Category Archives: MGM Mirage

Battle of Sands widens

Posted on February 13, 2014 by David McKee

Las Vegas Sands‘ Web sites remain “under maintenance,” as the company reels from a vast and invasive cyber-attack. In addition to the FBI, the Secret Service has taken an interest in the matter. The assault is a boon for third-party … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, Internet gambling, Massachusetts, MGM Mirage, Politics, Problem gambling, Sheldon Adelson, The Strip | Comments Off

Pinnacle beats The Street; MGM goes electric

Posted on February 12, 2014 by David McKee

Pinnacle Entertainment did a brilliant job of managing Wall Street‘s expectations, its cash flow coming in $5 million above analysts’ consensus, driven by lower operating expenses. J.P. Morgan‘s Joseph Greff called the results “better than feared,” which tells you how … Continue reading →

Posted in Ameristar, Environment, Foxwoods, International, Internet gambling, Maryland, Massachusetts, MGM Mirage, Missouri, Ohio, Pinnacle Entertainment, Transportation, Tribal, Wall Street | Comments Off

The Midwest: First the good news …

Posted on February 10, 2014 by David McKee

Casino revenue in the Buckeye State vaulted 56%, as several new racinos came on line. The not such good news is that Ohio casinos are merrily cannibalizing themselves, down 16% on a year/year basis. Hollywood Columbus, in particular, continues to … Continue reading →

Posted in Boyd Gaming, Current, Hard Rock International, Harrah's, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Isle of Capri, MGM Mirage, Missouri, Neil Bluhm, Ohio, Penn National, Pinnacle Entertainment, Politics, Racinos, Wall Street | 1 Comment

Intimidation at Aria; Big sell-off at Wynn

Posted on February 10, 2014 by David McKee

Is Aria getting a little big for its britches? Nevada Gaming Control Board agents say they were harassed at the 4,000-room casino, specifically when trying to monitor the roulette wheel. “The complaint said two state agents who had not identified themselves … Continue reading →

Posted in Harrah's, history, Macau, MGM Mirage, New York, Regulation, Steve Wynn | Comments Off

Through a looking glass, brightly

Posted on February 6, 2014 by David McKee

So much for my crystal ball. Two projects that I openly doubted are now close to fruition and a third is showing fitful signs of life. (Another, Howard Bulloch‘s Ferris wheel, appears to be being dismantled.) Yesterday, SLS Las Vegas … Continue reading →

Posted in Alex Yemenidjian, Cannery Casino Resorts, Entertainment, Hard Rock Hotel, Harrah's, MGM Mirage, Planet Hollywood, Sahara, Sam Nazarian, The Strip, Tilman Fertitta, Tourism, Transportation | Comments Off

Penn, Parx fold in Maryland; Home rule in N.Y.?

Posted on February 5, 2014 by David McKee

In a rare moment of grace, Penn National Gaming agreed not to sue Prince George’s County over the award of a Maryland casino project to MGM Resorts International. (As expected, Greenwood Racing also signed away its prerogative to litigate.) Perhaps … Continue reading →

Posted in Cantor Gaming, Economy, Greenwood Racing, Macau, Maryland, MGM Mirage, New Hampshire, New York, Penn National, Problem gambling, Regulation, Sports | Comments Off

Sheldon Adelson vs. the world

Posted on February 5, 2014 by David McKee

A fissure has opened within Big Gaming. Sheldon Adelson‘s efforts to push anti-Internet-casino legislation will be officially opposed by an industry lobby that includes MGM Resorts International. Both MGM and the American Gaming Association are constituents of the Coalition for Consumer … Continue reading →

Posted in Economy, Election, Florida, Genting, Internet gambling, MGM Mirage, Politics, Sheldon Adelson, Tribal | Comments Off

Quote of the Day

Posted on February 3, 2014 by David McKee

“Audiences may have had the same reaction I did in my first review of Zarkana. I wrote that the character played by Paul Bisson ‘just seems to be trying so hard to tell us something. As he gesticulates and sings so … Continue reading →

Posted in Cirque du Soleil, Current, Entertainment, MGM Mirage | Comments Off

Super Bowl hits Vegas jackpot; Hope for Caesars overseas

Posted on February 3, 2014 by David McKee

“It was embarrassing, humiliating and unbearable,” but when the Super Bowl was over, Nevada sports books had cleaned up … except for that safety on the first play from scrimmage, costly for the Denver Broncos and the books alike. Heavy … Continue reading →

Posted in Aristocrat, Atlantic City, Bally Technologies, Boyd Gaming, Harrah's, International, LVCVA, MGM Mirage, Revel, Sheldon Adelson, Sports, Steve Wynn, The Strip, Tourism | Comments Off

All stories lead to Massachusetts

Posted on January 24, 2014 by David McKee

Since it faces no competition in western Massachusetts, it was mostly theater when MGM Resorts International CEO James Murren presented the project to the Massachusetts Gaming Commission. The latter will have months in which to mull the enormous volume of … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Boyd Gaming, California, Harrah's, International, Internet gambling, Massachusetts, MGM Mirage, Pennsylvania, Taxes, Tribal | Comments Off

