Category Archives: Regulation

Abe, casinos win; Tournament of Rose

Posted on October 23, 2017 by David McKee

In a snap election, Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and his Liberal Democratic Party posted big gains. The mandate was sufficiently huge to give the LDP outright control over every committee in the Diet. This is a big boost to … Continue reading →

Posted in Australia, Crown Resorts, e-sports, Election, Harrah's, James Packer, Japan, Macau, Regulation, Sports, The Crown 18 | 1 Comment

Crown in hot water again; Wynn and whimsy

Posted on October 20, 2017 by David McKee

Crown Resorts just can’t stay out of trouble. On the first anniversary (roughly) of the arrest of the Crown 18 in China, the casino giant stands accused of rigging video poker machines. Parliamentary lone wolf and anti-gambling crusader Andrew Wilkie … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, Australia, Boyd Gaming, Churchill Downs, Eldorado Resorts, GLPI, Harrah's, Isle of Capri, James Packer, Louisiana, Massachusetts, Pinnacle Entertainment, Regulation, Steve Wynn, The Crown 18, Tilman Fertitta | 2 Comments

New MGM ad stirs controversy; Macao heightens security

Posted on October 19, 2017 by David McKee

Among the victims of Stephen Paddock‘s domestic terrorism was MGM Resorts International‘s “Welcome to the Show” ad campaign. The aftermath of a mass murder was hardly the time to be proclaiming that you’re “in the ‘Holy Sh*t!’ business” or to promise … Continue reading →

Posted in Genting, Harrah's, Macau, Mandalay Bay Massacre, Marijuana, Marketing, Maryland, MGM Mirage, Pennsylvania, Philippines, Regulation, Technology, The Strip, TV, Unite-Here | Comments Off on New MGM ad stirs controversy; Macao heightens security

Trump goes to bat for Adelson; Connecticut tribes on the rise

Posted on October 18, 2017 by David McKee

Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe had never heard of Las Vegas Sands or MGM Resorts International before Donald Trump told him about them last February. Either that or Abe was politely feigning ignorance. (As long as was using his political office … Continue reading →

Posted in Donald Trump, Foxwoods, Greenwood Racing, Japan, MGM Mirage, Mohegan Sun, Pennsylvania, Politics, Regulation, Sheldon Adelson, Singapore, Taxes, Wall Street | Comments Off on Trump goes to bat for Adelson; Connecticut tribes on the rise

Strange bedfellows indeed; Massachusetts responds to Vegas massacre

Posted on October 17, 2017 by David McKee

Ex-Indiana Gov. Mike Pence‘s anti-casino past came back to bite him in the keester this week. A lengthy exposé reveals that, even as Pence was publicly posturing about “no expansion of gaming” in Indiana — although Pence never clearly defined … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, California, Centaur Gaming, Charity, Delaware, Donald Trump, e-sports, G2E, Gary Goett, Indiana, Internet gambling, Mandalay Bay Massacre, Maryland, Massachusetts, Nevada, Politics, Regulation, Sheldon Adelson, Station Casinos, Technology, Tribal | Comments Off on Strange bedfellows indeed; Massachusetts responds to Vegas massacre

Ex-cons working casino floors?; Kansas casinos set record

Posted on October 13, 2017 by David McKee

You’d think casinos in Massachusetts, where job applicants far outnumber available positions, could get by without hiring convicted criminals. Think again. A bill before the Lege would open a loophole for people with criminal records to hold down jobs in … Continue reading →

Posted in Boyd Gaming, G2E, GameCO, Harrah's, IGT, International, Kansas, Lawrence Ho, Massachusetts, Melco Crown Entertainment, MGM Mirage, Penn National, Politics, Regulation, Steve Wynn, Technology, Tribal | Comments Off on Ex-cons working casino floors?; Kansas casinos set record

Quote of the Day

Posted on October 13, 2017 by David McKee

“Cryptocurrencies scare the devil out of many people. There is a freedom—an anonymity—about them, and that freedom is used by some to stay under the radar while doing the devil’s work. Others view it a way to have the license … Continue reading →

