Category Archives: Philippines

Across the Pacific

Posted on April 17, 2019 by David McKee

In a nodal moment for Macao, mass-market gambling revenue constituted the majority of monies collected during 1Q19. This is the first time that mass-market winnings have surpassed VIP ones. VIP baccarat revenue was down 16% while mass-market win was up … Continue reading →

Posted in California, Environment, Japan, Kazuo Okada, Lawrence Ho, Macau, Melco Resorts & Entertainment, Midnight Jim Gibbons, Philippines, Problem gambling, Technology, Tourism | Comments Off

Casino expansion in Indiana; Wynn nixes Crown deal

Posted on April 11, 2019 by David McKee

Mike Pence having gone to Washington, D.C., we miss his existential debates over what does and does not represent an “expansion” of gambling in Indiana. Doubtless he would come down on the “does” side of a state House proposal to—rather than move … Continue reading →

Posted in Caesars Entertainment, Crown Resorts, Entertainment, Indiana, International, Law enforcement, Macau, Majestic Star, Philippines, Politics, Regulation, The Strip, World Series of Poker, Wynn Resorts | Comments Off

Baccarat undercuts the Strip; Japan shows its hand

Posted on March 28, 2019 by David McKee

Is our trade war with China inflicting collateral damage on the Las Vegas Strip? That’s one theory for anemic Chinese New Year visitation that led to a 2% downturn in gaming receipts last month. By contrast, last year saw an … Continue reading →

Posted in Boulder Strip, Downtown, Economy, Internet gambling, Japan, Lake Tahoe, Laughlin, Mesquite, MGM Resorts International, Nevada, North Las Vegas, Philippines, Problem gambling, Regulation, Reno, Taxes, The Strip, Wendover | Comments Off

MGM gets new admirer; Okada busted again

Posted on January 8, 2019 by David McKee

JP Morgan has initiated analyst-focus coverage of MGM Resorts International “as we see an increasingly favorable setup for 2019” that includes “relatively low expectations in Las Vegas.” Morgan analyst Joseph Greff applauded the upcoming pogrom of the MGM workforce, as well … Continue reading →

Posted in Caesars Entertainment, Detroit, Entertainment, Foxwoods, Kazuo Okada, Law enforcement, Louisiana, Macau, Massachusetts, MGM Resorts International, Mohegan Sun, New York, Ohio, Penn National, Philippines, Regulation, Rhode Island, Sports, Steve Wynn, The Strip, Wall Street, Wynn Resorts | 1 Comment

Case Bets

Posted on December 27, 2018 by David McKee

Station Casinos is bringing two name-brand chefs to the upgraded Palms. Between high-in-the-sky Vetri Cucina and Michael Symon‘s Mabel’s BBQ, I wouldn’t know which to choose. (My mouth is watering as I type this.) Fortunately, Las Vegans riding a burgeoning … Continue reading →

Posted in Dining, Internet gambling, Kentucky, Macau, Movies, Palms, Philippines, PokerStars, South Korea, Station Casinos, Tourism, Transportation, Vietnam | Comments Off

Vegas ranks high for New Year’s Eve; MGM Springfield initiates bus service

Posted on December 10, 2018 by David McKee

WalletHub is out with a New Year’s Eve survey that ranks Las Vegas as the fifth-best city in which to celebrate the holiday, New York City (of course) led the list, followed by Los Angeles, Atlanta (see, we need casinos … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, California, Connecticut, Foxwoods, Georgia, Japan, Lawrence Ho, Marketing, Massachusetts, Melco Resorts & Entertainment, MGM Resorts International, Mohegan Sun, New Hampshire, New York, Philippines, Problem gambling, Reno, Sports, The Strip, Transportation, Tribal | Comments Off

Z covets Full House; Caesars: Fertitta out, MGM in?

