Category Archives: Racinos

Mississippi bogged down; How much for Revel?

Posted on June 24, 2014 by David McKee

Still further evidence of gaming saturation comes from the Bayou State, where revenues have declined in 21 of the last 23 months — an Atlantic City-like declivity. Last month, the last full month of operations for Harrah’s Tunica, statewide revenues … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Economy, Hard Rock International, Maryland, MTR Gaming, Ohio, Penn National, Racinos, Regulation, Revel, West Virginia | Comments Off on Mississippi bogged down; How much for Revel?

Et tu, Thrillist?; Bed-hopping in N.Y.

Posted on June 23, 2014 by David McKee

Poor Sam Nazarian. He’s still two months away from opening SLS Las Vegas and Thrillist has gone and jumped the gun. It’s crowned The Cromwell “already Vegas coolest hotel.” Not even an unfinished parking garage could dampen their enthusiasm, motivated … Continue reading →

Posted in Churchill Downs, Cordish Co., Hard Rock International, Harrah's, Iowa, Massachusetts, MGM Mirage, Neil Bluhm, New York, Penn National, Racinos, The Strip, Tribal | Comments Off on Et tu, Thrillist?; Bed-hopping in N.Y.

New York, worker’s paradise; Tough call in Iowa

Posted on June 23, 2014 by David McKee

Casino workers in New York really can be assured of good-paying jobs. According figures released by the New York Hotel & Trades Council, a starting salary of $40,000 is quite plausible. Resorts World New York employees landed a contract last … Continue reading →

Posted in Economy, Genting, Iowa, New York, Penn National, Racinos, Regulation | Comments Off on New York, worker’s paradise; Tough call in Iowa

Revel bankrupt … again

Posted on June 20, 2014 by David McKee

Owned by former creditors, Revel Casino Hotel is dropping a bankruptcy on newer creditors. Hopefully this move will stave off the Aug. 18 closing (perhaps as late as Sept. 1.) that was threatened in a letter to employees yesterday, although the … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Delaware, Dining, Economy, Entertainment, Foxwoods, Harrah's, Maryland, Pennsylvania, Racinos, Revel, Rhode Island, Taxes | 1 Comment

Atlantic City courts the LGBT dollar; Indiana casinos court anybody’s dollar

Posted on June 17, 2014 by David McKee

Formerly a gay getaway, Atlantic City lost its LGBT-friendly image when the casinos came in 1978, or so the history goes. “When the casinos came, people were quick to bulldoze whatever they had to sell for millions, and we lost … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Boyd Gaming, Harrah's, Illinois, Kansas, Marketing, Ohio, Penn National, Pinnacle Entertainment, Racinos, Sam Nazarian, Slot routes, Taxes, The Strip, Tribal | Comments Off on Atlantic City courts the LGBT dollar; Indiana casinos court anybody’s dollar

Big vote on Boardwalk; Horsey antics in Texas

Posted on June 10, 2014 by David McKee

“It’s going to be a very complicated and difficult negotiation.” So admits Unite-Here President Robert McDevitt of the mid-September scrum when all the casino collective bargaining agreements come up for renewal. McDevitt’s still tasting victory from last week’s vote at … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Boyd Gaming, Donald Trump, Horseracing, Kentucky, MGM Mirage, Racinos, Regulation, Revel, Technology, Texas | Comments Off on Big vote on Boardwalk; Horsey antics in Texas

Indiana struggles, Ohio flourishes

Posted on June 10, 2014 by David McKee

Customers visited 8% in Indiana and spent 4% less. There were some salutary results. Pinnacle Entertainment‘s Ameristar East Chicago was up 2% and Boyd Gaming‘s Blue Chip saw revenues rise 3%. It was a big month for the racinos, with … Continue reading →

Posted in Ameristar, Boyd Gaming, Dining, Harrah's, Macau, Maryland, MTR Gaming, Ohio, Penn National, Pinnacle Entertainment, Racinos, Regulation, Scientific Games, Shuffle Master, Tropicana Entertainment, Wall Street | Comments Off on Indiana struggles, Ohio flourishes

New York: Promises and excuses

Posted on June 9, 2014 by David McKee

New York casino developers are enumerating the economic benefits for their prospective employees. Make no mistake, many of the jobs will be entry-level, minimum-wage employment. Saratoga Casino & Raceway is predicted a 47%/30% split between unskilled and skilled employees, with … Continue reading →

Posted in Cretins, Economy, Marketing, New York, North Las Vegas, Racinos, Singapore | 1 Comment

Toppling dominoes in New York; Secret plan in St. Louis

Posted on June 6, 2014 by David McKee

Just like that, the E23 casino project near Albany is toast. But David Flaum won’t be asking for his $1 million back: He and partner Global Gaming Solutions have their eyes on Rensselaer now. GGS blamed the demise of E23 … Continue reading →

Posted in Cordish Co., Harrah's, Maryland, Missouri, New York, Penn National, Pinnacle Entertainment, Racinos, Tribal, Tropicana Entertainment | Comments Off on Toppling dominoes in New York; Secret plan in St. Louis

And then there were fewer; The Culinary’s empty threats

Posted on May 20, 2014 by David McKee

Scratch two names from the mad scramble for a New York State casino. The vaguely interested Rolling Hills Entertainment is out but it was a long shot. Of greater consequence is Pinnacle Entertainment‘s abandonment of its pursuit of the Albany … Continue reading →

Posted in Boyd Gaming, Churchill Downs, Culinary Union, Derek Stevens, Downtown, Harrah's, Illinois, Maryland, New York, Pinnacle Entertainment, Racinos, Tamares Group, Taxes, Terry Caudill | Comments Off on And then there were fewer; The Culinary’s empty threats

