Category Archives: Regulation

Power play in Vegas; Positive talk in Pennsylvania

Posted on July 22, 2014 by David McKee

Las Vegas Sands and Bwin shareholder, and all-around string-puller Jason Ader is committing 350 million of (other people’s) dollars to bringing a Major League Soccer franchise to Las Vegas. Much of the investment would be realized through the EB-5 visa … Continue reading →

Posted in Downtown, Harrah's, International, Internet gambling, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Regulation, Sports, Tribal | Comments Off on Power play in Vegas; Positive talk in Pennsylvania

Caesars gains a hot tub, Biloxi loses a casino

Posted on July 22, 2014 by David McKee

You live in Las Vegas long enough, you think you’ve seen everything. Then somebody uses a helicopter to airlift a big-ass jacuzzi (technically an “onsen tub”) onto the terrace of the Nobu Tower at Caesars Palace, where it will grace the high-roller … Continue reading →

Posted in Harrah's, Mississippi, Regulation, The Strip, Tilman Fertitta | 2 Comments

Argosy saved … for now

Posted on July 21, 2014 by David McKee

Not only has the Iowa Supreme Court not ruled on Judge Elizabeth Ovrom‘s ruling to close Argosy Sioux City, it hasn’t decided whether or not to hear the case. However, it still has kept the Penn National Gaming riverboat on life … Continue reading →

Posted in Foxwoods, Greenwood Racing, Iowa, Massachusetts, Penn National, Pennsylvania, Regulation, Sheldon Adelson, Tribal | Comments Off on Argosy saved … for now

Strange doings in Alabama

Posted on July 18, 2014 by David McKee

Continuing its persecution of the Poarch Creek Band of Indians, the State of Alabama is taking them to federal appeals court. And it looks like state Attorney General Luther Strange might have a leg to stand on. He’s citing the … Continue reading →

Posted in Alabama, Kansas, Oklahoma, Regulation, South Carolina, Tribal | Comments Off on Strange doings in Alabama

Prosperity in Detroit? You bet; Penn’s persistence

Posted on July 18, 2014 by David McKee

Those busy boffins at the American Gaming Association have been crunching data from Detroit and come up with some interesting statistics. The three Motown casinos are a bit lighter in the workforce (down 4%), having lost or laid off 350 … Continue reading →

Posted in Economy, Election, Massachusetts, MGM Mirage, Missouri, Penn National, Regulation, Taxes, Technology, Tropicana Entertainment | Comments Off on Prosperity in Detroit? You bet; Penn’s persistence

Take my casino, please; Nail-biter in Iowa

Posted on July 17, 2014 by David McKee

Rather than accept three potential casino closings as a fait accompli, Unite-Here is out beating the bushes for potential buyers. Given, the casinos aren’t Unite-Here’s to sell but there’s no law that says the union can’t play matchmaker. “We want the world … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Carl Icahn, Columbia Sussex, GTECH, Hard Rock International, Harrah's, IGT, Internet gambling, Iowa, Penn National, Regulation, Revel, Technology, Tropicana Entertainment, Trump Entertainment Resorts | 1 Comment

Russian roulette in Boston

Posted on July 16, 2014 by David McKee

Due to Boston Mayor Martin Walsh‘s refusal to go to arbitration with Wynn Resorts, the Massachusetts Gaming Commission finds itself in an unexpected role. It’s mulling other surrounding-community agreements from around the state and trying to measure the economic impact … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Delaware, Foxwoods, Genting, International, Internet gambling, Massachusetts, MGM Mirage, Mohegan Sun, New York, Regulation, Rhode Island, Steve Wynn | Comments Off on Russian roulette in Boston

The perils of Penn

Posted on July 15, 2014 by David McKee

Argosy Sioux City continues to lurch from crisis to crisis. In the latest twist, Judge Elizabeth Ovrom gave with one hand but took away with the other. In order that the casino can appeal its closure order from the Iowa … Continue reading →

Posted in Charity, Iowa, Macau, MGM Mirage, Penn National, Regulation, Sheldon Adelson | Comments Off on The perils of Penn

Terra incognita

Posted on July 15, 2014 by David McKee

Boldly going where no tribe has gone before, the  Iipay Nation of Santa Ysabel is days from launching PrivateTable.com. In the Iipay Nation’s viewpoint, tribal sovereignty overrides California law, permitting it to go it alone as an i-poker provider. The idea … Continue reading →

Posted in California, Downtown, Internet gambling, Regulation, Slot routes, Station Casinos, Tribal | Comments Off on Terra incognita

No-Wynn situation in Boston

Posted on July 15, 2014 by David McKee

To hear Boston Mayor Martin Walsh tell it, there’s no point in further negotiations with Wynn Resorts. He also claims that insufficient information has been put on the table for an arbitrator to make a decision. Steve Wynn’s offers, he … Continue reading →

