Category Archives: Pennsylvania

Penn talks turkey; Celebrity brawl at Aria

Posted on April 11, 2016 by David McKee

Next week Penn National Gaming turns on the Marquee Rewards spigot at the Tropicana Las Vegas. Given some of management’s recent disclosures, it won’t come a day too soon: 85% of Penn’s customer base comes to Sin City but stays … Continue reading →

Posted in Affinity Gaming, Ameristar, Boyd Gaming, CityCenter, Cordish Co., Full House Resorts, Harrah's, Indiana, Isle of Capri, Majestic Star, Marketing, Maryland, Massachusetts, MGM Mirage, Missouri, Ohio, Penn National, Pennsylvania, Pinnacle Entertainment, Racinos, Steve Wynn, Taxes, The Strip, Tourism, Tribal, Tropicana Entertainment, Wall Street, West Virginia | 1 Comment

Freeman rakes Wolf; The delights and dangers of DFS

Posted on April 5, 2016 by David McKee

American Gaming Association President Geoff Freeman is throwing down against Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Wolf (D) and the latter’s desire to tax casino free play. If Wolf’s proposal had been in effect last year, the state would have netted slightly less … Continue reading →

Posted in Arizona, Colorado, Florida, Geoff Freeman, Illinois, International, Internet gambling, Marketing, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, PokerStars, Taxes, Tribal | Comments Off

Shady dealings in D.C.; New bromance between GLPI and Pinnacle

Posted on April 4, 2016 by David McKee

Voters in Washington, D.C., could find themselves voting on a casino initiative this November. A 9,000-square-foot gambling house has been proposed for Anacostia. It would have slots, blackjack and other table games but, strangely enough, no slots or electronic table … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, Delaware, Election, Florida, GLPI, International, Macau, Massachusetts, MGM Mirage, Neil Bluhm, Penn National, Pennsylvania, Pinnacle Entertainment, Racinos, Regulation, Sheldon Adelson, Sports, The Strip, Tourism, Tribal | 1 Comment

Kasich, gambling opponents clash; Boffo month for Pennsylvania

Posted on March 25, 2016 by David McKee

Ohio Gov. John Kasich (R) went 1-1 in legal challenges to his decision to widen the Buckeye State’s casino industry, including his permission of VLTs at the state’s racinos, a move that broke the Caesars Entertainment/Penn National Gaming duopoly on … Continue reading →

Posted in GLPI, Greenwood Racing, Harrah's, Isle of Capri, Mohegan Sun, Neil Bluhm, Ohio, Penn National, Pennsylvania, Problem gambling, Sheldon Adelson | Comments Off

DFS in retreat; Pinnacle fights smoking ban

Posted on March 23, 2016 by David McKee

What Attorney General Eric Schneiderman couldn’t do, gun-shy payment processors have accomplished: Put DraftKings and FanDuel out of business in New York State. The two have said they will refrain from taking wagers from the Empire State through the end … Continue reading →

Posted in Churchill Downs, Environment, GLPI, Harrah's, history, Illinois, Internet gambling, Law enforcement, Louisiana, Neil Bluhm, New York, Pennsylvania, Pinnacle Entertainment, Regulation, Sports, Tribal, Tropicana Entertainment, TV | Comments Off

Doldrums in Louisiana; Free play imperiled in Pennsylvania

Posted on March 14, 2016 by David McKee

Louisiana gaming revenues, aided by Leap Day, were flat last month, which is pretty surprising because most of the brand names had revenue-negative months. Lake Charles led the state with $74 million. Golden Nugget had a signal month, up 37% … Continue reading →

Posted in Boyd Gaming, Churchill Downs, Eldorado Resorts, Election, GLPI, Greenwood Racing, Harrah's, Horseracing, Idaho, Isle of Capri, Louisiana, Maine, Penn National, Pennsylvania, Pinnacle Entertainment, Taxes, Tilman Fertitta, Tropicana Entertainment, West Virginia | Comments Off

