Category Archives: MGM Resorts International

Station diversifies; Caesars retrenches

Posted on June 19, 2019 by David McKee

Scott Roeben of VitalVegas continues to beat the mainstream media to the breaking stories in Sin City. His latest scoop has Apex nightclub at the Palms seeing a coup d’etat. Clique Hospitality is gone and now Station Casinos will try … Continue reading →

Posted in Baseball, Boyd Gaming, Caesars Entertainment, California, Culinary Union, Eldorado Resorts, Entertainment, MGM Resorts International, Nevada, North Las Vegas, Station Casinos, Tribal | 4 Comments

Arkansas casino nixed; Casino industry picks political winners, losers

Posted on June 17, 2019 by David McKee

Moving rapidly, the Arkansas Racing Commission unanimously granted a license to the Quapaw Tribe to build a casino in Jefferson County. (The tribe responded that it would be equally prompt in building $350 million Saracen Casino Resort. In the meantime slots … Continue reading →

Posted in Arkansas, Caesars Entertainment, Charity, Culinary Union, Dan Lee, Full House Resorts, Las Vegas Sands, MGM Resorts International, Nevada, Palms, Politics, Regulation, Sports betting, Station Casinos, Steve Wynn, Tribal, Wynn Resorts | Comments Off on Arkansas casino nixed; Casino industry picks political winners, losers

Big month for Hard Rock Atlantic City; Sunset Station unionizes

Posted on June 14, 2019 by David McKee

Atlantic City‘s two heaviest hitters had a not-so-merry month of May. Borgata fell 15%, to $52 million, and Tropicana Atlantic City tumbled 18%, landing at $25 million and ceding second place for the first time to Hard Rock Atlantic City … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Boyd Gaming, Caesars Entertainment, Churchill Downs, Culinary Union, Detroit, Eldorado Resorts, Greenwood Racing, Hard Rock International, MGM Resorts International, Mohegan Sun, New Jersey, Ocean Resort, Penn National, Pennsylvania, Rush Street Gaming, Sports betting, Station Casinos, Tribal | 1 Comment

Vegas jottings, with a touch of Atlantic City

Posted on June 13, 2019 by David McKee

If we need a workplace consultant, we certainly won’t hire the Seyfarth Shaw at Work firm. (Seyfarth Shaw? Wasn’t he a character in Game of Thrones?) It’s offering its services to come up with strategies that will deter your employees … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Caesars Entertainment, Culinary Union, Derek Stevens, Downtown, Entertainment, Golden Gaming, Las Vegas Sands, Marijuana, MGM Resorts International, Pets, Sheldon Adelson, Sports betting, Technology, Wynn Resorts | Comments Off on Vegas jottings, with a touch of Atlantic City

The wrath of Icahn

Posted on June 11, 2019 by David McKee

Investment bankers BidaskClub aren’t buying Caesars Entertainment. Literally. In an almost-unheard-of development in gaming, Bidask put a “sell” recommendation on low-priced CZR shares. Perhaps this reflects caution over Caesars’ still-massive debt overhang or of the additional debt that would be … Continue reading →

Posted in Arizona, Caesars Entertainment, Carl Icahn, CityCenter, Cosmopolitan, DFS, Eldorado Resorts, Illinois, Lotteries, Mandalay Bay Massacre, MGM Resorts International, Regulation, Resort fees, Sports betting, The Strip, Tilman Fertitta, Tribal, Wall Street, West Virginia | Comments Off on The wrath of Icahn

Connecticut casino push stalls; Chicago casino fast-tracked

Posted on June 11, 2019 by David McKee

Connecticut casino legislation was yet another exercise in futility this session, with the Lege gaveling the end of business without any gaming bills being passed. However, a special session is anticipated, mainly to address an unrelated litigation settlement. Perhaps then … Continue reading →

Posted in Connecticut, Foxwoods, Illinois, Japan, Massachusetts, MGM Resorts International, Mohegan Sun, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Politics, Sports betting, Wynn Resorts | Comments Off on Connecticut casino push stalls; Chicago casino fast-tracked

Merry month of May in Ohio, Missouri; MGM debuts “Hunger Games”

