Category Archives: Regulation

Dotty’s loses, Genting hesitates, Penn adapts

Posted on December 4, 2014 by David McKee

Look at that picture. Seriously, keep looking. Does that seem like a tavern to you? A casino? Some curious hybrid? For years the Clark County Commission has been grappling with the vexing questions posed by the rapidly growing Dotty’s chain of … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, Cordish Co., Dotty's, Downtown, Genting, Golden Gaming, Harrah's, Maryland, New York, Pennsylvania, Regulation, Station Casinos, The Strip | 2 Comments

Cokehead gets Nevada casino license; Cosmo sale near

Posted on December 4, 2014 by David McKee

Goodwill generated by the opening of SLS Las Vegas just went up Sam Nazarian‘s nose. The Los Angeles nightclub operator admitted to doing cocaine last April while living it up in Mexico. This is the kind of revelation casino pundits … Continue reading →

Posted in Cosmopolitan, Harrah's, history, Macau, Regulation, Sam Nazarian, Sheldon Adelson, Steve Wynn, The Strip | 1 Comment

Saving Atlantic City; Smokeless in Iowa

Posted on December 4, 2014 by David McKee

In an effort to solve the problem otherwise known as Atlantic City, policymakers are floating a variety of remedies. One would see the city’s casinos make a lump sum payment of $150 million for two years, in lieu of property … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Boyd Gaming, Environment, Harrah's, Iowa, Isle of Capri, Pinnacle Entertainment, Regulation, Taxes | 1 Comment

Walk softly, carry a Talking Stick

Posted on December 3, 2014 by David McKee

There’s a new symbolic benchmark for the economic importance of tribal gaming in the U.S. What was the US Airways Center, in Phoenix, home of the Phoenix Suns, is becoming Talking Stick Resort Arena. It’s a testimony to the financial … Continue reading →

Posted in Arizona, Dotty's, Entertainment, Golden Gaming, Politics, Regulation, Station Casinos, Tribal | 1 Comment

Dotty’s on the spot again; Ralston unplugged

Posted on December 2, 2014 by David McKee

When Station Casinos and Golden Gaming say “jump,” Clark County Commissioner Steve Sisolak asks, “How high?” At least that’s the case when it comes to Dotty’s, a 102-outlet chain of slot parlors that exist within a gray area of state … Continue reading →

Posted in Dotty's, Golden Gaming, Mississippi, Politics, Regulation, Station Casinos, TV, Wall Street | Comments Off on Dotty’s on the spot again; Ralston unplugged

Quote of the Day

Posted on December 2, 2014 by David McKee

“PASPA is a strange and even frightening federal law, for anyone who knows American history.  The federal government had never before tried to regulate or prohibit gambling which took place entirely within a single state.  In fact, it has always … Continue reading →

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

Palace coup at Full House

Posted on December 1, 2014 by David McKee

When you strike at the king, you must kill him — and dissident investor Dan Lee (left) was successful in deposing Andre Hilliou from his throne at Full House Resorts. “I would also like to thank Andre and Mark for their … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, California, Dan Lee, Entertainment, Indiana, Internet gambling, Marketing, Mississippi, New York, PokerStars, Regulation, Sam Nazarian, The Strip, Tribal, Wall Street | 1 Comment

Loveman’s credit capers; Green shoots in flyover country

Posted on December 1, 2014 by David McKee

Reorganization of Caesars Entertainment promises to continue to provide drama. UMB Bank threw red meat on the barbeque with a lawsuit that charged Apollo Management and Texas Pacific Group with having “thoroughly ransacked CEOC in a sweeping and now transparent plan … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Boyd Gaming, Economy, Harrah's, Isle of Capri, Louisiana, Maryland, Ohio, Penn National, Pinnacle Entertainment, Regulation, The Strip, Tilman Fertitta, Wall Street, World Series of Poker | 6 Comments

Icahn’s olive branch

Posted on December 1, 2014 by David McKee

As the clock ticks down toward a Dec. 4 bankruptcy hearing at which Trump Entertainment Resorts could be dissolved, Carl Icahn is nothing if not optimistic. He continues to believe he can recoup the $286 million in debt he holds … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Boyd Gaming, Carl Icahn, Environment, Genting, New York, Regulation, Taxes, Trump Entertainment Resorts | 2 Comments

Good news from the Boardwalk; Leven leaves

Posted on November 25, 2014 by David McKee

Rid of the Atlantic Club Hotel, Showboat, Trump Plaza and Revel, cash flow at Atlantic City casinos shot upward 7%, or $147.5 million. Once that unhappy quartet is removed from the year-over-year comparison, the percentage increase falls to 3% but … Continue reading →

Posted in Carl Icahn, Cirque du Soleil, Colony Capital, Harrah's, Macau, Massachusetts, MGM Mirage, Mohegan Sun, Regulation, Revel, Sheldon Adelson, Steve Wynn, The Strip, Tilman Fertitta, Trump Entertainment Resorts, Wall Street | Comments Off on Good news from the Boardwalk; Leven leaves

SLS struggles to find its niche; Cordish knows its one

Posted on November 25, 2014 by David McKee

Granted, Sam Nazarian had to do something with the Sahara, but so far when SLS Las Vegas makes the headlines it’s with another piece of bad news. F&B offerings have been cut back and the nightclub program is struggling. Rationalizes … Continue reading →

