Category Archives: Michael Gaughan

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

Grumpy old Dems; A Titan-ic sports book win

Posted on January 13, 2020 by David McKee

Prude of the Month has to go to Maine Gov. Janet Mills (D), who certainly looks like a cranky old battle-axe. She vetoed a bill that would have legalized sports betting in her state, sniffing, “the majority of Maine people … Continue reading →

Posted in Cantor Gaming, China, DraftKings, Las Vegas Raiders, Macau, Maine, Massachusetts, MGM Resorts International, Michael Gaughan, Movies, New Hampshire, Sports, Sports betting, Vermont, Wall Street, Westgate LV | Comments Off on Grumpy old Dems; A Titan-ic sports book win

Caesars: What sauce!; Macao underwhelms

Posted on October 8, 2019 by David McKee

With more than a bit of nerve, Caesars Entertainment is jacking up resort fees again. Caesars Palace and Nobu Hotel will have $51.01 in levies (the highest on the Las Vegas Strip, I think; is this a status thing?), while … Continue reading →

Posted in Baseball, Caesars Entertainment, China, Economy, Macau, Michael Gaughan, Mississippi, Mohegan Sun, Nevada, New Jersey, Politics, Problem gambling, Resort fees, Sports betting, Terry Caudill, Wall Street | 1 Comment

Eldorado’s clearance sale; Atlantic City takes the lead

Posted on June 17, 2019 by David McKee

Eldorado Resorts may be getting closer to a Caesars Entertainment acquisition (accounts differ) but it’s already clearing the decks for a big expenditure. It just offloaded three casinos to—irony alert—Caesars’ Vici Properties for $385 million. The trio is Mountaineer Casino … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Caesars Entertainment, Cordish Co., Eldorado Resorts, Internet gambling, Lake Tahoe, Laughlin, Louisiana, Marketing, Michael Gaughan, Mississippi, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Pets, Regulation, Sports betting, Unite-Here, Wall Street, West Virginia | 2 Comments

The lost generation; Wynn shareholders rebel

Posted on May 25, 2018 by David McKee

Casinos’ fascination with Millennials appears to be a one-way street. A new survey by YouGov found that 47% of respondents ages 18-34 found casinos “depressing.” (I think I know what they mean.) As a matter of fact, older age brackets … Continue reading →

Posted in Internet gambling, LVCVA, Macau, Marketing, Michael Gaughan, Sheldon Adelson, Sports, Stanley Ho, Wynn Resorts | Comments Off on The lost generation; Wynn shareholders rebel

Unlucky Dragon; Gaughan plays Lady Bountiful

Posted on January 8, 2018 by David McKee

Business at the semi-defunct Lucky Dragon casino must have really been sucking wind if it closed six weeks before Chinese New Year, which one would expect to be the property’s sweet spot. Lucky Dragon management is putting a brave face … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Harrah's, International, Iowa, Japan, Louisiana, Lucky Dragon, Macau, Massachusetts, MGM Mirage, Michael Gaughan, Regulation, SLS Las Vegas, Sociedade de Jogos de Macau, Taxes, The Strip, Wall Street | 1 Comment

How Conor McGregor is like Donald Trump & other news

Posted on August 23, 2017 by David McKee

Not since the election of Donald Trump have oddsmakers been poised to take such a shellacking as at this weekend’s showdown between tomato cans Floyd Mayweather Jr. and boxing debutante Conor McGregor. Despite Mayweather’s proven track record, sports books have … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, George Maloof, Harrah's, Internet gambling, MGM Mirage, Michael Gaughan, New York, PokerStars, Sports, Steve Wynn, Taxes, Technology, The Strip, Tilman Fertitta, Tribal, Westgate LV | Comments Off on How Conor McGregor is like Donald Trump & other news

Hot July on the Strip; Alon: Stayin’ alive

Posted on August 31, 2016 by David McKee

Whales returned to the Strip with a vengeance in July, with baccarat play spurring a 17% revenue increase. The month was probably even bigger but, due to a peculiarity of Nevada casino accounting, slot revenues from the last weekend of … Continue reading →

Posted in Boulder Strip, California, Downtown, Entertainment, Genting, International, James Packer, Lake Tahoe, Laughlin, Marketing, Mesquite, Michael Gaughan, Nevada, North Las Vegas, Reno, Scientific Games, Sports, Technology, The Strip, Tourism, Wall Street | Comments Off on Hot July on the Strip; Alon: Stayin’ alive

Monte Carlo, meet Park MGM; Wynn, Adelson, Barrack help Trump

Posted on June 3, 2016 by David McKee

In the end, MGM Resorts International CEO Jim Murren couldn’t decide between “The Park” and “The Park at MGM Grand” as the new name for Monte Carlo, so he dubbed it Park MGM, which sounds like someplace you leave your … Continue reading →

Posted in Charity, Colony Capital, Donald Trump, Entertainment, Environment, Harrah's, Massachusetts, MGM Mirage, Michael Gaughan, Sheldon Adelson, Sports, Station Casinos, Steve Wynn, The Strip, Transportation | Comments Off on Monte Carlo, meet Park MGM; Wynn, Adelson, Barrack help Trump

