Category Archives: Racinos

Trump takes with one hand, gives with other

Posted on March 28, 2018 by David McKee

The Trump administration has lent a new meaning to ‘Indian giver,’ seizing $10 million held in escrow by the Pojoaque Pueblo while the latter tries to negotiate a new compact with New Mexico. The Pojoaque Pueblo had been operating without a … Continue reading →

Posted in Derek Stevens, Donald Trump, Downtown, Greenwood Racing, Harrah's, history, Internet gambling, Mohegan Sun, Neil Bluhm, Penn National, Racinos, Sports, Technology, Tribal, Vietnam | 1 Comment

Pennsylvania casino draws no bids; Louisiana: Raise the levies!

Posted on March 13, 2018 by David McKee

What if they gave a casino and nobody came? That’s literally what took place in Pennsylvania where the fifth mini-casino license received no bids. Nada. Nix. Bupkes. From this point forward, Valley Forge Casino and Lady Luck Nemacolin will be … Continue reading →

Posted in Boyd Gaming, Churchill Downs, DFS, Greenwood Racing, Internet gambling, Iowa, Louisiana, Neil Bluhm, Penn National, Pennsylvania, Pinnacle Entertainment, Politics, Problem gambling, Racinos, Sheldon Adelson, Taxes, Tribal | Comments Off

Indiana suffers, Ohio not so much; Station’s surprise

Posted on March 8, 2018 by David McKee

While its $170 million gross looked a lot better than Illinois‘ $104 million, Indiana saw its gamblers stay home in droves — 24% less foot traffic, although those who showed up seemed to have spent 21%. In any event, gambling … Continue reading →

Posted in Boyd Gaming, Churchill Downs, Economy, Eldorado Resorts, George Maloof, GLPI, Hard Rock International, Harrah's, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Marketing, Ohio, Palms, Penn National, Pennsylvania, Pinnacle Entertainment, Racinos, Reno, Sports, Station Casinos, The Strip, Tribal | Comments Off

Slots rule in Maryland, retreat in Pennsylvania

Posted on March 6, 2018 by David McKee

MGM National Harbor continued its domination of Maryland last month, with a 39% market share and $53 million gross. Less reassuring for MGM execs, high-tax slots are starting to pull away from low-tax table games, two categories which used to … Continue reading →

Posted in Churchill Downs, Cordish Co., Economy, Genting, Golden Gaming, Harrah's, Maryland, MGM Mirage, Neil Bluhm, New York, Penn National, Pennsylvania, Racinos, Wall Street, West Virginia | Comments Off

Strip weak, locals strong, Reno supercharged; Stanley Ho’s empire crumbles

Posted on February 28, 2018 by David McKee

January got the Las Vegas Strip off to a less-than auspicious start, with revenues dropping 9% from 2017. Locals casinos, meanwhile, were living it up, as revenue rose 8%, thanks in part to New Year’s Eve weekend slot drop being … Continue reading →

Posted in Arkansas, Boulder Strip, Colony Capital, Columbia Sussex, Downtown, Economy, Election, Foxwoods, Galaxy Entertainment, Harrah's, Lake Tahoe, Laughlin, Lucky Dragon, Macau, Melco Resorts & Entertainment, Mesquite, MGM Mirage, Nevada, North Las Vegas, Pennsylvania, Politics, Racinos, Sheldon Adelson, Sociedade de Jogos de Macau, Steve Wynn, The Strip, Wall Street, Wynn Resorts | 2 Comments

Florida is on the clock; Political football in New Jersey

Posted on February 14, 2018 by David McKee

In Florida, the clock is running fast on a court order that the state reach an agreement with the Seminole Tribe or kiss at least $250 million (possibly as much as $400 million in proposed legislation) goodbye forever. Part of … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, DFS, Florida, Genting, Horseracing, Internet gambling, New York, Politics, Racinos, Seminole Tribe, Taxes | 1 Comment

GLPI picks at Wynn; Indiana players stay home

Posted on February 9, 2018 by David McKee

Gaming & Leisure Properties met with Wall Street analysts this week and it had the future of Wynncore on its mind. “While GLPI remains open to doing Las Vegas asset transactions, they view the risk profile as considerably higher given … Continue reading →

