Category Archives: Massachusetts

Sheldon Adelson, wuss; MGM pounces; Slipper-y logic; Enter whining

Posted on January 12, 2012 by David McKee

What manner of fool spends $5 million to disseminate a film that he’s never seen and whose content he claims not to endorse? Sheldon Adelson, that’s who. After his latest political favorite got clobbered in the New Hampshire primary, Adelson … Continue reading →

Posted in Alex Yemenidjian, Ameristar, Cordish Co., Dan Lee, Donald Trump, Economy, Election, Harrah's, Iowa, Isle of Capri, Jack Binion, Louisiana, Massachusetts, Mississippi, Movies, Neil Bluhm, Penn National, Pennsylvania, Pinnacle Entertainment, Politics, Racinos, Regulation, Sheldon Adelson, Station Casinos, Tourism, Transportation, Tribal, Tropicana Entertainment, TV | Comments Off on Sheldon Adelson, wuss; MGM pounces; Slipper-y logic; Enter whining

Adelson: Whining our future; The online deluge

Posted on January 9, 2012 by David McKee

Apparently there’s no avoiding what has become the story of the day: Sheldon Adelson‘s $5 million dowry to presidential aspirant Newt Gingrich. It’s a gift that comes with a substantial pre-nup; if Gingrich falters in South Carolina, American Crossroads and … Continue reading →

Posted in Alex Yemenidjian, Atlantic City, Boyd Gaming, Colony Capital, Current, Economy, Election, Florida, George Maloof, Harrah's, Harry Reid, Hooters, International, Internet gambling, Marketing, Massachusetts, MGM Mirage, Pennsylvania, Politics, Regulation, Sheldon Adelson, South Carolina, The Strip, Wall Street | 4 Comments

Adelson vacillates; Macao triumphs; Name of infamy

Posted on January 4, 2012 by David McKee

Showing something less than his usual decisiveness, Sheldon Adelson continues to send mixed signals with regard to his intentions in his native Massachusetts. He’s re-upped with Boston-based lobbyist firm Donoghue Barrett & Singal. However, despite years of scouting the market, … Continue reading →

Posted in Colony Capital, Current, Economy, Goldman Sachs, Harrah's, Iowa, Macau, Massachusetts, Penn National, Regulation, Sheldon Adelson, The Strip, Wall Street | Comments Off on Adelson vacillates; Macao triumphs; Name of infamy

Blast from the Past

Posted on December 7, 2011 by David McKee

This week finds me up to my butt in page proofs of Rick Lax‘s forthcoming book, I Get Paid for This, a Michael Jackson The [sic] Immortal World Tour™ review for WizardOfVegas.com, profiles of developer Brett Torino and Mayor Carolyn … Continue reading →

Posted in Baseball, Cirque du Soleil, Columbia Sussex, Downtown, Entertainment, Florida, Harrah's, history, James Packer, Lake Tahoe, Massachusetts, Movies, Tamares Group, The Strip | 1 Comment

Only in Vegas

Posted on December 6, 2011 by David McKee

So you’re running in the Zappos.com Rock ‘n’ Roll Las Vegas Marathon and, as you pass the Riviera, your hamstrings burning you like a Donald Trump real estate scheme, you have a sudden urge to lay some bread on that … Continue reading →

Posted in Baseball, Colorado, Donald Trump, Marketing, Massachusetts, Riviera, Sports, The Strip, Tourism | Comments Off on Only in Vegas

Sanguine Sands; Genting vs. Islamofascism; Arkansas vs. Missouri

Posted on November 23, 2011 by David McKee

Las Vegas Sands dispatched its international overseer, Rob Goldstein (right) and sidekick Dan Briggs to New York as envoys to Wall Street. As reported by J.P. Morgan‘s Joseph Greff, Sands’ outlook is sanguine, particularly with regard to the Singapore and … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, Atlantic City, Colony Capital, Economy, Election, Florida, Genting, Goldman Sachs, International, Macau, Massachusetts, Missouri, Politics, Sheldon Adelson, Singapore, Taxes, Texas, The Strip, Tourism, Wall Street | 2 Comments

Adelson making mischief in Massachusetts?

