Category Archives: Politics

For sale: One casino license, slightly used

Posted on December 27, 2010 by David McKee

Legislators are pressing for a free-market solution to debacle that was Foxwoods Philadelphia. Typical of Pennsylvania‘s overhasty implementation of casino gambling, nobody bothered to codify A) what to do with licenses that get revoked or B) whether to refund or … Continue reading →

Posted in Economy, Harrah's, Illinois, Indiana, Neil Bluhm, Pennsylvania, Politics, Racinos | 4 Comments

Oh little casino of Bethlehem

Posted on December 24, 2010 by David McKee

There’s a little something extra in the stockings of Pennsylvania casinos … a rather big something extra, actually. Keystone State casinos grossed 22% more than last November. Throw in a $15 million month at SugarHouse (below) and it’s a 31.5% … Continue reading →

Posted in Economy, Harrah's, International, Neil Bluhm, Penn National, Pennsylvania, Planet Hollywood, Politics, Racinos, Sheldon Adelson, Tribal, TV, Wall Street | Comments Off on Oh little casino of Bethlehem

‘Twere the Case Bets before Christmas

Posted on December 23, 2010 by David McKee

In the casino industry, everything was stirring, including the mice. Cordish’s revenge. It’s a dish best served by opening Cordish Gaming‘s controversial Arundel Mills gambling hall late next year with a temporary, one-year casino. That means karma comes early for … Continue reading →

Posted in Alex Yemenidjian, Animals, Cordish Co., Current, Downtown, Economy, Entertainment, G2E, Harrah's, Internet gambling, Macau, Maryland, MGM Mirage, Minnesota, Ohio, Penn National, Pennsylvania, Politics, Racinos, Singapore, The Mob, The Strip, Tilman Fertitta, Tourism, Tribal, Wall Street | Comments Off on ‘Twere the Case Bets before Christmas

NLRB deals Wynn a rebuke; The twilight of Stanley Ho

Posted on December 17, 2010 by David McKee

Steve Wynn has enjoyed so many victories in his long-running battle with his casino dealers that he was perhaps overdue for a loss. It came yesterday when the National Labor Relations Board ruled that Wynn Resorts had engaged in retaliation … Continue reading →

Posted in Charity, Current, Election, Iowa, Kansas, Louisiana, Macau, Movies, Politics, Racinos, Regulation, Sheldon Adelson, Stanley Ho, Steve Wynn, The Strip, Tourism, Tribal | 1 Comment

Horseshoe Philadelphia goes into deep freeze

Posted on December 17, 2010 by David McKee

After four interminable years, that on-again/off-again casino project on the Philadelphia waterfront has been put out of its misery. Comcast‘s Ed Snider, his fellow juiced-in investors and putative savior Caesars Entertainment had the rug yanked from beneath them in a … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Charity, Current, Economy, Harrah's, Maryland, Pennsylvania, Politics, Regulation, Station Casinos, Steve Wynn, Tribal | Comments Off on Horseshoe Philadelphia goes into deep freeze

Quote of the Day

Posted on December 13, 2010 by David McKee

“Certainly Vegas interests will be well served by this, but this is first and foremost a consumer protection issue and an opportunity for job creation and revenue for governments. If lawmakers believe the status quo is acceptable, they’re not facing … Continue reading →

Posted in Current, Internet gambling, Politics, Regulation, Taxes | Comments Off on Quote of the Day

Case Bets: Caliendo, ColSux & Sixty Votes’ latest

Posted on December 10, 2010 by David McKee

After 14 months on the job as Monte Carlo‘s resident headliner, Frank Caliendo is calling it quits, effective some time next spring. The impressionist and Fox Sports regular cited having to spend time away from his family and the rigors … Continue reading →

Posted in Columbia Sussex, Current, Economy, Election, Entertainment, history, Kentucky, Lake Tahoe, MGM Mirage, Politics, Sahara, Station Casinos, The Strip, Tribal, Wall Street | 1 Comment

Sheldon Adelson is so busted

Posted on December 10, 2010 by David McKee

Congratulations, Sheldon Adelson! You’ve just upped your street cred — and become the butt of 1,001 pimp jokes. Is the Las Vegas Sands CEO going to start hangin’ with Snoop Dogg and 50 Cent (or maybe Eliot Spitzer and Hugh … Continue reading →

Posted in Entertainment, G2E, Internet gambling, Macau, Marketing, Massachusetts, Midnight Jim Gibbons, Pennsylvania, Planet Hollywood, Politics, Regulation, Sheldon Adelson, Singapore, Stanley Ho, Steve Wynn, Texas, The Mob, The Strip, Tourism | 1 Comment

Case Bets: Adelson vs. China; Cirque du Avatar? Indiana wallops Illinois

Posted on December 8, 2010 by David McKee

In a lengthy Asia Times dispatch, the reliable Muhammad Cohen runs through various scenarios about why the government of Macao would pull back two Cotai Strip™ sites from a ‘george’ investor like Las Vegas Sands. Since the acreage will probably … Continue reading →

Posted in Ameristar, Atlantic City, Cirque du Soleil, Colony Capital, Economy, Entertainment, Harrah's, Illinois, Indiana, Macau, MGM Mirage, Movies, Ohio, Penn National, Politics, Racinos, Sheldon Adelson, Stanley Ho, Steve Wynn, Tribal | 3 Comments

Old Sixty Votes folds again; Butera’s blunder

Posted on December 8, 2010 by David McKee

Hey, Harry Reid, the casino industry called. It wants its money back. In all-too-predictable collapse, Old Sixty Votes threw in the towel on efforts to explicitly legalize online poker in the U.S. Since the issue is now dead for two … Continue reading →

Posted in Carl Icahn, Columbia Sussex, Current, Election, Harrah's, Harry Reid, Horseracing, IGT, Indiana, International, Internet gambling, MGM Mirage, Mississippi, Politics, Sheldon Adelson, Station Casinos, Tribal, Wall Street | 1 Comment

Quote of the Day

Posted on December 8, 2010 by David McKee

“Even though Democrats still have the majority, the perception is that Republicans are in charge. And being the party of ‘no’ has worked in Republicans’ favor.” — gaming-law expert I. Nelson Rose, betting against legalization of Internet poker.

