Category Archives: Regulation

More Tales of Trump; Tribes vs. Tribes

Posted on November 20, 2012 by David McKee

Penn Jillette, never known for circumspection, has a field day with Donald Trump in his latest tome, Every Day is an Atheist Holiday. Like any patriotic American, he can’t resist a pot-shot at Trump’s combover, which is described as resembling … Continue reading →

Posted in California, Charity, Donald Trump, Regulation, Tribal, TV | 1 Comment

A tale of two Penns

Posted on November 16, 2012 by David McKee

Update: Seeking Alpha’s Brad Thomas has run the numbers on the Penn split and doesn’t like the risk/reward scenario. Fifteen years and many consolidations ago, the casino industry was seized by a brain fever. It was set off by the … Continue reading →

Posted in Ameristar, Colorado, Cordish Co., Harrah's, history, Indiana, International, Kansas, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, MGM Mirage, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Racinos, Regulation, Riviera, Sheldon Adelson, Station Casinos, Steve Wynn, Taxes, Texas, The Strip, Tribal, Wall Street | 2 Comments

Missouri: Penn vs. Penn; Pinnacle debacle deepens

Posted on November 13, 2012 by David McKee

This just in: It’s another winning strategy from those gaming-industry masterminds at Colony Capital. God forbid you’re playing at the Atlantic Club and work up an appetite. Or did Tom Barrack hear about “Stiff of the Year” and wants to … Continue reading →

Posted in Ameristar, Atlantic City, Colony Capital, Colorado, Dining, Economy, Election, Genting, Harrah's, Illinois, International, Isle of Capri, Kansas, Marketing, Maryland, Missouri, Movies, Penn National, Pinnacle Entertainment, Regulation, Sheldon Adelson, Singapore, The Strip, Tourism, Wall Street | 2 Comments

Un-Lucky by any name; Shame on Trump Entertainment

Posted on November 13, 2012 by David McKee

Since there is no problem in today’s America too trivial to be resolved with gunplay, let the record show that 31-year-old Kevin Jones Jr. was mortally wounded at the Lucky Club Casino early this morning. Jones was pronounced dead at … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Current, Donald Trump, Economy, Environment, MTR Gaming, North Las Vegas, Regulation, Steve Wynn | Comments Off

Wynn comes to Philadelphia … again; Atlantic City: About as expected

Posted on November 12, 2012 by David McKee

Now we know why Steve Wynn was careful to mend fences with Philadelphia Mayor Michael Nutter (below) in 2010 when negotiations to take over the doomed Foxwoods Casino Philadelphia project abruptly feel apart and Wynn skipped town. He’s back with … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Baseball, Colony Capital, Cordish Co., Current, Donald Trump, Economy, Harrah's, Maryland, Neil Bluhm, Penn National, Pennsylvania, Politics, Regulation, Revel, Steve Wynn, Tilman Fertitta, Tribal, Tropicana Entertainment, Wall Street | Comments Off

Wake up with Loveman; More election aftermath

Posted on November 8, 2012 by David McKee

No sooner were Wall Street analysts uttering serious concerns about a slow post-Sandy recovery for Atlantic City than who should pop up on CBS This Morning but Caesars Entertainment CEO Gary Loveman, doing damage control … It’s hard to decide … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Boyd Gaming, Current, Dan Gilbert, Donald Trump, Economy, Environment, Harrah's, Internet gambling, Kentucky, Massachusetts, Pennsylvania, Politics, Regulation, Sheldon Adelson, Steve Wynn, The Strip, Tilman Fertitta, Tourism, Transportation, TV, Wall Street | Comments Off

Election Special: Maryland, down to the wire

Posted on November 5, 2012 by David McKee

And now the biggie: Question 7. The quickest way to summarize this is to paraphrase what C.S. Lewis said of Christianity — that slot parlors in Maryland hadn’t been tried and found wanting but were an idea that had been … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, Cordish Co., Current, Economy, Election, Harrah's, Internet gambling, Maryland, Massachusetts, MGM Mirage, Penn National, Politics, Racinos, Regulation, Taxes, TV, West Virginia | 4 Comments

