Category Archives: Pennsylvania

Solons press for Connecticut clarity; Macao mulls casino renewal

Posted on November 15, 2017 by David McKee

Today’s news takes us straight back to Washington, D.C., where Sens. Chris Murphy (D) and Richard Blumenthal (D) are demanding that the Bureau of Indian Affairs get off the fence and clarify its stance regarding the $300 million East Windsor … Continue reading →

Posted in Donald Trump, Economy, Election, Entertainment, Foxwoods, Macau, MGM Mirage, Mississippi, Mohegan Sun, Penn National, Pennsylvania, Politics, Regulation, Sociedade de Jogos de Macau, Tourism, Transportation, Tribal | Comments Off

Penn regroups, Sands expands; Beware the Yakuza

Posted on November 13, 2017 by David McKee

Santa Claus has come early, in the guise of hardworking Deutsche Bank analyst Carlo Santarelli. He’s been so busy profiling gaming’s top companies we wonder when he finds time for sleep. His recent visits have included one to Penn National … Continue reading →

Posted in Ameristar, Dining, Environment, Harrah's, Illinois, Indiana, Japan, Macau, Majestic Star, Maryland, Massachusetts, MGM Mirage, Ohio, Penn National, Pennsylvania, Pinnacle Entertainment, Regulation, Sheldon Adelson, Singapore, Steve Wynn, Taxes, The Mob, The Strip, Wall Street, West Virginia | Comments Off

MGM rebounds; Harvey victims have mystery casino benefactor

Posted on November 10, 2017 by David McKee

Commercials practically begging people to patronize the Las Vegas Strip after the Mandalay Bay massacre turn out to have been needless. The company most affected, MGM Resorts International, reports that hotel bookings are “almost back to normal.” “I’m happy to … Continue reading →

Posted in Baseball, Charity, Cordish Co., Cosmopolitan, Galaxy Entertainment, Greenwood Racing, Harrah's, Macau, Mandalay Bay Massacre, MGM Mirage, Neil Bluhm, Penn National, Pennsylvania, Politics, Steve Wynn, Texas, The Strip, Wall Street | Comments Off

Ohio defies the calendar; Pennsylvania vote pricks Adelson’s balloon

Posted on November 8, 2017 by David McKee

Ohio gaming revenues powered up 5.5% last month despite a supposedly “unfavorable” calendar (one less weekend day). Except for a flat outcome at Thistledown Racino ($9.5 million), everyone was revenue positive for the month. Even Jack Cleveland snapped out of … Continue reading →

Posted in Dan Gilbert, Eldorado Resorts, Genting, Hard Rock International, Internet gambling, Japan, Ohio, Penn National, Pennsylvania, Pinnacle Entertainment, Politics, Racinos, Sheldon Adelson, Singapore, South Korea, Tourism | Comments Off

MGM: The lion roars; Station doubles down

Posted on November 8, 2017 by David McKee

MGM Resorts International, so long in the headlines due to bad news, made some good news this week. In the third quarter room revenues were up 4% along the Las Vegas Strip and table game hold was substantially higher, both … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Election, IGT, Macau, Mandalay Bay Massacre, MGM Mirage, Palms, Penn National, Pennsylvania, Pinnacle Entertainment, Station Casinos, The Strip, Wall Street | 3 Comments

National Harbor rules; #VegasAmnesia anyone?

Posted on November 7, 2017 by David McKee

Last week I was saying that anyone who thinks the Washington, D.C.-Baltimore corridor can absorb another casino doesn’t have their head screwed on right. Well, the latest numbers are in and S&G feels more validated than ever. Maryland Live ($46 … Continue reading →

Posted in Boyd Gaming, Colorado, Cordish Co., GLPI, Harrah's, Louisiana, Mandalay Bay Massacre, Maryland, MGM Mirage, Neil Bluhm, Penn National, Pennsylvania, Pinnacle Entertainment, Slot routes, Tourism, Wall Street, West Virginia | 1 Comment

Stratosphere: Sartini takes charge; Dadaist policy at MGM

Posted on November 6, 2017 by David McKee

“It’s more appreciated now than it was 20 years ago,” says Golden Entertainment CEO Blake Sartini of his new trophy property, the Stratosphere. Boy, is he right (as usual). What used to be called “Stupak’s Stump” or the “Tower of … Continue reading →