Posted on June 10, 2019 by David McKee

Casino revenues were booming last month in Ohio, leaping 10.5% to $169.5 million. People flocked to the racinos, which vaulted 13%. Hollywood Columbus gained 2% to $19 million and Hollywood Toledo inched 1% to almost $18 million. As for the … Continue reading →

Posted in Boyd Gaming, Caesars Entertainment, Churchill Downs, Dan Gilbert, Eldorado Resorts, MGM Resorts International, Missouri, Movies, Ohio, Penn National, The Strip | Comments Off on Merry month of May in Ohio, Missouri; MGM debuts “Hunger Games”

Honeymoon in Illinois; Contraction in Maryland

Posted on June 7, 2019 by David McKee

Illinois lawmakers think casino gambling is a bottomless well of revenue, as witnessed by their recent approval of five new gambling houses and three racinos (just for starters). However, last month’s actual revenues were less than auspicatory. At $118 million, … Continue reading →

Posted in Boyd Gaming, Caesars Entertainment, Churchill Downs, Cordish Co., Eldorado Resorts, GLPI, Illinois, Maryland, MGM Resorts International, Penn National, Rush Street Gaming, West Virginia | Comments Off on Honeymoon in Illinois; Contraction in Maryland

Plaza gets a refresh; MGM covets Vegas locals

Posted on June 6, 2019 by David McKee

Congratulations to Plaza Hotel CEO Jonathan Jossel. He’s persuaded tight-fisted Tamares Group to invest in a 112-room renovation of the Downtown dowager. The casino is reportedly coming off its best April ever and this has evidently helped Tamares to see its … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, Arizona, Boyd Gaming, CityCenter, Derek Stevens, Dining, Downtown, Dubai, e-sports, Entertainment, Japan, Massachusetts, MGM Resorts International, Tamares Group, Transportation, Wall Street, Wynn Resorts | Comments Off on Plaza gets a refresh; MGM covets Vegas locals

Secret deal in Bridgeport?; Packer/Ho sale threatened

Posted on June 4, 2019 by David McKee

“There is no ‘either/or’ solution when it comes to East Windsor and Bridgeport, and we shouldn’t be playing two Connecticut communities against each other.” That’s what tribal spokesman Andrew Doba said after it was revealed that Bridgeport was flirting with Foxwoods Resort … Continue reading →

Posted in Australia, California, Cirque du Soleil, Connecticut, Crown Resorts, e-sports, Entertainment, Foxwoods, Galaxy Entertainment, Las Vegas Sands, Lawrence Ho, Macau, Melco Resorts & Entertainment, MGM Resorts International, Mohegan Sun, Pennsylvania, Regulation, Sociedade de Jogos de Macau, Sports betting, Stanley Ho, Wynn Resorts | 1 Comment

The Sahara returns, hurray

Posted on June 4, 2019 by David McKee

Proving that you can’t keep a classic brand down, Alex Meruelo is ditching meaningless SLS Las Vegas and bringing back Sahara Hotel & Casino for the place locals never stopped thinking of as “the Sahara.” It’s too late to restore the … Continue reading →

Posted in Alex Meruelo, Carl Icahn, Dining, Environment, GLPI, Louisiana, Maryland, MGM Resorts International, Penn National, Sahara, Sam Nazarian, SLS Las Vegas, The Strip, Wall Street | 1 Comment

Memo from Murren

Posted on May 31, 2019 by David McKee

The MGM 2020 axe continues to fall. Company employees received the following open letter from CEO Jim Murren … “Dear Colleagues: “I want to begin this note by thanking so many of you for your patience, support and focus over … Continue reading →

Posted in Current, Economy, Massachusetts, MGM Resorts International, Tourism, Wynn Resorts | Comments Off on Memo from Murren

Anxiety over Japan; Profit squeeze in Atlantic City

Posted on May 28, 2019 by David McKee

Think Japan‘s going to have casinos open in time for the 2025 World Expo? Think again. Shinzo Abe‘s ruling Liberal Democratic Party is postponing the regulations governing casino bidding until after next year’s elections. That’s bad news for Osaka, in particular, … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Caesars Entertainment, Economy, Eldorado Resorts, Hard Rock International, Internet gambling, Japan, Las Vegas Sands, Melco Resorts & Entertainment, MGM Resorts International, Mohegan Sun, North Carolina, Ocean Resort, Politics, Sports betting, Tribal, Wall Street | 1 Comment

