Category Archives: Politics

Adelson push stuck in the mud?; Alabama wants gambling

Posted on July 31, 2015 by David McKee

Tireless blogger Steve Ruddock contends that we have good reason to be optimistic about the fate of Sheldon Adelson‘s fatwa against Internet gambling. For starters, there’s the sheer slothfulness of Congress itself: How many times has it promised, say, comprehensive … Continue reading →

Posted in Alabama, California, Churchill Downs, Cosmopolitan, Election, Georgia, Internet gambling, Politics, Sheldon Adelson, Technology, The Strip, Tribal | Comments Off on Adelson push stuck in the mud?; Alabama wants gambling

MGM’s march to the sea; REITmania explained

Posted on July 24, 2015 by David McKee

Where MGM Resorts International goes, other casino companies are quick to follow — to Atlanta, in this case. Mayor Kasim Reed (pictured) is being coy about who the new suitors are, other than two are domestically based (would Las Vegas Sands … Continue reading →

Posted in Baseball, Boulder Strip, Genting, Georgia, GLPI, Massachusetts, MGM Mirage, Ohio, Penn National, Pinnacle Entertainment, Politics, Regulation, Sheldon Adelson, Sports, The Strip, Wall Street | Comments Off on MGM’s march to the sea; REITmania explained

Vetting the candidates

Posted on July 23, 2015 by David McKee

Although Paddy Power has lengthened his odds for gaining the White House to 12/1, New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie (R) would be one of the most supportive — if not the most supportive — candidates toward the gaming industry. He’s … Continue reading →

Posted in Arkansas, Election, Florida, International, New York, Politics, Regulation, Tribal | Comments Off on Vetting the candidates

Sheldon Adelson, spymaster?

Posted on July 22, 2015 by David McKee

So Sands China did have a “blackmail strategy” after all … in the eyes of the Chinese government, that is. According to a report commissioned by Sands and marked eyes-only for Sands China CEO Steven Jacobs, “Many of the officials we … Continue reading →

Posted in Internet gambling, Macau, Politics, Sheldon Adelson | Comments Off on Sheldon Adelson, spymaster?

SLS: The news just gets worse

Posted on July 17, 2015 by David McKee

Despite SLS Las Vegas having lost $183 million in its first eight months of operation, against pitiful revenues of $88 million, President Scott Kreeger insists that owner Stockbridge Capital is in it for the long haul. It has to be, Sam … Continue reading →

Posted in Alabama, Entertainment, International, Internet gambling, Marketing, Politics, Racinos, Revel, Sam Nazarian, SLS Las Vegas, Station Casinos, Taxes, Wall Street | 3 Comments

The lion grumbles; Is Alabama casino-ready?

Posted on July 16, 2015 by David McKee

MGM Resorts International is not going to sit idly by while the State of Connecticut tries to horn in on MGM Springfield‘s business. MGM President William Hornbuckle said the company was “not going to go peacefully” but would not give … Continue reading →

Posted in Alabama, Atlantic City, Foxwoods, Iowa, Macau, Maryland, Massachusetts, MGM Mirage, Mohegan Sun, Penn National, Politics, Racinos, Singapore, Steve Wynn, Taxes, The Strip, Warner Gaming | Comments Off on The lion grumbles; Is Alabama casino-ready?

Wynn: Massachusetts vs. Boston; Crisis and opportunity at Station

Posted on July 13, 2015 by David McKee

Steve Wynn appears to be losing patience with the obstacles being thrown in his way by seemingly vanquished adversaries in his long fight to get a Boston-area casino. He’s filed a defamation suit against the city, after a lawsuit championed … Continue reading →

Posted in Culinary Union, Eldorado Resorts, Election, Georgia, history, International, Massachusetts, MGM Mirage, New York, Politics, Regulation, Sam Nazarian, Slot routes, Station Casinos, Steve Wynn | Comments Off on Wynn: Massachusetts vs. Boston; Crisis and opportunity at Station

