Category Archives: Regulation

NLRB deals Wynn a rebuke; The twilight of Stanley Ho

Steve Wynn has enjoyed so many victories in his long-running battle with his casino dealers that he was perhaps overdue for a loss. It came yesterday when the National Labor Relations Board ruled that Wynn Resorts had engaged in retaliation … Continue reading

Posted in Charity, Current, Election, Iowa, Kansas, Louisiana, Macau, Movies, Politics, Racinos, Regulation, Sheldon Adelson, Stanley Ho, Steve Wynn, The Strip, Tourism, Tribal | 1 Comment

Horseshoe Philadelphia goes into deep freeze

After four interminable years, that on-again/off-again casino project on the Philadelphia waterfront has been put out of its misery. Comcast‘s Ed Snider, his fellow juiced-in investors and putative savior Caesars Entertainment had the rug yanked from beneath them in a … Continue reading

Posted in Atlantic City, Charity, Current, Economy, Harrah's, Maryland, Pennsylvania, Politics, Regulation, Station Casinos, Steve Wynn, Tribal | Comments Off on Horseshoe Philadelphia goes into deep freeze

Ameristar: No Sale; Bad news for Caesars

It’s back to business as usual for Ameristar Casinos, whose board decided “a sale is not in the best interests of the Company and its stockholders at this time.” Which is a nice way of saying there’s no bidding war … Continue reading

Posted in Ameristar, Boyd Gaming, Economy, Harrah's, Iowa, Kansas, Macau, MGM Mirage, Pansy Ho, Penn National, Regulation, Sheldon Adelson, Stanley Ho, Station Casinos, Steve Wynn, Wall Street | Comments Off on Ameristar: No Sale; Bad news for Caesars

D-Day for Philadelphia

Investors in the stymied Foxwoods Philadelphia riverfront casino project have a date with the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board on Thursday. That’s where they’ll make their last-ditch pitch to retain custody of the project. State legislators and other officials have voiced … Continue reading

Posted in Cosmopolitan, Current, Donald Trump, Economy, Harrah's, LVCVA, Marketing, MGM Mirage, Pennsylvania, Regulation, Steve Wynn, The Strip, Tourism, Tribal, Vdara Death Ray | 1 Comment

Quote of the Day

“Certainly Vegas interests will be well served by this, but this is first and foremost a consumer protection issue and an opportunity for job creation and revenue for governments. If lawmakers believe the status quo is acceptable, they’re not facing … Continue reading

Posted in Current, Internet gambling, Politics, Regulation, Taxes | Comments Off on Quote of the Day

Sheldon Adelson is so busted

Congratulations, Sheldon Adelson! You’ve just upped your street cred — and become the butt of 1,001 pimp jokes. Is the Las Vegas Sands CEO going to start hangin’ with Snoop Dogg and 50 Cent (or maybe Eliot Spitzer and Hugh … Continue reading

Posted in Entertainment, G2E, Internet gambling, Macau, Marketing, Massachusetts, Midnight Jim Gibbons, Pennsylvania, Planet Hollywood, Politics, Regulation, Sheldon Adelson, Singapore, Stanley Ho, Steve Wynn, Texas, The Mob, The Strip, Tourism | 1 Comment

Nevada: “Cautious optimism”

That’s how UNLV‘s gaming guru, Prof. David G. Schwartz, describes his reaction to the October revenue numbers, released today. The 11% autumnal bounce may be less notable for the fact that the Strip was up 16% than the fact that … Continue reading

Posted in Animals, Boulder Strip, Boyd Gaming, Cordish Co., Current, Downtown, Economy, history, International, Marketing, Mesquite, MGM Mirage, Pets, Regulation, Reno, Sheldon Adelson, Steve Wynn, Technology, The Strip, Tourism, Wall Street | 1 Comment

Cosmo rides the wave; Old Sixty Votes rides again

It may be $1.9 billion over budget and 2.5 years behind schedule but The Cosmopolitan appears to be hitting the market with perfect timing. That’s good news for the 5,000 employees who are furiously getting acclimated with the new megaresort. … Continue reading

Posted in CityCenter, Cosmopolitan, Current, Economy, Harrah's, Harry Reid, history, International, Internet gambling, MGM Mirage, Politics, Regulation, Sheldon Adelson, Steve Wynn, Taxes, The Strip, Tribal, Wall Street | 1 Comment

Good news, bad news in Atlantic City; Feinstein: “Stay on the rez!”; Buffalo Bill’s rides again

For once, however, it’s mostly good. Almost entirely good, in fact. The headline item is that Dennis Gomes‘ purchase of Resorts Atlantic City has cleared licensing, sweeping out the disastrous Colony Capital era. Gomes and financier Morris Bailey say $31.5 … Continue reading

Posted in Alex Yemenidjian, Atlantic City, California, Colony Capital, Cosmopolitan, Current, Dining, Donald Trump, Economy, Harry Reid, Herbst Gaming, M Resort, Marketing, Mississippi, Morgans Hotel Group, Penn National, Politics, Regulation, Sports, Technology, The Strip, Tribal, TV | 4 Comments

Macao smacks down Adelson

So the Chinese government was just bluffing, huh? Talk about taking land back was merely political posturing, was it? Once again, Wall Street and hubristic casino barons alike have been given a sharp reminder just who’s calling the shots over … Continue reading

Posted in Current, Economy, James Packer, Lawrence Ho, Macau, Melco Crown Entertainment, MGM Mirage, Regulation, Sheldon Adelson, Singapore, Stanley Ho, Steve Wynn, Wall Street | 1 Comment

Isle’s comeback continues; What’s in a Mystic?

