Category Archives: Politics

Vegas in the time of Coronavirus; Trump squelches tribe

Posted on March 30, 2020 by David McKee

Las Vegas on lockdown is pretty spooky. It’s like a neutron bomb fell on the Strip, wiping out all the people and leaving the casinos intact. However, there may be a glimmer at the end of the April 17 tunnel. … Continue reading →

Posted in AGA, Donald Trump, Economy, GLPI, Health, history, Massachusetts, Penn National, Politics, Tribal, Trump Entertainment Resorts, Twin River, Wall Street, Wynn Resorts | 1 Comment

Stimulus is here, recovery … who knows?

Posted on March 26, 2020 by David McKee

It’s still not a done deal but what Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R) calls “emergency relief” emerged from the Senate yesterday. A few jerks tried to hold it up with the preposterous argument that “the expanded unemployment benefits were overly … Continue reading →

Posted in AGA, Caesars Entertainment, China, Conventions, Cretins, Donald Trump, Downtown, Economy, Environment, Galaxy Entertainment, Health, International, Macau, Massachusetts, MGM Resorts International, Politics, South Korea, Terry Caudill, The Strip, Tilman Fertitta, Tourism, TV, Wynn Resorts | Comments Off on Stimulus is here, recovery … who knows?

Under the Boardwalk; Premature panic in Virginia

Posted on March 25, 2020 by David McKee

New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy (D) is taking the long view on casino closures—as in, what happens if they last two months? He’s measuring the negative economic impact at $1.1 billion. According to The Press of Atlantic City, “That figure encompasses … Continue reading →

Posted in AGA, Architecture, Atlantic City, Australia, Caesars Entertainment, Economy, Election, Florida, Foxwoods, Health, history, International, Internet gambling, Politics, Sports, Sports betting, Tribal, Virginia | 1 Comment

Quote of the Day

Posted on March 21, 2020 by David McKee

“The only industry that hasn’t been slowed down by the virus is the lobbying industry.”—Rep. Ro Khanna (D) on the federal panhandling set off by Coronavirus.

Posted in Economy, Politics | Comments Off on Quote of the Day

Life after casinos; Sheldon is george

Posted on March 19, 2020 by David McKee

“The situation continues to evolve and will escalate rapidly and dramatically. These are unprecedented actions in an extraordinary situation, but they could be the difference in saving lives and keeping people safe.” So said Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan (R) on Sunday, … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Boyd Gaming, Caesars Entertainment, California, China, Cordish Co., e-sports, Economy, Entertainment, Foxwoods, Health, Horseracing, Internet gambling, Las Vegas Sands, Maryland, Massachusetts, MGM Resorts International, Mississippi, Mohegan Sun, Nevada, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Politics, Rush Street Gaming, Sheldon Adelson, Sports, Sports betting, The Strip, Tourism, Tribal, TV, Wisconsin | 1 Comment

Tarnished Golden; Exec blasts Japan

Posted on March 18, 2020 by David McKee

Golden Gaming was coming off a strong 4Q19: Net revenues at its Nevada casinos were 24% higher, to $134 million, and its slot routes were up 4.5% to $73 million. However, JP Morgan analyst Joseph Greff warned investors to “stay … Continue reading →

Posted in Arizona, Economy, Golden Gaming, Health, Horseracing, Japan, Massachusetts, Missouri, Nevada, Penn National, Pennsylvania, Politics, Racinos, Real Estate, Singapore, Slot routes, The Strip, Tribal, Wall Street | Comments Off on Tarnished Golden; Exec blasts Japan

Gaming: Too big to fail?; Sports betting gets creative

Posted on March 17, 2020 by David McKee

Casino CEOs have no shame. They are capitalizing on the Coronavirus crisis to go to Congress, palms extended, cadging for a bailout. In an outrage-inducing story in today’s Washington Post, it is reported that the gaming industry’s wish list includes: … Continue reading →