Full House’s busted flush; GLPI’s big play

Posted on May 14, 2014 by David McKee

In further evidence of saturation in the gaming industry (if more were needed), Full House Resorts wants to be released from a commitment to buy Fitzgerald’s Casino, in Tunica. Seems that Full House can’t find banks who’ll underwrite the deal. … Continue reading →

Posted in Cannery Casino Resorts, Dan Gilbert, Detroit, Harrah's, LVCVA, Marketing, MGM Mirage, Mississippi, Penn National, Racinos, Wall Street | Comments Off on Full House’s busted flush; GLPI’s big play

Happy anniversary for Adelson; Penn’s legal woes

Posted on May 13, 2014 by David McKee

Smashed entrance doors, overburdened and broken escalators, and 40,000 customers … it was all in a day’s work when Sands Macao opened — can it really be 10 years ago next week? Time flies when you’re Sheldon Adelson. Although Stanley … Continue reading →

Posted in Iowa, Japan, Macau, Massachusetts, Neil Bluhm, Penn National, Racinos, Regulation, Sheldon Adelson, Stanley Ho, Taxes | Comments Off on Happy anniversary for Adelson; Penn’s legal woes

Burton Cohen, 1923-2014

Posted on May 7, 2014 by David McKee

One of Las Vegas’ least pretentious and most beloved casino executives died yesterday when Burton Cohen expired at the age of 90. He kept his hand in until the end, serving on the MGM Resorts International board of directors. His manifold tours … Continue reading →

Posted in Delaware, Entertainment, history, MGM Mirage, Racinos, Taxes, TV | Comments Off on Burton Cohen, 1923-2014

Selective outrage at Mandalay Bay; Tough call in Delaware

Posted on April 30, 2014 by David McKee

Mandalay Bay, which hosts Los Angeles Clippers pre-season play, and which advertises during Clippers games is out of the picture … for now. Although the NBA has banned unspeakably vile Clippers owner Donald Sterling from the league, Mandalay Bay is … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, Cretins, Delaware, Internet gambling, MGM Mirage, Racinos, Sports, Taxes, The Strip | Comments Off on Selective outrage at Mandalay Bay; Tough call in Delaware

MGM’s inspiring, new vision

Posted on April 28, 2014 by David McKee

I’m digging the architecture but what’s with the softcore-porn music? MGM Resorts International has released a new tranche of details on The Park, its mega-project (and substitute for extending CityCenter) that seems to progress in almost imperceptible steps. While CEO … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, CityCenter, Dining, Entertainment, Harrah's, Iowa, MGM Mirage, Racinos, The Strip | 2 Comments

Curtains for Caesars Windsor?; Churchill Downs wants to be a player

Posted on April 25, 2014 by David McKee

Karl Henkel of the Detroit News makes a close analysis of the market situation in Detroit and sees portents of what has been happening in Atlantic City and Tunica. His analysis doesn’t just focus on gross revenues but, for instance, … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Boyd Gaming, Churchill Downs, Dan Gilbert, Detroit, Economy, Harrah's, Internet gambling, Isle of Capri, Louisiana, MGM Mirage, Mississippi, Pinnacle Entertainment, Racinos, Regulation, Tropicana Entertainment | Comments Off on Curtains for Caesars Windsor?; Churchill Downs wants to be a player

It’s good to be Sheldon Adelson

Posted on April 25, 2014 by David McKee

Posting a 21% increase in revenue, Las Vegas Sands reported 97 cents/share in earnings (Wall Street had expected $0.94). No surprise, Macao was the primary driver. Analysts were also pleased by a $810 million buyback of Sands shares, bolstering the … Continue reading →

Posted in Animals, Harrah's, Iowa, Macau, MGM Mirage, Pennsylvania, Racinos, Sheldon Adelson, Singapore, The Strip, Wall Street | Comments Off on It’s good to be Sheldon Adelson

N.Y.: 22 is enough; Cussing match at Wynncore

Posted on April 25, 2014 by David McKee

Caesars Entertainment‘s sudden romance with New York State is getting the company some grief, although not from the usual defenders of Atlantic City. Assemblyman Ralph Caputo (D) is among those who want to put a casino at the Meadowlands and … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Cordish Co., Foxwoods, Genting, Harrah's, Mohegan Sun, Penn National, Pinnacle Entertainment, Politics, Racinos, Steve Wynn, Tribal | Comments Off on N.Y.: 22 is enough; Cussing match at Wynncore

New York embraces casinos; Wynn disses Clooney

Posted on April 24, 2014 by David McKee

Twenty-two. That’s how many applicants paid a $1 million application fee to vie for four casino licenses in upstate New York. That’s more than Massachusetts, far more than Kansas, neither of which matches the allure of the Empire State (to … Continue reading →

Posted in Foxwoods, Genting, Harrah's, Massachusetts, Mohegan Sun, New York, Penn National, Racinos, Steve Wynn | Comments Off on New York embraces casinos; Wynn disses Clooney

Caesars: The day after

Posted on April 23, 2014 by David McKee

New York resort developers may be reeling from the sudden entry of Caesars Entertainment into the picture, but that doesn’t mean they’ve given up the fight. After all, Caesars’ move only impacts the Catskills region, not the Capital one nor … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Boyd Gaming, Cordish Co., Foxwoods, Genting, Harrah's, Horseracing, International, Macau, Melco Crown Entertainment, MGM Mirage, New York, Penn National, Pennsylvania, Racinos, Sheldon Adelson | Comments Off on Caesars: The day after