Category Archives: Regulation

MGM prevails, Wynn slowed in Massachusetts

Posted on May 13, 2016 by David McKee

Bowing to the inevitable, the Massachusetts Gaming Commission ratified MGM Resorts International‘s redesign of MGM Springfield, on which the casino company is already hard at work. What was the MGC to do? Tell MGM to go back to Square One? … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, Environment, International, Internet gambling, Massachusetts, MGM Mirage, Mohegan Sun, Politics, Regulation, Steve Wynn, Transportation, Tribal | Comments Off on MGM prevails, Wynn slowed in Massachusetts

Weidner headed to Vietnam?; Nazarian on the rebound

Posted on May 13, 2016 by David McKee

William Weidner hasn’t finished Lucky Dragon Casino yet and he’s already flashing some leg at the Vietnamese government (or so it appears), seeking a $4 billion casino megaresort in Ho Chi Minh City (to most us, Saigon). Financing Lucky Dragon … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, Boyd Gaming, Hard Rock Hotel, International, Lucky Dragon, Macau, Marketing, Morgans Hotel Group, Palms, Regulation, Sam Nazarian, Station Casinos, Wall Street | Comments Off on Weidner headed to Vietnam?; Nazarian on the rebound

Palms purchase confirmed; Adelson gets rapped

Posted on May 12, 2016 by David McKee

It’s official: Red Rock Resorts has purchased The Palms for $312.5 million. It got a bargain when one considers the inventory that comes with the deal — the Palms Place condo tower, 710 hotel rooms, 85 of the most famous … Continue reading →

Posted in Culinary Union, Economy, Law enforcement, Macau, Palms, Philippines, Regulation, Sheldon Adelson, Station Casinos, The Strip | 1 Comment

Macao: No more tables for you

Posted on May 9, 2016 by David McKee

When Macao authorities imposed caps on table-game allotments, Western casino companies condescendingly said that the Chinese didn’t really mean it and would lift the caps as the Cotai Strip was built out. Guess again. Secretary for Economy & Finance Lionel Leong said … Continue reading →

Posted in Economy, Harrah's, Macau, MGM Mirage, Regulation, Sheldon Adelson, Stanley Ho, Steve Wynn | Comments Off on Macao: No more tables for you

Wampanoags’ patience rewarded; March Mildness at Vegas sports books

Posted on May 3, 2016 by David McKee

Those who set store by the fable of the tortoise and the hare can take heart from the saga of the Mashpee Wampanoag. It took them a long time to get their act together, federal land-in-trust approval seemed unlikely and … Continue reading →

Posted in California, Economy, history, Massachusetts, Politics, Regulation, Sports, Tribal | Comments Off on Wampanoags’ patience rewarded; March Mildness at Vegas sports books

Brockton casino nixed; The sleeping tiger

Posted on May 2, 2016 by David McKee

An “uninspiring” design and a lack of a solid Brockton business plan scuppered Neil Bluhm‘s ambitions in Massachusetts. The state’s gaming commission voted his proposal down, 4-1. “If this were a knockout proposal and a great strategy to lift Brockton, this … Continue reading →

Posted in Delaware, Economy, International, Massachusetts, Neil Bluhm, Politics, Racinos, Regulation, Sheldon Adelson, Singapore, Taxes, Tribal | 2 Comments

Macao junketeers left holding the bag; Lionel Richie wows the ladies

Posted on April 28, 2016 by David McKee

We could see another shakeout in Macao junket operators. According to Daiwa Securities Group, most of the industry is “struggling just to break even.” Part of that problem is that they’re carrying almost $3,9 billion in bad debt — and you … Continue reading →

Posted in Australia, Economy, Entertainment, Foxwoods, International, Macau, Marketing, Melco Crown Entertainment, Mohegan Sun, Penn National, Planet Hollywood, Regulation, Sheldon Adelson, South Dakota, Sports, Steve Wynn, Taxes, The Strip, Tribal, Wall Street | Comments Off on Macao junketeers left holding the bag; Lionel Richie wows the ladies

Strip disappoints in March; Genting pulls out of Macao

Posted on April 28, 2016 by David McKee

Just when Wall Street expected levels of revenue on the Las Vegas Strip to rise in March, business did a head-fake and dropped 4%. Again, “the Easter shift” is being blamed but stock analysts should have seen that coming. (A … Continue reading →

