Category Archives: Politics

Kansas gets down to brass tacks; Lindsey Graham, man of mystery

Posted on June 2, 2015 by David McKee

After years of waiting, the fate of Kansas‘ seemingly unwanted fourth casino license, long in abeyance came down to three-and-a-half hours of presentations by a trio of rival bidders. The Kansas Lottery Gaming Facilities Review Board will make its choice by … Continue reading →

Posted in Internet gambling, Kansas, New York, Palms, Phil Ruffin, Politics, Regulation, Sheldon Adelson, Taxes, Tribal, World Series of Poker | Comments Off on Kansas gets down to brass tacks; Lindsey Graham, man of mystery

Christie vs. Sweeney; Straub out of A.C.?

Posted on June 2, 2015 by David McKee

A bill introduced in the New Jersey Legislature sets up a proxy fight between Gov. Chris Christie (R) and state Senate President Stephen Sweeney (D) over the timing of when Garden State voters will be called upon to decide Atlantic … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Carl Icahn, Colony Capital, Dennis Gomes, Donald Trump, Election, Glenn Straub, Internet gambling, MGM Mirage, Pennsylvania, Politics, Revel, Steve Wynn, Taxes | Comments Off on Christie vs. Sweeney; Straub out of A.C.?

Gaming on the boil in Pennsylvania, less so in Illinois, Alabama

Posted on May 29, 2015 by David McKee

Gaming expansion is being introduced in the Illinois Legislature again and it has a pretty familiar look: a city-owned casino (the only one) in Chicago, four casinos scattered around the state, including one in Rockford, plus a pair of smaller (600-slot) … Continue reading →

Posted in Alabama, Economy, Illinois, Internet gambling, Pennsylvania, Politics, Taxes, Tribal | Comments Off on Gaming on the boil in Pennsylvania, less so in Illinois, Alabama

Good April for Vegas; Frankie the Fish and Sister Sandra

Posted on May 29, 2015 by David McKee

Baccarat play on the Las Vegas Strip improved by double-digit numbers for the second month in a row, up 14% in April, contributing to an 8% upward surge on the Strip. Baccarat revenues rose 5%, while all other table games … Continue reading →

Posted in Australia, Boyd Gaming, Donald Trump, Downtown, Economy, Lake Tahoe, Laughlin, Macau, Marketing, Mississippi, North Las Vegas, Philippines, Politics, Regulation, Reno, Sheldon Adelson, Station Casinos, The Strip, Vietnam | Comments Off on Good April for Vegas; Frankie the Fish and Sister Sandra

Caesars pays some, denies others; Adelson’s blunderbuss bill

Posted on May 27, 2015 by David McKee

Who knew that Gary Loveman was a creditor of Caesars Entertainment? His compensation package has been identified as among those adversely affected by Caesars Entertainment Operating Co.’s bankruptcy. The Chapter 11 proceeding has impacted five deferred-compensation plans, two of which will … Continue reading →

Posted in Cantor Gaming, GLPI, Harrah's, Illinois, International, Politics, Racinos, Regulation, Sheldon Adelson, Technology | Comments Off on Caesars pays some, denies others; Adelson’s blunderbuss bill

Sheldon steps in it; Tomato King to the rescue

Posted on May 21, 2015 by David McKee

Las Vegas Sands‘ CEO Sheldon Adelson’s pet piece of legislation, “Restoring America’s Wire Act” turns out to have a raft of unintended consequences, several of which would kneecap the casino industry. For one, it would ban mobile gambling, which is … Continue reading →

Posted in International, Penn National, Pennsylvania, Politics, Racinos, Regulation, Sheldon Adelson, Sports, Technology, Tomato King Procacci | Comments Off on Sheldon steps in it; Tomato King to the rescue

Massachusetts: And then there were two

Posted on May 18, 2015 by David McKee

Last Thursday, casino boosters from Somerset were expected to show up a Massachusetts Gaming Commission hearing and ask for yet another delay to get their act together. Instead, they surprised the MGC and the rest of us by simply pulling … Continue reading →

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Behind the Showboat sale; Cosmo comeback

Posted on May 14, 2015 by David McKee

During its crusade to drive Stockton University out of the Showboat, the CEO of Trump Entertainment Resorts, Robert Griffin airily informed Stockton representatives that they should buy Trump Plaza instead — puncturing TER’s public posture that college kids should be kept … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Cosmopolitan, Economy, Glenn Straub, Harrah's, Politics, Steve Wynn, The Strip, Trump Entertainment Resorts | Comments Off on Behind the Showboat sale; Cosmo comeback

Et tu, Harry?; It’s a new era in Manila

Posted on May 12, 2015 by David McKee

Now that Sen. Harry Reid (D) has one foot out the door on Capitol Hill, he’s turning on the casino companies — particularly Caesars Entertainment — that helped him stay in power five years ago. Just when Sen. Lindsey Graham‘s … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Delaware, Genting, Harrah's, Harry Reid, Internet gambling, Kazuo Okada, Melco Crown Entertainment, MGM Mirage, Philippines, Politics, Regulation, Sheldon Adelson, Singapore | Comments Off on Et tu, Harry?; It’s a new era in Manila

Pence ultimately gets it right

Posted on May 11, 2015 by David McKee

WDRB 41 Louisville News After months of Hamlet-worthy public agonizing, Indiana Gov. Mike Pence (R) did the right thing by doing nothing. Satisfied that it was not his never-defined “expansion” of gambling, he decided to let a casino-reform bill that … Continue reading →

