Category Archives: Pennsylvania

Hiccup in Virginia; Sheldon’s retail therapy

Posted on April 21, 2020 by David McKee

Just when it seemed like casinos in Virginia were a done deal, some last-minute tinkering by Gov. Ralph “Blackface” Northam (D) could scupper the whole deal. Northam unilaterally amended the enabling legislation to redirect two-thirds of the tax collections from … Continue reading →

Posted in Boyd Gaming, Cretins, Economy, FanDuel, Hard Rock International, International, Internet gambling, Las Vegas Sands, Macau, Mohegan Sun, Pennsylvania, PokerStars, Politics, Racinos, Regulation, Rush Street Gaming, Sheldon Adelson, Singapore, Sports betting, Taxes, Tourism, Transportation, Tribal, Virgin Hotels, Virginia, Wall Street | Comments Off

Gambling in the time of Coronavirus

Posted on April 20, 2020 by David McKee

Editor’s note: This roundtable was originally conducted for Casino Life magazine. For reasons unrelated to content, it was ‘put in turnaround,’ as they say in Hollywood. Rather than waste a perfectly good exchange between gaming executive Yaniv Sherman and sportswriter … Continue reading →

Posted in Boyd Gaming, California, Conventions, DraftKings, e-sports, FanDuel, Health, Horseracing, Illinois, International, Internet gambling, Michigan, Missouri, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Sports, Sports betting | Comments Off

“Scary” times for casinos; Hotel rates swoon

Posted on April 13, 2020 by David McKee

Donald Trump wants to reopen America for business May 1, come hell or high water. Former Atlantic City casino executive Robert Ambrose acknowledges that “going past 30 days [quarantine] is scary for the entire industry.” According to Ambrose, it ought … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Caesars Entertainment, California, Crown Resorts, Economy, Greenwood Racing, Hard Rock International, Health, Las Vegas Sands, MGM Resorts International, Pennsylvania, Rush Street Gaming, Sports, The Strip, Tourism, Wall Street, Wynn Resorts | 2 Comments

MGM: Just say no; NBA to Vegas?

Posted on April 2, 2020 by David McKee

Setting an admirable example, MGM Resorts International will be abstaining from any CARES Act bailout money. It will avail itself of the loan guarantees being extended by the federal government. As the company itself says, it needn’t play poor, not … Continue reading →

Posted in Cordish Co., Economy, Internet gambling, Las Vegas Sands, MGM Resorts International, Pennsylvania, Regulation, Sports, Sports betting, Technology, The Strip | 2 Comments

Pandemic … of black-market slots; Jobs market reels

Posted on April 2, 2020 by David McKee

Why didn’t social distancing in casinos work? Reports Frank Legato, “the Centers for Disease Control revealed that the Covid-19 virus can survive up to two or three days on stainless steel, plastic and other nonporous surfaces—like gaming machines. An industry … Continue reading →

Posted in Caesars Entertainment, Economy, Health, Illinois, International, Law enforcement, Missouri, Pennsylvania, Problem gambling, Regulation, Slot routes, Transportation, Wall Street | Comments Off

Hard times for Atlantic City; Murren’s big payday

Posted on March 30, 2020 by David McKee

Atlantic City casinos have pink-slipped 6,000 workers as a gaming shutdown goes on indefinitely. Said Ocean Casino Resort CEO Terry Glebocki, “This is truly an unprecedented time not only for Ocean, but for everyone.” Unemployment claims in the Garden State … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Boyd Gaming, Caesars Entertainment, Economy, Eldorado Resorts, Hard Rock International, Health, Illinois, Indiana, Louisiana, Macau, MGM Resorts International, Morris Bailey, Ocean Resort, Penn National, Pennsylvania, Real Estate, Regulation, Sports betting, Tribal, Wall Street, Washington State | 1 Comment

Trop sale: More fizzle than sizzle

Posted on March 28, 2020 by David McKee

Remember how Penn National Gaming tantalized us with its sale process for the Tropicana Las Vegas, hinting at a bidding war and outright predicting a massive cash haul for the company? Well, Penn was evidently so bereft of suitors that yesterday it … Continue reading →

Posted in GLPI, Maryland, Penn National, Pennsylvania, The Strip | 2 Comments

The cost of not doing business

Posted on March 21, 2020 by David McKee

Saying “This is not the time to look for loopholes,” Nevada Gov. Steve Sisolak (D) doubled down on his quarantine order, threatening nonessential business that remain in business in defiance of his directive (and there have been some) to close … Continue reading →