Posted in Boulder Strip, Downtown, Economy, Genting, Internet gambling, Lake Tahoe, Laughlin, Macau, North Las Vegas, Regulation, Reno, Singapore, Stanley Ho, Taxes, The Strip, Tourism, Tropicana Entertainment, Unite-Here, Wall Street | Comments Off on Strip disappoints in March; Genting pulls out of Macao

It’s official: Boyd buys Cannery; Massachusetts’ agonizing dilemma

Posted on April 26, 2016 by David McKee

Confirming the worst-kept secret in Las Vegas, suddenly acquisitive Boyd Gaming announced that it was buying out Cannery Casino Resorts. The price ($230 million) was toward the lower end of Wall Street had predicted for the deal and means the … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Boulder Strip, Boyd Gaming, Cannery Casino Resorts, Downtown, Economy, Massachusetts, Neil Bluhm, North Las Vegas, Penn National, Regulation, Taxes, The Strip, Tourism, Tribal, Wall Street | Comments Off on It’s official: Boyd buys Cannery; Massachusetts’ agonizing dilemma

What did Wynn know and when did it know it?; MGM REIT a hit

Posted on April 26, 2016 by David McKee

An unwelcome sideshow for Wynn Boston Harbor is playing out in a Massachusetts courtroom, in a court case of “excruciating details.” What is at issue is whether Dustin DeNunzio, Anthony Gattineri and Charles Lightbody attempted to defraud Wynn Resorts by concealing convicted … Continue reading →

Posted in Internet gambling, Law enforcement, Massachusetts, MGM Mirage, Oklahoma, Regulation, Sheldon Adelson, Singapore, Steve Wynn, Tribal, Wall Street | Comments Off on What did Wynn know and when did it know it?; MGM REIT a hit

Straub’s better mousetrap; Sparks Nugget in the clear

Posted on April 22, 2016 by David McKee

By now it is something of an understatement to say that Revel owner Glenn Straub thinks outside the box. Or, as the Philadelphia Inquirer put it, his “plans for the massive property have veered erratically from mud slides to academic … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Dining, Economy, Entertainment, Environment, Geoff Freeman, Glenn Straub, International, Law enforcement, Macau, Marnell Gaming, Pinnacle Entertainment, Regulation, Reno, Revel, Sheldon Adelson, Sports, Taxes | Comments Off on Straub’s better mousetrap; Sparks Nugget in the clear

Ethnic insensitivity in Oregon; Penn’s last stand in Iowa

Posted on April 20, 2016 by David McKee

A TV ad campaign for Oregon state-sponsored VLTs has riled up the Coquille Indian Tribe, not least because it depicts the Lewis & Clark Expedition happening upon video gaming in wilderness that has been ethnically cleansed of Native Americans. Coquille Chairman … Continue reading →

Posted in California, Delaware, Economy, Internet gambling, Iowa, Macau, Marketing, Penn National, Regulation, Tourism, Transportation, Tribal, Warner Gaming | Comments Off on Ethnic insensitivity in Oregon; Penn’s last stand in Iowa

Smoke gets in their eyes; Tax breaks all around

Posted on April 14, 2016 by David McKee

Yesterday morning, it looked like Baton Rouge casinos were going to have to brace themselves for a smoking ban. Today, they’re lighting up celebratory cigars in relief: While proponents of the smoking ban on the city council had six votes, … Continue reading →

Posted in Boyd Gaming, Environment, GLPI, Harrah's, Louisiana, New York, Pinnacle Entertainment, Regulation, Reno, Taxes, Tribal, Tropicana Entertainment, Wall Street | Comments Off on Smoke gets in their eyes; Tax breaks all around

Sexcapade case closed; GLPI/Pinnacle deal a certainty

Posted on April 12, 2016 by David McKee

Followers of jurisprudence will be denied one of the more prurient evidentiary hearings in history now that Vegas High Roller sexpot Chloe Scordianos has decided to plead guilty to disorderly conduct rather than face trial for committing sex acts in … Continue reading →

