Category Archives: Neil Bluhm

Hail, Caesars; Some roads lead to Foxwoods; Bluhm disappoints

Posted on July 18, 2013 by David McKee

It’s not every day that Caesars Entertainment CEO Gary Loveman has a good idea. But when he does, it’s a real brainwave. Such has proven to be the case with Caesars’ purchase of social-gaming Web firm Playtika. The latter has … Continue reading →

Posted in Hard Rock International, Harrah's, IGT, Illinois, Internet gambling, Macau, Maryland, Massachusetts, MGM Mirage, Neil Bluhm, Pansy Ho, Penn National, Pennsylvania, Politics, Regulation, Stanley Ho, Station Casinos, Taxes, The Mob, Transportation, Tribal | Comments Off on Hail, Caesars; Some roads lead to Foxwoods; Bluhm disappoints

Massachusetts: Bluhm, Penn pounce; Galaxy gets bounced

Posted on July 12, 2013 by David McKee

From the You Read It Here First file, yes, it’s indeed true that Neil Bluhm‘s Rush Street Gaming is descending upon the town of Millbury as its next prospective site for a slot parlor. Bluhm surrogate Greg Carlin says the … Continue reading →

Posted in California, Cordish Co., Current, Harrah's, Massachusetts, Neil Bluhm, New Hampshire, Penn National, Racinos, Regulation, Technology, The Strip, 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

Revel gets forgiveness; Illinois gets hammered

Posted on July 8, 2013 by David McKee

You’ve heard about the “Gamblers Wanted” marketing campaign at Revel that refunds slot refunds over $100 — if you’re a member of the players’ club. There’s another catch: You don’t get a cash refund but additional free play, doled forth … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Current, Donald Trump, Economy, Harrah's, Illinois, Marketing, MGM Mirage, Missouri, Neil Bluhm, Ohio, Penn National, Politics, Revel, Slot routes | 1 Comment

Buyer’s market on the Boardwalk

Posted on July 3, 2013 by David McKee

An East Coast spy for S&G has had his ear to the ground and reports that a veritable horde of prospective purchaser are descending upon Atlantic City. Casino prices having fallen about as low as they can go, “buy” appears … Continue reading →

Posted in Ameristar, Atlantic City, Colony Capital, Current, Economy, Louisiana, Missouri, Neil Bluhm, Penn National, Pennsylvania, Pinnacle Entertainment, Revel | 1 Comment

Delaware casinos offered bailout; Wynn making gains in Massachusetts

Posted on June 18, 2013 by David McKee

State governments like casinos because they fill the capitol’s coffers with revenue. At least that’s what they’re supposed to do. But something’s gone very wrong in Delaware. Gov. Jack Markell‘s administration — having an extra $50 million on hand — … Continue reading →

Posted in Harrah's, Massachusetts, Neil Bluhm, Penn National, Politics, Steve Wynn, Taxes, Tribal | Comments Off on Delaware casinos offered bailout; Wynn making gains in Massachusetts

Penn: Start making sense!; Casinos clean up in Lege

Posted on June 4, 2013 by David McKee

Casinos in Ohio have not been living up to revenue expectations. Given such a fallow market, what has Penn National Gaming decided to do? Break ground on two racinos, of course! One is in the Dayton area, the other — … Continue reading →

Posted in Boyd Gaming, Current, Dan Gilbert, Economy, Harrah's, Internet gambling, Macau, MGM Mirage, MTR Gaming, Neil Bluhm, Ohio, Penn National, Politics, Racinos, Sheldon Adelson, Slot routes, Stanley Ho, Station Casinos, World Series of Poker | 1 Comment

Illinois: Not so fast!; Adelson pursues world domination

Posted on May 30, 2013 by David McKee

It really looked like the fix was in, the deal was done and existing casino operators in Illinois were about to thrown to the slaughter by legislators hungry for licensing fees. But the wheels of the grand plan are coming … Continue reading →

