Category Archives: Regulation

Shifty speculation in Massachusetts; Hoosiers spend more

Posted on July 8, 2016 by David McKee

Two Boston-area mayors are digging in against a slot parlor proposed for Revere. New Revere Mayor Brian Arrigo and Somerville Mayor Joseph Curtatone (below) have both voiced opposition to the project, which would be near Suffolk Downs (the ballot question is … Continue reading →

Posted in Boyd Gaming, Full House Resorts, Harrah's, Horseracing, Law enforcement, Majestic Star, Massachusetts, Neil Bluhm, Penn National, Pennsylvania, Pinnacle Entertainment, Racinos, Regulation, Steve Wynn, Taxes, Tropicana Entertainment | Comments Off

Icahn leaves Taj workers nostalgic for Trump; Megaresort proposed for NYC

Posted on July 7, 2016 by David McKee

You can measure the acrimony between Unite-Here Local 54 and Tropicana Entertainment by the fact that striking workers at Trump Taj Mahal are using Donald Trump as a stick with which to beat Carl Icahn. By astutely negotiating a pact … Continue reading →

Posted in California, Carl Icahn, Charity, Cordish Co., Cosmopolitan, Donald Trump, Election, Entertainment, Genting, Georgia, Glenn Straub, Harrah's, Horseracing, Illinois, Macau, Marketing, Melco Crown Entertainment, MGM Mirage, New York, Regulation, Revel, Stanley Ho, Tribal, Tropicana Entertainment, Trump Entertainment Resorts, Unite-Here | Comments Off

Patient, heal thyself!; Copperfield’s new crib

Posted on July 7, 2016 by David McKee

Seemingly taking its talking points from Gov. Chris Christie (R), the Wall Street Journal opened a can of whup-ass on Atlantic City. (It also tried to drag casino flip-flopper Hillary Clinton into the argument but that was too much of … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, Arizona, Atlantic City, Donald Trump, Economy, Regulation, Taxes, Technology | Comments Off

Trump’s tribal treachery

Posted on July 5, 2016 by David McKee

As the press continues to dig into Donald Trump‘s past, it’s uncovering activity that is vile even by Trump’s debased standards. Such is the case in his race-baiting campaign against the casino application of the St. Regis Mohawks. Not man … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, California, Donald Trump, Genting, Hard Rock International, International, Internet gambling, Law enforcement, Lawrence Ho, Minnesota, New York, PokerStars, Regulation, The Mob, The Strip, Tribal | 1 Comment

Battling along the Boardwalk; Supreme Court gives tribes the brush-off

Posted on July 5, 2016 by David McKee

While the previous record for an Atlantic City casino strike is 34 days, the showdown at Trump Taj Mahal looks like it will go the distance. Neither Local 54 of Unite-Here nor Carl Icahn shows any signs of backing down … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Carl Icahn, Glenn Straub, Golden Gaming, Internet gambling, Law enforcement, Maryland, Pennsylvania, Philippines, Politics, Regulation, Revel, Slot routes, Taxes, Tribal, Unite-Here | 1 Comment

Donald Trump, stiff; Partial labor peace in Atlantic City

Posted on June 30, 2016 by David McKee

One of the benefits of Donald Trump‘s current ubiquity is that it has belatedly spurred the press into debunking the myth that he was a successful casino operator in Atlantic City. A particularly damning Associated Press story connects the dots … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Boyd Gaming, Donald Trump, Galaxy Entertainment, Glenn Straub, Harrah's, Macau, Melco Crown Entertainment, Mohegan Sun, Regulation, Revel, Steve Wynn, Tilman Fertitta, Tourism, Tropicana Entertainment, Unite-Here | Comments Off

The meddlesome Adelson; Wynn Palace postponed again

Posted on June 27, 2016 by David McKee

“Essentially, Pechanga and its allies see no reason to compromise, even an inch,” wrote California Online Poker‘s Steve Ruddock of the intractable position of the Pechanga and Agua Caliente tribes, and their anti-PokerStars allies (who include Sheldon Adelson, meddling in … Continue reading →

