Category Archives: Mississippi

MGM lashes out; Doldrums in Louisiana

Posted on September 18, 2015 by David McKee

It took a while but MGM Resorts International is pushing back against Connecticut‘s attempts to build a satellite version of its tribal casinos, to interdict gamblers who might otherwise play at MGM Grand Springfield. Although he didn’t hint at litigation … Continue reading →

Posted in Boyd Gaming, Churchill Downs, Columbia Sussex, Foxwoods, GLPI, Harrah's, Isle of Capri, Louisiana, Massachusetts, MGM Mirage, Mississippi, Mohegan Sun, Pinnacle Entertainment, Tilman Fertitta, Tropicana Entertainment | 2 Comments

Case Bets: Caesars, Detroit, New York & Steve Wynn

Posted on September 9, 2015 by David McKee

In one of the industry’s more bizarre developments, Harrah’s Tunica will become an assisted-living facility if buy TJM Properties has its druthers. Caesars Entertainment Operating Co. has asked a bankruptcy court to approve the sale. It won’t bring in that … Continue reading →

Posted in Detroit, Economy, G2E, Harrah's, International, Internet gambling, Massachusetts, MGM Mirage, Mississippi, New York, Regulation, Steve Wynn, Technology, Transportation | Comments Off

Isle trends upward; Free the Texas ponies!

Posted on September 2, 2015 by David McKee

Add Isle of Capri Casinos to the list of companies enjoying a positive turn in their fortunes. It reported an operating profit of $57.5 million, a 15% increase. The biggest cash cow was Isle Pompano Park, hauling in $42 million, … Continue reading →

Posted in Arkansas, Colorado, Florida, Horseracing, IGT, Iowa, Isle of Capri, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, Pennsylvania, Politics, Racinos, Technology, Texas, Tilman Fertitta, Wall Street | 2 Comments

SLS: Closed by 2016?

Posted on August 19, 2015 by David McKee

That’s the stark implication of some remarks by owner Stockbridge Capital Partners about SLS Las Vegas, which continues to generate negative return on investment. Howard Stutz took a deep dive into the numbers and he must have required a bathysphere to … Continue reading →

Posted in Cannery Casino Resorts, Dining, Entertainment, Genting, Harrah's, IGT, Isle of Capri, James Packer, Marketing, Mississippi, Mohegan Sun, Neil Bluhm, New York, Penn National, Pennsylvania, Revel, Sam Nazarian, Sheldon Adelson, SLS Las Vegas, Taxes, The Strip, Wall Street | 1 Comment

Studio City in trouble; Tribal clash in Massachusetts

Posted on August 13, 2015 by David McKee

Melco Crown Entertainment is in Eeyore mood these days, darkly muttering about a “contingency plan” for Studio City if the Macao government doesn’t give it 400 table games. As far back as its 2014 annual report, the company was making … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Columbia Sussex, Election, Galaxy Entertainment, Geoff Freeman, Internet gambling, Isle of Capri, James Packer, Lawrence Ho, Macau, Massachusetts, Melco Crown Entertainment, MGM Mirage, Mississippi, Neil Bluhm, Pennsylvania, Regulation, Sheldon Adelson, Steve Wynn, The Strip, Tribal | Comments Off

Isle abandons ship; Borgata crushes Atlantic City; Radical move from Full House

Posted on August 12, 2015 by David McKee

Faced with a casino that had been generating negative return on investment for the past two years, Isle of Capri Casinos announced it was closing its 15-year-old Natchez riverboat and selling the accompanying hotel to Magnolia Bluffs Casino for $11.5 million. The … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Boyd Gaming, Dan Lee, Indiana, Isle of Capri, Majestic Star, Mississippi, Ohio, Politics, Racinos, Wall Street | 1 Comment

Macao: “Less bad”; MGM beats estimates

Posted on August 4, 2015 by David McKee

That’s how J.P. Morgan analyst Joseph Greff spun the latest numbers out of Macao, where gaming revenues plunged 34%, less than the year-to-date average of 37%. Mass table game winnings were up 11% from June, “more positive than we otherwise … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Detroit, Economy, Illinois, Macau, Mississippi, Scientific Games, The Strip, Wall Street | 1 Comment

Mirage volcano muzzled; Macao gives the industry hope

Posted on July 14, 2015 by David McKee

One of Vegas’ most iconic attractions is getting minimized. The Mirage volcano will now only erupt twice on weeknights and thrice on weekends. This austerity move is a concession to MGM Resorts International‘s huge debt overhang. It was also supposedly … Continue reading →

Posted in Economy, Environment, Harrah's, International, Macau, Melco Crown Entertainment, MGM Mirage, Mississippi, Philippines, Sheldon Adelson, South Korea, Station Casinos, Steve Wynn, Taxes, The Strip, Tourism | Comments Off

