Category Archives: Sheldon Adelson

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 on Japan fever

Happy anniversary for Adelson; Penn’s legal woes

Posted on May 13, 2014 by David McKee

Smashed entrance doors, overburdened and broken escalators, and 40,000 customers … it was all in a day’s work when Sands Macao opened — can it really be 10 years ago next week? Time flies when you’re Sheldon Adelson. Although Stanley … Continue reading →

Posted in Iowa, Japan, Macau, Massachusetts, Neil Bluhm, Penn National, Racinos, Regulation, Sheldon Adelson, Stanley Ho, Taxes | Comments Off on Happy anniversary for Adelson; Penn’s legal woes

MGM National Harbor: Icon or overkill? You decide

Posted on May 9, 2014 by David McKee

MGM Resorts International‘s National Harbor project literally hasn’t gotten off the drawing board and yet it’s already stirring controversy. The beef mainly involves five oversized LED screens, the largest of which would be 60 by 100 feet. MGM has similar … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, Environment, Harrah's, Internet gambling, Maryland, MGM Mirage, Ohio, Penn National, Politics, Regulation, Sheldon Adelson, Technology | 1 Comment

A few minutes with Sheldon Adelson

Posted on May 9, 2014 by David McKee

On Internet gambling: On his fear of the Vegas High Roller: “They don’t care about Sheldon Adelson” COURTESY: Bloomberg News

Posted in Harrah's, International, Macau, Sheldon Adelson, Singapore, The Strip | Comments Off on A few minutes with Sheldon Adelson

Adelson: I’m nice, really; Casinos go to pot

Posted on May 6, 2014 by David McKee

Three hundred people turned out yesterday at UNLV to hear Sheldon Adelson hold a rap session with the kids about the evils of online gambling. Adelson’s animus, it turns out, was his father’s propensity to gamble his money away at … Continue reading →

Posted in Internet gambling, Japan, M Resort, Penn National, Problem gambling, Regulation, Sheldon Adelson | Comments Off on Adelson: I’m nice, really; Casinos go to pot

Affleck banned from HRH; Sands Bethlehem reprieved

Posted on May 2, 2014 by David McKee

You can do all manner of despicable things in a casino if you’re a high roller … but count one lousy card and you’re toast, mister. That’s the message being sent by Warner Gaming after it banned Ben Affleck from … Continue reading →

Posted in Harrah's, Macau, Pennsylvania, Sheldon Adelson, Singapore, Technology, Trump Entertainment Resorts, Warner Gaming | 1 Comment

Scott deal a dud?; Storm on Capitol Hill

Posted on April 29, 2014 by David McKee

Slim and none appear to be Florida Gov. Rick Scott‘s choices for a special session next month to ratify a casino compact with the Seminole Tribe. Legislators who note that the current compact doesn’t sunset until next year wonder what’s … Continue reading →

Posted in Donald Trump, Florida, Internet gambling, Politics, Sheldon Adelson, Tribal | 1 Comment

Crowded field in New York; Big numbers at Hakkasan

Posted on April 28, 2014 by David McKee

Awash in $22 million in application fees, New York State now enters the next phase: The winnowing of the field either through lack of financing or the formation of alliances. After all, there are property owners with no operating experience … Continue reading →

Posted in Entertainment, MGM Mirage, New York, Pennsylvania, Politics, Sheldon Adelson, The Strip | Comments Off on Crowded field in New York; Big numbers at Hakkasan

It’s good to be Sheldon Adelson

Posted on April 25, 2014 by David McKee

Posting a 21% increase in revenue, Las Vegas Sands reported 97 cents/share in earnings (Wall Street had expected $0.94). No surprise, Macao was the primary driver. Analysts were also pleased by a $810 million buyback of Sands shares, bolstering the … Continue reading →

Posted in Animals, Harrah's, Iowa, Macau, MGM Mirage, Pennsylvania, Racinos, Sheldon Adelson, Singapore, The Strip, Wall Street | Comments Off on It’s good to be Sheldon Adelson

