Category Archives: Politics

New Jersey resumes sports-betting push; Sheldon Adelson gets his man

Posted on February 18, 2016 by David McKee

New Jersey is hoping the third time is the charm in its attempt to get sports betting OK’d by the Third Circuit Court of Appeals. With four major sporting leagues and the NCAA aligned against it, New Jersey’s is a … Continue reading →

Posted in ABBA, Atlantic City, Donald Trump, Election, Entertainment, International, Internet gambling, Macau, MGM Mirage, Pansy Ho, Politics, Regulation, Sheldon Adelson, Sports, The Strip | Comments Off on New Jersey resumes sports-betting push; Sheldon Adelson gets his man

DFS: Trouble in paradise; It’s not good to be Dan Gilbert

Posted on February 8, 2016 by David McKee

Besieged on all sides, daily fantasy sports operators find themselves in retreat. DraftKings said it “will voluntarily pause” its operations in Hawaii in response to a ruling by state Attorney General Doug Chin that DFS is gambling and therefore illegal … Continue reading →

Posted in Eldorado Resorts, Florida, Hard Rock International, Harrah's, Hawaii, Indiana, Internet gambling, Mississippi, Ohio, Penn National, Pinnacle Entertainment, Politics, Racinos, Regulation | Comments Off on DFS: Trouble in paradise; It’s not good to be Dan Gilbert

Delaware racinos seek relief; Abrupt change at Downtown Grand

Posted on February 4, 2016 by David McKee

If a casino is losing money, does that qualify it for state relief? That’s the philosophical question in Delaware, where Dover Downs is pursuing a public bailout. A bill by state Sen. Brian Bushweller (D) would waive table-game franchise fees … Continue reading →

Posted in Delaware, Downtown, Harrah's, Politics, Racinos, Taxes, Tribal | Comments Off on Delaware racinos seek relief; Abrupt change at Downtown Grand

New York deals itself in on i-poker

Posted on February 3, 2016 by David McKee

A bill to legalize Internet poker in New York State advanced unanimously out of the state Senate Committee on Racing, Gaming & Wagering. That’s the easy part. It now goes to the Finance Committee, where tougher

Posted in Internet gambling, New York, Pennsylvania, Politics | Comments Off on New York deals itself in on i-poker

Atlantic City omnibus

Posted on February 2, 2016 by David McKee

If Carl Icahn has his way, executives at Trump Taj Mahal may have to start updating their resumes. Tropicana Atlantic City President Anthony Rodio is expected to add the Taj to his portfolio as well. It’s well past time that inept … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Boyd Gaming, Carl Icahn, Economy, Macau, MGM Mirage, Politics, The Strip, Tropicana Entertainment, Trump Entertainment Resorts, Wall Street | Comments Off on Atlantic City omnibus

Big government wins in Atlantic City; Sheldon’s money grab

Posted on February 1, 2016 by David McKee

“From the looks on your faces, you don’t like ‘Kumbaya’ moments. I’m sorry for that. It’s time for some tough decisions and some pain as we move forward.” So said Atlantic City Mayor Don Guardian (R) as he acceded to a … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Economy, Glenn Straub, Harrah's, LVCVA, Macau, Politics, Revel, Sheldon Adelson | Comments Off on Big government wins in Atlantic City; Sheldon’s money grab

Meet the candidates; Even when Adelson loses, he wins

Posted on January 28, 2016 by David McKee

One of the many first-ever things that Geoff Freeman has done to remake the American Gaming Association in his image is compile a voting guide for industry workers, walking them through the primary and caucus processes in their states, and … Continue reading →

Posted in Economy, Election, Geoff Freeman, Macau, Maryland, Pennsylvania, Politics, Regulation, Sheldon Adelson, Sports, The Strip, Tribal, Wall Street | Comments Off on Meet the candidates; Even when Adelson loses, he wins

Christie’s bum rap; New partner for Packer?; Casino chicanery in Maine

Posted on January 26, 2016 by David McKee

“The people involved in this, if you took a thimble and put their knowledge of Atlantic City in it, it wouldn’t fill it,” says Thomas Carver, former policy czar for the resort town, who lost his job when he displeased … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Australia, Cosmopolitan, Economy, Election, Internet gambling, James Packer, Maine, Melco Crown Entertainment, New Hampshire, Penn National, Politics, Racinos, Revel, Taxes, The Strip | Comments Off on Christie’s bum rap; New partner for Packer?; Casino chicanery in Maine

A Revel by any other name …; Christie abandons Atlantic City

Posted on January 20, 2016 by David McKee

Whatever it’s called when Glenn Straub reopens it, that $2.4 billion turkey along the Boardwalk won’t be named Revel. The new moniker is the least of several uncertainties surrounding the property. For one, Straub hasn’t even finished his gaming-license application yet, … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Election, Glenn Straub, Harrah's, Macau, Politics, Revel, Trump Entertainment Resorts | 1 Comment

Seminoles take to the air; Trop exec vanishes

Posted on January 20, 2016 by David McKee

Florida‘s Seminole Tribe is taking its case to the people, as its new compact with Gov. Rick Scott (R) faces an uphill slog in the Legislature. The compact is such a Rube Goldberg contraption, with so many moving parts, you … Continue reading →