Atlantic City, Trump Resorts play for time

Posted on July 6, 2015 by David McKee

Atlantic City can breathe a little easier: It’s bought a year’s reprieve from a ballot question which would revoke its casino monopoly. Technically, it could still get done if the Legislature votes it through by August 30. But it has … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Boyd Gaming, Carl Icahn, Election, Genting, International, Politics, Sheldon Adelson, Taxes, Trump Entertainment Resorts, TV | 1 Comment

MGM goes to Atlanta; Pechanga named #1

Posted on July 2, 2015 by David McKee

Instead of waiting for an incremental creep of acceptance of gambling in Georgia, MGM Resorts International is taking the bull by the horns. While it says that it is in the “very preliminary” stages of proposing a casino for Atlanta, … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, Atlantic City, Boyd Gaming, California, Economy, Foxwoods, Georgia, Hard Rock Hotel, Harrah's, Indiana, Internet gambling, Louisiana, MGM Mirage, Mississippi, Mohegan Sun, Neil Bluhm, New York, Pinnacle Entertainment, Politics, Sheldon Adelson, Station Casinos, Technology, The Strip, Tourism, Tribal | Comments Off on MGM goes to Atlanta; Pechanga named #1

Pushback against Adelson; Packer’s pretension

Posted on June 29, 2015 by David McKee

“Poker is an all-American game. It’s a game that I learned as a teen and continue to play today. Just like millions of other players I enjoy the strategy and skill involved.” So said Rep. Joe Barton (R) as he introduced … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, Australia, California, CityCenter, Cosmopolitan, Entertainment, Hard Rock Hotel, Harrah's, International, Internet gambling, James Packer, Lawrence Ho, Macau, PokerStars, Politics, Regulation, Taxes, The Strip, Warner Gaming | Comments Off on Pushback against Adelson; Packer’s pretension

Adelson’s minions do his bidding; Seminoles lose patience

Posted on June 26, 2015 by David McKee

Two presidential aspirants, Sens. Lindsey Graham (R) and Marco Rubio (R), joined forces with a gaggle of other senators in reintroducing “Restoration of America’s Wire Act,” Sheldon Adelson‘s pet vehicle for keeping his competitors out of Internet gambling. Among those … Continue reading →

Posted in Florida, Harrah's, Internet gambling, Macau, MGM Mirage, Politics, Regulation, Sheldon Adelson, Technology, The Mob, Tribal | Comments Off on Adelson’s minions do his bidding; Seminoles lose patience

Ruffin loses in Kansas; Expanded New Jersey gambling dissed

Posted on June 26, 2015 by David McKee

Three casino proposals were weighed in the balance and two were found wanting, as the Kansas State Lottery Gaming Facility Review Board sifted the pros and cons, ultimately settling on the lowest-budgeted of the contenders, Kansas Crossing. The project, named … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, International, Kansas, Marketing, Massachusetts, Mohegan Sun, Phil Ruffin, Politics, Racinos, Tribal | Comments Off on Ruffin loses in Kansas; Expanded New Jersey gambling dissed

Atlantic City fights back; Packer a good bet again

Posted on June 23, 2015 by David McKee

  After seemingly being in shock from the stampede to put casinos in northern New Jersey, civic leaders of Atlantic City are starting to put up a fight. The terms of battle vary, with some dead-set against a breaking of … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Economy, Hard Rock International, Internet gambling, James Packer, Macau, MGM Mirage, Mississippi, New York, Politics, Sheldon Adelson, Tropicana Entertainment | Comments Off on Atlantic City fights back; Packer a good bet again

Penn primed for Plainridge launch; Little tribal traction in Maine

Posted on June 23, 2015 by David McKee

Are executives at Penn National Gaming getting high on their own supply … of slot machines, that is? The industry’s desired average for slots is $200 but Penn is predicting a sky-high $500/slot/day at Plainridge Park, which opens tomorrow, inaugurating … Continue reading →

Posted in Entertainment, Maine, Massachusetts, Penn National, Politics, Problem gambling, SLS Las Vegas, The Strip, Tribal | Comments Off on Penn primed for Plainridge launch; Little tribal traction in Maine

Rock in Rio flops; Tighter slots in Maryland?

