Category Archives: Pennsylvania

Adelson: Crassness and classiness; Could online poker flop?

Posted on April 3, 2014 by David McKee

Last weekend’s GOP kaffeeklatsch, hosted by Sheldon Adelson, was such a self-abasing lap dance by the celebrity attendees that this Andy Borowitz satire doesn’t feel like much of a stretch. That being said, Adelson is making his presence felt in … Continue reading →

Posted in Charity, Internet gambling, Marketing, MGM Mirage, Pennsylvania, Politics, Regulation, Sheldon Adelson, Tilman Fertitta | Comments Off

O little metropolis of Bethlehem; MGM on the move

Posted on March 31, 2014 by David McKee

Indiscriminate dissemination by Sands Bethlehem of $45 free-play slot cards is having some interesting effects on Bethlehem itself. It’s brought about an influx of largely Chinese-American players but not all are there to play. Some pay $15 for a round-trip … Continue reading →

Posted in Marketing, Maryland, Massachusetts, MGM Mirage, Mohegan Sun, Pennsylvania, Regulation, Sheldon Adelson, Steve Wynn, Taxes, Transportation | Comments Off

Murren on Japan; Blatstein’s big buy

Posted on March 31, 2014 by David McKee

It’s still a long haul until casinos are legalized in Japan, let alone built, but MGM Resorts International CEO Jim Murren is waxing confident. He notes that Japan’s tourism is expected to grow 100% by 2020 and another 50% by … Continue reading →

Posted in California, Foxwoods, Harrah's, Internet gambling, Japan, MGM Mirage, Mississippi, Pennsylvania, The Mob, Tourism | Comments Off

Jim Murren’s white flag; More slots in New England

Posted on March 21, 2014 by David McKee

In a moment of weakness upon which Sheldon Adelson is certain to pounce, MGM Resorts International CEO Jim Murren called for a cease-fire in the intra-industry war over Internet gambling. In addition to his day job, Murren is chairman of … Continue reading →

Posted in Geoff Freeman, Internet gambling, Macau, MGM Mirage, New York, Pennsylvania, Politics, Sheldon Adelson, Steve Wynn, Taxes | 1 Comment

Incest in Philadelphia and New Jersey

Posted on March 17, 2014 by David McKee

Pennsylvania‘s one-and-one-third rule for casino ownership is playing hob with applications for the state’s final casino license, in Philadelphia. For instance, frontrunner Market 8 would be one-quarter owned by the ubiquitous Ira Lubert, who already owns half of Valley Forge … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Cordish Co., Don Barden, Greenwood Racing, Iowa, Macau, Mohegan Sun, Neil Bluhm, Penn National, Pennsylvania, Regulation, Revel, Sheldon Adelson, Tomato King Procacci, Tribal, Warner Gaming | Comments Off

Itchy trigger fingers in Massachusetts; Boyd besieged

Posted on March 12, 2014 by David McKee

After moving with extreme deliberation on terrestrial casinos, the Massachusetts Gaming Commission suddenly has a fire under its butt to do something about Internet gambling. “The time is now … We can’t wait any longer, even though we’re still in the … Continue reading →

Posted in Bally Technologies, Boyd Gaming, Hawaii, Horseracing, IGT, Internet gambling, Massachusetts, Penn National, Pennsylvania, Racinos, Regulation, Wall Street | Comments Off

Boyd under siege? Tight (slots) on the East Coast

Posted on March 11, 2014 by David McKee

Yesterday, Elliott Management announced that it owns 5% of Boyd Gaming. Shares of the company, which had closed just under $12, opened at $14. But is this a vote of confidence in Boyd? According to Seeking Alpha, “Elliott has a … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Boyd Gaming, Columbia Sussex, Florida, Internet gambling, Lake Tahoe, Laughlin, Neil Bluhm, New York, Pennsylvania, Pinnacle Entertainment, Regulation, Reno, Technology, Tourism, Tropicana Entertainment, Wall Street, West Virginia | Comments Off

Vegas: Behind the standoff; Sands: Another one bites the dust

Posted on March 6, 2014 by David McKee

As the Culinary Union heads toward a March 20 strike vote, the culprit behind its stalemate with over a dozen casinos has been identified as the Affordable Care Act. “The biggest hurdle to reaching settlements in Vegas is the new … Continue reading →

Posted in Culinary Union, Harrah's, Massachusetts, MGM Mirage, Pennsylvania, Politics, Riviera, Sheldon Adelson, Steve Wynn, The Strip | 1 Comment

Case Bets: Sands, Galaxy Gaming, Penn and Churchill Downs

Posted on March 3, 2014 by David McKee

Every time Las Vegas Sands releases more information about the hacking of its Web sites, the news just gets worse. Now it turns out that whoever was behind the assault conducted a smash-and-grab raid of personal data. The potential for … Continue reading →

Posted in Arizona, California, Churchill Downs, Iowa, Maine, Penn National, Pennsylvania, Regulation, Sheldon Adelson, Technology, Warner Gaming | Comments Off

Case Bets: Sands, Atlantic City, Maryland, Isle of Capri, Churchill Downs, etc.

