Category Archives: Regulation

Solid month for Maryland; Casino sale aborted

Posted on May 7, 2019 by David McKee

Maryland casino revenues inched up to $145 million last month, led by MGM National Harbor with $61 million and 42% of market share. Maryland Live, no surprise, was second with 33% and $48 million (+2%). Horseshoe Baltimore grossed $20 million … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Caesars Entertainment, Churchill Downs, Cordish Co., GLPI, Golden Gaming, Illinois, Internet gambling, Iowa, Lotteries, Macau, Maryland, Melco Resorts & Entertainment, MGM Resorts International, Missouri, Mohegan Sun, Nebraska, Penn National, Politics, Regulation, Sports betting, Tribal, TV, Wall Street, West Virginia | Comments Off on Solid month for Maryland; Casino sale aborted

Wynn balks at Beantown penalty

Posted on May 6, 2019 by David McKee

Although it was willing to pay at least $20 million to remain licensed in Nevada, it appears that Wynn Resorts is unwilling to take its $35 million dose of castor oil in Massachusetts. “We are in the process of reviewing … Continue reading →

Posted in Australia, Charity, Cirque du Soleil, Crown Resorts, Downtown, Entertainment, Florida, Illinois, Internet gambling, Macau, Massachusetts, Movies, Pennsylvania, Regulation, Resort fees, Seminole Tribe, Sports betting, The Strip, Tilman Fertitta, Wynn Resorts | Comments Off on Wynn balks at Beantown penalty

Eldorado strong, Penn stronger; Caesars screws you

Posted on May 3, 2019 by David McKee

Were it not for inclement weather, Eldorado Resorts would have exceeded Wall Street’s consensus $172 million cash-flow prediction by $8 million for 1Q19, not come up $5 million short. For instance, Reno (pictured) had snow in 24 of February’s 28 days … Continue reading →

Posted in Arizona, Atlantic City, Caesars Entertainment, Colorado, Cordish Co., Cretins, Culinary Union, Detroit, Dining, Economy, Eldorado Resorts, Florida, Hard Rock International, Illinois, Internet gambling, Iowa, Macau, Massachusetts, MGM Resorts International, Mississippi, Penn National, Pennsylvania, Pinnacle Entertainment, Racinos, Regulation, Reno, Sports betting, Station Casinos, Tribal, Wall Street, West Virginia, Wynn Resorts | Comments Off on Eldorado strong, Penn stronger; Caesars screws you

Caesars’ secret weapon

Posted on May 2, 2019 by David McKee

“Just the right amount of optimism” was how Credit Suisse analyst Ben Combes described Caesars Entertainment’s 1Q19 results. Ex-CEO Mark Frissora‘s purchase of Centaur Gaming continues to pay off, as it was the tentpole of regional-gaming performance. “On a same-store … Continue reading →

Posted in Caesars Entertainment, Centaur Gaming, Detroit, Downtown, Indiana, Louisiana, Marijuana, Mississippi, Penn National, Pennsylvania, Pinnacle Entertainment, Regulation, The Strip, Wall Street | 1 Comment

Quote of the Day

Posted on May 2, 2019 by David McKee

“One of the key metrics by which we will measure that success will be the overall well-being, safety, and welfare of the employees. A second but equally important metric is the importance of compliance and communication with the regulator. This … Continue reading →

Posted in Massachusetts, Regulation, Sexual misconduct, Wynn Resorts | Comments Off on Quote of the Day

Wynn faces stiff fine, oversight; Rosenstein cuts and runs

Posted on May 1, 2019 by David McKee

Wynn Resorts dodged a $2.6 billion bullet and will get to keep Encore Boston Harbor. It will have to pay $35 million for that privilege (and it is a privilege) and will pony up the money if it’s smart. After … Continue reading →

Posted in Internet gambling, Law enforcement, Massachusetts, Regulation, Steve Wynn, The Strip, Wynn Resorts | Comments Off on Wynn faces stiff fine, oversight; Rosenstein cuts and runs

