Category Archives: Racinos

Savior for Showboat?; Steve Wynn to build locals casino

Posted on September 16, 2015 by David McKee

Bart Blatstein has emerged as the potential savior for the Showboat, currently a millstone around Stockton University‘s neck. If so, it will be a bittersweet coup for the developer, as it’s the second time he’s missed out on a gaming … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Charity, Economy, Glenn Straub, Harrah's, International, Marketing, Massachusetts, New York, Racinos, Steve Wynn, Taxes, The Strip, Trump Entertainment Resorts | 2 Comments

Gural doubles down; Royal brouhaha

Posted on September 11, 2015 by David McKee

Jeffrey Gural wants a casino in New York State so bad he can taste it — or at least invest $82 million of his own money in it. It’s refreshing when a developer makes that kind of equity commitment. Gural’s … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, Dining, New York, Racinos, Regulation, The Strip | Comments Off

Indiana stumbles; “Green shoots” in Macao

Posted on September 9, 2015 by David McKee

Foot traffic was down 15% in Indiana casinos last month and even though players spent 10%, it wasn’t quite enough to stave off a 7% decline. (The numbers are worse if you don’t count free play as revenue, which Indiana … Continue reading →

Posted in Boyd Gaming, Economy, Full House Resorts, Genting, GLPI, Harrah's, Indiana, Internet gambling, Macau, Ohio, Penn National, Pinnacle Entertainment, Racinos, Singapore | Comments Off

Potential free-for-all in Massachusetts; Tribal triumph in Alabama

Posted on September 4, 2015 by David McKee

Massachusetts Attorney General Maura Healey took time out from impeding Steve Wynn‘s Everett casino to run a cart and horses through the Legislature’s carefully crafted three-casinos-and-one-slot-parlor formula. She approved a ballot question that seemed tailor-made to give Suffolk Downs racino status, … Continue reading →

Posted in Alabama, Atlantic City, Delaware, Election, Harrah's, Internet gambling, Massachusetts, Pennsylvania, Racinos, Regulation, Sheldon Adelson, Steve Wynn, Technology, Tribal | Comments Off

Bidding war in cyberspace; Adelson flexes Macao muscles

Posted on September 2, 2015 by David McKee

Having been outbid by GVC Holdings and jilted by Bwin.Party Digital Entertainment, Israeli-based 888 Holdings is upping the ante again in what is shaping up as the bidding war of the year. Meanwhile, Internet gamblers can look forward to a new … Continue reading →

Posted in Galaxy Entertainment, International, Macau, Neil Bluhm, New York, Racinos, Sheldon Adelson, Stanley Ho | Comments Off

Isle trends upward; Free the Texas ponies!

Posted on September 2, 2015 by David McKee

Add Isle of Capri Casinos to the list of companies enjoying a positive turn in their fortunes. It reported an operating profit of $57.5 million, a 15% increase. The biggest cash cow was Isle Pompano Park, hauling in $42 million, … Continue reading →

Posted in Arkansas, Colorado, Florida, Horseracing, IGT, Iowa, Isle of Capri, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, Pennsylvania, Politics, Racinos, Technology, Texas, Tilman Fertitta, Wall Street | 2 Comments

The Penn National effect strikes again

Posted on August 21, 2015 by David McKee

Penn National Gaming is “making it rain” in Plainview, where it has spent $1.5 million with local vendors since opening. The workforce at Plainridge Park has gone from 100 to 533, with a $14 million payroll. And the state has … Continue reading →

Posted in Economy, Harrah's, Macau, Massachusetts, Penn National, Racinos, Regulation, Taxes, Tourism | Comments Off

Massachusetts: Penn has a hit; Arms race in New York

Posted on August 19, 2015 by David McKee

First-month numbers are in for Plainridge Park and the racino run by Penn National Gaming took in an average of $467/slot/day (including a $6.15 million gross its first week). That’s an absolute blockbuster figure in an industry where $200/day is … Continue reading →

Posted in Genting, Harrah's, Internet gambling, Massachusetts, MGM Mirage, New York, Penn National, Racinos, Sheldon Adelson, Steve Wynn, Technology, Tribal | Comments Off

Isle abandons ship; Borgata crushes Atlantic City; Radical move from Full House

Posted on August 12, 2015 by David McKee

Faced with a casino that had been generating negative return on investment for the past two years, Isle of Capri Casinos announced it was closing its 15-year-old Natchez riverboat and selling the accompanying hotel to Magnolia Bluffs Casino for $11.5 million. The … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Boyd Gaming, Dan Lee, Indiana, Isle of Capri, Majestic Star, Mississippi, Ohio, Politics, Racinos, Wall Street | 1 Comment

Midwest shakes off malaise

Posted on August 10, 2015 by David McKee

Yes, there was an extra weekend day this year but let’s look at the glass half-full, as regional gaming markets shook off their malaise. Illinois was up 2% despite mild weakness in the St. Louis market. Empress Joliet (+10%) was … Continue reading →

Posted in Ameristar, Boyd Gaming, Dan Gilbert, Economy, Hard Rock International, Harrah's, Horseracing, Illinois, Indiana, Isle of Capri, Majestic Star, MGM Mirage, Missouri, Neil Bluhm, Ohio, Penn National, Pinnacle Entertainment, Racinos, Wall Street | Comments Off