Posted in Ameristar, Architecture, Entertainment, Environment, GLPI, Harrah's, history, Illinois, Law enforcement, Missouri, Penn National, Pinnacle Entertainment, Regulation, Riviera, Steve Wynn, The Strip, Tropicana Entertainment | Comments Off on Sexcapade case closed; GLPI/Pinnacle deal a certainty

Lobbyists win in Atlantic City fight; Untimely reprimand for Bluhm

Posted on April 12, 2016 by David McKee

As Atlantic City fights to maintain its monopoly on casino gambling in New Jersey, it’s getting a lot of help from casino companies themselves — and lobbyists are making out like bandits. The biggest spender to date has been Caesars … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Australia, Boyd Gaming, Downtown, Election, Entertainment, Genting, Greenwood Racing, Harrah's, Illinois, LVCVA, Massachusetts, MGM Mirage, Neil Bluhm, Penn National, Pennsylvania, Regulation, Sheldon Adelson, Singapore, Tourism, Transportation, Tribal | Comments Off on Lobbyists win in Atlantic City fight; Untimely reprimand for Bluhm

Good year for Atlantic City; Sands slapped with fine

Posted on April 12, 2016 by David McKee

Free market forces did what governmental intervention and flashy marketing campaigns could not: They steadied Atlantic City‘s casino economy. With the dead weight of four casinos — Revel, Showboat, Atlantic Club and Trump Plaza — jettisoned, profits not only steadied, … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Boyd Gaming, Carl Icahn, Dining, Economy, Environment, Harrah's, Internet gambling, Macau, Mississippi, Mohegan Sun, PokerStars, Regulation, Sheldon Adelson, Sports, Steve Wynn, Tilman Fertitta, Tropicana Entertainment, Trump Entertainment Resorts | Comments Off on Good year for Atlantic City; Sands slapped with fine

Unhappy Easter in Illinois; Money-laundering mess in Sparks

Posted on April 7, 2016 by David McKee

Easter, if you can believe it, is being blamed for a 2% decline in Illinois casino revenues last month. Argosy Belle continued to be the problem child of the state, down 13% (to $5 million). Slot-route competition continued to do … Continue reading →

Posted in Boyd Gaming, Cordish Co., Dan Gilbert, GLPI, Harrah's, Illinois, International, Internet gambling, Laughlin, Law enforcement, Macau, Maryland, MGM Mirage, Penn National, Racinos, Regulation, Riviera, The Strip, Tourism | 1 Comment

Shady dealings in D.C.; New bromance between GLPI and Pinnacle

Posted on April 4, 2016 by David McKee

Voters in Washington, D.C., could find themselves voting on a casino initiative this November. A 9,000-square-foot gambling house has been proposed for Anacostia. It would have slots, blackjack and other table games but, strangely enough, no slots or electronic table … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, Delaware, Election, Florida, GLPI, International, Macau, Massachusetts, MGM Mirage, Neil Bluhm, Penn National, Pennsylvania, Pinnacle Entertainment, Racinos, Regulation, Sheldon Adelson, Sports, The Strip, Tourism, Tribal | 1 Comment

Wynn vs. Wynn; ‘Believe’ gets a new name, focus

Posted on April 4, 2016 by David McKee

More details of Elaine Wynn‘s lawsuit against Wynn Resorts, CEO Steve Wynn and General Counsel Kim Sinatra are emerging. She barrages the three with a litany of complaints, one of which seems to imply that her ex got a company … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Cirque du Soleil, Election, Entertainment, Harrah's, Massachusetts, MGM Mirage, Neil Bluhm, New York, Politics, Regulation, Steve Wynn, The Strip | Comments Off on Wynn vs. Wynn; ‘Believe’ gets a new name, focus

Complications at the Riviera; PokerStars a hit in New Jersey

Posted on April 1, 2016 by David McKee

Implosion of the Riviera could occur as early as June, so doesn’t hesitate to have your  picture taken in front of it. However, the timeline could be extended by a number of complications. Now that a demolition firm has been … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Boyd Gaming, Internet gambling, LVCVA, Massachusetts, MGM Mirage, Mohegan Sun, Oklahoma, Penn National, Regulation, Riviera, Steve Wynn, Technology, The Strip, Tribal | Comments Off on Complications at the Riviera; PokerStars a hit in New Jersey