Category Archives: Politics

‘Sharp’ criticism of Congress; MGM a popular stock pick

Newly elected National Congress of American Indians President Fawn Sharp wasted no time in opening a can of whup-ass on the U.S. Congress. Speaking to the House Committee on Natural Resources Subcommittee for Indigenous Peoples of the United States Oversight, Sharp … Continue reading

Posted in Caesars Entertainment, California, Culinary Union, Derek Stevens, Dining, Eldorado Resorts, Entertainment, Hard Rock International, Japan, Las Vegas Raiders, Las Vegas Sands, Law enforcement, MGM Resorts International, Mohegan Sun, Penn National, Politics, Sports, Sports betting, Station Casinos, The Strip, Transportation, Tribal, Wall Street, Washington State, Wynn Resorts | Comments Off on ‘Sharp’ criticism of Congress; MGM a popular stock pick

Marching through Georgia; Stevens’ grand vision

“Wynn and MGM are going to Atlanta,” said Georgia state Rep. Al Williams (D), trying allay hopes/fears that megaresorts are going to be sprinkled across the Peachtree State. State Rep. Ron Stephens (R) is particularly bullish, projecting six casinos throwing … Continue reading

Posted in Architecture, Arkansas, China, Derek Stevens, Downtown, e-sports, Environment, G2E, Georgia, International, Internet gambling, Lawrence Ho, Macau, Mandalay Bay Massacre, MGM Resorts International, Oklahoma, Politics, Sports betting, Taxes, The Strip, Tribal | Comments Off on Marching through Georgia; Stevens’ grand vision

New life for Harmon Strip; Wynn Resorts vindicated, mostly

Could the Harmon Strip, mooted since the late Nineties, actually come to pass? The area has been a graveyard for resort projects, leaving the Hard Rock Hotel standing in splendid isolation. However … one Jeffrey Williams is applying for permission to … Continue reading

Posted in Alabama, Cantor Gaming, Cosmopolitan, Georgia, Hard Rock Hotel, history, Las Vegas Sands, Law enforcement, Massachusetts, Palms, Penn National, Pennsylvania, Politics, Regulation, Silverton, William Hill, Wynn Resorts | 1 Comment

Quote of the Day

“Finance is a gun. Politics is knowing when to pull the trigger.—Don Licio Lucchesi in The Godfather, Part III.

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What if they gave a casino and nobody came?

That’s what’s happening in Chicago, where nobody—and I mean nobody—is showing any interest in a new casino license. Gee, do you think it could have something to do with the 72% tax rate which effectively ensures that a Windy City … Continue reading

Posted in Alex Meruelo, Illinois, Macau, Politics, Sahara, Sam Nazarian, Scientific Games, Security, Taxes, Technology | 2 Comments

Wynn: Elaine did me dirty; New Jersey rakes it in

On the principle that two wrongs make a right, disgraced casino mogul Steve Wynn is accusing ex-wife Elaine Wynn of stirring up the Wall Street Journal story that ended his career. This comes by way of testimony by one Renée … Continue reading

Posted in Architecture, Culinary Union, e-sports, Elaine Wynn, Election, Florida, Hard Rock International, Internet gambling, Law enforcement, Macau, MGM Resorts International, Nevada, New Jersey, New York, Politics, Resort fees, Sexual misconduct, Sports betting, Stanley Ho, Station Casinos, Steve Wynn, Taxes, Technology, Tribal, Wisconsin, Wynn Resorts | 1 Comment

Live like The Donald; Growing pains in Pennsylvania

For sale: One casino riverboat, heavily used. The former Trump Princess, now Majestic Star II, is on the market for $6 million, along with its sister ship, also costing $6 million. If you want to live large like Donald Trump, … Continue reading

Posted in Caesars Entertainment, China, Colorado, Cordish Co., Don Barden, Donald Trump, Election, Genting, Georgia, Indiana, Macau, Massachusetts, Pennsylvania, Politics, Regulation, Sports betting, Taxes, Tribal | Comments Off on Live like The Donald; Growing pains in Pennsylvania

