Category Archives: Ohio

Feeling squeezed in Delaware, Indiana

Posted on October 31, 2014 by David McKee

No two ways about it, Delaware‘s racinos are failing. However, they have an ambitious plan to reverse that … providing the state is cooperative. One of the reasons the tracks are struggling is an onerous 40% tax rate on table … Continue reading →

Posted in Bally Technologies, Delaware, Economy, Maryland, Ohio, Politics, Racinos, Scientific Games, Technology, Tribal | Comments Off

JFK returns to Vegas, poker comes to Philly

Posted on October 17, 2014 by David McKee

Tourist attractions just haven’t been clicking for the New Tropicana Las Vegas. But it’s trying again with “The JFK Exhibition,” announced today. Although John F. Kennedy‘s connections to Las Vegas were part of the seamy underside of Camelot, that only … Continue reading →

Posted in Alex Yemenidjian, Downtown, Environment, Harrah's, history, MGM Mirage, Neil Bluhm, Ohio, Oscar Goodman, Pennsylvania, The Strip | Comments Off

Making sense of Pence; Dan Lee returns (again)

Posted on October 14, 2014 by David McKee

Taking a page from Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker‘s playbook, Indiana Gov. Mike Pence (R) is trying to have it both ways: oppose “expansion” of gambling but refuse to define aforesaid expansion. With riverboat casinos pressing to come ashore, Pence has … Continue reading →

Posted in Dan Lee, Indiana, Internet gambling, MGM Mirage, New York, Ohio, Palms, Pinnacle Entertainment, Politics | Comments Off

Ivey loses & sundry Case Bets

Posted on October 9, 2014 by David McKee

Phil Ivey won’t be edge-sorting cards anytime soon. A British judge has ruled that, whether he knew it or not, Ivey was cheating when he won $12 million at Crockfords, a Genting Group casino in London. “He gave himself an advantage … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, California, Columbia Sussex, Election, Genting, Indiana, International, Japan, Lake Tahoe, Ohio, Penn National, Pinnacle Entertainment, Regulation, Station Casinos, Taxes, Tourism, Tribal, Wall Street, Warner Gaming | Comments Off

Okada going slowly; Mixed news in Indiana

Posted on October 8, 2014 by David McKee

Kazuo Okada is butting heads with the Philippine government again. The latter says Okada has to have Marina Bay Resorts open by March of next year or forfeit a $2 million guarantee. Okada, whose project has been dogged by regulatory … Continue reading →

Posted in Boyd Gaming, Harrah's, Indiana, International, Kazuo Okada, Ohio, Penn National, Pinnacle Entertainment, Racinos, Regulation, Tropicana Entertainment | Comments Off

Ohio: Success and saturation; The many excuses of Glenn Straub

Posted on October 7, 2014 by David McKee

Now that all four casinos and seven racinos are open, Ohio posted a spectacular year/year increase of 36% in gambling revenue. However, success came at a price, in terms of an 8% decline in same-store revenue, indicative of a saturated … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Glenn Straub, Hard Rock International, Harrah's, MTR Gaming, Ohio, Penn National, Racinos, Revel, Wall Street | Comments Off

Sanguine at Penn; Serrano goes Italian

Posted on October 1, 2014 by David McKee

Executives from Penn National Gaming were hosted by J.P. Morgan analysts this week at Global Gaming Expo and gave a fairly mellow outlook on business. Nationally, commerce is seen as stabilizing but not having bottomed out yet, although Penn is “holding … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, Dining, Election, G2E, Harrah's, history, Maryland, Massachusetts, MGM Mirage, New York, Ohio, Penn National, Politics, Racinos, Regulation, Steve Wynn, The Strip, Wall Street, West Virginia | Comments Off

Boyd, Pinnacle speak

Posted on September 29, 2014 by David McKee

Both Boyd Gaming and Pinnacle Entertainment met with Wall Street analysts this week, everybody being in town for Global Gaming Expo. Boyd CEO Keith Smith and CFO John Hirsberg said they saw an abatement in negative business trends, now confined … Continue reading →

Posted in Ameristar, Arizona, Atlantic City, Boyd Gaming, Downtown, Louisiana, Ohio, Penn National, Pinnacle Entertainment, Racinos, Tilman Fertitta, Tribal, Wall Street | Comments Off

Bad news in New York and Macao

Posted on September 22, 2014 by David McKee

In a setback for all regions of New York State that are eligible for a casino (or two), the casino-siting board has made it clear it’s taking a serious look at the “up to four” clause in the licensing process. … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, California, Economy, Illinois, Internet gambling, Macau, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Regulation, Wall Street, West Virginia | Comments Off

Foxwoods: Woody exits; Eldorado’s big gains

Posted on September 18, 2014 by David McKee

Foxwoods Resorts Casino‘s financial problems could hardly be called “solved,” but CEO Scott “Woody” Butera plans to leave next month anyway for a non-gaming job. He will continue to advise Foxwoods from his new perch, though, even dickering with the … Continue reading →

Posted in Boyd Gaming, Churchill Downs, Foxwoods, Harrah's, Isle of Capri, Louisiana, Massachusetts, MTR Gaming, Ohio, Penn National, Pinnacle Entertainment, Racinos, Reno, Tropicana Entertainment, West Virginia | 1 Comment