Posted on June 17, 2015 by David McKee

According to Vital Vegas, the first Strip outing of Rock in Rio might be its last, as the music festival may have lost as much as $28 million. Vital Vegas puts attendance at a dreadful 130,000 (out of a possible … Continue reading →

Posted in Australia, Cordish Co., Current, Entertainment, Florida, Harrah's, International, Japan, Macau, Maryland, MGM Mirage, Pets, Philippines, Politics, Racinos, Regulation, Singapore, South Korea, The Strip, Tourism, Tribal | Comments Off on Rock in Rio flops; Tighter slots in Maryland?

Kirk Kerkorian, 1917-2015

Posted on June 17, 2015 by David McKee

Here in Las Vegas, the impact of Kirk Kerkorian‘s death is still sinking in. A man known for self-effacing personal habits left the world as discreetly as he passed through it in his Ford Taurus, leaving accomplishments that far exceeded … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, Atlantic City, Downtown, Harry Reid, history, Internet gambling, MGM Mirage, Mohegan Sun, Movies, Neil Bluhm, New York, Ohio, Penn National, Pennsylvania, Politics, Slot routes, Steve Wynn, Taxes, The Strip, Wall Street | 2 Comments

Heavy online interest in Pennsylvania; New twist in Jersey expansion

Posted on June 10, 2015 by David McKee

Caesars Interactive sent Michael Cohen to Harrisburg, to educate Pennsylvania lawmakers in online gambling and demonstrate the safety features whereby underage players can be thwarted. Cohen’s presentation pleased lawmakers on both sides of the aisle but drew a squawk of … Continue reading →

Posted in Election, Harrah's, International, Internet gambling, Pennsylvania, Politics, Racinos, Regulation, Sheldon Adelson | Comments Off on Heavy online interest in Pennsylvania; New twist in Jersey expansion

Straub puts Revel back in play; Hard Rock heads for Meadowlands

Posted on June 5, 2015 by David McKee

Glenn Straub‘s helter-skelter regime at Revel will continue at least a while more. He’s talking about reopening the HQ nightclub in July and evicting ACR Energy Partners from Revel’s power plant, getting one monkey off his back. He did and … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Glenn Straub, Hard Rock Hotel, Hard Rock International, Indiana, Internet gambling, Massachusetts, New York, Pennsylvania, Politics, Regulation, Revel, Tourism, Tribal, Warner Gaming | Comments Off on Straub puts Revel back in play; Hard Rock heads for Meadowlands

Smooth sailing in Illinois, Iowa; Bad legislative bet

Posted on June 5, 2015 by David McKee

Just when Illinois casinos are trying to stave off another expansion of gambling, May brought a most inconvenient uptick in gambling revenues, albeit only half a percentage point, which can presumably be accounted for by the fact that this May had … Continue reading →

Posted in Boyd Gaming, GLPI, Harrah's, Illinois, Internet gambling, Isle of Capri, MGM Mirage, Penn National, Pennsylvania, Pinnacle Entertainment, Politics, Sports, Taxes, Wall Street, Warner Gaming | Comments Off on Smooth sailing in Illinois, Iowa; Bad legislative bet

Quote of the Day

Posted on June 5, 2015 by David McKee

“The gaming industry is aware of no other industry in the country for which the IRS has issued regulations requiring the industry to deploy its customer loyalty program for federal tax-collection purposes.” — American Gaming Association President Geoff Freeman, on … Continue reading →

Posted in Geoff Freeman, Politics, Taxes | Comments Off on Quote of the Day