Category Archives: Problem gambling

Sisolak victimizes the vulnerable

Posted on July 21, 2020 by David McKee

During the Great Recession, then-Gov. Jim Gibbons (R, above) committed a depraved act by raiding Nevada‘s problem-gambling fund to plug some holes in the state budget. Not to be outdone, Gov. Steve Sisolak (D) is following in Midnight Jim’s footsteps. … Continue reading →

Posted in AGA, Baseball, Caesars Entertainment, California, Card rooms, Culinary Union, Genting, Health, history, Internet gambling, Jim Murren, Macau, MGM Resorts International, Midnight Jim Gibbons, Nevada, Politics, Problem gambling, Real Estate, Regulation, Scientific Games, Sports betting, Steve Wynn, Tribal | 2 Comments

Atlantic City gets good news; Stanley Ho canonized

Posted on June 2, 2020 by David McKee

July 4 could spell independence for Atlantic City casinos, judging by recent statements from New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy (D). In a radio interview he said, “It’s probably still too early to give you a very specific answer but there’s a … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Boyd Gaming, Derek Stevens, Health, International, Internet gambling, Iowa, Macau, Marketing, MGM Resorts International, Missouri, New Jersey, Ohio, Problem gambling, Regulation, Stanley Ho, Twin River, Wall Street | 1 Comment

Northam covets slot tax; CEO suddenly out at Foxwoods

Posted on April 16, 2020 by David McKee

In Gov. Ralph Northam‘s Virginia there are two inevitabilities: death from Coronavirus and taxation of black-market slot routes. Northam wants to legitimize the devices (their unsanitary properties notwithstanding) in order to collect taxes off them. He rationalizes the move by … Continue reading →

Posted in e-sports, Economy, Foxwoods, Health, International, Internet gambling, Politics, Problem gambling, Resorts World LV, Slot routes, Sports, Sports betting, Taxes, The Strip, Virginia, William Hill | Comments Off on Northam covets slot tax; CEO suddenly out at Foxwoods

No recovery in Macao

Posted on April 3, 2020 by David McKee

Despite the lifting of a government quarantine, casino revenues in Macao did not bounce back last month, down 80% to $664 million. That’s worse than forecast (70%). Tourism restrictions prompted by a second boomlet of Covid-19 in Macao didn’t help. … Continue reading →

Posted in China, Economy, Health, International, Internet gambling, Macau, Marketing, PokerStars, Politics, Problem gambling, Regulation, Technology, Tourism | Comments Off on No recovery in Macao

Pandemic … of black-market slots; Jobs market reels

Posted on April 2, 2020 by David McKee

Why didn’t social distancing in casinos work? Reports Frank Legato, “the Centers for Disease Control revealed that the Covid-19 virus can survive up to two or three days on stainless steel, plastic and other nonporous surfaces—like gaming machines. An industry … Continue reading →

Posted in Caesars Entertainment, Economy, Health, Illinois, International, Law enforcement, Missouri, Pennsylvania, Problem gambling, Regulation, Slot routes, Transportation, Wall Street | Comments Off on Pandemic … of black-market slots; Jobs market reels

Casinos in survival mode; Sports betting in Cali in peril

Posted on March 27, 2020 by David McKee

After this week’s stimulus vote in the U.S. Congress, the casino industry would seem to have ducked a bullet. But, depending on how much financial aid it can draw down, the question lingers over whether any operators will have to file … Continue reading →

Posted in Boyd Gaming, Caesars Entertainment, California, Charity, Colorado, Economy, Election, Foxwoods, Full House Resorts, Golden Gaming, Health, Horseracing, Indiana, International, Internet gambling, Las Vegas Sands, Louisiana, MGM Resorts International, Mohegan Sun, Nevada, Oklahoma, Penn National, Problem gambling, Regulation, Sports betting, Station Casinos, Tourism, Transportation, Tribal, Wall Street, Wynn Resorts | 1 Comment

Wynn Resorts defended; Trump stiffs hotel employees

Posted on March 24, 2020 by David McKee

JP Morgan analyst Joseph Greff came riding to the aid of Wynn Resorts this week. “COVID-19’s evolving impact has created a lot of share price carnage in the gaming and lodging sector, to state the obvious. Its impact should be … Continue reading →

Posted in China, Current, Donald Trump, Downtown Grand, Economy, Environment, Florida, Health, International, Internet gambling, Macau, Marketing, Massachusetts, MGM Resorts International, Problem gambling, Regulation, The Strip, Tourism, Unite-Here, Wall Street, Wynn Resorts | 2 Comments

