Category Archives: New York

Tales of New England

Posted on January 9, 2014 by David McKee

While casino approval creeps forward in Massachusetts, a blistering pace is being set in New York State. Gov. Andrew Cuomo has set a June deadline for Catskills applications, with the winner(s) to be chosen by autumn. Peace Corps veteran Mark … Continue reading →

Posted in Churchill Downs, Maine, Massachusetts, Mohegan Sun, New York, Penn National, Politics, Racinos, Tribal | Tagged | 1 Comment

Florida: Genting gets real; Boom in Maryland, frenzy in Delaware

Posted on January 8, 2014 by David McKee

Genting Group‘s Godzilla-sized proposal for a $3 billion resort on the Miami waterfront has gone into the shredder. Instead, the Malaysian developer hopes to go into partnership with Gulfstream Park. It would piggyback onto Gulfstream’s parimutuel license and Gulfstream’s purses … Continue reading →

Posted in Cordish Co., Economy, Genting, Maryland, New York, Penn National, Racinos | Comments Off on Florida: Genting gets real; Boom in Maryland, frenzy in Delaware

Britney F. Spears & other Case Bets

Posted on January 7, 2014 by David McKee

Strip gyp: What does $25,000 buy you? At Planet Hollywood it will get you one-twentieth of a minute with Britney F. Spears. Either the currency of celebrity has become inflated beyond measure or our 15 minutes of fame have shrunk … Continue reading →

Posted in Dining, Entertainment, Genting, Harrah's, Macau, New York, Planet Hollywood, Racinos, Regulation, Sam Nazarian, The Strip | Comments Off on Britney F. Spears & other Case Bets

Taiwan in 2019?

Posted on January 3, 2014 by David McKee

It could happen. Enabling legislation to put casinos on Taiwan‘s outer islands has a good chance in parliament, it is reported. Matsu is expected to be the principal beneficiary but, if it can change voters’ minds, Claremont Partners has a … Continue reading →

Posted in Harrah's, International, Macau, New York, Politics, Sheldon Adelson, The Strip, Tribal | Comments Off on Taiwan in 2019?

Optimism in Boston; Sands is #1

Posted on December 26, 2013 by David McKee

What are the chances that Suffolk Downs could become the most profitable casino in the Western Hemisphere? Not good, you’d think, but Mohegan Tribal Gaming Authority is willing to bet on it. If annual revenue reaches $1 billion, then Revere … Continue reading →

Posted in Bally Technologies, Churchill Hill, Massachusetts, MGM Mirage, Mohegan Sun, New York, Reno, Sheldon Adelson, Steve Wynn, Taxes, Wall Street | Comments Off on Optimism in Boston; Sands is #1

Adelson undeterred; Winners and losers

Posted on December 23, 2013 by David McKee

I’m not sure which part of this story is more alarming: That Affinity Gaming was the victim of a widespread identity-theft scheme for seven months … or that the company didn’t disclose it until late this year. It certainly makes … Continue reading →

Posted in Affinity Gaming, Atlantic City, California, Dan Gilbert, Detroit, Environment, Florida, Harrah's, Horseracing, International, Internet gambling, Japan, Macau, New York, Ohio, Penn National, Problem gambling, Sheldon Adelson, Singapore, Stanley Ho | Comments Off on Adelson undeterred; Winners and losers

Revel to be sold?; Ryan weighs in on Menominee

Posted on December 20, 2013 by David McKee

Color me stupid but I figured that, with a new marketing team in place, to say nothing of a new CEO, Revel Resort was going to stay its new course awhile. Turns out the property was dickering with prospective buyers … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Current, Hard Rock International, Maryland, MGM Mirage, New York, Politics, Racinos, Revel, Tribal, Wisconsin | 2 Comments

Etess, Wynn cross swords & other Case Bets

Posted on December 18, 2013 by David McKee

Mohegan Tribal Gaming Authority CEO Mitchell Etess is A-OK with Massachusetts casino regulation, as he made clear in a recent interview. (Mohegan Sun is vying for a casino license at Suffolk Downs.) “I think everybody who got into this process … Continue reading →

Posted in Alabama, Japan, Massachusetts, Melco Crown Entertainment, New York, Pennsylvania, Regulation, Taxes, Tribal | 1 Comment

Genting, Steve Wynn & so much more

Posted on December 17, 2013 by David McKee

Genting Group has narrowed its price target for finishing Resorts World Vegas. It will spend between $3 billion and $4 billion to complete the project (for which it has already paid $350 million for land). For a post-recession Vegas that’s … Continue reading →

Posted in CityCenter, Colorado, Current, Dubai, Economy, Florida, Fontainebleau, Foxwoods, Genting, Internet gambling, Massachusetts, MGM Mirage, Mohegan Sun, New York, Pinnacle Entertainment, Politics, Racinos, Steve Wynn, The Strip | 2 Comments

Quote of the Day

Posted on December 12, 2013 by David McKee

“I think it would be a wonderful spot for a casino.” — Albany County Industrial Development Authority Chairman Gary Domalewicz, speaking of the abandoned and decidedly dilapidated Tobin First Prize packing plant, in Albany, New York.

