Category Archives: Neil Bluhm

Wynn vs. Wynn; ‘Believe’ gets a new name, focus

Posted on April 4, 2016 by David McKee

More details of Elaine Wynn‘s lawsuit against Wynn Resorts, CEO Steve Wynn and General Counsel Kim Sinatra are emerging. She barrages the three with a litany of complaints, one of which seems to imply that her ex got a company … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Cirque du Soleil, Election, Entertainment, Harrah's, Massachusetts, MGM Mirage, Neil Bluhm, New York, Politics, Regulation, Steve Wynn, The Strip | Comments Off

Ohio leads the Midwest; Boyd a good neighbor in Iowa

Posted on March 28, 2016 by David McKee

With gaming expansion off the table in all Midwestern states (other than a potential tribal casino in Indiana), Ohio has been making out like a bandit, its gaming revenues up 13% from last year, as the state’s industry is now … Continue reading →

Posted in Boyd Gaming, California, Charity, Economy, Florida, Foxwoods, Idaho, Iowa, Mohegan Sun, Neil Bluhm, New York, Ohio, Oklahoma, South Dakota, Tribal | 1 Comment

Kasich, gambling opponents clash; Boffo month for Pennsylvania

Posted on March 25, 2016 by David McKee

Ohio Gov. John Kasich (R) went 1-1 in legal challenges to his decision to widen the Buckeye State’s casino industry, including his permission of VLTs at the state’s racinos, a move that broke the Caesars Entertainment/Penn National Gaming duopoly on … Continue reading →

Posted in GLPI, Greenwood Racing, Harrah's, Isle of Capri, Mohegan Sun, Neil Bluhm, Ohio, Penn National, Pennsylvania, Problem gambling, Sheldon Adelson | Comments Off

Setback for Penn; New problem for Atlantic City

Posted on March 24, 2016 by David McKee

It was Iowa Racing & Gaming Commission 1, Penn National Gaming 0 in an Iowa appellate court. Penn had been trying to get the license of its Belle of Sioux City reinstated, claiming it was deprived of due process. That … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Iowa, MGM Mirage, Neil Bluhm, New York, Penn National, Politics, Regulation, Taxes, Wall Street, Warner Gaming | Comments Off

DFS in retreat; Pinnacle fights smoking ban

Posted on March 23, 2016 by David McKee

What Attorney General Eric Schneiderman couldn’t do, gun-shy payment processors have accomplished: Put DraftKings and FanDuel out of business in New York State. The two have said they will refrain from taking wagers from the Empire State through the end … Continue reading →

Posted in Churchill Downs, Environment, GLPI, Harrah's, history, Illinois, Internet gambling, Law enforcement, Louisiana, Neil Bluhm, New York, Pennsylvania, Pinnacle Entertainment, Regulation, Sports, Tribal, Tropicana Entertainment, TV | Comments Off

Illinois casinos stave off competition; Palms potentially for sale

Posted on March 7, 2016 by David McKee

Despite being increasingly besieged by slot routes, Illinois casinos had a good February, up 5%. Foot traffic was 3% higher and customer spending rose 2%. Two operators had revenue-negative months, with MGM Resorts International off 1% at Grand Victoria Elgin, while … Continue reading →

Posted in Boyd Gaming, Carl Icahn, Entertainment, Fontainebleau, George Maloof, GLPI, Harrah's, Illinois, Macau, MGM Mirage, Neil Bluhm, Penn National, Slot routes, Steve Wynn, The Strip, Wall Street | 2 Comments

Trump: The art of failure; Tribal gaming flexes its muscle

Posted on March 4, 2016 by David McKee

During a period (1995-2005) in which the Dow Jones Average Casino Index posted a 160% return on investment, Trump Hotels & Casinos ate dirt to the tune of a negative 89% ROI. By contrast, Boyd Gaming — unloved on Wall … Continue reading →

Posted in Boyd Gaming, Dan Gilbert, Donald Trump, Economy, Marketing, Massachusetts, Neil Bluhm, New York, Ohio, Regulation, Scientific Games, Tribal, Trump Entertainment Resorts, Wall Street | Comments Off

Study: Triads rampant in Macao casinos

Posted on March 3, 2016 by David McKee

Wow, what a shocker — not. A new study by T. Wing Lo and Sharon Ingrid Kwok of the City University of Hong Kong for the British Journal of Criminology reports that casino operators look for junket partners who have ‘dor’ or … Continue reading →

Posted in Election, Law enforcement, Macau, Marketing, Massachusetts, MGM Mirage, Neil Bluhm, Regulation, Rhode Island, Stanley Ho, Steve Wynn, The Mob, Tribal | Comments Off

Taunted in Taunton; Sands’ Chinese generosity

Posted on February 8, 2016 by David McKee

It was bound to happen and finally did: An activist group in Taunton has filed suit to stop the Mashpee Wampanoag tribe from building its dreamt-of casino, Project First Light. The litigants’ argument is as predictable as the filing itself. … Continue reading →

Posted in Macau, Massachusetts, Neil Bluhm, Regulation, Sheldon Adelson, Tribal | Comments Off

Illinois beats the odds; MGM goes au naturel

Posted on February 8, 2016 by David McKee

Well, here’s a novel piece of news out of Illinois, where it always seems that gloom and doom hold sway. Gaming revenues were up 2% last month. That’s even more impressive when you consider that it’s being measured against a … Continue reading →

Posted in Boyd Gaming, Culinary Union, Entertainment, Environment, GLPI, Harrah's, Illinois, MGM Mirage, Neil Bluhm, Nevada, Penn National, Technology, The Strip, Transportation, Wall Street | Comments Off