Posted on November 22, 2011 by David McKee

This just in: Scarcely was the ink dry on Massachusetts‘ new casino law when the state got slapped with litigation. The issue? The law’s “explicit, race-based set-asides that give federally recognized Indian tribes a categorical advantage over all other applicants … Continue reading →

Posted in Current, Massachusetts, Pennsylvania, Regulation, Tribal | Comments Off on Adelson making mischief in Massachusetts?

Jack Abramoff, human sewage; Massachusetts: It’s done

Posted on November 22, 2011 by David McKee

Victor Rocha says it best: “Jack Abramoff is still the scum off the earth.” The unrepentant ripoff artist — to call him a snake in the grass would be a slander upon serpents — claims his only failing was to … Continue reading →

Posted in Ameristar, California, Don Barden, Election, Harrah's, history, Louisiana, Massachusetts, Missouri, Movies, Oklahoma, Penn National, Politics, Racinos, Regulation, Sheldon Adelson, Steve Wynn, Taxes, Texas, The Mob, Tribal | Comments Off on Jack Abramoff, human sewage; Massachusetts: It’s done

Ameristar goes East; Colony’s secret formula revealed

Posted on November 17, 2011 by David McKee

Yesterday morning, Wall Street was advised by Ameristar Casinos that the latter had forked over $16 million for land in Springfield, Massachusetts. Given that Ameristar has been in extreme-caution mode since the death of founder Craig H. Neilsen and the … Continue reading →

Posted in Ameristar, Architecture, Atlantic City, Colony Capital, Current, Detroit, Indiana, Maryland, Massachusetts, Movies, Penn National, Pennsylvania, Politics, Sheldon Adelson, Tribal | 3 Comments

Rock, Paper, City; Generosity at Caesars, shopping at Sands

Posted on November 2, 2011 by David McKee

While Massachusetts lawmakers sharpen their scissors in order to cut and paste two versions of the Lege’s casino-enabling bill, the city of Holyoke is happy to find itself between Hard Rock International and Paper City Development. The partnership has its … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Current, Detroit, Economy, Election, Harrah's, Maine, Massachusetts, MGM Mirage, Penn National, Pennsylvania, Racinos, Sheldon Adelson, Sports, The Strip, Tribal | 1 Comment

Domino effects

Posted on October 31, 2011 by David McKee

“Prior to the official opening, a 60-minute opening ceremony was held outside of the main entrance to the casino, where local and state politicians patted each other on the back for finally getting the casino opened, a mere 10 years … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Colony Capital, Culinary Union, Current, Detroit, Economy, Election, Florida, Harrah's, Horseracing, Isle of Capri, Kentucky, Maine, Massachusetts, MGM Mirage, Politics, Problem gambling, Racinos, Regulation, Singapore, Slot routes, Taxes, Tourism, Tribal | 1 Comment

MSM tunes Steve Wynn out

Posted on October 20, 2011 by David McKee

Has Steve Wynn jumped the shark? That is a question I never, ever thought I’d be asking. But an interesting thing happened in the wake of Winn Wynn Resorts‘ most recent conference call. Toward the end, he went on his … Continue reading →

Posted in Boyd Gaming, California, Carl Icahn, Current, Donald Trump, Economy, Florida, Harrah's, history, Illinois, International, Massachusetts, MGM Mirage, Plaza, Politics, Racinos, Regulation, Sheldon Adelson, The Strip, Tourism, Wall Street | 5 Comments

NIMBY time in Maine

Posted on October 17, 2011 by David McKee

Having gotten the nod from Maine legislators, a third casino could soon be heading the state’s way. Appropriately enough, it will appear on the ballot as Question Three. Opponent Jim Handy has his shorts in a wad over the location … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, Current, Economy, Election, Maine, Massachusetts, Penn National, Politics, Racinos | Comments Off on NIMBY time in Maine

Quote of the Day

Posted on October 13, 2011 by David McKee

“You can’t legislate everything in life. People [from Massachusetts] are gaming in Connecticut, Rhode Island, Las Vegas and Atlantic City.” — state Rep. Paul K. Frost (R-Auburn), speaking in support of Massachusetts’ nascent casino industry.

