Category Archives: Politics

Wynn’s oysters schucked

Posted on November 3, 2014 by David McKee

Details of Steve Wynn‘s site-remediation plan are starting to emerge and they include rendering tainted soil inert by mixing it with cement. What they don’t include anymore are oyster beds to process polluted Mystic River water. Government officials nixed this … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Boyd Gaming, Environment, Harrah's, International, Internet gambling, Massachusetts, PokerStars, Politics, Steve Wynn, Terry Caudill, Transportation | 1 Comment

Feeling squeezed in Delaware, Indiana

Posted on October 31, 2014 by David McKee

No two ways about it, Delaware‘s racinos are failing. However, they have an ambitious plan to reverse that … providing the state is cooperative. One of the reasons the tracks are struggling is an onerous 40% tax rate on table … Continue reading →

Posted in Bally Technologies, Delaware, Economy, Maryland, Ohio, Politics, Racinos, Scientific Games, Technology, Tribal | Comments Off on Feeling squeezed in Delaware, Indiana

Warfare in California; Turnover at SLS

Posted on October 27, 2014 by David McKee

Fear of spreading off-reservation gambling are fueling opposition to Proposition 48, which would ratify a casino compact in the greater Fresno area. The North Fork Rancheria Band of Mono Indians, supported by Station Casinos, would be permitted to open a … Continue reading →

Posted in California, Charity, Detroit, Election, James Packer, Politics, Regulation, Sam Nazarian, Station Casinos, Tribal | Comments Off on Warfare in California; Turnover at SLS

Working-class hero; Caesars courts Philippines

Posted on October 22, 2014 by David McKee

Having thrown its workforce to the wolves as part of its bankruptcy plan — one that may not ultimately save any jobs — Trump Entertainment Resorts has pissed off the wrong guy: state Senate President Stephen Sweeney (D). Chief creditor Carl … Continue reading →

Posted in Boyd Gaming, Carl Icahn, Economy, Genting, International, Kazuo Okada, Louisiana, Melco Crown Entertainment, Pinnacle Entertainment, Politics, Racinos, Revel, Trump Entertainment Resorts | Comments Off on Working-class hero; Caesars courts Philippines

Caesars’ shell game; Setback in Japan

Posted on October 21, 2014 by David McKee

“Extend and pretend.” Those are the words of gaming analyst Alan Woinski, describing the debt-management practices of Caesars Entertainment and CEO Gary Loveman: “they extended out the maturities and just put new debt on top of old debt, and the … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Harrah's, Internet gambling, Japan, Louisiana, Maryland, Massachusetts, New York, Politics, Problem gambling, Technology, The Strip, Wall Street | 1 Comment

Tying the knot in Vegas and other diversions

Posted on October 16, 2014 by David McKee

Nevada‘s constitutional ban on gay marriage having been deemed unconstitutional, wedding chapels are kicking into high gear to prepare for a wave of same-sex nuptials. How is the casino industry responding to this sudden $50 million (projected) jackpot? Both Caesars … Continue reading →

Posted in Downtown, Economy, Foxwoods, Harrah's, Japan, Massachusetts, MGM Mirage, Mohegan Sun, Politics, Problem gambling, Sheldon Adelson, Singapore, Sports, The Strip, Tourism | Comments Off on Tying the knot in Vegas and other diversions

Making sense of Pence; Dan Lee returns (again)

Posted on October 14, 2014 by David McKee

Taking a page from Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker‘s playbook, Indiana Gov. Mike Pence (R) is trying to have it both ways: oppose “expansion” of gambling but refuse to define aforesaid expansion. With riverboat casinos pressing to come ashore, Pence has … Continue reading →

Posted in Dan Lee, Indiana, Internet gambling, MGM Mirage, New York, Ohio, Palms, Pinnacle Entertainment, Politics | Comments Off on Making sense of Pence; Dan Lee returns (again)

Funeral garb for Harmon; Death blow to Dotty’s?

Posted on October 8, 2014 by David McKee

Although it’s there to protect pedestrian, it’s fitting that the corpse of Harmon Hotel is shrouded in widow’s weeds. MGM Resorts International will be holding a protracted funeral for the first Las Vegas hotel to close without ever housing a … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, Dotty's, Golden Gaming, International, MGM Mirage, Politics, Singapore, Station Casinos, The Strip | 1 Comment

Kentucky’s failure claims victim

Posted on October 6, 2014 by David McKee

Occasionally, as casino gambling tries to expand in the U.S., some innocent bystander gets taken down. That could literally be the case with the Bavarian Brewery Building, a crenellated fixture of the Covington, Kentucky, skyline since 1877. It 2008 it … Continue reading →

Posted in Columbia Sussex, history, Kentucky, Politics | Comments Off on Kentucky’s failure claims victim

All Wynn, all the time

Posted on October 1, 2014 by David McKee
Posted in Carl Icahn, Economy, Fontainebleau, G2E, Internet gambling, Macau, Marketing, Maryland, MGM Mirage, Mississippi, Pennsylvania, Politics, Regulation, Sheldon Adelson, Steve Wynn, Tamares Group, Taxes | Comments Off on All Wynn, all the time

