Category Archives: Regulation

Case Bets: Seminoles, Iverson, Harrah's, PartyGaming, Station's luck, etc.

Posted on April 15, 2009 by David McKee

Down in Florida, the tide may be turning in favor of the Seminole Tribe. Both the Florida Retail Federation and Restaurant Lodging Association have thrown their support behind the status quo, as represented by Gov. Charlie Crist‘s Class III casino … Continue reading →

Posted in Boyd Gaming, Colony Capital, Detroit, Don Barden, Florida, Harrah's, Horseracing, Internet gambling, Maryland, MGM Mirage, Pennsylvania, Politics, Regulation, Reno, Sports, Station Casinos, Tribal, Wall Street | Comments Off on Case Bets: Seminoles, Iverson, Harrah's, PartyGaming, Station's luck, etc.

Adelson in the details

Posted on April 3, 2009 by David McKee

Nearly lost amidst a flurry of news stories about Las Vegas Sands hoping to jump-start construction on its stalled Cotai Strip™ (with the help of new equity partners) was this snippet from Sands' president of Asian affairs, Stephen Weaver. Rents … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Carl Icahn, Columbia Sussex, Macau, Regulation, Sheldon Adelson, Singapore, Wall Street | Comments Off on Adelson in the details

The Unlucky Club & other Case Bets

Posted on March 26, 2009 by David McKee

Did somebody build the inaptly named Lucky Club  (above) over an Indian burial ground? A deprivation of access is but the latest indignity suffered by this North Las Vegas grind joint. While it was still the Speedway Casino, it was … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, Current, Economy, Encore, Entertainment, Lake Las Vegas, Marketing, Politics, Problem gambling, Regulation, Sheldon Adelson, Steve Wynn, The Strip | Comments Off on The Unlucky Club & other Case Bets

Case Bets: Fasolt, etc.

Posted on March 12, 2009 by David McKee

A reader has asked how Fasolt got his name. I'm to blame for that, because he was called "Marble" when I met him. He was living in a foster home in Minneapolis, after a woman had thrown out her boyfriend … Continue reading →

Posted in Cirque du Soleil, Entertainment, Pets, Planet Hollywood, Regulation, The Strip | Comments Off on Case Bets: Fasolt, etc.

Strike at the Trop

Posted on March 2, 2009 by David McKee
Posted in Atlantic City, Columbia Sussex, Harrah's, Regulation, Tropicana Entertainment | Comments Off on Strike at the Trop

Cannery sale on ice?

Posted on February 25, 2009 by David McKee

Nevada Gaming Control Board Chairman Dennis Neilander was kind enough to ring up pesky old NGCB detractor S&G today and provide some clarification on why Crown Ltd. and its supremo, James Packer, passed muster in the Silver State but have … Continue reading →

Posted in Australia, Boulder Strip, Cannery Casino Resorts, James Packer, Macau, Melco Crown Entertainment, Pennsylvania, Regulation | Comments Off on Cannery sale on ice?

Quote of the Day

Posted on February 24, 2009 by David McKee

"[Columbia Sussex CEO William J.] Yung showed a callous disregard both for New Jersey casino auditing regulations and for the requirement that any Atlantic City casino be a 'first-class facility of exceptional quality.' "But if the restructured Tropicana Entertainment can … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Columbia Sussex, Regulation, Tropicana Entertainment | Comments Off on Quote of the Day

Another setback for Packer

Posted on February 23, 2009 by David McKee

Several potential owners of Cannery Casino Resorts want to withdraw from the process rather than disclose their identities to Pennsylvania regulators. In addition, Gretel Packer, sister to Crown Ltd. CEO James Packer, has asked to pull back her license application. … Continue reading →

Posted in Cannery Casino Resorts, Horseracing, James Packer, Pennsylvania, Regulation | Comments Off on Another setback for Packer

Packer steps in it again

Posted on February 19, 2009 by David McKee

Now aren’t you glad that the Nevada Gaming Control Board and Gaming Commission were so quick to give James Packer the green light to own Cannery Casino Resorts? Not only is he facing an unfolding scandal in Australia, two casinos … Continue reading →

Posted in Australia, Cannery Casino Resorts, Macau, Melco Crown Entertainment, Regulation | Comments Off on Packer steps in it again

How desperate is Scott Butera?

Posted on February 19, 2009 by David McKee

Perhaps sensing that the Tropicana Atlantic City is slipping irretrievably from his grasp, Tropicana Entertainment CEO Scott Butera has taken his case to the media — seeking an audience with the editorial board of The Press of Atlantic City, no … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Carl Icahn, Colony Capital, Marketing, Regulation, Tropicana Entertainment | Comments Off on How desperate is Scott Butera?

Trop's agony soon to end?

Posted on February 18, 2009 by David McKee

The bad news is that the New Jersey Casino Control Commission has voted to grant yet another extension on the interminable sale of the Tropicana Atlantic City. The good news that it’s merely been pushed out another month, not the … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Boulder Strip, Carl Icahn, Columbia Sussex, Donald Trump, Pinnacle Entertainment, Regulation, Tropicana Entertainment, Wall Street | Comments Off on Trop's agony soon to end?

