Category Archives: Rhode Island

Narrow race in Massachusetts; Boffo biz in Alabama

Posted on September 2, 2014 by David McKee

No state that has ever approved casino gambling has repealed it in over 80 years. That being said, casinos are polling weakly in Massachusetts — with support hovering at 50% — and the opposition is getting cocky. A perversely worded … Continue reading →

Posted in Alabama, Architecture, Economy, Election, Florida, Massachusetts, MGM Mirage, Penn National, Regulation, Rhode Island, The Strip, Tribal | 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

A Grand attempt; The grandson also rises

Posted on July 7, 2014 by David McKee

If Newport, Rhode Island, is the American Riviera (or was once), then casino gambling would seem like a logical amenity. Would-be owner Joseph Paolino and his partners want to add table games to the Newport Grand slot parlor — but … Continue reading →

Posted in Election, Michael Gaughan, Rhode Island | 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

Keeping with the times; Inside Bally’s palace coup

Posted on May 20, 2014 by David McKee

For people like myself, whose formative experiences of Las Vegas took place 10-plus years ago, it’s important to go with the flow. For instance, the ever-burgeoning and remunerative nightclub business. When SLS Las Vegas opens Life, bottle service will be … Continue reading →

Posted in Bally Technologies, Election, Entertainment, Harrah's, Rhode Island, Sam Nazarian, Shuffle Master, Steve Wynn, Technology, The Strip, Wall Street | Comments Off

Japan fever

Posted on May 15, 2014 by David McKee

As the window slowly closes on casino legalization during the current session of the Japanese Diet, a fever seems to be overtaking the casino industry. Normally reasonable people are suddenly hyper-exaggerating their projections for gambling in the Land of the … Continue reading →

Posted in Harrah's, Japan, Louisiana, MGM Mirage, Pinnacle Entertainment, Rhode Island, Sheldon Adelson, Steve Wynn, Tribal, Wall Street | Comments Off

Case Bets

Posted on April 23, 2014 by David McKee

Former Florida Lt. Governor Jennifer Carroll‘s troubles with the law haven’t ended with her resignation from public office. Tens of thousands of dollars of unreported income from Internet-cafe casino operators went unreported and now Carroll has some explaining to do. … Continue reading →

Posted in Florida, Internet gambling, Iowa, Penn National, Pennsylvania, Regulation, Rhode Island, Warner Gaming | Comments Off

Rocky Mountain high roller; Playing spoiler in Boston

Posted on March 11, 2014 by David McKee

“Recreational horse racing to me is more appealing than recreational pot.” So says one of the backers of expanded gambling in Colorado, state Rep. Don Coram (R). “We’re opposed because the way the initiative is written it gives the owner of … Continue reading →

Posted in California, Colorado, Election, Entertainment, Internet gambling, Massachusetts, MGM Mirage, Ohio, Regulation, Rhode Island, Tribal | Comments Off

Massachusetts: Penn wins

Posted on February 28, 2014 by David McKee

Oh, cruel fate. It looked like that Massachusetts slot parlor was in the bag for Cordish Gaming and the city of Leominster. After all, Massachusetts Gaming Commission Chairman Stephen Crosby had rated the project as “very good,” adding, “Thus our … Continue reading →

Posted in Cordish Co., Greenwood Racing, Horseracing, Illinois, Massachusetts, Penn National, Politics, Racinos, Regulation, Rhode Island, Slot routes, Wall Street | Comments Off

Keeping up with the Joneses

Posted on February 17, 2014 by David McKee

Long a money pit for the Saulte Ste. Marie Tribe of Chippewa Indians, the Greektown Casino in downtown Detroit is now owner Dan Gilbert‘s problem. A smoky warren of gambling spaces, the original layout is a clusterf**k that warrants Greektown’s … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, Atlantic City, CityCenter, Dan Gilbert, Detroit, International, Massachusetts, MGM Mirage, Mississippi, Problem gambling, Revel, Rhode Island, Sports | Comments Off

Hard Rock OK’d; Tribal casinos’ power plays; Caesars’ astute move

Posted on February 17, 2014 by David McKee

Instead of being left to rot, Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Sioux City will be permitted to resume construction, with a view toward a late-summer opening. That good news was handed down from the Polk County District Court bench. If … Continue reading →

Posted in Florida, Foxwoods, Genting, Harrah's, Internet gambling, Iowa, Massachusetts, Mohegan Sun, Penn National, Regulation, Rhode Island, Tribal, Wall Street, Warner Gaming | 1 Comment

The importance of being Steve Wynn

Posted on January 23, 2014 by David McKee

How can you pitch a multi-billion-dollar casino in largely extemporaneous fashion, bereft of glossy renderings or a video fly-through. By being Steve Wynn, that’s how. His pitch to the Massachusetts Gaming Commission seems to have been less about touting the … Continue reading →

Posted in Downtown, Foxwoods, Genting, Massachusetts, Mohegan Sun, Regulation, Rhode Island, Steve Wynn | Comments Off

Suffolk Downs: Life after Caesars; PokerStars nixed?