Sanguine at Penn; Serrano goes Italian

Posted on October 1, 2014 by David McKee

Executives from Penn National Gaming were hosted by J.P. Morgan analysts this week at Global Gaming Expo and gave a fairly mellow outlook on business. Nationally, commerce is seen as stabilizing but not having bottomed out yet, although Penn is “holding … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, Dining, Election, G2E, Harrah's, history, Maryland, Massachusetts, MGM Mirage, New York, Ohio, Penn National, Politics, Racinos, Regulation, Steve Wynn, The Strip, Wall Street, West Virginia | Comments Off on Sanguine at Penn; Serrano goes Italian

Quote of the Day

Posted on September 26, 2014 by David McKee

“According to National Relief Charities, a nonprofit organization that assists Native Americans in the Plains and Southwest, ‘Over 500 treaties were made with American Indian tribes, primarily for land cessations, but 500 treaties were also broken, changed or nullified when … Continue reading →

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

Wynn: What, me worry?; Clouds over Wisconsin

Posted on September 23, 2014 by David McKee

Steve Wynn is taking the softness of the Macao market in stride. “When you see that kind of adjustment, you adjust your business. You take tables away from VIP and put them into mass or premium mass,” he told Chinese reporters. … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Economy, Florida, Hard Rock International, Illinois, Japan, Macau, Politics, Sheldon Adelson, Steve Wynn, Tribal, Trump Entertainment Resorts, Wisconsin | Comments Off on Wynn: What, me worry?; Clouds over Wisconsin

Quote of the Day

Posted on September 22, 2014 by David McKee

“I think we need intervention from the people who appointed [the Massachusetts Gaming Commission]. They’ve clearly gone beyond their duty.” — Boston Mayor Martin “McCheese” Walsh, raging at the MGC for choosing to award a casino license to Wynn Resorts … Continue reading →

Posted in Massachusetts, Mohegan Sun, Politics, Regulation, Steve Wynn | 1 Comment

Inside Sands’ success; Furor in Fresno

Posted on September 19, 2014 by David McKee

The most baccarat tables per casino in the U.S. are to be found at — no kidding — Sands Bethlehem. The casino, which fields 50 baccarat tables grossed $18 million in table game revenue last month, a record amount for … Continue reading →

Posted in California, Election, Greenwood Racing, Marketing, Massachusetts, Mohegan Sun, New York, Pennsylvania, Politics, Regulation, Sheldon Adelson, Station Casinos, Tribal, Wall Street | Comments Off on Inside Sands’ success; Furor in Fresno

Caesars inspires legislation; Decision time for Wynn

Posted on September 18, 2014 by David McKee

As New Jersey forces the issue of sports betting, two lawmakers are offering the major leagues the one thing they can’t resist: money. State Sen. James Whelan (D) and Asm. Vincent Mazzeo (D) are propounding a quarter-of-a-percent tax on all wagers. … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Election, Glenn Straub, Harrah's, Massachusetts, MGM Mirage, Mohegan Sun, Penn National, Politics, Revel, Sports, Steve Wynn | Comments Off on Caesars inspires legislation; Decision time for Wynn

He came to buy Atlantic City

Posted on September 12, 2014 by David McKee

Just when you thought Atlantic City had shed several casinos, they’re coming right back. Would-be Revel buyer Glenn Straub would include casino gambling in his larger strategy for the property but make it incidental to other “hobbies.” “Who in the hell … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Glenn Straub, Harrah's, Internet gambling, Politics, Regulation, Revel, Sports, Taxes, Transportation, Trump Entertainment Resorts | 2 Comments

Horseshoe Baltimore launches; Hypocrisy in Indiana

Posted on August 26, 2014 by David McKee

On a “gritty stretch of Russell Street” in Baltimore, partners Caesars Entertainment and Rock Gaming are preparing to bust out their latest inner-city casino. Not only will it provide commendable urban renewal, it will also give Maryland Live! its most … Continue reading →

Posted in Affinity Gaming, Baseball, Cordish Co., Dan Gilbert, Harrah's, Indiana, Maryland, MGM Mirage, Politics, Wall Street | 1 Comment

Pacifism in Alabama; Flop in Florida

Posted on August 18, 2014 by David McKee

There’s nothing that trumps ideology like the need for tax dollars. Such is the case in Alabama, where budget shortfalls are bringing state government around to the idea of a gaming compact with Poarch Band of Creek Indians. No negotiations … Continue reading →

Posted in Alabama, Boyd Gaming, CityCenter, Dubai, Florida, MGM Mirage, Politics, The Strip, Tribal | 1 Comment

Revel reprieved, sort of

Posted on August 14, 2014 by David McKee

Ownership of Revel may have given up on the casino itself, scheduled to close Sept. 10. However,  they’re still trying to sell the property, indefinitely adjourning yet another bankruptcy auction in order to entertain “ongoing negotiations [with] certain potential bidders … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Economy, Politics, Revel, Taxes | Comments Off on Revel reprieved, sort of