Category Archives: Revel

When titans wed; Cupidity at Revel

Posted on August 1, 2014 by David McKee

Just when you thought the manufacturing sector had engaged in enough consolidation that it would take a pause to pay down debt (or at least burp) comes a mega-consolidation. International Game Technology‘s two biggest rivals will become one. Ronald Perelman‘s … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Bally Technologies, Cretins, GTECH, IGT, Regulation, Revel, Shuffle Master, Wall Street, WMS Industries | 1 Comment

Illiterate and accused; Revel: Rewarding failure

Posted on July 31, 2014 by David McKee

People who state their career goal as “trynna get rich” should probably be arrested for crimes against the English language. In the case of Izyiah Plummer (right), though, the charges are much more grave: the July 21 armed robbery of Caesars … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Harrah's, Herbst Gaming, Internet gambling, Louisiana, Maryland, Planet Hollywood, Revel, The Strip, Tropicana Entertainment, Wall Street | Comments Off

Enormous changes at the last minute

Posted on July 28, 2014 by David McKee

After years of hand-wringing about the future of Atlantic City, there is a sudden imperative to do something about the seaside resort. It’s gone from a leadership vacuum to possibly having too many chefs in the kitchen. State Senate President … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Carl Icahn, Churchill Downs, Economy, Hard Rock International, Harrah's, Mississippi, Penn National, Revel, Tilman Fertitta, Trump Entertainment Resorts | Comments Off

Glimmers of hope on the Boardwalk

Posted on July 24, 2014 by David McKee

Every morning, Atlantic City Mayor Don Guardian (R) rides his bicycle along the Boardwalk. This morning, Guardian must have felt he was carrying a heavier burden than usual. Although Hizzoner has maintained that Atlantic City will come out on the … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Economy, Harrah's, Mississippi, Politics, Regulation, Revel, Trump Entertainment Resorts, Wall Street | Comments Off

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

Soft landing in A.C.; “Nocturne” put to sleep

Posted on July 14, 2014 by David McKee

Internet-gaming revenue continues to slip in New Jersey, down 9% from May. There are only three players of consequence: Borgata (36.5%), Caesars Atlantic City (27%) and Tropicana Atlantic City (18%). Still, Internet gambling continues to provide a cushion for the … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Boyd Gaming, California, Cosmopolitan, Current, Entertainment, Harrah's, Internet gambling, Mohegan Sun, Revel, Sam Nazarian, Steve Wynn, The Strip, Tilman Fertitta, Tropicana Entertainment, Trump Entertainment Resorts, Wall Street | Comments Off

For sale: One casino, slightly used

Posted on July 9, 2014 by David McKee

Having walked into a PR buzzsaw with its announced closure of the Showboat, in Atlantic City, owner Caesars Entertainment is trying to salve the wound. “We’re willing to sell if we receive a reasonable offer from a responsible buyer,” said company … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Hard Rock International, Harrah's, Macau, New York, Revel, Tourism, Transportation | 1 Comment

Reno 2.0; Saturation in Ohio

Posted on July 7, 2014 by David McKee

All roads lead through Reno, more or less, if you’re dealing with Amazon.com. Now the Biggest Little City in the World is hoping to export high-tech instead. A corridor to that purpose, nicknamed “Startup Row” has sprung up downtown. A … Continue reading →

Posted in California, Economy, Harrah's, Ohio, Penn National, Pinnacle Entertainment, Revel | Comments Off

Revel’s death spiral; Piling into N.Y.

Posted on July 2, 2014 by David McKee

Having filed for bankruptcy a second time, Revel Casino Hotel is trying hard to stay off the auction block. Maybe not hard enough: A $300 million price tag is too rich for Caesars Entertainment‘s blood or even flush Hard Rock … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Churchill Hill, Cordish Co., Current, Genting, Hard Rock International, Harrah's, Mohegan Sun, Neil Bluhm, Penn National, Revel, Taxes, Wall Street | Comments Off

So long, Showboat

Posted on June 27, 2014 by David McKee

Normally, when a federally mandated WARN Act notice goes out to casino employees, executives downplay as a mere formality. Not so for Showboat Atlantic City where theoretical closure became actual shutdown in less than 24 hours. Despite having recently posted … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Harrah's, Japan, Massachusetts, New York, Regulation, Revel, Taxes | 1 Comment

Mississippi bogged down; How much for Revel?