Posted in Arkansas, California, Churchill Downs, Election, Foxwoods, Horseracing, Internet gambling, Louisiana, Macau, Marketing, Massachusetts, MGM Mirage, Mohegan Sun, Penn National, Politics, Regulation, Scientific Games, Sheldon Adelson, Steve Wynn, Taxes, Technology, Tribal, Wall Street | Comments Off

Revel … still not open; Cautious hope for Internet gambling in Pennsylvania

Posted on June 20, 2016 by David McKee

Glenn Straub‘s once-bold gambit to reopen Revel has turned into an embarrassing face-plant. Perhaps rushing to market in hopes of beating Bart Blatstein‘s Showboat to the hotel traffic, Straub announced a hasty revival of Revel as a casino-hotel without … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, Atlantic City, Dan Gilbert, Detroit, Environment, Glenn Straub, Internet gambling, MGM Mirage, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Politics, Regulation, Revel, Slot routes, Sports, Technology | 1 Comment

Louisiana gets hammered; Three states legalize DFS

Posted on June 20, 2016 by David McKee

As we’ve noted before, May was hard on Midwest casino operators, nowhere more so than in Louisiana, where gambling revenue was down 13%. This marks seven months of same-store decline for the Pelican State, an exceptional slump, with the usually … Continue reading →

Posted in Boyd Gaming, California, Churchill Downs, Colorado, Economy, Eldorado Resorts, GLPI, Golden Gaming, Harrah's, Internet gambling, Isle of Capri, Louisiana, MGM Mirage, Missouri, Nevada, New York, Pinnacle Entertainment, Regulation, Sports, The Strip, Tilman Fertitta, Tribal, Tropicana Entertainment, Wall Street | 2 Comments

Trump: How to make out like a bandit; Big plans for Station

Posted on June 13, 2016 by David McKee

To give the devil his due, if you visit Trump Taj Mahal and are dismayed because “carpets are frayed and dust-coated chandeliers dangle above the few customers there to play the penny slot machines,” you are not entirely witnessing the … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Boyd Gaming, Donald Trump, Harrah's, IGT, MTR Gaming, Palms, Regulation, Riviera, Station Casinos, Technology, The Strip, Tilman Fertitta, Transportation, Trump Entertainment Resorts, Wall Street | 1 Comment

Straub forges ahead; Caesars bankruptcy stymied

Posted on June 8, 2016 by David McKee

Glenn Straub still doesn’t have a new name for Revel but that’s not stopping him from reopening the casino — and on schedule, too. He expects to have 40% of the casino floor operational within a week. Straub will reopen … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Boyd Gaming, Dining, Entertainment, Glenn Straub, Harrah's, Marketing, Maryland, MGM Mirage, Regulation, Revel, The Strip, Unite-Here | Comments Off

High-stakes legal challenge in Florida; Free-for-all in New York

Posted on June 7, 2016 by David McKee

A relatively obscure dispute in the Florida panhandle could have huge ramifications for the state’s casino industry. Four years ago, voters in Gadsden County approved slot machines for Gretna Racing, a joint venture of two Tallahassee lobbyists and the Poarch Bank … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, Atlantic City, Delaware, Economy, Election, Florida, Genting, Harrah's, Horseracing, Internet gambling, MGM Mirage, Nevada, New York, Politics, Racinos, Regulation, Seminole Tribe, Sheldon Adelson, The Strip | Comments Off

Atlantic City back on death watch?; Money problems at Moulin Rouge

Posted on June 3, 2016 by David McKee

Things are suddenly looking grim for Atlantic City: A new Monmouth University poll shows voters evenly divided on a referendum to end the Boardwalk’s monopoly on casino gambling, an erosion of public support for the resort city. Assessing the situation … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Downtown, Economy, Election, Environment, Harrah's, Internet gambling, Macau, Massachusetts, MGM Mirage, Mohegan Sun, Penn National, Problem gambling, Regulation, Riviera, Steve Wynn, Tilman Fertitta, Trump Entertainment Resorts | Comments Off