Posted in Economy, Indiana, Kentucky, Macau, Politics, Racinos, Regulation, Sheldon Adelson | Comments Off on Pence ultimately gets it right

Carey: raptures and wreckage; Vegas’ affordability tested

Posted on May 8, 2015 by David McKee

Our most giddy local gossip merchant experienced multiple verbal orgasms when describing Mariah Carey‘s Caesars Palace residency show. Even the Second Coming of Jesus Christ would have a hard time living up to this nonstop gush. (Helpful hint: If Carey … Continue reading →

Posted in Entertainment, Florida, Harrah's, Massachusetts, MGM Mirage, Politics, Sports, The Strip, Tourism, Transportation, Tribal | 1 Comment

Why is this man smiling?; Adelson’s latest antics

Posted on May 8, 2015 by David McKee

Bankruptcy’s been good to Caesars Entertainment. For CEO Gary Loveman‘s final earnings call prior to yielding his title to Mark Frissora, the company gift-wrapped him a $7.6 billion profit on net revenue of $1 billion. If that sounds surrealistic, it’s due to … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Harrah's, Internet gambling, Maryland, Penn National, Pennsylvania, Politics, Regulation, Scientific Games, Sheldon Adelson, Steve Wynn, The Strip, Wall Street, West Virginia | Comments Off on Why is this man smiling?; Adelson’s latest antics

Chicago casino push gathers steam

Posted on May 4, 2015 by David McKee

It’s been a while since we’ve heard about a casino in Chicago but that doesn’t mean Mayor Rahm Emanuel (D, below) has given up. Far from it. He’s looking at a $839 million pension obligation and a $300 million budget … Continue reading →

Posted in Cirque du Soleil, Economy, Entertainment, Illinois, MGM Mirage, Politics, Racinos, Slot routes, The Strip | Comments Off on Chicago casino push gathers steam

Murren takes sanguine view; Straub’s struggles

Posted on April 30, 2015 by David McKee

With MGM Resorts International having rejected one REIT proposal, in part because it relied too much on asset sales, Union Gaming is teeing up another. It’s not providing specifics but says it would provide “additional financial flexibility without the disruption of … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Boyd Gaming, Glenn Straub, Harrah's, Internet gambling, Japan, Macau, MGM Mirage, Politics, Revel, Sheldon Adelson, South Carolina, Sports, Technology, Transportation, Wall Street | Comments Off on Murren takes sanguine view; Straub’s struggles

The perils of Pence; Court prods Caesars

Posted on April 30, 2015 by David McKee

Indiana‘s casinos are now officially at the mercy of Gov. Mike Pence (R). The Hoosier State’s General Assembly passed a compromise bill that has something for the casinos (transplanting to terra firma) and something for Pence, namely a five-year moratorium on … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Entertainment, Harrah's, Illinois, Indiana, Planet Hollywood, Politics, Racinos, Riviera, Taxes, The Strip, Tribal, Tropicana Entertainment | Comments Off on The perils of Pence; Court prods Caesars

MayPac: Winners and losers; Adelson, Wynn take big hits

Posted on April 30, 2015 by David McKee

Not a punch has been thrown yet but already we know some things about the outcome of the hype-driven Floyd “Money” Mayweather and Manny “Pac-Man” Pacquiao fight, including the fact that with guaranteed purses for both fighters, they win just … Continue reading →

Posted in Economy, Macau, Massachusetts, MGM Mirage, New Hampshire, Politics, Sheldon Adelson, Sports, Steve Wynn, The Strip, Tourism | Comments Off on MayPac: Winners and losers; Adelson, Wynn take big hits

Quote of the Day

Posted on April 27, 2015 by David McKee

“Nevada history is festooned with big bosses and bullies, men who lease the Legislature and occupant of the Governor’s Mansion for pet purposes. [Steve] Wynn isn’t the first, but he certainly ranks among the most prolific practitioners of the political … Continue reading →

Posted in Politics, Steve Wynn | Comments Off on Quote of the Day

Indian givers on Capitol Hill; Revel powers up

Posted on April 27, 2015 by David McKee

Arizona‘s congressional delegation is willing to gamble $1 billion of your and my dollars to keep the Tohono O’odham Nation from having a casino. At the moment, Sen. John McCain (R) and his junior henchmen are plotting to stick their … Continue reading →

Posted in Arizona, Atlantic City, Glenn Straub, Internet gambling, Mohegan Sun, Politics, Revel, Sheldon Adelson, Singapore, South Korea, Tribal | Comments Off on Indian givers on Capitol Hill; Revel powers up

Elaine Wynn has left the building

Posted on April 24, 2015 by David McKee

Votes are still being audited but the bottom line from Wynn Resorts‘ board election is this: Elaine Wynn is out and the company’s two preferred candidates have been reelected. “The manner in which the existing board has handled the company’s third-largest … Continue reading →

Posted in Macau, Politics, Steve Wynn, The Strip, TV, Wall Street | 1 Comment

Shame on Arizona; Big plans for Gold Strike

Posted on April 24, 2015 by David McKee

With Gov. Doug Ducey opposed, along with a state gaming agency that refuses to OK its casino, the Tohono O’odham Nation has to decide whether to insist upon a December opening or bow to the state’s objections. Despite having lost time … Continue reading →

Posted in Arizona, Massachusetts, MGM Mirage, Politics, Regulation, Rhode Island, Tribal | Comments Off on Shame on Arizona; Big plans for Gold Strike