Posted in AGA, Caesars Entertainment, Economy, Eldorado Resorts, Genting, MGM Resorts International, Michael Gaughan, Nevada, Phil Ruffin, Planet Hollywood, Politics, Sports, Sports betting, Steve Wynn, Taxes, Tourism, Transportation, Westgate LV, William Hill | 2 Comments

Gambling approved in Virginia, ixnayed in Louisiana

Posted on March 10, 2020 by David McKee

Gambling’s fate in Virginia now rests in Gov. Ralph Northam‘s hands, as the General Assembly has sent a casinos-and-sports-betting bill to his desk. In an eleventh-hour compromise to preserve the legislation, betting on Virginia collegiate teams will be forbidden, a … Continue reading →

Posted in Internet gambling, Japan, Louisiana, Marijuana, Money laundering, Oklahoma, Philippines, Politics, Sports betting, Taxes, Tribal, Virginia | Comments Off on Gambling approved in Virginia, ixnayed in Louisiana

Butler rips Lamont; Tribe supplicates Trump

Posted on March 9, 2020 by David McKee

Sports betting could die in Connecticut, thanks to a stalemate between Gov. Ned Lamont (D, pictured) and the state’s gaming tribes. Speaking for the latter, Mashantucket Pequot Chairman Rodney Butler accused the governor of a “take-it-or-leave-it” negotiating stance. Butler and … Continue reading →

Posted in Caesars Entertainment, Churchill Downs, Connecticut, Donald Trump, DraftKings, FanDuel, Foxwoods, Genting, IGT, Illinois, International, Kentucky, Konami, Las Vegas Sands, Law enforcement, Lotteries, Louisiana, Massachusetts, MGM Resorts International, New York, Politics, Rhode Island, Sports betting, Technology, Tribal, Wynn Resorts | 2 Comments

Stitt plays games; Georgia weighs sports betting

Posted on March 6, 2020 by David McKee

Ignoring a court order, voluble Oklahoma Gov. Kevin Stitt (R) decided to negotiate through the media again. Instead of dickering with the Sooner State’s tribes over revenue sharing (which he’s supposed to be doing), Stitt threatened to bring private casinos into … Continue reading →

Posted in Connecticut, Cretins, Georgia, Health, International, Oklahoma, Politics, Sports, Sports betting, Taxes, Tourism, Tribal | Comments Off on Stitt plays games; Georgia weighs sports betting

Dream on (really); Golden gets downgrade

Posted on March 2, 2020 by David McKee

Dream on the south Las Vegas Strip is looking more like reality, Shopoff Real Estate Investments having purchased the requisite 5.25 acres. The exact location will be at the Strip at Russell Road, just south of Mandalay Bay. Calling the … Continue reading →

Posted in Conventions, Economy, Golden Gaming, Horseracing, Kansas, Las Vegas Raiders, Lotteries, Phil Ruffin, Politics, Problem gambling, Sports betting, Station Casinos, Taxes, The Strip, Wall Street | Comments Off on Dream on (really); Golden gets downgrade

Quote of the Day

Posted on March 2, 2020 by David McKee

“I go to the coffee shop and hear it from my people. They don’t want to go to Jersey. They don’t want to get in their car, or jump on the train and go to Jersey. They want to stay … Continue reading →

Posted in New Jersey, New York, Politics, Sports betting | Comments Off on Quote of the Day

Massachusetts tries, tries again; Eldorado underperforms

Posted on February 27, 2020 by David McKee

In what can be viewed either as a victory for democracy or simply passing the buck, Massachusetts regulators opened the door to public comments on whether to approve a casino for the southeastern corner of the Bay State. The Massachusetts … Continue reading →

Posted in AGA, Caesars Entertainment, Donald Trump, Economy, Eldorado Resorts, Genting, Health, Las Vegas Sands, Macau, Massachusetts, Maverick Gaming, Neil Bluhm, Pennsylvania, Politics, Regulation, Slot routes, Sports betting, Tourism, Tribal, Vietnam, Washington State | Comments Off on Massachusetts tries, tries again; Eldorado underperforms