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

Boxing creates boom for Nevada bookmakers

Posted on October 10, 2017 by David McKee

Nevada sports books saw an increase of 1,650% in August wagering. (No, that’s not a typo.) It would be an understatement to say that the Floyd Mayweather/Conor McGregor fight helped. $70 million was wagered on it, with the books keeping … Continue reading →

Posted in Donald Trump, Genting, Mississippi, Regulation, Sheldon Adelson, Singapore, Sports, Technology, Tilman Fertitta, Westgate LV | Comments Off on Boxing creates boom for Nevada bookmakers

Clean slate at Caesars; Heresy at G2E; Another Revel mystery

Posted on October 9, 2017 by David McKee

“Twenty-five years ago Caesars [Entertainment] was the premier name internationally but they dropped the ball,” said C.G. Anderson Partners analyst Greg Bousquette of the company that must find a way to become relevant after spending years snarled in debt, then in … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Colorado, Economy, Entertainment, G2E, Glenn Straub, Harrah's, Iowa, Japan, Macau, Mandalay Bay Massacre, Neil Bluhm, New York, Pennsylvania, Regulation, Revel, Singapore, South Korea, Technology, The Strip, Wall Street | Comments Off on Clean slate at Caesars; Heresy at G2E; Another Revel mystery

Penn, Pinnacle to merge?

Posted on October 6, 2017 by David McKee

Writes Deutsche Bank analyst Carlo Santarelli, “according to people familiar with the matter, Penn National has conducted on again off again discussions to acquire Pinnacle Entertainment.” He warns that “a long list of questions, which may or may not make a … Continue reading →

Posted in Ameristar, GLPI, Golden Gaming, Harrah's, Maryland, MGM Mirage, Mississippi, Missouri, Ohio, Penn National, Pennsylvania, Pinnacle Entertainment, Regulation, Wall Street, West Virginia | 2 Comments

So long, Moulin Rouge; Golden merger green-lit

Posted on October 6, 2017 by David McKee

It just got a lot cheaper to buy the Moulin Rouge. The last vestiges of the original complex were pulled down yesterday after yet another suspicious fire ravaged through what once upon a time was Las Vegas‘ first integrated casino. … Continue reading →

Posted in ACEP, Fontainebleau, Genting, Golden Gaming, history, Moulin Rouge, Movies, Regulation, Sam Nazarian, The Strip | Comments Off on So long, Moulin Rouge; Golden merger green-lit

Mandalay Bay mystery a labyrinth

Posted on October 6, 2017 by David McKee

As the clouds of war gather again over our great country, we’re finally gaining some clarity regarding Mandalay Bay shooter Stephen Paddock. He was that seeming oxymoron: a video poker “whale,” one who didn’t blanch at wagering $100 a spin. … Continue reading →

Posted in Boyd Gaming, Cannery Casino Resorts, Cosmopolitan, Downtown, Harrah's, Illinois, Law enforcement, Mandalay Bay Massacre, Massachusetts, Mesquite, MGM Mirage, Philippines, Politics, Problem gambling, Regulation, Reno, Texas | Comments Off on Mandalay Bay mystery a labyrinth

Caesars exits bankruptcy; Station’s California headache

Posted on October 3, 2017 by David McKee

Caesars Entertainment‘s long Chapter 11 nightmare is finally at an end. Regulators in Missouri and Louisiana have signed off on a reorganization that will leave Caesars creditors $10 billion lighter in the wallet. The consummation of the deal is a … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, California, Harrah's, Illinois, Louisiana, Marketing, Maryland, MGM Mirage, Mississippi, Missouri, Regulation, Station Casinos, Technology, Tribal, Wall Street | Comments Off on Caesars exits bankruptcy; Station’s California headache

Quote of the Day

Posted on October 3, 2017 by David McKee

“There were probably some elements of the Chinese government that thought Macao was growing too quickly. Maybe people like [Sheldon] Adelson and the like were getting rich too quickly.”  — Richard McGregor, author of The Party: The Secret World of China’s … Continue reading →

