Category Archives: Politics

Bad week for DFS

Posted on October 26, 2015 by David McKee

“What it’s doing is calling fantasy sports what it is. Do you pay money to get into the contest, and do you get money back when you win? And if so, that’s gambling.” So says South Point attorney Barry Leibermann of … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, California, Colorado, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Internet gambling, Kansas, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michael Gaughan, Mississippi, New York, Ohio, Politics, Technology | Comments Off on Bad week for DFS

Adelson crashes MGM’s party; More trouble for DFS

Posted on October 22, 2015 by David McKee

Sheldon Adelson has a genius for sucking the air out of whatever room he enters. After MGM Resorts International laid the groundwork for a casino debate in Georgia, offering to invest $1 billion in an Atlanta pleasure palace, Adelson has … Continue reading →

Posted in Boyd Gaming, Donald Trump, Economy, Election, Florida, Georgia, International, Internet gambling, Kansas, Macau, Maryland, MGM Mirage, Penn National, Politics, Regulation, Sheldon Adelson, Singapore, The Strip | Comments Off on Adelson crashes MGM’s party; More trouble for DFS

Pennsylvania edges toward ‘Net bets; The forbidden dance

Posted on October 20, 2015 by David McKee

There’s nothing like a budget crisis and a partial government shutdown to focus lawmakers’ minds on gaming expansion. That’s the case in Pennsylvania, where House Majority Leader Dave Reed (R, right) says, “We need to come to a conclusion on liquor … Continue reading →

Posted in Election, Idaho, Pennsylvania, Politics, Regulation, Sheldon Adelson, Taxes, Tribal | 1 Comment

Station goes public; Florida compact near?

Posted on October 14, 2015 by David McKee

Having tried and failed to grow the company through an LBO, Station Casinos is returning to the public markets again, citing “favorable economic and market fundamentals” in support of an IPO. An executive shakeup that included the promotion of Rich Haskins … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Boyd Gaming, Economy, Florida, Fontainebleau, Horseracing, Internet gambling, New York, Pennsylvania, Politics, Seminole Tribe, Sheldon Adelson, SLS Las Vegas, Station Casinos, Steve Wynn, Wall Street | Comments Off on Station goes public; Florida compact near?

Adelson finds his man

Posted on October 13, 2015 by David McKee

Marco Rubio could be justthisclose to a Sheldon Adelson endorsement. When Rubio was in Las Vegas last week, playing counterpoint to Donald Trump, he had a meeting with Adelson that “had an air of importance” according to Politico.com. Should Adelson … Continue reading →

Posted in Culinary Union, Donald Trump, Election, Florida, Geoff Freeman, Internet gambling, Politics, Sheldon Adelson, Station Casinos, Wall Street, Wisconsin | 3 Comments

Turning point for Wynn; Breakthrough for PokerStars

Posted on October 1, 2015 by David McKee

Earlier this week, the Everett Planning Board unanimously assented to Wynn Everett‘s site plan. The Medford Patch described this vote as “the most critical local permit needed by Wynn.” The resort-to-be can start pulling building permits now, with the actual … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Economy, Environment, Harrah's, Internet gambling, Massachusetts, MGM Mirage, Mohegan Sun, PokerStars, Politics, Regulation, Sheldon Adelson, Steve Wynn, The Strip, Transportation, Tribal | 1 Comment

Shocker from Sheldon; Massachusetts on horns of a dilemma

Posted on September 29, 2015 by David McKee

After a half-dozen years of banging its head on the door of the Florida Legislature, a frustrated Las Vegas Sands is calling it quits in the Sunshine State. Despite having poured millions of dollars into the Florida GOP and its … Continue reading →

Posted in Florida, Foxwoods, Georgia, Harrah's, Massachusetts, MGM Mirage, Mohegan Sun, Neil Bluhm, Politics, Regulation, Seminole Tribe, Sheldon Adelson, Tribal | 1 Comment

Gambling junkies in Illinois; New thinking in China

Posted on September 28, 2015 by David McKee

Despite having added slot routes to the state’s gambling repertory, gaming-tax revenues are down 6% in Illinois. This occurred despite the continuing addition of slot routes. However, some gambling-tax junkies continue to deny the obvious proof of a saturated market. “I’m … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, Environment, Illinois, Politics, Racinos, Slot routes, Taxes, Tourism | Comments Off on Gambling junkies in Illinois; New thinking in China

Tohono O’oh no!; Backlash in Macao

Posted on September 18, 2015 by David McKee

Judge David Campbell accepted the Tohono O’odham Nation‘s assertion that it could make as much money from Class II electronic-bingo machines as it could from conventional slots. And that’s bad news for the tribe. While it can open a Class … Continue reading →

Posted in Arizona, California, Economy, Macau, Politics, Regulation, Transportation, Tribal | Comments Off on Tohono O’oh no!; Backlash in Macao

Fantasy sports pushback; Wynn “punished enough”

Posted on September 17, 2015 by David McKee

If the glutting of our TV screens with obnoxious FanDuel and DraftKings ads has not been enough to trigger a backlash, it has been sufficient to inspire Wynn Las Vegas‘ resourceful sports books director, Johnny Avello, to devise his version of … Continue reading →

Posted in California, Geoff Freeman, Macau, Massachusetts, Politics, Sports, Steve Wynn, TV, Wall Street | Comments Off on Fantasy sports pushback; Wynn “punished enough”

A lesson from Ohio; Murren goes to Georgia; Big changes at Sands

Posted on September 16, 2015 by David McKee

Two years ago, Ohio was grappling with what J.P. Morgan analysts called “a sluggish ramp” for its casino industry. He may have been against casinos before he was for them but Gov. John Kasich‘s supersized version of predecessor Ted Strickland‘s … Continue reading →