Politics as unusual; Macao stocks ailing

Posted on February 26, 2020 by David McKee

A pro-casino group in Pope County, Arkansas, may have committed an electoral no-no. Pope County Majority is accused of making in-kind contributions to two candidates and of making political endorsements, in effect becoming a PAC. PCM, which is trying to … Continue reading →

Posted in Arkansas, Caesars Entertainment, Economy, Election, Health, Las Vegas Sands, Macau, MGM Resorts International, Politics, Regulation, The Strip, Virginia, Wall Street, Wynn Resorts | Comments Off on Politics as unusual; Macao stocks ailing

Quickie caucus summary

Posted on February 22, 2020 by David McKee

Winner: Medicare for All. As reported in the Boston Globe, “As [Sen. Bernie] Sanders piled up wins at precincts inside casinos up and down the Las Vegas Strip, it seemed clear that he had overcome deep opposition from the leadership … Continue reading →

Posted in Culinary Union, Election, Harry Reid, Politics, The Strip | Comments Off on Quickie caucus summary

Saturation hits Connecticut; Culinary waffles on Sanders

Posted on February 21, 2020 by David McKee

So much for Tribal Winds, the satellite casino that was going to counteract MGM Springfield. Its backers are cutting the proposed $300 million investment by one-third. On the plus side, this could be read as a way of saying the … Continue reading →

Posted in China, Colorado, Connecticut, Culinary Union, Donald Trump, DraftKings, Economy, Election, Environment, Foxwoods, Harry Reid, Health, history, Macau, Massachusetts, MGM Resorts International, Mohegan Sun, Pennsylvania, Politics, Sheldon Adelson, Sports, Sports betting, Steve Wynn, Technology | Comments Off on Saturation hits Connecticut; Culinary waffles on Sanders

Odds favor Bloomberg; Hilton returns to Vegas

Posted on February 20, 2020 by David McKee

As Saturday’s Nevada caucus nears, South Point oddsmaker Jimmy Vaccaro is boldly going where none of his colleagues have gone before, posting presidential odds. We’ll break them down by category. Vaccaro has Sen. Bernie Sanders (I), as expected, winning Nevada … Continue reading →

Posted in Baseball, China, Connecticut, Cretins, Culinary Union, Election, International, Internet gambling, Kentucky, Las Vegas Sands, Law enforcement, Macau, Maryland, Massachusetts, Mattress Mack, MGM Resorts International, Nevada, New Hampshire, Politics, Resorts World LV, Sahara, Scientific Games, Sports betting, Taxes, Technology, The Strip | 1 Comment

Quote of the Day

Posted on February 19, 2020 by David McKee

“This country has come to feel the same when Congress is in session as when the baby gets hold of a hammer.”—Will Rogers, humorist (1879-1935)

Posted in Politics | Comments Off on Quote of the Day

Culinary defeats itself; Red scare in a blue state

Posted on February 17, 2020 by David McKee

By failing to coalesce behind a rival candidate, the Culinary Union may have gift-wrapped Nevada for Sen. Bernie Sanders [I]. According to the Boston Globe, which noted lingering tensions between Sanders and the Culinary, a recent poll “found Sanders the … Continue reading →

Posted in China, Culinary Union, Election, Harry Reid, Marijuana, MGM Resorts International, Nevada, Politics, Sheldon Adelson, Technology, Wall Street | Comments Off on Culinary defeats itself; Red scare in a blue state

Election special

Posted on February 15, 2020 by David McKee

Such is the Culinary Union‘s clout that Nevada Sen. Jacky Rosen (D, left), Sen. Catherine Cortez Masto (D) and Rep. Susie Lee (D) will also be casting their caucus ballots at Culinary-sponsored events, staggered across today through Tuesday. On Wednesday, … Continue reading →

Posted in China, Culinary Union, Election, Health, history, International, Internet gambling, Japan, Macau, Massachusetts, Maverick Gaming, MGM Resorts International, Nevada, Palms, Politics, Regulation, Sports betting, Steve Wynn, Technology, The Strip, Washington State, Wynn Resorts | 1 Comment