Category Archives: Politics

Adelson lackey denounces gambling; Scientific’s stumble

Posted on March 16, 2015 by David McKee

In a surprising display of petulance, Rep. Jason Chaffetz (R) hung up the phone on members of the National Governors Association when they had the temerity to object to his Restoration of America’s Wire Act bill, which would criminalize state … Continue reading →

Posted in Florida, Marketing, New York, Politics, Regulation, Scientific Games, Sheldon Adelson, The Strip | Comments Off

The torments of Glenn Straub; Icahn wins another round

Posted on March 13, 2015 by David McKee

“I keep waiting for the elevator doors to open and somebody to walk out carrying bags of money. We keep hearing about people with money wanting to make bids. I haven’t seen them yet.” So said Glenn Straub, who continues to … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Cantor Gaming, Carl Icahn, Glenn Straub, Harrah's, Horseracing, Idaho, Massachusetts, MGM Mirage, New Hampshire, Politics, Revel, Sports, Technology, Trump Entertainment Resorts, Wall Street, Westgate LV | 2 Comments

Honeymoon over in Atlantic City; Resistance in Connecticut

Posted on March 13, 2015 by David McKee

All the gains Atlantic City casinos had been making from the downsizing of the market came to an abrupt end last month. Gambling revenues dove 16% and same-store revenues fell 2% (yes, even the Borgata‘s). Luck simply was not on … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Bally Technologies, Boyd Gaming, Foxwoods, Harrah's, Mohegan Sun, Politics, Riviera, Scientific Games, Shuffle Master, The Strip, Tilman Fertitta, Tropicana Entertainment, Trump Entertainment Resorts, Wall Street, WMS Industries | 1 Comment

The clock is running in Japan, Florida, Connecticut

Posted on March 11, 2015 by David McKee

Major casino companies are beginning to lose patience with Japan‘s impotent government and are casting their eyes toward South Korea. “This will take leadership. At some point someone is going to have to say ‘this is important to us, let’s push this … Continue reading →

Posted in Florida, Foxwoods, Hard Rock International, International, Japan, Marketing, Massachusetts, MGM Mirage, Mohegan Sun, New York, Politics, Sheldon Adelson, The Strip | Comments Off

Adelson vs. lottery; Big weekend at SLS

Posted on March 11, 2015 by David McKee

Proving that gaming is the only taxable udder on which the Nevada Legislature dares tug, Assemblyman Harvey Munford has proposed a state lottery. The purported use of lottery proceeds would be to help senior citizens and support public education. “The … Continue reading →

Posted in Ameristar, Entertainment, GLPI, Harrah's, Illinois, MGM Mirage, Missouri, Pinnacle Entertainment, Politics, Regulation, Sam Nazarian, Sheldon Adelson, The Strip | 1 Comment

Trump’s hollow victory; Seminoles make new friends

Posted on March 10, 2015 by David McKee

In a display of either weakness or stupidity, Carl Icahn has caved in to Donald Trump and reached an agreement to keep the TV star’s name on Trump Taj Mahal. As anyone who’s followed the dwindling of the Trump empire from … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Carl Icahn, Donald Trump, Florida, Harrah's, Marketing, Ohio, Penn National, Politics, Tribal, Trump Entertainment Resorts | 3 Comments

Big Gaming speaks

Posted on March 9, 2015 by David McKee

Last week, the great and powerful of the casino industry attended a show-and-tell at the J.P. Morgan Gaming, Lodging, Restaurant & Leisure Management Access Forum. Here’s what they had to say … Wynn Resorts: The company is looking to make … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Boyd Gaming, Economy, Genting, James Packer, Japan, Louisiana, Macau, Massachusetts, MGM Mirage, Ohio, Penn National, Politics, Problem gambling, Rhode Island, Singapore, Steve Wynn, The Strip, Wall Street | Comments Off

Belt-tightening in Macao; Adelson gets his wrist slapped

Posted on March 9, 2015 by David McKee

Given the steep plunge in casino revenues over the past eight months, Macao casino operators are talking about taking cost-saving measures. Although its mass-market focus shelters it from the worst of the downturn, Sands China is mulling cuts in its … Continue reading →

Posted in Election, Florida, Georgia, Horseracing, Macau, Politics, Sheldon Adelson, Steve Wynn | Comments Off

Caesars wins some, loses some; Dotty’s drives Station batty

Posted on March 5, 2015 by David McKee

“I don’t have any authority to disband a committee that the U.S. trustee has appointed,” said Judge A. Benjamin Goldgar, handing a victory to the second-tier debtors in the Caesars Entertainment bankruptcy. Caesars had sought to have the creditors’ watchdog committee … Continue reading →

Posted in Dotty's, Harrah's, Politics, Regulation, Station Casinos, Wall Street | Comments Off

Fear and loathing in Washington; New goodies at Borgata

Posted on March 4, 2015 by David McKee

Sheldon Adelson sock puppet Rep. Jason Chaffetz (R) would be holding his much-ballyhooed hearing on Internet gambling today, had Mother Nature not intervened and forced a postponement. When it happens, it’ll be pretty much the kangaroo court you’d expect. His star witness is rabid and … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Boyd Gaming, Economy, Entertainment, Horseracing, International, Internet gambling, Politics, Regulation, Sheldon Adelson, Taxes, The Strip, Tribal | 1 Comment