Have you seen this man?; Bluhm comes to Beantown

Posted on November 1, 2012 by David McKee

Anyone remember Gov. Steve Beshear (D)? For the five years, he’s been spinning his wheels, trying to get gambling expanded in Kentucky past horse racing. When Beshear ran for reelection last year, his GOP opponent, then-state Senate President David Williams … Continue reading →

Posted in Current, Illinois, Isle of Capri, Kentucky, Macau, Massachusetts, Missouri, Neil Bluhm, Politics, Racinos, Regulation, Tribal | Comments Off

No-win situation; October surprise

Posted on November 1, 2012 by David McKee

You might say Mitt Romney was for gambling before he was against it. Both as a 1994 Senate candidate and later as governor, he advocated slot parlors and later VLTs in Massachusetts. (He also proposed to extort $75 million apiece … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Cantor Gaming, Current, Election, Harrah's, International, Massachusetts, Regulation, Taxes, Tourism, Tribal, Wall Street | 1 Comment

Hurricane Sandy: “It’s going to take years to recover”; ‘Unsafe sex’ at Sands

Posted on October 30, 2012 by David McKee

A natural disaster on the East Coast is fast becoming an industry-wide problem, its effects felt as far afield as Iowa, I kid you not. In light of the total havoc Hurricane Sandy has wrought upon travel, particularly by air, … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Colony Capital, Donald Trump, Economy, Environment, Genting, Harrah's, Iowa, New York, Pennsylvania, Regulation, Sheldon Adelson, The Mob, The Strip, Tilman Fertitta, Tourism, Tribal, Tropicana Entertainment, Wall Street | 1 Comment

Atlantic City and Sandy’s silver lining; Adelson to cop a plea?

Posted on October 29, 2012 by David McKee

At the risk of taking Hurricane Sandy too lightly, in some respects the storm — currently on a path straight for Atlantic City — represents a strange blessing in disguise for the Boardwalk. With the city all buttoned up as … Continue reading →

Posted in Cretins, Current, Donald Trump, Economy, Election, Environment, Macau, Regulation, Sheldon Adelson, Tribal, Tropicana Entertainment | 1 Comment

Quote of the Day

Posted on October 26, 2012 by David McKee

“For my part, I have no problem characterizing these corporate-centric super-PACs as treasonous. They are designed to subvert American democracy and turn our country over to the moneyed aristocracy. Their aspirations are apostasy to the notion of democratic governance that … Continue reading →

Posted in Election, Regulation, Sheldon Adelson | Comments Off

He shoots, he scores!; Zynga zinged; Hill puts leg before wicket

Posted on October 24, 2012 by David McKee

Monday’s interview with Interblock global sales supremo Tom O’Brien (right) yielded some passing observations that are probably too peripheral for my upcoming Casino Life piece … but perfect for S&G. Interblock maintains field offices in Las Vegas (soon to become … Continue reading →

Posted in Australia, Boyd Gaming, Current, Election, Genting, IGT, International, Internet gambling, James Packer, Macau, Regulation, Singapore, Technology, TV | Comments Off

Pinnacle saves September in Louisiana; Echelon under wraps; The red-headed stepkids of Station, Sands and Caesars

Posted on October 18, 2012 by David McKee

Folks down in the Pelican State had better things to do than gamble last month … like clean up after Hurricane Isaac. This might account for a 5% year/year decline in casino revenues. Louisiana‘s gambling venues grossed $200 million last … Continue reading →