Posted in CityCenter, Economy, Election, Foxwoods, Galaxy Entertainment, Geoff Freeman, Georgia, Harrah's, Horseracing, Isle of Capri, M Resort, Macau, Massachusetts, MGM Mirage, Midnight Jim Gibbons, Mohegan Sun, Ohio, Penn National, Politics, Problem gambling, Regulation, Sheldon Adelson, Steve Wynn, Taxes, The Strip, Wall Street | Comments Off on A lesson from Ohio; Murren goes to Georgia; Big changes at Sands

Trouble in Fantasyland

Posted on September 15, 2015 by David McKee

Daily fantasy sports leagues have gotten awfully brazen since pairing with major sports leagues, inundating TV airwaves with advertising, and this has gaming regulators in some states looking askance at DFS. The first shot across the bow came from Nevada, … Continue reading →

Posted in Boyd Gaming, Detroit, Kansas, MGM Mirage, PokerStars, Politics, Regulation, Sports, TV | 1 Comment

Georgia on their minds; How to kill a casino

Posted on September 14, 2015 by David McKee

MGM National Harbor President Lorenzo Creighton dangles some shiny objects and big numbers before Georgia newspaper readers, promising even bigger things for Atlanta, as MGM Resorts International tries to counter lawmakers’ congenital opposition to gambling with suasion and seductive dollar … Continue reading →

Posted in Boyd Gaming, Culinary Union, Derek Stevens, Detroit, Downtown, Economy, Georgia, Horseracing, International, James Packer, Maryland, MGM Mirage, Penn National, Politics, Sheldon Adelson, Steve Wynn, Taxes | Comments Off on Georgia on their minds; How to kill a casino

Isle trends upward; Free the Texas ponies!

Posted on September 2, 2015 by David McKee

Add Isle of Capri Casinos to the list of companies enjoying a positive turn in their fortunes. It reported an operating profit of $57.5 million, a 15% increase. The biggest cash cow was Isle Pompano Park, hauling in $42 million, … Continue reading →

Posted in Arkansas, Colorado, Florida, Horseracing, IGT, Iowa, Isle of Capri, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, Pennsylvania, Politics, Racinos, Technology, Texas, Tilman Fertitta, Wall Street | 2 Comments

Atlantic City profits grow; Good and bad news for Caesars

Posted on August 26, 2015 by David McKee

Second-quarter operating profits in Atlantic City were up everywhere except for — you guessed it — Trump Taj Mahal. The Taj swung from a $2 million profit in 2Q14 to a $900,000 loss, another testament to CEO Bob Griffin‘s inspiring leadership. … Continue reading →

Posted in Arizona, Atlantic City, Boyd Gaming, Carl Icahn, Genting, Georgia, Harrah's, history, International, Mohegan Sun, Politics, Regulation, Revel, Sheldon Adelson, Technology, The Strip, Tilman Fertitta, Tribal, Trump Entertainment Resorts | Comments Off on Atlantic City profits grow; Good and bad news for Caesars

New Jersey loses again; From Russia with casinos

Posted on August 26, 2015 by David McKee

New Jersey‘s quest for sports betting came to a bitter, penultimate roadblock before the Third Circuit Court of Appeals, which deemed the Garden State’s repeal of its sports-betting ban to be a violation of the Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act. … Continue reading →

Posted in Economy, Harrah's, International, Japan, Lawrence Ho, Macau, Politics, South Korea, Taxes | Comments Off on New Jersey loses again; From Russia with casinos

Quote of the Day

Posted on August 26, 2015 by David McKee

“Indian gaming, unfortunately, is the 800-pound gorilla in every room, in every discussion, on every Indian policy, including recognition. Mostly recognition.” — lobbyist Arlinda Locklear, on how tribal policymaking in Washington, D.C., is complicated by politicians and interest groups who … Continue reading →

Posted in Politics, Regulation, Tribal | Comments Off on Quote of the Day

Isle abandons ship; Borgata crushes Atlantic City; Radical move from Full House

Posted on August 12, 2015 by David McKee

Faced with a casino that had been generating negative return on investment for the past two years, Isle of Capri Casinos announced it was closing its 15-year-old Natchez riverboat and selling the accompanying hotel to Magnolia Bluffs Casino for $11.5 million. The … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Boyd Gaming, Dan Lee, Indiana, Isle of Capri, Majestic Star, Mississippi, Ohio, Politics, Racinos, Wall Street | 1 Comment

Boston: Smackdown for McCheese; Online gaming hopes fade

Posted on August 4, 2015 by David McKee

Boston Mayor Martin Walsh got a taste of his own medicine when a Suffolk Superior Court court judge put a beatdown on his sleazy legal tactics. Assertions by Boston attorneys, slipped in at the last minute, that the Massachusetts Gaming … Continue reading →

Posted in California, Harrah's, Horseracing, Internet gambling, Laughlin, Louisiana, Massachusetts, Penn National, Pennsylvania, Politics, Sheldon Adelson, Steve Wynn, Tribal | Comments Off on Boston: Smackdown for McCheese; Online gaming hopes fade

McCain, NIGC butt heads; Paper Tiger

Posted on August 3, 2015 by David McKee

U.S. senators put the squeeze on the National Indian Gaming Commission and allies like the National Indian Gaming Association at a recent hearing. Sen. John Barrasso (R) put the gripes in a nutshell when he said, “The commission is not effectively … Continue reading →

Posted in Economy, Genting, Kazuo Okada, Macau, Melco Crown Entertainment, Philippines, Politics, Regulation, Sheldon Adelson, Tribal | Comments Off on McCain, NIGC butt heads; Paper Tiger