Category Archives: Pennsylvania

Okada in the cross-hairs; Oregon poker rooms (sorta) saved

Posted on June 22, 2017 by David McKee

Could it be? Dare we hope? Gamey gaming mogul Kazuo Okada is in danger of losing his Nevada license. (Steve Wynn is quietly celebrating somewhere.) Already he’s been suspended by his own company, Universal Entertainment Corp., and his dreams of … Continue reading →

Posted in Cordish Co., Greenwood Racing, Iowa, Isle of Capri, Japan, Kazuo Okada, Missouri, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Politics, Regulation, Sports, Steve Wynn, Texas, Westgate LV | Comments Off on Okada in the cross-hairs; Oregon poker rooms (sorta) saved

The heat is on; As Vegas warms up, so does its economy

Posted on June 21, 2017 by David McKee

Two of the nation’s premier casino markets — Las Vegas and Phoenix — are grappling with Baghdad-size temperatures, with more to come, not for months but years. (See video embed.) Coping with the Las Vegas Strip, if you dare, mandates … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Delaware, Economy, Environment, Genting, Golden Gaming, International, Internet gambling, MGM Mirage, Neil Bluhm, Nevada, Pennsylvania, The Strip, Wall Street | Comments Off on The heat is on; As Vegas warms up, so does its economy

That wacky Glenn Straub; New York caves on ‘Net bets

Posted on June 20, 2017 by David McKee

Call it Revel, call it Ten but, whatever you do, call it “closed.” Because that’s what Revel is. Owner Glenn Straub is frittering away the prime earning weeks of the year while he fights with state and local officials, whether … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Cosmopolitan, Donald Trump, Environment, Glenn Straub, Internet gambling, New York, Pennsylvania, Politics, Regulation, Revel | Comments Off on That wacky Glenn Straub; New York caves on ‘Net bets

Wynn: Up in smoke; Mohegan by any other name

Posted on June 16, 2017 by David McKee

Wynn Resorts is pursuing a no-tolerance policy toward high-rolling customers associated with corporate cannabis. “I can confirm that I was permanently banned from gambling at Wynn Resorts on June 7, 2017 due to my role as Chairman and CEO of … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Boyd Gaming, Donald Trump, Downtown, GLPI, Hard Rock International, Law enforcement, Mohegan Sun, Penn National, Pennsylvania, Regulation, Seminole Tribe, South Korea, Steve Wynn, Tamares Group, Taxes, The Strip, Tribal, Vietnam | 1 Comment

Stratosphere: From Goldman to Golden; Christmas tree for gamers in Pennsylvania

Posted on June 12, 2017 by David McKee

Goldman Sachs has had enough of the casino business. Either that or the price was right. Whatever the case, Golden Entertainment has just executed the greatest coup of its brief existence. It has purchased Las Vegas icon the Stratosphere. In … Continue reading →

Posted in Baseball, Boulder Strip, Carl Icahn, Foxwoods, Golden Gaming, Goldman Sachs, Internet gambling, Laughlin, MGM Mirage, Mohegan Sun, Pennsylvania, Regulation, Sheldon Adelson, Slot routes, Sports, Taxes, The Strip, Tribal | Comments Off on Stratosphere: From Goldman to Golden; Christmas tree for gamers in Pennsylvania

Pennsylvania bill gives some, takes more; MGM discloses new plans

Posted on June 8, 2017 by David McKee

Pennsylvania‘s House of Representatives has passed a gambling-expansion bill that gives with one hand but takes away more with the other. The bill, which still must pass the state Senate would: legalize DFS, pending a 19% tax and $50,000 licensing … Continue reading →

Posted in CityCenter, Dan Gilbert, GLPI, Hard Rock International, Internet gambling, Macau, MGM Mirage, Ohio, Penn National, Pennsylvania, Pinnacle Entertainment, Politics, Slot routes, Taxes, Wall Street | 1 Comment

