Category Archives: Pennsylvania

The Philadelphia experiment; Wynn mellows

Posted on November 17, 2014 by David McKee

We’re on the eve of the day the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board is expected to issue the fifth license for the Philadelphia area. It has to be awarded by a convoluted process called a “qualified majority,” whereby all four legislative … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, Cordish Co., Economy, Genting, Harrah's, James Packer, Massachusetts, Neil Bluhm, Pennsylvania, Steve Wynn, The Strip | Comments Off

Philadelphia decision tipped; Insolvency on the high seas

Posted on November 11, 2014 by David McKee

While we’ve been focused on Boston and New York, a major casino decision in Philadelphia has been creeping upon us. The second casino license in Philly city limits is to be awarded on Nov. 18 and early intel has it … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Cordish Co., Economy, Election, Florida, Geoff Freeman, Greenwood Racing, Maryland, Massachusetts, MGM Mirage, Minnesota, Neil Bluhm, Penn National, Pennsylvania, Problem gambling, Regulation, Steve Wynn, Technology, Tomato King Procacci, Tribal, Uncategorized | Comments Off

Ohio’s big haul; NY Times’ whack job

Posted on November 10, 2014 by David McKee

Ohio has matured rapidly as a casino market, bigger than Illinois, almost as large as Missouri but still a long way from Indiana‘s monthly grosses. Still, a 38% increase in casino revenue from last year is nothing at which to … Continue reading →

Posted in Hard Rock International, Harrah's, IGT, Mohegan Sun, MTR Gaming, New York, Ohio, Penn National, Pennsylvania, Racinos, Sheldon Adelson | Comments Off

Friday Case Bets

Posted on October 31, 2014 by David McKee

America‘s second-largest casino market, Pennsylvania, has truly hit the jackpot, according to a new study by Oxford Economics. It addition to engendering 18,000 direct-employment jobs, casinos have generated economic impact of $6.2 billion and paid $2.4 billion in taxes, not to mention … Continue reading →

Posted in Arizona, Economy, Harrah's, Pennsylvania, Station Casinos, The Strip, TV | Comments Off

Clashing views on MGM; Shotgun wedding in Pennsylvania

Posted on October 30, 2014 by David McKee

MGM Resorts International‘s third quarter was “better than expected” if you were J.P. Morgan analyst Joseph Greff and “disappointing” if you are Deutsche Bank‘s Carlo Santarelli. It’s a matter of how MGM performed relative to analyst forecasts. While the Las Vegas Strip … Continue reading →

Posted in Cannery Casino Resorts, CityCenter, Detroit, GLPI, Harrah's, Macau, Mississippi, Pennsylvania, The Strip, Wall Street | Comments Off

Impatience in Philly; Big sting at Caesars

Posted on October 29, 2014 by David McKee

It’s been eight months since the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board held suitability hearings for awarding Philadelphia‘s second and final casino license. Those deliberations seem to have receded in the hazy yon of the past. It’s a situation that’s not sitting well … Continue reading →

Posted in Cannery Casino Resorts, Harrah's, Internet gambling, Law enforcement, Macau, Penn National, Pennsylvania, Racinos, Regulation | Comments Off

Players take Vegas to the cleaners

Posted on October 28, 2014 by David McKee

Baccarat players stayed home or played smaller last month. The Strip’s most important revenue driver dropped 30% on 12.5% less play. So luck and players’ wallets were both working in the casinos’ disfavor. Despite a 2% increase in coin-in, slot … Continue reading →

Posted in Boulder Strip, Cannery Casino Resorts, Downtown, Economy, Laughlin, Macau, North Las Vegas, Penn National, Pennsylvania, Racinos, Technology, The Strip | Comments Off

N.Y.: Accentuate the negative; Sheldon’s change of heart

Posted on October 27, 2014 by David McKee

“The economy is so depressed around here, anything is a plus. That’s how bad it is around here.” With that backhanded endorsement, the owner of Pepe’s Bar-B-Q in Binghamton, N.Y., gave his blessing to casinos in the area. In order to … Continue reading →

Posted in CityCenter, Economy, Greenwood Racing, Hard Rock International, Illinois, MGM Mirage, Neil Bluhm, New York, Pennsylvania, Sheldon Adelson, Slot routes, The Strip | Comments Off

All’s well at Penn; Casinos wary of Uncle Sam

Posted on October 24, 2014 by David McKee

Helped by better-than-expected performances at M Resort and Hollywood Casino at Charles Town Races, beating its own estimates, Penn National Gaming exceeded Wall Street’s consensus for 3Q14. Cannibalization of Charles Town has not been as great as was feared and … Continue reading →

Posted in Ameristar, Atlantic City, Boyd Gaming, Delaware, Election, Harrah's, M Resort, Massachusetts, MGM Mirage, Missouri, Mohegan Sun, Penn National, Pennsylvania, Pinnacle Entertainment, Racinos, Regulation, Sports, Tilman Fertitta, West Virginia | Comments Off

JFK returns to Vegas, poker comes to Philly

Posted on October 17, 2014 by David McKee

Tourist attractions just haven’t been clicking for the New Tropicana Las Vegas. But it’s trying again with “The JFK Exhibition,” announced today. Although John F. Kennedy‘s connections to Las Vegas were part of the seamy underside of Camelot, that only … Continue reading →

