Category Archives: Politics

D-Day for Ocean Resort near; MGM’s tax bonanza

Posted on June 25, 2018 by David McKee

Bruce Deifik really is a gambler: He bought Revel sight unseen, lead investor in the $200 million purchase. If Glenn Straub‘s bizarre interregnum as owner was a lesson in how not to behave in Atlantic City, Deifik has been a … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Bruce Deifik, e-sports, Glenn Straub, Harrah's, Louisiana, MGM Mirage, Nevada, Penn National, Politics, Revel, Sports, Taxes, Tribal, Tropicana Entertainment, Wall Street | Comments Off on D-Day for Ocean Resort near; MGM’s tax bonanza

Quote of the Day

Posted on June 21, 2018 by David McKee

“Capitulating to a two-year delay is a pathetic move from a fundamentally weak government. Those who praised the government when the announcement was made will feel badly let down.” — Labour Party Deputy Leader Tom Watson on a postponement of … Continue reading →

Posted in International, Politics, Problem gambling | Comments Off on Quote of the Day

“Cashless casinos” in China; Keeping score in Louisiana

Posted on June 20, 2018 by David McKee

Could Chinese players go for gambling if the winnings aren’t monetary? That’s the wager resort owners on the island of Hainan plan to make if the central government gives them a much-hoped-for exception. Just as players wager for trinkets in … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Boyd Gaming, DFS, Election, Harrah's, Horseracing, International, Japan, Louisiana, Macau, Marketing, Politics, Problem gambling, Racinos, Regulation, Singapore, Slot routes, Taxes, Tourism | Comments Off on “Cashless casinos” in China; Keeping score in Louisiana

Overexposed in Macao; Hard Rock firing on all cylinders

Posted on June 19, 2018 by David McKee

If you’re a Wynn Resorts shareholder and you’re following rising trade tensions with China, you’ve a right to be nervous. Wynn derives 69% of its revenue from Macao, giving a certain truth to Steve Wynn‘s old quote that “We’re really … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, Atlantic City, Dining, Donald Trump, Economy, Florida, Hard Rock International, Harrah's, Japan, Lawrence Ho, Macau, MGM Mirage, Politics, Regulation, Seminole Tribe, Sheldon Adelson, Sociedade de Jogos de Macau, Steve Wynn, The Strip, Wynn Resorts | Comments Off on Overexposed in Macao; Hard Rock firing on all cylinders

Penn, Caesars come together; Big bet in smallest state

Posted on June 19, 2018 by David McKee

Penn National Gaming swooped in and bought itself a nice little operating contract in Louisiana, the Margaritaville Casino Resort, for $115 million. Considering that the price translates to 5.5X cash flow, Penn got itself quite a bargain. It’s also a vote … Continue reading →

Posted in Boyd Gaming, Churchill Downs, Eldorado Resorts, GLPI, Harrah's, Illinois, Isle of Capri, Louisiana, Massachusetts, Pennsylvania, Pinnacle Entertainment, Politics, Regulation, Rhode Island, Sports, Taxes, Tilman Fertitta | Comments Off on Penn, Caesars come together; Big bet in smallest state

Quote of the Day

Posted on June 18, 2018 by David McKee

“It’s obvious that there is little inbound demand for casinos. There is no escaping the possibility their main source of revenues will be from Japanese tourists.” — Constitutional Democratic Party member Kazuma Nakatani, protesting the casino leglislation that just passed … Continue reading →

Posted in Japan, Politics, Sheldon Adelson | Comments Off on Quote of the Day

Another administration scandal?; Ocean Resort ready to go

Posted on June 14, 2018 by David McKee

Connecticut‘s congressional delegation continues to make noise about the yes-no-maybe nature of the Trump administration’s handling of the Mohegan Sun/Foxwoods Resort Casino compact to build an off-reservation casino in East Windsor. Wrote Sen. Richard Blumenthal, Sen. Chris Murphy and Reps. … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Bruce Deifik, Florida, Foxwoods, Hard Rock International, Internet gambling, Mohegan Sun, Nevada, Politics, Regulation, Revel, Seminole Tribe, Tribal | Comments Off on Another administration scandal?; Ocean Resort ready to go

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 on Shutout in Japan?

New Jersey: Play ball!; Brothels on the defensive in Nevada

Posted on June 12, 2018 by David McKee

Major League Baseball, which has a long and tortured history with gambling, is urging states other than Nevada not to copy the Silver State’s regulatory system when it comes to sports betting, Why? Nevada sports books are not required to … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Australia, Delaware, Nevada, Politics, Regulation, Sexual misconduct, Sports, Tilman Fertitta | 1 Comment

Waiting game in N.J.

Posted on June 11, 2018 by David McKee

Tempers were frayed as New Jersey legislators debated the fine points of sports betting. Demands from major-league representatives for ‘integrity fees’ got a frosty reception. Alluding to the legal bill the Garden State ran up fighting for legalized sports betting, … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, e-sports, Politics, Regulation, Sports, Tilman Fertitta | Comments Off on Waiting game in N.J.