Revel draws more interest; Risky business

Posted on September 16, 2014 by David McKee

Glenn Straub having put $130 million in escrow just in case his $90 million, all-cash bid on Revel doesn’t do the trick, other bidders are tipping their hands. Money doesn’t mean much to California developer Richard Meruelo, who forfeited a … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Glenn Straub, Neil Bluhm, Ohio, Penn National, Pennsylvania, Regulation, Revel, Technology, Tilman Fertitta | 1 Comment

Boston: Wynn takes a stand

Posted on September 16, 2014 by David McKee

Friday will go down as the day Steve Wynn told the Massachusetts Gaming Commission where it could get off. In a letter to the commissioners, Wynn “said Wynn Resorts would not alter the design of their proposed 27-story hotel tower in … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, history, Maine, Marketing, Massachusetts, Mississippi, Mohegan Sun, Ohio, Penn National, Racinos, Regulation, Steve Wynn, Transportation | Comments Off

Macao’s loss is Vegas’ gain

Posted on September 12, 2014 by David McKee

There is discernible evidence that the anti-corruption crackdown in China is redounding to Las Vegas‘ benefit. According to a report by Deutsche Bank‘s Carlo Santarelli, “we do see a relatively compelling empirical case that supports the view that anti-corruption crackdowns … Continue reading →

Posted in Detroit, Economy, Macau, MGM Mirage, Ohio, The Strip, Transportation, Tribal | Comments Off

Can’t stop the consolidation

Posted on September 9, 2014 by David McKee

Continuing the shrinkage of the manufacturing sector, Global Cash Access is taking another chess piece — Multimedia Games — off the board. GCA will pay $1.1 billion for Multimedia, which specializes in VLTs for racinos and tribal markets.The price represented … Continue reading →

Posted in Arizona, Foxwoods, Hard Rock International, Harrah's, MTR Gaming, Ohio, Penn National, Pinnacle Entertainment, Racinos, Regulation, Technology, Tribal | Comments Off

The fees that ate Las Vegas

Posted on September 3, 2014 by David McKee

First, the good news. Harrah’s Las Vegas casino floor, one of the most claustrophobic and unpleasant in town is getting a makeover. And, while they’re at it, Caesars Entertainment is converting the space formerly occupied by The Cafe at Harrah’s and … Continue reading →

Posted in Dining, Harrah's, International, Maryland, Ohio, Phil Ruffin, Planet Hollywood, Regulation, Singapore, The Strip | Comments Off

Archon under fire again

Posted on September 2, 2014 by David McKee

Sue Lowden is back in the news, not for her political activities but as secretary and public face of Archon Gaming, whose 27 acres atop the Strip are a hot property again, following the opening of SLS Las Vegas. Dissident investor … Continue reading →

Posted in Archon Corp., Economy, Laughlin, Ohio, Penn National, Sam Nazarian, The Strip, Wall Street | Comments Off

Loveman’s big score; Slots come to Dayton

Posted on August 28, 2014 by David McKee

“You’re in Baltimore, baby, it says so right there, in big gray block letters on a smokestack at the trash plant just past the entrance.” Caesars Entertainment CEO Gary Loveman, long celebrated as the wizard of database market, also finds … Continue reading →

Posted in Baseball, Cordish Co., Genting, Harrah's, Internet gambling, Marketing, Maryland, Ohio, Penn National, Pinnacle Entertainment, Racinos, Sheldon Adelson, Singapore, The Strip, Transportation, Vietnam | Comments Off

Holy Grail achieved at MGM; Greed and gouing

Posted on August 25, 2014 by David McKee

While all the media hoo-ha was focused on SLS Las Vegas‘ opening last Friday, a comparably historic event took place at the other end of the Strip. New Hampshire resident Walter Misco hit the jackpot on MGM Grand‘s famously stingy … Continue reading →

Posted in Dan Gilbert, Harrah's, MGM Mirage, New Hampshire, Ohio, Regulation, The Strip, Tourism | Comments Off

Case Bets

Posted on August 21, 2014 by David McKee

Any fears of antitrust litigation in the Scientific Games/Bally Technologies merger were put to rest yesterday when the two companies announced they had cleared the Hart-Scott-Rodino Antitrust Improvements Act waiting period ahead of schedule. This is hardly equal to leaping the … Continue reading →

Posted in Bally Technologies, Genting, Harrah's, Japan, Macau, Melco Crown Entertainment, Ohio, Regulation, Riviera, Scientific Games, Sheldon Adelson, Singapore, TV | Comments Off

Station’s big quarter; Smoke gets in your slots

Posted on August 13, 2014 by David McKee

Although customers are holding their purse strings tighter, Station Casinos registered noteworthy growth in earnings last quarter. Powered by Graton Resort & Casino in California, Station reported revenue of $55 million, up from $7 million a year earlier. In the … Continue reading →

Posted in California, Dining, Environment, Harrah's, Neil Bluhm, Ohio, Penn National, Pennsylvania, Pinnacle Entertainment, Racinos, Station Casinos, Tribal | Comments Off