Category Archives: Regulation

Pence ultimately gets it right

Posted on May 11, 2015 by David McKee

WDRB 41 Louisville News After months of Hamlet-worthy public agonizing, Indiana Gov. Mike Pence (R) did the right thing by doing nothing. Satisfied that it was not his never-defined “expansion” of gambling, he decided to let a casino-reform bill that … Continue reading →

Posted in Economy, Indiana, Kentucky, Macau, Politics, Racinos, Regulation, Sheldon Adelson | Comments Off on Pence ultimately gets it right

Why is this man smiling?; Adelson’s latest antics

Posted on May 8, 2015 by David McKee

Bankruptcy’s been good to Caesars Entertainment. For CEO Gary Loveman‘s final earnings call prior to yielding his title to Mark Frissora, the company gift-wrapped him a $7.6 billion profit on net revenue of $1 billion. If that sounds surrealistic, it’s due to … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Harrah's, Internet gambling, Maryland, Penn National, Pennsylvania, Politics, Regulation, Scientific Games, Sheldon Adelson, Steve Wynn, The Strip, Wall Street, West Virginia | Comments Off on Why is this man smiling?; Adelson’s latest antics

Wynn frustrated with Macao; Adelson vs. Adelson

Posted on April 30, 2015 by David McKee

“Macau giveth and Macau taketh away for Wynn Resorts.” With that sentence the Las Vegas Review-Journal‘s Richard Velotta pithily summarized the precipitous reliance that Wynn and other Macanese operators have on that unpredictable market. “Our hopes for a turnaround during Chinese … Continue reading →

Posted in Economy, history, Macau, Regulation, Sheldon Adelson, Steve Wynn, The Strip, Wall Street | 1 Comment

Nothing’s easy at Revel; Death sentence for Harrah’s Tunica

Posted on April 29, 2015 by David McKee

“What am I going to do with this stuff with no electricity, no heat, no air conditioning? These people just give me so many roadblocks.” So complained Glenn Straub after New Jersey‘s Division of Gaming Enforcement ordered him to post guards … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, Atlantic City, Genting, Glenn Straub, Harrah's, Mississippi, Regulation, Revel, Sheldon Adelson, Singapore, Trump Entertainment Resorts | 1 Comment

Macao casinos feel the heat; $41 million jackpot voided

Posted on April 27, 2015 by David McKee

When the government of Macao makes a suggestion, it’s more like an order. For instance, last week, Secretary for Economy & Finance Lionel Leong summoned representatives of all six casino concessionaires to a meeting in which he ‘requested’ increased hiring and … Continue reading →

Posted in Aristocrat, Economy, Iowa, Isle of Capri, Macau, Marketing, Maryland, Melco Crown Entertainment, MGM Mirage, Regulation, Sheldon Adelson | Comments Off on Macao casinos feel the heat; $41 million jackpot voided

Caesars and Gilbert, separate but together

Posted on April 24, 2015 by David McKee

Dan Gilbert‘s ThistleDown Racino has been losing business to Hard Rock Rocksino, so Gilbert is pushing back with $70 million in upgrades. “Our initial investment in ThistleDown has been a tremendous success and now we’re ready to introduce a new level … Continue reading →

Posted in Dan Gilbert, Delaware, Hard Rock International, Harrah's, Horseracing, Internet gambling, Maryland, Ohio, Regulation | Comments Off on Caesars and Gilbert, separate but together

Shame on Arizona; Big plans for Gold Strike

Posted on April 24, 2015 by David McKee

With Gov. Doug Ducey opposed, along with a state gaming agency that refuses to OK its casino, the Tohono O’odham Nation has to decide whether to insist upon a December opening or bow to the state’s objections. Despite having lost time … Continue reading →

Posted in Arizona, Massachusetts, MGM Mirage, Politics, Regulation, Rhode Island, Tribal | Comments Off on Shame on Arizona; Big plans for Gold Strike

Tribal tensions in Indiana; Mississippi tapped out?

Posted on April 23, 2015 by David McKee

Indiana legislators are making it more difficult for the Pokagon Band of Potawatomi Indians to reach a compact with Gov. Mike Pence (R), according to the tribe, which charges lawmakers with meddling in the compacting process. The Pokagon Band, which owns … Continue reading →

Posted in Economy, Harrah's, Indiana, Maine, Mississippi, New Hampshire, Politics, Racinos, Regulation, Tribal | 1 Comment

Revel’s Faustian pact; Hope fades in Florida

Posted on April 22, 2015 by David McKee

Glenn Straub finally got what he wanted, the right to ixnay the contracts of all the tenants at Revel, aka Polo North. After much hesitation during the constipated bankruptcy sale, Judge Gloria Burns finally ruled against the leaseholders, meaning the brawl … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Environment, Florida, Glenn Straub, Politics, Racinos, Regulation, Revel, Steve Wynn, Tribal, Wall Street | Comments Off on Revel’s Faustian pact; Hope fades in Florida

Phua case goes “poof!”; Texas casinos a mission impossible

Posted on April 20, 2015 by David McKee

A federal case against an unlicensed, do-it-yourself sports book collapsed like a pup tent when a federal judge tossed out both the premise of an FBI search and, by extension, the evidence gathered therefrom. In a warrantless search, G-men cut … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Environment, Harrah's, Internet gambling, Iowa, Louisiana, Politics, Problem gambling, Racinos, Regulation, Texas, The Strip, Tribal | Comments Off on Phua case goes “poof!”; Texas casinos a mission impossible