Dream on (really); Golden gets downgrade

Posted on March 2, 2020 by David McKee

Dream on the south Las Vegas Strip is looking more like reality, Shopoff Real Estate Investments having purchased the requisite 5.25 acres. The exact location will be at the Strip at Russell Road, just south of Mandalay Bay. Calling the … Continue reading →

Posted in Conventions, Economy, Golden Gaming, Horseracing, Kansas, Las Vegas Raiders, Lotteries, Phil Ruffin, Politics, Problem gambling, Sports betting, Station Casinos, Taxes, The Strip, Wall Street | Comments Off on Dream on (really); Golden gets downgrade

Bank rides to Churchill Downs’ rescue; Las Vegas healthy

Posted on March 2, 2020 by David McKee

Last week Churchill Downs posted perfectly good 4Q19 numbers but Wall Street wasn’t buying it. CHDN shares slumped 14%. That prompted some weekend damage control from JP Morgan, which bumped its rating up from “neutral” to “overweight,” and sent analyst … Continue reading →

Posted in Caesars Entertainment, China, Conventions, Donald Trump, Economy, Eldorado Resorts, Health, history, Horseracing, Illinois, Indiana, International, Kentucky, Marketing, Problem gambling, Regulation, Rhode Island, Slot routes, Sports, Sports betting, The Strip, Tourism, Transportation, Tribal, Wall Street, Washington State, William Hill, Wynn Resorts | Comments Off on Bank rides to Churchill Downs’ rescue; Las Vegas healthy

Bennett returns, Aguilera leaves, Adelsons idolized

Posted on March 2, 2020 by David McKee

The Las Vegas Strip will be blessed for three nights in August, as Tony Bennett returns to The Venetian. He’ll play the 12th, 14th and 15th, with an assist from Antonia Bennett. Tickets start at $50, with a portion of … Continue reading →

Posted in Aristocrat, Boyd Gaming, CityCenter, Entertainment, Florida, Health, history, IGT, Indiana, Las Vegas Sands, Louisiana, Macau, Maine, Marijuana, MGM Resorts International, Oregon, Planet Hollywood, Problem gambling, Scientific Games, Scott Butera, Sheldon Adelson, Shuffle Master, Singapore, Sports, Sports betting, Technology, The Strip, Tribal, Wisconsin | 1 Comment

Nevada #1 in sin; AGA targets black-market slots

Posted on February 18, 2020 by David McKee

There used to be a saying that Nevada was at the top of all the bad lists and the bottom of all the good ones. How do you feel about this one? WalletHub has ranked Nevada as the “most sinful” … Continue reading →

Posted in AGA, Baseball, Entertainment, Las Vegas Sands, Law enforcement, Massachusetts, Nevada, Problem gambling, Regulation, The Strip, Wynn Resorts | Comments Off on Nevada #1 in sin; AGA targets black-market slots

Politicians play casino games

Posted on February 13, 2020 by David McKee

Crusty Maine Gov. Janet Mills (D) eked out a victory on sports betting when a veto-override vote in the Maine House of Representatives fell short of a two-thirds majority. The prudish Mills changed her message from an anti-gambling one to … Continue reading →

Posted in Churchill Downs, Culinary Union, Donald Trump, Election, Galaxy Entertainment, Genting, Health, International, Iowa, Las Vegas Sands, Law enforcement, Macau, Maine, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, Penn National, Politics, Problem gambling, Singapore, Sports betting | Comments Off on Politicians play casino games

DFS dealt major setback; Mills is grist

Posted on February 10, 2020 by David McKee

Daily fantasy sports was dealt a major setback when a New York State court ruled it unlawful. It was deemed that the Lege had exceeded its remit by classifying DFS as a game of skill, not of chance. New York … Continue reading →

Posted in Affinity Gaming, Churchill Downs, Connecticut, Crown Resorts, Detroit, DFS, Diversity, DraftKings, FanDuel, Foxwoods, International, Las Vegas Sands, Lotteries, Maine, Melco Resorts & Entertainment, MGM Resorts International, Mohegan Sun, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Penn National, Politics, Problem gambling, Regulation, Sports betting, Technology | Comments Off on DFS dealt major setback; Mills is grist