Posted in Boyd Gaming, CityCenter, Current, Economy, Entertainment, Florida, Harrah's, Isle of Capri, Louisiana, Marketing, MGM Mirage, Missouri, Pennsylvania, Pinnacle Entertainment, Politics, Racinos, Regulation, Sheldon Adelson, Station Casinos, Taxes, The Strip, Tourism, Transportation, Wall Street | Comments Off

When money talks, few are deaf

Posted on October 12, 2012 by David McKee

When addressing the subject of Sheldon Adelson (must we?), the extent to which he has stolen Wynn’s thunder and lightning was made manifest by a lengthy Politico.com profile. Adelson (right, ca. 1998), who can often behave like a colicky infant, … Continue reading →

Posted in Current, Economy, Election, Harrah's, Internet gambling, Macau, MGM Mirage, Politics, Regulation, Steve Wynn, Taxes, Tourism, TV, Wall Street | 1 Comment

Black man frightens Steve Wynn, Part One

Posted on October 10, 2012 by David McKee

Update: Today, Wynn got into the act in the ongoing Big Bird charade. As Steve Sebelius points out, it’s meaningless posturing, nothing more. Life’s been good to Steve Wynn. How good? Well, if you or I talked like a crazy … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Cantor Gaming, CityCenter, Colony Capital, Columbia Sussex, Cosmopolitan, Cretins, Current, Donald Trump, Economy, Election, Entertainment, Fontainebleau, Goldman Sachs, Harrah's, Macau, Massachusetts, MGM Mirage, Morgans Hotel Group, North Las Vegas, Pennsylvania, Plaza, Politics, Regulation, Sports, Station Casinos, The Strip, TV | 27 Comments

Gomes alone; Mohegan Sun pink-slip-slidin’ away

Posted on September 28, 2012 by David McKee

Former Resorts Atlantic City underboss Aaron Gomes might want to change his travel plans. Scarcely had he announced his departure from his late father’s casino than his new gig, Sydney‘s troubled Star Casino, looks very doubtful. Gomes had planned to … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Australia, Boyd Gaming, Carl Icahn, Columbia Sussex, Current, Dennis Gomes, Economy, Genting, Marketing, Massachusetts, New York, Racinos, Regulation, Tourism, Tribal, Tropicana Entertainment | Comments Off

Louisiana better than expected; Arkansas casinos: Wait ’til year after next

Posted on September 20, 2012 by David McKee

“It could have been better.” That will be the refrain from Louisiana, up 1% last month despite some final-week disruption by an unwelcome visitor named Hurricane Isaac. Allowing for a few blips here and there throughout the state, including a … Continue reading →

Posted in Current, Economy, Election, Harrah's, Louisiana, Maryland, Penn National, Pennsylvania, Pinnacle Entertainment, Racinos, Regulation, Taxes, Texas | Comments Off

Sunny summer in Pennsylvania; Stanley Ho seen!

Posted on September 18, 2012 by David McKee

Except for a 4% slippage in July, the motto around Pennsylvania might be, “Cannibalization? What cannibalization?” The Keystone State has shrugged off new competition from Ohio, from New York City, from Revel in Atlantic City, and even from within the … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Current, Dan Gilbert, Harrah's, Macau, Neil Bluhm, New York, Ohio, Penn National, Pennsylvania, Racinos, Regulation, Revel, Sheldon Adelson, Stanley Ho, Tribal, Wall Street | Comments Off

Atlantic City: Revenues up, Seminoles out, Mohegans in

Posted on September 17, 2012 by David McKee

Stick a fork in the Dennis Gomes legacy at Resorts Atlantic City. Son Aaron Gomes is not only leaving but going halfway around the globe, to team up with former Borgata exec Larry Mullin and reboot Jupiters Gold Coast Casino, … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Australia, Boyd Gaming, Colony Capital, Current, Dennis Gomes, Donald Trump, Economy, Harrah's, Marketing, Massachusetts, Pennsylvania, Regulation, Revel, Taxes, Tilman Fertitta, Tourism, Wall Street | 4 Comments