Caesars’ ordeal drags on; Adelson wants more

Posted on April 20, 2015 by David McKee

Our long national nightmare — otherwise known as the Caesars Entertainment bankruptcy — will be with us a lot longer: six months, to be precise. Caesars has requested, and is expected to get, an extension until Nov. 15 to file … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Economy, Harrah's, Internet gambling, Macau, Massachusetts, Mohegan Sun, Penn National, Racinos, Regulation, Sheldon Adelson, Wall Street | Comments Off on Caesars’ ordeal drags on; Adelson wants more

Tightening the screws on Macao; While we were in recess

Posted on April 15, 2015 by David McKee

In what may come as bad news to casino operators, the Macao government is placing a quota on the number of mainland visitors the gaming enclave will allow per year: 21 million. On the other hand, the government is pivoting … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Environment, Hard Rock International, Harrah's, LVCVA, Macau, Marketing, Ohio, Penn National, Pennsylvania, Regulation, Stanley Ho, Technology, Tourism | 2 Comments

Trump blocks progress in Atlantic City; Legal trouble for Penn

Posted on April 15, 2015 by David McKee

Although they enjoyed a same-store increase of 1% last month, Atlantic City casinos pulled in 14% less than last year at this time, grossing $191 million (more than some entire Midwestern states, it should be noted). Twelve percent less coin-in … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Boyd Gaming, Glenn Straub, Harrah's, Internet gambling, Kansas, Massachusetts, MGM Mirage, Mohegan Sun, Ohio, Penn National, Pennsylvania, Politics, Racinos, Regulation, Revel, Tilman Fertitta, Tropicana Entertainment, Trump Entertainment Resorts | Comments Off on Trump blocks progress in Atlantic City; Legal trouble for Penn

Freeman takes aim; Pinnacle commands high price

Posted on April 15, 2015 by David McKee

Geoff Freeman continues his aggressive agenda at the American Gaming Association. In a move possibly intended to take the heat off American online casinos, he’ll calling for — and promising the AGA will take the lead in — a beatdown … Continue reading →

Posted in Geoff Freeman, GLPI, Internet gambling, MGM Mirage, Mississippi, Pinnacle Entertainment, Regulation, Sheldon Adelson, Sports, Taxes, Wall Street | Comments Off on Freeman takes aim; Pinnacle commands high price

Pansy Ho on the campaign trail; Connecticut tribes optimistic

Posted on April 13, 2015 by David McKee

MGM China would probably prefer that its co-chairwoman, Pansy Ho, stay out of the headlines, considering the negative publicity she’s generated over the years. But she opened up to the media this week, specifically the newspaper of which she is … Continue reading →

Posted in Downtown, Entertainment, Foxwoods, Hooters, Internet gambling, Macau, Massachusetts, MGM Mirage, Mohegan Sun, Movies, Palms, Pansy Ho, Pennsylvania, Regulation, The Strip, Tourism | Comments Off on Pansy Ho on the campaign trail; Connecticut tribes optimistic

Misery in Macao; Penn’s good fortune

Posted on April 7, 2015 by David McKee

Macao took such a hard hit last month that distinction lies not in which casino did best but whose business was least bad. And, with the territorial government promising to help Peking further ratchet up its anti-graft campaign, Operation Skynet, … Continue reading →

Posted in Boyd Gaming, Economy, GLPI, Hard Rock International, Harrah's, Illinois, Macau, MGM Mirage, Neil Bluhm, Ohio, Penn National, Regulation, Sheldon Adelson, Steve Wynn | Comments Off on Misery in Macao; Penn’s good fortune

Paradox in Maryland; Otter saves “instant racing”

Posted on April 7, 2015 by David McKee

While its competitors dealt with a variety of revenue declines, despite posting a record amount of revenue, Horseshoe Baltimore was up in March, grossing a best-yet $25 million. On a statewide basis, revenue was 17% higher last month. However, casinos … Continue reading →

Posted in Cordish Co., GTECH, Harrah's, Horseracing, Idaho, IGT, Maryland, Penn National, Racinos, Regulation, Reno, Tribal, World Series of Poker | Comments Off on Paradox in Maryland; Otter saves “instant racing”

Reid-Adelson lovefest; Massachusetts meddling

Posted on April 7, 2015 by David McKee

Now that he’s no longer standing for reelection, Sen. Harry Reid (D) has flung himself fully into the arms of Sheldon Adelson, calling for a ban on online gambling that might even extend to Nevada‘s fledgling I-poker industry (although Reid’s … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, CityCenter, Harry Reid, Illinois, Internet gambling, Macau, Massachusetts, MGM Mirage, Politics, Regulation, Rhode Island, Sheldon Adelson, Taxes, The Strip, Wall Street | Comments Off on Reid-Adelson lovefest; Massachusetts meddling

Lone Star illegality; Showboat hits shoals

Posted on April 1, 2015 by David McKee

Texas lacks the will to legalize casino gambling, yet it shrugs off a black-market version of it that is estimated to generate $1.9 billion a year. Under Texas law, you can own slot machines so long as their “payout” is … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Derek Stevens, Glenn Straub, Harrah's, Regulation, Sports, Texas, Tilman Fertitta, TV, Unite-Here | 1 Comment

Macao: What, us worry?; Florida grapples with gambling

Posted on March 30, 2015 by David McKee

Two Hong Kong-based stock analysts recently met with the Macanese Gaming Inspection & Coordination Bureau. Much to their surprise, when they asked “what positive policy measures can be enacted to help stop the trend of negative gaming revenue growth,” they … Continue reading →

Posted in Economy, Florida, Horseracing, Idaho, Macau, Politics, Problem gambling, Racinos, Regulation, Sheldon Adelson, Tourism, Transportation, Tribal | Comments Off on Macao: What, us worry?; Florida grapples with gambling