Case Bets

Posted on April 24, 2019 by David McKee

It’s early yet but the House Finance Committee of the Colorado Lege has overwhelmingly voted through a sports-betting bill. The would-be law has to survive three more votes in the House before moving along to the state Senate. However, it … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, Colorado, history, Horseracing, Indiana, Majestic Star, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, PokerStars, Politics, Regulation, Sports, Sports betting, Taxes | Comments Off on Case Bets

Sands gets spanked; Palms (almost) loses its name

Posted on April 22, 2019 by David McKee

Las Vegas Sands is on its way out of Pennsylvania but not before receiving two swift kicks in the posterior from Keystone State regulators. The casino was fined $120,000 for allowing underage gaming and $110,000 for offenses related to the … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, Boyd Gaming, Caesars Entertainment, Churchill Downs, CityCenter, Eldorado Resorts, Environment, Greenwood Racing, history, Horseracing, Indiana, Japan, Las Vegas Sands, Law enforcement, Mississippi, Mohegan Sun, Ohio, Palms, Penn National, Pennsylvania, Regulation, Resort fees, Rush Street Gaming, Slot routes, Station Casinos, Technology, Tribal, Virgin Hotels, Wisconsin | Comments Off on Sands gets spanked; Palms (almost) loses its name

Land of confusion

Posted on April 22, 2019 by David McKee

OK, so there are no condos on sale at the Plaza Resort in downtown Las Vegas. That much we have established. But it’s got to be one of the most baffling stories we’ve ever covered. For instance, “TLC” usually is shorthand … Continue reading →

Posted in Animals, Caesars Entertainment, Churchill Downs, Golden Gaming, Illinois, Japan, Kentucky, Massachusetts, MGM Resorts International, New Jersey, Penn National, Politics, Racinos, Real Estate, Regulation, Sports betting, Tamares Group, Taxes, Terry Caudill, The Strip, Wall Street | Comments Off on Land of confusion

Rosenstein rebutted; Kiddie slots in U.K.

Posted on April 15, 2019 by David McKee

Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein received a smackdown from a federal court. Judge Paul Barbadoro ruled that not only had Rosenstein failed to convince him that New Hampshire‘s online lottery wasn’t covered under the new interpretation of the Federal Wire … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Bruce Deifik, Dining, e-sports, Georgia, Glenn Straub, International, Internet gambling, Marketing, MGM Resorts International, New Hampshire, New Jersey, Ocean Resort, Problem gambling, Puerto Rico, Regulation, Sheldon Adelson, Sports betting, Taxes, Texas | Comments Off on Rosenstein rebutted; Kiddie slots in U.K.

Casino expansion in Indiana; Wynn nixes Crown deal

Posted on April 11, 2019 by David McKee

Mike Pence having gone to Washington, D.C., we miss his existential debates over what does and does not represent an “expansion” of gambling in Indiana. Doubtless he would come down on the “does” side of a state House proposal to—rather than move … Continue reading →

Posted in Caesars Entertainment, Crown Resorts, Entertainment, Indiana, International, Law enforcement, Macau, Majestic Star, Philippines, Politics, Regulation, The Strip, World Series of Poker, Wynn Resorts | Comments Off on Casino expansion in Indiana; Wynn nixes Crown deal

Steve Wynn 86’d; Icahn & Fertitta talk turkey

Posted on April 11, 2019 by David McKee

In an obvious attempt to placate the Massachusetts Gaming Commission, after a bruising set of hearings, Wynn Resorts has filed a legal brief in the Bay State, requesting permission to bar Steve Wynn from all Wynn Resorts properties. This is, in our … Continue reading →

Posted in Caesars Entertainment, Carl Icahn, Dining, Marketing, Massachusetts, MGM Resorts International, Regulation, Sports, Sports betting, Station Casinos, Steve Wynn, The Strip, Tilman Fertitta, Wall Street, Wynn Resorts | 1 Comment

Free-market forces in Atlantic City; Wire Act flip-flop

Posted on April 10, 2019 by David McKee

As one might anticipate in a highly competitive free market, the upsized Atlantic City casino industry saw 15% less cash flow last year. This is only to be expected with the addition of Hard Rock Atlantic City and Ocean Resort. Far … Continue reading →

