Category Archives: Politics

F-blew sale rumored; New Jersey legitimizes DFS

Posted on August 28, 2017 by David McKee

According to VitalVegas, Carl Icahn finally has finally hooked a big one and the upshot will be a long-delayed sale of Fontainebleau for $650 million. Uncle Carl has long since recouped his bargain-basement purchase price by selling off everything wasn’t … Continue reading →

Posted in Affinity Gaming, Atlantic City, Boulder Strip, Boyd Gaming, Carl Icahn, Derek Stevens, Donald Trump, Downtown, Fontainebleau, Genting, GLPI, Hard Rock Hotel, Harrah's, history, Internet gambling, Lucky Dragon, LVCVA, M Resort, MGM Mirage, North Las Vegas, Palms, Penn National, Politics, SLS Las Vegas, Station Casinos, Taxes, Terry Caudill, The Strip, Wall Street, Westgate LV | 1 Comment

Murren blasts hate groups; 21st century strippers

Posted on August 22, 2017 by David McKee

Reverberations from Charlottesville were felt on the Las Vegas Strip last week when MGM Resorts International CEO Jim Murren wrote to all employees, saying in part, “You have my commitment that we will vigorously and zealously continue to reject hate speech … Continue reading →

Posted in Cretins, Culinary Union, Dan Gilbert, Detroit, GLPI, history, MGM Mirage, North Dakota, Penn National, Pennsylvania, Pinnacle Entertainment, Politics, Sheldon Adelson, Technology | Comments Off on Murren blasts hate groups; 21st century strippers

Fertitta scourges Pelican State rules; Macao biz booms for Wynn

Posted on August 21, 2017 by David McKee

“Let’s not kid ourselves: that barge is concrete. It’s not going anywhere.” With those words, Tilman Fertitta launched one of several broadsides at absurd Louisiana regulations on casinos. Not only do Pelican State casinos still have to sit in water, … Continue reading →

Posted in Boyd Gaming, Churchill Downs, Eldorado Resorts, Entertainment, Environment, Foxwoods, GLPI, Greenwood Racing, Harrah's, Internet gambling, Iowa, Isle of Capri, Japan, Louisiana, Macau, MGM Mirage, Pennsylvania, Pinnacle Entertainment, Politics, Problem gambling, Racinos, Regulation, Sheldon Adelson, Steve Wynn, Tilman Fertitta, Tropicana Entertainment, Warner Gaming | Comments Off on Fertitta scourges Pelican State rules; Macao biz booms for Wynn

McCarran under siege; Japan to ban poker?

Posted on August 17, 2017 by David McKee

Sen. Pat McCarran (D) is making more posthumous news. State Sen. Tick Segerblom (D) is renewing his push to rename McCarran International Airport. Since the real–life McCarran was a racist, xenophobe and anti-Semite, the urge to efface his name is understandable. … Continue reading →

Posted in Florida, Foxwoods, Harry Reid, history, Horseracing, Japan, Massachusetts, Melco Crown Entertainment, Mohegan Sun, Penn National, Politics, Regulation, Seminole Tribe, Taxes, Transportation, Wall Street | Comments Off on McCarran under siege; Japan to ban poker?

This just in: Cotai hot, Macao not; Seminoles thrash Gilbert

Posted on August 15, 2017 by David McKee

In today’s dog-bites-man story, a Wall Street analyst has belatedly concluded the obvious: that the casinos on Cotai will sap business from Macao proper. Global Market Advisors analyst Andrew Klebanow wrote, “What the industry can expect to see is a pattern … Continue reading →

Posted in Alabama, Atlantic City, Australia, Dan Gilbert, Georgia, Internet gambling, Macau, MGM Mirage, Ohio, Politics, Racinos, Seminole Tribe, Sheldon Adelson, Sociedade de Jogos de Macau, Stanley Ho, Steve Wynn, The Strip, Tilman Fertitta, Tourism, Wall Street | Comments Off on This just in: Cotai hot, Macao not; Seminoles thrash Gilbert

Case Bets: Cosmo, Penn, California, Caesars, Boyd, etc.