High-stakes headbutting in Hartford; Pennsylvania grapples with slot routes

Posted on March 11, 2016 by David McKee

All the key players in Connecticut finally butted heads in a showdown in Hartford yesterday. In one corner, you had the casino-ineligible Schaghticoke Tribal Nation. Behind it was its patron, MGM Resorts International, which has a $950 million investment in Springfield, … Continue reading →

Posted in Economy, Florida, Foxwoods, Massachusetts, MGM Mirage, Mohegan Sun, Pennsylvania, Politics, Problem gambling, Seminole Tribe, Slot routes, Taxes, Tribal | Comments Off

Wall Street loves it some Boyd; Wolf at the door

Posted on February 17, 2016 by David McKee

Boyd Gaming came out with its figures for 4Q15 and Wall Street is fairly singing the company’s praises. “We believe that BYD’s diversified, domestic regional gaming portfolio should continue to benefit from continued U.S. jobs growth and lower gas prices. … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Boyd Gaming, Downtown, Greenwood Racing, Hawaii, Internet gambling, Iowa, Kansas, Louisiana, Mohegan Sun, Pennsylvania, PokerStars, Sheldon Adelson, Taxes, Technology, Transportation, Wall Street | Comments Off

Winning quarter for Wynn

Posted on February 15, 2016 by David McKee

In the current era of managed expectations of all things related to Macao, the 4Q15 report from Wynn Resorts fell into the “better than anticipated” category, with earnings down ‘only’ 17% (superior to Wall Street consensus) and profits just over … Continue reading →

Posted in Economy, Florida, Georgia, Law enforcement, Macau, Melco Crown Entertainment, Nevada, Penn National, Pennsylvania, Regulation, Reno, Seminole Tribe, Sheldon Adelson, Steve Wynn, Texas, The Strip, Wall Street | Comments Off

Major policy change strikes Philippines entrepreneurs

Posted on February 4, 2016 by David McKee

Just when Melco Crown Entertainment and other operators have gone heavily into the Manila market, they stand to take a hit from a potential Philippine Amusement & Gaming policy change that would end the Pagor’s monopoly on casino gambling outside … Continue reading →

Posted in Environment, Kazuo Okada, Melco Crown Entertainment, Mohegan Sun, Pennsylvania, Philippines, Technology | Comments Off

New York deals itself in on i-poker

Posted on February 3, 2016 by David McKee

A bill to legalize Internet poker in New York State advanced unanimously out of the state Senate Committee on Racing, Gaming & Wagering. That’s the easy part. It now goes to the Finance Committee, where tougher

Posted in Internet gambling, New York, Pennsylvania, Politics | Comments Off

Case Bets

Posted on February 2, 2016 by David McKee

Sheldon Adelson once called it “a mistake” but Sands Bethlehem is proving to be a bright spot on the Las Vegas Sands balance sheet. Last year, its profitability rose 9%, adding $108 million to Adelson’s coffers. As the CEO would … Continue reading →

Posted in Election, Macau, Maine, Maryland, MGM Mirage, Pennsylvania, Sheldon Adelson, Tribal | Comments Off

Strip’s illusory Christmas present; A.C. Trop antes up

Posted on January 29, 2016 by David McKee

Las Vegas Strip gaming revenues were up 8% last month but Deutsche Bank analyst Carlo Santarelli is calling that headline “misleading,” the increase “purely optical.” Volume of table play was down 11% and slot coin-in was 2% less. But increased … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Boulder Strip, Boyd Gaming, Downtown, Economy, Greenwood Racing, Harrah's, Internet gambling, Lake Tahoe, Laughlin, Macau, MGM Mirage, Mohegan Sun, Neil Bluhm, Nevada, North Las Vegas, Penn National, Pennsylvania, Reno, Sheldon Adelson, Technology, The Strip, Tropicana Entertainment, Wall Street | Comments Off

