Category Archives: MGM Resorts International

MGM: Just say no; NBA to Vegas?

Posted on April 2, 2020 by David McKee

Setting an admirable example, MGM Resorts International will be abstaining from any CARES Act bailout money. It will avail itself of the loan guarantees being extended by the federal government. As the company itself says, it needn’t play poor, not … Continue reading →

Posted in Cordish Co., Economy, Internet gambling, Las Vegas Sands, MGM Resorts International, Pennsylvania, Regulation, Sports, Sports betting, Technology, The Strip | 2 Comments

Sanders enters casino fray; MGM execs play the market

Posted on April 2, 2020 by David McKee

Sen. Bernie Sanders (I), perhaps in a move to reinvigorate his comatose presidential campaign, has waded into the dispute between the Trump administration and the Mashpee Wampanoag. The origin of the tribe’s newly dissolved, 321-acre reservation is clouded by tribal recognition during … Continue reading →

Posted in Donald Trump, Economy, Election, Genting, Health, history, Horseracing, Illinois, Indiana, International, Jim Murren, Massachusetts, MGM Resorts International, Michigan, Ohio, Penn National, Politics, Sports, Sports betting, Tribal, Twin River, Wall Street | 1 Comment

Boyd opens its wallet, stringency at Scientific, improvidence at MGM

Posted on March 31, 2020 by David McKee

Boyd Gaming, which had previously been reported to be giving two weeks pay (misreported as one week by the Las Vegas Review-Journal) to employees idled in Las Vegas by the one-month casino shutdown, has gotten “george” and extended the hardship pay … Continue reading →

Posted in Arizona, Boyd Gaming, Caesars Entertainment, China, Churchill Downs, Economy, Health, Illinois, Japan, Jim Murren, Kentucky, Las Vegas Sands, Macau, MGM Resorts International, Neil Bluhm, Nevada, New York, Oklahoma, Scientific Games, Sheldon Adelson, Tribal, Wall Street, Wynn Resorts | 2 Comments

Hard times for Atlantic City; Murren’s big payday

Posted on March 30, 2020 by David McKee

Atlantic City casinos have pink-slipped 6,000 workers as a gaming shutdown goes on indefinitely. Said Ocean Casino Resort CEO Terry Glebocki, “This is truly an unprecedented time not only for Ocean, but for everyone.” Unemployment claims in the Garden State … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Boyd Gaming, Caesars Entertainment, Economy, Eldorado Resorts, Hard Rock International, Health, Illinois, Indiana, Louisiana, Macau, MGM Resorts International, Morris Bailey, Ocean Resort, Penn National, Pennsylvania, Real Estate, Regulation, Sports betting, Tribal, Wall Street, Washington State | 1 Comment

Casinos in survival mode; Sports betting in Cali in peril

Posted on March 27, 2020 by David McKee

After this week’s stimulus vote in the U.S. Congress, the casino industry would seem to have ducked a bullet. But, depending on how much financial aid it can draw down, the question lingers over whether any operators will have to file … Continue reading →

Posted in Boyd Gaming, Caesars Entertainment, California, Charity, Colorado, Economy, Election, Foxwoods, Full House Resorts, Golden Gaming, Health, Horseracing, Indiana, International, Internet gambling, Las Vegas Sands, Louisiana, MGM Resorts International, Mohegan Sun, Nevada, Oklahoma, Penn National, Problem gambling, Regulation, Sports betting, Station Casinos, Tourism, Transportation, Tribal, Wall Street, Wynn Resorts | 1 Comment

One picture = 1K words

Posted on March 26, 2020 by David McKee

Bellagio conservatory, yesterday.

Posted in MGM Resorts International, The Strip | Comments Off on One picture = 1K words

Stimulus is here, recovery … who knows?

Posted on March 26, 2020 by David McKee

It’s still not a done deal but what Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R) calls “emergency relief” emerged from the Senate yesterday. A few jerks tried to hold it up with the preposterous argument that “the expanded unemployment benefits were overly … Continue reading →

Posted in AGA, Caesars Entertainment, China, Conventions, Cretins, Donald Trump, Downtown, Economy, Environment, Galaxy Entertainment, Health, International, Macau, Massachusetts, MGM Resorts International, Politics, South Korea, Terry Caudill, The Strip, Tilman Fertitta, Tourism, TV, Wynn Resorts | Comments Off on Stimulus is here, recovery … who knows?

