Category Archives: Politics

Dan Lee calls it quits; Who let Big Dawg’s out?

Posted on March 14, 2012 by David McKee

Having seen the handwriting on the wall, Dan Lee has sold his Creative Casinos of Louisiana to regional rival Ameristar Casinos for a measly $32.5 million. Bankers were having difficulty computing Lee + Lake Charles = Mojito Pointe. Financing prospects … Continue reading →

Posted in Ameristar, Current, Dan Lee, Economy, Georgia, Internet gambling, Iowa, Louisiana, Marketing, Massachusetts, MGM Mirage, Pinnacle Entertainment, Politics, Regulation, Wall Street | 4 Comments

R.I.P., Dennis Gomes; Casino avalanche in Michigan; Life after UIGEA

Posted on March 8, 2012 by David McKee

There are few real characters in the casino industry anymore. Dennis Gomes (1944-2012) was one of them. His recent death put a premature “full stop” on one of the most colorful and wide-ranging careers gaming has seen. After all, how … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Colony Capital, Dennis Gomes, Detroit, Donald Trump, Economy, Election, Harrah's, history, Illinois, International, Internet gambling, Marketing, MGM Mirage, Movies, Ohio, Penn National, Pokergeddon, Politics, Problem gambling, Regulation, The Mob, The Strip, Tribal | Comments Off on R.I.P., Dennis Gomes; Casino avalanche in Michigan; Life after UIGEA

Wynn vs. Okada: Payback Time

Posted on February 20, 2012 by David McKee

Looks like Kazuo Okada brought a knife to a gunfight with Steve Wynn. The latter has spent the last year having former FBI boss Louis Freeh and sundry investigators check up on Okada — and what a lot of dirt … Continue reading →

Posted in Current, Election, Florida, Genting, International, Macau, Massachusetts, MGM Mirage, Politics, Regulation, Sheldon Adelson, Steve Wynn, The Strip, Wall Street | 4 Comments

Sands’ new strategy: Blame Genting; Big Gaming backs Romney

Posted on February 15, 2012 by David McKee

First, the good news. Las Vegas Sands is signaling that it is not going to take its ball and come home from Florida, regardless of what lobbyist Nick Iarossi said last week. However, Sands’ emissary to the Sunshine State, Andy … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Carl Icahn, Colony Capital, Current, Donald Trump, Downtown, Economy, Election, Florida, Genting, Goldman Sachs, Harrah's, International, Internet gambling, LVCVA, Politics, Sheldon Adelson, Station Casinos, Steve Wynn, Tamares Group, The Strip, Tropicana Entertainment, Wall Street | 1 Comment

Fire sale at Caesars; Harvey vs. The Mob

Posted on February 10, 2012 by David McKee

Money problems at Caesars Entertainment are worse than we thought. According to the New York Post, the company is trying to shop as many as 10 Midwestern casinos in order to raise $500 million in development capital. The money would … Continue reading →

Posted in Harrah's, Harry Reid, Illinois, Indiana, International, Iowa, Isle of Capri, Louisiana, Maryland, Mississippi, Missouri, Ohio, Politics, Racinos, Regulation, Reno, The Mob, Tribal, Wall Street | 1 Comment

Bluhm, Boyd win in Illinois, everyone else loses

Posted on February 7, 2012 by David McKee

Well, not quite but the headline pretty much gives you January’s narrative in a nutshell. After backing out the contribution made by Neil Bluhm‘s new, category-killing Rivers Casino in Des Plaines, gambling revenue from the Land of Lincoln was a … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Boyd Gaming, Carl Icahn, Columbia Sussex, Culinary Union, Current, Harrah's, Illinois, International, Internet gambling, MGM Mirage, Neil Bluhm, Penn National, Politics, Racinos, Regulation, Slot routes, Tilman Fertitta, Tropicana Entertainment, Wall Street | 1 Comment

And then there were three; What’s next in Florida?; New problem for Illinois

Posted on February 6, 2012 by David McKee

While the rest of America was betting on a little thing we call the Super Bowl … Unless it can find somebody to relieve it of a fourth and final gaming license, in southeastern Kansas, the Sunflower State’s casino-expansion program … Continue reading →