Massachusetts Expansion urged; Murren backs right horse

Blowing through all the economic red lights, Massachusetts state Rep. Susan Williams Gifford (R) is putting the pedal to the metal on a bill that would create a special casino category for her district, which includes Wareham. Oh-so-coincidentally, that is where … Continue reading

Posted in Australia, Culinary Union, Dining, Election, Illinois, Internet gambling, Law enforcement, Maryland, Massachusetts, MGM Resorts International, Nevada, Politics, Regulation, Sports, Sports betting, Technology, Tribal, Washington State | Comments Off on Massachusetts Expansion urged; Murren backs right horse

Quote of the Day

“If more politicians in this country were thinking about the next generation instead of the next election, it might be better for the United States and the world.”—Claude Pepper, senator and congressman. Happy Election Day.

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Churchill Downs fights horseracing reform; Mattress Mack doesn’t regret $13M World Series bet

Churchill Downs‘ third-quarter cash flow results were “softer than expected” according to J.P. Morgan analyst Daniel Politzer, who added the “the impact of this was likely mitigated by the company announcing a slew of updates/capital projects which helped placate investors, … Continue reading

Posted in AGA, Baseball, Charity, Churchill Downs, Colorado, Culinary Union, Election, Entertainment, Geoff Freeman, Horseracing, Kentucky, Las Vegas Sands, Macau, Maine, Mississippi, Nevada, New Jersey, Planet Hollywood, Politics, Racinos, Sheldon Adelson, Sports betting, Texas, Wynn Resorts | Comments Off on Churchill Downs fights horseracing reform; Mattress Mack doesn’t regret $13M World Series bet

Rhode Island lottery scandal worsens

That casino scandal in Rhode Island continues to deepen. Gov. Gina Raimondo‘s chief of staff, Brett Smiley, is accused of making threats against Twin River Casino. When the governor pitched a no-bid, sweetheart lottery contract for International Game Technology, Smiley … Continue reading

Posted in IGT, Lotteries, Politics, Rhode Island, Twin River, Wynn Resorts | Comments Off on Rhode Island lottery scandal worsens

The Drew makes bold promises; GLPI gleeful

Steven Witkoff buried the lead when announcing that Bobby Baldwin had been called out of retirement to become CEO of The Drew. Witkoff’s PR peeps said that the project was in “final preparations for construction,” which is the first movement … Continue reading

Posted in Ameristar, Caesars Entertainment, California, CityCenter, Detroit, DFS, Dining, Fontainebleau, G2E, GLPI, history, Las Vegas Sands, Lotteries, Louisiana, Macau, Maryland, Michigan, Politics, Sports betting, Taxes, The Strip, Tribal, Vdara Death Ray, Wall Street | Comments Off on The Drew makes bold promises; GLPI gleeful

Massachusetts: No more casinos; Gilbert sells again

Citing an obvious saturation (already) in the Massachusetts market and the possibility of a tribal casino in Taunton or on Martha’s Vineyard, the Massachusetts Gaming Commission punted the award of the state’s final casino license into the indefinite future. In … Continue reading

Posted in Atlantic City, Caesars Entertainment, Dan Gilbert, Donald Trump, Genting, Indiana, International, Internet gambling, Las Vegas Sands, Maryland, Massachusetts, Neil Bluhm, Ohio, Penn National, Politics, Problem gambling, Racinos, Regulation, Singapore, Tribal | Comments Off on Massachusetts: No more casinos; Gilbert sells again

Air guitar; Forgiveness urged for Steve Wynn

The much-anticipated opening of Hard Rock International‘s guitar-shaped hotel-casino in Hollywood, Florida, drew celebrities from Hollywood, California (Johnny Depp), as well as ones who would attend the opening of an eyelid (Kim Kardashian). Hard Rock hopes to recreate the iconic … Continue reading