Congratulations to Isle of Capri Casinos, winner of Missouri‘s 13th and final casino license. This morning, the Missouri Gaming Commission voted in favor of Isle’s $125 million Cape Girardeau project. Although all rival projects were budgeted higher, favorite-son Isle’s standing … Continue reading

Posted in Ameristar, Boulder Strip, CityCenter, Current, Dubai, Economy, Isle of Capri, MGM Mirage, Minnesota, Missouri, Penn National, Pinnacle Entertainment, Regulation, Sheldon Adelson, Steve Wynn, The Strip, Tourism, Tribal, Tropicana Entertainment | 3 Comments

Pinnacle sees Kasich, raises him $45 million

Pinnacle Entertainment pushed $45 million worth of chips into the middle of the poker table that is Ohio last week. Buying River Downs is a seven-figure wager that Gov.-elect Jon Kasich will resume outgoing Gov. Ted Strickland‘s push for VLTs … Continue reading

Posted in Economy, Election, International, Macau, MGM Mirage, Ohio, Pinnacle Entertainment, Racinos, Regulation, Sheldon Adelson, Station Casinos, Tribal | Comments Off on Pinnacle sees Kasich, raises him $45 million

Steve Wynn & the Half-Blood Princes; Harrah’s thinks ahead; rough road for Revel

Count Wynn Las Vegas President Andrew Pascal among the casualties of Steve Wynn‘s divorce from ex-wife Elaine Wynn. As of Monday, former nephew-in-law Pascal joined the ranks of Nevada‘s unemployed, ceding authority to Marilyn Winn. Pun opportunities aside, Winn’s sudden … Continue reading

Posted in Atlantic City, California, Current, Economy, Entertainment, Environment, George Maloof, Harrah's, Indiana, Macau, Missouri, Movies, Regulation, Station Casinos, Steve Wynn, The Strip, Tribal, Wall Street | 4 Comments

All systems go at Trop … but more trouble on Paradise

As new owner Onex Corp. continues with a full-court press of renovations, the Nevada Gaming Control Board has given the new ownership consortium its thumbs-up. The makeover has continued apace since my visit in June. An inside look at details … Continue reading

Posted in Alex Yemenidjian, CityCenter, Cosmopolitan, Detroit, Dining, Downtown, MGM Mirage, Mississippi, Morgans Hotel Group, Regulation, Riviera, The Strip, Tourism | 3 Comments

Big Gaming’s big win

When the dust settled — and did so quite quickly on Election night — GOP pollster Frank Luntz had it right and everybody else had it wrong. Instead of experiencing a fatal wound or even the electoral near-death experience of … Continue reading

Posted in Ameristar, Current, Economy, Election, Harrah's, Harry Reid, Internet gambling, MGM Mirage, Politics, Problem gambling, Regulation, Station Casinos, Steve Wynn, Wall Street | 3 Comments

Last-minute election tidbits: Ohio & California

Prospects for expansion of VLT gambling to the Buckeye State’s racetracks are looking slightly better now that Ohio Gov. Ted Strickland has inched his way back into contention with GOP rival Jon Kasich (left). The personable Kasich is a difficult … Continue reading

Posted in California, Economy, Election, Environment, Harrah's, Ohio, Penn National, Politics, Racinos, Regulation, Sports, Station Casinos, Texas, Tribal | 6 Comments

Murren: I heart CityCenter; Wynn: I heart China; Angle: I heart Latinos … plus Boyd’s new fragrance

MGM Resorts International and old ball and chain Dubai World have consummated a deal to extend $1.8 billion in CityCenter loans, a reworking that MGM CEO Jim Murren calls “a capital structure that’s much more … in keeping with a … Continue reading

Posted in Architecture, Boulder Strip, Boyd Gaming, Cannery Casino Resorts, CityCenter, Columbia Sussex, Current, Dubai, Economy, Election, Environment, Harrah's, Macau, Politics, Regulation, Sheldon Adelson, Steve Wynn, The Strip, Tourism, Transportation, TV, Wall Street | 6 Comments

Harrah’s to the rescue; Penn Nat’l bigfoots Maryland dispute

If — as appears to be the case — a deal to have Harrah’s Entertainment take over the stalled Foxwoods casino project in Philadelphia is all but done, hopefully it will render the question moot as to whether the casino … Continue reading

Posted in Charity, Cordish Co., Current, Election, Harrah's, Maryland, Penn National, Pennsylvania, Racinos, Regulation, Steve Wynn, Tribal | Comments Off on Harrah’s to the rescue; Penn Nat’l bigfoots Maryland dispute

Singapore: Mission accomplished

A curious item popped up on the Manila Web site MB.com last week. Remember how Macao was “Asia’s Las Vegas”? The new meme is “More Than Just the New Vegas” (emphasis added). The lengthy puff piece rather strenuously posited Macao … Continue reading

Posted in Current, Dining, Genting, Harrah's, International, James Packer, Lawrence Ho, Macau, Marketing, Pennsylvania, Regulation, Sheldon Adelson, The Strip, Tourism | Comments Off on Singapore: Mission accomplished

Election special: What’s at stake

100% devoid of Nevada-related content! Leaving aside a local advisory question in Richmond, California, there are four races to watch. Voters in Maine have blown hot and cold on casinos in their state. Next month they’ll weigh in on whether … Continue reading

Posted in Ameristar, California, Cordish Co., Election, Isle of Capri, Maryland, Missouri, Penn National, Pinnacle Entertainment, Politics, Racinos, Regulation, Wall Street, West Virginia | 1 Comment