Category Archives: Pennsylvania

Penn: The wait is over; Scientific strikes again

Posted on October 5, 2016 by David McKee

On Oct. 10, the same day that Trump Taj Mahal is scheduled to close, Penn National Gaming will open the long-deferred Hollywood Casino Jamul (federal approvals had been holding it up). In celebration, Penn is announcing that relief of the … Continue reading →

Posted in Boulder Strip, California, Downtown, Georgia, Minnesota, Ohio, Penn National, Pennsylvania, Pinnacle Entertainment, Scientific Games, Tribal, Wall Street | Comments Off

Crisis mode in Pennsylvania; Hard Rock unifies the brand

Posted on October 3, 2016 by David McKee

Although Pennsylvania lawmakers theoretically have three months to amend an “incredibly complex” state law that directs casino revenue to host cities and counties, the grim reality is that the Lege has only eight session days in which to get it … Continue reading →

Posted in Australia, Charity, Eldorado Resorts, Florida, G2E, Greenwood Racing, Hard Rock Hotel, Hard Rock International, International, Macau, Pennsylvania, Politics, Seminole Tribe, Sheldon Adelson, Steve Wynn, Taxes, Technology, TV, Wall Street | Comments Off

Pennsylvania casinos trounce state; MGM looks to Brazil

Posted on September 30, 2016 by David McKee

Pennsylvania cities and counties could find themselves short of money soon — and legislators have to locate even more cash on short notice, as though the current budget impasse wasn’t trouble enough. The commonwealth has been given three months, tops, by the … Continue reading →

Posted in Economy, Eldorado Resorts, Greenwood Racing, IGT, International, Internet gambling, Japan, MGM Mirage, Neil Bluhm, Pennsylvania, Politics, Sheldon Adelson, Taxes, The Strip | Comments Off

GameCo hearts the Boardwalk; Internet gambling fails in Pennsylvania

Posted on September 29, 2016 by David McKee

GameCo CEO Blaine Graboyes promised that his company’s first skill-based slots would be rolled out in Atlantic City … and he was as good as his word. While the eyes of the industry were on Las Vegas for Global Gaming … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Downtown, Foxwoods, G2E, Harrah's, Internet gambling, Mohegan Sun, Nevada, New York, Pennsylvania, Politics, Regulation, Technology | Comments Off

Adelson expands; Caesars sweetens the pot

Posted on September 23, 2016 by David McKee

Las Vegas Sands never did get around to building that historical museum it promised Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, and it finished its hotel in quick-and-dirty (and fugly) fashion. But that doesn’t mean that Sands is still clinging to CEO Sheldon Adelson‘s pronouncement … Continue reading →

Posted in Culinary Union, Donald Trump, Downtown, Economy, Harrah's, Pennsylvania, Regulation, Sheldon Adelson, Sports, Technology, Wall Street | Comments Off

Revel becomes Ten; Bluhm enters Atlantic City market

Posted on September 21, 2016 by David McKee

As we enter the waning months of 2016, Glenn Straub has decided to wait until next year to reopen Revel. He also announced its long-awaited new name: Ten (actually it’s “TEN” but we don’t go for that all-caps tomfoolery at … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Glenn Straub, Internet gambling, Macau, Neil Bluhm, Pennsylvania, Philippines, Regulation, Revel, Tilman Fertitta, Tropicana Entertainment, Unite-Here | 1 Comment

Arkansas casino proposal hotly contested; Straub gains support

Posted on September 19, 2016 by David McKee

Although a ballot initiative to legalize casinos in three Arkansas counties could draw some gambling dollars away from Oklahoma, that hasn’t stopped a Sooner State tribe from supporting it. Cherokee Nation Businesses has ponied up $400,000 to support the ballot … Continue reading →

Posted in Arkansas, Atlantic City, Glenn Straub, Horseracing, Internet gambling, Iowa, Missouri, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Politics, Racinos, Regulation, Revel, Tribal | Comments Off

