Category Archives: Politics

Hey, Big Spender

Posted on October 15, 2013 by David McKee

Pro-gaming lobbyists outnumbered lawmakers in the last Legislature in New York State — with more than three-dozen entities getting into the action. They’ve also dropped an average of $7.4 million a year on lobbying efforts. That’s not much compared to … Continue reading →

Posted in Election, Genting, New York, Politics | Comments Off on Hey, Big Spender

Quote of the Day

Posted on October 14, 2013 by David McKee

“I had a migraine the whole last week when I was trying to assess this. It’s really disturbing when it’s all just because of politics. They’re taking families’ livelihoods away.” — Yurok Tribe Vice Chairwoman Susan Marsten on the federal … Continue reading →

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

Yard sale at Caesars; Disney vs. Genting; New boss at Revel

Posted on October 11, 2013 by David McKee

“It’s a lot of crap.” That’s the verdict of one auctioneer, sussing out the surplus merchandise on view at The Rio, site of a big surplus-inventory sale by Caesars Entertainment. One doesn’t even have to be there to bid. You … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Florida, Genting, Harrah's, Macau, Politics, Revel, Station Casinos, Tribal | Comments Off on Yard sale at Caesars; Disney vs. Genting; New boss at Revel

Quote of the Day

Posted on October 9, 2013 by David McKee

“People just can’t believe the government can be as immature as they seem to be acting right now. We’re just hoping that adults get into the room and get something done.” — MGM Resorts International CEO Jim Murren, during a Bloomberg … Continue reading →

Posted in Current, MGM Mirage, Politics, TV | Comments Off on Quote of the Day

Florida: Clear as mud; MGM lands Lakers

Posted on October 9, 2013 by David McKee

So, the Florida Lege commissioned this $400,000 study of casino expansion and nobody can agree on what it means. Spectrum Gaming Group, which performed the survey, is having to explain why it projected so much more revenue when Genting Group … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Delaware, Economy, Florida, Genting, MGM Mirage, Politics, Racinos, Sports, The Strip, Tribal | Comments Off on Florida: Clear as mud; MGM lands Lakers

N.Y. casino expansion in danger; Macao: Full to bursting

Posted on October 3, 2013 by David McKee

A poll on Proposition One, conducted by Parkside Group, shows casino expansion in New York State enjoying a bare majority of 51%. If that doesn’t galvanize Gov. Andrew Cuomo (D) and other supporters into action, it ought to — especially … Continue reading →

Posted in California, Election, Macau, New York, Politics, Station Casinos, Tourism, Transportation, Tribal, Wall Street | Comments Off on N.Y. casino expansion in danger; Macao: Full to bursting

D-Day for Mohegans, Penn; MGM restructures

Posted on October 2, 2013 by David McKee

In Massachusetts, initial approval will be granted or denied to Mohegan Sun and to Penn National Gaming as prospective operators. In both cases, it seems unlikely that the Massachusetts Gaming Commission with unearth any dead bodies. The focus will be … Continue reading →

Posted in CityCenter, Current, Dubai, Hard Rock International, Harrah's, Massachusetts, MGM Mirage, Mohegan Sun, Penn National, Politics, Regulation, The Strip, Wall Street | Comments Off on D-Day for Mohegans, Penn; MGM restructures

New York: Lies, damned lies and ballot language

Posted on October 1, 2013 by David McKee

Seemingly bereft of urgency, the scrum over gambling expansion in New York State has yet to become a real fight. The Empire State’s Catholic bishops, while deeming gambling “a morally neutral act,” urged parishioners to “very carefully consider” the consequences … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Election, New York, Pennsylvania, Politics, Problem gambling | Comments Off on New York: Lies, damned lies and ballot language

Caesars spooks Wall Street; Florida fumbles

Posted on September 26, 2013 by David McKee

Not surprisingly, Caesars Entertainment stock took a dip this morning. Why the lack of surprise? The company is further diluting its value by preparing to issue 10 million additional shares of common stock. “While we would view the announcement as … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Donald Trump, Florida, Harrah's, Internet gambling, Phil Ruffin, Politics, Racinos, Sheldon Adelson, Steve Wynn, Taxes, Wall Street | 1 Comment

N.Y. GOP boss ixnays casinos

Posted on September 24, 2013 by David McKee

“This is not real economic development,” puts New York State Republican Party Chairman Ed Cox, declaring his opposition to the pro-casino question on the Nov. 5 ballot. He buttressed his anti-casino stance by declaring gambling to be “a bust” in … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Cordish Co., Election, Harrah's, Massachusetts, New York, Politics, The Strip, Tribal | Comments Off on N.Y. GOP boss ixnays casinos

Dangerous complacency in New York

Posted on September 16, 2013 by David McKee

Casino advocates and New York State Gov. Andrew Cuomo (D) are making a risky wager regarding November’s ballot question that would dramatically expand gambling in upstate New York. They’re playing it cool, keeping most of their chips off the table. … Continue reading →

Posted in Boyd Gaming, Current, Election, Foxwoods, Hard Rock International, Harrah's, Massachusetts, MGM Mirage, Politics, Sheldon Adelson | Comments Off on Dangerous complacency in New York

Trouble in another paradise; Sheldon’s sex shoppe

Posted on September 14, 2013 by David McKee

Overruling Massachusetts Attorney General Martha Coakley (D), a Bay State court has issued an injunction allow signature-gatherers to keep collecting voters’ John Hancocks on a petition to repeal 2011’s casino-enabling legislation. Considering the land purchases, to say nothing of the … Continue reading →

Posted in Current, Entertainment, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Pennsylvania, Politics, Regulation, Rhode Island, Sheldon Adelson, Steve Wynn, The Strip | Comments Off on Trouble in another paradise; Sheldon’s sex shoppe

I’m shocked, shocked!