Posted in Massachusetts, Regulation, Slot routes, Steve Wynn | Comments Off on No-Wynn situation in Boston

N.Y.: We’re poorer than you; Shame at the Plaza

Posted on July 14, 2014 by David McKee

That casino battle in New York State is evolving into a war of words. At stake is who can prove they’re poorer than the next guy. A study commissioned by the Sullivan County Partnership for Economic Development reached the perverse point of … Continue reading →

Posted in Downtown, Economy, Harrah's, New York, Regulation, Tamares Group | 2 Comments

Japan, land of opportunity

Posted on July 14, 2014 by David McKee

“I think it’s a less likely fit for us, because it’s not clear what the complementary set of skills would be in their case,” said Caesars Entertainment CEO Gary Loveman of gray-market pachinko parlors. That being the case, he might … Continue reading →

Posted in Harrah's, Japan, Macau, MGM Mirage, Regulation, Sheldon Adelson | Comments Off on Japan, land of opportunity

Steve Wynn’s right-hand woman

Posted on July 10, 2014 by David McKee

Considered by many the logical successor to Steve Wynn, his envoy to Macao, Linda Chen, is more spoken of than seen. CNN offers us a rare glimpse of the woman who may well be calling the shots at Wynn Resorts … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Harrah's, Macau, Mississippi, Penn National, Regulation, Reno, Steve Wynn, Tilman Fertitta, Transportation | 1 Comment

So long, Sullivan County

Posted on July 10, 2014 by David McKee

New York State’s Gaming Commission has picked the last two members of the casino-siting committee and it’s pretty bad news for the Catskills region. Both of the finalists are cronies of Gov. Andrew Cuomo (D), as are the three already-seated … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Harrah's, Internet gambling, Isle of Capri, Kansas, Missouri, New York, Penn National, Pinnacle Entertainment, Politics, Regulation, Tropicana Entertainment | 1 Comment

Quote of the Day

Posted on July 10, 2014 by David McKee

“Its purpose is to prevent collusion among poker players. It is the same reason that we prohibited texting and other forms of communication that other players can’t understand or hear or see.” — South Dakota Gaming Commission Executive Director Larry Eliason … Continue reading →

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

Station’s big hit; Tribal roundup

Posted on July 8, 2014 by David McKee

There’s no doubt that Graton Resort, less than an hour’s driving distance from San Francisco, has been a success for Station Casinos. We just didn’t know how much. In addition to earning a $7.4 million management fee during 1Q14, Station … Continue reading →

Posted in California, Florida, Kansas, Regulation, Station Casinos, Technology, Tribal, Wall Street | 1 Comment

Beat-down in Beantown

Posted on July 2, 2014 by David McKee

It was Boston Mayor Martin Walsh duking it out in a cage match with Revere, Everett, Wynn Resorts and Mohegan Sun, for the edification of the Massachusetts Gaming Commission. Walsh tried to frame it as a debate on frugality: “It’s really … Continue reading →

Posted in Election, Massachusetts, Mohegan Sun, Regulation, Steve Wynn | Comments Off on Beat-down in Beantown

Quad out, Linq in; Siegel in, Goldman out

Posted on July 2, 2014 by David McKee

It takes a big man to admit a mistake and Caesars Entertainment CEO Gary Loveman has tacitly acknowledged that “The Quad” was a mistaque. It’s on the way out, to be replaced with a re-re-branding of Imperial Palace as Linq Hotel … Continue reading →

Posted in CityCenter, Colony Capital, Goldman Sachs, Harrah's, Marketing, MGM Mirage, Regulation | Tagged | 1 Comment

Gearing up for fights in Massachusetts, California and Arkansas

Posted on June 30, 2014 by David McKee

Expect a deluge of dollars to be spent opposing or supporting a casino-repeal ballot question in Massachusetts. Unlike political campaigns, ballot questions have no spending limitation attached to them. So far, the biggest amount spent on a ballot question in … Continue reading →

Posted in Arkansas, Bally Technologies, California, Election, Entertainment, Internet gambling, Maryland, Massachusetts, Mohegan Sun, Penn National, Racinos, Regulation, Shuffle Master, Steve Wynn, The Strip, Tropicana Entertainment | Comments Off on Gearing up for fights in Massachusetts, California and Arkansas

Argosy’s charmed life; Paging “Jersey Shore”; Boyd’s (alleged) botch

Posted on June 27, 2014 by David McKee

It’s The Perils of Pauline over at Penn National Gaming‘s Argosy Sioux City. A July 1 closure has been stayed until July 10 while Judge Eliza Ovrom ponders the merits of the case. She’s scheduled final arguments for the 10th, … Continue reading →

Posted in Boyd Gaming, Charity, Cretins, Iowa, Mississippi, Penn National, Regulation, Sports | Comments Off on Argosy’s charmed life; Paging “Jersey Shore”; Boyd’s (alleged) botch