Category Archives: New York

Bad week for DFS

Posted on October 26, 2015 by David McKee

“What it’s doing is calling fantasy sports what it is. Do you pay money to get into the contest, and do you get money back when you win? And if so, that’s gambling.” So says South Point attorney Barry Leibermann of … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, California, Colorado, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Internet gambling, Kansas, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michael Gaughan, Mississippi, New York, Ohio, Politics, Technology | Comments Off on Bad week for DFS

Quote of the Day

Posted on October 19, 2015 by David McKee

“It’s a shot in the arm. But it’s not the silver bullet that’s going to solve our financial woes.” — Binghamton Mayor Richard David, whose city ranked dead last in civic optimism, on the selection of nearby Tioga Downs for … Continue reading →

Posted in Economy, New York, Racinos | Comments Off on Quote of the Day

Fantastic month for Atlantic City; Gural gets his wish

Posted on October 15, 2015 by David McKee

As the window for apples-to-oranges comparisons of Atlantic City casino revenue closes, so does the gap between same-store and outright gross-gaming revenues. In September, casinos were up 10% on a same-store basis (i.e., excluding the four closed ones from the … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Boyd Gaming, Election, Harrah's, Internet gambling, Massachusetts, MGM Mirage, Mohegan Sun, New York, Penn National, PokerStars, Regulation, Rhode Island, Tilman Fertitta, Tourism, Tropicana Entertainment, Trump Entertainment Resorts | Comments Off on Fantastic month for Atlantic City; Gural gets his wish

DFS rose fast, fell faster

Posted on October 15, 2015 by David McKee

This just in: Nevada has lowered the boom on DFS operators. The fat’s in the fire for daily fantasy sports — and New Jersey might want to rethink its push for unregulated sports betting in the Garden State. According to … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Geoff Freeman, International, Louisiana, New York, Regulation, Sheldon Adelson, Sports, Texas, TV | Comments Off on DFS rose fast, fell faster

Station goes public; Florida compact near?

Posted on October 14, 2015 by David McKee

Having tried and failed to grow the company through an LBO, Station Casinos is returning to the public markets again, citing “favorable economic and market fundamentals” in support of an IPO. An executive shakeup that included the promotion of Rich Haskins … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Boyd Gaming, Economy, Florida, Fontainebleau, Horseracing, Internet gambling, New York, Pennsylvania, Politics, Seminole Tribe, Sheldon Adelson, SLS Las Vegas, Station Casinos, Steve Wynn, Wall Street | Comments Off on Station goes public; Florida compact near?

McCheese baffles Wynn; Straub thwarted again

Posted on October 12, 2015 by David McKee

Boston Mayor Martin “McCheese” Walsh has Wynn Everett President Robert DeSalvio “baffled” with his schizoid approach to the hotel-casino. After having an apparently conciliatory meeting with Walsh, DeSalvio was bushwhacked by a McCheese-launched lawsuit to halt construction on Wynn Everett. “We … Continue reading →

Posted in Arizona, Atlantic City, Glenn Straub, Harrah's, Horseracing, Massachusetts, Mohegan Sun, New York, Racinos, Revel, Steve Wynn, Tribal, Wall Street | Comments Off on McCheese baffles Wynn; Straub thwarted again

Malaise in Macao; Celebration at G2E

Posted on October 1, 2015 by David McKee

Wall Street analysts having revised their expectations downward well beforehand, Macao‘s 33% decline in gaming revenues hardly came as a surprise. If anything, they expected worse. Deutsche Bank analyst Carlo Santarelli even noticed some “pre-Golden Week malaise” toward the end … Continue reading →

Posted in Arizona, Economy, Entertainment, G2E, Harrah's, Macau, Melco Crown Entertainment, New York, Sheldon Adelson, The Strip, Tourism, Tribal, Wall Street, Wisconsin | 3 Comments

Quote of the Day

Posted on September 30, 2015 by David McKee

“Suffice it to say, the money was not going to college tuition.” — Virginia Commonwealth University professor Jay S. Albanese on the revelation that illegal gambling monies are flowing to biker gangs, drug dealers, and New York and Philadelphia branches … Continue reading →

Posted in G2E, New York, Pennsylvania, The Mob | Comments Off on Quote of the Day

