Category Archives: Ohio

All’s well at Pinnacle; Atlantic City’s PR jackpot

Posted on September 23, 2013 by David McKee

So reports J.P. Morgan analyst Joseph Greff, who met with Pinnacle Entertainment brass. The latter characterized their absorption of Ameristar Casinos as “on track.” Part of this is due to five “synergy buckets,” which represent everything from job cuts to … Continue reading →

Posted in Ameristar, Atlantic City, Economy, Marketing, Ohio, Pinnacle Entertainment, Wall Street | Comments Off

Another Borgata first; Ohio is “george”; Adelson’s waiting game

Posted on September 20, 2013 by David McKee

In what could be a harbinger of good things for Atlantic City, the final events of the World Poker Tour are being held at Borgata. It’s to promote the legalization of online poker in New Jersey, but anything that brings … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Boyd Gaming, Environment, International, Internet gambling, Japan, Ohio, Problem gambling, Sheldon Adelson, Steve Wynn | 2 Comments

Japan’s in; Chaperoned at Caesars; D.C. gridlock strikes again

Posted on September 19, 2013 by David McKee

A pro-casino group of lawmakers plans to introduce gambling-enabling legislation in the upcoming session of the Japanese Diet. Steve Wynn was quick to plunk $4 billion-plus on the table, while MGM Resorts International promises unspecified “billions.” It’s like a gold … Continue reading →

Posted in Harrah's, Japan, Massachusetts, Melco Crown Entertainment, MGM Mirage, Ohio, Sheldon Adelson, Stanley Ho, Steve Wynn, Tribal | Comments Off

Upturn in Illinois, blindsided in Indiana

Posted on September 10, 2013 by David McKee

Could we finally be seeing “green shoots” in Illinois, up 5% last month? Maybe, although such recovery as there was consisted of the force that is Rivers Casino, up 36%. Penn National Gaming‘s three casinos posted a feeble $29 million, … Continue reading →

Posted in Current, Economy, Harrah's, Illinois, Indiana, MGM Mirage, Neil Bluhm, Ohio, Penn National, Pinnacle Entertainment, Racinos, Regulation, Slot routes, Wall Street | Comments Off

Lady Unlucky; Struggling in Ohio; Big deal at MTR

Posted on September 10, 2013 by David McKee

Isle of Capri Casinos appears to have laid an egg with Lady Luck Casino at Nemacolin Woodlands Resort and is now having to lay off 15% of the workforce. Much of the blame properly goes with the State of Pennsylvania‘s … Continue reading →

Posted in Economy, Harrah's, Isle of Capri, MTR Gaming, Ohio, Penn National, Pennsylvania, Racinos, Regulation | 1 Comment

Party at Sheldon’s place; Backlash in Ohio

Posted on September 3, 2013 by David McKee

I didn’t know what “cocaine dancers” are but the Las Vegas Review-Journal says Palazzo’s nightclub, The Act, has them. (It seems to involve far more snorting than dancing.) Sheldon Adelson‘s peeps would like the “simulated drug use, bestiality and exotic … Continue reading →

Posted in Cirque du Soleil, Current, Internet gambling, Ohio, Politics, Sheldon Adelson, The Strip | Comments Off

How much sin in Sin City is too much?; Woe and Ho

Posted on August 27, 2013 by David McKee

Wearing a strap-on dildo seems to be the outer limit of decency in Las Vegas. Any casino that hosts a nightclub is playing with fire to some extent but Las Vegas Sands well and truly burned its fingers with The … Continue reading →

Posted in Current, Harrah's, International, Macau, Ohio, Penn National, Planet Hollywood, Regulation, Sheldon Adelson, Stanley Ho, The Strip | 2 Comments

Revel: It had to happen; Hard Rock on a roll

Posted on August 26, 2013 by David McKee

Revel Resort‘s somewhat disingenuous “You Can’t Lose” promotion was bound to attract a lawsuit and so it has. A pair of players are suing and, though the odds seem against them, it’s worth recalling that Revel’s disclaimer language tap-danced around … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, Atlantic City, Dennis Gomes, Hard Rock International, Harrah's, Marketing, Massachusetts, Ohio, Revel | Comments Off

This land is their land; Tight money in Pennsylvania

Posted on August 16, 2013 by David McKee

Tribal casinos aren’t just for reservations anymore and it’s becoming a coast-to-coast phenomenon. California legislators already approved one off-reservation casino, to be managed by Station Casinos. The Enterprise Rancheria of the Estom Yumeka Maidu would like to be second. They … Continue reading →

Posted in California, Current, Economy, Foxwoods, Harrah's, history, Massachusetts, Mohegan Sun, Neil Bluhm, Ohio, Penn National, Pennsylvania, Politics, Regulation, Sheldon Adelson, Station Casinos, Tribal, Wall Street | 1 Comment

Quote of the Day

Posted on August 15, 2013 by David McKee

“The casinos in Ohio are in giving free play a serious test run. In July, some of the casinos gave away as much as 30 percent of casino “win” in free play … Those marketing wars are just beginning; over … Continue reading →

Posted in Marketing, Ohio | Comments Off

Early reckoning in Macao; Big Gaming’s growing pains

Posted on July 30, 2013 by David McKee

One shouldn’t read too much into anything the Macao government says about casino operators. It likes to keep them guessing — especially U.S. ones. Still, it’s worth noting that Secretary for Economy & Finance Francis Tam Pak Yuen has floated … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Delaware, Economy, Genting, Harrah's, Macau, MGM Mirage, New Hampshire, New York, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Problem gambling, Racinos, Regulation, Sheldon Adelson, Stanley Ho, Tropicana Entertainment | Comments Off