Eldorado captures Isle; Adelson thwarted; Perlman dies

Posted on September 19, 2016 by David McKee

Scratch one more casino company from the checkerboard. This morning it was announced that Eldorado Resorts was buying Isle of Capri Casinos (long mooted as a takeover target. Eldorado will pay $1.7 billion for Isle — or $23 a share … Continue reading →

Posted in Alabama, Atlantic City, Eldorado Resorts, Florida, Foxwoods, Geoff Freeman, Harrah's, history, Internet gambling, Isle of Capri, Louisiana, Massachusetts, MGM Mirage, Missouri, Mohegan Sun, Nevada, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Politics, Reno, Sheldon Adelson, Taxes, The Mob, The Strip, Tribal, Vietnam, Wall Street | Comments Off

Caesars dips toe in skill-based slots; MGM National Harbor snares Dylan

Posted on September 12, 2016 by David McKee

Caesars Entertainment is going on the road, as it were, to test-drive its first foray into skill-based slots. It’s going to install six Gamblit Gaming slot carousels at Harrah’s Rincon, with 36 slated for Las Vegas deployment next year. The … Continue reading →

Posted in California, Colorado, Cordish Co., Downtown, Environment, Golden Gaming, Harrah's, Hooters, IGT, Internet gambling, Kansas, Maine, Marketing, Maryland, MGM Mirage, Minnesota, Mississippi, Nebraska, Oklahoma, Penn National, Pennsylvania, Racinos, Scientific Games, Sheldon Adelson, South Dakota, Sports, Technology, The Strip, Tribal, TV, West Virginia, Westgate LV, Wisconsin | 2 Comments

Freeman’s crusade; Gilbert struggles in Ohio

Posted on September 7, 2016 by David McKee

To describe the new-look American Gaming Association as “activist” would be an understatement of some magnitude. President Geoff Freeman has put the pedal to the metal in his quest for legalized sports betting. Today, Freeman mounted his bully pulpit in … Continue reading →

Posted in Dan Gilbert, Eldorado Resorts, Geoff Freeman, Hard Rock International, Internet gambling, Iowa, New York, Ohio, Penn National, Pennsylvania, Pinnacle Entertainment, Regulation, Sports, Taxes | 2 Comments

What if they gave a tax and nobody paid?; Fewer comps for video poker?

Posted on September 2, 2016 by David McKee

Just when it seemed there was no line in the sand that casinos wouldn’t draw regarding taxation, gambling halls in Pennsylvania have finally had enough of state levies. Paying $5 million for five years (and $250,000 a year after that) … Continue reading →

Posted in Cosmopolitan, Harrah's, MGM Mirage, Neil Bluhm, Penn National, Pennsylvania, Politics, Technology, The Strip | 1 Comment

Lucky Dragon gets another step ahead; ETGs a hit at Sands Bethlehem

Posted on August 25, 2016 by David McKee

Lucky Dragon Casino is speeding to completion while Resorts Las Vegas and Alon can’t get out of the starting blocks. (Resorts World did Tweet that it had finished paving its parking garage, making it Las Vegas‘ most high-budgeted place to put … Continue reading →

Posted in Affinity Gaming, Dining, Florida, Genting, Harrah's, International, Internet gambling, Lucky Dragon, Marketing, Nevada, Pennsylvania, Regulation, Sheldon Adelson, Taxes, Technology, Tourism, Tribal | 2 Comments

Caesars crashes, burns in Louisiana; DFS takes two steps forward, one back

Posted on August 25, 2016 by David McKee

Despite having an extra weekend day, Louisiana casinos saw revenue fall 7% in July. (JP Morgan analyst Joseph Greff blames flooding for the waterlogged numbers.) Pinnacle Entertainment did the best among major operators, up 4%, while Caesars Entertainment went into the … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Boyd Gaming, Churchill Downs, Eldorado Resorts, GLPI, Harrah's, Internet gambling, Isle of Capri, Louisiana, Maine, Massachusetts, New York, Pennsylvania, Pinnacle Entertainment, Problem gambling, Sports, Taxes, Technology, The Strip, Tilman Fertitta, Tropicana Entertainment | Comments Off