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

Hot numbers in August; MGM Cotai postponed

Posted on October 2, 2017 by David McKee

Although visitation to Las Vegas was down 2% in August, room revenues and rates were both up 3% (with a hotel room costing you $125/night on average) and occupancy at 91%. JP Morgan analyst Joseph Greff credited the Floyd Mayweather-Conor McPherson … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Boulder Strip, Colony Capital, Cosmopolitan, Downtown, Economy, Fontainebleau, Foxwoods, Hard Rock Hotel, International, Lake Tahoe, Laughlin, Macau, MGM Mirage, Mohegan Sun, North Las Vegas, Politics, Problem gambling, Regulation, Reno | Comments Off on Hot numbers in August; MGM Cotai postponed

Trump to bigfoot Connecticut controversy?

Posted on September 26, 2017 by David McKee

Could we see heavy-footed federal intervention in the MGM Resorts International vs. Connecticut tribes slugfest? Bridgeport Mayor Joe Ganim (D) hopes so. A supporter of Donald Trump‘s presidential campaign, he’s hoping the White House will stomp into the Nutmeg State fray, interceding … Continue reading →

Posted in DFS, Donald Trump, Economy, Election, Foxwoods, Galaxy Entertainment, Genting, Geoff Freeman, International, Macau, MGM Mirage, Mohegan Sun, Regulation, Singapore, Sports, The Strip | Comments Off on Trump to bigfoot Connecticut controversy?

Palms renovation weighs upon Station; Japan dithers on casinos

Posted on September 25, 2017 by David McKee

Calling Palms renovations “an issue that has been persistent all year and whose magnitude keeps surprising us to the downside,” J.P. Morgan analyst Joseph Greff lowered revenue projections for Station Casinos for the remainder of the year, extending into early … Continue reading →

Posted in Dining, Entertainment, Foxwoods, Mohegan Sun, Regulation, Scientific Games, Sports, Station Casinos, Technology, Wall Street | 1 Comment

MGM Bridgeport … ?!?; Battle lines drawn in Maine

Posted on September 20, 2017 by David McKee

Poor MGM Springfield. It’s not even finished and MGM Resorts International is already off on a snipe hunt in Connecticut. Like Steve Wynn many years ago, it is proposing a casino for Bridgeport. MGM says it is prepared to invest … Continue reading →

Posted in e-sports, Economy, Election, Foxwoods, history, Maine, Marketing, Maryland, Massachusetts, MGM Mirage, Mohegan Sun, Nevada, Politics, Regulation, TV | Comments Off on MGM Bridgeport … ?!?; Battle lines drawn in Maine

F-blew: Here we go again; Trop makes Hoosier history

Posted on September 19, 2017 by David McKee

Steven Witkoff hasn’t closed on the Fontainebleau sale yet, never mind receiving a gaming license, and he’s already being cast as the savior of the Las Vegas Strip. However, there are some dark clouds on Fontainebleau’s horizon. Despite the $1.3 … Continue reading →

Posted in Carl Icahn, Eldorado Resorts, Fontainebleau, Genting, history, Indiana, Internet gambling, LVCVA, Marketing, Massachusetts, Penn National, Pennsylvania, Regulation, Reno, Steven Witkoff, The Strip, Tropicana Entertainment | 1 Comment

Adelson cools on Japan; Revel mystery deepens

Posted on September 18, 2017 by David McKee

Details of Japan‘s casino-implementation bill are starting to trickle out: a blend of tax rates for mass-market play (22%) and VIP action (12%), a minimum gambling age of 20 and casino square floors no bigger than 15,000 square feet. Limitations like … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Dining, Election, Entertainment, Galaxy Entertainment, Glenn Straub, Hard Rock International, Harrah's, Japan, Marijuana, MGM Mirage, Politics, Regulation, Revel, Sheldon Adelson, Steve Wynn, Taxes, Wall Street | 3 Comments