Posted in Dining, Eldorado Resorts, Election, Florida, Hard Rock International, history, International, Internet gambling, MGM Resorts International, Mohegan Sun, Nevada, New Hampshire, Ocean Resort, Politics, Regulation, Seminole Tribe, Tilman Fertitta, TV | 1 Comment

Wynn: Massagegate

Posted on April 9, 2019 by David McKee

” … in dealing with these [Wynn Resorts] folks, you take a bite of sirloin, you take another bite, it’s still sirloin. It doesn’t vary.” — former Massachusetts governor William Weld. In the run-up (more like amble-up) to last week’s … Continue reading →

Posted in Donald Trump, Elaine Wynn, Kazuo Okada, Massachusetts, Nevada, Regulation, Sexual misconduct, Steve Wynn, Wynn Resorts | Comments Off on Wynn: Massagegate

Gilbert sells to Hard Rock; Masters odds are out

Posted on April 8, 2019 by David McKee

Hard Rock International exited the Ohio market by one door, then reentered it by another. The tribal giant bought Dan Gilbert out of Jack Cincinnati and Turfway Park. REIT Vici Propreties will own the real estate of the casino and … Continue reading →

Posted in Alabama, Caesars Entertainment, DFS, Donald Trump, Genting, Hard Rock International, International, Iowa, Kentucky, Las Vegas Sands, Marketing, Maryland, Ohio, Politics, Problem gambling, Racinos, Regulation, Singapore, Sports, Sports betting, Steve Wynn, Taxes, Tribal, TV | Comments Off on Gilbert sells to Hard Rock; Masters odds are out

Quote of the Day

Posted on April 8, 2019 by David McKee

“I believe that many of the people who are now the lobbyists, public relations spokespersons, experts, and other proponents of gambling really haven’t spent night after night, year after year, dealing cards in a very close proximity to gamblers at … Continue reading →

Posted in Problem gambling, Regulation | Comments Off on Quote of the Day

Circa rustles up $$; Wynn slammed

Posted on April 3, 2019 by David McKee

Despite some distant jingoism in the halls of Congress, Derek Stevens in still putting his money—so to speak—on EB-5 investors. This Web site opens with a slide show of a soon-to-be Downtown icon, Circa, followed by the copy, “We have chosen … Continue reading →

Posted in Derek Stevens, Downtown, Lucky Dragon, Massachusetts, MGM Resorts International, Movies, Regulation, Rhode Island, Sexual misconduct, SLS Las Vegas, Sports, Sports betting, Steve Wynn, Taxes, The Strip, Wall Street, Wynn Resorts | Comments Off on Circa rustles up $$; Wynn slammed

Quote of the Day

Posted on April 1, 2019 by David McKee

“I’m not a socialist. I like capitalism. I think markets need to be regulated. I think when people face a combination of avarice and conscience, avarice tends to win, and so we need to regulate our markets.” — Stacy Abrams, … Continue reading →

Posted in Economy, Regulation | Comments Off on Quote of the Day

Baccarat undercuts the Strip; Japan shows its hand

Posted on March 28, 2019 by David McKee

Is our trade war with China inflicting collateral damage on the Las Vegas Strip? That’s one theory for anemic Chinese New Year visitation that led to a 2% downturn in gaming receipts last month. By contrast, last year saw an … Continue reading →

Posted in Boulder Strip, Downtown, Economy, Internet gambling, Japan, Lake Tahoe, Laughlin, Mesquite, MGM Resorts International, Nevada, North Las Vegas, Philippines, Problem gambling, Regulation, Reno, Taxes, The Strip, Wendover | Comments Off on Baccarat undercuts the Strip; Japan shows its hand

Run for the roses; Friends of Dorothy

Posted on March 28, 2019 by David McKee

I’ve got a horse right here, his name is … no, not Paul Revere but Game Winner and he’s favored to win the annual run for the roses at Churchill Downs. At least that’s what Kentucky Derby Online Betting says. KDOB … Continue reading →

Posted in Churchill Downs, Current, Entertainment, Horseracing, Marketing, Mohegan Sun, Movies, Palms, Regulation, Station Casinos, Technology, Tribal | 3 Comments