Category Archives: Money laundering

Atlantic City: Does it pay to improve?; Bicycle Casino’s flat tire

Posted on November 16, 2021 by David McKee

New Jersey giveth, New Jersey taketh away. The priority of the Lege’s lame-duck session will not be ending smoking in Atlantic City casinos but something much nearer and dearer to casino executives’ hearts: Revising the PILOT (Payment In Lieu of … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Bally, Caesars Entertainment, California, Card rooms, Golden Nugget, Hard Rock International, Law enforcement, MGM Resorts International, Money laundering, Morris Bailey, New Jersey, Ocean Resort, Taxes | 2 Comments

Rockin’ hard; Miller gives anti-smokers hope; Packer’s wrist slapped

Posted on October 29, 2021 by David McKee

Hard Rock International CEO Jim Allen (left) is bullish on the New York City market, if not downright aggressive. In maybe the highlight to come out of the East Coast Gaming Congress, Allen asserted his company’s interest in a New … Continue reading →

Posted in AGA, Animals, Atlantic City, Australia, Caesars Entertainment, China, Crown Resorts, Election, Genting, Golden Gaming, Greenwood Racing, Hard Rock International, Health, Illinois, Indiana, James Packer, Kentucky, Laughlin, Law enforcement, Lotteries, Maryland, MGM Resorts International, Money laundering, Nevada, New Jersey, New York, Pahrump, Pennsylvania, Politics, Regulation, Scientific Games, Slot routes, Sports betting, Taxes, The Crown 18, Tribal, Wall Street | 1 Comment

Biden wades into Florida swamp; New eras at Palms, Ocean

Posted on October 18, 2021 by David McKee

Intentionally or not, President Joe Biden (D) has done Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis (R) a solid. He wants the federal judiciary to dismiss litigation that would invalidate DeSantis’ controversial compact with the Seminole Tribe. As amusing as the spectacle of … Continue reading →

Posted in Aristocrat, Atlantic City, Australia, Baseball, Boyd Gaming, Caesars Entertainment, Connecticut, Economy, Environment, Florida, Full House Resorts, Hard Rock International, Health, Illinois, Illitch Family, Lake Tahoe, Las Vegas Sands, LVCVA, Marketing, MGM Resorts International, Money laundering, Nevada, North Las Vegas, Ocean Resort, Palms, Regulation, Reno, San Manuel Band of Mission Indians, Seminole Tribe, Sports betting, Star Entertainment, Station Casinos, Technology, The Strip, Tribal, Wynn Resorts | Comments Off on Biden wades into Florida swamp; New eras at Palms, Ocean

Disaster at Ocean; Ready when you are, CB; Gruden gone

Posted on October 12, 2021 by David McKee

In a development that portends nothing but ill for Atlantic City, the CEO of Ocean Casino Resort, Terry Glebocki has resigned. She also leaves the Casino Association of New Jersey rudderless, no doubt to be replaced in both roles by … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, Atlantic City, Australia, China, Cretins, Crown Resorts, Lake Tahoe, Las Vegas Raiders, LVCVA, Money laundering, Ocean Resort, Real Estate, Riviera, Sports, Star Entertainment, Station Casinos | 3 Comments

Fall of the Packer empire; Culinary Union’s kabuki theatre

Posted on September 3, 2021 by David McKee

The house that the late Kerry Packer built continues to go from bad to worse to downright awful under the all-thumbs leadership of heir James Packer. During the first half of this year Crown Resorts lost $191 million (on a … Continue reading →

Posted in BetMGM, Caesars Entertainment, Crown Resorts, Culinary Union, DraftKings, FanDuel, FoxBet, James Packer, Marketing, Money laundering, PointsBet, Resorts World LV, Sports betting, Station Casinos, TV, Wynn Resorts | 1 Comment

Case Bets

Posted on July 6, 2021 by David McKee

Crown Resorts is in the soup again. Businessman and fugitive from justice Michael Gu allegedly used Crown Melbourne as a sieve through which to strain $8 million in Ponzi scheme money. “Authorities believe he conned clients by claiming he was … Continue reading →

Posted in Australia, Barstool Sports, Caesars Entertainment, China, Crown Resorts, DraftKings, FanDuel, Illinois, Las Vegas Sands, MGM Resorts International, Money laundering, Penn National, PointsBet, Regulation, Rush Street Gaming, Sports betting, The Strip, Tourism, William Hill, Wynn Resorts | 1 Comment