Posted on September 4, 2013 by David McKee

If you thought Pennsylvania‘s casino-selection process was more than a bit fishy, you’re not alone. Pennsylvania State Police Lt. Col. Ralph Periandi (ret.) tried to probe whether then-Gov. Ed Rendell (D) and “members of his administration and others in state … Continue reading →

Posted in Don Barden, Foxwoods, Massachusetts, Neil Bluhm, Pennsylvania, Politics, The Mob, Tribal | Comments Off on I’m shocked, shocked!

Adelson’s new BFF; Icahn’s pricey purchase; Fertitta out of A.C.?

Posted on September 4, 2013 by David McKee

Politics making strange bedfellows and all that, S&G woke up to find Sheldon Adelson enjoying connubial bliss with President Barack Obama. Both are pushing for military intervention in Syria, swimming against the tide of American public opinion. And to think … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Carl Icahn, Current, International, Internet gambling, Missouri, Pinnacle Entertainment, Politics, Sheldon Adelson, Singapore, Tilman Fertitta | Comments Off on Adelson’s new BFF; Icahn’s pricey purchase; Fertitta out of A.C.?

Party at Sheldon’s place; Backlash in Ohio

Posted on September 3, 2013 by David McKee

I didn’t know what “cocaine dancers” are but the Las Vegas Review-Journal says Palazzo’s nightclub, The Act, has them. (It seems to involve far more snorting than dancing.) Sheldon Adelson‘s peeps would like the “simulated drug use, bestiality and exotic … Continue reading →

Posted in Cirque du Soleil, Current, Internet gambling, Ohio, Politics, Sheldon Adelson, The Strip | Comments Off on Party at Sheldon’s place; Backlash in Ohio

Paging King Solomon

Posted on August 28, 2013 by David McKee

In Wisconsin, Gov. Scott Walker (R) finds himself conducting a tricky balancing act vis-a-vis tribal casino expansion. It’s difficult to decide whether he’s showing restraint or hiding under the mattress. You can make the case for both conclusions. He doesn’t … Continue reading →

Posted in Election, Illinois, New York, Politics, Regulation, Tribal | Comments Off on Paging King Solomon

Penn loses yet again; Weirdest story of the year

Posted on August 21, 2013 by David McKee

In a stunning setback, voters in Tewksbury, Massachusetts, have decided they don’t want any part of a Penn National Gaming slot parlor. By a very wide margin, they nixed the project, thereby reducing the field of competitors to three: Raynham … Continue reading →

Posted in Animals, Current, Election, Foxwoods, Internet gambling, Massachusetts, MGM Mirage, Mohegan Sun, Movies, Penn National, Politics | 1 Comment

Case Bets: Walker’s wager; “e” on the QT; Blue no more

Posted on August 20, 2013 by David McKee

One of the nation’s largest tribal casinos, Potowatomi Bingo, in Milwaukee, has been caught by the economic malaise that is dogging so many of the nation’s casinos. Although Potowatomi defied the Great Recession, peaking in 2009 and rebounding after a … Continue reading →

Posted in Boulder Strip, Cosmopolitan, Dining, Downtown, Economy, North Las Vegas, Politics, The Strip, Tribal | 2 Comments

Boston briefs: Caesars gets the vote out, etc.

Posted on August 19, 2013 by David McKee

In the face of iffy local support for its Suffolk Downs project, Caesars Entertainment has surrogates going door to door in East Boston, selling voters on the proposal’s virtues. Given the Latino majority among Easties, that’s where Caesars is targeting … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Donald Trump, Hard Rock International, Harrah's, Harry Reid, Massachusetts, Mohegan Sun, Penn National, Politics, Tourism, Transportation | 3 Comments

This land is their land; Tight money in Pennsylvania

Posted on August 16, 2013 by David McKee

Tribal casinos aren’t just for reservations anymore and it’s becoming a coast-to-coast phenomenon. California legislators already approved one off-reservation casino, to be managed by Station Casinos. The Enterprise Rancheria of the Estom Yumeka Maidu would like to be second. They … Continue reading →

Posted in California, Current, Economy, Foxwoods, Harrah's, history, Massachusetts, Mohegan Sun, Neil Bluhm, Ohio, Penn National, Pennsylvania, Politics, Regulation, Sheldon Adelson, Station Casinos, Tribal, Wall Street | 1 Comment