Category Archives: Nevada

A slight chill in the air

Posted on January 10, 2017 by David McKee

Even allowing for additional weekend in 2016, gaming results last month were a tad frosty, shall we say? The best market was Missouri, which was merely flat. That was largely due to strength in the St. Louis area, where Pinnacle … Continue reading →

Posted in Affinity Gaming, Ameristar, Boyd Gaming, Economy, Eldorado Resorts, Full House Resorts, GLPI, Harrah's, Indiana, Isle of Capri, Majestic Star, Missouri, Nevada, Ohio, Penn National, Pinnacle Entertainment, Racinos, Tourism, Tropicana Entertainment | Comments Off

Freeman: All I want for Christmas …

Posted on December 27, 2016 by David McKee

Mid-December is a time when children compose their Christmas letters to Santa Claus. In much the same spirit, American Gaming Association President Geoff Freeman was framing a missive to Donald Trump. After pointing out that the industry was on a … Continue reading →

Posted in Animals, Arizona, Donald Trump, Economy, Election, Geoff Freeman, Internet gambling, Nevada, Regulation, Taxes, Tourism, Tribal | 2 Comments

What the Lucky Dragon means; National Harbor lifts all boats

Posted on December 9, 2016 by David McKee

The good Dr. David G. Schwartz ponders the significance of Lucky Dragon Casino and begins with one salient milestone: “Lucky Dragon is the first genuinely new property to open in the tourist corridor since The Cosmopolitan six years ago.” That’s … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, Cosmopolitan, Donald Trump, Genting, Harrah's, history, Internet gambling, Japan, Lucky Dragon, Marketing, Maryland, MGM Mirage, Nevada, Politics, Problem gambling, Regulation, Sheldon Adelson, Taxes, The Strip, Tourism, Wall Street | Comments Off

Racinos lap casinos in Ohio; “Golden Knights” kiboshed

Posted on December 9, 2016 by David McKee

Ohio‘s four main casinos performed weakly last month, with Dan Gilbert‘s Jack Cleveland ($16 million, -4%) and Jack Cincinnati ($15 million, -7%) still not validating their new brand. Ironically, the once-superfluous Thistledown Racino is saving Jack’s bacon, up 13% to … Continue reading →

Posted in Arizona, Atlantic City, Boyd Gaming, Cordish Co., Dan Gilbert, Economy, Eldorado Resorts, Florida, GLPI, Hard Rock International, Harrah's, Japan, Maryland, MGM Mirage, Nevada, New York, Ohio, Penn National, Politics, Racinos, Seminole Tribe, Sports, Taxes | Comments Off

Strip booms in October; Trouble in Tiverton

Posted on November 29, 2016 by David McKee

Not even a 16.5% decline in table wagers could hold back the Las Vegas Strip last month, as gaming revenues shot up 14%, to $563 million. Statewide, casinos didn’t do so badly either, up 11%. The one-armed bandits on the … Continue reading →

Posted in Boulder Strip, Downtown, Economy, Foxwoods, history, Iowa, Japan, Lake Tahoe, Laughlin, Lucky Dragon, Macau, Massachusetts, Mesquite, Mohegan Sun, Nevada, North Las Vegas, Penn National, Rhode Island, Taxes, The Strip | 1 Comment

(Pot) Smoke gets in their eyes; Enter the Lucky Dragon

Posted on November 21, 2016 by David McKee

Just say “No.” That’s what Nevada gaming regulators are advising casinos who might be tempted to take advantage of the new legality of recreational marijuana in the Silver State. Bowing to federal law, the Nevada Gaming Control Board and Nevada … Continue reading →

Posted in Colorado, Cordish Co., Downtown, Environment, Geoff Freeman, Internet gambling, Lucky Dragon, Maryland, MGM Mirage, Nevada, Regulation, Sports, The Strip, Tourism | Comments Off

Quote of the Day

Posted on November 18, 2016 by David McKee

“1984. What does that year mean to us? In 1984, across Nevada and Atlantic City, it was the year when slot revenue began to exceed table revenue.” — casino consultant Michael Meczka, on the pernicious effects of corporate ownership on … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Entertainment, Nevada | Comments Off