Case Bets: James Packer, Isle of Capri

Posted on February 9, 2009 by David McKee

Geez, maybe the Nevada Gaming Control Board shouldn’t have been in such a hurry to green-light James Packer‘s purchase of Cannery Casino Resorts. (In a bow to noblesse oblige, Packer wasn’t even required to put in an appearance at the … Continue reading →

Posted in Australia, Cannery Casino Resorts, Don Barden, Entertainment, Fontainebleau, International, Isle of Capri, James Packer, Pennsylvania, Regulation, Wall Street | Comments Off on Case Bets: James Packer, Isle of Capri

Case Bets: Seminoles, Tropicana, Shuffle Master, Stanley Ho

Posted on February 3, 2009 by David McKee

Seminoles offer to lay $288 million and 12,000 new jobs on the table, for starters. Sunshine State Republicans blow them a raspberry. Constitutional or not, Gov. Charlie Crist‘s compact put a good deal in place for both sides. (It wasn’t … Continue reading →

Posted in Aristocrat, Atlantic City, Australia, Columbia Sussex, Florida, Politics, Regulation, Shuffle Master, Stanley Ho, The Strip, Tribal, Tropicana Entertainment | Comments Off on Case Bets: Seminoles, Tropicana, Shuffle Master, Stanley Ho

Head-scratcher at Shuffle Master

Posted on February 2, 2009 by David McKee

Come March 15, Shuffle Master CEO Mark Yoseloff finally gets to leave the company — something he’s wanted to do for a while but which has been stymied by the difficulty of replacing him. Just how difficult was it? So … Continue reading →

Posted in Aristocrat, Atlantic City, Australia, Regulation, Technology, Tropicana Entertainment | Comments Off on Head-scratcher at Shuffle Master

Atlantic City: Two strikes, no balls

Posted on January 29, 2009 by David McKee

This was originally going to be “Death Watch VI” but three of those in a week is positively ghoulish. So, on to the latest disheartening developments from Atlantic City, the casino market that just can’t catch a break. Cease the … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Columbia Sussex, Economy, Harrah's, Penn National, Pennsylvania, Pinnacle Entertainment, Regulation, Tropicana Entertainment, Wall Street | Comments Off on Atlantic City: Two strikes, no balls

Colorado casinos: Four votes, four wins

Posted on January 21, 2009 by David McKee

After a statewide vote approved 'round-the-clock operation at Colorado's non-tribal casinos (along with a 20X increase in betting limits and a wider repertory of games), the measure wasn't home and dry. It had to be voted through in Cripple Creek, … Continue reading →

Posted in Ameristar, Colorado, Election, Isle of Capri, Penn National, Regulation, Riviera | Comments Off on Colorado casinos: Four votes, four wins

Quote of the Day

Posted on January 15, 2009 by David McKee

"For a casino worker, every day breathing second-hand smoke in the workplace is one too many. Everyone has the right to breathe smoke-free air — regardless of the color of their collar." — Americans for Nonsmokers Rights Executive Director Cynthia … Continue reading →

Posted in Colorado, Illinois, Labor, Regulation | Comments Off on Quote of the Day

Rogues' gallery

Posted on January 15, 2009 by David McKee

After a fitful start, blogorrhea is sweeping the business desk of the Las Vegas Review-Journal, resulting a veritable flood of news nuggets today … Planet Hollywood prexy Michael Mecca has resigned to pursue the proverbial "other opportunities" at a time … Continue reading →

Posted in California, Cannery Casino Resorts, Columbia Sussex, Current, Dining, Economy, Entertainment, Harrah's, James Packer, Marketing, Mesquite, MGM Mirage, Planet Hollywood, Politics, Regulation, Reno, The Strip, Tropicana Entertainment | Comments Off on Rogues' gallery

Quote of the Day

Posted on January 15, 2009 by David McKee

"For a casino worker, every day breathing second-hand smoke in the workplace is one too many. Everyone has the right to breathe smoke-free air — regardless of the color of their collar." — Americans for Nonsmokers Rights Executive Director Cynthia … Continue reading →

Posted in Colorado, Illinois, Labor, Regulation | Comments Off on Quote of the Day

From A(ztar) to Z(ilch)

Posted on January 13, 2009 by David McKee

If Tropicana Entertainment management's bankruptcy plan is accepted by the courts (one bond analyst thinks otherwise), former CEO/sole owner William J. Yung III will be left with — what's the technical term? — diddly squat. (So will his unsecured creditors, … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Columbia Sussex, Economy, Indiana, Lake Tahoe, Laughlin, Louisiana, Marketing, Mississippi, Penn National, Pinnacle Entertainment, Regulation, The Strip, Tropicana Entertainment, Wall Street | Comments Off on From A(ztar) to Z(ilch)