Posted on August 15, 2017 by David McKee

It’s reinvention time at The Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas, where management is investing $100 million-plus into upgrades of most of its rooms. If you don’t constantly reinvest in your resort project, you end up with Imperial Palace, er, Linq. (Given … Continue reading →

Posted in Boyd Gaming, California, Cordish Co., Cosmopolitan, Greenwood Racing, Harrah's, Indiana, International, Massachusetts, Neil Bluhm, Penn National, Pennsylvania, Politics, Technology, The Strip, Tribal | 1 Comment

Culinary boycotts beer; Wynn stock upgraded on Macao strength

Posted on August 15, 2017 by David McKee

Along with Organizing Beyond Barriers, the Culinary Union is calling upon Trader Joe’s to stop carrying Gordon Biersch beer labels Josephsbrau, Black Toad Ale, and Stockyard Oatmeal Stout. Why? Because the “principals are Frank and Lorenzo Fertitta, controlling owners of the Las … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Culinary Union, Donald Trump, Harrah's, Internet gambling, Lucky Dragon, Macau, MGM Mirage, Mohegan Sun, Politics, Station Casinos, Steve Wynn, The Strip, Tilman Fertitta, Tropicana Entertainment, Trump Entertainment Resorts, Wall Street | Comments Off on Culinary boycotts beer; Wynn stock upgraded on Macao strength

#5,001

Posted on August 14, 2017 by David McKee

Yes, this is the 5,001st Stiffs & Georges post and let me start with a big  thank-you to all of you, the readers, for making it possible. If it weren’t for your support I’d probably have hung it up long … Continue reading →

Posted in Alabama, Atlantic City, Donald Trump, Georgia, Hard Rock International, Harrah's, James Packer, Kansas, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Pennsylvania, Politics, Regulation, Sam Nazarian, Seminole Tribe, Sheldon Adelson, SLS Las Vegas, Station Casinos, Steve Wynn, The Strip | 5 Comments

Freeman hearts Atlantic City; Big win for Martinez

Posted on August 11, 2017 by David McKee

American Gaming Association President Geoff Freeman gave Atlantic City the thumbs-up this week, pointing to the reinvention of Trump Taj Mahal as Hard Rock Atlantic City and to the as-yet-undisclosed joint venture between Caesars Entertainment and MGM Resorts International. He … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Bally Technologies, Detroit, Dining, e-sports, Eldorado Resorts, Florida, Geoff Freeman, Glenn Straub, Hard Rock International, Harrah's, Internet gambling, Isle of Capri, MGM Mirage, Politics, Revel, Seminole Tribe, Taxes, Tribal | Comments Off on Freeman hearts Atlantic City; Big win for Martinez

House of Bamboo; Adelson beats The Street

Posted on August 9, 2017 by David McKee

It seems frivolous to be discussing casinos when the Korean peninsula could go up in radioactive flames at any moment, but we do what we must. While legalizing casinos in Japan was a slow and agonizing process, they could fade … Continue reading →

Posted in Entertainment, GameCO, Genting, Georgia, Harrah's, Horseracing, International, Internet gambling, Japan, Macau, MGM Mirage, Pennsylvania, Politics, Problem gambling, Regulation, Sheldon Adelson, Singapore, Technology, The Strip, Wall Street | Comments Off on House of Bamboo; Adelson beats The Street

Quote of the Day

Posted on August 4, 2017 by David McKee

“I’ve changed my mission from making New Jersey the Silicon Valley of Internet gaming to the mecca of Internet gaming.” — state Sen. Raymond Lesniak (D), author of a bill that would remove the requirement that the state’s online-gaming servers … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Internet gambling, Politics | Comments Off on Quote of the Day

Dover downer; Connecticut rewrites the rules

Posted on August 2, 2017 by David McKee

Expect another request for tax cuts from Dover Downs after the Delaware racino posted a 96% decrease in second-quarter profits. (Slots are taxed at a usurious 43%.) While Dover Downs made $32,000, it suffered a 7% decline in casino revenues. … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Cordish Co., Delaware, Foxwoods, GameCO, Greenwood Racing, Harrah's, International, Marketing, MGM Mirage, Mohegan Sun, Pennsylvania, Politics, Racinos, Regulation, Taxes, Technology, Tribal | 1 Comment

Land of the Sinking Hopes?; MGM hearts McCain

Posted on August 1, 2017 by David McKee

If Japanese casinos must be majority-owned by local companies, that suits Sega Sammy Holdings just fine. The company is challenging the likes of Galaxy Entertainment, Las Vegas Sands and MGM Resorts International for one of the initial casino licenses. Of … Continue reading →

Posted in Cordish Co., Foxwoods, G2E, Galaxy Entertainment, Geoff Freeman, Hard Rock International, Harrah's, Horseracing, International, Japan, MGM Mirage, Mohegan Sun, Politics, Problem gambling, Sheldon Adelson, Singapore, Tribal | Comments Off on Land of the Sinking Hopes?; MGM hearts McCain