Quote of the Day

Posted on June 7, 2017 by David McKee

“’We had [Pittsburgh] Steelers jerseys waiting for them when they arrived, which they took with them, but didn’t want to put on,’” recalled Meadows general manager Rod Centers. The Steelers won that matchup in a 43-14 blowout, and Centers said he … Continue reading →

Posted in GLPI, Horseracing, Marketing, Pennsylvania, Pinnacle Entertainment, Sports | Comments Off on Quote of the Day

Sands Bethlehem sale fizzles; Packer peddles Alon acreage

Posted on May 25, 2017 by David McKee

For the second time, Las Vegas Sands has decided that Sands Bethlehem was too valuable to sell, especially after it set a state record for table game revenue. (Earlier, Sands was bruited to be in talks with Tropicana Entertainment to … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Charity, Eldorado Resorts, Harrah's, Internet gambling, Iowa, Isle of Capri, James Packer, Macau, Melco Crown Entertainment, MGM Mirage, Pennsylvania, Phil Ruffin, Sheldon Adelson, Slot routes, Steve Wynn, The Strip, Tropicana Entertainment | Comments Off on Sands Bethlehem sale fizzles; Packer peddles Alon acreage

Tables buoy Pennsylvania; Oregon poker rooms in peril

Posted on May 19, 2017 by David McKee

It was table games to the rescue in Pennsylvania, in a record-setting performance, which saw casino winnings up 10% last month at the tables, while slots were down 1.5%. State leader was, as usual, Parx Casino, grossing $49 million for … Continue reading →

Posted in Eldorado Resorts, GLPI, Greenwood Racing, Harrah's, history, Isle of Capri, MGM Mirage, Mohegan Sun, Neil Bluhm, Oregon, Penn National, Pennsylvania, Pinnacle Entertainment, Politics, Sheldon Adelson, Transportation | Comments Off on Tables buoy Pennsylvania; Oregon poker rooms in peril

Hard Rock takes Icahn to the cleaners

Posted on May 11, 2017 by David McKee

Well, now we know how much Hard Rock International paid for Trump Taj Mahal — and why Carl Icahn wanted to keep it a secret. The defunct casino changed hands for $50 million, well below the nine-figure sum Icahn was … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Carl Icahn, Columbia Sussex, Donald Trump, Glenn Straub, Hard Rock International, MGM Mirage, Pennsylvania, Regulation, Revel, Sheldon Adelson, Tribal, Tropicana Entertainment, Trump Entertainment Resorts | Comments Off on Hard Rock takes Icahn to the cleaners

Higher taxes mooted for Atlantic City; Trump into Philippines?

Posted on May 10, 2017 by David McKee

Someone has belatedly noticed that Atlantic City is, in essence, a tax haven for casino operators. They pay 9.25%, compared to Pennsylvania‘s 55% on slots, for instance, or Maryland‘s patchwork of tax rates, which top out at 60%. That’s not … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Donald Trump, GLPI, Harrah's, Lake Tahoe, Law enforcement, Lawrence Ho, Macau, Maryland, Melco Crown Entertainment, Missouri, New York, Penn National, Pennsylvania, Pinnacle Entertainment, Taxes, Technology | Comments Off on Higher taxes mooted for Atlantic City; Trump into Philippines?

No casino is an Isle-and; Florida fails again

Posted on May 4, 2017 by David McKee

Eldorado Resorts took another big step toward gaming’s major leagues with its acquisition of Isle of Capri Casinos, a deal that closed earlier this week. The purchase gives Eldorado 12 more casinos, including a presence in the important Lake Charles … Continue reading →

Posted in Dan Gilbert, Eldorado Resorts, Florida, GLPI, Hard Rock International, history, Internet gambling, Isle of Capri, Japan, Louisiana, Ohio, Penn National, Pennsylvania, Politics, Reno, Seminole Tribe, Technology | Comments Off on No casino is an Isle-and; Florida fails again

Wall Street hearts Boyd; Disunity in Pennsylvania

Posted on May 3, 2017 by David McKee

Boyd Gaming, the red-headed stepchild of the casino industry, got some love from Wall Street yesterday. JP Morgan analyst Joseph Greff wrote that “the improving free cash flow in the BYD story is not reflected in the current stock price, … Continue reading →

