Category Archives: Penn National

Penny pinchers; Tribal warfare in New Mexico; Who’s tops in Macao?

Posted on July 24, 2014 by David McKee

Although the hold on penny slots in Illinois casinos is grotesquely higher than that for quarter slots/video poker, the imaginary value of penny machines makes them by far the most popular genre in the state. Punters dropped $41 million into … Continue reading →

Posted in Election, Illinois, Macau, Melco Crown Entertainment, MGM Mirage, Neil Bluhm, Penn National, Sheldon Adelson, Stanley Ho, Steve Wynn, Technology, Tribal | 1 Comment

Argosy saved … for now

Posted on July 21, 2014 by David McKee

Not only has the Iowa Supreme Court not ruled on Judge Elizabeth Ovrom‘s ruling to close Argosy Sioux City, it hasn’t decided whether or not to hear the case. However, it still has kept the Penn National Gaming riverboat on life … Continue reading →

Posted in Foxwoods, Greenwood Racing, Iowa, Massachusetts, Penn National, Pennsylvania, Regulation, Sheldon Adelson, Tribal | Comments Off

Prosperity in Detroit? You bet; Penn’s persistence

Posted on July 18, 2014 by David McKee

Those busy boffins at the American Gaming Association have been crunching data from Detroit and come up with some interesting statistics. The three Motown casinos are a bit lighter in the workforce (down 4%), having lost or laid off 350 … Continue reading →

Posted in Economy, Election, Massachusetts, MGM Mirage, Missouri, Penn National, Regulation, Taxes, Technology, Tropicana Entertainment | Comments Off

Take my casino, please; Nail-biter in Iowa

Posted on July 17, 2014 by David McKee

Rather than accept three potential casino closings as a fait accompli, Unite-Here is out beating the bushes for potential buyers. Given, the casinos aren’t Unite-Here’s to sell but there’s no law that says the union can’t play matchmaker. “We want the world … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Carl Icahn, Columbia Sussex, GTECH, Hard Rock International, Harrah's, IGT, Internet gambling, Iowa, Penn National, Regulation, Revel, Technology, Tropicana Entertainment, Trump Entertainment Resorts | 1 Comment

The perils of Penn

Posted on July 15, 2014 by David McKee

Argosy Sioux City continues to lurch from crisis to crisis. In the latest twist, Judge Elizabeth Ovrom gave with one hand but took away with the other. In order that the casino can appeal its closure order from the Iowa … Continue reading →

Posted in Charity, Iowa, Macau, MGM Mirage, Penn National, Regulation, Sheldon Adelson | Comments Off

Atlantic City: And then there were nine …

Posted on July 14, 2014 by David McKee

Scarcely had Gary Loveman opined that a few casinos in Atlantic City needed to close than they began toppling like dominoes — some by his own hand. Headed to the casino graveyard alongside the Atlantic Club and the Showboat is Trump … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, California, Donald Trump, Harrah's, Isle of Capri, Mississippi, Penn National, Tourism, Tropicana Entertainment, Trump Entertainment Resorts, Wall Street | 2 Comments

Steve Wynn’s right-hand woman

Posted on July 10, 2014 by David McKee

Considered by many the logical successor to Steve Wynn, his envoy to Macao, Linda Chen, is more spoken of than seen. CNN offers us a rare glimpse of the woman who may well be calling the shots at Wynn Resorts … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Harrah's, Macau, Mississippi, Penn National, Regulation, Reno, Steve Wynn, Tilman Fertitta, Transportation | 1 Comment

So long, Sullivan County

Posted on July 10, 2014 by David McKee

New York State’s Gaming Commission has picked the last two members of the casino-siting committee and it’s pretty bad news for the Catskills region. Both of the finalists are cronies of Gov. Andrew Cuomo (D), as are the three already-seated … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Harrah's, Internet gambling, Isle of Capri, Kansas, Missouri, New York, Penn National, Pinnacle Entertainment, Politics, Regulation, Tropicana Entertainment | 1 Comment

Lean and hungry in the Midwest

Posted on July 8, 2014 by David McKee

It’s difficult to find new things to say about Illinois, where the saga has become sadly familiar. Another month, another 11% decline. Even players’ darlings Rivers Casino (-4%) and Jumer’s Rock Island Casino (right, -14%) struggled. However, by some miracle, … Continue reading →

Posted in Boyd Gaming, Current, Harrah's, MGM Mirage, Neil Bluhm, Ohio, Penn National, Pinnacle Entertainment, Tropicana Entertainment | 1 Comment

Reno 2.0; Saturation in Ohio

Posted on July 7, 2014 by David McKee

All roads lead through Reno, more or less, if you’re dealing with Amazon.com. Now the Biggest Little City in the World is hoping to export high-tech instead. A corridor to that purpose, nicknamed “Startup Row” has sprung up downtown. A … Continue reading →

Posted in California, Economy, Harrah's, Ohio, Penn National, Pinnacle Entertainment, Revel | Comments Off

Feeling Moody’s

Posted on July 7, 2014 by David McKee

Here at S&G, we don’t begrudge anyone their right to build casinos. But, in the larger picture, the evidence suggests that Massachusetts and New York State are sailing into the wind. Moody’s Investors Service surveyed casinos in 15 states and, … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Harrah's, Massachusetts, New York, Penn National, Pennsylvania, Steve Wynn, The Strip, Wall Street | Comments Off

Revel’s death spiral; Piling into N.Y.

