Category Archives: Politics

Atlantic City goes to pot; MGM, Boyd, Pinnacle, Red Rock Resorts meet The Street

Posted on June 17, 2016 by David McKee

We’ve come a long way from the days of Reefer Madness. Latest case in point: Atlantic City, where Assemblyman Reed Gusciora (D) is pushing recreational “tea” as a cure to the city’s penurious condition. Weed would be legalized on the Boardwalk and … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Boulder Strip, Boyd Gaming, Cannery Casino Resorts, CityCenter, Economy, Georgia, Glenn Straub, Harrah's, Illinois, Indiana, Internet gambling, Macau, Marketing, Maryland, MGM Mirage, Mississippi, Missouri, Palms, Pinnacle Entertainment, Politics, Reno, Scientific Games, Station Casinos, The Strip, Wall Street | Comments Off

More gridlock in California; Caesars ownership ups the ante … sorta

Posted on June 13, 2016 by David McKee

California lawmakers’ push for legalized i-gaming appears to run into an insuperable obstacle. Just when it looked like state Rep. Adam Gray had devised language that would tap-dance around the “bad actor” issue, the Pechanga Band of Luiseño Indians and Agua … Continue reading →

Posted in California, Florida, Genting, Harrah's, PokerStars, Politics, Taxes, Tribal, Wall Street | Comments Off

High-stakes legal challenge in Florida; Free-for-all in New York

Posted on June 7, 2016 by David McKee

A relatively obscure dispute in the Florida panhandle could have huge ramifications for the state’s casino industry. Four years ago, voters in Gadsden County approved slot machines for Gretna Racing, a joint venture of two Tallahassee lobbyists and the Poarch Bank … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, Atlantic City, Delaware, Economy, Election, Florida, Genting, Harrah's, Horseracing, Internet gambling, MGM Mirage, Nevada, New York, Politics, Racinos, Regulation, Seminole Tribe, Sheldon Adelson, The Strip | Comments Off

Caesars seeks taxpayer bailout; Sands lawsuit suddenly vanishes

Posted on June 3, 2016 by David McKee

You’ve got to hand it to Caesars Entertainment: It is truly shameless. The company went to the Internal Revenue Service seeking a “a tax-free separation” for REIT-to-be Caesars Entertainment Operating Co., claiming that if it had to pay taxes that … Continue reading →

Posted in Arkansas, Election, Harrah's, Internet gambling, New York, Pennsylvania, Politics, Sheldon Adelson, Taxes | Comments Off

Dan Lee raises Hoosier hackles; Sioux City mess not done yet

Posted on June 2, 2016 by David McKee

Indiana Gov. Mike Pence (R) has made it pretty clear that there aren’t going to be any new casinos on his watch, just riverboats converted to onshore facilities. Try telling that to Full House Resorts CEO Dan Lee, however. The … Continue reading →

Posted in Charity, Dan Lee, Full House Resorts, Indiana, Iowa, New Hampshire, Penn National, Politics, Racinos | Comments Off

This just in: Borgata sold; Christie gives some, gets much

Posted on May 31, 2016 by David McKee

In a development that has to be called nothing less than shocking, Boyd Gaming has sold its cash cow, its 50% stake in Borgata. For $900 million, it cashes out to MGM Resorts International and MGM Growth Properties. It’s a … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Boyd Gaming, Harrah's, Marketing, MGM Mirage, North Las Vegas, Politics | Comments Off

Straub: Name my casino!; RAWA breathes its last … for now

Posted on May 27, 2016 by David McKee

Glenn Straub has either thrown up his hands over the task of renaming Revel or is feeling the spirit of democracy. Either way, he’s taking suggestions from the Twitterverse as to potential new monikers, with a $10,000 for the winning … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Charity, Downtown, Election, Entertainment, Glenn Straub, history, Internet gambling, Iowa, MGM Mirage, Mohegan Sun, Neil Bluhm, New York, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Phil Ruffin, Politics, Revel, Sports, Tamares Group, Taxes, The Strip, Transportation, Tribal | 1 Comment

PokerStars camel meets eye of needle; Penn loses last-gasp appeal

Posted on May 25, 2016 by David McKee

California state Rep. Adam Gray‘s online-gaming bill comes under some close scrutiny from analysts Steven Eichorn and Jeff Ifrah. As expected, there is no “bad actor” clause that would explicitly keep Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act scofflaws like PokerStars out … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Boyd Gaming, California, Genting, Internet gambling, Iowa, Law enforcement, MGM Mirage, New York, Penn National, PokerStars, Politics, Regulation, Singapore, Stanley Ho, Tribal | Comments Off

DFS stalls in Illinois; Mississippi casinos rebound

Posted on May 24, 2016 by David McKee

Things were looking up for the daily fantasy sports industry in Illinois, where enabling legislation passed the state Senate 32-22. However, a hold has been put on the bill, which may not make it to the House. Why? Although the legislation … Continue reading →

Posted in Arkansas, Delaware, G2E, Hard Rock International, Harrah's, Illinois, Internet gambling, Macau, Marketing, Mississippi, Nevada, PokerStars, Politics, Steve Wynn, Tribal | Comments Off

Macao: The 9% solution; It’s a bird, it’s a plane, it’s Steve Wynn

Posted on May 19, 2016 by David McKee

Supply has overrun demand in Macao, where a wave of impending megaresorts is rolling in on an emaciated marketplace. But optimistic noises are being heard at Global Gaming Expo Asia, amid the robotic croupiers and other new toys. “The sentiments … Continue reading →