Posted in Delaware, Florida, GLPI, Harrah's, Indiana, Internet gambling, Marketing, Missouri, Pennsylvania, Pinnacle Entertainment, Politics, Regulation, Seminole Tribe, Tropicana Entertainment, TV | Comments Off on Seminoles take to the air; Trop exec vanishes

Case Bets

Posted on January 15, 2016 by David McKee

The glass at Penn National Gaming‘s Plainridge Park is both half-full and half-empty these days. The win/slot/day ($291) is 50% above the industry’s desired norm. However, Plainridge continues to bleed customers, going from $12 million in revenue in November to … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Florida, Isle of Capri, Massachusetts, Penn National, Politics, Racinos, Regulation, Seminole Tribe, Tribal, Wall Street | 1 Comment

Moment of truth for DFS; Surprise champion for i-poker

Posted on January 14, 2016 by David McKee

Massachusetts Attorney General Maura Healey has come forth with her much-anticipated set of rules by which daily fantasy sports will be conducted in the Bay State. It’s not definitive yet (a public-comment period is forthcoming) and there may be some … Continue reading →

Posted in Internet gambling, Law enforcement, Massachusetts, Politics, Regulation | Comments Off on Moment of truth for DFS; Surprise champion for i-poker

Atlantic City under siege; Detroit casinos deliver

Posted on January 14, 2016 by David McKee

New Jersey state Senate President Stephen Sweeney (D) hasn’t been elected governor yet but he’s behaving as though he were the Garden State’s chief executive. He’s the driving force behind a suddenly urgent move to exert state control over Atlantic City. … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Dan Gilbert, Detroit, Economy, Entertainment, Georgia, Hard Rock Hotel, MGM Mirage, Politics, Revel, Taxes | Comments Off on Atlantic City under siege; Detroit casinos deliver

Quote of the Day

Posted on January 13, 2016 by David McKee

“Right off, the proposal set off a howl of opposition from legislators against any deal that might be seen as ‘an expansion of gambling.’ (As if there’s some moral difference between, say, Floridians losing money while playing the electronic virtual … Continue reading →

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Atlantic City: Sweeney wins … or does he?

Posted on January 12, 2016 by David McKee

In the end, New Jersey‘s two houses of the Legislature came together on casino expansion and we have to say that Assembly Speaker Vincent Prieto (D) blinked first, from where we sit. (In the peanut gallery, natch.) But was state … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Carl Icahn, Fontainebleau, Glenn Straub, Hard Rock International, Harrah's, MGM Mirage, New York, Politics, Sheldon Adelson, Steve Wynn, Taxes, Tilman Fertitta, Trump Entertainment Resorts | 2 Comments

Christie takes sides in casino fight; Healthy month in Missouri

Posted on January 11, 2016 by David McKee

“I can’t say it won’t ever happen, but by 2018, New York will have approved a casino in Staten Island. It needs to be now because we have the opportunity now.” Thus spake New Jersey State Senate President Stephen Sweeney (D), … Continue reading →

Posted in Ameristar, Atlantic City, Georgia, Harrah's, Illinois, Isle of Capri, Massachusetts, New York, Penn National, Pinnacle Entertainment, Politics, Regulation, Steve Wynn, Tribal, Tropicana Entertainment, Unite-Here | Comments Off on Christie takes sides in casino fight; Healthy month in Missouri

Tribal headache for Connecticut; Wynn, Adelson eye New Jersey

Posted on January 8, 2016 by David McKee

Proposed new rules that would make it easier for tribes to gain federal recognition could have a seismic effect on the casino business in Connecticut. Three potentially recognized tribes could vie for as many as four new casinos. One says “four” … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Donald Trump, Economy, Foxwoods, Mohegan Sun, Pennsylvania, Politics, Sheldon Adelson, Steve Wynn, The Strip, Tribal | Comments Off on Tribal headache for Connecticut; Wynn, Adelson eye New Jersey

Ground shifts on i-gaming in California; T-Mobile’s new trophy

Posted on January 7, 2016 by David McKee

California took one step forward and one step back in the field of Internet gambling. A bill to legalize online poker was scratched from yesterday’s legislative agenda. If it makes you feel any better, the opposition of six major California … Continue reading →

Posted in California, Cosmopolitan, Dining, Entertainment, MGM Mirage, Planet Hollywood, PokerStars, Politics, Sam Nazarian, Sports, The Strip | Comments Off on Ground shifts on i-gaming in California; T-Mobile’s new trophy

Hope for Atlantic Club; Boffo month for Maryland

Posted on January 6, 2016 by David McKee

Not so fast, says Endeavor AC about yesterday’s report that its purchase of the Atlantic Club was defunct. The would-be purchaser says it has “a very strong and creditable private equity source to finance the acquisition and development of the … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Cordish Co., Dan Gilbert, Glenn Straub, Golden Gaming, Harrah's, Japan, Law enforcement, Maryland, Penn National, Pennsylvania, Planet Hollywood, Politics, Problem gambling, Racinos, Revel, Sheldon Adelson, SLS Las Vegas, The Strip, Tourism | Comments Off on Hope for Atlantic Club; Boffo month for Maryland

Quote of the Day

Posted on January 5, 2016 by David McKee

“I don’t think there’s a single person that, no matter how you craft this bill, is going to be 100 percent happy with it. I think the question they’re going to have to ask themselves is, ‘Can I live with the … Continue reading →

Posted in Florida, Politics, Seminole Tribe | Comments Off on Quote of the Day