Category Archives: MGM Mirage

Election wins for Foxwoods, Golden Gaming; New boss at Beau Rivage

Posted on June 24, 2015 by David McKee

Almost lost in the excitement over the opening of Plainridge Park, in Plainview, is a little-reported event: New Bedford‘s vote on casino host-community status. To say that KG Urban Enterprises won is rather an understatement. It garnered 73% of votes cast, … Continue reading →

Posted in Current, Election, Foxwoods, Golden Gaming, Harrah's, Lyle Berman, Massachusetts, MGM Mirage, Mississippi, Neil Bluhm, Ohio, Penn National, Racinos, Regulation, Steve Wynn, Wall Street | Comments Off on Election wins for Foxwoods, Golden Gaming; New boss at Beau Rivage

Atlantic City fights back; Packer a good bet again

Posted on June 23, 2015 by David McKee

  After seemingly being in shock from the stampede to put casinos in northern New Jersey, civic leaders of Atlantic City are starting to put up a fight. The terms of battle vary, with some dead-set against a breaking of … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Economy, Hard Rock International, Internet gambling, James Packer, Macau, MGM Mirage, Mississippi, New York, Politics, Sheldon Adelson, Tropicana Entertainment | Comments Off on Atlantic City fights back; Packer a good bet again

Massachusetts enters the fray; Delaware racinos press their case

Posted on June 19, 2015 by David McKee

It’s hard to believe but we’re only a few days from the opening of Plainridge Park Casino, bringing gambling to one of the last major, untapped markets in the U.S.: Massachusetts. While the Penn National Gaming property hasn’t been entirely … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Delaware, Economy, Florida, Genting, Macau, Massachusetts, MGM Mirage, Penn National, Racinos, Regulation, Rhode Island, Sheldon Adelson, Stanley Ho, Steve Wynn, Taxes, The Strip, Tribal | Comments Off on Massachusetts enters the fray; Delaware racinos press their case

More grief for Uncle Carl; Bluhm backs down

Posted on June 18, 2015 by David McKee

Carl Icahn has won his gambit to take over Trump Taj Mahal but that doesn’t mean he and Unite-Here are all lovey-dovey. Although Icahn earlier called Trump Entertainment Resorts the most distressed company he’s ever seen, he’s giving CEO Bob … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, Atlantic City, Carl Icahn, Cordish Co., Harrah's, history, Maryland, MGM Mirage, Neil Bluhm, New York, Penn National, Regulation, Taxes, Trump Entertainment Resorts, Unite-Here | 2 Comments

Rock in Rio flops; Tighter slots in Maryland?

Posted on June 17, 2015 by David McKee

According to Vital Vegas, the first Strip outing of Rock in Rio might be its last, as the music festival may have lost as much as $28 million. Vital Vegas puts attendance at a dreadful 130,000 (out of a possible … Continue reading →

Posted in Australia, Cordish Co., Current, Entertainment, Florida, Harrah's, International, Japan, Macau, Maryland, MGM Mirage, Pets, Philippines, Politics, Racinos, Regulation, Singapore, South Korea, The Strip, Tourism, Tribal | Comments Off on Rock in Rio flops; Tighter slots in Maryland?

Kirk Kerkorian, 1917-2015

Posted on June 17, 2015 by David McKee

Here in Las Vegas, the impact of Kirk Kerkorian‘s death is still sinking in. A man known for self-effacing personal habits left the world as discreetly as he passed through it in his Ford Taurus, leaving accomplishments that far exceeded … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, Atlantic City, Downtown, Harry Reid, history, Internet gambling, MGM Mirage, Mohegan Sun, Movies, Neil Bluhm, New York, Ohio, Penn National, Pennsylvania, Politics, Slot routes, Steve Wynn, Taxes, The Strip, Wall Street | 2 Comments

Quote of the Day

Posted on June 17, 2015 by David McKee

“What good does it do being rich? I can’t do what I want to do. I don’t like to get dressed up and go to see bankers. I hate that kind of thing.” — the late Kirk Kerkorian, to Dial Torgerson … Continue reading →