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

Quote of the Day

Posted on December 9, 2013 by David McKee

“There’s going to be gaming someplace, and it’s going to affect your business. You might as well be part of it.” — Mohegan Tribal Gaming Authority CEO Mitchell Grossinger Etess, rationalizing cannibalizing his New York State customer base to protect his … Continue reading →

Posted in Mohegan Sun, New York | Comments Off on Quote of the Day

Hacienda gets the Dotty’s treatment; Mohegan gets the heck out

Posted on November 25, 2013 by David McKee

When the Dotty’s slot-cafe chain decided to go ‘legit’ by purchasing the Hacienda hotel-casino near Boulder City, it meant some big surprises. For one thing, all employees found themselves without jobs. Dotty’s used the federal WARN Act to pink-slip the … Continue reading →

Posted in Internet gambling, Massachusetts, Mohegan Sun, New Hampshire, New York, Regulation, Sheldon Adelson, Slot routes | Comments Off on Hacienda gets the Dotty’s treatment; Mohegan gets the heck out

Freeman vs. Adelson; Kentucky tries again

Posted on November 21, 2013 by David McKee

In a particularly stunning departure from American Gaming Association tradition, new prexy Geoff Freeman took a jab at Las Vegas Sands CEO Sheldon “Nuke ‘Em” Adelson in the pages of USA Today. Of course, Freeman didn’t mention Adelson explicitly. But … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Columbia Sussex, Harrah's, Internet gambling, Kentucky, Marketing, New York, Penn National, Pennsylvania, Politics, Racinos, Regulation, Sheldon Adelson, Taxes | Comments Off on Freeman vs. Adelson; Kentucky tries again

Japan factor overrated?; Gural’s head start

Posted on November 20, 2013 by David McKee

Skepticism is starting to emerge regarding Union Gaming Group‘s projection of $10 billion a year from Japanese casinos, should they be legalized. Among the reasons given are that “whales” from Japan aren’t a major factor in Pacific Rim casinos. Also, … Continue reading →

Posted in Japan, Marketing, New York, Penn National, Racinos, Scientific Games, Tribal, Wall Street, WMS Industries | Comments Off on Japan factor overrated?; Gural’s head start

Foxwoods finds a partner and, yes, it’s Penn

Posted on November 18, 2013 by David McKee

By the narrowest of odds, Crossroads Massachusetts caught a couple of breaks late last week. The Foxwoods Resort Casino-led project was found “conditionally” suitable to go forward. The condition imposed by the Massachusetts Gaming Commission was that Foxwoods find the … Continue reading →

Posted in Foxwoods, Massachusetts, New York, Penn National, Regulation, Tribal | Comments Off on Foxwoods finds a partner and, yes, it’s Penn

The little slot company that could; Thinking small in New York; Thinking big in Macao

Posted on November 15, 2013 by David McKee

Earlier this week, Howard Stutz looked into the fascinating story of Multimedia Games, beloved of stock analysts but shunned by share buyers. What’s not to like? Multimedia widened its profit last quarter, to $10 million. Sales in FY13 rose 27%, … Continue reading →

Posted in International, Japan, Macau, New York, Racinos, Stanley Ho, Technology, Wall Street | Comments Off on The little slot company that could; Thinking small in New York; Thinking big in Macao

Foxwoods, Suffolk struggling in Massachusetts

Posted on November 14, 2013 by David McKee

Foxwoods Resorts Casino‘s inability to keep its financial house in order has, as predicted, caught up with it in Massachusetts. The tribally owned casino’s debt burden put it in the hot seat before the Massachusetts Gaming Commission. Chairman Stephen Crosby … Continue reading →

Posted in Election, Foxwoods, Genting, Harrah's, Internet gambling, Massachusetts, New York, Racinos, Technology, The Mob, The Strip | 1 Comment

Life beyond Wynn; Crazy bounce in Atlantic City; Pressure rises in Macao

Posted on November 13, 2013 by David McKee

Applicants for Philadelphia‘s remaining casino license say they’re still keen on their chances even though Steve Wynn has dropped out? And why not? Everybody else’s odds just got better. I’d be doing the happy dance, too, if I was Penn … Continue reading →

Posted in Economy, Macau, Neil Bluhm, New York, Penn National, Pennsylvania, Revel, Steve Wynn, Tropicana Entertainment, Trump Entertainment Resorts, Wall Street | Comments Off on Life beyond Wynn; Crazy bounce in Atlantic City; Pressure rises in Macao

Delay in Wisconsin lengthens; Fast action in N.Y.

Posted on November 12, 2013 by David McKee

Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker (R) continues to make inscrutable, sometimes self-contradictory remarks about the hotly disputed Kenosha-area Hard Rock casino proposed by the Menominee Tribe for Dairyland Greyhound Park. What was a timeline of a week or two has now … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, California, Charity, Harrah's, MGM Mirage, New York, Tribal, Wisconsin | Comments Off on Delay in Wisconsin lengthens; Fast action in N.Y.

N.Y. claims first casualty: Steve Wynn; Walker’s waiting game

Posted on November 11, 2013 by David McKee

For the second time, Steve Wynn is pulling out of contention for the one remaining Philadelphia casino license. In a prepared statement, Wynn Resorts said its board had recently met, conducted a feasibility study and “decided that the best course … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, Charity, Current, Isle of Capri, Massachusetts, New York, Penn National, Pennsylvania, Steve Wynn, Tomato King Procacci, Tribal, Wisconsin | 2 Comments