Posted in Boyd Gaming, Churchill Downs, Cirque du Soleil, Dining, Downtown, DraftKings, Economy, Election, Entertainment, Florida, Golden Gaming, Health, Internet gambling, Las Vegas Sands, Macau, Penn National, Pennsylvania, Seminole Tribe, Station Casinos, TV, Wall Street, Wynn Resorts | Comments Off

Life after casinos; Sheldon is george

Posted on March 19, 2020 by David McKee

“The situation continues to evolve and will escalate rapidly and dramatically. These are unprecedented actions in an extraordinary situation, but they could be the difference in saving lives and keeping people safe.” So said Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan (R) on Sunday, … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Boyd Gaming, Caesars Entertainment, California, China, Cordish Co., e-sports, Economy, Entertainment, Foxwoods, Health, Horseracing, Internet gambling, Las Vegas Sands, Maryland, Massachusetts, MGM Resorts International, Mississippi, Mohegan Sun, Nevada, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Politics, Rush Street Gaming, Sheldon Adelson, Sports, Sports betting, The Strip, Tourism, Tribal, TV, Wisconsin | 1 Comment

Tarnished Golden; Exec blasts Japan

Posted on March 18, 2020 by David McKee

Golden Gaming was coming off a strong 4Q19: Net revenues at its Nevada casinos were 24% higher, to $134 million, and its slot routes were up 4.5% to $73 million. However, JP Morgan analyst Joseph Greff warned investors to “stay … Continue reading →

Posted in Arizona, Economy, Golden Gaming, Health, Horseracing, Japan, Massachusetts, Missouri, Nevada, Penn National, Pennsylvania, Politics, Racinos, Real Estate, Singapore, Slot routes, The Strip, Tribal, Wall Street | Comments Off

Casino closures sweep the country

Posted on March 16, 2020 by David McKee

We’re all going through what are called “adjustment reactions,” including casino executives across the country. They’d like to stay open for business—many are—but others are being forced to close or making the difficult choice to go dark on their own. … Continue reading →

Posted in Boyd Gaming, Caesars Entertainment, Conventions, Cordish Co., Derek Stevens, Downtown, e-sports, Economy, Eldorado Resorts, Health, IGT, Illinois, Indiana, Las Vegas Sands, Maryland, Massachusetts, Melco Resorts & Entertainment, MGM Resorts International, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Scientific Games, Sports, Station Casinos, The Strip, Wall Street, Wynn Resorts | 1 Comment

Massachusetts’ Daddy Warbucks; Ghoulish new Flamingo show

Posted on March 4, 2020 by David McKee

Neil Bluhm doesn’t have an office in Massachusetts. Nor any employees. But Rush Street Gaming‘s Bay State affiliate spent the second-highest amount on lobbying last year. That’d be 662 dimes lavished on the pursuit of the state’s elusive, final casino … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, Caesars Entertainment, California, Economy, Election, Entertainment, Health, history, Lotteries, Marketing, Massachusetts, Neil Bluhm, Pennsylvania, Racinos, Regulation, Resorts World LV, The Strip, TV | Comments Off

Massachusetts tries, tries again; Eldorado underperforms

Posted on February 27, 2020 by David McKee

In what can be viewed either as a victory for democracy or simply passing the buck, Massachusetts regulators opened the door to public comments on whether to approve a casino for the southeastern corner of the Bay State. The Massachusetts … Continue reading →

Posted in AGA, Caesars Entertainment, Donald Trump, Economy, Eldorado Resorts, Genting, Health, Las Vegas Sands, Macau, Massachusetts, Maverick Gaming, Neil Bluhm, Pennsylvania, Politics, Regulation, Slot routes, Sports betting, Tourism, Tribal, Vietnam, Washington State | Comments Off

Wind of change; Packer “like a car crash”

Posted on February 25, 2020 by David McKee

There’s change in the breeze at Wind Creek Bethlehem. Former general manager Brian Carr “is leaving the organization,” replaced by Kathy McCracken, a longtime veteran of the property, which has underperformed since the Poarch Bank of Creek Indians took ownership. Not coincidentally, … Continue reading →

Posted in Australia, Crown Resorts, James Packer, Massachusetts, Melco Resorts & Entertainment, Money laundering, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Regulation, Stanley Ho, Technology, The Mob, Tribal, Wynn Resorts | 1 Comment