Posted in Current, Harry Reid, Internet gambling, Politics | 1 Comment

Cosmo rides the wave; Old Sixty Votes rides again

Posted on December 7, 2010 by David McKee

It may be $1.9 billion over budget and 2.5 years behind schedule but The Cosmopolitan appears to be hitting the market with perfect timing. That’s good news for the 5,000 employees who are furiously getting acclimated with the new megaresort. … Continue reading →

Posted in CityCenter, Cosmopolitan, Current, Economy, Harrah's, Harry Reid, history, International, Internet gambling, MGM Mirage, Politics, Regulation, Sheldon Adelson, Steve Wynn, Taxes, The Strip, Tribal, Wall Street | 1 Comment

Illinois: No end in sight; Boyd gets some love

Posted on December 7, 2010 by David McKee

“So much for a [gross gaming revenue] stabilization,” sighed analyst Joseph Greff in a J.P. Morgan investor note, after Illinois‘ casino revenues dropped 7% in November. Whenever you think the Land of Lincoln’s casinos have hit bottom, they sink lower … Continue reading →

Posted in Boulder Strip, Boyd Gaming, Current, Downtown, Economy, Harrah's, Illinois, Isle of Capri, MGM Mirage, Missouri, Penn National, Pinnacle Entertainment, Politics, Taxes | 3 Comments

They’re just wild about Harry

Posted on December 3, 2010 by David McKee

An Alexandra Berzon byline in the Wall Street Journal, picked up by Politico.com (and forwarded to S&G by reader Hpark4) makes it implicitly clear why the casino industry’s Job One during the recent election cycle was to keep Sen. Harry … Continue reading →

Posted in Current, Harrah's, Harry Reid, Internet gambling, Louisiana, Planet Hollywood, Politics, Reno, Steve Wynn, World Series of Poker | 1 Comment

Good news, bad news in Atlantic City; Feinstein: “Stay on the rez!”; Buffalo Bill’s rides again

Posted on December 2, 2010 by David McKee

For once, however, it’s mostly good. Almost entirely good, in fact. The headline item is that Dennis Gomes‘ purchase of Resorts Atlantic City has cleared licensing, sweeping out the disastrous Colony Capital era. Gomes and financier Morris Bailey say $31.5 … Continue reading →

Posted in Alex Yemenidjian, Atlantic City, California, Colony Capital, Cosmopolitan, Current, Dining, Donald Trump, Economy, Harry Reid, Herbst Gaming, M Resort, Marketing, Mississippi, Morgans Hotel Group, Penn National, Politics, Regulation, Sports, Technology, The Strip, Tribal, TV | 4 Comments

What if Loveman spoke and nobody cared?

Posted on December 2, 2010 by David McKee

That’s pretty much what happened after the Caesars Entertainment CEO’s damp squib of a “keynote” (more like a footnote) address to the Global Gaming Expo faithful. The disorganized, sometimes incomprehensible jeremiad laid an Imperial Palace-sized egg. For instance, why aren’t … Continue reading →

Posted in Cordish Co., Election, Harrah's, Maryland, Massachusetts, Ohio, Penn National, Politics | Comments Off on What if Loveman spoke and nobody cared?

‘Net betting: Wait til 2013 … or 2015 … or 2017 … or …

Posted on November 15, 2010 by David McKee

That was the consensus of a G2E panel that featured former California legislator Lloyd Levine, CNIGA Director of Government Affairs Jerome Encinas and Harrah’s Entertainment‘s top lobbyist, Jan Jones. With HR 2267 still several steps shy of passage and its … Continue reading →

Posted in California, Current, Election, Florida, G2E, Harrah's, Harry Reid, International, Internet gambling, MGM Mirage, Politics, Sheldon Adelson, Taxes, The Strip, Tribal | 3 Comments

Sheldon Adelson, beard

Posted on November 9, 2010 by David McKee

Last week, S&G unearthed a contribution from self-professed “too liberal” Sheldon Adelson to flaming homophobe Rep. Michele Bachmann (R-MN). Turns out, she’s not the only apostle of intolerance with whom Adelson has crept under the covers. Last Sunday, the Las … Continue reading →

Posted in Election, Harrah's, International, Macau, MGM Mirage, Midnight Jim Gibbons, Politics, Sheldon Adelson, Steve Wynn | 8 Comments

Juice job of 2011

Posted on November 8, 2010 by David McKee

Harrah’s Entertainment and the AFL-CIO have collected the requisite 20,000 signatures to place its request for a publicly funded stadium out back of Imperial Palace (currently a vast, dark wasteland) before Nevada solons. CEO Gary Loveman would throw in some … Continue reading →

Posted in Archon Corp., Economy, Election, Harrah's, Politics, Sports, Taxes, The Strip, Tourism | 2 Comments

Quote of the Day

Posted on November 4, 2010 by David McKee

“I’m not into psychoanalyzing people, I don’t have the background for that, but he just doesn’t seem particularly happy with everything and every success that he’s had.” — Rep. Shelley Berkley (D-NV) on former boss Sheldon Adelson. The latter’s 2010 … Continue reading →

Posted in Election, Politics, Sheldon Adelson | 1 Comment