Wynn Resorts defended; Trump stiffs hotel employees

Posted on March 24, 2020 by David McKee

JP Morgan analyst Joseph Greff came riding to the aid of Wynn Resorts this week. “COVID-19’s evolving impact has created a lot of share price carnage in the gaming and lodging sector, to state the obvious. Its impact should be … Continue reading →

Posted in China, Current, Donald Trump, Downtown Grand, Economy, Environment, Florida, Health, International, Internet gambling, Macau, Marketing, Massachusetts, MGM Resorts International, Problem gambling, Regulation, The Strip, Tourism, Unite-Here, Wall Street, Wynn Resorts | 2 Comments

Las Vegas is sickly; Local heroes

Posted on March 24, 2020 by David McKee

As though Las Vegas weren’t reeling already from Coronavirus comes a bulletin that it’s one of America’s 25 worst cities for spring allergies. (Tell me about it!) As though one’s immune system weren’t compromised enough. Sin City clocks in a … Continue reading →

Posted in AGA, Charity, Cretins, Dining, Economy, Health, Japan, Louisiana, MGM Resorts International, Nevada | 1 Comment

Poverty in the suites; Industry ramps up bailout pressure

Posted on March 23, 2020 by David McKee

Sheldon Adelson is worth $28 billion today. Which doesn’t sound so bad until you consider that he was worth $40 billion before the Wall Street crash. That’s the literal price of owning 432,000,000 shares of Las Vegas Sands. Not that … Continue reading →

Posted in AGA, Caesars Entertainment, California, Carl Icahn, Charity, China, Donald Trump, Economy, Elaine Wynn, FanDuel, GLPI, Health, history, Horseracing, Illinois, Internet gambling, Las Vegas Sands, Macau, Melco Resorts & Entertainment, MGM Resorts International, Movies, New York, Phil Ruffin, Sheldon Adelson, Sports betting, Station Casinos, The Mob, Tribal, Unite-Here, Wall Street, Wynn Resorts | Comments Off on Poverty in the suites; Industry ramps up bailout pressure

Murren sacked

Posted on March 23, 2020 by David McKee

MGM Resorts International canned CEO Jim Murren yesterday, while nobody was looking, promoting Bill Hornbuckle acting CEO and president. Hornbuckle should have been Murren’s heir apparent but the exiled CEO had preferred to go on a candidate search. MGM explained … Continue reading →

Posted in Caesars Entertainment, CityCenter, Donald Trump, Health, history, International, Macau, Massachusetts, MGM Resorts International, Mohegan Sun, Nevada, Phil Ruffin, Sexual misconduct, The Strip | 2 Comments

Stitt catches a break; Station, Gaughan step up to the plate

Posted on March 21, 2020 by David McKee

Did the government of Oklahoma screw up the exclusivity agreement that gave it power over tribal gambling? That’s the contention of a new legal brief from the Wichita and Affiliated Tribes, who say that the recent expansion of lottery offerings … Continue reading →

Posted in Boyd Gaming, Charity, Dan Gilbert, Downtown, Genting, Golden Gaming, Health, International, Internet gambling, Lotteries, MGM Resorts International, Michael Gaughan, Ohio, Oklahoma, Sahara, Singapore, Sports, Sports betting, Station Casinos, Taxes, The Strip, Tilman Fertitta, Tribal, William Hill | 1 Comment

Where do we go from here?

Posted on March 19, 2020 by David McKee

In the process of canceling its 2020 earnings guidance, Marriott International gave some oblique insight into how the casino industry is likely to cope with the Coronavirus quarantine. Occupancy, it said, had fallen to 25%, compared to 70% last year. … Continue reading →

Posted in AGA, Alabama, Baseball, Boyd Gaming, Caesars Entertainment, Carl Icahn, Charity, Economy, Health, Illinois, Indiana, International, Internet gambling, Iowa, Las Vegas Sands, Macau, Melco Resorts & Entertainment, MGM Resorts International, Movies, Oregon, Penn National, Real Estate, Regulation, Sahara, Sheldon Adelson, Slot routes, South Korea, Sports, Sports betting, The Strip, Tribal, Wall Street, Wynn Resorts | 1 Comment

Life after casinos; Sheldon is george

Posted on March 19, 2020 by David McKee

“The situation continues to evolve and will escalate rapidly and dramatically. These are unprecedented actions in an extraordinary situation, but they could be the difference in saving lives and keeping people safe.” So said Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan (R) on Sunday, … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Boyd Gaming, Caesars Entertainment, California, China, Cordish Co., e-sports, Economy, Entertainment, Foxwoods, Health, Horseracing, Internet gambling, Las Vegas Sands, Maryland, Massachusetts, MGM Resorts International, Mississippi, Mohegan Sun, Nevada, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Politics, Rush Street Gaming, Sheldon Adelson, Sports, Sports betting, The Strip, Tourism, Tribal, TV, Wisconsin | 1 Comment

