Category Archives: Massachusetts

Happy days: Here again?; DIY Vdara Death Ray

Posted on May 6, 2013 by David McKee

America‘s casino officially emerged from the doldrums with the release of the American Gaming Association‘s yearly survey, showing a 5% increase in private-sector casino revenue, just $200 million shy of 2007’s record amount. Mind you, we have quite a few … Continue reading →

Posted in Animals, Atlantic City, Cannery Casino Resorts, Current, Economy, Election, Entertainment, Indiana, Kansas, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New York, Penn National, Politics, Steve Wynn, Taxes, The Strip, Tourism, Vdara Death Ray | 1 Comment

Steve Wynn turns into Debbie Downer; Caesars’ screwy priorities

Posted on May 2, 2013 by David McKee

Yes, the recovery in Las Vegas could be said to be a chastened and limping one. The national press will leap at just about anything to restart the “Vegas is back” narrative. And yes, CityCenter ROI improved exponentially … to … Continue reading →

Posted in CityCenter, Current, Economy, Election, Harrah's, Horseracing, Macau, Massachusetts, MGM Mirage, Racinos, Regulation, Sheldon Adelson, Steve Wynn, The Strip | 6 Comments

Springfield: MGM bests Penn … for now

Posted on May 1, 2013 by David McKee

Yes, the comedy is finished in Springfield, at least for the moment. In an episode worthy of The Simpsons and after an epic amount of foot-dragging, Springfield Mayor Domenic Sarno was cajoled and ultimately browbeaten into actually taking a stand … Continue reading →

Posted in Current, Dining, Economy, International, Massachusetts, MGM Mirage, Neil Bluhm, Penn National, Politics, Racinos, Regulation, Tourism, Tribal, TV, Wall Street | 1 Comment

Adelson’s accountant quits, reaction minimal

Posted on April 29, 2013 by David McKee

Pricewaterhouse Coopers, accountant to the stars — and Las Vegas Sands — tendered its resignation last week, news that Sands kept carefully under wraps until after the markets closed on Friday. After a brief, initial shock, Sands shares went back … Continue reading →

Posted in Current, Laughlin, Macau, Massachusetts, Regulation, Sheldon Adelson, Tribal, Wall Street | 1 Comment

Quote of the Day

Posted on April 29, 2013 by David McKee

“Slot machines and blackjack tables have no power at all. What we are not building is a box of slots. We’re building a beautiful hotel that just happens to have a gaming room in the back.”– Steve Wynn, repositioning himself … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, Massachusetts, Steve Wynn, Wall Street | 1 Comment

The tale of Big and Little Caesars

Posted on April 23, 2013 by David McKee

If you have been waiting for the moment to sell your Caesars Entertainment stock and get out unscathed, even making a tidy profit, that moment is now. Actually, it was March 20 this year, when CZR hit an all-time high … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, Florida, Harrah's, history, International, Internet gambling, Maryland, Massachusetts, Planet Hollywood, The Strip, Wall Street | 3 Comments

Revel: What’s -$2 billion among friends?

Posted on March 22, 2013 by David McKee

Stephen Sweeney (D, right), president of the New Jersey state senate, has the honor of having been the first to call for ex-Revel CEO Kevin DeSanctis‘ head on a platter. Garden State regulators moved quickly to put Mohegan Sun veteran … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Current, Donald Trump, Economy, Harrah's, Massachusetts, Neil Bluhm, Revel, Technology, Tropicana Entertainment, Wall Street | 1 Comment

Case Bets: Binion’s redux; Dr. Doom; Everybody goes to Caesars

Posted on February 15, 2013 by David McKee

Today’s top story is the rumor, first aired on LasVegasAdvisor.com that Binion’s Gambling Hall & Hotel will close in July, lock, stock and million-dollar display. This dovetails with an earlier report that a detailed makeover is in the works. So … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, Atlantic City, California, Dan Gilbert, Derek Stevens, Dining, Downtown, Economy, Harrah's, Illinois, Indiana, Internet gambling, Marketing, Massachusetts, Ohio, Oscar Goodman, Palms, Penn National, Pennsylvania, Problem gambling, Racinos, Slot routes, Taxes, Technology, Terry Caudill, The Strip, Tilman Fertitta, Tribal | 3 Comments

An indispensable man; MGM’s two-front campaign

Posted on February 14, 2013 by David McKee

French statesman Georges Clemenceau once dryly remarked that the cemeteries are full of indispensable men. Clemenceau’s quip obtained fresh sting this week when the gaming world lost Dr. William Eadington. The industry scholar has been struggling with cancer for a … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Boyd Gaming, Current, history, Internet gambling, Macau, Massachusetts, MGM Mirage, Pansy Ho, Penn National, Problem gambling, Regulation, Revel, Stanley Ho, Technology | Comments Off

MGM back into Atlantic City?