Posted in Donald Trump, Foxwoods, Golden Gaming, Illinois, Japan, Marijuana, MGM Mirage, Mohegan Sun, Pennsylvania, Politics, Sheldon Adelson, Slot routes, Steve Wynn, Taxes, The Strip | Comments Off

Reno’s bright future; All-time high for Vegas sports books

Posted on November 3, 2017 by David McKee

We love Reno. It has a river in the middle of downtown, nearby mountains and all the charm that Las Vegas so desperately lacks. It also had a gambling market that was written off for dead 15 years ago. Times … Continue reading →

Posted in Economy, Eldorado Resorts, International, Nevada, Oklahoma, Paragon Gaming, Pennsylvania, Politics, Reno, Sports, Station Casinos, Taxes, Tribal, Wall Street | 1 Comment

Strip waxes, LV locals wane; Caesars sticks it to you

Posted on October 31, 2017 by David McKee

Gaming revenues inched up 3% in Nevada last August, while the Las Vegas Strip was up 5%, to $568 million. JP Morgan analyst Joseph Greff wrote that the latter implied “strong 3Q for MGM table games given WYNN and LVS’ combined 3Q … Continue reading →

Posted in Boulder Strip, Downtown, Economy, Entertainment, Genting, Greenwood Racing, Harrah's, International, Internet gambling, Lake Tahoe, Laughlin, Mesquite, MGM Mirage, Nevada, North Las Vegas, Pennsylvania, Regulation, Reno, Sheldon Adelson, Steve Wynn, The Strip, Wall Street | Comments Off

“A gambling state without parallel”

Posted on October 30, 2017 by David McKee

It’s up to Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Wolf (D) now. [Update: Wolf got off the fence with uncharacteristic alacrity and signed the bill.) The state House has passed the most sweeping expansion of gambling S&G has ever seen. It includes Internet … Continue reading →

Posted in Eldorado Resorts, Harrah's, Internet gambling, Penn National, Pennsylvania, Politics, Slot routes, Sports, Taxes | Comments Off

Major casino expansion mooted for Pennsylvania; Big wins for Florida, Wisconsin tribes

Posted on October 27, 2017 by David McKee

Gaming expansion is creeping forward in Pennsylvania. The state Senate has passed and sent to the House a bill that would add 10 satellite casinos to the Keystone State. Eldorado Resorts‘ Presque Isle Downs would be juiced in for one … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, Eldorado Resorts, Florida, Hard Rock International, Internet gambling, Penn National, Pennsylvania, Politics, Reno, Seminole Tribe, Slot routes, Station Casinos, Taxes, Tribal, Wisconsin | Comments Off

Smooth talk in Bridgeport; Sands Bethlehem for sale (again)?

Posted on October 25, 2017 by David McKee

“Sharp dressed, smooth talker” Uri Clinton met with Bridgeport residents in an effort to convince them that MGM Resorts International has their best interests at heart in its pursuit of Bridgeport as a casino site. Perhaps naively, Clinton hopes that … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Downtown Grand, Economy, Foxwoods, Geoff Freeman, Glenn Straub, Internet gambling, MGM Mirage, Mohegan Sun, New York, Pennsylvania, Problem gambling, Regulation, Revel, Sheldon Adelson, Taxes, Tribal, Wall Street | Comments Off

New MGM ad stirs controversy; Macao heightens security

Posted on October 19, 2017 by David McKee

Among the victims of Stephen Paddock‘s domestic terrorism was MGM Resorts International‘s “Welcome to the Show” ad campaign. The aftermath of a mass murder was hardly the time to be proclaiming that you’re “in the ‘Holy Sh*t!’ business” or to promise … Continue reading →

Posted in Genting, Harrah's, Macau, Mandalay Bay Massacre, Marijuana, Marketing, Maryland, MGM Mirage, Pennsylvania, Philippines, Regulation, Technology, The Strip, TV, Unite-Here | Comments Off