Caesars: The day after

Posted on April 23, 2014 by David McKee

New York resort developers may be reeling from the sudden entry of Caesars Entertainment into the picture, but that doesn’t mean they’ve given up the fight. After all, Caesars’ move only impacts the Catskills region, not the Capital one nor … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Boyd Gaming, Cordish Co., Foxwoods, Genting, Harrah's, Horseracing, International, Macau, Melco Crown Entertainment, MGM Mirage, New York, Penn National, Pennsylvania, Racinos, Sheldon Adelson | Comments Off on Caesars: The day after

Gambling: It’s not what it used to be

Posted on April 23, 2014 by David McKee

Nevada‘s casino industry is still in the Great Recession, if profits and losses are anything by which to go. Posting their fifth consecutive year of losses, they were $1.35 billion in the red, on $24 billion in revenues. No surprise, … Continue reading →

Posted in Animals, Dining, Downtown, Economy, Entertainment, Lake Tahoe, Laughlin, Planet Hollywood, Reno, Sheldon Adelson | Comments Off on Gambling: It’s not what it used to be

Cosmo: The right amount of money; MGM learns Arabic

Posted on April 16, 2014 by David McKee

A camel is a horse designed by a committee, the saying goes, and The Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas resembles nothing so much as a camel — and Deutsche Bank executives are accused of dabbling in its design. If Bloomberg News‘ … Continue reading →

Posted in CityCenter, Cosmopolitan, Harrah's, International, Marketing, MGM Mirage, Penn National, Pinnacle Entertainment, Sheldon Adelson, Steve Wynn | 1 Comment

Quote of the Day

Posted on April 15, 2014 by David McKee

“It may be ironic that while party politicians will be even more reliant on big donors for such monies, and thus even more beholden to those such as Mr. Adelson, the usefulness of party conventions seems to have gone in … Continue reading →

Posted in Election, Sheldon Adelson | Comments Off on Quote of the Day

Big names flock to New York; Reno rebounds

Posted on April 14, 2014 by David McKee

It’s starting to get seriously competitive in upstate New York, where Neil Bluhm‘s Rush Street Gaming has been seen canoodling with a Schenectady casino project. Others who have been circling the upstate market with interest include newcomers Churchill Downs and … Continue reading →

Posted in Churchill Downs, Economy, Hard Rock International, Harrah's, Macau, Neil Bluhm, New York, Ohio, Penn National, Reno, Sheldon Adelson, Station Casinos, Wall Street | Comments Off on Big names flock to New York; Reno rebounds

Mr. Leven, your tinfoil hat is ready

Posted on April 14, 2014 by David McKee

Given the chance to make some friends and influence people in Washington, D.C., instead Las Vegas Sands COO Michael Leven chose to spit in their eye. He made the rather wild claim that the present administration wants legalized Internet gambling … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, Internet gambling, Sheldon Adelson, Station Casinos, Taxes, The Strip, Tribal, Wisconsin | Comments Off on Mr. Leven, your tinfoil hat is ready

Kill Phil and other pleasantries

Posted on April 14, 2014 by David McKee

That’s what Borgata would like to do to poker pro Phil Ivey. It is suing him after he cleaned them out of nearly $10 million at the baccarat tables. The suit contends that Ivey and a co-conspirator discovered a flaw … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Boyd Gaming, Genting, Iowa, Penn National, Pennsylvania, Sheldon Adelson, Tilman Fertitta, Tropicana Entertainment, Warner Gaming | Comments Off on Kill Phil and other pleasantries

Tropicana Bethlehem?; One acre and a casino

Posted on April 10, 2014 by David McKee

Las Vegas Sands‘ waving of the white flag over its Sands Bethlehem casino may have finally yielded a buyer. Having stated publicly, however, that $1 billion was the asking price may have limited Sands flexibility to negotiate (not to mention … Continue reading →

Posted in Alabama, Cannery Casino Resorts, Carl Icahn, Current, Florida, New Hampshire, Pennsylvania, Sheldon Adelson, South Carolina, Tribal, Tropicana Entertainment | 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

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?

Quote of the Day

Posted on April 3, 2014 by David McKee

“When did the guy who makes Donald Trump‘s hair look natural get veto power over every word Republicans say about Israel?” — Jon Stewart, on Sheldon Adelson‘s clout.

Posted in Donald Trump, Sheldon Adelson | Comments Off on Quote of the Day