The mystery of Steve Wynn; DFS steps in it

Posted on September 24, 2015 by David McKee

For the third time, Steve Wynn has pulled back from Atlantic City. This time he’s yanking Wynn Interactive‘s application for an online casino. The move comes an awfully long time after Wynn announced his opposition to Internet wagering, so who knows … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Culinary Union, Election, Genting, Geoff Freeman, Harrah's, International, Internet gambling, New York, Oklahoma, PokerStars, Regulation, Sheldon Adelson, Sports, Steve Wynn, Taxes, Tribal | 1 Comment

Savior for Showboat?; Steve Wynn to build locals casino

Posted on September 16, 2015 by David McKee

Bart Blatstein has emerged as the potential savior for the Showboat, currently a millstone around Stockton University‘s neck. If so, it will be a bittersweet coup for the developer, as it’s the second time he’s missed out on a gaming … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Charity, Economy, Glenn Straub, Harrah's, International, Marketing, Massachusetts, New York, Racinos, Steve Wynn, Taxes, The Strip, Trump Entertainment Resorts | 2 Comments

Gural doubles down; Royal brouhaha

Posted on September 11, 2015 by David McKee

Jeffrey Gural wants a casino in New York State so bad he can taste it — or at least invest $82 million of his own money in it. It’s refreshing when a developer makes that kind of equity commitment. Gural’s … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, Dining, New York, Racinos, Regulation, The Strip | Comments Off on Gural doubles down; Royal brouhaha

Case Bets: Caesars, Detroit, New York & Steve Wynn

Posted on September 9, 2015 by David McKee

In one of the industry’s more bizarre developments, Harrah’s Tunica will become an assisted-living facility if buy TJM Properties has its druthers. Caesars Entertainment Operating Co. has asked a bankruptcy court to approve the sale. It won’t bring in that … Continue reading →

Posted in Detroit, Economy, G2E, Harrah's, International, Internet gambling, Massachusetts, MGM Mirage, Mississippi, New York, Regulation, Steve Wynn, Technology, Transportation | Comments Off on Case Bets: Caesars, Detroit, New York & Steve Wynn

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 on Bidding war in cyberspace; Adelson flexes Macao muscles

Wynn gets one step closer; Those insidious resort fees

Posted on September 1, 2015 by David McKee

“At moments like this, there is certainly a feeling of gratification and forward movement. It lifts our spirits and energizes us.” Thus spake Steve Wynn after Wynn Everett cleared another hurdle on its way to completion. A 27-page memo from Massachusetts … Continue reading →

Posted in Economy, Macau, Massachusetts, New York, Regulation, Sports, Steve Wynn, The Strip, Tourism, Transportation, Tribal | 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

Massachusetts: Penn has a hit; Arms race in New York

Posted on August 19, 2015 by David McKee

First-month numbers are in for Plainridge Park and the racino run by Penn National Gaming took in an average of $467/slot/day (including a $6.15 million gross its first week). That’s an absolute blockbuster figure in an industry where $200/day is … Continue reading →

Posted in Genting, Harrah's, Internet gambling, Massachusetts, MGM Mirage, New York, Penn National, Racinos, Sheldon Adelson, Steve Wynn, Technology, Tribal | Comments Off on Massachusetts: Penn has a hit; Arms race in New York

Poker outlawed in Wisconsin; A new game in New York

Posted on August 17, 2015 by David McKee

Score one against private poker games and score one for tribal casinos, which are now the only places in Wisconsin where one can legally play poker. As Poker News put it, ” the fact remains even playing poker for pennies … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Genting, Macau, New York, Regulation, Technology, Tribal, Wisconsin | 2 Comments

Lucky Horseshoe for Maryland; Old McDonald had a casino

Posted on August 6, 2015 by David McKee

What would have been a revenue-negative July for Maryland casinos turned into their biggest month ever, thanks to Horseshoe Baltimore. Gaming revenue rose more $23 million, with all that and more coming from the Caesars Entertainment property. While the casino is … Continue reading →

Posted in Cordish Co., Cretins, Harrah's, Maryland, New York, Penn National, Racinos, Regulation, The Strip, Westgate LV | 1 Comment

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

Vetting the candidates

Posted on July 23, 2015 by David McKee

Although Paddy Power has lengthened his odds for gaining the White House to 12/1, New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie (R) would be one of the most supportive — if not the most supportive — candidates toward the gaming industry. He’s … Continue reading →

Posted in Arkansas, Election, Florida, International, New York, Politics, Regulation, Tribal | Comments Off on Vetting the candidates