Meet the candidates; Even when Adelson loses, he wins

Posted on January 28, 2016 by David McKee

One of the many first-ever things that Geoff Freeman has done to remake the American Gaming Association in his image is compile a voting guide for industry workers, walking them through the primary and caucus processes in their states, and … Continue reading →

Posted in Economy, Election, Geoff Freeman, Macau, Maryland, Pennsylvania, Politics, Regulation, Sheldon Adelson, Sports, The Strip, Tribal, Wall Street | Comments Off

Another card room busted; Station becomes Red Rock

Posted on January 22, 2016 by David McKee

Scarcely was the ink dry on the American Gaming Association‘s proclamation of improved anti-money-laundering compliance than a plea-bargaining agreement was revealed involving the Normandie Casino, a venerable Gardena, California, card room. According to the Los Angeles Times, the Normandie “failed … Continue reading →

Posted in California, Economy, Geoff Freeman, Internet gambling, Law enforcement, Macau, Massachusetts, MGM Mirage, Neil Bluhm, Pennsylvania, Sheldon Adelson, Station Casinos, Tribal, Wall Street | Comments Off

Seminoles take to the air; Trop exec vanishes

Posted on January 20, 2016 by David McKee

Florida‘s Seminole Tribe is taking its case to the people, as its new compact with Gov. Rick Scott (R) faces an uphill slog in the Legislature. The compact is such a Rube Goldberg contraption, with so many moving parts, you … Continue reading →

Posted in Delaware, Florida, GLPI, Harrah's, Indiana, Internet gambling, Marketing, Missouri, Pennsylvania, Pinnacle Entertainment, Politics, Regulation, Seminole Tribe, Tropicana Entertainment, TV | Comments Off

Big win for Icahn; Boffo year for Pennsylvania

Posted on January 19, 2016 by David McKee

No further obstacles should remain to a Carl Icahn takeover of ailing Trump Taj Mahal after an appeals court found in favor of wage- and health-care rollbacks at the Atlantic City casino. Unite-Here Local 54 and the workers it represents … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Carl Icahn, Cordish Co., International, Internet gambling, Nevada, Pennsylvania, Regulation, Sheldon Adelson, Taxes, Trump Entertainment Resorts, Unite-Here | Comments Off

Tribal headache for Connecticut; Wynn, Adelson eye New Jersey

Posted on January 8, 2016 by David McKee

Proposed new rules that would make it easier for tribes to gain federal recognition could have a seismic effect on the casino business in Connecticut. Three potentially recognized tribes could vie for as many as four new casinos. One says “four” … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Donald Trump, Economy, Foxwoods, Mohegan Sun, Pennsylvania, Politics, Sheldon Adelson, Steve Wynn, The Strip, Tribal | Comments Off

Hope for Atlantic Club; Boffo month for Maryland

Posted on January 6, 2016 by David McKee

Not so fast, says Endeavor AC about yesterday’s report that its purchase of the Atlantic Club was defunct. The would-be purchaser says it has “a very strong and creditable private equity source to finance the acquisition and development of the … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Cordish Co., Dan Gilbert, Glenn Straub, Golden Gaming, Harrah's, Japan, Law enforcement, Maryland, Penn National, Pennsylvania, Planet Hollywood, Politics, Problem gambling, Racinos, Revel, Sheldon Adelson, SLS Las Vegas, The Strip, Tourism | Comments Off

Good news in Indian Country

Posted on December 22, 2015 by David McKee

It’s a happy day for the Picayune Rancheria of Chukchansi Indians, which got the go-ahead from the National Indian Gaming Commission to reopen its long-troubled Chukchansi Gold Resort & Casino. The NIGC was feeling so generous, in fact, that it suspended a … Continue reading →

Posted in California, Dan Gilbert, Harrah's, Massachusetts, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Regulation, Sheldon Adelson, Technology, Tribal | Comments Off