Fertitta moves on Lake Charles; Sexism triumphs at Boyd; Rhythm City blues

Posted on July 25, 2013 by David McKee

Earlier today, Pinnacle Entertainment announced that it had agreed with Golden Nugget to sell Ameristar Casinos‘ unfinished Lake Charles project at cost ($214 million and climbing). As Deutsche Bank analyst Carlo Santarelli noted, “We view this as a firm positive … Continue reading →

Posted in Ameristar, Atlantic City, Boyd Gaming, Current, Harrah's, Iowa, Maryland, Missouri, Ohio, Pinnacle Entertainment, Racinos, Regulation, Texas, Tilman Fertitta, Wall Street | 2 Comments

Caesars: You only buy twice; To Russia with Ho; Land in (dis)trust

Posted on July 12, 2013 by David McKee

Do you already own stock in Caesars Entertainment? Congratulations. Thanks to the Nevada Gaming Control Board, you will have an opportunity to pay a second time for some of Caesars’ assets. Although it hopes to raise $1.2 billion from the … Continue reading →

Posted in Current, Florida, Harrah's, International, Internet gambling, Lawrence Ho, Macau, Maryland, Ohio, Planet Hollywood, Regulation, Tribal, Wall Street | 2 Comments

Missouri misery; Revel inches upward

Posted on July 10, 2013 by David McKee

Sometimes I feel Gary Loveman‘s pain — and that of Anthony Sanfilippo, Virginia McDowell, Peter Carlino … When they look at the kind of numbers states like Missouri are generating, they must want to shake a fist and say, “Gamble, … Continue reading →

Posted in Ameristar, Atlantic City, Boyd Gaming, Colony Capital, Current, Donald Trump, Economy, Harrah's, Illinois, Isle of Capri, MGM Mirage, Missouri, Ohio, Penn National, Pinnacle Entertainment, Revel, Steve Wynn, Wall Street | 3 Comments

Revel gets forgiveness; Illinois gets hammered

Posted on July 8, 2013 by David McKee

You’ve heard about the “Gamblers Wanted” marketing campaign at Revel that refunds slot refunds over $100 — if you’re a member of the players’ club. There’s another catch: You don’t get a cash refund but additional free play, doled forth … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Current, Donald Trump, Economy, Harrah's, Illinois, Marketing, MGM Mirage, Missouri, Neil Bluhm, Ohio, Penn National, Politics, Revel, Slot routes | 1 Comment

New bosses at Hooters; Caesars: If it worked for Obama … ?

Posted on June 21, 2013 by David McKee

While nobody wants to buy or even lease the Hooters Hotel, current owners Canyon Capital Realty Advisors at least have found some new gaming expertise for the property. In this case, “new” is a relative term, as the familiar faces … Continue reading →

Posted in Current, Delaware, Harrah's, Hooters, Marketing, Maryland, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Politics, Racinos, Taxes, The Strip, West Virginia | 1 Comment

Ohio: A disappointment, not a flop

Posted on June 18, 2013 by David McKee

Editor’s note: On June 20, J.P. Morgan lowered its price-per-share target for Penn National Gaming, citing “the sluggish Ohio ramp,” along with cannibalization of business in neighboring states. On May 22, legislators in Ohio voted to limit payouts from “sweepstakes … Continue reading →

Posted in Dan Gilbert, Economy, Harrah's, Internet gambling, Massachusetts, MTR Gaming, New Hampshire, Ohio, Penn National, Pennsylvania, Politics, Racinos, Regulation, Rhode Island, Tribal, Wall Street | Comments Off

Wynn gets serious in Massachusetts; Little racino bests Caesars

Posted on June 14, 2013 by David McKee

Steve Wynn is engaging a multi-pronged effort to clinch the favor of voters in Everett. Of course, if the Massachusetts Gaming Commission takes time off from generating paperwork to stop and be impressed by Wynn’s campaign, so much the better. Wynn’s … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, Current, Dan Gilbert, Harrah's, Massachusetts, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Racinos, Regulation, Steve Wynn, Taxes, Tribal | 1 Comment

Penn: Start making sense!; Casinos clean up in Lege

Posted on June 4, 2013 by David McKee

Casinos in Ohio have not been living up to revenue expectations. Given such a fallow market, what has Penn National Gaming decided to do? Break ground on two racinos, of course! One is in the Dayton area, the other — … Continue reading →

Posted in Boyd Gaming, Current, Dan Gilbert, Economy, Harrah's, Internet gambling, Macau, MGM Mirage, MTR Gaming, Neil Bluhm, Ohio, Penn National, Politics, Racinos, Sheldon Adelson, Slot routes, Stanley Ho, Station Casinos, World Series of Poker | 1 Comment

Don’t tell Sheldon!; East Coast misadventures

Posted on June 4, 2013 by David McKee

As EuroVegas appears on the verge of collapse, recent bulletins pile another indignity upon Sheldon Adelson. When Barcelona‘s BCN World wanted to add a casino, it reached 3/4 of the way around the globe to recruit … Melco Crown Entertainment … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Harrah's, International, Internet gambling, Marketing, Massachusetts, Melco Crown Entertainment, New Hampshire, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Politics, Sheldon Adelson, Slot routes, Taxes, Transportation, Tribal | 2 Comments