Category Archives: Racinos

Revel: Has Loveman gone insane?; East St. Louis gets the shaft

Posted on January 29, 2014 by David McKee

You’d think Caesars Entertainment had its hands full with four active casinos in Atlantic City and the defunct Atlantic Club Hotel. But no, CEO Gary Loveman is reported to be considering a bid for $2.6 billion Revel Resort, which Caesars … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Hard Rock Hotel, Harrah's, Illinois, Missouri, Racinos, Regulation, Revel | Comments Off on Revel: Has Loveman gone insane?; East St. Louis gets the shaft

Foxwoods shows persistence & other Case Bets

Posted on January 28, 2014 by David McKee

Foxwoods Massachusetts is back and going all in with a proposal for a $750 million facility in Fall River. This means there is finally a heavyweight contender for the southeastern regional license — albeit a company that voters tossed out … Continue reading →

Posted in California, Election, Foxwoods, Harrah's, Horseracing, Internet gambling, Marketing, Massachusetts, Ohio, Racinos, Texas, Tribal | 1 Comment

No fun in Florida; Playing it safe in Illinois; Big flush at Borgata

Posted on January 27, 2014 by David McKee

Gov. Rick Scott (R, left) doesn’t want any gambling-expansion talk cluttering up his reelection bid, spoiling the fun for the rest of us. So no racinos, Naples or Palm Beach, no new gambling offerings, Seminole Tribes, and no destination resorts, … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Election, Florida, Genting, Hard Rock International, Illinois, Politics, Racinos, Regulation, Sheldon Adelson | Comments Off on No fun in Florida; Playing it safe in Illinois; Big flush at Borgata

Seeking bargains in Japan, Delaware

Posted on January 22, 2014 by David McKee

Osaka‘s government is entertaining proposals for a $5 billion casino, to be built on landfill — hoping to get ahead of the curve should the federal government approve legalized gambling. “We’d need global casino-operators’ involvement and expertise as the business … Continue reading →

Posted in Delaware, Genting, Harrah's, Japan, Macau, MGM Mirage, Racinos, Taxes | Comments Off on Seeking bargains in Japan, Delaware

A ‘bit’ of progress

Posted on January 21, 2014 by David McKee

You can’t use bitcoin to gamble in Vegas … yet. But Derek Stevens is bitcoin-enabling both the Golden Gate and The D to accept the cyber-currency in selected parts of his properties, starting Jan. 22. Stevens is crediting customer input … Continue reading →

Posted in Derek Stevens, Downtown, Economy, Indiana, Macau, New York, Ohio, Racinos, Technology, Tourism | Comments Off on A ‘bit’ of progress

Quote of the Day

Posted on January 15, 2014 by David McKee

“Hearing over and over and over again that my job was not a quality job, that my job didn’t matter or that I didn’t matter really became very personal.” — Saratoga Springs Casino & Raceway Director of Entertainment Kathleen Anderson, … Continue reading →

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Nevada 2013: Less bad than before

Posted on January 13, 2014 by David McKee

For a third straight year, Nevada gaming revenues rose. OK, the amount was microscopic ($99 million) overall, but it was something. However, higher expenses — including all-important capex investments –pushed the Silver State into the red. The casino industry reported … Continue reading →

Posted in Economy, Environment, New York, Racinos, Reno, The Strip, Tourism | Comments Off on Nevada 2013: Less bad than before

Frigid winter for Midwest casinos

Posted on January 10, 2014 by David McKee

Blame it on brutal weather or whatever your like but Midwest casino revenues have been dismal in December and it’s my doleful duty to report them. Missouri dipped 11%. Positive performers, like Pinnacle Entertainment‘s River City (+6%) were few. Of … Continue reading →

Posted in Ameristar, Boyd Gaming, Current, Economy, Harrah's, Indiana, Iowa, Isle of Capri, Missouri, Penn National, Pinnacle Entertainment, Racinos, Tropicana Entertainment, Wall Street | 2 Comments

Genting: We bombed in Miami; Jockeying for position in Massachusetts

Posted on January 10, 2014 by David McKee

It took almost no time at all for Genting Group’s latest Miami proposal to draw heavy political criticism. State Sen. Gwen Margolis (D), who represents the area, thinks a slot parlor is too downscale for the neighborhood. She also points … Continue reading →

Posted in Genting, Harrah's, Massachusetts, MGM Mirage, Mohegan Sun, Penn National, Politics, Racinos, Steve Wynn, Transportation | Comments Off on Genting: We bombed in Miami; Jockeying for position in Massachusetts

Tales of New England

Posted on January 9, 2014 by David McKee

While casino approval creeps forward in Massachusetts, a blistering pace is being set in New York State. Gov. Andrew Cuomo has set a June deadline for Catskills applications, with the winner(s) to be chosen by autumn. Peace Corps veteran Mark … Continue reading →

Posted in Churchill Downs, Maine, Massachusetts, Mohegan Sun, New York, Penn National, Politics, Racinos, Tribal | Tagged | 1 Comment

