Category Archives: Neil Bluhm

No boost for Illinois; The wrath of Wynn

Posted on October 7, 2015 by David McKee

So much for the invigorating effect of Labor Day weekend. Even with a holiday, September in Illinois still saw a decline in casino revenue. Casinos in the Land of Lincoln were down 5% for the month. Foot traffic fell 2% … Continue reading →

Posted in Boyd Gaming, GLPI, Harrah's, Illinois, Massachusetts, MGM Mirage, Neil Bluhm, Penn National, Regulation, Slot routes, Sports, Steve Wynn | Comments Off

Crime and plentitude at G2E

Posted on September 30, 2015 by David McKee

Internet gambling having been temporarily moved to a back burner, thanks to Sheldon Adelson, the American Gaming Association has turned its attention at Global Gaming Expo to organized crime, which continues to be a shadowy partner to gambling, at least … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Boyd Gaming, G2E, Genting, Geoff Freeman, Internet gambling, Macau, Maine, Massachusetts, MGM Mirage, Mohegan Sun, Neil Bluhm, Penn National, Scientific Games, Sheldon Adelson, Technology, The Mob, The Strip, Tribal, Wall Street | Comments Off

Shocker from Sheldon; Massachusetts on horns of a dilemma

Posted on September 29, 2015 by David McKee

After a half-dozen years of banging its head on the door of the Florida Legislature, a frustrated Las Vegas Sands is calling it quits in the Sunshine State. Despite having poured millions of dollars into the Florida GOP and its … Continue reading →

Posted in Florida, Foxwoods, Georgia, Harrah's, Massachusetts, MGM Mirage, Mohegan Sun, Neil Bluhm, Politics, Regulation, Seminole Tribe, Sheldon Adelson, Tribal | 1 Comment

Quote of the Day

Posted on September 29, 2015 by David McKee

“Under federal law, the state cannot stop an Indian casino from opening, but the Gaming Commission can help it succeed, by denying the Brockton license. Given the debt Massachusetts owes to the Wampanoags, that only seems right.” — the editorial … Continue reading →

Posted in Massachusetts, Neil Bluhm, Regulation, Tribal | Comments Off

Caesars on the brink; MGM gives Massachusetts a surprise

Posted on September 24, 2015 by David McKee

For want of $2 billion from Caesars Entertainment Operating Co., creditors are withholding their support for the reorganization scheme CEOC intended to present in bankruptcy court. A last-minute solution seems unlikely, if only because junior bondholders like Appaloosa Management and Tennenbaum Capital … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, Derek Stevens, Downtown, Harrah's, Massachusetts, MGM Mirage, Neil Bluhm, Ohio, Penn National, Regulation, Scientific Games, Tribal, Wall Street | 1 Comment

This just in …

Posted on September 18, 2015 by David McKee

It’s a big day for the Mashpee Wampanoag Tribe. Much sooner than expected, the Interior Department took 321 acres of Massachusetts land into trust for the tribe. Most of that acreage (170 of it) is in Mashpee but another 151 … Continue reading →

Posted in Current, history, Massachusetts, Neil Bluhm, Regulation, Tribal | Comments Off

Bluhm restless in Massachusetts; Adelson’s latest innovation

Posted on September 10, 2015 by David McKee

Few regulatory bodies move as slothfully as the Massachusetts Gaming Commission and it’s got one would-be developer, Neil Bluhm, kind of antsy. “I’ve got other things to do,” he told the Boston Globe, adding, “Do I want to be here? Yes. … Continue reading →

Posted in Entertainment, Foxwoods, Genting, Harrah's, Massachusetts, Mohegan Sun, Neil Bluhm, Planet Hollywood, Regulation, Sheldon Adelson, Singapore, Taxes, The Strip, Tribal | 1 Comment

Bidding war in cyberspace; Adelson flexes Macao muscles

Posted on September 2, 2015 by David McKee

Having been outbid by GVC Holdings and jilted by Bwin.Party Digital Entertainment, Israeli-based 888 Holdings is upping the ante again in what is shaping up as the bidding war of the year. Meanwhile, Internet gamblers can look forward to a new … Continue reading →

Posted in Galaxy Entertainment, International, Macau, Neil Bluhm, New York, Racinos, Sheldon Adelson, Stanley Ho | Comments Off

Turmoil along the Boardwalk

Posted on September 1, 2015 by David McKee

Cult figure Glenn Straub is back in the news again, if indirectly. Stockton University has received Superior Court Judge Julio Mendez‘s blessing to sell the former Showboat and Mendez has enjoined the obstreperous Straub from challenging the sale. Stockton is thereby … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Boyd Gaming, Carl Icahn, Glenn Straub, history, Marketing, Massachusetts, Neil Bluhm, Regulation, Technology, Tribal, Tropicana Entertainment, Trump Entertainment Resorts, Unite-Here | 1 Comment

SLS: Closed by 2016?