Posted on July 2, 2014 by David McKee

Having filed for bankruptcy a second time, Revel Casino Hotel is trying hard to stay off the auction block. Maybe not hard enough: A $300 million price tag is too rich for Caesars Entertainment‘s blood or even flush Hard Rock … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Churchill Hill, Cordish Co., Current, Genting, Hard Rock International, Harrah's, Mohegan Sun, Neil Bluhm, Penn National, Revel, Taxes, Wall Street | Comments Off

Isle for sale; N.Y. deluged in casino bids

Posted on July 1, 2014 by David McKee

Consolidation’s march has reached the doorstep of Isle of Capri Casinos. Or maybe it’s the other way around. Isle is reported as having peddled itself to several potential buyers over the last several months. Now it’s “weeks away” from a … Continue reading →

Posted in Colorado, Delaware, Genting, Hard Rock International, Harrah's, Isle of Capri, Neil Bluhm, New York, Penn National, Racinos, Wall Street | Comments Off

Gearing up for fights in Massachusetts, California and Arkansas

Posted on June 30, 2014 by David McKee

Expect a deluge of dollars to be spent opposing or supporting a casino-repeal ballot question in Massachusetts. Unlike political campaigns, ballot questions have no spending limitation attached to them. So far, the biggest amount spent on a ballot question in … Continue reading →

Posted in Arkansas, Bally Technologies, California, Election, Entertainment, Internet gambling, Maryland, Massachusetts, Mohegan Sun, Penn National, Racinos, Regulation, Shuffle Master, Steve Wynn, The Strip, Tropicana Entertainment | Comments Off

Showboat: The autopsy; Penn: We’re outta here!

Posted on June 30, 2014 by David McKee

Leaving aside the human effect, in cold business calculus, Caesars Entertainment‘s closure of the Showboat Atlantic City makes sense. At least that’s what Mayor Don Guardian is saying echoed by Wall Street. “The closure makes financial sense for Caesars and … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Boyd Gaming, Delaware, Economy, Harrah's, Massachusetts, New York, Penn National, Pennsylvania, Racinos, Taxes, Wall Street | 1 Comment

Argosy’s charmed life; Paging “Jersey Shore”; Boyd’s (alleged) botch

Posted on June 27, 2014 by David McKee

It’s The Perils of Pauline over at Penn National Gaming‘s Argosy Sioux City. A July 1 closure has been stayed until July 10 while Judge Eliza Ovrom ponders the merits of the case. She’s scheduled final arguments for the 10th, … Continue reading →

Posted in Boyd Gaming, Charity, Cretins, Iowa, Mississippi, Penn National, Regulation, Sports | Comments Off

Boffo May in Vegas; The power of convenience

Posted on June 27, 2014 by David McKee

Wall Street was pleasantly surprised by May’s gambling numbers from Nevada and especially the Las Vegas Strip, which was up 17%. Statewide, revenues rose 8%, reflecting the dilutive effect of an 8% decline in locals gaming revenue. A 3% dip … Continue reading →

Posted in Boulder Strip, Downtown, Economy, Election, Hard Rock International, Harrah's, Illinois, Laughlin, Massachusetts, MGM Mirage, Mohegan Sun, North Las Vegas, Ohio, Penn National, Problem gambling, Racinos, Regulation, Slot routes, The Strip, Wall Street | 3 Comments

Massachusetts: A call to action

Posted on June 26, 2014 by David McKee

Casino companies in Massachusetts “could” or “may” team up to fight the repeal effort currently underway. How about “must” or “should”? If ever there were an imperative for joint action, this is it. Perhaps even Wynn Resorts and Mohegan Sun could … Continue reading →

Posted in Economy, Election, Foxwoods, Geoff Freeman, Horseracing, IGT, Internet gambling, Massachusetts, MGM Mirage, Mohegan Sun, Penn National, Politics, Steve Wynn | Comments Off

The ultimate irony; No luck for Argosy; Borgata lawsuit tossed

Posted on June 26, 2014 by David McKee

States have, one after another, approved casino gambling to help prop up their own finances. Now, with crushing irony, Delaware is going from being subsidized by racinos to subsidizing them. Gov. Jack Markell (D) still can’t drum up the support … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Boyd Gaming, Current, Delaware, Harrah's, Iowa, Maryland, Penn National, Racinos, Regulation, Taxes | 2 Comments

Massachusetts: The morning after

Posted on June 25, 2014 by David McKee

Although Wynn Resorts is keeping mum on this week’s Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court ruling, others are not taking it lying down. Faced with a do-or-die referendum on casino gambling in the Bay State, MGM Resorts International promised it was “fully … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Election, Geoff Freeman, Harrah's, Internet gambling, Macau, Massachusetts, MGM Mirage, Mohegan Sun, Penn National, PokerStars, Politics, Regulation, Sports, Steve Wynn | Comments Off