Category Archives: Mississippi

Caesars gains a hot tub, Biloxi loses a casino

Posted on July 22, 2014 by David McKee

You live in Las Vegas long enough, you think you’ve seen everything. Then somebody uses a helicopter to airlift a big-ass jacuzzi (technically an “onsen tub”) onto the terrace of the Nobu Tower at Caesars Palace, where it will grace the high-roller … Continue reading →

Posted in Harrah's, Mississippi, Regulation, The Strip, Tilman Fertitta | 2 Comments

Thinking the unthinkable

Posted on July 21, 2014 by David McKee

Could Nevada casino floors go genuinely smoke-free? That’s the idea floated by Deutsche Bank analyst Andrew Zarnett. Although Nevada voters have exempted casino floors from smoking bans, Zarnett thinks that state of affairs could change by 2016 or so, at … Continue reading →

Posted in Delaware, Economy, Environment, Florida, Illinois, Macau, Mississippi, Sheldon Adelson, The Strip, Transportation | 2 Comments

Atlantic City: And then there were nine …

Posted on July 14, 2014 by David McKee

Scarcely had Gary Loveman opined that a few casinos in Atlantic City needed to close than they began toppling like dominoes — some by his own hand. Headed to the casino graveyard alongside the Atlantic Club and the Showboat is Trump … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, California, Donald Trump, Harrah's, Isle of Capri, Mississippi, Penn National, Tourism, Tropicana Entertainment, Trump Entertainment Resorts, Wall Street | 2 Comments

Steve Wynn’s right-hand woman

Posted on July 10, 2014 by David McKee

Considered by many the logical successor to Steve Wynn, his envoy to Macao, Linda Chen, is more spoken of than seen. CNN offers us a rare glimpse of the woman who may well be calling the shots at Wynn Resorts … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Harrah's, Macau, Mississippi, Penn National, Regulation, Reno, Steve Wynn, Tilman Fertitta, Transportation | 1 Comment

Argosy’s charmed life; Paging “Jersey Shore”; Boyd’s (alleged) botch

Posted on June 27, 2014 by David McKee

It’s The Perils of Pauline over at Penn National Gaming‘s Argosy Sioux City. A July 1 closure has been stayed until July 10 while Judge Eliza Ovrom ponders the merits of the case. She’s scheduled final arguments for the 10th, … Continue reading →

Posted in Boyd Gaming, Charity, Cretins, Iowa, Mississippi, Penn National, Regulation, Sports | Comments Off

Mohegan Sun: It’s us or nobody; Tunica blues

Posted on June 19, 2014 by David McKee

Eastern Massachusetts voters would rather have a Mohegan Sun casino than a Wynn Resorts one. So claims a poll paid for by Mohegan Sun … so draw your own conclusions. It also shows casino-law repeal only getting 35% of the … Continue reading →

Posted in Delaware, Economy, Election, Harrah's, Massachusetts, Mississippi, Mohegan Sun, Politics, Steve Wynn, Taxes | Comments Off

Quote of the Day

Posted on June 4, 2014 by David McKee

“The debate is heating up just as state Comptroller Thomas DiNapoli says most gamblers at the new casinos will be area residents, not out-of-state tourists, and a large resort casino in Mississippi closes as gambling revenues fall.” — Albany Business Review reporter … Continue reading →

Posted in Economy, Harrah's, Mississippi, New York | 1 Comment

Casinos battle an ebb tide; Loveman rebuffed

Posted on June 2, 2014 by David McKee

Today marks the date that the casino industry officially became too large for the country to support, symbolized by the closing of Harrah’s Tunica. “There’s gambling everywhere. If you just want to gamble, you don’t have to go very far to do … Continue reading →

Posted in Economy, Harrah's, Illinois, Massachusetts, Mississippi, Politics, Regulation | Comments Off

Internet gaming: More light than heat; Fieri in your face

Posted on May 27, 2014 by David McKee

“We are absolutely shocked by the slowness of the market.” Those are the words of 888.com CEO Brian Mattingley, with regard to Internet gambling in New Jersey. How slow is it? So much that 888 is shifting ad dollars from … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Boyd Gaming, Dining, Economy, Harrah's, Internet gambling, Marketing, Massachusetts, Mississippi, Politics, Regulation, Sheldon Adelson, The Strip | 1 Comment

Full House’s busted flush; GLPI’s big play

Posted on May 14, 2014 by David McKee

In further evidence of saturation in the gaming industry (if more were needed), Full House Resorts wants to be released from a commitment to buy Fitzgerald’s Casino, in Tunica. Seems that Full House can’t find banks who’ll underwrite the deal. … Continue reading →

Posted in Cannery Casino Resorts, Dan Gilbert, Detroit, Harrah's, LVCVA, Marketing, MGM Mirage, Mississippi, Penn National, Racinos, Wall Street | Comments Off