Straub has new plan for Revel; Station cans Cactus Lane casino

Posted on November 4, 2015 by David McKee

Glenn Straub can’t even heat Revel but he’s got his sights on becoming Atlantic City‘s biggest slumlord. The ever-unpredictable billionaire’s latest plan for the megaresort is to use it to house Syrian refugees. However, this homeless-hostel offer is good for … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Glenn Straub, Internet gambling, Michael Gaughan, Regulation, Reno, Revel, Sports, Station Casinos, Taxes, The Strip, Westgate LV | Comments Off on Straub has new plan for Revel; Station cans Cactus Lane casino

Bad week for DFS

Posted on October 26, 2015 by David McKee

“What it’s doing is calling fantasy sports what it is. Do you pay money to get into the contest, and do you get money back when you win? And if so, that’s gambling.” So says South Point attorney Barry Leibermann of … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, California, Colorado, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Internet gambling, Kansas, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michael Gaughan, Mississippi, New York, Ohio, Politics, Technology | Comments Off on Bad week for DFS

Fly the friendly slots; New tax takes aim at slot routes

Posted on March 4, 2015 by David McKee

Unlike most states, Maryland hasn’t hit the saturation mark and a bill to put a slot route into Thurgood Marshall Airport will probably have little effect on that. The slots will only be accessible to ticketed passengers, with the idea … Continue reading →

Posted in Aristocrat, Cordish Co., Dotty's, Golden Gaming, Harrah's, Maryland, Michael Gaughan, Politics, Taxes, Technology, Transportation | Comments Off on Fly the friendly slots; New tax takes aim at slot routes

Could Station go public?; Straub buys Revel again

Posted on February 25, 2015 by David McKee

Station Casinos is doing as well as it ever has since the Great Recession, fueling speculation that an IPO might be on the way. Granted, this is mostly speculation by investors and the media but Deutsche Bank‘s 25% stake in … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Glenn Straub, Michael Gaughan, Revel, Station Casinos, Wall Street | 4 Comments

Sands scores in Pennsylvania; More nonsense from Trump

Posted on January 19, 2015 by David McKee

Pennsylvania isn’t anywhere near done with building casinos but it is feeling market saturation. A $40 million decline in slot winnings pushed casinos to sub-2013 levels. The proliferation of casino product did not help. “When I came here six years ago, there were … Continue reading →

Posted in Cantor Gaming, Donald Trump, Macau, Massachusetts, Michael Gaughan, Pennsylvania, Regulation, Sheldon Adelson, Sports, Steve Wynn, TV | Comments Off on Sands scores in Pennsylvania; More nonsense from Trump

Impossible choice at Trump Taj; Ultimate Poker busts

Posted on November 14, 2014 by David McKee

Ownership of Trump Taj Mahal has handed down to workers a choice that might be described as being between bad and worse: accept the loss of their health and pension benefits or, if Unite-Here continues to pursue an appeal in … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Carl Icahn, Economy, Harrah's, Internet gambling, Michael Gaughan, Sheldon Adelson, Station Casinos, Taxes, Trump Entertainment Resorts | 2 Comments

Wild, wild East; Fertitta remembered

Posted on October 24, 2014 by David McKee

Imagine a Las Vegas in which to play you were required to lay out at least $65 … and where the average minimum bet was $270, maybe even $320. You’d have Macao, whose players dwarf Vegas’ ($20 average minimum bet) … Continue reading →

Posted in Harrah's, history, International, Internet gambling, Lake Tahoe, Macau, Michael Gaughan, Singapore, Station Casinos, The Strip, Warner Gaming | 1 Comment

A Grand attempt; The grandson also rises

Posted on July 7, 2014 by David McKee

If Newport, Rhode Island, is the American Riviera (or was once), then casino gambling would seem like a logical amenity. Would-be owner Joseph Paolino and his partners want to add table games to the Newport Grand slot parlor — but … Continue reading →

Posted in Election, Michael Gaughan, Rhode Island | Comments Off on A Grand attempt; The grandson also rises

And then there were three; Atlantic City under pressure again

Posted on February 20, 2014 by David McKee

Nevada gaming authorities will have to start reporting the Silver State’s online-gambling revenue now that South Point has entered the lists under its Real Gaming banner. (We won’t get the numbers until late March.) The site ” is offering tournament play … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Boyd Gaming, Election, Entertainment, Florida, Harrah's, Internet gambling, Michael Gaughan, Regulation, Station Casinos, The Strip, Tribal | Comments Off on And then there were three; Atlantic City under pressure again

And the winner is … Borgata; Black eased out; Kudos to Sands

Posted on October 10, 2013 by David McKee

Leading the field, Borgata received New Jersey‘s first Internet-gambling license and will begin test play on Nov. 21. Congratulations to Boyd Gaming and partner bwin.party for having their ducks in a row. Understated Borgata prexy Tom Ballance, “It’s always nice … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Boyd Gaming, Current, Internet gambling, Massachusetts, Mesquite, Michael Gaughan, Pennsylvania, Sheldon Adelson, Tribal | Comments Off on And the winner is … Borgata; Black eased out; Kudos to Sands

Goett with the wind

Posted on April 10, 2013 by David McKee

Since Colliers International hasn’t been able to move Gary Goett‘s 100 gaming-enabled acres on St. Rose Parkway and I-15, at $1.25 million per acre, he’s still got time to rethink his decision not to build his Southern Highlands megaresort (left), … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, Boyd Gaming, Gary Goett, M Resort, Michael Gaughan, North Las Vegas, Penn National, Station Casinos, Steve Wynn | Comments Off on Goett with the wind