Posted in Ameristar, Boyd Gaming, Centaur Gaming, Charity, Economy, Eldorado Resorts, Full House Resorts, GLPI, Harrah's, Indiana, Majestic Star, Mandalay Bay Massacre, Massachusetts, MGM Mirage, Penn National, Pennsylvania, Pinnacle Entertainment, Racinos, The Strip, Tribal, Tropicana Entertainment, Wall Street, Wynn Resorts | Comments Off

Life after Wynn

Posted on February 8, 2018 by David McKee

There may not be much, according to a feature in the New York Times. Wall Street analysts are already circling Wynn Resorts like buzzards. “Elvis has left the building. Mr. Wynn’s value to the company is unarguably profound as its chief visionary … Continue reading →

Posted in Boyd Gaming, Dan Gilbert, Eldorado Resorts, Hard Rock International, Macau, Massachusetts, Ohio, Penn National, Pinnacle Entertainment, Racinos, Regulation, Sexual misconduct, Sheldon Adelson, Steve Wynn, Wall Street | 1 Comment

Wynn in a corner; Delaware may cut racinos some slack

Posted on February 2, 2018 by David McKee

Things have gotten so bad for Steve Wynn that he’s been reduced to asking his employees to support him in Sexgate. “In a family, people look after each other … They take care of the people they serve” he said, a … Continue reading →

Posted in Ameristar, Delaware, Dining, Genting, Indiana, Massachusetts, New York, Pennsylvania, Pinnacle Entertainment, Racinos, Regulation, Sexual misconduct, Steve Wynn, Taxes, The Strip | 1 Comment

Possible breakthrough in Mandalay Bay shootings; Trump Int’l rated a “s***hole”

Posted on January 17, 2018 by David McKee

Authorities are hinting about an indictment coming down in the Mandalay Bay massacre but are being coy as to whom it will target. Information released thus far by those investigating the crimes suggests that — despite having been out of … Continue reading →

Posted in Centaur Gaming, Donald Trump, Economy, Florida, Fontainebleau, Genting, Harrah's, IGT, Indiana, Law enforcement, Mandalay Bay Massacre, MGM Mirage, Nevada, Racinos, Sports, Technology, The Strip, West Virginia | Comments Off

Disney teams with casino owners; Tribes on the march

Posted on January 11, 2018 by David McKee

In the strangest coalition I have ever seen, the anti-casino Disney empire has joined with the Seminole Tribe to author a proposal that would take casino approval out of the hands of the Legislature (which hasn’t done a great job, … Continue reading →

Posted in Boyd Gaming, Dan Gilbert, Election, Florida, history, Indiana, New York, Ohio, Racinos, Technology, Tribal | 2 Comments

There’s new life at F-blew; Casinos neglect safety plans

Posted on December 29, 2017 by David McKee

Contrary to some of his early pronouncements about Fontainebleau, new owner Steven Witkoff isn’t sitting on his asset but is pursuing roughly $2 billion of the $3 billion that will be required to finish the eye, er, glittering megaresort. He’s … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Carl Icahn, Fontainebleau, Genting, Golden Gaming, Indiana, Macau, Mandalay Bay Massacre, Nevada, Palms, Politics, Racinos, Regulation, Reno, Sheldon Adelson, Sports, Station Casinos, Steve Wynn, Steven Witkoff, Taxes, Technology, The Strip, Tribal, Tropicana Entertainment, Wall Street | Comments Off

The Deal of the Year

Posted on December 19, 2017 by David McKee

Ever-ravenous Penn National Gaming gulped down Pinnacle Entertainment over the weekend, paying $2.8 billion for a collection of top-quality gaming assets. Among other benefits, the deal strengthens Penn’s position in its home state, as it gets The Meadows racino, doubling … Continue reading →

Posted in Ameristar, Boyd Gaming, Colorado, Economy, Eldorado Resorts, GLPI, International, Iowa, Louisiana, Massachusetts, Missouri, Ohio, Penn National, Pennsylvania, Pinnacle Entertainment, Racinos, Station Casinos, Taxes, Tourism, Transportation, Wall Street | 3 Comments

