Category Archives: Regulation

Belaboring the obvious; Ohio’s growing pains

Posted on April 8, 2014 by David McKee

What is being hailed as a major breakthrough in problem-gambling treatment rests upon some observations that don’t seem to be particularly novel. Disordered gambling is being blamed on the insula area of the brain, crucial to forming emotions. So far, … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Boyd Gaming, Cordish Co., Dining, Hard Rock International, Harrah's, Maryland, Ohio, Penn National, Problem gambling, Racinos, Regulation, Technology | Comments Off on Belaboring the obvious; Ohio’s growing pains

Penn tanks in Illinois, Bluhm ascends; The casino transfer that wasn’t

Posted on April 7, 2014 by David McKee

There were two clear winners in Illinois last month and one big loser — Penn National Gaming. Performing worse than expected,  Penn had double-digit declines at all four of its casinos: Empress Joliet (-14%), Hollywood Aurora (-14%), Alton Belle (16%) … Continue reading →

Posted in Boyd Gaming, Dan Gilbert, Detroit, Harrah's, Horseracing, Lake Tahoe, Massachusetts, Neil Bluhm, Penn National, Regulation, Taxes | 1 Comment

In defense of Sheldon Adelson

Posted on April 4, 2014 by David McKee

A disclaimer: I tend to agree with Jeffrey Compton that Sheldon Adelson‘s “actions seem nothing but ego-driven overkill.” And by getting into bed with Bible Belt religious conservatives — to whom any form of gambling, not just on the Internet, … Continue reading →

Posted in Economy, history, Internet gambling, Iowa, Isle of Capri, Macau, Politics, Regulation, Sheldon Adelson, The Strip, Wall Street | Comments Off on In defense of Sheldon Adelson

Massachusetts: Hurry up and wait

Posted on April 4, 2014 by David McKee

That’s the message from the Massachusetts Gaming Commission, which has pushed its decision on the Everett and Revere casino proposals into August, to humor Boston Mayor Martin J. Walsh. The MGC will hold a May 1 meeting on Walsh’s attempt … Continue reading →

Posted in Florida, Internet gambling, Massachusetts, Mohegan Sun, Racinos, Regulation, Steve Wynn, Tribal | 1 Comment

Requiem for megaresorts?; Deferred deadline in Massachusetts

Posted on April 3, 2014 by David McKee

Is the megaresort era over? It had a pretty good run, from 1989 until the Great Recession. That’s a solid two decades. There are still one or two megaresort projects still out there, notably Genting Group‘s Resorts World Las Vegas. … Continue reading →

Posted in Foxwoods, Genting, Hard Rock Hotel, Harrah's, IGT, Internet gambling, Massachusetts, MGM Mirage, Morgans Hotel Group, Neil Bluhm, Regulation | Comments Off on Requiem for megaresorts?; Deferred deadline in Massachusetts

Adelson: Crassness and classiness; Could online poker flop?

Posted on April 3, 2014 by David McKee

Last weekend’s GOP kaffeeklatsch, hosted by Sheldon Adelson, was such a self-abasing lap dance by the celebrity attendees that this Andy Borowitz satire doesn’t feel like much of a stretch. That being said, Adelson is making his presence felt in … Continue reading →

Posted in Charity, Internet gambling, Marketing, MGM Mirage, Pennsylvania, Politics, Regulation, Sheldon Adelson, Tilman Fertitta | Comments Off on Adelson: Crassness and classiness; Could online poker flop?

What’s “incidental” & other Case Bets

Posted on April 2, 2014 by David McKee

When the Clark County Commission went out of its way to define “tavern gaming” in 2011, it went into all sorts of minutiae about kitchens and such. But it neglected to address the elephant in the room: How much gambling … Continue reading →

Posted in Environment, Foxwoods, Golden Gaming, Goldman Sachs, Massachusetts, Mohegan Sun, Regulation, Slot routes, South Carolina, Steve Wynn, The Strip, Tribal | 1 Comment

Sheldon Adelson, sacred monster; New Jersey ‘Net

Posted on April 2, 2014 by David McKee

In case you hadn’t heard, Sheldon Adelson is a pretty rich fella. A run-up in Las Vegas Sands stock over the last two days has put $2.1 billion extra in his pocket. This, inevitably, has sparked further discussion of his … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Internet gambling, Politics, Regulation, Sheldon Adelson, Taxes, The Strip, Wall Street | Comments Off on Sheldon Adelson, sacred monster; New Jersey ‘Net

Saratoga screw-up

Posted on April 2, 2014 by David McKee

In its haste to make a statement on gambling, Saratoga Springs may have cut the legs right out from under Saratoga Casino & Raceway. Rules for application, released yesterday, say that “a prospective casino operator must have a resolution of … Continue reading →

Posted in Entertainment, New York, Planet Hollywood, Racinos, Regulation, The Strip | Comments Off on Saratoga screw-up

Mississippi casino dream deferred; Empire State on schedule

Posted on April 1, 2014 by David McKee

Update: Rotate Black failed to make the cutoff date for Hemingway Casino (below), meaning the property will go back on the market, Rotate Black never having paid for its option. It is still contemplated as a future casino site. D’Ibreville, … Continue reading →