Posted in Election, Genting, Illinois, Kansas, Massachusetts, Penn National, Politics, Racinos, Sheldon Adelson, Sports, Taxes, Tribal | 2 Comments

Epic failure in Florida; Epic blowhard in Vegas

Posted on February 3, 2012 by David McKee

Neither the very conspicuous efforts of Genting Berhad and Las Vegas Sands nor the quieter ones of Wynn Resorts and Caesars Entertainment were sufficient to overcome entrenched conservatism in the Florida Legislature. State Rep. Erik Fresen (R) waved the surrender … Continue reading →

Posted in Current, Donald Trump, Economy, Election, Genting, Harrah's, Internet gambling, Isle of Capri, Politics, Racinos, Regulation, Sheldon Adelson, Steve Wynn, The Strip, Tribal | 1 Comment

Dear Floridians …; Mission unfinished; Blue skies

Posted on January 30, 2012 by David McKee

Sarah Palin says, “vote for Newt, annoy a liberal, vote Newt.” I say, “Vote Newt, please, because the concurrent stream of Sheldon Adelson stories is a blogger’s dream come true. Keep that gravy train going!” (Besides, it’s had the side … Continue reading →

Posted in Ameristar, Atlantic City, Current, Election, Environment, Florida, Harrah's, International, Louisiana, Marketing, Massachusetts, Mississippi, New York, Ohio, Penn National, Politics, Problem gambling, Sheldon Adelson, South Carolina, Steve Wynn, TV | 3 Comments

Illinois: Not cricket; Boyd’s not going to like *this*: Death Ray: The sequel

Posted on January 25, 2012 by David McKee

Hardly had the outlines for a gaming-expansion compromise been leaked from the Illinois governor’s mansion when state Speaker of the House Michael Madigan (D, right) nixed the idea — or at least the prospect of a deal getting done in … Continue reading →

Posted in Boyd Gaming, CityCenter, Current, Election, Environment, Hawaii, Illinois, Louisiana, Politics, Sheldon Adelson, Taxes, Vdara Death Ray | 3 Comments

Miller Time in Maryland; The sorrows of Marrandino

Posted on January 20, 2012 by David McKee

No question about it, THE gaming-industry story of 2011 was both an economic and political one: How the Great Recession has essentially broken the back of anti-gambling resistance in the corridors of American power. We can see it up and … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Boyd Gaming, Cordish Co., Current, Dan Lee, Economy, Entertainment, Harrah's, Louisiana, Maryland, MGM Mirage, Pinnacle Entertainment, Politics, Taxes, Tropicana Entertainment | Comments Off on Miller Time in Maryland; The sorrows of Marrandino

Illinois: They shoot horses, don’t they?; Friday film festival

Posted on January 20, 2012 by David McKee

Score another round for Illinois Gov. Pat Quinn (D): By threatening a drawn-out negotiation process that would put casino expansion hard up against election season — with lawmakers facing the terra incognita of redrawn districts — he may have forced … Continue reading →

Posted in Economy, Election, Environment, Harrah's, Horseracing, Illinois, Internet gambling, Missouri, Ohio, Penn National, Politics, Racinos, Regulation, Rhode Island, Taxes, Tribal | Comments Off on Illinois: They shoot horses, don’t they?; Friday film festival

Florida: How much is too much?; Sheldon Adelson, ventriloquist

Posted on January 20, 2012 by David McKee

Those $2 billion megaresorts mooted for Florida will have a much easier time making their nut if state Rep. Erik Fresen (R, left) holds sway. In an attempt to woo recalcitrant conservatives, Fresen is proposing various restraints on gambling’s growth … Continue reading →

Posted in Economy, Election, Florida, Fontainebleau, Genting, International, Internet gambling, Isle of Capri, Macau, Politics, Racinos, Sheldon Adelson, Tourism | 1 Comment

Another domino wobbles; Western, R.I.P.; Fighting over pocket change?