Posted on October 29, 2018 by David McKee

Having recently subsumed Affinity Gaming, the eyes of Z Capital Partners have turned toward Full House Resorts. However, Z’s opening bid is so low that it looks like a typo: $1.79/share. That’s $132.5 million for five casinos. CEO Dan Lee … Continue reading →

Posted in Affinity Gaming, Caesars Entertainment, Current, Dan Lee, Full House Resorts, G2E, International, Law enforcement, Marketing, Melco Resorts & Entertainment, MGM Resorts International, Philippines, Sheldon Adelson, Sports, Tilman Fertitta, Wall Street | Comments Off

Hard Rock A.C. changes bosses; Westworld, the casino

Posted on October 3, 2018 by David McKee

It was our impression that Hard Rock Atlantic City was firing on all cylinders. Imagine our surprise to read that prexy Matt Harkness (pictured) was out and veteran Joe Lupo had taken his place. Harkness came to Hard Rock from … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Culinary Union, Hard Rock International, Idaho, International, Internet gambling, Japan, Law enforcement, Lucky Dragon, MGM Resorts International, Philippines, Regulation, Technology, Tribal | 1 Comment

Big Brother gets caught

Posted on September 20, 2018 by David McKee

In what might be the improbable casino scandal ever, Rivers Casino stands accused of using the eye in the sky to capture personal information from the cellphone screens of two patrons. Why? Supposedly to pass the data on to a … Continue reading →

Posted in International, Internet gambling, Japan, Kazuo Okada, Movies, Pennsylvania, Philippines, Rush Street Gaming, Security, Technology | Comments Off

The mystery of Talking Stick; Okada strikes again

Posted on September 17, 2018 by David McKee

On August 11, the latest in a series of monsoons wiped out the primary and backup generators at Talking Stick Resort. The casino was expected to reopen later last month but hasn’t, leaving some asking questions. Talking Stick Resort Public Relations … Continue reading →

Posted in Arizona, Caesars Entertainment, Dan Gilbert, Detroit, International, Kazuo Okada, Ohio, Philippines, Technology, Tribal | Comments Off

MGM Springfield impresses; The case of the disappearing chairman

Posted on August 27, 2018 by David McKee

It seems Springfield has a tornado to thank for MGM Resorts International‘s interest in the city, the beginning of a seven-year quest that climaxed with the Budweiser Clydesdales leading a parade to the new megaresort. CEO Jim Murren was window-shopping … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Dining, Election, history, International, Marketing, Maryland, Massachusetts, MGM Resorts International, Nevada, Penn National, Philippines, Station Casinos | Comments Off

Take that, Philippines!; NY casino out-brews rivals

Posted on August 8, 2018 by David McKee

Think you’ve got a casino, Landing International? Guess again. Ground had scarcely been broken on a $1.5 billion megaresort, which had been making headlines across the Pacific Rim, when Philippines despot Rodrigo Duterte unilaterally canceled the project. A flunky said Landing … Continue reading →

Posted in Australia, Dining, Election, Entertainment, Genting, Hard Rock International, Las Vegas Sands, New York, Penn National, Philippines, Rhode Island, Singapore, Technology, Tourism, Tribal | Comments Off

Culinary loses sense of decency; Inhumanity in Macao

Posted on July 27, 2018 by David McKee

Terry Caudill and the Culinary Union have come to terms on labor pacts for Binion’s Gambling Hall and the Four Queens. The agreement awaits ratification by the 650 employees affected. In the meantime, the Culinary stepped way over the line … Continue reading →

Posted in Animals, Architecture, Culinary Union, Downtown, Election, Internet gambling, Macau, Minnesota, Pennsylvania, Pets, Philippines, Regulation, Station Casinos, Terry Caudill, Tribal, Washington State | Comments Off

Shutout in Japan?

