Category Archives: Mississippi

Keeping up with the Joneses

Posted on February 17, 2014 by David McKee

Long a money pit for the Saulte Ste. Marie Tribe of Chippewa Indians, the Greektown Casino in downtown Detroit is now owner Dan Gilbert‘s problem. A smoky warren of gambling spaces, the original layout is a clusterf**k that warrants Greektown’s … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, Atlantic City, CityCenter, Dan Gilbert, Detroit, International, Massachusetts, MGM Mirage, Mississippi, Problem gambling, Revel, Rhode Island, Sports | Comments Off

Discontent in Beantown; Sands, Day 4

Posted on February 14, 2014 by David McKee

Boston Mayor Martin J. Walsh (right) wants the awarding of a Beantown-area casino put off … mainly so he’ll have more time to cadge and scheme his way into “host community” status, where the big money is to be found. Steve … Continue reading →

Posted in Dining, Illinois, Massachusetts, MGM Mirage, Mississippi, Mohegan Sun, Pennsylvania, Sheldon Adelson, Slot routes, Steve Wynn | 1 Comment

Case Bets: Massachusetts, Biloxi, Betcoin and Cosmo

Posted on January 22, 2014 by David McKee

In a TV interview, Massachusetts Gaming Commission Chairman Stephen Crosby tipped his hand, indicating that approval of MGM Springfield is far more likely than not. However, the MGC might be making some demands of its own, above and beyond what … Continue reading →

Posted in Cirque du Soleil, Cosmopolitan, Derek Stevens, Downtown, Entertainment, Harrah's, Massachusetts, MGM Mirage, Mississippi, New York, Regulation, Taxes, Technology, The Strip | Comments Off

Biloxi comes back

Posted on January 13, 2014 by David McKee

Time was when Biloxi was considered one of the three premier casino resorts in America. That, of course, was before Hurricane Katrina literally swept the city’s casino fleet from its moorings. The city has been trying to right the ship … Continue reading →

Posted in Economy, Hard Rock International, Harrah's, history, Iowa, MGM Mirage, Mississippi, Regulation | Comments Off

Goa, Goa, Gone & other Case Bets

Posted on January 2, 2014 by David McKee

Officials in Goa, a former Portugese protectorate off the western coast of India are so worried about gambling that they’re barring locals from entering Goa’s casinos. Considering what a sorry bunch of hulks to the Goanese casino fleet is, the … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Harrah's, International, Mississippi | Comments Off

A good week for Packer, Wynn and Caesars

Posted on December 18, 2013 by David McKee

James Packer didn’t get permission to open a casino at his planned, $400 million resort in Sri Lanka (though he may have gotten something better) — but he wasn’t forbidden, either. The Sri Lankan government is keeping its options open even … Continue reading →

Posted in Florida, Harrah's, International, James Packer, Macau, Massachusetts, Mississippi, Regulation | Comments Off

Breakthrough in Wisconsin; Second chance in Biloxi

Posted on October 20, 2013 by David McKee

Approval of a Dairyland casino for the Menominee Tribe is still the longest of long shots, but there were faint cracks in the ice after a summit meeting earlier this week. Contrary to earlier reports, participants did a little bit … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, Harrah's, history, Mississippi, Steve Wynn, Tribal, Wisconsin | Comments Off

The bill that wouldn’t die; Taking a wrecking ball to “Jubilee!”

Posted on October 17, 2013 by David McKee

Illinois legislators continue to butt their heads against Gov. Pat Quinn‘s opposition to casino expansion (and a terrible gambling economy). Impervious to reality, state Rep. Robert Rita (D) is introducing yet another bill for five casinos and airport slot routes. … Continue reading →

Posted in Current, Economy, Entertainment, Harrah's, Illinois, Macau, Mississippi, Ohio, Penn National, Politics, Stanley Ho, The Mob, The Strip | Comments Off

Mississippi’s plight and other Case Bets

Posted on October 14, 2013 by David McKee

At the risk of sounding apocalyptic, the best years of the Mississippi casino industry may be behind it. This year’s revenue is projected to top out at $2.15 million, well below 2007’s all-time peak of $2.9 million. Admissions were 3.7 … Continue reading →

Posted in Detroit, Economy, Mississippi, Regulation, Taxes, The Strip | 1 Comment

Troubling trend in Mississippi; Caesars pleads poverty

Posted on August 22, 2013 by David McKee

Evidence of casino saturation in the U.S. (and economic malaise) continues to mount. Following a 6% dropoff in Mississippi casino revenues for July, the Biloxi Sun-Herald‘s Mary Perez was moved to examine a larger trend. Here’s what she found in … Continue reading →

Posted in Current, Economy, Harrah's, Louisiana, Mississippi, Reno | 1 Comment

Another reason to hate Allegiant; Fertitta gets an “F”

Posted on August 21, 2013 by David McKee

That airline that charges you for checking bags, then floated the idea of charging you for not checking bags has found yet another way to screw its customers, as a planeload of them discovered last weekend in Las Vegas. Yes, … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Downtown, Laughlin, Mississippi, Tilman Fertitta, Tourism, Transportation | 4 Comments