“Empty gesture” in Macao; Big deals for Scientific, Hill

Posted on February 24, 2020 by David McKee

Casinos may have reopened in Macao but coronavirus cannot be so easily wished away. Fears of its spread hit U.S. stock markets hard, with the Dow Jones tumbling 840 points, ceding all 2020 gains. Overseas bourses are taking it hard, too, … Continue reading →

Posted in Alabama, Arizona, Atlantic City, China, Culinary Union, Economy, Election, Galaxy Entertainment, Genting, Health, International, Internet gambling, Las Vegas Sands, Macau, Melco Resorts & Entertainment, MGM Resorts International, Michigan, Mississippi, Nevada, New Jersey, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Scientific Games, Singapore, Sociedade de Jogos de Macau, Sports, Sports betting, Taxes, Tilman Fertitta, Tourism, Tribal, Wall Street, William Hill, Wynn Resorts | Comments Off

Saturation hits Connecticut; Culinary waffles on Sanders

Posted on February 21, 2020 by David McKee

So much for Tribal Winds, the satellite casino that was going to counteract MGM Springfield. Its backers are cutting the proposed $300 million investment by one-third. On the plus side, this could be read as a way of saying the … Continue reading →

Posted in China, Colorado, Connecticut, Culinary Union, Donald Trump, DraftKings, Economy, Election, Environment, Foxwoods, Harry Reid, Health, history, Macau, Massachusetts, MGM Resorts International, Mohegan Sun, Pennsylvania, Politics, Sheldon Adelson, Sports, Sports betting, Steve Wynn, Technology | Comments Off

MGM’s past distinguished, future cloudy; Broken Winds

Posted on February 14, 2020 by David McKee

Yesterday, while noting MGM Resorts International CEO Jim Murren‘s impending departure, we were remiss in noting some of his accomplishments. On Murren’s 2008-20 watch, the company became synonymous with diversity, environmentalism, LEED certification and community outreach. With becoming modesty, Murren … Continue reading →

Posted in Caesars Entertainment, Charity, Churchill Downs, Connecticut, Dining, Diversity, Eldorado Resorts, Environment, Foxwoods, Japan, Kentucky, Macau, Marijuana, Maverick Gaming, MGM Resorts International, Mohegan Sun, Penn National, Pennsylvania, Racinos, Regulation, Sports betting, Tribal, Wall Street, Washington State, Wynn Resorts | 1 Comment

“The fix is in”; MGM’s youth movement

Posted on February 10, 2020 by David McKee

Hard Rock International CEO Jim Allen is trying to have it both ways in Greece, saying that Mohegan Gaming & Entertainment hasn’t been awarded the Hellenikon casino concession but that “the fix is in.” Well, is it or isn’t it? … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Australia, Boyd Gaming, Canada, Crown Resorts, Diversity, DraftKings, Economy, Hard Rock International, Health, International, Japan, Las Vegas Sands, Lawrence Ho, Lucky Dragon, Macau, MGM Resorts International, Mohegan Sun, Money laundering, Movies, Ocean Resort, Pennsylvania, PokerStars, Singapore, Sports betting, The Strip, Twin River, Wall Street, Wynn Resorts | 1 Comment

Tramway to Encore; Pennsylvania pony pennies pinched

Posted on February 7, 2020 by David McKee

A gondola ride from Everett City Hall to Encore Boston Harbor? It could happen. Everett Mayor Carlo DeMaria has applied for a $200,000 study grant so that the city can look into the feasibility. He’s picking up the ball from Wynn … Continue reading →

Posted in Caesars Entertainment, Churchill Downs, DraftKings, Eldorado Resorts, Election, Greenwood Racing, Horseracing, Indiana, Iowa, Massachusetts, Movies, Nevada, New Jersey, Penn National, Pennsylvania, Regulation, Sports betting, Taxes, Transportation, William Hill, Wynn Resorts | 1 Comment

Penn looking good; From the police blotter

Posted on February 6, 2020 by David McKee

Penn National Gaming reported 4Q19 revenues that aligned with Wall Street projections, with cash flow modestly higher than expected “on a combination of better operations and lower than forecast corporate expenses.” JP Morgan analyst Joseph Greff said that Penn was … Continue reading →

Posted in Century Casinos, Colorado, Cretins, Derek Stevens, Florida, Horseracing, Iowa, Law enforcement, Money laundering, Penn National, Pennsylvania, Politics, Regulation, Slot routes, Sports betting, Technology, The Strip, Virginia, Wall Street | Comments Off