Posted on June 24, 2014 by David McKee

Still further evidence of gaming saturation comes from the Bayou State, where revenues have declined in 21 of the last 23 months — an Atlantic City-like declivity. Last month, the last full month of operations for Harrah’s Tunica, statewide revenues … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Economy, Hard Rock International, Maryland, MTR Gaming, Ohio, Penn National, Racinos, Regulation, Revel, West Virginia | Comments Off

Revel bankrupt … again

Posted on June 20, 2014 by David McKee

Owned by former creditors, Revel Casino Hotel is dropping a bankruptcy on newer creditors. Hopefully this move will stave off the Aug. 18 closing (perhaps as late as Sept. 1.) that was threatened in a letter to employees yesterday, although the … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Delaware, Dining, Economy, Entertainment, Foxwoods, Harrah's, Maryland, Pennsylvania, Racinos, Revel, Rhode Island, Taxes | 1 Comment

Atlantic City online: The god that failed?

Posted on June 12, 2014 by David McKee

May brought bad news from the Boardwalk, where online gambling revenue fell to $10.5 million. (It had been $11.4 million the month before, in itself a decline.) Traditional casinos were off 3% on a same-store basis — i.e., subtracting the … Continue reading →

Posted in Boyd Gaming, Harrah's, Internet gambling, Morgans Hotel Group, Revel, Tilman Fertitta, Tropicana Entertainment | 2 Comments

Big vote on Boardwalk; Horsey antics in Texas

Posted on June 10, 2014 by David McKee

“It’s going to be a very complicated and difficult negotiation.” So admits Unite-Here President Robert McDevitt of the mid-September scrum when all the casino collective bargaining agreements come up for renewal. McDevitt’s still tasting victory from last week’s vote at … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Boyd Gaming, Donald Trump, Horseracing, Kentucky, MGM Mirage, Racinos, Regulation, Revel, Technology, Texas | Comments Off

Case Bets for a Monday morning

Posted on June 2, 2014 by David McKee

Because Vegas is starved for retail along the Strip (ha!), Caesars Entertainment has been beavering away busily on Grand Bazaar Shops, in front of Bally’s Las Vegas. Vital Vegas has been sussing out the progress of the mall and it’s … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, Atlantic City, Culinary Union, Derek Stevens, Entertainment, Foxwoods, Harrah's, Internet gambling, Mohegan Sun, Revel, The Strip | Comments Off

Skepticism in Atlantic City; Hope in Schenectady

Posted on May 21, 2014 by David McKee

Hard Rock International has decided to stop being coy about its interest in Revel Resort. It wants it … if the price is right. “We certainly looked at it. We participated in the process,” said Hard Rock CEO James Allen. “The question … Continue reading →

Posted in Ameristar, Architecture, Atlantic City, Hard Rock International, Harrah's, Louisiana, Neil Bluhm, New York, Pinnacle Entertainment, Revel, Tribal, Trump Entertainment Resorts | 1 Comment

Soft landing in Atlantic City; Sweating the slots

Posted on April 14, 2014 by David McKee

A 4% increase in online play helped soften the landing for Atlantic City this month. With cyber-revenue factored into the equation, casinos were down only 2% on a same-store basis. Slot revenue fell 10% but the odds were in the … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Boyd Gaming, Cretins, Harrah's, Mohegan Sun, Ohio, Penn National, Regulation, Revel, Technology, Tilman Fertitta, Tropicana Entertainment, Trump Entertainment Resorts | Comments Off

Caesars: ‘Iceberg, debt ahead!’

Posted on April 9, 2014 by David McKee

Citing a “negative” outlook for Caesars Entertainment, bond-ratings agency Standard & Poor’s downgraded its ranking of the company yesterday. Caesars liquidity, analyst Melissa Long opined, was insufficient to meet $3.5 billion in debt maturities that come due next year, nor … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Harrah's, Revel, Wall Street | Comments Off

Revel limps forward; Sheldon Adelson’s would-be buddies

Posted on March 28, 2014 by David McKee

President Scott Kreeger is insisting all is well at embattled Revel Resort. On one flank he’s got employees on whose behalf Unite-Here has been pressing for union representation. On the other he has the task of trying to make the … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Boyd Gaming, Harrah's, Internet gambling, Louisiana, MGM Mirage, Revel, Sheldon Adelson, Texas, Wall Street | Comments Off

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