Posted in Current, Election, Illinois, International, Macau, Neil Bluhm, Penn National, Politics, Regulation, Sheldon Adelson, Slot routes, Taxes, The Strip, Tourism, Wall Street | 1 Comment

PokerStars blows it; Wynn woos Philadelphia

Posted on May 20, 2013 by David McKee

Score one for Colony Capital: It took Rational Group to the cleaners to  the tune of $11 million and there’s nothing Rational can do about it. A New Jersey court ruled that the PokerStars parent company had no one to … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Boyd Gaming, Carl Icahn, Colony Capital, Current, Dining, Donald Trump, Economy, Entertainment, Harrah's, Internet gambling, Isle of Capri, Marketing, Neil Bluhm, Penn National, Pennsylvania, Revel, Steve Wynn, Tilman Fertitta, Tropicana Entertainment | 2 Comments

Illinois: Quinn caves; Money grab in Missouri

Posted on May 7, 2013 by David McKee

That pesky Illinois Legislature writes up a new, gambling-expansion bill as fast as Gov. Pat Quinn (D, left) can veto the last one. Evidently worn down by long combat with lawmakers and facing a $100 million hole in the state’s … Continue reading →

Posted in Ameristar, Current, Economy, Harrah's, Horseracing, Illinois, Isle of Capri, Missouri, Neil Bluhm, Penn National, Pinnacle Entertainment, Politics, Problem gambling, Racinos, Slot routes | 2 Comments

Springfield: MGM bests Penn … for now

Posted on May 1, 2013 by David McKee

Yes, the comedy is finished in Springfield, at least for the moment. In an episode worthy of The Simpsons and after an epic amount of foot-dragging, Springfield Mayor Domenic Sarno was cajoled and ultimately browbeaten into actually taking a stand … Continue reading →

Posted in Current, Dining, Economy, International, Massachusetts, MGM Mirage, Neil Bluhm, Penn National, Politics, Racinos, Regulation, Tourism, Tribal, TV, Wall Street | 1 Comment

Illinois: Recovering or grasping a branch?

Posted on April 6, 2013 by David McKee

We’re at a point where we can finally say that Illinois‘ colossal slide in casino revenues has ended … at least until people get into the habit of playing video poker in bars. Reckless legislators like Rep. Lou Lang (D), … Continue reading →

Posted in Boyd Gaming, Current, Economy, Harrah's, Illinois, Isle of Capri, MGM Mirage, Neil Bluhm, Penn National, Slot routes | 1 Comment

Revel: What’s -$2 billion among friends?

Posted on March 22, 2013 by David McKee

Stephen Sweeney (D, right), president of the New Jersey state senate, has the honor of having been the first to call for ex-Revel CEO Kevin DeSanctis‘ head on a platter. Garden State regulators moved quickly to put Mohegan Sun veteran … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Current, Donald Trump, Economy, Harrah's, Massachusetts, Neil Bluhm, Revel, Technology, Tropicana Entertainment, Wall Street | 1 Comment

Ameristar: No surprises; Illinois, Iowa and Ohio all soft

Posted on February 7, 2013 by David McKee

A preview of Ameristar Casinos‘ 4Q12 report draws an about-what-we-expected reaction from Joseph Greff of J.P. Morgan. Ameristar narrowly missed most of Wall Street‘s expectations, a result Greff partially attributes to “sluggish … regional gaming spend.” Hardest-hit by the competition … Continue reading →

Posted in Boyd Gaming, Colorado, Current, Detroit, Economy, Harrah's, Illinois, Iowa, Isle of Capri, Kansas, MGM Mirage, Mississippi, Missouri, MTR Gaming, Neil Bluhm, Ohio, Penn National, Pinnacle Entertainment | Comments Off on Ameristar: No surprises; Illinois, Iowa and Ohio all soft

Massachusetts … and then there were 11; End of the Colony Capital era?