Tough times return to Atlantic City; KY Derby delayed

Posted on March 18, 2020 by David McKee

As we saw earlier today, Las Vegas and Reno are pretty badly screwed for at least the next month. What about perennial problem child/comeback kid Atlantic City? Just when it’s back on its feet and roaring again, along comes Coronavirus … Continue reading →

Posted in AGA, Atlantic City, California, Dining, Economy, Election, Health, Horseracing, Internet gambling, Kentucky, Macau, Maryland, MGM Resorts International, New York, North Carolina, Regulation, South Carolina, Sports betting, Taxes, Tilman Fertitta, Tourism, Tribal, TV, Wall Street, Washington State | Comments Off on Tough times return to Atlantic City; KY Derby delayed

Las Vegas is closed

Posted on March 18, 2020 by David McKee

America‘s favorite 24-hour town has finally caved to the inevitable and done what neither Sept. 11 nor the Great Recession made it do. It has turned out the lights and hung the “Closed for business” sign in the window. Finally … Continue reading →

Posted in Boyd Gaming, Caesars Entertainment, California, Canada, Cosmopolitan, Culinary Union, Dining, Downtown, Economy, Election, Golden Gaming, Health, Illinois, Las Vegas Sands, MGM Resorts International, Nevada, Phil Ruffin, Real Estate, Regulation, Station Casinos, Steve Wynn, The Strip, Tourism, Transportation, Wall Street, Wynn Resorts | Comments Off on Las Vegas is closed

Gaming: Too big to fail?; Sports betting gets creative

Posted on March 17, 2020 by David McKee

Casino CEOs have no shame. They are capitalizing on the Coronavirus crisis to go to Congress, palms extended, cadging for a bailout. In an outrage-inducing story in today’s Washington Post, it is reported that the gaming industry’s wish list includes: … Continue reading →

Posted in AGA, Caesars Entertainment, Economy, Eldorado Resorts, Genting, MGM Resorts International, Michael Gaughan, Nevada, Phil Ruffin, Planet Hollywood, Politics, Sports, Sports betting, Steve Wynn, Taxes, Tourism, Transportation, Westgate LV, William Hill | 2 Comments

Turnaround in Springfield; Coping with Covid-19

Posted on March 17, 2020 by David McKee

Although it seems supremely beside the point at this grave moment, it’s time to report February’s gaming-revenue numbers from Massachusetts. Casinos in the state grossed some $86 million, with $52.5 million of that made at Encore Boston Harbor, with 61% … Continue reading →

Posted in Australia, California, Canada, Crown Resorts, Eldorado Resorts, Entertainment, Health, Horseracing, International, Macau, Maryland, Massachusetts, MGM Resorts International, Ohio, Penn National, Philippines, Regulation, Reno, Tourism, Tribal, Wynn Resorts | Comments Off on Turnaround in Springfield; Coping with Covid-19

Darkness at noon

Posted on March 17, 2020 by David McKee

Casino dominos continue to topple. The Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas is the latest Las Vegas Strip casino to close thanks to Covid-19, “temporarily.” (Well, none of the closures has been permanent but there are different degrees of temporary-ness, MGM Resorts … Continue reading →

Posted in Alabama, Atlantic City, Caesars Entertainment, Connecticut, Cosmopolitan, Detroit, Dining, Foxwoods, Health, Las Vegas Raiders, Las Vegas Sands, Louisiana, Massachusetts, MGM Resorts International, Michigan, Mississippi, Mohegan Sun, New Jersey, New York, Penn National, Sports, The Strip, Tribal | Comments Off on Darkness at noon

Casino closures sweep the country

Posted on March 16, 2020 by David McKee

We’re all going through what are called “adjustment reactions,” including casino executives across the country. They’d like to stay open for business—many are—but others are being forced to close or making the difficult choice to go dark on their own. … Continue reading →

Posted in Boyd Gaming, Caesars Entertainment, Conventions, Cordish Co., Derek Stevens, Downtown, e-sports, Economy, Eldorado Resorts, Health, IGT, Illinois, Indiana, Las Vegas Sands, Maryland, Massachusetts, Melco Resorts & Entertainment, MGM Resorts International, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Scientific Games, Sports, Station Casinos, The Strip, Wall Street, Wynn Resorts | 1 Comment