Penn/Barstool deal a home run; Blatstein lightens Showboat ship

Posted on January 31, 2020 by David McKee

Shares of Penn National Gaming jumped 12% on news of its 36% acquisition of Barstool Sports. Penn plans to unroll a Barstool-branded line of sports books, online applications and mobile-wagering services. Barstool, in turn, will promote Penn until 2060 … … Continue reading →

Posted in AGA, Atlantic City, Caesars Entertainment, Derek Stevens, Downtown, Fontainebleau, Golden Gaming, Hard Rock Hotel, Japan, Las Vegas Sands, LVCVA, Massachusetts, Maverick Gaming, MGM Resorts International, Palms, Penn National, Problem gambling, Regulation, Resorts World LV, Sports betting, Station Casinos, Steven Witkoff, Technology, The Strip, Tribal, Wall Street, Washington State, Wynn Resorts | 1 Comment

Quote of the Day

Posted on January 30, 2020 by David McKee

“Every night somewhere in America, somebody takes their life in a casino because they’ve wasted the last semblance of dignity and hope that they had. Families are ruined. Lives are ruined.”—Kentucky ex-Gov. Matt Bevin, in a statement he later pretended … Continue reading →

Posted in Cretins, Kentucky, Problem gambling | Comments Off on Quote of the Day

Penn pulls up a Barstool; Fear and trembling in Macao

Posted on January 29, 2020 by David McKee

As expected, Penn National Gaming bought a significant position in Barstool Sports, investing $135 million cash, $28 million PENN shares, and getting 36% of the two board seats and 36% of the company. The remainder is split between Chernin Group … Continue reading →

Posted in China, Derek Stevens, Dining, Donald Trump, Economy, Macau, Movies, Nevada, Penn National, Problem gambling, Reno, Rhode Island, Sports betting, Technology, Wall Street | Comments Off on Penn pulls up a Barstool; Fear and trembling in Macao

Encore owns Massachusetts; Harrah’s Reno (almost) sold

Posted on January 16, 2020 by David McKee

Massachusetts gaming-revenue numbers are out and Encore Boston Harbor is the story. It’s got 65% market share and $1.75 million casino win per day. MGM Springfield is far behind, with 19% market share and 600 dimes win per day, with … Continue reading →

Posted in Caesars Entertainment, CityCenter, history, Kansas, Louisiana, Massachusetts, MGM Resorts International, Missouri, Oklahoma, Penn National, Problem gambling, Reno, The Strip, Twin River, Wall Street, Wynn Resorts | Comments Off on Encore owns Massachusetts; Harrah’s Reno (almost) sold

New gambling ban in Britain; Casinos face uncertain Georgia future

Posted on January 15, 2020 by David McKee

Great Britain continues to crack down on gambling. As of April 14, Britons will no longer be able to bet with their credit cards. (Lottery tickets are exempted from the fatwa.) This comes on the heels of a reduction in the … Continue reading →

Posted in Aristocrat, Boyd Gaming, California, Cosmopolitan, Cretins, Diversity, G2E, Georgia, International, Internet gambling, Law enforcement, Politics, Problem gambling, Regulation, Taxes, Technology, Tribal | 3 Comments

Skins game; Major problem-gambling snafu in Britain

Posted on January 8, 2020 by David McKee

Two Internet powerhouses achieved the first accords for offering sports betting in Michigan. Beating The Stars Group to the punch by a day, PointsBet inked a pact with the Lac Vieux Desert Band of Lake Superior Chippewa Indians. Stars Group … Continue reading →

Posted in China, DraftKings, International, Internet gambling, Macau, MGM Resorts International, Michigan, PokerStars, Problem gambling, Sports betting, Tribal | Comments Off on Skins game; Major problem-gambling snafu in Britain

Stitt escalates Oklahoma conflict; The new N-word

Posted on January 6, 2020 by David McKee

Oklahoma Gov. Kevin Stitt‘s jihad against the state’s gaming tribes has claimed its first casualty. Secretary of Native American Affairs Lisa Billy resigned, writing that the governor was “committed to an unnecessary conflict … [You have] remained intent on breaking faith with them,” … Continue reading →

Posted in Churchill Downs, Connecticut, Genting, Hooters, International, Las Vegas Raiders, Marketing, Massachusetts, Movies, New York, Oklahoma, Problem gambling, Sexual misconduct, Sports, Sports betting, Taxes, Tribal, TV, Wynn Resorts | Comments Off on Stitt escalates Oklahoma conflict; The new N-word