Trump banned; Richmond: The fix was in

Posted on June 11, 2021 by David McKee

Donald Trump won’t be opening a casino in Doral. Neither will anyone else. Not if the Doral City Council has its way. It voted unanimously to bar casino gambling within the city, which encompasses The Donald’s struggling resort. This has … Continue reading →

Posted in Australia, BetMGM, Boyd Gaming, Caesars Entertainment, Cordish Co., Donald Trump, DraftKings, Entertainment, FanDuel, Florida, Health, Iowa, Mohegan Sun, Money laundering, North Dakota, Pennsylvania, Politics, Regulation, Rush Street Gaming, Sports, Sports betting, The Strip, Tribal, Virgin Hotels, Virginia, William Hill | 3 Comments

Getting nasty in Florida; Police blotter

Posted on June 4, 2021 by David McKee

A “tortured artifice.” That’s what Miami Beach Mayor Dan Gelber (D) calls the new Florida gaming compact in a letter to the Interior Department. He urged them to reject the deal, not because of any issues with the Seminole Tribe, … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Churchill Downs, Donald Trump, Drugs, Economy, El Cortez, Entertainment, Florida, G2E, Hard Rock International, Health, Horseracing, Law enforcement, Louisiana, Macau, MGM Resorts International, Money laundering, North Carolina, Pansy Ho, Politics, Problem gambling, Seminole Tribe, Sociedade de Jogos de Macau, Sports, Sports betting, The Strip, Tribal | 1 Comment

Circa picketed; Sundry green shoots in Vegas; Sports book busted

Posted on March 29, 2021 by David McKee

If you cruise by Circa, you’re liable to see members of Teamsters Local 986 walking a picket line on behalf of the ‘Circa Seven,’ a group of unfortunate warehouse workers. The seven were employed by Derek Stevens‘ Three Corners company, … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Bally, Caesars Entertainment, Cordish Co., Derek Stevens, Dining, Downtown, Economy, Florida, Golden Nugget, Las Vegas Sands, MGM Resorts International, Mohegan Sun, Money laundering, Ocean Resort, Regulation, Seminole Tribe, Sports, Sports betting, Tennessee, The Strip, TV, Virgin Hotels, Virginia, Wynn Resorts | 2 Comments

Packer out, Blackstone in at Crown?

Posted on March 23, 2021 by David McKee

Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas owner Blackstone Group threw a lifeline to troubled Crown Resorts, in the form of a $6.2 billion buyout offer. The rope comes with a substantial string attached—Australian regulators must preserve the (sleazy) Crown casino licenses. Without … Continue reading →

Posted in Australia, Caesars Entertainment, Connecticut, Crown Resorts, Dining, Diversity, Economy, Entertainment, Foxwoods, Golden Nugget, Greenwood Racing, Indiana, James Packer, Las Vegas Sands, Louisiana, Melco Resorts & Entertainment, Money laundering, Pennsylvania, Regulation, The Strip, Virginia, Wynn Resorts | Comments Off on Packer out, Blackstone in at Crown?

Vegas scraping bottom; Caesars fined big-time

Posted on December 30, 2020 by David McKee

Rising numbers of Covid-19 cases “pressured visitation” to Las Vegas last month and a total absence of conventions didn’t help either, according to JP Morgan analyst Joseph Greff. Tourism was down 57%, which drove a devastating 70% decline in revenue … Continue reading →

Posted in Caesars Entertainment, California, Colorado, Economy, Health, International, LVCVA, MGM Resorts International, Money laundering, The Strip, Tourism, Wall Street, William Hill | 2 Comments

Uneasy lies the head that wears Crown; IGT’s cautious future

Posted on November 19, 2020 by David McKee

Executives at Crown Resorts had better rethink that scheme to buy Sheldon Adelson‘s Las Vegas assets. The company, which has played fast and loose with money-laundering rules, has been provisionally denied permission to open its multibillion-dollar casino in Sydney. Regulators … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Australia, Cretins, Crown Resorts, Health, IGT, Las Vegas Sands, Lotteries, Money laundering, New Jersey, Ohio, Regulation, South Dakota, Sports betting, Taxes, Wall Street | 3 Comments

Ill winds in Louisiana; Boyd gets a boost

Posted on October 21, 2020 by David McKee

Gambling win in Louisiana was dealt a double blow last month by those twin vixens Hurricanes Laura and Sally. Hardest-hit as usual was storm magnet Lake Charles, where revenue plunged 65%. Treasure Chest in Kenner lost two days of business, … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, Barstool Sports, Boyd Gaming, Caesars Entertainment, Churchill Downs, Donald Trump, FanDuel, GLPI, Golden Nugget, Louisiana, Money laundering, Penn National, Phil Ruffin, Sports, Sports betting, The Strip, Twin River, Wall Street | 1 Comment