Posted in Boyd Gaming, Cordish Co., Dining, Genting, George Maloof, Harrah's, Maryland, New York, Regulation, Revel, Sahara, Sam Nazarian, The Strip | Comments Off on SLS struggles to find its niche; Cordish knows its one

Paid to not play?; More trouble for Trump, Caesars

Posted on November 24, 2014 by David McKee

Although the American Gaming Association came down against Massachusetts‘ proposed “managed play” system of regulating losses, casino companies are saying, “Not so fast.” Wynn Resorts, MGM Resorts International and Penn National Gaming are all in favor of the idea of … Continue reading →

Posted in Arizona, Atlantic City, Carl Icahn, Harrah's, Massachusetts, MGM Mirage, Penn National, Problem gambling, Regulation, Sports, Steve Wynn, Tribal, Trump Entertainment Resorts, Wall Street | 1 Comment

New Jersey cuffed; Adelson stirs controversy

Posted on November 24, 2014 by David McKee

In a development of no great surprise, federal District Court Judge Michael Shipp enjoined Monmouth Park (and anybody else in New Jersey) from offering sports betting. And he made the injunction permanent, decreeing that the Garden State’s unregulated sports wagering … Continue reading →

Posted in Foxwoods, Harry Reid, Internet gambling, Massachusetts, Politics, Regulation, Sheldon Adelson, Sports, Tribal | Comments Off on New Jersey cuffed; Adelson stirs controversy

Are the feds scrutinizing Wynn … and why?

Posted on November 24, 2014 by David McKee

Uncle Sam appears to be making a systematic sweep of the Strip, probing all the major players. The latest target, according to the Wall Street Journal, is Wynn Resorts, which denies knowledge of any federal probe. However, according to the … Continue reading →

Posted in Harrah's, Iowa, Macau, Massachusetts, Regulation, Sheldon Adelson, Station Casinos, The Strip, Wall Street | Comments Off on Are the feds scrutinizing Wynn … and why?

Case Bets

Posted on November 20, 2014 by David McKee

A California tribe is getting into Internet gambling in a somewhat roundabout way. The Pala Indians are beta-testing PalaCasino.com, which will be run off the online platform of … Borgata. (Casinos in Atlantic City can host as many as five … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Boyd Gaming, California, Cosmopolitan, Economy, Entertainment, Harrah's, Internet gambling, New York, Ohio, Penn National, Regulation, The Strip, Tourism, Tribal | Comments Off on Case Bets

Big Ease; The Mirage, 25 years later

Posted on November 20, 2014 by David McKee

Even with 19 non-tribal casinos and racinos to support, the Louisiana market continues to rebound. It was up 4% last month, with even 2% growth in the crowded Shreveport/Bossier City marketplace. El Dorado was the second-highest grosser and the percentage leader … Continue reading →

Posted in Boyd Gaming, Churchill Downs, CityCenter, Downtown, GLPI, Hard Rock Hotel, Harrah's, history, Isle of Capri, Louisiana, MGM Mirage, Penn National, Pennsylvania, Pinnacle Entertainment, Regulation, Sheldon Adelson, Steve Wynn, Tropicana Entertainment | 1 Comment

Forcible restraint in Massachusetts; The big winners in Philadelphia

Posted on November 19, 2014 by David McKee

As you’ve read here earlier, the Massachusetts Gaming Commission is eyeing the concept of “play management.” It’s a somewhat paternalistic concept wherein players pre-set a loss limit and are rewarded with free-play credits, points or other incentives for staying within … Continue reading →

Posted in Cordish Co., Foxwoods, Geoff Freeman, Greenwood Racing, Harrah's, Isle of Capri, Macau, Maryland, Massachusetts, Mohegan Sun, Pennsylvania, Regulation, Technology, Tomato King Procacci | 1 Comment

Paul pounds Sands; Caesars’ Eight

Posted on November 17, 2014 by David McKee

If he used a computer — which he doesn’t — Sheldon Adelson would have to delete Ron Paul from his list of Facebook “friends.” The libertarian gadfly is the latest U.S. citizen to take umbrage a Adelson’s do-gooder (and dubiously … Continue reading →

Posted in Harrah's, Internet gambling, Macau, Politics, Regulation, Sheldon Adelson | Comments Off on Paul pounds Sands; Caesars’ Eight

Incompatible bedfellows; Freeman seizes the day

Posted on November 17, 2014 by David McKee

Boyd Gaming and MGM Resorts International have gone to bed with bwin.party but may wake up with Anaya Gaming Group. That’s one possible outcome of “preliminary discussions with a number of interested parties” and bwin. “Such discussions may or may not … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Boyd Gaming, Geoff Freeman, Hard Rock Hotel, International, Internet gambling, Iowa, Marketing, MGM Mirage, PokerStars, Regulation, Sports, Warner Gaming | Comments Off on Incompatible bedfellows; Freeman seizes the day

Silver breaks ranks; Is NHL a done deal for Vegas?

Posted on November 14, 2014 by David McKee

In a bold, if not completely surprising move, NBA Commission Adam Silver took to the op-ed pages of the New York Times to advocate the nationwide legalization of sports betting. “Times have changed … Gambling has increasingly become a popular and … Continue reading →

Posted in Dotty's, George Maloof, Harrah's, MGM Mirage, Politics, Regulation, Sports, Taxes, The Strip | Comments Off on Silver breaks ranks; Is NHL a done deal for Vegas?