MGM goes to Atlanta; Pechanga named #1

Posted on July 2, 2015 by David McKee

Instead of waiting for an incremental creep of acceptance of gambling in Georgia, MGM Resorts International is taking the bull by the horns. While it says that it is in the “very preliminary” stages of proposing a casino for Atlanta, … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, Atlantic City, Boyd Gaming, California, Economy, Foxwoods, Georgia, Hard Rock Hotel, Harrah's, Indiana, Internet gambling, Louisiana, MGM Mirage, Mississippi, Mohegan Sun, Neil Bluhm, New York, Pinnacle Entertainment, Politics, Sheldon Adelson, Station Casinos, Technology, The Strip, Tourism, Tribal | Comments Off

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

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

Good April for Vegas; Frankie the Fish and Sister Sandra

Posted on May 29, 2015 by David McKee

Baccarat play on the Las Vegas Strip improved by double-digit numbers for the second month in a row, up 14% in April, contributing to an 8% upward surge on the Strip. Baccarat revenues rose 5%, while all other table games … Continue reading →

Posted in Australia, Boyd Gaming, Donald Trump, Downtown, Economy, Lake Tahoe, Laughlin, Macau, Marketing, Mississippi, North Las Vegas, Philippines, Politics, Regulation, Reno, Sheldon Adelson, Station Casinos, The Strip, Vietnam | Comments Off

Atlantic City rings the cash register; Adelson loses (again)

Posted on May 26, 2015 by David McKee

Operating profits in Atlantic City don’t tell the whole story: The Showboat was notoriously in the black when Caesars Entertainment closed it but the company said it was running at a loss … thanks to interest payments with which CEO … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Boyd Gaming, Dennis Gomes, Economy, Genting, Harrah's, Macau, Melco Crown Entertainment, Mississippi, Mohegan Sun, Sheldon Adelson, Stanley Ho, Steve Wynn, Trump Entertainment Resorts | Comments Off

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

Nothing’s easy at Revel; Death sentence for Harrah’s Tunica

Posted on April 29, 2015 by David McKee

“What am I going to do with this stuff with no electricity, no heat, no air conditioning? These people just give me so many roadblocks.” So complained Glenn Straub after New Jersey‘s Division of Gaming Enforcement ordered him to post guards … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, Atlantic City, Genting, Glenn Straub, Harrah's, Mississippi, Regulation, Revel, Sheldon Adelson, Singapore, Trump Entertainment Resorts | 1 Comment

Tribal tensions in Indiana; Mississippi tapped out?

Posted on April 23, 2015 by David McKee

Indiana legislators are making it more difficult for the Pokagon Band of Potawatomi Indians to reach a compact with Gov. Mike Pence (R), according to the tribe, which charges lawmakers with meddling in the compacting process. The Pokagon Band, which owns … Continue reading →

Posted in Economy, Harrah's, Indiana, Maine, Mississippi, New Hampshire, Politics, Racinos, Regulation, Tribal | 1 Comment

Freeman takes aim; Pinnacle commands high price

Posted on April 15, 2015 by David McKee

Geoff Freeman continues his aggressive agenda at the American Gaming Association. In a move possibly intended to take the heat off American online casinos, he’ll calling for — and promising the AGA will take the lead in — a beatdown … Continue reading →

Posted in Geoff Freeman, GLPI, Internet gambling, MGM Mirage, Mississippi, Pinnacle Entertainment, Regulation, Sheldon Adelson, Sports, Taxes, Wall Street | Comments Off

Case Bets: Okada, Massachusetts, Connecticut, Ruffin

Posted on March 20, 2015 by David McKee

It’s been a good week for Kazuo Okada. The boss of Universal Entertainment Corp. announced that investigations of him in Japan and the Philippines had closed and given him a clean bill of health. The probes were set off by … Continue reading →

Posted in Foxwoods, Japan, Kansas, Kazuo Okada, Massachusetts, Mississippi, Mohegan Sun, Phil Ruffin, Philippines, Regulation, Steve Wynn, Tribal | Comments Off

GLPI makes play for Pinnacle; Caesars aims to dismantle casino

Posted on March 9, 2015 by David McKee

Gaming & Leisure Properties‘ track record to date has been unimpressive, its big acquisition play being underperforming Casino Queen in East St. Louis. Contrast that with GLPI’s boastful talk that the phone would be ringing off the hook with purchase … Continue reading →

Posted in Entertainment, GLPI, Harrah's, Illinois, Mississippi, Penn National, Pinnacle Entertainment, Wall Street | 1 Comment

First big hurdle in Indiana cleared

Posted on March 2, 2015 by David McKee

Both the Indiana state Senate and Gov. Mike Pence (R) could still nix the deal, but the Indiana House of Representatives voted 76-19 to put riverboat casinos ashore and OK live dealers at the state’s Indiana Grand and Hoosier Park racinos. … Continue reading →

Posted in Boyd Gaming, Genting, Hard Rock International, Harrah's, Indiana, Internet gambling, Isle of Capri, Macau, Mississippi, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Politics, Racinos, Regulation, Sheldon Adelson, Singapore, South Dakota | Comments Off