Japan: Another failure; Reading the Trump tea leaves

Posted on November 15, 2016 by David McKee

According to Morgan Stanley analysts, the chances of pro-casino legislation passing in Japan this year are “quite low.” Yes, Prime Minister Shinzo Abe has booted the ball yet again. His big push [sic] to bring casinos to the Land of … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, California, Delaware, Donald Trump, Florida, Genting, Internet gambling, James Packer, Japan, Law enforcement, Macau, MGM Mirage, Nevada, Politics, Sheldon Adelson, Singapore, South Korea, Station Casinos, Tourism, Tribal | Comments Off

The day after

Posted on November 9, 2016 by David McKee

This morning’s biggest winners are not politicians or pundits (certainly not the pollsters) but the punters who laid their money on a Donald Trump victory when sites like Betfair had him as a one-in-five underdog or worse. Their wallets are … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Donald Trump, Election, Florida, Harry Reid, Horseracing, Maine, Massachusetts, Nevada, Politics, Racinos, Regulation, Sheldon Adelson, Steve Wynn | 1 Comment

What is “good faith”?; Landslide shaping up in New Jersey

Posted on October 5, 2016 by David McKee

Who broke the compact between the State of Florida and the Seminole Tribe? That question is at the nub of a bench trial over the Seminoles’ disputed blackjack games. A win for Gov. Rick Scott (R) could be Pyrrhic, costing … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Delaware, Election, Florida, Galaxy Entertainment, Genting, Hard Rock International, International, Internet gambling, Macau, Melco Crown Entertainment, Nevada, Racinos, Regulation, Seminole Tribe, Sheldon Adelson, The Mob, Tribal | Comments Off

GameCo hearts the Boardwalk; Internet gambling fails in Pennsylvania

Posted on September 29, 2016 by David McKee

GameCo CEO Blaine Graboyes promised that his company’s first skill-based slots would be rolled out in Atlantic City … and he was as good as his word. While the eyes of the industry were on Las Vegas for Global Gaming … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Downtown, Foxwoods, G2E, Harrah's, Internet gambling, Mohegan Sun, Nevada, New York, Pennsylvania, Politics, Regulation, Technology | Comments Off

Live by baccarat, die by baccarat; Donald Trump, Stiff of the Century

Posted on September 29, 2016 by David McKee

With one less weekend this year and weak baccarat volumes, the Las Vegas Strip got hammered, down 15%. Statewide, gross gaming revenues were off by 5%. Late-July slot win that was reported in August softened the blow, contributing to a … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Boulder Strip, Boyd Gaming, California, Donald Trump, Downtown, Election, Lake Tahoe, Laughlin, Mesquite, Nevada, North Las Vegas, Penn National, Reno, Station Casinos, The Strip, Tribal, Wall Street | 1 Comment

Round One to Adelson; Berman honored; Atlantic City winning in polls

Posted on September 21, 2016 by David McKee

Sands China has been getting mad props for its handling of the Parisian rollout last week. Compared to Wynn Palace‘s “passive” approach to the market (and despite a hailstorm of upbeat verbiage from Steve Wynn), analyst Christopher Jones wrote, “The awareness … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Carl Icahn, Election, Harrah's, history, International, Lyle Berman, Macau, Marketing, Melco Crown Entertainment, Mississippi, Nevada, Regulation, Sheldon Adelson, Steve Wynn, The Strip, Transportation, Wall Street, World Series of Poker | 1 Comment

Eldorado captures Isle; Adelson thwarted; Perlman dies

Posted on September 19, 2016 by David McKee

Scratch one more casino company from the checkerboard. This morning it was announced that Eldorado Resorts was buying Isle of Capri Casinos (long mooted as a takeover target. Eldorado will pay $1.7 billion for Isle — or $23 a share … Continue reading →

