Category Archives: Politics

Abboud: Sinners repent!; Loveman’s orphan

Posted on June 4, 2014 by David McKee

Sounding like anti-casino zealot, Las Vegas Sands Senior Vice President of Government Relations & Community Development Andy Abboud had a dire message for Pennsylvania lawmakers: “Gambling was never supposed to be everywhere. It’s not an entitlement; it’s a vice. It needs to be doled … Continue reading →

Posted in Cannery Casino Resorts, Economy, Election, Harrah's, Harry Reid, Japan, Neil Bluhm, Pennsylvania, Politics, Sheldon Adelson | Comments Off

GOP candidates back casino-repeal question

Posted on June 4, 2014 by David McKee

Top-of-the ticket Republican candidates for governor in Massachusetts have lined up behind the proposed repeal of the state’s casino law. Charlie Baker is only in favor of putting it on the ballot but Tea Party candidate Mark Fisher would go … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Massachusetts, Pennsylvania, Politics, Problem gambling | Comments Off

Mohegan Sun liberated; Low blows struck in New York

Posted on June 2, 2014 by David McKee

Come year’s end, Mohegan Sun will be free of its management agreement with Trading Cove Associates. Liberty comes at a dear price: $900 million, or 5% of 15 years’ revenue. “If not for the Great Recession’s effect on Mohegan Sun’s … Continue reading →

Posted in Churchill Downs, Foxwoods, Horseracing, Internet gambling, Mohegan Sun, New York, Politics, Tribal | Comments Off

Casinos battle an ebb tide; Loveman rebuffed

Posted on June 2, 2014 by David McKee

Today marks the date that the casino industry officially became too large for the country to support, symbolized by the closing of Harrah’s Tunica. “There’s gambling everywhere. If you just want to gamble, you don’t have to go very far to do … Continue reading →

Posted in Economy, Harrah's, Illinois, Massachusetts, Mississippi, Politics, Regulation | Comments Off

Adelson vs. Loveman: Splitting the difference

Posted on May 30, 2014 by David McKee

“One of the things I’ve learned in this industry is we are extraordinarily competent at shooting at one another.” So said American Gaming Association President Geoff Freeman after getting caught in the crossfire over Internet gambling. So, as the industry … Continue reading →

Posted in Geoff Freeman, Hard Rock Hotel, Harrah's, Internet gambling, Macau, Politics, Sheldon Adelson, Technology, The Strip, Warner Gaming, World Series of Poker | 1 Comment

Beso of death; Atlantic Club reborn

Posted on May 30, 2014 by David McKee

Eva Longoria‘s SHE byMorton’s (formerly Beso) has closed for the second — and presumably final — time. This time we can only put so much blame on Longoria and focus instead on owner Tilman Fertitta. This rare misstep by Fertitta … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, CityCenter, Dining, Harrah's, Illinois, Politics, The Strip | Comments Off

Station’s waning clout; Off the rez with SCOTUS

Posted on May 29, 2014 by David McKee

Station Casinos‘ insistence on re-litigating the issue of slot parlors in Nevada seems to have finally driven some officials to the end of their patience. Assembly Majority Leader William Horne (D, right), the industry’s primary water carrier, tried to plump for a … Continue reading →

Posted in Boyd Gaming, Election, history, Missouri, Politics, Regulation, Slot routes, Station Casinos, Tribal | Comments Off

Internet gaming: More light than heat; Fieri in your face

Posted on May 27, 2014 by David McKee

“We are absolutely shocked by the slowness of the market.” Those are the words of 888.com CEO Brian Mattingley, with regard to Internet gambling in New Jersey. How slow is it? So much that 888 is shifting ad dollars from … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Boyd Gaming, Dining, Economy, Harrah's, Internet gambling, Marketing, Massachusetts, Mississippi, Politics, Regulation, Sheldon Adelson, The Strip | 1 Comment

Cosmo: Now comes the hard part

Posted on May 19, 2014 by David McKee

Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas CEO John Unwin is crowing in triumph over Blackstone Real Estate Partners VII‘s staggeringly lavish purchase of the megaresort over which he presides. “This marks the beginning of the next chapter for The Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas … Continue reading →

Posted in Boyd Gaming, Cosmopolitan, Economy, Harrah's, James Packer, Japan, Melco Crown Entertainment, MGM Mirage, Penn National, Politics, Regulation, Sheldon Adelson, Steve Wynn, Wall Street | 1 Comment

Quote of the Day

Posted on May 13, 2014 by David McKee

“Like Lucy does with Charlie Brown, the Legislature keeps promising Floridians an overhaul of gambling in the state — then pulls the ball away.” — James L. Rosica, on the latest session of futility in Tallahassee.