Tax fight in Pennsylvania; Adelson donation goes awry

Posted on August 23, 2016 by David McKee

Sands Bethlehem could soon pocket another $10 million a year but it’s letting Mount Airy Casino do the heavy lifting. The latter is arguing to the Pennsylvania Supreme Court that the flat, yearly fee falls disproportionately on small casinos, not … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, California, Eldorado Resorts, Greenwood Racing, International, Internet gambling, Law enforcement, Massachusetts, Neil Bluhm, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, PokerStars, Sheldon Adelson, Steve Wynn, Taxes, Tribal | Comments Off

Wynn receives vote of confidence; Rivers Casino gets a ‘best’

Posted on August 19, 2016 by David McKee

Account holders and investors in Dore Entertainment are evidently out of patience waiting to be reimbursed for the reported theft of $43 million from the VIP room operator. Instead, they’re suing Wynn Macau, saying “as a gaming concessionaire, [it] should … Continue reading →

Posted in Macau, Melco Crown Entertainment, Mississippi, Neil Bluhm, Pennsylvania, Sheldon Adelson, Steve Wynn, Wall Street | Comments Off

Atlantic City boosters gain momentum; Gamblit takes important step forward

Posted on August 18, 2016 by David McKee

New York State gaming forces are taking a more-than-disinterested view of the upcoming referendum on Atlantic City‘s monopoly on casino gambling in New Jersey. For instance, Genting Group, owner of Resorts World New York, is opposing the measure behind stalking … Continue reading →

Posted in Affinity Gaming, Atlantic City, Election, Foxwoods, Genting, Massachusetts, Mohegan Sun, New York, Pennsylvania, Taxes, Technology, Tribal | Comments Off

Stratosphere bucks consumer trend; New way to bet coming to Nevada

Posted on August 12, 2016 by David McKee

Better slot play, stronger restaurant business and greater hotel occupancy (which drove up rates) conspired to improve American Casino & Entertainment Properties‘ revenue and profitability in 2Q16. Net revenue — i.e., not profit — is on a 10-month upward roll, … Continue reading →

Posted in ACEP, Animals, Boulder Strip, Laughlin, MGM Mirage, Pennsylvania, PokerStars, Regulation, Sheldon Adelson, Sports, Technology, The Strip, Tourism | Comments Off

Mashpee casino blocked; Wynn: Doing more with less

Posted on August 1, 2016 by David McKee

Carcieri v. Salazar and the Indian Reorganization Act have come back to bite the Mashpee Wampanoag tribe in the hindquarters. U.S. District Judge William G. Young has ruled against a Taunton casino project, siding with the contention of a group … Continue reading →

Posted in Boyd Gaming, Charity, Eldorado Resorts, Foxwoods, Genting, Harrah's, history, International, Internet gambling, Isle of Capri, Macau, Massachusetts, MGM Mirage, Mississippi, Neil Bluhm, Pennsylvania, Regulation, Steve Wynn, Taxes, Tilman Fertitta, Tribal | Comments Off

Plainridge Park hits the one-year mark; Pennsylvania casinos spurn booze tax

Posted on July 27, 2016 by David McKee

Recording its first anniversary with a reported $160 million in revenue, against projections closer to $300 million, is Penn National Gaming‘s Plainridge Park a dud? Not so fast. The casino reports the highest win/slot/day by far of any casino for … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Boyd Gaming, Election, Internet gambling, Massachusetts, MGM Mirage, Neil Bluhm, New York, Penn National, Pennsylvania, PokerStars, Regulation, Revel, Rhode Island, Sheldon Adelson, Steve Wynn, Taxes, Tribal | Comments Off

Tomato King gets squashed; California, the wild, wild west of gambling

Posted on July 25, 2016 by David McKee

So much for Lawrence Downs Casino & Racing Resort. In a unanimous vote, the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board decided to drop-kick the casino project, which had already lost the backing of Penn National Gaming, which has racino interests nearby in Ohio. What seems … Continue reading →

Posted in California, Dan Gilbert, Election, Geoff Freeman, Law enforcement, Macau, Ohio, Penn National, Pennsylvania, Politics, Regulation, Sheldon Adelson, Sports, Tomato King Procacci | Comments Off