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

GLPI treads water

Posted on June 11, 2015 by David McKee

Top honchos from Gaming & Leisure Properties, including CEO Peter Carlino, recently met with J.P. Morgan analyst Joseph Greff. They assessed the current state of regional gaming markets as no better than “okay” and predicted that the industry trend to … Continue reading →

Posted in Economy, GLPI, Illinois, MGM Mirage, Pinnacle Entertainment, The Strip, Wall Street | Comments Off on GLPI treads water

Smooth sailing in Illinois, Iowa; Bad legislative bet

Posted on June 5, 2015 by David McKee

Just when Illinois casinos are trying to stave off another expansion of gambling, May brought a most inconvenient uptick in gambling revenues, albeit only half a percentage point, which can presumably be accounted for by the fact that this May had … Continue reading →

Posted in Boyd Gaming, GLPI, Harrah's, Illinois, Internet gambling, Isle of Capri, MGM Mirage, Penn National, Pennsylvania, Pinnacle Entertainment, Politics, Sports, Taxes, Wall Street, Warner Gaming | Comments Off on Smooth sailing in Illinois, Iowa; Bad legislative bet

Christie vs. Sweeney; Straub out of A.C.?

Posted on June 2, 2015 by David McKee

A bill introduced in the New Jersey Legislature sets up a proxy fight between Gov. Chris Christie (R) and state Senate President Stephen Sweeney (D) over the timing of when Garden State voters will be called upon to decide Atlantic … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Carl Icahn, Colony Capital, Dennis Gomes, Donald Trump, Election, Glenn Straub, Internet gambling, MGM Mirage, Pennsylvania, Politics, Revel, Steve Wynn, Taxes | Comments Off on Christie vs. Sweeney; Straub out of A.C.?

Mohegans, Foxwoods get go-ahead; More trouble for Caesars

Posted on June 1, 2015 by David McKee

Driven by apocalyptic job-loss projections by Foxwoods Casino Resort and Mohegan Sun, the House of Representatives of Connecticut passed a casino bill to Gov. Dannel Malloy (D) for his signature. The bill doesn’t authorize a casino per se but rather … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Economy, Foxwoods, Glenn Straub, Harrah's, International, Internet gambling, Lake Tahoe, Massachusetts, MGM Mirage, Mohegan Sun, Penn National, Steve Wynn, Technology, The Strip, Trump Entertainment Resorts, Warner Gaming | Comments Off on Mohegans, Foxwoods get go-ahead; More trouble for Caesars

Straub faces reality; Chinese players prefer Vegas

Posted on May 27, 2015 by David McKee

Reality continues to sink in at Revel, where Glenn Straub has thrown in the towel on reopening this summer — raising the prospect of a grand-reopening in the cold-weather months. Not very auspicious, that. Labor Day is the target date … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Genting, Glenn Straub, Hard Rock International, Harrah's, Macau, MGM Mirage, Revel, Taxes, The Strip, Tourism, Trump Entertainment Resorts, Wall Street | Comments Off on Straub faces reality; Chinese players prefer Vegas

Louisiana’s bonny April; Nevada Gold now with 100% more Nevada

Posted on May 22, 2015 by David McKee

Golden Nugget Lake Charles continues to be the outboard engine that speeds up Louisiana gaming revenues. The Pelican State was up 4% last month — but 13% when Tilman Fertitta‘s casino is added to the tally. It even made inroads … Continue reading →

Posted in Boyd Gaming, Churchill Downs, Genting, GLPI, Harrah's, Isle of Capri, Louisiana, Macau, MGM Mirage, Pinnacle Entertainment, Racinos, Slot routes, South Dakota, South Korea, Stanley Ho, Tilman Fertitta, Tropicana Entertainment | Comments Off on Louisiana’s bonny April; Nevada Gold now with 100% more Nevada

