Category Archives: Racinos

From the S&G Twitter feed …

Posted on January 5, 2010 by David McKee

Whilst I try to decipher my notes from the New Year’s Day performance by Carlos Mencia, here’s what you’ve been missing if you don’t follow the S&G Twitter feed (Twitter handle: @stiffsgeorges): • Pittsburgh‘s Rivers Casino sacks exec team, brings … Continue reading →

Posted in CityCenter, Cordish Co., Current, Entertainment, Florida, Harrah's, International, Maryland, MGM Mirage, Neil Bluhm, Pennsylvania, Planet Hollywood, Racinos, Riviera, Singapore | Comments Off on From the S&G Twitter feed …

Case Bets: Greektown, Adelson, Philadelphia & Stanley Ho

Posted on December 22, 2009 by David McKee

If a management company increases your revenues in the teeth of the Great Recession — and despite your casino’s well-publicized financial problems — what do you do? Kick them out, of course, if you’re Greektown Casino and you’ve no further … Continue reading →

Posted in Current, Detroit, Macau, Massachusetts, Neil Bluhm, New York, Pennsylvania, Racinos, Sheldon Adelson, Stanley Ho, Steve Wynn, Tribal | 3 Comments

Loveman loves him some Macao

Posted on December 22, 2009 by David McKee

By now the saga of Harrah’s Entertainment‘s Macanese golf course is the stuff of legend: a $578 million golden albatross around the company’s neck and a metaphor for the company’s misfortune-prone international strategy. While some of CEO Gary Loveman‘s ventures … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Colony Capital, Current, Harrah's, James Packer, Lawrence Ho, Macau, Maryland, Melco Crown Entertainment, MGM Mirage, Planet Hollywood, Politics, Racinos, Regulation, Sheldon Adelson, Stanley Ho, Steve Wynn, Wall Street | 1 Comment

Earth to Adelson, Earth to Adelson …

Posted on December 21, 2009 by David McKee

Las Vegas Sands CEO Sheldon Adelson claims he can finish his two resuscitated Cotai Strip™ casinos (below) and build three more in the next five years. Let the record show that Adelson currently also has casinos in various states of … Continue reading →

Posted in CityCenter, Cordish Co., Current, Economy, Florida, International, Macau, Maryland, MGM Mirage, Movies, New York, Pennsylvania, Politics, Racinos, Regulation, Sheldon Adelson, Singapore, The Strip, Tribal | 2 Comments

Pelican State blues

Posted on December 15, 2009 by David McKee

November numbers are in for Louisiana and it’s the Pelican State’s worst gaming month in five quarters. Only the independent Eldorado Shreveport riverboat and Fair Grounds racino near New Orleans reported revenue growth. All major operators took it on the … Continue reading →

Posted in Boyd Gaming, Columbia Sussex, Harrah's, International, Isle of Capri, Louisiana, Maryland, Penn National, Pennsylvania, Pinnacle Entertainment, Politics, Racinos, Regulation | Comments Off on Pelican State blues

Case Bets: The Wayner, G2E, Packer & Kerzner

Posted on December 8, 2009 by David McKee

Say what you like about Wayne Newton‘s Once Before I Go at the Tropicana Las Vegas, it has the biggest band you’ll see on the Strip: 20 strong, plus backup singers. Most Strip headliners have to make do with one-third … Continue reading →

Posted in Alex Yemenidjian, Atlantic City, Australia, Carl Icahn, Current, Donald Trump, Economy, Entertainment, G2E, Genting, International, James Packer, Massachusetts, New York, Pennsylvania, Planet Hollywood, Problem gambling, Racinos, Sheldon Adelson, Singapore, Tribal, Tropicana Entertainment | Comments Off on Case Bets: The Wayner, G2E, Packer & Kerzner

Is Adelson mad? Trump trumped & Kerzner booted

Posted on December 1, 2009 by David McKee

In an interview with Reuters, Sheldon Adelson said Las Vegas Sands might launch operations in India, Thailand and Japan as soon as 2010. Given the ropey financial condition of his company, the fact that Marina Bay Sands will open at … Continue reading →

Posted in Alex Yemenidjian, Atlantic City, Current, Detroit, Donald Trump, Economy, Genting, Harrah's, International, Kansas, Macau, Massachusetts, Neil Bluhm, Penn National, Pennsylvania, Planet Hollywood, Racinos, Regulation, Sheldon Adelson, Singapore, Stanley Ho, Taxes, Tourism, Tribal | 1 Comment

Now *this* is a scandal

Posted on November 24, 2009 by David McKee

During the early years of tribal gaming expansion, Native Americans had to go to Malaysia and South Africa for their startup capital — and it came at a hefty cost. Now Mohegan Sun is reeling from the delayed effects of … Continue reading →