Lucky Dragon forges ahead; Calm urged in Macao

Posted on May 31, 2016 by David McKee

By this point, it’s hardly news that Lucky Dragon Casino is on track to open in December, breathing some additional life into the north Strip (we hope). However, Lucky Dragon execs continue to argue that they should have received tax-increment … Continue reading →

Posted in Economy, International, Lucky Dragon, Macau, Marketing, Regulation, Sheldon Adelson, Taxes, The Strip, Tourism | Comments Off

PokerStars camel meets eye of needle; Penn loses last-gasp appeal

Posted on May 25, 2016 by David McKee

California state Rep. Adam Gray‘s online-gaming bill comes under some close scrutiny from analysts Steven Eichorn and Jeff Ifrah. As expected, there is no “bad actor” clause that would explicitly keep Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act scofflaws like PokerStars out … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Boyd Gaming, California, Genting, Internet gambling, Iowa, Law enforcement, MGM Mirage, New York, Penn National, PokerStars, Politics, Regulation, Singapore, Stanley Ho, Tribal | Comments Off

New era at Trump Taj Mahal; Blasphemous gambling promo spanked

Posted on May 24, 2016 by David McKee

He’s been handed a small budget ($15 million) for the task at hand, but new Trump Taj Mahal boss Anthony Rodio has been charged with undoing the damage inflicted on the property during the Bob Griffin era. This includes “reactivating … Continue reading →

Posted in Affinity Gaming, Atlantic City, Boyd Gaming, Cannery Casino Resorts, CityCenter, Dining, history, Internet gambling, Macau, MGM Mirage, Penn National, Regulation, Sports, Stanley Ho, Station Casinos, Tamares Group, Technology, Tropicana Entertainment, Unite-Here | 1 Comment

Macao: The 9% solution; It’s a bird, it’s a plane, it’s Steve Wynn

Posted on May 19, 2016 by David McKee

Supply has overrun demand in Macao, where a wave of impending megaresorts is rolling in on an emaciated marketplace. But optimistic noises are being heard at Global Gaming Expo Asia, amid the robotic croupiers and other new toys. “The sentiments … Continue reading →

Posted in Downtown, Economy, Entertainment, G2E, International, Lawrence Ho, Macau, Pennsylvania, Politics, Regulation, Steve Wynn, Taxes | Comments Off

Top Golf’s impressive debut; Lucky Dragon’s calculated risk

Posted on May 18, 2016 by David McKee

“My only problem is A.D.D.” read the T-shirt of one of the celebrants at last night’s opening of Top Golf, on the MGM Grand campus. He was certainly in the right place. If you are serious about honing your skills, … Continue reading →

Posted in Boyd Gaming, Churchill Downs, Entertainment, Foxwoods, G2E, Geoff Freeman, Illinois, Internet gambling, Law enforcement, Lucky Dragon, Macau, Marketing, MGM Mirage, Mohegan Sun, Pennsylvania, Philippines, Regulation, Sheldon Adelson, SLS Las Vegas, Sports, Station Casinos, Technology, The Strip | Comments Off

Quote of the Day

Posted on May 16, 2016 by David McKee

“We can’t be trapped in a 40-year-old [gaming] paradigm … It very well may be that it is an athletic event.” — Nevada Gov. Brian Sandoval (R), on the quandary posed by e-sports, which his Nevada Gaming Policy Committee is pondering whether … Continue reading →

Posted in Downtown, Regulation, Sports, Technology, The Strip | Comments Off

Adelson bill makes unwelcome return; Downtown Vegas’ new face

Posted on May 16, 2016 by David McKee

His presidential aspirations having turned to dust, Sen. Lindsey Graham (R) is back to doing Sheldon Adelson‘s business, resurrecting RAWA. He has appended to an unrelated spending bill the following language: “Internet Gambling—Since 1961, the Wire Act has prohibited nearly all … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, California, Dining, Downtown, Entertainment, Internet gambling, Law enforcement, Massachusetts, MGM Mirage, PokerStars, Regulation, Sheldon Adelson, The Strip | Comments Off