Posted in Boulder Strip, Boyd Gaming, Cannery Casino Resorts, Greenwood Racing, Louisiana, North Las Vegas, Penn National, Pennsylvania, Pinnacle Entertainment, Slot routes, Wall Street | Comments Off on Wall Street hearts Boyd; Disunity in Pennsylvania

Quote of the Day

Posted on May 1, 2017 by David McKee

“We are trying to knock down some sort of silly notion that you could have tax parity between iGaming and the slot machines and that it could be a successful industry and we’re trying to convince them that if they … Continue reading →

Posted in Internet gambling, Penn National, Pennsylvania, Taxes | Comments Off on Quote of the Day

Paradise Park approved; Sweeping compromise in Florida

Posted on April 28, 2017 by David McKee

Wynn Paradise Park is finally a “go,” the Wynn Resorts board having given a downsized version of the resort its blessing, Construction of the 20-acre lagoon and accompanying convention center may begin before the year is out, perhaps as early … Continue reading →

Posted in Florida, Genting, Illinois, Internet gambling, Kansas, Macau, Pennsylvania, Politics, Problem gambling, Racinos, Regulation, Seminole Tribe, Sheldon Adelson, Steve Wynn, Taxes, The Strip, Tribal | 1 Comment

REITs meet the Street; Martinez wins in New Mexico

Posted on April 28, 2017 by David McKee

REITs Gaming & Leisure Properties and MGM Growth Properties both checked in with Wall Street yesterday, and further acquisitions were on the mind of both. In the case of MGM, its next target of opportunity is MGM National Harbor (“on … Continue reading →

Posted in Donald Trump, Economy, GLPI, Harrah's, MGM Mirage, Mississippi, Ohio, Penn National, Pennsylvania, Sheldon Adelson, Sports, The Strip, Tribal, Wall Street | Comments Off on REITs meet the Street; Martinez wins in New Mexico

Conservatives diss Adelson; Penn loses court battle

Posted on April 21, 2017 by David McKee

If Attorney General Jeff Sessions goes ahead with a ban on Internet gambling, he could be in for a world of hurt. Never mind the states with online casinos. He’d be messing with the states that have online lotteries, a … Continue reading →

Posted in Charity, Donald Trump, Florida, Genting, Internet gambling, Iowa, Penn National, Pennsylvania, Politics, Regulation, Sheldon Adelson, Taxes | 1 Comment

Saturation in Ohio; Japan: Go big or go home

Posted on April 17, 2017 by David McKee

Ohio Gov. John Kasich (R) leveled the playing field when he allowed third-party racinos to join the juiced-in Penn National Gaming and Caesars Entertainment casinos in the Buckeye State. The question now is how level a playing field is a … Continue reading →

Posted in Detroit, Economy, Genting, GLPI, Hard Rock International, Harrah's, International, Internet gambling, Iowa, Japan, New York, Ohio, Penn National, Pennsylvania, Pinnacle Entertainment, Technology, Wall Street | Comments Off on Saturation in Ohio; Japan: Go big or go home

Quote of the Day

Posted on April 12, 2017 by David McKee

“For years the tribes have carried the burden of bringing gaming to the state and they’ve come close and have never got it and right now out-of-state corporations have claimed a monopoly here in the state, and I’m glad for … Continue reading →

Posted in Maine, Pennsylvania, Politics, Tribal | Comments Off on Quote of the Day

Slim hope for North Dakota casinos; Russians hack U.S. slot machines

Posted on March 22, 2017 by David McKee

North Dakota lawmakers are still averse to the idea of state-owned casinos (which caused a fair number of birthing pains for Kansas) but they split the baby on casino expansion this week. While the House Judiciary Committee still stamped “do … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, International, Law enforcement, Missouri, North Dakota, Pennsylvania, PokerStars, Politics, Problem gambling, Sheldon Adelson, Singapore, Tilman Fertitta, Tribal | Comments Off on Slim hope for North Dakota casinos; Russians hack U.S. slot machines