Hope for Caesars; Dopes at Boyd

Posted on August 15, 2013 by David McKee

Perhaps the best thing yet to happen for Caesars Entertainment‘s Suffolk Downs project was a gift from the Massachusetts Gaming Commission. The latter’s chairman, Stephen Crosby, said that surrounding-community agreements would play an important role in choosing which operator gets … Continue reading →

Posted in Boyd Gaming, Current, Entertainment, Harrah's, International, Macau, Maryland, Mississippi, The Strip | Comments Off

MGM’s half-full glass

Posted on August 6, 2013 by David McKee

Today it was MGM Resorts International‘s turn to do the “We didn’t lose as much money as last year” thing. The size of the decrease, at least, was impressive and MGM China produced its best numbers ever. The company’s performance … Continue reading →

Posted in CityCenter, Current, Detroit, Economy, Harrah's, Macau, Mississippi, The Strip, Wall Street | 1 Comment

Tilman’s Golden touch; Dotty’s gets respectable

Posted on August 5, 2013 by David McKee

Tilman Fertitta forked over $45 million to purchase Isle of Capri Biloxi. He is currently putting another $100 million into expansions and upgrades. From the look of things, he shouldn’t have any trouble making his money back. (Interestingly, parts of … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, Boulder Strip, Current, Downtown, Economy, Environment, Internet gambling, Isle of Capri, Laughlin, Mississippi, Planet Hollywood, Riviera, Tilman Fertitta | 3 Comments

Scramble in Massachusetts; Malaise in Mississippi

Posted on July 23, 2013 by David McKee

Sept. 24 is the day appointed for voters in Leominster to say “aye” or “nay” to a slot parlor proposed by Cordish Gaming. That’s nine days before the deadline for submitting voter-approved HCAs to the Massachusetts Gaming Commission. Which, in … Continue reading →

Posted in Cordish Co., Current, Economy, Election, Florida, Foxwoods, Genting, Louisiana, Massachusetts, Mississippi, Mohegan Sun, Neil Bluhm, Sheldon Adelson, The Strip, Transportation, Tribal | 1 Comment

Massachusetts: It’s where the action might be; Where there’s smoke, there’s Sheldon

Posted on July 9, 2013 by David McKee

Update/Correction: I’m reliably informed that dog racing (see below) is illegal in Massachusetts and will remain so, praise be. Also, Neil Bluhm is now wooing Millbury for a slot-parlor site. Except for Raynham Park, all slot-parlor applicants are under the … Continue reading →

Posted in Animals, Architecture, Colony Capital, Cordish Co., Current, Economy, Environment, history, International, Isle of Capri, Louisiana, Massachusetts, MGM Mirage, Mississippi, Neil Bluhm, Oklahoma, Politics, Racinos, Regulation, Sheldon Adelson, Tribal | 1 Comment

Jumped, pushed or just fed up?

Posted on June 26, 2013 by David McKee

All of a sudden there’s a spate of turnover in the gaming industry. The ongoing verbal meltdown of Paula Deen was going to have to force Caesars Entertainment to take some form of action, particularly if it wants to preserve … Continue reading →

Posted in California, Cretins, Current, Dining, Florida, Genting, Harrah's, Illinois, Indiana, International, Mississippi, Sheldon Adelson, Tribal, Wall Street | 3 Comments

Pinnacle: First the good news …; Cuomo strikes again

Posted on June 13, 2013 by David McKee

Pinnacle Entertainment has lined up $2.9 billion in financing for its takeover of Ameristar Casinos. (Wouldn’t it have been awkward if Wall Street had said, “No thanks”?) In case you’re wondering, the deal values Ameristar at 8X cash flow, a … Continue reading →

Posted in Ameristar, Current, Harrah's, Louisiana, MGM Mirage, Mississippi, New York, Pinnacle Entertainment, Regulation, Taxes, Tribal, Wall Street | 1 Comment

The rest of the story: Boyd, IGT & Bally

Posted on June 3, 2013 by David McKee

While in Vegas, Deutsche Bank’s Carlo Santarelli dropped in on Boyd Gaming and … well, the news wasn’t as good there as on the Strip. He predicts a “tempered recovery,” adding that “expectations for an inflection in the LV locals … Continue reading →

Posted in Boyd Gaming, Current, IGT, Illinois, Internet gambling, Louisiana, Mississippi, Slot routes, The Strip, Tribal, Wall Street | Comments Off

Weidner returns; Casinos win tax fight

Posted on May 22, 2013 by David McKee

Y’all remember Baha Mar, that multi-billion-dollar project in the Bahamas that then-Harrah’s Entertainment exited during its IPO? At the time, Harrah’s insisted that there was no connection, but Baha Mar was one of several initiatives — including Margaritaville in Biloxi … Continue reading →

Posted in Boyd Gaming, Environment, Harrah's, International, Macau, Mississippi, Oklahoma, Politics, Reno, Sheldon Adelson, Taxes | 1 Comment