Pennsylvania: Small is lucrative; Sleazy doings in Maine

Posted on July 24, 2017 by David McKee

Lawmakers in Pennsylvania have passed an unbalanced budget but are still undecided on how (not “if”) to expand gambling to cover the shortfall. One late-entrant idea that is gaining more traction than anything else is the proposal of mini-casinos, 10 … Continue reading →

Posted in Affinity Gaming, Election, Foxwoods, Genting, Harrah's, Maine, Massachusetts, MGM Mirage, Mohegan Sun, Neil Bluhm, Penn National, Pennsylvania, Politics, Regulation, Tribal | Comments Off on Pennsylvania: Small is lucrative; Sleazy doings in Maine

Wynn: The inevitable happens; Tribes have boffo year

Posted on July 20, 2017 by David McKee

We knew this day had to come: Wynn Resorts is going to charge for self-parking at Wynncore, starting August 7. The fee structure is very much like those of other Strip casinos that have gone the self-parking route, although offering … Continue reading →

Posted in Entertainment, Harrah's, Law enforcement, Massachusetts, MGM Mirage, Penn National, Politics, Station Casinos, Steve Wynn, The Strip | Comments Off on Wynn: The inevitable happens; Tribes have boffo year

Two decades in Detroit; Juliano out at Sands

Posted on July 19, 2017 by David McKee

Can it really be 20 years since casinos were legalized in Detroit? (It’s been 18 years since MGM Grand Detroit opened.) Time flies and so does casino lucre — straight into city coffers. Then-Gov. John Engler (R) had to dragged kicking … Continue reading →

Posted in Detroit, Economy, history, Internet gambling, Law enforcement, Massachusetts, MGM Mirage, New Hampshire, Pennsylvania, Politics, Sheldon Adelson, Steve Wynn, Taxes, Tropicana Entertainment | Comments Off on Two decades in Detroit; Juliano out at Sands

Wynn faces tough path in Japan; Sweetheart deal for Saucier

Posted on July 17, 2017 by David McKee

Things haven’t been going well for Kazuo Okada but he could still play spoiler to Steve Wynn‘s casino aspirations in Japan. Litigation between the two could tarnish Wynn’s image. Already, Wynn is swimming upstream, with MGM Resorts International and Las … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, California, Florida, Genting, Japan, Kazuo Okada, Marketing, Massachusetts, MGM Mirage, Nevada, New York, Politics, Regulation, Sheldon Adelson, Steve Wynn, Wall Street | Comments Off on Wynn faces tough path in Japan; Sweetheart deal for Saucier

Adelson up to new mischief; DFS mega-merger kaput

Posted on July 17, 2017 by David McKee

If you don’t know Rep. Charlie Dent (R), you will soon. Sheldon Adelson has the Pennsylvania congressman by the short and curlies, holding expansion at Sands Bethlehem hostage to passage of Restore America’s Wire Act, his pet cause. Consequently, Dent … Continue reading →

Posted in California, Environment, Internet gambling, Law enforcement, Macau, Massachusetts, Penn National, Pennsylvania, Politics | Comments Off on Adelson up to new mischief; DFS mega-merger kaput

Cuomo’s missed bet; Next stop, Vietnam

Posted on July 13, 2017 by David McKee

Resorts World Catskills still hasn’t weighed in and yet it’s already looking like New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo‘s bet on upstate casinos has crapped out. After an initial flurry of lookie-lous, the first three casinos are struggling to regain their … Continue reading →

Posted in Economy, Eldorado Resorts, Genting, Internet gambling, Iowa, Japan, Neil Bluhm, New York, Pennsylvania, Politics, Regulation, Slot routes, Vietnam | Comments Off on Cuomo’s missed bet; Next stop, Vietnam

Becalmed in Atlantic City; The friends of Sheldon Adelson

Posted on July 13, 2017 by David McKee

Casinos in Atlantic City would have been up 11% last month — were it not for the big, fat zero that is Trump Taj Mahal in same-store revenue comparisons. Instead, they were dead even with June 2016, redeemed only by … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Dan Gilbert, Detroit, Donald Trump, Election, Harrah's, International, Internet gambling, Japan, MGM Mirage, Mohegan Sun, Politics, Sheldon Adelson, Sports, Tilman Fertitta, Tropicana Entertainment | Comments Off on Becalmed in Atlantic City; The friends of Sheldon Adelson