Curtains for Caesars Windsor?; Churchill Downs wants to be a player

Posted on April 25, 2014 by David McKee

Karl Henkel of the Detroit News makes a close analysis of the market situation in Detroit and sees portents of what has been happening in Atlantic City and Tunica. His analysis doesn’t just focus on gross revenues but, for instance, … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Boyd Gaming, Churchill Downs, Dan Gilbert, Detroit, Economy, Harrah's, Internet gambling, Isle of Capri, Louisiana, MGM Mirage, Mississippi, Pinnacle Entertainment, Racinos, Regulation, Tropicana Entertainment | Comments Off

Penn manages expectations

Posted on April 24, 2014 by David McKee

Penn National Gaming lowered estimates for cash flow and other metrics today, as well as releasing 1Q14 results that J.P. Morgan analyst Joseph Greff wrote were “generally in line with our … estimates.” According to Penn, player spending has been … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Cordish Co., Cosmopolitan, Harrah's, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Massachusetts, Mississippi, New York, Penn National, Slot routes, Wall Street, West Virginia | Comments Off

Case Bets

Posted on April 4, 2014 by David McKee

In a risky play, the Missouri Senate voted upon and passed to the General Assembly a bill that would boost Show-Me State casinos’ ability to extend credit. Mind you, all the risk is on the casino. It could lend as … Continue reading →

Posted in Alabama, Economy, Genting, Internet gambling, Mississippi, Missouri, New York, Pinnacle Entertainment, Racinos, Taxes | Comments Off

Mississippi casino dream deferred; Empire State on schedule

Posted on April 1, 2014 by David McKee

Update: Rotate Black failed to make the cutoff date for Hemingway Casino (below), meaning the property will go back on the market, Rotate Black never having paid for its option. It is still contemplated as a future casino site. D’Ibreville, … Continue reading →

Posted in Current, Mississippi, New York, Regulation | Comments Off

Murren on Japan; Blatstein’s big buy

Posted on March 31, 2014 by David McKee

It’s still a long haul until casinos are legalized in Japan, let alone built, but MGM Resorts International CEO Jim Murren is waxing confident. He notes that Japan’s tourism is expected to grow 100% by 2020 and another 50% by … Continue reading →

Posted in California, Foxwoods, Harrah's, Internet gambling, Japan, MGM Mirage, Mississippi, Pennsylvania, The Mob, Tourism | Comments Off

Big trouble at Caesars

Posted on March 27, 2014 by David McKee

In a shocking development, even for those of us who have followed Caesars Entertainment closely, the company is shutting down Harrah’s Tunica (formerly Grand Casino Tunica) on June 2. Regional president John Payne confessed to Bloomberg News that the casino … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Harrah's, Mississippi, Regulation, Tourism, Tribal, Wall Street | 1 Comment

Massacre in Maine; South Korea, land of opportunity?

Posted on March 20, 2014 by David McKee

Six gambling-expansion bills were mowed down in Maine‘s state Senate last night. Three of the quashed proposals would have provided some form of Native American gambling. (A fourth would have allowed racinos to go from 3,000 slots to 4,500.) Pleasant … Continue reading →

Posted in Dining, Harrah's, International, Maine, Mississippi, New York, Politics, Racinos, Regulation, Tribal | Comments Off

Caesars’ big coup; Foxwoods site revealed

Posted on March 18, 2014 by David McKee

South Korea hasn’t opened its casino business to Western firms … until now. Caesars Entertainment, in partnernship with Hong Kong‘s Lippo Ltd. and OUE Ltd. from Singapore has won preliminary approval for a concession. The project is expected to cost … Continue reading →

Posted in Foxwoods, Genting, Hard Rock Hotel, Harrah's, International, Kentucky, Macau, Massachusetts, Mississippi, Politics, Warner Gaming | Comments Off

Optimism around the industry

Posted on March 13, 2014 by David McKee

Las Vegas‘ premier casino companies have been showing their wares at the J.P. Morgan Gaming, Lodging, Restaurant & Leisure Management Access Forum. Among the pilgrims was Wynn Resorts CFO Matt Maddox, who reported that Wynncore is increasing revenue per available room … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Boyd Gaming, International, Internet gambling, Japan, Louisiana, Macau, Massachusetts, Mississippi, Sheldon Adelson, Steve Wynn, The Strip, Tilman Fertitta, Wall Street | Comments Off

Stupid player tricks & other Case Bets

Posted on February 26, 2014 by David McKee

What do you do if the cops try to bust you for having $115K in phony casino chips (allegedly)? Throw them in the nearest body of water, naturally. “Fortunately for police, the chips floated.” Vuong Q. Truong and wife Rosa A. Nguyen supposedly … Continue reading →

Posted in Cordish Co., Cretins, Current, Japan, Lawrence Ho, Macau, Maryland, Melco Crown Entertainment, Mississippi, Penn National, Sheldon Adelson, Stanley Ho | Comments Off