Posted in Architecture, Australia, Baseball, Boyd Gaming, Caesars Entertainment, Churchill Downs, Cosmopolitan, Florida, Genting, Hard Rock International, Hooters, Illinois, International, Japan, Massachusetts, MGM Resorts International, Mississippi, Nevada, New York, Politics, Regulation, Rush Street Gaming, Scott Butera, Sexual misconduct, Sports, Sports betting, Steve Wynn, Taxes, The Strip, Tribal, Wynn Resorts | 1 Comment

Quote of the Day

“The real reason that we can’t have the Ten Commandments in a courthouse: You cannot post ‘Thou shalt not steal,’ ‘Thou shalt not commit adultery,’ and ‘Thou shalt not lie’ in a building full of lawyers, judges and politicians. It creates a hostile work environment.”—George Carlin

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Cosmo does it again; Georgia ponders casinos

It happened again. Smoke billowed over the Las Vegas Strip from an electrical fire at The Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas last night. No one was injured, thank God, and the damage appears to be minor. But it’s the second fire … Continue reading

Posted in Atlantic City, Baseball, Caesars Entertainment, Churchill Downs, Cosmopolitan, Eldorado Resorts, Election, Foxwoods, Georgia, Greenwood Racing, Hard Rock International, Horseracing, IGT, Illinois, International, Lotteries, Louisiana, MGM Resorts International, Mississippi, Politics, Scientific Games, Sports betting, Taxes, The Strip, Transportation | 1 Comment

Cornyn checkmates tribes; Crown steps in it again

In this corner, two Native American tribes. In that one, Texas Sen. John Cornyn (R). They say he’s playing politics with their casino aspirations. He says they’re trying to make an end run—by way of the U.S. Senate—of their obligation … Continue reading

Posted in Australia, China, Crown Resorts, Environment, Golden Gaming, Hard Rock International, Hooters, Illinois, Laughlin, Law enforcement, Louisiana, Mohegan Sun, Money laundering, Penn National, Pennsylvania, Philippines, Politics, Slot routes, Texas, The Mob, The Strip, Tribal | Comments Off on Cornyn checkmates tribes; Crown steps in it again

Scandal in Illinois (Where else?); Screwup in Florida

With no private developer willing to step up to the plate for a Chicago casino, Mayor Lori Lightfoot (D) is now pitching a city/state partnership. Why not? There won’t be any profits to divide. State Rep. Greg Harris (D), for … Continue reading

Posted in DFS, Florida, Illinois, Politics, Racinos, Regulation, Seminole Tribe, Slot routes, Sports betting, Taxes, The Mob | Comments Off on Scandal in Illinois (Where else?); Screwup in Florida

Macao economy flounders; Massachusetts bonanza illusory

Macao got a double-barreled blast of bad news. First off, China‘s gross domestic product has slowed to growth rates not seen in almost 30 years. In fact, the R-word (“recession”) was invoked. Slow investment growth was blamed, as was the … Continue reading

Posted in Caesars Entertainment, California, Charity, China, Downtown, Economy, Foxwoods, Las Vegas Raiders, Law enforcement, Macau, Marketing, Massachusetts, MGM Resorts International, Mohegan Sun, Penn National, Politics, Technology, The Strip, Tourism, Transportation, Tribal, Wynn Resorts | Comments Off on Macao economy flounders; Massachusetts bonanza illusory

Steve Wynn, get lost

Steve Wynn thinks he’s above the Nevada Gaming Control Board. Perhaps he still imagines himself to be “the most powerful man in Nevada.” Either way, he failed to show up for an NGCB hearing on September 7, 2018, showing his … Continue reading

Posted in Australia, China, e-sports, Environment, Japan, MGM Resorts International, Oregon, Politics, Regulation, Sexual misconduct, Sports betting, Steve Wynn, Tribal, TV, Wynn Resorts | 1 Comment