Posted on June 12, 2018 by David McKee

With pachinko already representing a $30 billion industry, casino operators are right to think Japan is ripe for their product. But Forbes‘ Muhammad Cohen thinks Macao casino owners (well, technically you can’t “own” a casino in Macao, but we digress … Continue reading →

Posted in Galaxy Entertainment, Louisiana, Macau, Melco Resorts & Entertainment, Philippines, Politics, South Korea | Comments Off

Delaware bests New Jersey; New partner for Ho?

Posted on May 23, 2018 by David McKee

Chris Christie may have to eat his words about New Jersey being the first state to capitalize on the Supreme Court‘s sports-betting ruling. According to NJ Advance Media, “Delaware officials said this week they believe they have the laws and infrastructure … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Bruce Deifik, Delaware, Entertainment, Hard Rock International, Lawrence Ho, Macau, Massachusetts, Melco Resorts & Entertainment, MGM Mirage, Philippines, Racinos, Regulation, Sports | Comments Off

Japan “better than feared.” Mixed bag in Louisiana

Posted on April 17, 2018 by David McKee

How do evolving casino casino regulations in Japan look? Well, how does ‘not as bad as expected’ sound? Trust me, that’s good news. And don’t take my word: Take that of Morgan Stanley. Taxes will be set at 30%, which … Continue reading →

Posted in Boyd Gaming, Churchill Downs, Dan Gilbert, Detroit, Eldorado Resorts, Florida, Galaxy Entertainment, GLPI, Harrah's, Isle of Capri, Japan, Louisiana, Marijuana, Massachusetts, MGM Mirage, Nevada, Penn National, Philippines, Pinnacle Entertainment, Politics, Sheldon Adelson, Taxes, Tilman Fertitta, Tropicana Entertainment, Wall Street | Comments Off

Study zings MGM; Galaxy resort vetoed

Posted on April 11, 2018 by David McKee

Allowing a fourth casino into Connecticut — and thereby abrogating its gaming compacts — could be extremely costly for the Nutmeg State. That’s the conclusion of a new study by casino pundit Clyde Barrow. He writes that the new casino … Continue reading →

Posted in Affinity Gaming, Ameristar, Boyd Gaming, Centaur Gaming, Economy, Environment, Foxwoods, Full House Resorts, Galaxy Entertainment, Harrah's, Majestic Star, Maryland, Massachusetts, MGM Mirage, Mohegan Sun, New York, Penn National, Philippines, Pinnacle Entertainment, Politics, Taxes, Tribal, Tropicana Entertainment | Comments Off

Quo vadis, Steve?; Dan Gilbert’s new twist

Posted on March 27, 2018 by David McKee

Gaming Industry Daily Report Editor Alan Woinski has some interesting speculations about Steve Wynn‘s future and his big stock cash-out. “He will need the money considering he never received a golden parachute when he stepped down. He could have a lot … Continue reading →

Posted in Dan Gilbert, Derek Stevens, Detroit, Galaxy Entertainment, Japan, Macau, Mandalay Bay Massacre, Massachusetts, Ohio, Philippines, Politics, Regulation, Resort fees, Security, Steve Wynn, Technology, The Strip, Wall Street, Westgate LV, Wynn Resorts | 1 Comment

Quote of the Day

Posted on March 1, 2018 by David McKee

“What did the three killers have in common? Well… They gambled a lot. They were men. They were armed with guns. They killed innocent people. They were losers. They are dead now.” — Willy Allison, on the connection between problem … Continue reading →

Posted in Mandalay Bay Massacre, Philippines, Problem gambling | Comments Off

Reid: The truth is out there; Paddock motive unfathomable

Posted on December 27, 2017 by David McKee

Not only does the Pentagon have its own X-Files unit, there’s a strong Las Vegas angle. The Advanced Aerospace Threat Identification Program was the brainchild of then-Sen. Harry Reid (D) and (officially) ran from 2007 to 2012. However, according the the … Continue reading →

Posted in Donald Trump, Downtown, Florida, Genting, Harry Reid, Law enforcement, Macau, Mandalay Bay Massacre, Melco Crown Entertainment, Philippines | Comments Off