Posted on February 8, 2013 by David McKee

MGM Resorts International has a 50% stake in Borgata that nobody wants … except MGM. In bolstering move that Atlantic City sorely needs, MGM may get to reclaim its half of the resort (with the support of partner Boyd Gaming), … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Boyd Gaming, Current, Economy, Election, Horseracing, Internet gambling, Macau, Maryland, Massachusetts, MGM Mirage, Penn National, Regulation, Stanley Ho, The Mob | 1 Comment

Christie: Oops, he did it again; Maryland: Take my casino, please

Posted on February 7, 2013 by David McKee

New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie (R) loves to veto Internet gambling bills so much that he’s just done it for a second time. There was incremental progress: In punting the ball to the Legislature’s one-yard line, Christie endorsed the idea … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Current, Economy, Goldman Sachs, Harrah's, Internet gambling, Marketing, Maryland, Massachusetts, Penn National, Politics, Regulation, Steve Wynn, Taxes, The Strip, Tribal | Comments Off

All roads lead to Springfield

Posted on February 6, 2013 by David McKee

That idyllic scene above is not Massachusetts but Vermont. However, the Green Mountain State is not only shaped like a funnel, it is one, an untapped market just waiting to be drained by whichever casino lands the coveted western Massachusetts … Continue reading →

Posted in Ameristar, Architecture, Economy, Election, Harrah's, Massachusetts, MGM Mirage, Penn National, Pennsylvania, Pinnacle Entertainment, Politics, Regulation, Sheldon Adelson, Steve Wynn, Tribal, Wall Street | Comments Off

Panic time at Caesars; Penn’s Ohio strategy a botch; Where in the world is Robert Earl?

Posted on February 5, 2013 by David McKee

It may have taken time for Gary Loveman‘s chickens to come home to roost but they’re doing it by the flockful. To raise cash, pronto, Caesars Entertainment — which hasn’t turned a profit in over three years — has piled … Continue reading →

Posted in Ameristar, Current, Dining, Economy, Harrah's, International, Internet gambling, Marketing, Massachusetts, Ohio, Penn National, Pinnacle Entertainment, Planet Hollywood, Taxes, The Strip | 1 Comment

Case Bets: Super Bowl, WMS, Bally, Wynn, Penn vs. MGM

Posted on February 1, 2013 by David McKee

“The twilight’s last reaming”?!?!? Christina Aguilera said it, I didn’t. Of all the proposition bets being made on Sunday’s “Big Game” (the favored Vegas euphemism), my favorite is how long it will take Alicia Keys to crawl through the National … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, Bally Technologies, Current, Economy, Entertainment, IGT, International, Macau, Maryland, Massachusetts, MGM Mirage, Penn National, Pennsylvania, Scientific Games, Slot routes, Sports, Steve Wynn, Tourism, Wall Street, WMS Industries | Comments Off

Case Bets: Magic Mike; Bahamas boo gambling; New moves in Massachusetts, Philly

Posted on January 30, 2013 by David McKee

Sheldon Adelson being too busy trying to dictate American foreign policy, it was left to his Number Two Man, COO Michael Leven (left) to go to Toronto and make the case for a Las Vegas Sands megaresort. Leven soft-pedaled the … Continue reading →

Posted in Current, Dan Gilbert, Florida, Harrah's, International, Massachusetts, MGM Mirage, Pennsylvania, Regulation, Sheldon Adelson, Singapore, Steve Wynn, Taxes, The Strip, Tourism, Transportation, Tribal | 2 Comments

If Gary Loveman ran America … plus the usual Trump mockery

Posted on January 24, 2013 by David McKee

That’s essentially the ‘what if’ scenario taken on by Las Vegas Sun columnist J. Patrick Coolican (virtually the only person left at the Sun who’s worth reading). He’s weighed the pros and cons of the Loveman Gang, er, Business Roundtable … Continue reading →

Posted in Boyd Gaming, Current, Donald Trump, Economy, Harrah's, Massachusetts, The Strip | 3 Comments

Massachusetts … and then there were 11; End of the Colony Capital era?

Posted on January 16, 2013 by David McKee

“[W]ell-connected developer” — but so not well financed — David Nunes (below) just got his casino-application fee across the transom, meaning that there are 11 contestants vying for two casino licenses and a slot parlor in Massachusetts. A couple of … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, Atlantic City, Cordish Co., Harrah's, Internet gambling, Maryland, Massachusetts, Neil Bluhm, Pokergeddon, Racinos, Regulation, Steve Wynn, Taxes, Tribal | 1 Comment

Margaret Elardi … still here; One bullet dodged, another incoming

Posted on January 15, 2013 by David McKee

To hear the Los Angeles Times tell it, Margaret Elardi — crusty, superannuated, former owner of the Frontier — has called it a day over at Casino Royale. Now redubbed “Best Western Plus Casino Royale,” the small-but-splashy casino has a … Continue reading →

Posted in Dan Gilbert, Economy, Massachusetts, Regulation, The Strip | 6 Comments

Blood on the Boardwalk: Marrandino out

Posted on January 6, 2013 by David McKee

You can practically hear the wind whistling through the corridors of power as top execs continue to jump — or are flung — from the sinking Caesars Entertainment ship. First, CFO Jonathan Halkyard up and quits, in favor of the … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, CityCenter, Current, Florida, Harrah's, Maryland, Massachusetts, MGM Mirage, Regulation, Revel, The Strip | 7 Comments

CityCenter’s clearance sale; Ameristar’s secret admirer

Posted on December 27, 2012 by David McKee

After a long, abyssal plunge, Las Vegas‘ real estate market has bottomed out — or so knowledgeable people tell me. Seems that the banks ’round here ignored Mitt Romney‘s (bad) advice to dump the “shadow inventory” en masse into the … Continue reading →

Posted in Ameristar, CityCenter, Current, Donald Trump, Economy, Election, Harrah's, Illinois, Louisiana, Massachusetts, MGM Mirage, Missouri, Penn National, Pinnacle Entertainment, Sheldon Adelson, The Strip, Wall Street | Comments Off