Posted in Alex Yemenidjian, Downtown, Environment, Harrah's, history, MGM Mirage, Neil Bluhm, Ohio, Oscar Goodman, Pennsylvania, The Strip | Comments Off

Life after Revel; Sheldon’s solid quarter

Posted on October 15, 2014 by David McKee

Faced with fewer and fewer casino choices in Atlantic City, players seem to be choosing to stay home. The seaside city saw gaming revenues plummet 17% last month. That’s also the same percentage by which coin-in and slot revenues slipped. … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Boyd Gaming, Economy, Florida, Harrah's, Internet gambling, Macau, MGM Mirage, Mohegan Sun, Pennsylvania, Revel, Sheldon Adelson, Singapore, The Strip, Tropicana Entertainment, Trump Entertainment Resorts, Wall Street | 2 Comments

Most happy fella; Grumbling on the Boardwalk

Posted on October 6, 2014 by David McKee

Although Sheldon Adelson was laying covetous eyes upon the Meadowlands last week — and reiterating his risible drivel about the mystical power of brick-and-mortar casinos to deter problem gambling — for the time being Las Vegas Sands is upping its bet … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Carl Icahn, Dining, Glenn Straub, Hard Rock Hotel, Marketing, Pennsylvania, Problem gambling, Revel, Sam Nazarian, Sheldon Adelson, Singapore, The Strip, Trump Entertainment Resorts | Comments Off

All Wynn, all the time

Posted on October 1, 2014 by David McKee

Posted in Carl Icahn, Economy, Fontainebleau, G2E, Internet gambling, Macau, Marketing, Maryland, MGM Mirage, Mississippi, Pennsylvania, Politics, Regulation, Sheldon Adelson, Steve Wynn, Tamares Group, Taxes | Comments Off

USA Today: Those evil casinos!

Posted on September 26, 2014 by David McKee

With the gaming industry temporarily exhausted from over-expansion and saturation, USA Today has chosen this moment to pounce with an anti-gambling editorial. The graybeards on the USA Today editorial board clearly haven’t been paying close attention — racinos in Delaware, … Continue reading →

Posted in Boulder Strip, Boyd Gaming, Cretins, Delaware, Downtown, Economy, Geoff Freeman, Lake Tahoe, Laughlin, Neil Bluhm, North Las Vegas, Pennsylvania, Reno, The Strip, Tourism, Wall Street | Comments Off

Bad news in New York and Macao

Posted on September 22, 2014 by David McKee

In a setback for all regions of New York State that are eligible for a casino (or two), the casino-siting board has made it clear it’s taking a serious look at the “up to four” clause in the licensing process. … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, California, Economy, Illinois, Internet gambling, Macau, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Regulation, Wall Street, West Virginia | Comments Off

Inside Sands’ success; Furor in Fresno

Posted on September 19, 2014 by David McKee

The most baccarat tables per casino in the U.S. are to be found at — no kidding — Sands Bethlehem. The casino, which fields 50 baccarat tables grossed $18 million in table game revenue last month, a record amount for … Continue reading →

Posted in California, Election, Greenwood Racing, Marketing, Massachusetts, Mohegan Sun, New York, Pennsylvania, Politics, Regulation, Sheldon Adelson, Station Casinos, Tribal, Wall Street | Comments Off

Case Bets: Multimedia, Philadelphia, Maryland

Posted on September 17, 2014 by David McKee

Here’s a vivid account of Multimedia Games‘ reversal of fortune, how a company focused on B-level gaming markets established a presence in Nevada, Atlantic City and Pennsylvania, and improved its value sufficiently to make it a takeover target for Global … Continue reading →

Posted in Cordish Co., Global Cash Access, Harrah's, Marketing, Maryland, MGM Mirage, Penn National, Pennsylvania, Problem gambling, Regulation, Technology | 1 Comment

Revel draws more interest; Risky business

Posted on September 16, 2014 by David McKee

Glenn Straub having put $130 million in escrow just in case his $90 million, all-cash bid on Revel doesn’t do the trick, other bidders are tipping their hands. Money doesn’t mean much to California developer Richard Meruelo, who forfeited a … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Glenn Straub, Neil Bluhm, Ohio, Penn National, Pennsylvania, Regulation, Revel, Technology, Tilman Fertitta | 1 Comment

Boston: Another agonizing delay; Loveman: Don’t worry, be happy

Posted on September 11, 2014 by David McKee

Just when it looked like the suspense would be ended over who’d get the Boston-area casino, the slow-moving Massachusetts Gaming Commission imposed another week’s delay on the process. Basically, commissioners want Wynn Resorts to do better than it has in … Continue reading →

Posted in Alabama, Architecture, Atlantic City, Cordish Co., Genting, Harrah's, history, Marketing, Massachusetts, Mohegan Sun, New York, Penn National, Pennsylvania, Regulation, Steve Wynn, Transportation | Comments Off

Trump bookmarks Chapter 11; Christie’s canny moves

Posted on September 9, 2014 by David McKee

Trump Entertainment Resorts is back in familiar territory: Chapter 11. It is the fourth time that minority owner Donald Trump‘s casinos have gone insolvent. He may try to wash his hands of the mess, but he gets equity for the use … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Culinary Union, Donald Trump, Harrah's, Internet gambling, Maryland, New York, Pennsylvania, Sports, Tilman Fertitta, Trump Entertainment Resorts | 2 Comments