Posted in Alabama, Atlantic City, Eldorado Resorts, Florida, Foxwoods, Geoff Freeman, Harrah's, history, Internet gambling, Isle of Capri, Louisiana, Massachusetts, MGM Mirage, Missouri, Mohegan Sun, Nevada, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Politics, Reno, Sheldon Adelson, Taxes, The Mob, The Strip, Tribal, Vietnam, Wall Street | Comments Off

Parisian opens amid uncertainty; Jones attacks old-boy network

Posted on September 13, 2016 by David McKee

While Sheldon Adelson‘s Las Vegas Review-Journal covered the opening of Wynn Palace from a safe distance, it has sent Richard Velotta to Macao to be on hand for today’s opening of Parisian Macao. What he discovered, among other things, was … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, Boyd Gaming, California, Galaxy Entertainment, Harrah's, IGT, International, Japan, Macau, Melco Crown Entertainment, MGM Mirage, Nevada, Pinnacle Entertainment, Scientific Games, Sheldon Adelson, South Korea, Station Casinos, Steve Wynn, Wall Street | Comments Off

Hot July on the Strip; Alon: Stayin’ alive

Posted on August 31, 2016 by David McKee

Whales returned to the Strip with a vengeance in July, with baccarat play spurring a 17% revenue increase. The month was probably even bigger but, due to a peculiarity of Nevada casino accounting, slot revenues from the last weekend of … Continue reading →

Posted in Boulder Strip, California, Downtown, Entertainment, Genting, International, James Packer, Lake Tahoe, Laughlin, Marketing, Mesquite, Michael Gaughan, Nevada, North Las Vegas, Reno, Scientific Games, Sports, Technology, The Strip, Tourism, Wall Street | Comments Off

Icahn intransigent at Taj; Olympic betting a flop; Relief for Caesars

Posted on August 30, 2016 by David McKee

For someone who claims he’s trying to save Trump Taj Mahal, owner Carl Icahn sure acts like he’s hellbent on closing it. A counteroffer from striking Unite-Here that would cost the casino only $1.3 million a year to preserve health … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Carl Icahn, Harrah's, Illinois, MGM Mirage, Nevada, Sports, Steve Wynn, The Strip, Tropicana Entertainment, Unite-Here, Westgate LV | 1 Comment

Lucky Dragon gets another step ahead; ETGs a hit at Sands Bethlehem

Posted on August 25, 2016 by David McKee

Lucky Dragon Casino is speeding to completion while Resorts Las Vegas and Alon can’t get out of the starting blocks. (Resorts World did Tweet that it had finished paving its parking garage, making it Las Vegas‘ most high-budgeted place to put … Continue reading →

Posted in Affinity Gaming, Dining, Florida, Genting, Harrah's, International, Internet gambling, Lucky Dragon, Marketing, Nevada, Pennsylvania, Regulation, Sheldon Adelson, Taxes, Technology, Tourism, Tribal | 2 Comments

Caesars vs. Caesars; Wynn Palace opens

Posted on August 23, 2016 by David McKee

In a surrealistic turn of events, Caesars Entertainment Operating Co. has filed suit against parent Caesars Entertainment, and against majority owners Apollo Management and Texas Pacific Group. This bit of shadow puppetry is apparently intended to get at the goodies … Continue reading →

Posted in Election, Entertainment, Florida, Galaxy Entertainment, Harrah's, Internet gambling, Macau, Melco Crown Entertainment, MGM Mirage, Nevada, New York, Steve Wynn, The Strip, Wall Street | Comments Off

Steve Wynn, re-visionary; DFS in Nevada: It’s back

Posted on August 19, 2016 by David McKee

Evidently industry leaders are coming to terms with the fact that the go-go days when Macao was a $45 billion/year casino market are over. Steve Wynn told The Associated Press that “What took place here in previous years was an anomaly. he … Continue reading →

Posted in Donald Trump, Economy, Election, Harrah's, Internet gambling, Macau, Nevada, New York, Regulation, Sheldon Adelson, Station Casinos, Steve Wynn, The Strip | Comments Off