Next stop, East Windsor

Posted on June 5, 2018 by David McKee

It appears that a clear path has opened for Mohegan Sun and Foxwoods Casino Resort to develop a satellite casino. The Hartford Courant reports that “The U.S. Department of the Interior is expected to publish a much-delayed notice Friday that … Continue reading →

Posted in Foxwoods, Geoff Freeman, Internet gambling, MGM Mirage, Mohegan Sun, Politics, Regulation, Sports | 1 Comment

Caesars, MGM strikes averted

Posted on June 4, 2018 by David McKee

Yesterday the Culinary Union announced that a tentative pact had been reached with Caesars Entertainment, in the wee hours of Friday morning, the first such in the current round of labor talks on the Las Vegas Strip. “The historic new … Continue reading →

Posted in Culinary Union, e-sports, Harrah's, Mandalay Bay Massacre, MGM Mirage, New York, Politics, Racinos, Regulation, Sexual misconduct, SLS Las Vegas, Sports, Steve Wynn, Taxes, The Strip, World Series of Poker, Wynn Resorts | Comments Off on Caesars, MGM strikes averted

Macao disappoints Wall Street; Tribal troubles

Posted on June 1, 2018 by David McKee

Wall Street was expecting 18.5% gaming-revenue growth out of Macao last month. It got ‘only’ 12%, the Street not having taken an abbreviated Golden Week into account. Furthermore, the enclave had a hard act to follow, its revenue having vaulted … Continue reading →

Posted in California, Dining, Economy, Foxwoods, Galaxy Entertainment, Genting, Iowa, Japan, Macau, MGM Mirage, Mohegan Sun, Nebraska, New York, Penn National, Pennsylvania, Politics, Regulation, Sheldon Adelson, Tourism, Tribal, Wall Street | 3 Comments

MGM optimistic on Japan; Culinary blasts casino owners

Posted on May 30, 2018 by David McKee

Japan is one big step closer to casino legalization now that its House of Representatives passed a bill putting problem-gambling countermeasures into place. This was a necessary step before the actual casino-implementation law could go before the Diet. “The pace of … Continue reading →

Posted in Boyd Gaming, Culinary Union, Economy, Golden Gaming, Harrah's, Japan, Macau, MGM Mirage, Penn National, Politics, Problem gambling, Regulation, Sexual misconduct, Singapore, Taxes, Tourism, Transportation, Unite-Here, Wynn Resorts | Comments Off on MGM optimistic on Japan; Culinary blasts casino owners

Las Vegas thrives; Palms ad backfires

Posted on May 30, 2018 by David McKee

Yesterday, we spotlit the Debbie Downer view of Las Vegas of one online columnist. And while a lengthy slide in visitation numbers remains a concern, dark and anecdotal snapshots of Sin City are contradicted by the numbers. The latter are … Continue reading →

Posted in Boyd Gaming, Cosmopolitan, Eldorado Resorts, George Maloof, Harrah's, Horseracing, Illinois, Indiana, Laughlin, Macau, Marketing, MGM Mirage, Mississippi, Palms, Pennsylvania, Politics, Racinos, Reno, Sheldon Adelson, Slot routes, Station Casinos, Tribal, Wall Street, Wynn Resorts | 2 Comments

Let them skate; Sheldon’s new brainstorm

Posted on May 22, 2018 by David McKee

Nevada State Treasurer Dan Schwartz, the man who would be governor, is a refreshingly impolitic and heterodoxical candidate. He’s made a frequent campaign point that the Silver State has the worst schools in the nation and needs to re-orient its … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, e-sports, Election, Macau, Marketing, Melco Resorts & Entertainment, Politics, Sheldon Adelson, Sociedade de Jogos de Macau, Sports, Taxes, The Strip, Wynn Resorts | Comments Off on Let them skate; Sheldon’s new brainstorm

Connecticut tribes eye Japan; Adelson’s youth movement

Posted on May 18, 2018 by David McKee

Bridgeport lawmakers wasted no time after the adjournment of the Legislature to announce that they’d be back with another bill to open Connecticut to rival casino bids (really a Trojan Horse for MGM Resorts International, not that anyone is fooled). … Continue reading →

Posted in Election, Foxwoods, International, Japan, MGM Mirage, Mohegan Sun, Politics, Sheldon Adelson | Comments Off on Connecticut tribes eye Japan; Adelson’s youth movement

“Ready to roll”

Posted on May 18, 2018 by David McKee

That’s what the leading gaming powers in California are now that the Supreme Court has scotched the Bradley Act. If National Indian Gaming Association Chairman Ernest Stevens is correct, Internet gaming is so yesterday in the Golden State and sports … Continue reading →

Posted in California, DFS, Election, International, Japan, Lawrence Ho, Macau, Melco Resorts & Entertainment, Politics, Sociedade de Jogos de Macau, Sports, Taxes, Technology, Tribal, Wynn Resorts | Comments Off on “Ready to roll”

It’s Elaine’s world; Big Uneasiness in Louisiana

Posted on May 16, 2018 by David McKee

When the dust settles from the annual Wynn Resorts board meeting, there will be a directorate that is at least 60% new. Two more longstanding board members bit the dust this week, including former Nevada Gov. Bob Miller (D). One … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, Dan Gilbert, DFS, Elaine Wynn, Harrah's, Japan, Louisiana, Ohio, Penn National, Politics, Sheldon Adelson, Sports, Steve Wynn, Wall Street, Wynn Resorts | 2 Comments

Sports betting: A new era

Posted on May 15, 2018 by David McKee

Yesterday, the Supreme Court handed down its much anticipated ruling in Murphy v. NCAA and it was pure win for states and casinos itching to offer legalized sports betting, although there was some predictable disapproval. As Arizona Attorney General Mark … Continue reading →

Posted in Arizona, Atlantic City, Boyd Gaming, Delaware, DFS, Eldorado Resorts, Election, Geoff Freeman, Harrah's, IGT, Illinois, Law enforcement, Maryland, Massachusetts, MGM Mirage, Mississippi, Nevada, New York, Penn National, Politics, Regulation, Rhode Island, Scientific Games, Sports, Texas, Tilman Fertitta, Tribal, Wall Street, West Virginia | Comments Off on Sports betting: A new era