields and Caesars Entertainment are wrapping up their deals with Boston and Revere with dispatch. And the latter are making out like bandits. In their zeal to close deals, Fields and Loveman may be overpaying for the … Continue reading →

Posted in Dining, Entertainment, Foxwoods, G2E, Harrah's, Massachusetts, Racinos, Rhode Island, Steve Wynn, Tribal | Comments Off

Sands pays The Man; Brothel bargains; Caesars goes to Boston

Posted on August 28, 2013 by David McKee

Uncle Sam is $47 million richer today after collecting an eight-figure settlement from Las Vegas Sands. Seems the latter had been operating on the outer fringes of legality when handling large sums of moolah from Zhenli Ye Gon. The latter, … Continue reading →

Posted in Current, Economy, Entertainment, Harrah's, International, Massachusetts, Sheldon Adelson, Steve Wynn | Comments Off

Suffolk Downs a near-done deal

Posted on August 27, 2013 by David McKee

Boston has reached an agreement with the owners of Suffolk Downs. It would be the most “george” deal in eastern Massachusetts. Where Foxwoods Massachusetts would pony up $18 million in advance, Caesars Entertainment and Richard Fields offer $33 million, along … Continue reading →

Posted in Current, Foxwoods, Harrah's, Massachusetts, Regulation, Steve Wynn | Comments Off

Case Bets: Seneca scandal; Atlantic City brings on the girls; Still no help for Mashpee

Posted on August 27, 2013 by David McKee

Well, that didn’t take long. Scarcely was the ink dry on New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo‘s deal with the state’s gaming-enabled tribes than the Seneca Indian Nation stepped right into a scandal. $5 million of an $8 million development deal … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Entertainment, Foxwoods, Massachusetts, Mohegan Sun, New York, Pennsylvania, Regulation, Sports, Steve Wynn, The Strip, Tribal, Trump Entertainment Resorts | Comments Off

Revel: It had to happen; Hard Rock on a roll

Posted on August 26, 2013 by David McKee

Revel Resort‘s somewhat disingenuous “You Can’t Lose” promotion was bound to attract a lawsuit and so it has. A pair of players are suing and, though the odds seem against them, it’s worth recalling that Revel’s disclaimer language tap-danced around … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, Atlantic City, Dennis Gomes, Hard Rock International, Harrah's, Marketing, Massachusetts, Ohio, Revel | Comments Off

Atlantic City: Half-full or half-empty?; Crosby tips his hand

Posted on August 23, 2013 by David McKee

It depends on which newspaper you read. The Press of Atlantic City took the half-full route, focusing on the profits made by eight of the city’s dozen casinos. The Associated Press pointed to the narrowing margin of aforesaid gross-operating profitability. … Continue reading →

Posted in Boyd Gaming, Donald Trump, Economy, Foxwoods, Harrah's, International, James Packer, Massachusetts, Mohegan Sun, Pennsylvania, Problem gambling, Regulation, Revel, Sheldon Adelson, Steve Wynn, The Strip | 1 Comment

Wynn hearts Atlantic City; A pointless election

Posted on August 22, 2013 by David McKee

Update: Penn National Gaming has been tipped as a potential buyer for disqualified Plainridge Racecourse. The city has already scheduled a Sept. 10 vote on a slot parlor, so Penn would have less than three weeks to negotiate the essential … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Colony Capital, Cordish Co., Current, Election, Florida, Internet gambling, Massachusetts, Penn National, Pennsylvania, Regulation, Revel, Steve Wynn | 2 Comments

Penn loses yet again; Weirdest story of the year

Posted on August 21, 2013 by David McKee

In a stunning setback, voters in Tewksbury, Massachusetts, have decided they don’t want any part of a Penn National Gaming slot parlor. By a very wide margin, they nixed the project, thereby reducing the field of competitors to three: Raynham … Continue reading →

Posted in Animals, Current, Election, Foxwoods, Internet gambling, Massachusetts, MGM Mirage, Mohegan Sun, Movies, Penn National, Politics | 1 Comment

Boston briefs: Caesars gets the vote out, etc.

Posted on August 19, 2013 by David McKee

In the face of iffy local support for its Suffolk Downs project, Caesars Entertainment has surrogates going door to door in East Boston, selling voters on the proposal’s virtues. Given the Latino majority among Easties, that’s where Caesars is targeting … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Donald Trump, Hard Rock International, Harrah's, Harry Reid, Massachusetts, Mohegan Sun, Penn National, Politics, Tourism, Transportation | 3 Comments

This land is their land; Tight money in Pennsylvania

Posted on August 16, 2013 by David McKee

Tribal casinos aren’t just for reservations anymore and it’s becoming a coast-to-coast phenomenon. California legislators already approved one off-reservation casino, to be managed by Station Casinos. The Enterprise Rancheria of the Estom Yumeka Maidu would like to be second. They … Continue reading →

Posted in California, Current, Economy, Foxwoods, Harrah's, history, Massachusetts, Mohegan Sun, Neil Bluhm, Ohio, Penn National, Pennsylvania, Politics, Regulation, Sheldon Adelson, Station Casinos, Tribal, Wall Street | 1 Comment

Revel’s mixed reviews; All systems ‘go’ in Massachusetts

Posted on August 15, 2013 by David McKee

That controversial “You Can’t Lose” promotion being fielded by Revel Resort is a hit with players even as it’s been panned by pundits. “Whoa, Smarty Jones. Not so fast,” cracked one.) The complexity of the deal is even being credited … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Boyd Gaming, Cordish Co., Illinois, International, Marketing, Massachusetts, Mohegan Sun, Neil Bluhm, Penn National, Revel, Sheldon Adelson, Taxes | 2 Comments