Posted in Boulder Strip, Boyd Gaming, CityCenter, Economy, Harrah's, International, Isle of Capri, MGM Mirage, New York, Racinos, Regulation, Sheldon Adelson, Station Casinos, Steve Wynn, Technology, The Strip, Tourism, Tribal | 3 Comments

The evils of bingo; Wynn’s Aqueduct exit

Posted on November 5, 2009 by David McKee

America’s sixth-largest casino is in rural Alabama and it commands hotel prices comparable to CityCenter. Its 6,400 Class II devices mean that VictoryLand (above) is one gargantuan e-bingo hall. Due to the state’s patchwork set of laws, e-bingo is legal … Continue reading →

Posted in Alabama, Cretins, Current, Economy, Harrah's, International, Isle of Capri, Louisiana, New York, Pinnacle Entertainment, Politics, Racinos, Singapore, Steve Wynn, Taxes | 1 Comment

Wynn bails on N.Y.

Posted on November 4, 2009 by David McKee

As they come into the backstretch on the bidding for a racino at New York‘s Aqueduct Racetrack, one contender has pulled out of the race: Steve Wynn. Did he balk at the $200 million upfront fee? Penn National Gaming basically … Continue reading →

Posted in Current, Downtown, Economy, Florida, Harrah's, Macau, MGM Mirage, New York, Racinos, Regulation, Sheldon Adelson, Stanley Ho, Steve Wynn, Tilman Fertitta, Transportation, Tribal, Wall Street | Comments Off on Wynn bails on N.Y.

Meet the new Cincinnati Kid

Posted on November 4, 2009 by David McKee

For our purposes, the main headline comes from Ohio, where Issue 3 passed amid heavy voter turnout — if not by the wide margin pollsters had forecast. (At least they didn’t screw the pooch like all those pollsters who had … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Bally Technologies, Current, Economy, Election, Horseracing, IGT, Ohio, Penn National, Politics, Racinos, Regulation, Taxes, WMS Industries | 2 Comments

The Dollar Bills strike again; caution at IGT

Posted on November 2, 2009 by David McKee

Those masters of quality on a budget, Millennium Gaming CEOs William Paulos and William Wortman have found a new target of opportunity: New Hampshire. Using the Rockingham Park horse track as their base of operations, the Dollar Bills are helping … Continue reading →

Posted in Cannery Casino Resorts, CityCenter, Economy, Harrah's, IGT, Massachusetts, Racinos, Technology, Wall Street | 1 Comment

Boyd: A waiting game

Posted on October 27, 2009 by David McKee

That’s the economic forecast of J.P. Morgan analysts after Boyd Gaming came in slightly under its cash-flow projections for the third quarter. Borgata remained a bright spot, reaching record levels of market share in Atlantic City (a staggering 19%) in … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Boulder Strip, Boyd Gaming, Current, Downtown, Economy, Illinois, Indiana, Louisiana, Morgans Hotel Group, Neil Bluhm, New York, Pennsylvania, Racinos, The Strip, Tourism, Wall Street | 6 Comments

Ohio slots slip sliding away?

Posted on October 19, 2009 by David McKee

A sample conducted by the tag team of TruthPac and Strategic Polling finds support for the Ohio casino initiative backed by Penn National Gaming polling below 50%. Casinos still have a slight edge (48%/43%, with 8% undecided) … so in … Continue reading →

Posted in Current, Election, Marketing, Maryland, Ohio, Racinos | Comments Off on Ohio slots slip sliding away?

Leaving Las Vegas

Posted on October 12, 2009 by David McKee

At least 28,000 have done so over the two years-plus (probably more when you allow for the people still moving here). What are the likely consequences of Las Vegas‘ pegging its future on a one-trick economy? And is it going … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, CityCenter, Current, Detroit, Economy, Election, Horseracing, Indiana, MGM Mirage, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Racinos, The Strip, Tourism, Tribal | Comments Off on Leaving Las Vegas

Leaving Las Vegas

Posted on October 12, 2009 by David McKee

At least 28,000 have done so over the two years-plus (probably more when you allow for the people still moving here). What are the likely consequences of Las Vegas‘ pegging its future on a one-trick economy? And is it going … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, CityCenter, Current, Detroit, Economy, Election, Horseracing, Indiana, MGM Mirage, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Racinos, The Strip, Tourism, Tribal | Comments Off on Leaving Las Vegas

East Coast antics

Posted on October 12, 2009 by David McKee

Wrong again. There I was, thinking the proposed $10 million upfront fee for table games in Pennsylvania was a done deal when the GOP-controlled state Senate upped it to $15 million (and if you don’t pay by June 1, it … Continue reading →

Posted in CityCenter, Economy, Entertainment, Environment, Harrah's, Horseracing, MGM Mirage, Penn National, Pennsylvania, Politics, Racinos, Steve Wynn, Taxes, The Strip, Tribal | Comments Off on East Coast antics