Posted on November 8, 2013 by David McKee

Another day, another occasion to scratch one’s head over the casino-averse culture in Massachusetts. The Boston Globe‘s Shirley Leung does her usual Chicken Little routine, lamenting that the Bay State may get no casinos at all. (Fret not, Shirley, somebody … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Colony Capital, Election, Foxwoods, Greenwood Racing, Internet gambling, Maine, Massachusetts, Mohegan Sun, Pokergeddon, Racinos, Regulation, Rhode Island, Taxes, Tribal | 1 Comment

Massachusetts: Victory in Leominster; Mazer makes waves

Posted on September 25, 2013 by David McKee

Cordish Gaming crushed the opposition in Leominster yesterday, winning approval for a slot parlor with 61% of the vote. The campaign was notable for the personal participation of David Cordish, who went door-to-door to drum up support. The whippet-thin senior … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Boyd Gaming, Colony Capital, Cordish Co., Election, Harrah's, IGT, Massachusetts, Neil Bluhm, New Hampshire, Penn National, Regulation, Rhode Island, Technology, Tilman Fertitta | 1 Comment

Trouble in another paradise; Sheldon’s sex shoppe

Posted on September 14, 2013 by David McKee

Overruling Massachusetts Attorney General Martha Coakley (D), a Bay State court has issued an injunction allow signature-gatherers to keep collecting voters’ John Hancocks on a petition to repeal 2011’s casino-enabling legislation. Considering the land purchases, to say nothing of the … Continue reading →

Posted in Current, Entertainment, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Pennsylvania, Politics, Regulation, Rhode Island, Sheldon Adelson, Steve Wynn, The Strip | Comments Off

More turmoil at Sands; Pensions want a bigger slice of Caesars

Posted on September 3, 2013 by David McKee

David Sisk, the COO of Sands China, has resigned — the latest casualty of high executive turnover in Sheldon Adelson‘s fiefdom. You’d think that such instability in the upper ranks would give Wall Street an ulcer. But when Sands is … Continue reading →

Posted in Current, Economy, Foxwoods, Harrah's, Macau, Rhode Island, Sheldon Adelson, Wall Street | Comments Off

Loveman, Loveman everywhere

Posted on August 29, 2013 by David McKee

Racetrack owner Richard Fields and Caesars Entertainment are wrapping up their deals with Boston and Revere with dispatch. And the latter are making out like bandits. In their zeal to close deals, Fields and Loveman may be overpaying for the … Continue reading →

Posted in Dining, Entertainment, Foxwoods, G2E, Harrah's, Massachusetts, Racinos, Rhode Island, Steve Wynn, Tribal | Comments Off

Ohio: A disappointment, not a flop

Posted on June 18, 2013 by David McKee

Editor’s note: On June 20, J.P. Morgan lowered its price-per-share target for Penn National Gaming, citing “the sluggish Ohio ramp,” along with cannibalization of business in neighboring states. On May 22, legislators in Ohio voted to limit payouts from “sweepstakes … Continue reading →

Posted in Dan Gilbert, Economy, Harrah's, Internet gambling, Massachusetts, MTR Gaming, New Hampshire, Ohio, Penn National, Pennsylvania, Politics, Racinos, Regulation, Rhode Island, Tribal, Wall Street | Comments Off

Election special 1: Oregon, Nevada, Michigan & Rhode Island

Posted on October 17, 2012 by David McKee

It’s time to wind up the S&G electoral machinery and look at casino-related ballot questions that you might be asked to weigh come November. In Arkansas, we’ve already had the piquant spectacle of a gambling ballot initiative that was struck … Continue reading →

Posted in Detroit, Economy, Election, Harry Reid, Illinois, International, Maryland, Massachusetts, Racinos, Rhode Island, Sheldon Adelson, Shuffle Master, Taxes, Tribal, Wall Street | Comments Off

Speed: The Ride … found!; Dueling Ferris wheels and Caesars’ wonderful life

Posted on August 17, 2012 by David McKee

Remember all those rumors that had the Sahara‘s now-vanished Speed: The Ride packed up and headed for Circus Circus? Not so! The good folks and inquiring minds at VegasChatter.com were sussing out some dormant South Strip developments and discovered … … … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, Atlantic City, California, Current, Economy, Entertainment, Harrah's, Illinois, International, Internet gambling, Marketing, Maryland, Massachusetts, MGM Mirage, Movies, New York, Racinos, Rhode Island, Sahara, Taxes, The Strip, Tourism, Transportation, Wall Street | 2 Comments