Posted on February 28, 2014 by David McKee

Las Vegas Sands lost more top executive talent when Sands Bethworks President Robert DeSalvio handed in his notice. He’ll be at the casino through mid-March but the move seems to have caught Sands off-guard. The latter assured reporters that DeSalvio’s … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Churchill Downs, Cordish Co., Foxwoods, Harrah's, Horseracing, Illinois, International, Isle of Capri, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Pennsylvania, Sheldon Adelson, Tilman Fertitta, Wall Street | 1 Comment

Shilling for Adelson; Saturation comes to Pennsylvania

Posted on February 18, 2014 by David McKee

After the 9/11 attacks, New York State then-Gov. George Pataki (R) was only to push casinos through as a form of economic stimulus. Now he’s a sock puppet for Sheldon Adelson, preaching the evils of Internet casinos. He’s been parroting … Continue reading →

Posted in Cannery Casino Resorts, Greenwood Racing, Harrah's, Isle of Capri, Massachusetts, MGM Mirage, Neil Bluhm, Penn National, Pennsylvania, Politics, Problem gambling, Sheldon Adelson | Comments Off

Discontent in Beantown; Sands, Day 4

Posted on February 14, 2014 by David McKee

Boston Mayor Martin J. Walsh (right) wants the awarding of a Beantown-area casino put off … mainly so he’ll have more time to cadge and scheme his way into “host community” status, where the big money is to be found. Steve … Continue reading →

Posted in Dining, Illinois, Massachusetts, MGM Mirage, Mississippi, Mohegan Sun, Pennsylvania, Sheldon Adelson, Slot routes, Steve Wynn | 1 Comment

A Ho no-show; Adelson omnipresent; Revel to close?

Posted on February 13, 2014 by David McKee

There was apparently no Stanley Ho sighting at the Cotai Strip groundbreaking of Sociedade de Jogos de Macau‘s $3.9 billion Lisboa Palace. Ho is 92 and well into his dotage, so a public appearance would have come as a surprise. … Continue reading →

Posted in Foxwoods, Genting, Hard Rock International, Harrah's, Internet gambling, Macau, Penn National, Pennsylvania, Politics, Revel, Sheldon Adelson, Stanley Ho, Technology, Vietnam | 1 Comment

Market8 endorsed; Web casinos raided; Gridlock in Kentucky, Florida

Posted on February 12, 2014 by David McKee

Market8 is emerging as the frontrunner in the competition for a Philadelphia casino license. Three area politicians have come forward in support of Ken Goldenberg‘s project, which will be run by Mohegan Sun. As part of a joint communique, First … Continue reading →

Posted in Florida, Internet gambling, Kentucky, Mohegan Sun, Pennsylvania, Politics, Regulation, Tribal | Comments Off

2/11

Posted on February 12, 2014 by David McKee

Sheldon Adelson is not an easy man to like, let alone defend. (His attacks upon the First Amendment have seen to that.) But, upon further reflection, the Feb. 11 assault on his corporate Web sites causes one to reluctantly take … Continue reading →

Posted in Current, Internet gambling, Pennsylvania, Politics, Sheldon Adelson | 2 Comments

Foxwoods on the clock; Japan, land of opportunity

Posted on February 6, 2014 by David McKee

Foxwoods Massachusetts has most of what it needs: money, civic support, a name brand. But it doesn’t have a site. Foxwoods and Fall River have given themselves 30 days to remedy that, a tight timespan, further complicated by the likelihood … Continue reading →

Posted in Cordish Co., Foxwoods, Japan, Maryland, Massachusetts, Pennsylvania, Problem gambling | Comments Off

The hypocrisy of Steve Wynn

Posted on February 3, 2014 by David McKee

Like a couple of crotchety codgers sitting in their rocking chairs, Steve Wynn has joined Sheldon Adelson in the “You kids get off my lawn” club when it comes to Internet gambling. (Not that he has allowed this to stop … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Delaware, Economy, International, Internet gambling, Massachusetts, Pennsylvania, Racinos, Regulation, Revel, Sheldon Adelson, Steve Wynn, Taxes | Comments Off

Double whammy in Beantown, feeding frenzy in Philly

Posted on January 31, 2014 by David McKee

Should casino opponents succeed in getting a repeal of the state’s gambling law onto the November ballot — and win — Massachusetts will lose out on tax revenue it’s booked for the next fiscal year. It may also have to … Continue reading →

Posted in Economy, Election, Indiana, Massachusetts, Neil Bluhm, Pennsylvania, Politics, Racinos, Regulation, Taxes | Comments Off

Showdown over Philadelphia

Posted on January 29, 2014 by David McKee

“We need to offer something more than a casino,” said Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board member Gregory Fajt at yesterday’s hearings, at which The Provence and Hollywood Casino made their cases. The Provence promised to be something and Hollywood, almost defiantly, … Continue reading →

Posted in Charity, Current, Economy, Isle of Capri, Kentucky, Penn National, Pennsylvania | Comments Off

Another thousand slot machines

Posted on January 28, 2014 by David McKee

Penn National Gaming — sort of a “favorite son” candidate for a Philadelphia casino — is first up in presentations to the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board for the fifth Philly-area casino license. Bart Blatstein‘s and Isle of Capri Casinos‘ $700 … Continue reading →

Posted in Cordish Co., Economy, Greenwood Racing, Isle of Capri, Penn National, Pennsylvania, Regulation, Tomato King Procacci | 2 Comments