Posted on August 19, 2015 by David McKee

That’s the stark implication of some remarks by owner Stockbridge Capital Partners about SLS Las Vegas, which continues to generate negative return on investment. Howard Stutz took a deep dive into the numbers and he must have required a bathysphere to … Continue reading →

Posted in Cannery Casino Resorts, Dining, Entertainment, Genting, Harrah's, IGT, Isle of Capri, James Packer, Marketing, Mississippi, Mohegan Sun, Neil Bluhm, New York, Penn National, Pennsylvania, Revel, Sam Nazarian, Sheldon Adelson, SLS Las Vegas, Taxes, The Strip, Wall Street | 1 Comment

Studio City in trouble; Tribal clash in Massachusetts

Posted on August 13, 2015 by David McKee

Melco Crown Entertainment is in Eeyore mood these days, darkly muttering about a “contingency plan” for Studio City if the Macao government doesn’t give it 400 table games. As far back as its 2014 annual report, the company was making … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Columbia Sussex, Election, Galaxy Entertainment, Geoff Freeman, Internet gambling, Isle of Capri, James Packer, Lawrence Ho, Macau, Massachusetts, Melco Crown Entertainment, MGM Mirage, Mississippi, Neil Bluhm, Pennsylvania, Regulation, Sheldon Adelson, Steve Wynn, The Strip, Tribal | Comments Off

Bluhm presses case in Massachusetts; Lawrence Ho tells it like it is

Posted on August 10, 2015 by David McKee

Despite having to wait at least until early next year to start building, a potential Brockton casino could be “up and running by 2018,” sometime in the second quarter, according to Neil Bluhm. “We are shovel-ready to go.” Unfortunately for … Continue reading →

Posted in Entertainment, Illinois, Lawrence Ho, Macau, Massachusetts, Melco Crown Entertainment, MGM Mirage, Neil Bluhm, Regulation, Sam Nazarian, Tribal | 1 Comment

Midwest shakes off malaise

Posted on August 10, 2015 by David McKee

Yes, there was an extra weekend day this year but let’s look at the glass half-full, as regional gaming markets shook off their malaise. Illinois was up 2% despite mild weakness in the St. Louis market. Empress Joliet (+10%) was … Continue reading →

Posted in Ameristar, Boyd Gaming, Dan Gilbert, Economy, Hard Rock International, Harrah's, Horseracing, Illinois, Indiana, Isle of Capri, Majestic Star, MGM Mirage, Missouri, Neil Bluhm, Ohio, Penn National, Pinnacle Entertainment, Racinos, Wall Street | Comments Off

Shocker in Massachusetts; Successes and setbacks for Penn

Posted on July 27, 2015 by David McKee

In a stunning reversal of fortune, KG Urban Enterprises has ditched its $650 million New Bedford casino project, citing financial difficulties. This ends seven years of grinding effort to gain civic acceptance, which culminated in a landslide electoral victory earlier … Continue reading →

Posted in Election, Environment, Florida, Foxwoods, GLPI, Illinois, Internet gambling, Maine, Massachusetts, Neil Bluhm, Ohio, Penn National, Pennsylvania, Racinos, Regulation, Scientific Games, Steve Wynn, Taxes, Tribal, Wall Street | Comments Off

Trump (the casino) loses again; New look for Bluhm

Posted on July 23, 2015 by David McKee

Business is in a tailspin at Trump Taj Mahal, in part due to Unite-Here‘s call for a boycott of the austerity-minded property. Trump Entertainment Resorts wanted the union muzzled, plus financial compensation. But a federal judge handed CEO Bob Griffin … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, Atlantic City, Carl Icahn, Cordish Co., Idaho, Maryland, Neil Bluhm, New York, Trump Entertainment Resorts, Unite-Here | 1 Comment

Bluhm tries, tries again; Caesars sees profits

Posted on July 10, 2015 by David McKee

“Metal panels and precast stone” are the look of Rivers Casino 3.0, as Rush Street Gaming struggles to find a design that sits well with Schenectady city fathers. The casinos is the $330 million linchpin of a $480 million development … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, Atlantic City, Harrah's, Neil Bluhm, New York, Taxes | Comments Off

Around the Midwest

Posted on July 8, 2015 by David McKee

Iowa was as flat as much of its landscape last month. Amidst the prevailing revenue stasis (sign of a perfectly sized market) there were a few significant movers. Isle of Capri Casinos‘ three properties were up a collective 2%, while … Continue reading →

Posted in Ameristar, Boyd Gaming, Dan Gilbert, Full House Resorts, GLPI, Hard Rock International, Harrah's, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Isle of Capri, Neil Bluhm, Penn National, Pinnacle Entertainment, Warner Gaming | Comments Off

MGM goes to Atlanta; Pechanga named #1

Posted on July 2, 2015 by David McKee

Instead of waiting for an incremental creep of acceptance of gambling in Georgia, MGM Resorts International is taking the bull by the horns. While it says that it is in the “very preliminary” stages of proposing a casino for Atlanta, … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, Atlantic City, Boyd Gaming, California, Economy, Foxwoods, Georgia, Hard Rock Hotel, Harrah's, Indiana, Internet gambling, Louisiana, MGM Mirage, Mississippi, Mohegan Sun, Neil Bluhm, New York, Pinnacle Entertainment, Politics, Sheldon Adelson, Station Casinos, Technology, The Strip, Tourism, Tribal | Comments Off

Mohegan Sun’s eastern inspiration; Bumper crop in Colorado

Posted on July 1, 2015 by David McKee

You’d never know Mohegan Sun has been experiencing financial difficulties on the home front to judge by the scale and expense of its South Korean partnership with Incheon International Airport Corp. The two sides have finalized conceptual plans for Inspire … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, Colorado, Economy, Massachusetts, MGM Mirage, Mohegan Sun, Neil Bluhm, Regulation, South Korea, Steve Wynn, Wall Street | Comments Off

Election wins for Foxwoods, Golden Gaming; New boss at Beau Rivage

Posted on June 24, 2015 by David McKee

Almost lost in the excitement over the opening of Plainridge Park, in Plainview, is a little-reported event: New Bedford‘s vote on casino host-community status. To say that KG Urban Enterprises won is rather an understatement. It garnered 73% of votes cast, … Continue reading →

Posted in Current, Election, Foxwoods, Golden Gaming, Harrah's, Lyle Berman, Massachusetts, MGM Mirage, Mississippi, Neil Bluhm, Ohio, Penn National, Racinos, Regulation, Steve Wynn, Wall Street | Comments Off