Trump goes to bat for Adelson; Connecticut tribes on the rise

Posted on October 18, 2017 by David McKee

Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe had never heard of Las Vegas Sands or MGM Resorts International before Donald Trump told him about them last February. Either that or Abe was politely feigning ignorance. (As long as was using his political office … Continue reading →

Posted in Donald Trump, Foxwoods, Greenwood Racing, Japan, MGM Mirage, Mohegan Sun, Pennsylvania, Politics, Regulation, Sheldon Adelson, Singapore, Taxes, Wall Street | Comments Off

Clean slate at Caesars; Heresy at G2E; Another Revel mystery

Posted on October 9, 2017 by David McKee

“Twenty-five years ago Caesars [Entertainment] was the premier name internationally but they dropped the ball,” said C.G. Anderson Partners analyst Greg Bousquette of the company that must find a way to become relevant after spending years snarled in debt, then in … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Colorado, Economy, Entertainment, G2E, Glenn Straub, Harrah's, Iowa, Japan, Macau, Mandalay Bay Massacre, Neil Bluhm, New York, Pennsylvania, Regulation, Revel, Singapore, South Korea, Technology, The Strip, Wall Street | Comments Off

Penn, Pinnacle to merge?

Posted on October 6, 2017 by David McKee

Writes Deutsche Bank analyst Carlo Santarelli, “according to people familiar with the matter, Penn National has conducted on again off again discussions to acquire Pinnacle Entertainment.” He warns that “a long list of questions, which may or may not make a … Continue reading →

Posted in Ameristar, GLPI, Golden Gaming, Harrah's, Maryland, MGM Mirage, Mississippi, Missouri, Ohio, Penn National, Pennsylvania, Pinnacle Entertainment, Regulation, Wall Street, West Virginia | 2 Comments

F-blew: Here we go again; Trop makes Hoosier history

Posted on September 19, 2017 by David McKee

Steven Witkoff hasn’t closed on the Fontainebleau sale yet, never mind receiving a gaming license, and he’s already being cast as the savior of the Las Vegas Strip. However, there are some dark clouds on Fontainebleau’s horizon. Despite the $1.3 … Continue reading →

Posted in Carl Icahn, Eldorado Resorts, Fontainebleau, Genting, history, Indiana, Internet gambling, LVCVA, Marketing, Massachusetts, Penn National, Pennsylvania, Regulation, Reno, Steven Witkoff, The Strip, Tropicana Entertainment | 1 Comment

Wynn scolds Japan; Dan Gilbert gets something right

Posted on September 11, 2017 by David McKee

Despite height restrictions and an indifferent (at best) local government, Steve Wynn seems hellbent on putting a casino in Tokyo. Like everybody else, he’s also looking at Yokohama and Osaka — likelier finalists in the Japan casino derby. In an … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, Dan Gilbert, Internet gambling, Japan, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Politics, Regulation, South Dakota, Steve Wynn, Taxes | 1 Comment

Strip disappoints, locals casinos dominate; Indiana ignores tribal casino

Posted on August 30, 2017 by David McKee

Poor table play punished the Las Vegas Strip last month, driving revenues down 8%. Locals casinos, by contrast, were up 13%, possibly helped by some end-of-June coin lingering in the slot hoppers. But, if so, what’s the Strip’s excuse for … Continue reading →

Posted in Boulder Strip, Boyd Gaming, Charity, Downtown, Economy, Environment, Harrah's, Indiana, International, Japan, Lake Tahoe, Laughlin, Lawrence Ho, Louisiana, Macau, Majestic Star, Marketing, MGM Mirage, Missouri, Nevada, North Las Vegas, Pansy Ho, Pennsylvania, Regulation, Reno, Sheldon Adelson, Taxes, The Strip, Tribal, West Virginia | Comments Off

Kansas Crossing struggles; Their indecision is final

Posted on August 29, 2017 by David McKee

Here’s a man-bites-dog story to start your day. Kansas Crossing casino is shortening hours and reducing payroll. Apparently four casinos is one too many for the Sunflower State. Although expected to rake in $3 million a month, the casino has … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, Genting, Internet gambling, Kansas, New York, Pennsylvania, Politics, Slot routes, Taxes | 1 Comment