Posted in Florida, Politics, Tribal | Comments Off

MGM National Harbor: Icon or overkill? You decide

Posted on May 9, 2014 by David McKee

MGM Resorts International‘s National Harbor project literally hasn’t gotten off the drawing board and yet it’s already stirring controversy. The beef mainly involves five oversized LED screens, the largest of which would be 60 by 100 feet. MGM has similar … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, Environment, Harrah's, Internet gambling, Maryland, MGM Mirage, Ohio, Penn National, Politics, Regulation, Sheldon Adelson, Technology | 1 Comment

Loveman utters heresy; Adelson’s sock-puppet theatre

Posted on May 9, 2014 by David McKee

Buried deep in Caesars Entertainments ‘s 1Q14 earnings call was this bombshell from CEO Gary Loveman: “We are looking at all of our options to reduce the cost of doing business here. All the businesses in [Atlantic City] are under tremendous pressure.” That’s … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Cretins, Economy, Florida, Harrah's, Indiana, Louisiana, New Hampshire, Politics, South Carolina, Texas, Wall Street | Comments Off

Sin City Serenade; Empire State frenzy

Posted on May 5, 2014 by David McKee

It’s probably between Dallas and Las Vegas for the 2016 Republican convention. Quite a study in contrasts (except for the summer heat). Social-issues conservatives are coming out hard against Sin City, surprise, surprise. Never mind casinos: 64 pages of ads … Continue reading →

Posted in LVCVA, Marketing, New York, Politics, The Strip, Transportation | Comments Off

Scott deal a dud?; Storm on Capitol Hill

Posted on April 29, 2014 by David McKee

Slim and none appear to be Florida Gov. Rick Scott‘s choices for a special session next month to ratify a casino compact with the Seminole Tribe. Legislators who note that the current compact doesn’t sunset until next year wonder what’s … Continue reading →

Posted in Donald Trump, Florida, Internet gambling, Politics, Sheldon Adelson, Tribal | 1 Comment

Crowded field in New York; Big numbers at Hakkasan

Posted on April 28, 2014 by David McKee

Awash in $22 million in application fees, New York State now enters the next phase: The winnowing of the field either through lack of financing or the formation of alliances. After all, there are property owners with no operating experience … Continue reading →

Posted in Entertainment, MGM Mirage, New York, Pennsylvania, Politics, Sheldon Adelson, The Strip | Comments Off

N.Y.: 22 is enough; Cussing match at Wynncore

Posted on April 25, 2014 by David McKee

Caesars Entertainment‘s sudden romance with New York State is getting the company some grief, although not from the usual defenders of Atlantic City. Assemblyman Ralph Caputo (D) is among those who want to put a casino at the Meadowlands and … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Cordish Co., Foxwoods, Genting, Harrah's, Mohegan Sun, Penn National, Pinnacle Entertainment, Politics, Racinos, Steve Wynn, Tribal | Comments Off

Packer sparks protests; Heads roll at Zynga

Posted on April 24, 2014 by David McKee

Just the prospect of a James Packer-owned casino was enough to spur a Buddhist-driven protest march in Sri Lanka. Packer’s Crown Resorts has concessions to develop three resort properties and the Sri Lanka government has been talking out of both … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Churchill Downs, International, Internet gambling, James Packer, Kentucky, Lawrence Ho, Maine, New York, Ohio, Politics | Comments Off

MGM’s sudden change of heart

Posted on April 17, 2014 by David McKee

Well that’s torn it. MGM Resorts International has gone from being a shoo-in for a Massachusetts casino license to asking the state to delay its decision. That means Massachusetts is short some $200 million (including an $85 million licensing fee). … Continue reading →

Posted in Election, Massachusetts, MGM Mirage, Penn National, Politics | Comments Off

Self-delusion in Illinois; Grave-robbing at Penn project

Posted on April 16, 2014 by David McKee

That’s a nice pair of rose-colored glasses that state Rep. Robert Rita (D) must be wearing. He says a 10,000-position Chicago megaresort will “capture the revenue in the Chicago market without creating the cannibalization and oversaturation.” In case he hasn’t … Continue reading →

Posted in California, Illinois, Internet gambling, Penn National, Politics, Racinos, Tribal | Comments Off

NIMBY in Massachusetts; Hard Rock goes local

Posted on April 15, 2014 by David McKee

Anti-gambling forces in Massachusetts gained an ally yesterday when attorney general candidate Maura Healey (D) came out against casinos and for the repeal of their enabling legislation. This puts her at odds with Attorney General Martha Coakley (D), who holds … Continue reading →

Posted in Election, Golden Gaming, Hard Rock Hotel, Iowa, Marketing, Massachusetts, Penn National, Politics, Slot routes, Station Casinos, Technology, Warner Gaming | Comments Off