Fly the friendly slots; New tax takes aim at slot routes

Posted on March 4, 2015 by David McKee

Unlike most states, Maryland hasn’t hit the saturation mark and a bill to put a slot route into Thurgood Marshall Airport will probably have little effect on that. The slots will only be accessible to ticketed passengers, with the idea … Continue reading →

Posted in Aristocrat, Cordish Co., Dotty's, Golden Gaming, Harrah's, Maryland, Michael Gaughan, Politics, Taxes, Technology, Transportation | Comments Off

New problem for Straub; Broad casino push in Florida

Posted on March 3, 2015 by David McKee

Whenever you think the Revel saga is done, a new complexity arises. Glenn Straub‘s $82 million purchase is set to be ruled upon in bankruptcy court tomorrow. But, slipping over the transom at the last minute come Leo Pustilnikov and fellow … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, California, Florida, Glenn Straub, Politics, Racinos, Regulation, Revel, Tribal | Comments Off

Macao in freefall; A RAWA deal

Posted on March 3, 2015 by David McKee

Sheldon Adelson can call Macao‘s doldrums “cyclical” until he’s blue in the face but there’s no mistaking that the gambling enclave is having serious problems. Actually, that’s a bit of an understatement when February revenue falls 49%. VIP play is … Continue reading →

Posted in Economy, Internet gambling, Melco Crown Entertainment, MGM Mirage, Mohegan Sun, Pennsylvania, Politics, Regulation, Sheldon Adelson, Stanley Ho, Steve Wynn, Wall Street | Comments Off

First big hurdle in Indiana cleared

Posted on March 2, 2015 by David McKee

Both the Indiana state Senate and Gov. Mike Pence (R) could still nix the deal, but the Indiana House of Representatives voted 76-19 to put riverboat casinos ashore and OK live dealers at the state’s Indiana Grand and Hoosier Park racinos. … Continue reading →

Posted in Boyd Gaming, Genting, Hard Rock International, Harrah's, Indiana, Internet gambling, Isle of Capri, Macau, Mississippi, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Politics, Racinos, Regulation, Sheldon Adelson, Singapore, South Dakota | Comments Off

Midwest casino follies

Posted on February 25, 2015 by David McKee

Indiana municipalities caught a break when the state House of Representatives voted against scrapping the state’s $3 admission tax, which goes to casino-hosting localities. That keeps $200 million in the kitty of jurisdictions like LaPorte County, home to Boyd Gaming‘s … Continue reading →

Posted in Boyd Gaming, Environment, GLPI, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Ohio, Politics, Racinos, Regulation, Taxes | Comments Off

Straub still hearts Revel; Setback in Indiana

Posted on February 24, 2015 by David McKee

Glenn Straub‘s abusive/co-dependent relationship with Revel AC continues, even though federal bankruptcy court has driven a stake through his $95 million purchase agreement for the beached whale of a casino. As Judge Gloria Burns, who has presided over the soap … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Glenn Straub, Harrah's, history, Indiana, Lake Tahoe, Politics, Revel, South Dakota, Taxes, Wall Street | 2 Comments

Florida tribe: Casinos or pot. Choose!

Posted on February 23, 2015 by David McKee

Florida Gov. Rick Scott (R) finds himself in just a bit of a pickle. He’s refused to negotiate with the Poarch Band of Creek Indians, who want to extend their burgeoning empire of Class II casinos from Alabama into the … Continue reading →

Posted in Alabama, California, Florida, Internet gambling, PokerStars, Politics, Regulation, Tribal | Comments Off

Caesars foe now its BFF; Suffolk Downs returns

Posted on February 20, 2015 by David McKee

Considering that it is the owner of Caesars Interactive and WSOP.com, one would hardly expect Caesars Entertainment to welcome PokerStars back to the U.S. market. But that is precisely what it has done, proclaiming that “we need to focus on where … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, California, Harrah's, Horseracing, Internet gambling, Kentucky, Massachusetts, New York, Pennsylvania, PokerStars, Politics, Regulation, Sheldon Adelson, Tribal, World Series of Poker | 2 Comments

Revel sale dead; Indiana does the right thing

Posted on February 20, 2015 by David McKee

“The history of this case is long and tortured,” said U.S. Bankruptcy Court Judge Gloria Burns, in a major understatement regarding the several and various attempts to sell Revel. With the bang of a gavel, she crushed Glenn Straub‘s $95 … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Boyd Gaming, Glenn Straub, Global Cash Access, Indiana, Politics, Racinos, Revel | 1 Comment

The new Siegel in town; The word on the Strip is “Fore!”

Posted on February 19, 2015 by David McKee

Any article that begins by described the late Star Trek: The Experience as “essentially weird” has one strike against it. (I can’t tell you how many former employees told me it was the best job they ever had.) Such is … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, Colony Capital, Entertainment, Japan, MGM Mirage, New York, Politics, Singapore, Sports, The Strip, Westgate LV | 2 Comments