Seeking bargains in Japan, Delaware

Posted on January 22, 2014 by David McKee

Osaka‘s government is entertaining proposals for a $5 billion casino, to be built on landfill — hoping to get ahead of the curve should the federal government approve legalized gambling. “We’d need global casino-operators’ involvement and expertise as the business … Continue reading →

Posted in Delaware, Genting, Harrah's, Japan, Macau, MGM Mirage, Racinos, Taxes | Comments Off

Case Bets: Massachusetts, Biloxi, Betcoin and Cosmo

Posted on January 22, 2014 by David McKee

In a TV interview, Massachusetts Gaming Commission Chairman Stephen Crosby tipped his hand, indicating that approval of MGM Springfield is far more likely than not. However, the MGC might be making some demands of its own, above and beyond what … Continue reading →

Posted in Cirque du Soleil, Cosmopolitan, Derek Stevens, Downtown, Entertainment, Harrah's, Massachusetts, MGM Mirage, Mississippi, New York, Regulation, Taxes, Technology, The Strip | Comments Off

Just when …

Posted on January 20, 2014 by David McKee

You thought Atlantic City had taken its lumps for January, but here comes an additional indignity. Borgata was forced to cancel part of its Winter Poker Open in mid-tourney. Casino surveillance detected the insinuation of fake chips into the tournament’s … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Bally Technologies, Macau, MGM Mirage, Sheldon Adelson, Steve Wynn, Technology, Wall Street | Comments Off

A tale of two cities

Posted on January 15, 2014 by David McKee

On Jan. 21, at 9 p.m., Bloomberg Television will be airing this documentary. Based on the trailer, I’m not impressed, as it yokes together an Atlantic City betting spree with unrelated — and hardly new — scenes of Las Vegas‘ … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Boyd Gaming, Economy, Harrah's, MGM Mirage, Steve Wynn, TV | Comments Off

They burn the Monte Carlo, don’t they?; Cantor gets slammed

Posted on January 14, 2014 by David McKee

Yes, there’s been another fire at the Monte Carlo. This one was confined to the Double Barrel Saloon and there was only one injury, most importantly. That place has some rough luck, doesn’t it? It doesn’t matter what Cantor Gaming … Continue reading →

Posted in Bally Technologies, Cantor Gaming, Current, Horseracing, MGM Mirage, Monte Carlo fire, Regulation, The Strip | Comments Off

Viva Macao; Battling for dollars in Maine

Posted on January 14, 2014 by David McKee

Hard as it may be to believe, Macao is on track to gross $77 million in 2017. That leaves Las Vegas hopelessly in the dust as a gambling destination, especially with non-gaming amenities taking up a bigger share of the … Continue reading →

Posted in Churchill Downs, Economy, Entertainment, Macau, Maine, Melco Crown Entertainment, MGM Mirage, Penn National, Sheldon Adelson, Steve Wynn, The Strip | Comments Off

Biloxi comes back

Posted on January 13, 2014 by David McKee

Time was when Biloxi was considered one of the three premier casino resorts in America. That, of course, was before Hurricane Katrina literally swept the city’s casino fleet from its moorings. The city has been trying to right the ship … Continue reading →

Posted in Economy, Hard Rock International, Harrah's, history, Iowa, MGM Mirage, Mississippi, Regulation | Comments Off

Genting: We bombed in Miami; Jockeying for position in Massachusetts

Posted on January 10, 2014 by David McKee

It took almost no time at all for Genting Group’s latest Miami proposal to draw heavy political criticism. State Sen. Gwen Margolis (D), who represents the area, thinks a slot parlor is too downscale for the neighborhood. She also points … Continue reading →

Posted in Genting, Harrah's, Massachusetts, MGM Mirage, Mohegan Sun, Penn National, Politics, Racinos, Steve Wynn, Transportation | Comments Off

Second chances for Caesars, Hard Rock

Posted on January 9, 2014 by David McKee

In a bit of good news for Caesars Entertainment, the government of South Korea is considering a relaxation of its casino-bidding rules. Specifically, the requirement of a BBB bond rating may be knocked down a bit — and bond ratings … Continue reading →

Posted in Harrah's, International, Iowa, Maryland, MGM Mirage, Penn National, Wall Street, Warner Gaming | Comments Off

Illinois freezes; Concierges outsourced

Posted on January 8, 2014 by David McKee

“Dec regional gaming revs should be coming out from the states this week and next and it won’t be pretty.” So warns Todd Jordan, aka @HedgeyeSnakeye. Case in point, Illinois, where revenues tumbled 13%. Even market leader Rivers Casino was … Continue reading →

Posted in Boyd Gaming, Current, Economy, Harrah's, Illinois, MGM Mirage, Penn National, The Strip | Comments Off