Florida: Genting gets real; Boom in Maryland, frenzy in Delaware

Posted on January 8, 2014 by David McKee

Genting Group‘s Godzilla-sized proposal for a $3 billion resort on the Miami waterfront has gone into the shredder. Instead, the Malaysian developer hopes to go into partnership with Gulfstream Park. It would piggyback onto Gulfstream’s parimutuel license and Gulfstream’s purses … Continue reading →

Posted in Cordish Co., Economy, Genting, Maryland, New York, Penn National, Racinos | Comments Off on Florida: Genting gets real; Boom in Maryland, frenzy in Delaware

Freeman vs. the Evil Empire

Posted on January 7, 2014 by David McKee

Sheldon Adelson. That’s who American Gaming Association President Geoff Freeman is preparing to take on, as the AGA beefs up its lobbying staff. It’s a bipartisan group that includes 2012 Obama campaign guru Jim Messina. Freeman demurs that it isn’t … Continue reading →

Posted in Cantor Gaming, Internet gambling, Marketing, Penn National, Politics, Racinos, Regulation, Sheldon Adelson, West Virginia | 1 Comment

Britney F. Spears & other Case Bets

Posted on January 7, 2014 by David McKee

Strip gyp: What does $25,000 buy you? At Planet Hollywood it will get you one-twentieth of a minute with Britney F. Spears. Either the currency of celebrity has become inflated beyond measure or our 15 minutes of fame have shrunk … Continue reading →

Posted in Dining, Entertainment, Genting, Harrah's, Macau, New York, Planet Hollywood, Racinos, Regulation, Sam Nazarian, The Strip | Comments Off on Britney F. Spears & other Case Bets

Quote of the Day

Posted on January 6, 2014 by David McKee

“I’m worried about a meteor hitting, too. But there’s not much I can do about it.” — Suffolk Downs COO Chip Tuttle, on the prospect of repeal of casino licenses.

Posted in Massachusetts, Politics, Racinos | Comments Off on Quote of the Day

Kentucky: Let’s try this again; The smell of money

Posted on December 26, 2013 by David McKee

There will be yet another push for casino gambling in the Kentucky Legislature, with hopes of getting a constitutional amendment on the 2014 ballot. The move has bipartisan sponsorship. Dan Seum (R) is carrying the ball in the state Senate … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, Kentucky, Oklahoma, Racinos, Transportation, Tribal | Comments Off on Kentucky: Let’s try this again; The smell of money

Revel to be sold?; Ryan weighs in on Menominee

Posted on December 20, 2013 by David McKee

Color me stupid but I figured that, with a new marketing team in place, to say nothing of a new CEO, Revel Resort was going to stay its new course awhile. Turns out the property was dickering with prospective buyers … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Current, Hard Rock International, Maryland, MGM Mirage, New York, Politics, Racinos, Revel, Tribal, Wisconsin | 2 Comments

Genting, Steve Wynn & so much more

Posted on December 17, 2013 by David McKee

Genting Group has narrowed its price target for finishing Resorts World Vegas. It will spend between $3 billion and $4 billion to complete the project (for which it has already paid $350 million for land). For a post-recession Vegas that’s … Continue reading →

Posted in CityCenter, Colorado, Current, Dubai, Economy, Florida, Fontainebleau, Foxwoods, Genting, Internet gambling, Massachusetts, MGM Mirage, Mohegan Sun, New York, Pinnacle Entertainment, Politics, Racinos, Steve Wynn, The Strip | 2 Comments

Sioux City mess

Posted on December 12, 2013 by David McKee

Hard Rock International and Sioux City Entertainment find themselves in a pickle not of their own making in Iowa. Due to a rupture between Penn National Gaming and nonprofit Missouri River Historical Development, holder of the casino license, Penn found itself … Continue reading →

Posted in Detroit, Hard Rock International, Harrah's, Iowa, MGM Mirage, Ohio, Penn National, Racinos, Regulation, Technology, Tribal | Comments Off on Sioux City mess

Ohio: Half-full or half-empty?; MGM lauded

Posted on December 10, 2013 by David McKee

Whether Ohio‘s casinos are succeeding or disappointing depends on how the question is framed. Are they delivering what the state (and casino companies) promised or are they financial slackers? Penn National Gaming‘s Hollywood Casino Columbus is somewhat of both, down … Continue reading →

Posted in Economy, Harrah's, MGM Mirage, MTR Gaming, Ohio, Penn National, Racinos, Taxes | Comments Off on Ohio: Half-full or half-empty?; MGM lauded

Compromise in Boston; Good riddance at Pinnacle?

Posted on December 10, 2013 by David McKee

It would appear that the Massachusetts Gaming Commission has tacitly bowed to ballot language that would require any restructuring of the Suffolk Downs casino deal to be submitted for a re-vote. Fresh off the wires comes news that the MGC … Continue reading →

Posted in Harrah's, Isle of Capri, Massachusetts, Missouri, Mohegan Sun, Penn National, Pinnacle Entertainment, Racinos, Regulation, Tropicana Entertainment | Comments Off on Compromise in Boston; Good riddance at Pinnacle?