MGM rebellion quashed; No ‘Net poker for Mississippi

Posted on May 20, 2015 by David McKee

Jonathan Litt‘s battle for control of MGM Resorts International‘s destiny is over almost before it was begun. His Land & Buildings firm has dropped its slate of candidates for the MGM board of directors, after failing to gain traction with … Continue reading →

Posted in Environment, Internet gambling, MGM Mirage, Mississippi, Sheldon Adelson, Sports, Steve Wynn, Taxes, The Strip, Wall Street | Comments Off on MGM rebellion quashed; No ‘Net poker for Mississippi

Loveman’s best decision; New face at Bellagio

Posted on May 18, 2015 by David McKee

Caesars Entertainment CEO Gary Loveman‘s decision to pull out of the troubled Baha Mar metaresort may represent one of the best judgment calls he ever made. The $3 billion Bahamas resort has missed three deadlines to open and has received the … Continue reading →

Posted in Australia, Genting, Harry Reid, International, Macau, MGM Mirage, Sam Nazarian, South Korea, The Strip | 1 Comment

New life for the Trop?; Paragon’s latest trophy

Posted on May 14, 2015 by David McKee

David G. Schwartz muses on the brave, new world at the Tropicana Las Vegas — soon with 100% more Penn National Gaming. He assesses it as a win for both parties. Penn gets a foothold at a strategic crossroads on … Continue reading →

Posted in Alex Yemenidjian, Baseball, Colony Capital, Columbia Sussex, Donald Trump, Entertainment, Hard Rock Hotel, history, M Resort, MGM Mirage, Penn National, Riviera, Sahara, Sheldon Adelson, Singapore, Station Casinos, The Strip, Transportation, Westgate LV | Comments Off on New life for the Trop?; Paragon’s latest trophy

April is the cruelest month for Atlantic City

Posted on May 13, 2015 by David McKee

Not only did players put dramatically less money onto the tables and into the slots but Atlantic City casinos had a run of bad luck last month. All of these factors contributed to a 17% decline. When the four closed … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Boyd Gaming, Entertainment, Harrah's, Internet gambling, MGM Mirage, Mohegan Sun, The Strip, Tilman Fertitta, Tropicana Entertainment, Trump Entertainment Resorts | 1 Comment

Et tu, Harry?; It’s a new era in Manila

Posted on May 12, 2015 by David McKee

Now that Sen. Harry Reid (D) has one foot out the door on Capitol Hill, he’s turning on the casino companies — particularly Caesars Entertainment — that helped him stay in power five years ago. Just when Sen. Lindsey Graham‘s … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Delaware, Genting, Harrah's, Harry Reid, Internet gambling, Kazuo Okada, Melco Crown Entertainment, MGM Mirage, Philippines, Politics, Regulation, Sheldon Adelson, Singapore | Comments Off on Et tu, Harry?; It’s a new era in Manila

Adieu, Monte Carlo; Sunny April in Detroit

Posted on May 12, 2015 by David McKee

Judging from how it bastardized the Strip facade of Monte Carlo, it’s clear MGM Resorts International doesn’t quite know what to do with the place. CEO Jim Murren tacitly confirmed this recently when he said MGM was studying myriad options … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, CityCenter, Detroit, Harrah's, MGM Mirage, Station Casinos, The Strip, Tourism, Wall Street | Comments Off on Adieu, Monte Carlo; Sunny April in Detroit

Hooters sold (again); Fat lady sings for Opera House

Posted on May 11, 2015 by David McKee

If someone with deep pockets wants to gamble on a big recovery on the Las Vegas Strip, then Spectrum Group Management would like to have a chat with them. Spectrum holds title to optimistically slugged “Project Jackpot,” just north of … Continue reading →

Posted in Ameristar, Dotty's, Genting, Harrah's, Hooters, Isle of Capri, MGM Mirage, Missouri, North Las Vegas, Penn National, Pinnacle Entertainment, Steve Wynn, The Strip, Tropicana Entertainment, Wall Street | 2 Comments