Posted on January 16, 2013 by David McKee

“[W]ell-connected developer” — but so not well financed — David Nunes (below) just got his casino-application fee across the transom, meaning that there are 11 contestants vying for two casino licenses and a slot parlor in Massachusetts. A couple of … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, Atlantic City, Cordish Co., Harrah's, Internet gambling, Maryland, Massachusetts, Neil Bluhm, Pokergeddon, Racinos, Regulation, Steve Wynn, Taxes, Tribal | 1 Comment

A Christmas wish list …

Posted on December 24, 2012 by David McKee

For those of us who missed it this year, the best Christmas tradition of which I know. First and most importantly … To you, the reader, who makes this possible, a year of happiness, health and wealth, whether material, intellectual … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, Atlantic City, Boyd Gaming, Carl Icahn, Cirque du Soleil, CityCenter, Cosmopolitan, Current, Dan Gilbert, Don Barden, Donald Trump, Entertainment, Fontainebleau, Harrah's, IGT, Illinois, Kansas, Massachusetts, MGM Mirage, Neil Bluhm, Penn National, Pennsylvania, Pinnacle Entertainment, Regulation, Revel, Sahara, Sheldon Adelson, Sports, Station Casinos, Steve Wynn, Tamares Group, Tilman Fertitta, Tropicana Entertainment, TV, Wayne F. Newton | 5 Comments

Wynn comes (back) to Massachusetts; Revel’s rattling tin cup

Posted on December 5, 2012 by David McKee

Despite several months of doom-and-gloom economic predictions from Steve Wynn, the mogul has decided to “buy American” again, not only returning to the site of previous skirmishes (Philadelphia) but also taking a second run at Massachusetts. S&G was no fan … Continue reading →

Posted in Ameristar, Atlantic City, Cannery Casino Resorts, Current, Economy, Election, Environment, Harrah's, Marketing, Massachusetts, Neil Bluhm, Pennsylvania, Politics, Racinos, Regulation, Revel, Steve Wynn, Tourism, Tribal, Wall Street | Comments Off on Wynn comes (back) to Massachusetts; Revel’s rattling tin cup

Wynn comes to Philadelphia … again; Atlantic City: About as expected

Posted on November 12, 2012 by David McKee

Now we know why Steve Wynn was careful to mend fences with Philadelphia Mayor Michael Nutter (below) in 2010 when negotiations to take over the doomed Foxwoods Casino Philadelphia project abruptly feel apart and Wynn skipped town. He’s back with … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Baseball, Colony Capital, Cordish Co., Current, Donald Trump, Economy, Harrah's, Maryland, Neil Bluhm, Penn National, Pennsylvania, Politics, Regulation, Revel, Steve Wynn, Tilman Fertitta, Tribal, Tropicana Entertainment, Wall Street | Comments Off on Wynn comes to Philadelphia … again; Atlantic City: About as expected

Have you seen this man?; Bluhm comes to Beantown

Posted on November 1, 2012 by David McKee

Anyone remember Gov. Steve Beshear (D)? For the five years, he’s been spinning his wheels, trying to get gambling expanded in Kentucky past horse racing. When Beshear ran for reelection last year, his GOP opponent, then-state Senate President David Williams … Continue reading →

Posted in Current, Illinois, Isle of Capri, Kentucky, Macau, Massachusetts, Missouri, Neil Bluhm, Politics, Racinos, Regulation, Tribal | Comments Off on Have you seen this man?; Bluhm comes to Beantown

Illinois: Cause for optimism?

Posted on October 5, 2012 by David McKee

Late last month, Bally Technologies landed a massive order of 4,000+ video poker terminals — VGTs in industry parlance — in Illinois. Y’all remember slot routes in the Land of Lincoln? They’ve taken so long to be put into place … Continue reading →

Posted in Bally Technologies, Boyd Gaming, Current, Harrah's, Illinois, Missouri, Neil Bluhm, Penn National, Politics, Slot routes | Comments Off on Illinois: Cause for optimism?