Lucky Horseshoe for Maryland; Old McDonald had a casino

Posted on August 6, 2015 by David McKee

What would have been a revenue-negative July for Maryland casinos turned into their biggest month ever, thanks to Horseshoe Baltimore. Gaming revenue rose more $23 million, with all that and more coming from the Caesars Entertainment property. While the casino is … Continue reading →

Posted in Cordish Co., Cretins, Harrah's, Maryland, New York, Penn National, Racinos, Regulation, The Strip, Westgate LV | 1 Comment

Shocker in Massachusetts; Successes and setbacks for Penn

Posted on July 27, 2015 by David McKee

In a stunning reversal of fortune, KG Urban Enterprises has ditched its $650 million New Bedford casino project, citing financial difficulties. This ends seven years of grinding effort to gain civic acceptance, which culminated in a landslide electoral victory earlier … Continue reading →

Posted in Election, Environment, Florida, Foxwoods, GLPI, Illinois, Internet gambling, Maine, Massachusetts, Neil Bluhm, Ohio, Penn National, Pennsylvania, Racinos, Regulation, Scientific Games, Steve Wynn, Taxes, Tribal, Wall Street | Comments Off

Boyd gets Wall Street love; Louisiana expansion slows

Posted on July 24, 2015 by David McKee

Boyd Gaming doesn’t make Wall Street‘s hit parade very often, so this morning’s dispatch from Deutsche Bank‘s Carlo Santarelli the more remarkable. “The improving regional [gross gaming revenue] climate and intense cost disciplines take our forecasts, and subsequently, our Price Target … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Downtown, Economy, Eldorado Resorts, Harrah's, Isle of Capri, Louisiana, MGM Mirage, Penn National, Pinnacle Entertainment, Racinos, The Strip, Tilman Fertitta, Wall Street | 1 Comment

SLS: The news just gets worse

Posted on July 17, 2015 by David McKee

Despite SLS Las Vegas having lost $183 million in its first eight months of operation, against pitiful revenues of $88 million, President Scott Kreeger insists that owner Stockbridge Capital is in it for the long haul. It has to be, Sam … Continue reading →

Posted in Alabama, Entertainment, International, Internet gambling, Marketing, Politics, Racinos, Revel, Sam Nazarian, SLS Las Vegas, Station Casinos, Taxes, Wall Street | 3 Comments

The lion grumbles; Is Alabama casino-ready?

Posted on July 16, 2015 by David McKee

MGM Resorts International is not going to sit idly by while the State of Connecticut tries to horn in on MGM Springfield‘s business. MGM President William Hornbuckle said the company was “not going to go peacefully” but would not give … Continue reading →

Posted in Alabama, Atlantic City, Foxwoods, Iowa, Macau, Maryland, Massachusetts, MGM Mirage, Mohegan Sun, Penn National, Politics, Racinos, Singapore, Steve Wynn, Taxes, The Strip, Warner Gaming | Comments Off

Stale fare for New York; Web sites taken hostage

Posted on July 7, 2015 by David McKee

New York gaming regulators gave the state’s southern tier a second chance to submit plans for a casino — and they got leftovers. The only bidder was Tioga Downs owner Jeff Gural (left) who essentially proposed a supersized, $145 million version … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Colony Capital, Cordish Co., Entertainment, Harrah's, Internet gambling, Maryland, Massachusetts, New York, Racinos, Regulation, Technology, Tribal | 1 Comment

From Russia with baccarat; Massachusetts tribe has no quit in it

Posted on July 6, 2015 by David McKee

North Korean, South Korean and northern Chinese punters will relatively soon have at least two opportunities to take short-hop flights to Vladivostok, where two casinos — relatively modest in budget by American standards — are in progress. The junior of the … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, CityCenter, Donald Trump, history, International, Lawrence Ho, Massachusetts, New York, Racinos, Regulation, Slot routes, Technology, The Strip, Tribal | Comments Off

Ruffin loses in Kansas; Expanded New Jersey gambling dissed

Posted on June 26, 2015 by David McKee

Three casino proposals were weighed in the balance and two were found wanting, as the Kansas State Lottery Gaming Facility Review Board sifted the pros and cons, ultimately settling on the lowest-budgeted of the contenders, Kansas Crossing. The project, named … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, International, Kansas, Marketing, Massachusetts, Mohegan Sun, Phil Ruffin, Politics, Racinos, Tribal | Comments Off

Quote of the Day

Posted on June 24, 2015 by David McKee

“I understand the desire to stick it to the tribe, given that it has outmaneuvered, well, everyone. But this lawsuit seems like a loser for the state … I haven’t seen any signs of plague ravaging the land. No frogs … Continue reading →

Posted in Arizona, Racinos, Taxes, Tribal | Comments Off

Election wins for Foxwoods, Golden Gaming; New boss at Beau Rivage

Posted on June 24, 2015 by David McKee

Almost lost in the excitement over the opening of Plainridge Park, in Plainview, is a little-reported event: New Bedford‘s vote on casino host-community status. To say that KG Urban Enterprises won is rather an understatement. It garnered 73% of votes cast, … Continue reading →

Posted in Current, Election, Foxwoods, Golden Gaming, Harrah's, Lyle Berman, Massachusetts, MGM Mirage, Mississippi, Neil Bluhm, Ohio, Penn National, Racinos, Regulation, Steve Wynn, Wall Street | Comments Off