Encore firms up opening date; Bionic money

Posted on May 28, 2019 by David McKee

Global Gaming Business has revealed that Wynn Resorts was so desperate to exit Everett it even held talks with Boston Red Sox owner John Henry to bail it out from the megaresort. Even if the Massachusetts Gaming Commission approved that arrangement (a long … Continue reading →

Posted in Baseball, Dan Gilbert, Detroit, Foxwoods, G2E, Genting, Macau, Massachusetts, MGM Resorts International, Mohegan Sun, Penn National, Pennsylvania, Regulation, Rush Street Gaming, Sports betting, Technology, The Strip, TV, Wall Street, Wynn Resorts | Comments Off on Encore firms up opening date; Bionic money

The value of a dollar & other Case Bets

Posted on May 28, 2019 by David McKee

If you’re making up your casino budget, you might want to stay away from Atlantic City or New York State, where a dollar has only the buying power of 87 or 88 cents. By contrast, the same dollar spent in … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Cosmopolitan, Derek Stevens, Economy, Hawaii, history, Indiana, MGM Resorts International, Michigan, Mississippi, Missouri, Nevada, New York, Ohio, Sports betting, The Strip, TV, William Hill | Comments Off on The value of a dollar & other Case Bets

Encore Boston Harbor sale nixed

Posted on May 22, 2019 by David McKee

“We think the best course of action is to discontinue discussions concerning this opportunity.” Just like that, MGM Resorts International left Wynn Resorts at the altar, trying to find a new beau for Encore Boston Harbor. Backlash in Springfield seems … Continue reading →

Posted in Caesars Entertainment, Mandalay Bay Massacre, Massachusetts, MGM Resorts International, Mohegan Sun, Penn National, Regulation, Wall Street, Wynn Resorts | Comments Off on Encore Boston Harbor sale nixed

Maddox’s mess; Big Gaming gets image-conscious

Posted on May 20, 2019 by David McKee

“Boston is not up for sale. I like that market. I found the land. I pursued that deal. I entered the agreement with the host community five years ago. I liked that market then. I like that market today.” So … Continue reading →

Posted in Lucky Dragon, Marijuana, Massachusetts, MGM Resorts International, Nevada, Penn National, Regulation, Sexual misconduct, Steve Wynn, The Strip, Wynn Resorts | 1 Comment

Wynn cuts and runs

Posted on May 18, 2019 by David McKee

Wynn Resorts might be willing to pay $20 million to remain licensed in Nevada but $35 million in Massachusetts was Just Too Much evidently to hang onto $2.6 billion Encore Boston Harbor. In one of the most precipitate decisions in memory, … Continue reading →

Posted in Massachusetts, MGM Resorts International, Regulation, Wynn Resorts | 3 Comments

Case Bets

Posted on May 17, 2019 by David McKee

Need a scorecard to keep up with the progress of sports betting? Never fear, the American Gaming Association has provided one. It shows sports-betting legislation on the docket in 15 states, including casino-averse Texas and Vermont. States that have rejected … Continue reading →

Posted in Animals, California, Dining, Greenwood Racing, Illinois, Mandalay Bay Massacre, MGM Resorts International, Mohegan Sun, Palms, Pennsylvania, Pets, Regulation, Rush Street Gaming, Sports, Sports betting, Station Casinos | Comments Off on Case Bets

Don’t mess with the Seminoles

Posted on May 16, 2019 by David McKee

Well, the feckless Florida Lege courted disaster—and got it. The Seminole Tribe, lacking a new compact, is cutting off revenue-sharing payments to the Sunshine State. We’re talking serious dollars: $321 million last fiscal year. The Seminoles have enormous economic clout and … Continue reading →

Posted in Boyd Gaming, Caesars Entertainment, Florida, Galaxy Entertainment, Greenwood Racing, Las Vegas Sands, Law enforcement, Macau, Melco Resorts & Entertainment, MGM Resorts International, Penn National, Pennsylvania, Philippines, Politics, Rush Street Gaming, Seminole Tribe, Sociedade de Jogos de Macau, Sports betting, Taxes, Wall Street, Wynn Resorts | 1 Comment