Posted in Atlantic City, Current, Economy, Massachusetts, Politics, The Strip, Tourism | Comments Off on Quote of the Day

Monopoly over Miami

Posted on October 4, 2011 by David McKee

A recent visitor to Las Vegas from the Pacific Rim told me that Sheldon Adelson has worn out his welcome in Macao (which is on pace to eclipse all other gaming markets combined) and is fast doing so in Singapore. … Continue reading →

Posted in Archon Corp., Current, Economy, Florida, Genting, Harrah's, Internet gambling, Laughlin, Macau, Massachusetts, New York, Pennsylvania, Politics, Racinos, Sheldon Adelson, Singapore, Stanley Ho, Steve Wynn, Taxes, Wall Street | Comments Off on Monopoly over Miami

Quote of the Day

Posted on September 29, 2011 by David McKee

“One team wanted it. The other team didn’t know how to get it.” — ESPN analyst John Kruk, on the culmination of an indescribably dramatic final night of the baseball season, as the Boston Red SoxTampa imploded and the Bay … Continue reading →

Posted in Baseball, Current, Florida, Massachusetts, Sports, TV | 1 Comment

Rehab in rehab

Posted on September 13, 2011 by David McKee

If it seems that the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino‘s infamous Rehab pool party has been keeping a lower profile this year, that’s no illusion. The expulsion of Morgans Hotel Group and its party-hearty executive team has brought a de-empahsis … Continue reading →

Posted in Current, Entertainment, Environment, Hard Rock Hotel, Massachusetts, The Strip, Warner Gaming | 2 Comments

Gaming is on the march

Posted on September 9, 2011 by David McKee

Add Kentucky to the states that have casino-style gambling, at least temporarily. Owners of Kentucky Downs found a loophole in Bluegrass State law and galloped through it. “Instant Racing” is the sort of VLT game you might find at a … Continue reading →

Posted in Cannery Casino Resorts, Current, Economy, Election, Genting, Harrah's, Horseracing, Isle of Capri, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Massachusetts, New York, Ohio, Penn National, Politics, Racinos, Regulation, Taxes, The Strip, Tourism, Transportation, Tribal, Warner Gaming | 6 Comments

Elvis & Eva have left the building

Posted on August 10, 2011 by David McKee

Two axes fell upon CityCenter in one day. It’s tough to decide which is more newsworthy. I’ll go with the Beso story because it has a not-so-hidden upside. Golden Nugget CEO Tilman Fertitta is feeling sufficiently bullish to plant his … Continue reading →

Posted in Cirque du Soleil, CityCenter, Columbia Sussex, Current, Dining, Economy, Entertainment, International, Marketing, Massachusetts, Texas, The Strip, Tilman Fertitta, Tourism | 1 Comment

Lost: Steve Wynn’s marbles

Posted on July 21, 2011 by David McKee

Oh Christ, Steve Wynn, grow up already. Busy Wall Street analysts were held hostage to a 433-word talk-radio tirade while they were probably itching to write up quarterly earnings reports. When other CEOs might have been bragging on an “amazing … Continue reading →

Posted in Alabama, Boyd Gaming, California, Carl Icahn, CityCenter, Economy, Florida, Fontainebleau, Harrah's, James Packer, Lawrence Ho, Macau, Massachusetts, Melco Crown Entertainment, MGM Mirage, Politics, Regulation, Sheldon Adelson, Steve Wynn, Taxes, Texas, The Strip, Tourism | 5 Comments