Posted in Current, Mississippi, New York, Regulation | Comments Off on Mississippi casino dream deferred; Empire State on schedule

The best of Las Vegas; Neil Bluhm returns

Posted on April 1, 2014 by David McKee

Although I can’t imagine that too many of our readers are strangers to Las Vegas, perhaps there are a few. In that case, USA Today found somebody — well, me — to offer some helpful tips. For instance, here’s the … Continue reading →

Posted in Dining, Downtown, Entertainment, Massachusetts, Neil Bluhm, Penn National, Regulation, The Strip, Tribal | Comments Off on The best of Las Vegas; Neil Bluhm returns

Gentlemen, place your bids

Posted on March 31, 2014 by David McKee

Today, New York State starts taking bids on the four casinos it will soon be licensing upstate. At yet, there is no mechanism in place for determining licensing fees or whether the surrounding communities want the casinos or not. In … Continue reading →

Posted in Dining, Entertainment, Genting, Harrah's, Massachusetts, New York, Regulation, The Strip, Transportation | Comments Off on Gentlemen, place your bids

O little metropolis of Bethlehem; MGM on the move

Posted on March 31, 2014 by David McKee

Indiscriminate dissemination by Sands Bethlehem of $45 free-play slot cards is having some interesting effects on Bethlehem itself. It’s brought about an influx of largely Chinese-American players but not all are there to play. Some pay $15 for a round-trip … Continue reading →

Posted in Marketing, Maryland, Massachusetts, MGM Mirage, Mohegan Sun, Pennsylvania, Regulation, Sheldon Adelson, Steve Wynn, Taxes, Transportation | Comments Off on O little metropolis of Bethlehem; MGM on the move

The Adelson caucus

Posted on March 27, 2014 by David McKee

Online gambling is officially under attack, with bills having been introduced in both houses of Congress to eradicate the U.S. industry. (This must be one of those occasions when it’s OK to be “anti-business.”) As reported earlier the Senate version … Continue reading →

Posted in Illinois, Internet gambling, Missouri, Pinnacle Entertainment, Politics, Regulation, Sheldon Adelson, Slot routes, Tropicana Entertainment | Comments Off on The Adelson caucus

Walsh: My way or else; Sands Crimea?

Posted on March 27, 2014 by David McKee

Making yet another overreach, Boston Mayor Martin J. Walsh asserts that the only party which can decide whether Beantown is host community to Wynn Resorts‘ and Mohegan Sun‘s projects is … Boston. The Massachusetts Gaming Commission, he says, has no … Continue reading →

Posted in Alabama, Harrah's, Massachusetts, Mohegan Sun, New York, Regulation, Revel, Steve Wynn, Tribal | 2 Comments

Big trouble at Caesars

Posted on March 27, 2014 by David McKee

In a shocking development, even for those of us who have followed Caesars Entertainment closely, the company is shutting down Harrah’s Tunica (formerly Grand Casino Tunica) on June 2. Regional president John Payne confessed to Bloomberg News that the casino … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Harrah's, Mississippi, Regulation, Tourism, Tribal, Wall Street | 1 Comment

The long arm of the law

Posted on March 26, 2014 by David McKee

According to a story broken by Reuters, U.S. officials are going to put the onus on casinos to verify where high rollers’ funds are coming from. It could take at least for FinCEN to develop this new law, “likely to … Continue reading →

Posted in Election, Florida, Harrah's, Massachusetts, Mohegan Sun, Penn National, Regulation, Sheldon Adelson, South Carolina | 2 Comments

Strange Bedfellows Dept.

Posted on March 24, 2014 by David McKee

It’s hard to know what to make of this. The Republican Jewish Coalition is coming to Las Vegas and its headliner is Jeb Bush. Now, if there is anyone more anti-gambling in the GOP than Jeb, you’d be hard-pressed to … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Economy, Election, Florida, Internet gambling, Ohio, Politics, Regulation, Sheldon Adelson, Tourism, Wisconsin | Comments Off on Strange Bedfellows Dept.

More hitches in Massachusetts

Posted on March 21, 2014 by David McKee

Efforts by Wynn Resorts and Mohegan Sun to bring casinos to eastern Massachusetts could be in trouble. In another hitch to its elongated selection process, the Massachusetts Gaming Commission has agreed to consider whether to consider Boston a host community. … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Foxwoods, Marketing, Massachusetts, MGM Mirage, Mohegan Sun, Problem gambling, Regulation, Sam Nazarian, Steve Wynn | 1 Comment

Adelson needs elbow room; Critical mass in Florida

Posted on March 21, 2014 by David McKee

Sixty percent more hotel rooms. That’s what Sheldon Adelson says he needs at Marina Bay Sands and he hopes the government of Singapore will humor him and release the needed land. It’s greatly outperforming other hotels in the market. Last … Continue reading →

Posted in Election, Florida, Genting, Japan, Politics, Regulation, Sheldon Adelson, Singapore, Tribal | Comments Off on Adelson needs elbow room; Critical mass in Florida