Category Archives: Politics

Strong month for the Strip; Tohono O’odham win big-time

Posted on April 1, 2016 by David McKee

February gaming revenues were 8% higher in Nevada (to $990 million), with a 7% increase on the Las Vegas Strip. Locals-casino revenue rose 11%, driven in part by 4% more coin-in and 8% greater table play. Slot revenue on the … Continue reading →

Posted in Arizona, Boulder Strip, California, Downtown, Economy, Lake Tahoe, Laughlin, Macau, North Las Vegas, Politics, Reno, Steve Wynn, The Strip, Tourism, Transportation, Tribal | 1 Comment

DFS becomes political football; More trouble for PokerStars

Posted on March 28, 2016 by David McKee

Add Yahoo to the list of daily fantasy sports providers that are tiptoeing out of New York State under an accord with state Attorney General Eric Schneiderman. The latter has said that if the issue can’t be resolved in the … Continue reading →

Posted in Arizona, Election, Florida, Harrah's, Indiana, Internet gambling, Law enforcement, Maryland, Minnesota, Missouri, New York, Oklahoma, PokerStars, Politics, South Korea, Wisconsin | Comments Off

Setback for Penn; New problem for Atlantic City

Posted on March 24, 2016 by David McKee

It was Iowa Racing & Gaming Commission 1, Penn National Gaming 0 in an Iowa appellate court. Penn had been trying to get the license of its Belle of Sioux City reinstated, claiming it was deprived of due process. That … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Iowa, MGM Mirage, Neil Bluhm, New York, Penn National, Politics, Regulation, Taxes, Wall Street, Warner Gaming | Comments Off

Freeman slags Guardian; The truth remains out there

Posted on March 22, 2016 by David McKee

In a risky move, American Gaming Association President Geoff Freeman lashed out at Atlantic City Mayor Don Guardian, after the latter reiterated his opposition to northern New Jersey casinos in a spirited public debate. Hizzoner wasn’t the only skeptic: Resorts … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Downtown, Geoff Freeman, Harrah's, Law enforcement, Politics, Texas | Comments Off

Quote of the Day

Posted on March 21, 2016 by David McKee

“In 1976, casinos were approved for Atlantic City. It was a monopoly that existed for many, many years; many people benefited. But conditions change, and when conditions change and you don’t adapt, you become a dinosaur and you become extinct.” — … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Economy, Politics | Comments Off

Tracks questionable in Kansas, safe in West Virginia

Posted on March 18, 2016 by David McKee

“Wouldn’t we just be taking money from [Kansas Star Casino] and moving it to Mr. Ruffin’s pockets?” So asked state Rep. Mark Kahrs (R) of a controversial bill to permit a Sedgwick County vote on whether to convert Phil Ruffin‘s Wichita … Continue reading →

Posted in Animals, Australia, Boyd Gaming, Election, Kansas, MGM Mirage, New Hampshire, Phil Ruffin, Politics, Racinos, Slot routes, Taxes, The Strip, Tourism, West Virginia | Comments Off

Wynn Everett gets new name, brushes off criticism

Posted on March 16, 2016 by David McKee

Given his recent obstructionism of Wynn Everett, it should come as no surprise that Somerville Mayor Joseph Curtatone recently made it onto a list of “America’s Worst Politicians.” Presently, the Bostonian blowhard has been vowing to block Steve Wynn‘s project … Continue reading →

Posted in International, Internet gambling, Massachusetts, Politics, Sheldon Adelson, Steve Wynn | Comments Off

New Jersey sticks it to Atlantic City; No payday for Suen

Posted on March 15, 2016 by David McKee

Life just got a little more difficult for Atlantic City. Casino owners will have to dig into their pockets in order to defeat a ballot initiative to end their monopoly on casino gambling. The referendum mustered the necessary supermajorities to … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, Atlantic City, Election, Glenn Straub, Macau, Massachusetts, Penn National, Politics, Sheldon Adelson, Tribal | Comments Off

Virginia is for lovers … of DFS

Posted on March 14, 2016 by David McKee

Score a “win” for daily fantasy sports, as it was legitimized in Virginia. Gov. Terry McAuliffe (D) applied his signature to the Fantasy Contests Act, which places DFS under the auspices of the state’s Department of Agriculture & Consumer Service, effective July … Continue reading →

Posted in Geoff Freeman, Georgia, Indiana, Internet gambling, Iowa, Massachusetts, Nevada, Politics, Regulation, Sports | Comments Off

High-stakes headbutting in Hartford; Pennsylvania grapples with slot routes

Posted on March 11, 2016 by David McKee

All the key players in Connecticut finally butted heads in a showdown in Hartford yesterday. In one corner, you had the casino-ineligible Schaghticoke Tribal Nation. Behind it was its patron, MGM Resorts International, which has a $950 million investment in Springfield, … Continue reading →

Posted in Economy, Florida, Foxwoods, Massachusetts, MGM Mirage, Mohegan Sun, Pennsylvania, Politics, Problem gambling, Seminole Tribe, Slot routes, Taxes, Tribal | Comments Off

Galaxy thinks big; Hoping against hope in Illinois

Posted on March 9, 2016 by David McKee

Feeling the pressure to diversify the market appeal of his casino resorts, Galaxy Entertainment CEO Lui Che-Woo is talking vaguely about a theme park, “something special and high-tech,” similar to the movie Avatar. Note that James Cameron isn’t explicitly involved … Continue reading →