New York: Turning the page; Cal-Neva is on the clock

Posted on December 15, 2017 by David McKee

‘Wait three years’ is the new rationale coming out of Albany, now that three new casinos in upstate New York have failed to meet Year One revenue projections. Taking the glass-half-full perspective, state Sen. John Bonacic says that the casinos were … Continue reading →

Posted in Economy, Genting, Internet gambling, Japan, Lake Tahoe, Massachusetts, Neil Bluhm, New York, Penn National, Politics, Problem gambling, Racinos, Regulation, Sports, Taxes, Tribal | 1 Comment

Atlantic City: There’s life after Trump; Bluhm dominates in Pennsylvania

Posted on December 14, 2017 by David McKee

Finally liberated from year/year comparisons that included the dying Trump Taj Mahal, casinos in Atlantic City experienced 3% revenue growth last month. Internet gambling did even better, leaping 20%. For the lifetime of ‘Net betting in New Jersey, this brings … Continue reading →

Posted in Animals, Atlantic City, Carl Icahn, Delaware, Greenwood Racing, Harrah's, Internet gambling, MGM Mirage, Mohegan Sun, Movies, Neil Bluhm, Nevada, Pennsylvania, PokerStars, Politics, Racinos, Sheldon Adelson, Tilman Fertitta, Tropicana Entertainment, Trump Entertainment Resorts | Comments Off

Malaise in Illinois, optimism in Ohio; Frissora’s smooth move

Posted on December 8, 2017 by David McKee

Illinois casinos have never recovered from the double-whammy of the Great Recession and a smoking band, and now they have to contend with slot routes. Last month they were down 2.5% statewide($108.5 million). Taking a closer look, two riverboats were … Continue reading →

Posted in Boyd Gaming, Dan Gilbert, Eldorado Resorts, GLPI, Hard Rock International, Harrah's, Illinois, Indiana, International, MGM Mirage, Ohio, Penn National, Pennsylvania, Pinnacle Entertainment, Politics, Racinos, Sheldon Adelson | Comments Off

MGM National Harbor rules; Beating the eye in the sky

Posted on December 6, 2017 by David McKee

MGM National Harbor dominated Maryland yet again, garnering 39% of market share and grossing $50.5 million. The balance of revenue continues to creep toward the (punitively taxed) slot side of the casino, so MGM won’t be completely thrilled with November’s … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, Cordish Co., Donald Trump, Golden Gaming, Japan, Law enforcement, Lawrence Ho, Maryland, Melco Resorts & Entertainment, MGM Mirage, New York, Penn National, Racinos, Regulation, Sports, Steve Wynn, Taxes, The Strip | Comments Off

Sports betting makes its case

Posted on December 5, 2017 by David McKee

Yesterday saw the much-anticipated oral arguments in the case of Christie v. NCAAA, the legal joust that could lead to the downfall of the Bradley Act and open up the land to legalized sports betting. The arguments made before the … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Downtown, Florida, Geoff Freeman, Hard Rock International, Racinos, Regulation, Seminole Tribe, Sports | Comments Off

Caesars bets on Hoosier tracks; Trump precedent revisted

Posted on November 20, 2017 by David McKee

Centaur Gaming, benefactor of Mike Pence (not that it did them any good), is back in the news. Caesars Entertainment already owns the two most lucrative casinos in Indiana, is doubling down on its commitment to the Hoosier State. By … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, CityCenter, Donald Trump, Economy, Harrah's, Indiana, Iowa, Nevada, Racinos, Regulation, Tourism, Transportation, Tribal, Wisconsin | 1 Comment

Swings and roundabouts in Louisiana; Sexual harassment in Las Vegas

Posted on November 17, 2017 by David McKee

Now that S&G has been informed that it’s Louisiana that is the Bayou State, let’s take a look at how its casinos did last month. Overall, they dropped 2% for a $198 million gross. The headline item has to be … Continue reading →

Posted in Boyd Gaming, Churchill Downs, Harrah's, history, Isle of Capri, Louisiana, New York, Penn National, Pinnacle Entertainment, Racinos, Tilman Fertitta, Tropicana Entertainment, Westgate LV | Comments Off