Strip’s illusory Christmas present; A.C. Trop antes up

Posted on January 29, 2016 by David McKee

Las Vegas Strip gaming revenues were up 8% last month but Deutsche Bank analyst Carlo Santarelli is calling that headline “misleading,” the increase “purely optical.” Volume of table play was down 11% and slot coin-in was 2% less. But increased … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Boulder Strip, Boyd Gaming, Downtown, Economy, Greenwood Racing, Harrah's, Internet gambling, Lake Tahoe, Laughlin, Macau, MGM Mirage, Mohegan Sun, Neil Bluhm, Nevada, North Las Vegas, Penn National, Pennsylvania, Reno, Sheldon Adelson, Technology, The Strip, Tropicana Entertainment, Wall Street | Comments Off

Another card room busted; Station becomes Red Rock

Posted on January 22, 2016 by David McKee

Scarcely was the ink dry on the American Gaming Association‘s proclamation of improved anti-money-laundering compliance than a plea-bargaining agreement was revealed involving the Normandie Casino, a venerable Gardena, California, card room. According to the Los Angeles Times, the Normandie “failed … Continue reading →

Posted in California, Economy, Geoff Freeman, Internet gambling, Law enforcement, Macau, Massachusetts, MGM Mirage, Neil Bluhm, Pennsylvania, Sheldon Adelson, Station Casinos, Tribal, Wall Street | Comments Off

Illinois down, Indiana up

Posted on January 8, 2016 by David McKee

While surrounding states prosper at their casinos, Illinois‘ continue to suffer, especially now that they must compete with slot routes. Deutsche Bank analyst Carlo Santarelli crunched the numbers and found that even though bettors were wagering 2% more, there was … Continue reading →

Posted in Ameristar, Boyd Gaming, Dan Lee, GLPI, Harrah's, Illinois, Indiana, MGM Mirage, Neil Bluhm, Penn National, Pinnacle Entertainment, Racinos, Tropicana Entertainment | Comments Off

Florida compact decried; Reprieve for Atlantic City?

Posted on December 23, 2015 by David McKee

Despite being at the epicenter of Florida‘s gaming industry, the Miami Herald has come out against Gov. Rick Scott‘s compact with the Seminole Tribe, wringing its hands and seeing a slot machine under every bed. “This is a major expansion … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Election, Florida, Massachusetts, Neil Bluhm, New York, Penn National, Politics, Racinos, Regulation, Seminole Tribe, Sheldon Adelson, Tribal | Comments Off

New York blesses three casinos; Sinatra hangout resurrected

Posted on December 23, 2015 by David McKee

Not a discouraging word was to be heard as the New York State Gaming Commission unanimously approved licenses for three casinos in various upstate market. (Tioga Downs‘ turn comes later, as it was delayed entrant to the process.) This removes … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, Genting, history, Lake Tahoe, Neil Bluhm, New York, Regulation, Taxes | 1 Comment

Gaming expansion in Garden State moving fast; Mashpee Wampanoags challenged

Posted on December 18, 2015 by David McKee

New Jersey lawmakers are wasting no time getting a casino-expansion question onto next year’s election ballot. Enabling legislation fairly shot out of committee in both houses of the Lege. The Assembly version would devote 33% of tax revenue from two gambling … Continue reading →

Posted in Arizona, Atlantic City, Genting, Indiana, Internet gambling, Massachusetts, MGM Mirage, Neil Bluhm, Pennsylvania, Politics, Regulation, Taxes, Tribal | Comments Off

Continued erosion in Illinois

Posted on December 7, 2015 by David McKee

Illinois gamblers visited measurably less (-8%) and spent slightly more (+3%), as casino business in the Land of Lincoln took a 5% dip in November. The calendar had one less weekend day than last year, which surely didn’t help. Even … Continue reading →

Posted in Boyd Gaming, Economy, GLPI, Harrah's, Illinois, MGM Mirage, Movies, Neil Bluhm, Penn National | 1 Comment

Good news in Massachusetts for DFS and tribe

Posted on November 13, 2015 by David McKee

Home team DraftKings (headquartered in Boston) got a vote of confidence from Massachusetts Gov. Charlie Baker (R), who opined that daily fantasy sports is a game of skill, not of chance. Last weekend, Baker tried a little DraftKings wagering himself … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, Internet gambling, Massachusetts, MGM Mirage, Neil Bluhm, New York, Politics, Regulation, Tribal | Comments Off

Bluhm thinks big in Massachusetts; Cautious optimism in Illinois

Posted on November 6, 2015 by David McKee

Never accuse Neil Bluhm of thinking small. His Mass Gaming & Entertainment has published some eye-popping projections as part of a 200-page casino application to the State of Massachusetts. Despite nearby competition from Plainridge and Rhode Island, Bluhm is projecting … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, Boyd Gaming, GLPI, Harrah's, Illinois, Internet gambling, Massachusetts, MGM Mirage, Neil Bluhm, Penn National, Politics, Regulation, Tribal | Comments Off

Doubling down on Philadelphia; Baltimore throws a Horseshoe

Posted on October 7, 2015 by David McKee

Cordish Gaming got the go-ahead to start building its Packer Avenue casino in Philadelphia. The news came on the same as a bulletin that should give Cordish pause, with SugarHouse casino reporting a 4% drop in slot revenues. Given the … Continue reading →

Posted in Cordish Co., Foxwoods, Greenwood Racing, Harrah's, Maryland, Mohegan Sun, Neil Bluhm, Pennsylvania, Tribal | Comments Off