Posted on January 17, 2012 by David McKee

Add South Carolina to the list of states that could be suddenly taking a more favorable view of casino gambling. What the United Keetowa Band of Cherokee Indians is pitching have to be compacted with Gov. Nikki Haley (R, right). … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, California, Downtown, history, Internet gambling, Iowa, Kansas, Missouri, Ohio, Penn National, Politics, Regulation, South Carolina, Tamares Group, Tribal | 2 Comments

Train robbery in D.C.

Posted on January 16, 2012 by David McKee

As the online-gambling gravy train begins leaving in the station, members of Congress are making one last attempt to derail it. After all, once New Jersey, Illinois, California, the District of Columbia and so forth set up shop as havens … Continue reading →

Posted in California, Columbia Sussex, Cordish Co., Current, Harrah's, Harry Reid, Illinois, Indiana, Internet gambling, Politics, Problem gambling, Racinos, Regulation, Taxes, Tropicana Entertainment | Comments Off on Train robbery in D.C.

Sheldon Adelson, wuss; MGM pounces; Slipper-y logic; Enter whining

Posted on January 12, 2012 by David McKee

What manner of fool spends $5 million to disseminate a film that he’s never seen and whose content he claims not to endorse? Sheldon Adelson, that’s who. After his latest political favorite got clobbered in the New Hampshire primary, Adelson … Continue reading →

Posted in Alex Yemenidjian, Ameristar, Cordish Co., Dan Lee, Donald Trump, Economy, Election, Harrah's, Iowa, Isle of Capri, Jack Binion, Louisiana, Massachusetts, Mississippi, Movies, Neil Bluhm, Penn National, Pennsylvania, Pinnacle Entertainment, Politics, Racinos, Regulation, Sheldon Adelson, Station Casinos, Tourism, Transportation, Tribal, Tropicana Entertainment, TV | Comments Off on Sheldon Adelson, wuss; MGM pounces; Slipper-y logic; Enter whining

Quote of the Day

Posted on January 11, 2012 by David McKee

“My point is, we should go full speed ahead.” — fiscally reckless Illinois state Rep. Lou Lang, pimping exponential casino expansion. Say, isn’t that what the captain of the R.M.S. Titanic said? Or maybe it was a Japanese kamikaze pilot … Continue reading →

Posted in Economy, Illinois, Politics | 3 Comments

Belated Christmas presents

Posted on January 10, 2012 by David McKee

Good news is busting out all over, starting in the unlikeliest place … Atlantic City. Ye Olde Boardwalk was up 4% last month, its first revenue-positive month in 15 quarters. Even a 10% fall in table drop couldn’t put a … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Boyd Gaming, Colony Capital, Current, Dennis Gomes, Donald Trump, Economy, Election, Genting, Harrah's, Horseracing, Illinois, Neil Bluhm, New York, Pennsylvania, Politics, Racinos, Sheldon Adelson, Tilman Fertitta, Tribal, Tropicana Entertainment, Wall Street | 1 Comment

Sunshine State sap

Posted on January 10, 2012 by David McKee

Backers of Florida casinos, working under the rubric of Associated Industries of Florida, evidently take voters down there for simpletons. Their ‘See Spot Run’ pitch for casino-based destination resorts describes something that sounds very much like Venelazzo or Wynncore, then … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, Atlantic City, Boyd Gaming, Florida, history, Macau, Marketing, MGM Mirage, Politics, Sheldon Adelson, Singapore, Steve Wynn, The Strip, Tourism, Tribal | Comments Off on Sunshine State sap

Adelson: Whining our future; The online deluge

Posted on January 9, 2012 by David McKee

Apparently there’s no avoiding what has become the story of the day: Sheldon Adelson‘s $5 million dowry to presidential aspirant Newt Gingrich. It’s a gift that comes with a substantial pre-nup; if Gingrich falters in South Carolina, American Crossroads and … Continue reading →

Posted in Alex Yemenidjian, Atlantic City, Boyd Gaming, Colony Capital, Current, Economy, Election, Florida, George Maloof, Harrah's, Harry Reid, Hooters, International, Internet gambling, Marketing, Massachusetts, MGM Mirage, Pennsylvania, Politics, Regulation, Sheldon Adelson, South Carolina, The Strip, Wall Street | 4 Comments