Funny biz at Trump International

Posted on October 13, 2020 by David McKee

With his golf-course-and-hotel empire bleeding cash, Donald Trump needed some quick moolah to juice his 2016 presidential campaign. And where did he get it? From the coffers of Trump International Las Vegas, according to tax documents obtained by the New … Continue reading →

Posted in California, Donald Trump, Election, history, Internet gambling, Money laundering, Phil Ruffin, Real Estate, Taxes, The Strip, Transportation | 2 Comments

Hot water in Singapore; Pennsylvania sports books triumph

Posted on September 17, 2020 by David McKee

Faced with evidence of money laundering at Marina Bay Sands, CEO Sheldon Adelson is being proactive and hiring a local firm to investigate $1 billion in fund transfers from high rollers to third parties. It’s frankly in Adelson’s interest to … Continue reading →

Posted in Barstool Sports, Boyd Gaming, Caesars Entertainment, California, Card rooms, Dining, Downtown, DraftKings, Election, Environment, FanDuel, Greenwood Racing, Hooters, Internet gambling, Las Vegas Sands, Law enforcement, Maryland, Mohegan Sun, Money laundering, Penn National, Pennsylvania, Rush Street Gaming, Sheldon Adelson, Singapore, Sports, Sports betting, Terry Caudill, TV, William Hill | 1 Comment

Gaming the system is easy

Posted on July 1, 2020 by David McKee

by Andrew Fenton If you’re trying to get from Point A to Point B without getting caught by the authorities, you’re likely to head for the back roads where there are fewer police than on the highway. For the same … Continue reading →

Posted in Canada, International, Internet gambling, Law enforcement, Macau, Money laundering, Technology | Comments Off on Gaming the system is easy

Wynn reinvents the buffet; Cash out, digital in?

Posted on June 16, 2020 by David McKee

We seem to have been overfearful in predicting the demise of the Las Vegas buffet. Wynncore‘s reopens on Thursday, making it the first to do so. But it won’t be the same old same-old. Yes, there will be 90 selections and, … Continue reading →

Posted in AGA, Atlantic City, Boyd Gaming, Delaware, Dining, Entertainment, Genting, Health, Horseracing, International, Louisiana, Money laundering, Movies, Nevada, Oklahoma, Penn National, Racinos, Regulation, South Dakota, Technology, Tribal, Wynn Resorts | 1 Comment

MGM changes mind on Aria; No appetite for deals?

Posted on June 8, 2020 by David McKee

Having told its entire Aria staff to look for new jobs, MGM Resorts International finds itself in the position of saying, “Never mind.” In an interview last weekend, CEO Bill Hornbuckle floated the possibility of reopening Aria by July 4, followed … Continue reading →

Posted in Boyd Gaming, Caesars Entertainment, California, CityCenter, Conventions, Current, Derek Stevens, Dining, Downtown, Economy, Election, Entertainment, Hawaii, Health, Las Vegas Sands, Law enforcement, LVCVA, Marketing, Massachusetts, MGM Resorts International, Money laundering, Resort fees, Sahara, Singapore, Sports, Sports betting, Station Casinos, Terry Caudill, The Rio, The Strip, Tourism, Tribal, TV, Virginia, Wall Street | 1 Comment

Las Vegas breakthrough; Shoot the messenger

Posted on April 28, 2020 by David McKee

Las Vegas-based Avidium Labs says it has developed a Covid-19 test that has been validated at laboratories in California and New York. Said CEO Evan Louie, “Our team is diligently working on getting our tests to a wide range of … Continue reading →

Posted in Australia, California, Dining, Genting, Health, Idaho, Melco Resorts & Entertainment, Money laundering, Philippines, Resorts World LV, South Korea, Tribal, Wynn Resorts | 1 Comment

Gambling approved in Virginia, ixnayed in Louisiana

Posted on March 10, 2020 by David McKee

Gambling’s fate in Virginia now rests in Gov. Ralph Northam‘s hands, as the General Assembly has sent a casinos-and-sports-betting bill to his desk. In an eleventh-hour compromise to preserve the legislation, betting on Virginia collegiate teams will be forbidden, a … Continue reading →

Posted in Internet gambling, Japan, Louisiana, Marijuana, Money laundering, Oklahoma, Philippines, Politics, Sports betting, Taxes, Tribal, Virginia | Comments Off on Gambling approved in Virginia, ixnayed in Louisiana