Posted in Downtown, Economy, Entertainment, G2E, International, Lawrence Ho, Macau, Pennsylvania, Politics, Regulation, Steve Wynn, Taxes | Comments Off

MGM prevails, Wynn slowed in Massachusetts

Posted on May 13, 2016 by David McKee

Bowing to the inevitable, the Massachusetts Gaming Commission ratified MGM Resorts International‘s redesign of MGM Springfield, on which the casino company is already hard at work. What was the MGC to do? Tell MGM to go back to Square One? … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, Environment, International, Internet gambling, Massachusetts, MGM Mirage, Mohegan Sun, Politics, Regulation, Steve Wynn, Transportation, Tribal | Comments Off

Quote of the Day

Posted on May 12, 2016 by David McKee

“Tribes are sovereign. But their casinos employ non-Indian workers. One argument used to sell casinos to the public is that they provide jobs. Those jobs should come with basic protections afforded by federal law.” — the Sacramento Bee on HR … Continue reading →

Posted in Politics, Tribal | Comments Off

Wampanoags’ patience rewarded; March Mildness at Vegas sports books

Posted on May 3, 2016 by David McKee

Those who set store by the fable of the tortoise and the hare can take heart from the saga of the Mashpee Wampanoag. It took them a long time to get their act together, federal land-in-trust approval seemed unlikely and … Continue reading →

Posted in California, Economy, history, Massachusetts, Politics, Regulation, Sports, Tribal | Comments Off

Brockton casino nixed; The sleeping tiger

Posted on May 2, 2016 by David McKee

An “uninspiring” design and a lack of a solid Brockton business plan scuppered Neil Bluhm‘s ambitions in Massachusetts. The state’s gaming commission voted his proposal down, 4-1. “If this were a knockout proposal and a great strategy to lift Brockton, this … Continue reading →

Posted in Delaware, Economy, International, Massachusetts, Neil Bluhm, Politics, Racinos, Regulation, Sheldon Adelson, Singapore, Taxes, Tribal | 2 Comments

Case Bets: California, Florida, Minnesota, Macao

Posted on April 28, 2016 by David McKee

In a dramatic development, the six-tribe coalition that opposed letting PokerStars into California stood aside, clearing the path to unanimous approval by the Assembly Governmental Organization Committee of a bill by state Rep. Adam Gray that would legalize online poker in … Continue reading →

Posted in California, Election, Florida, Galaxy Entertainment, history, Horseracing, Internet gambling, Macau, Minnesota, PokerStars, Politics, Taxes, Tribal | Comments Off

Boyd to acquire Cannery?; Signs of movement in Atlantic City impasse

Posted on April 21, 2016 by David McKee

Sleeping giant Boyd Gaming is stirring to life, reportedly on the verge of a $225 million-$240 million buyout of Cannery Casino Resorts, according to Reuters. The latter’s Mike Stone says the deal would “give Boyd a strong foothold in the … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Boulder Strip, Boyd Gaming, California, Cannery Casino Resorts, Election, Entertainment, GLPI, Harrah's, James Packer, Pennsylvania, Politics, Reno, The Strip, Wall Street | 1 Comment

Reversal in Jersey City; Tables buoy Pennsylvania grosses

Posted on April 19, 2016 by David McKee

Shoe mogul Paul Fireman‘s plan to build a $4.6 billion megaresort in Jersey City is losing the support of Mayor Steve Fulop (D). New Jersey State Building & Construction Trades Council President William T. Mullen was sent into a howl of … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, California, GLPI, Greenwood Racing, Harrah's, Isle of Capri, Mohegan Sun, Neil Bluhm, Penn National, Pennsylvania, Politics, Racinos, Sheldon Adelson, Taxes | Comments Off

Could a Chicago casino be in the works?; High-flown idea for Vegas

Posted on April 15, 2016 by David McKee

Taking a page from Kansas, lawmakers in Illinois are exploring the idea of a state-owned casino. A bill before the House Executive Committee would authorized a super-sized casino (up to 10,000 slots) in Chicago, with the proceeds dedicated to “public … Continue reading →

Posted in Illinois, Neil Bluhm, New York, Politics, The Strip, Tribal | 1 Comment

DFS dealt twin setbacks; Stalemate over Atlantic City

Posted on April 11, 2016 by David McKee

“As attorney general, it is my duty to uphold Alabama law, including the laws against illegal gambling. Daily fantasy sports operators claim that they operate legally under Alabama law. However, paid daily fantasy sports contests are in fact illegal gambling … Continue reading →

Posted in Alabama, Atlantic City, Boyd Gaming, Downtown, Economy, Internet gambling, Massachusetts, Politics, Sports, Steve Wynn, Taxes | Comments Off

Wynn vs. Wynn; ‘Believe’ gets a new name, focus

Posted on April 4, 2016 by David McKee

More details of Elaine Wynn‘s lawsuit against Wynn Resorts, CEO Steve Wynn and General Counsel Kim Sinatra are emerging. She barrages the three with a litany of complaints, one of which seems to imply that her ex got a company … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Cirque du Soleil, Election, Entertainment, Harrah's, Massachusetts, MGM Mirage, Neil Bluhm, New York, Politics, Regulation, Steve Wynn, The Strip | Comments Off