Posted in Entertainment, Galaxy Entertainment, Illinois, Kentucky, Macau, Politics, Sheldon Adelson | Comments Off

Vietnam War logic in New Jersey; Tribal corruption in Florida

Posted on March 8, 2016 by David McKee

New Jersey will no longer have the distinction of possessing the second-lowest casino tax rate if Assemblyman Ralph Caputo (D, left) gets his way. He’s talking about imposing at least a 40% levy on proposed north New Jersey casinos, perhaps … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Carl Icahn, Florida, Hard Rock International, Horseracing, International, Mississippi, New York, Politics, Regulation, Taxes, Tribal, Tropicana Entertainment | Comments Off

Nevada grapples with DFS; Seminole compact dies

Posted on March 7, 2016 by David McKee

Rather than sit on the daily fantasy sports sidelines, Nevada Gov. Brian Sandoval (R, below) wants to nudge the Silver State into the game. To that end, he’s the keynote speaker for a specially convened, all-star hearing by the Nevada Gaming … Continue reading →

Posted in Florida, Geoff Freeman, Georgia, Internet gambling, Isle of Capri, Japan, Nevada, Politics, Racinos, Regulation, Seminole Tribe | Comments Off

DFS’ stormy seas; Glimmer of hope for Macao

Posted on March 4, 2016 by David McKee

By charging blindly into uncharted waters, the daily fantasy sports industry has made a shipload of trouble for itself. Case in point, defunct (or at least comatose) DFS site FantasyUp. The latter pulled the rug out from under its customers, … Continue reading →

Posted in California, Environment, Harry Reid, Internet gambling, Macau, Melco Crown Entertainment, MGM Mirage, Politics, Regulation, Sheldon Adelson, Steve Wynn, Transportation, Wall Street | Comments Off

A Revel by any other name; Hard Rock thinks globally; Hard times for Boyd

Posted on March 2, 2016 by David McKee

What’s in a name? That’s the question confronting Glenn Straub, for whom the days are counting down until he can reopen the hotel portion of his casino with a new name. We don’t agree that Revel is a meaningless word, but … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, Atlantic City, Boyd Gaming, Glenn Straub, Hard Rock International, Illinois, International, Iowa, Japan, Politics, Revel, Slot routes, Tourism, Vietnam, Warner Gaming | Comments Off

DFS advances in some markets, retreats in others; Caesars rubs your nose in it

Posted on March 2, 2016 by David McKee

Daily fantasy sports, the loud frat brother of sports betting, is close to a signal victory in Virginia. Both houses of the Virginia Assembly have passed DFS legalization with veto-proof majorities and sent the legislation to Gov. Terry McAuliffe (D). … Continue reading →

Posted in Harrah's, Indiana, Internet gambling, Kansas, Penn National, Phil Ruffin, Planet Hollywood, Politics, Racinos, Regulation, Sports, Taxes, The Strip, Tourism | Comments Off

Painful progress for Seminole compact; Casinos dead in Georgia

Posted on March 1, 2016 by David McKee

It will be back to the negotiating table for Florida Gov. Rick Scott (R), if a state House of Representatives version of the compact with Seminole Tribe is accepted in the state Senate. The compromise version of the compact adds slots … Continue reading →

Posted in Florida, Georgia, GLPI, Horseracing, Maryland, Massachusetts, MGM Mirage, Penn National, Pinnacle Entertainment, Politics, Racinos, Regulation, Rhode Island, Seminole Tribe, Sheldon Adelson, Tourism, Unite-Here | 2 Comments

Seminole Christmas tree in Florida; Free money for California ponies

Posted on February 22, 2016 by David McKee

Pot or gambling? That’s the choice Florida Gov. Rick Scott (R) faces in newly discovered documents from 2014, in which the Poarch Band of Creek Indians seeks a casino on a one-acre parcel near Pensacola in return of $1 billion … Continue reading →

Posted in Boyd Gaming, California, Dining, Downtown, Entertainment, Florida, Internet gambling, Politics, Tourism, Tribal | Comments Off

End of Caesars bankruptcy in sight?; Seminole compact upsized

Posted on February 19, 2016 by David McKee

One year and millions of pages of documents later, we’re nearing resolution in Richard Davis‘ investigation of the Caesars Entertainment bankruptcy. His report on the company’s attempted restructuring is due at year’s end. At its heart will be several controversial … Continue reading →

Posted in Florida, Harrah's, Horseracing, Massachusetts, Penn National, Politics, Problem gambling, Regulation, Seminole Tribe, Sports, Steve Wynn, Technology | Comments Off

If at first you don’t succeed …

Posted on February 18, 2016 by David McKee

… try, try, try, try, try again. That’s the New Hampshire Lege, making its umpteenth attempt to legalize casino gambling. State Sen. Lou D’Allesandro (D) has crafted a bill that would bring VLTs and table games to Salem. The bill … Continue reading →

Posted in Alabama, California, Georgia, Harrah's, Horseracing, International, MGM Mirage, New Hampshire, Penn National, Politics, Sheldon Adelson, Tribal | Comments Off