Category Archives: Slot routes

Louisiana’s bonny April; Nevada Gold now with 100% more Nevada

Posted on May 22, 2015 by David McKee

Golden Nugget Lake Charles continues to be the outboard engine that speeds up Louisiana gaming revenues. The Pelican State was up 4% last month — but 13% when Tilman Fertitta‘s casino is added to the tally. It even made inroads … Continue reading →

Posted in Boyd Gaming, Churchill Downs, Genting, GLPI, Harrah's, Isle of Capri, Louisiana, Macau, MGM Mirage, Pinnacle Entertainment, Racinos, Slot routes, South Dakota, South Korea, Stanley Ho, Tilman Fertitta, Tropicana Entertainment | Comments Off

More trouble for Caesars; Slot routes corrode casino revenues

Posted on May 12, 2015 by David McKee

Caesars Entertainment will soon have a new unsecured creditor — Uncle Sam. The company is trying to negotiate a settlement with the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network. The tab for making things right with The Man could run to $20 million and … Continue reading →

Posted in Dan Gilbert, Environment, Harrah's, Illinois, Missouri, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Racinos, Regulation, Slot routes, The Strip, West Virginia | 1 Comment

Illinois’ news bad even when it’s good

Posted on May 8, 2015 by David McKee

Illinois‘ casino lobby hopes to stave off (potentially disastrous) expansion, currently working its way through the state house. Unfortunately, last month’s results didn’t give it much ammunition. Revenues were down only 1%, which in any other context would be relatively … Continue reading →

Posted in Boyd Gaming, Derek Stevens, Downtown, GLPI, Harrah's, Illinois, Kansas, Neil Bluhm, Oscar Goodman, Penn National, Riviera, Slot routes, Sports, Wall Street | Comments Off

Chicago casino push gathers steam

Posted on May 4, 2015 by David McKee

It’s been a while since we’ve heard about a casino in Chicago but that doesn’t mean Mayor Rahm Emanuel (D, below) has given up. Far from it. He’s looking at a $839 million pension obligation and a $300 million budget … Continue reading →

Posted in Cirque du Soleil, Economy, Entertainment, Illinois, MGM Mirage, Politics, Racinos, Slot routes, The Strip | Comments Off

The wrath of Icahn; Cautious progress in Indiana

Posted on March 19, 2015 by David McKee

Using the power of the blogosphere, Carl Icahn opened an extra-large can of whup-ass on Unite-Here Local 54 today. While he fleetingly alluded to the ineptitude of Trump Entertainment Resorts management (“The bottom line is that, even without making exorbitant … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Carl Icahn, Donald Trump, Illinois, Indiana, Politics, Slot routes, Trump Entertainment Resorts, TV | Tagged Unite-Here | Comments Off

Where to dump Trump?; Straub stumped

Posted on February 11, 2015 by David McKee

Although he’s buried millions of dollars in New Jersey, having been party to four casino bankruptcies, Donald Trump doesn’t want his carcass interred there. Instead, when he goes to that big sand trap in the sky, he wants to be … Continue reading →

Posted in Affinity Gaming, Atlantic City, Donald Trump, Florida, Glenn Straub, Golden Gaming, Horseracing, Illinois, Louisiana, Lyle Berman, Maryland, Revel, Slot routes | 1 Comment

Case Bets: IGT, Hard Rock, Golden Gaming

Posted on January 28, 2015 by David McKee

Profits were slimmer for International Game Technology in 1Q15, with the company reporting $35 million, 56% less than a year ago. IGT, which is in the process of being acquired by GTECH, offered little commentary on the results. CEO Patti … Continue reading →

Posted in Colorado, Columbia Sussex, Dining, Harrah's, Lake Tahoe, Lyle Berman, Maryland, Regulation, Sam Nazarian, Slot routes, Warner Gaming | 1 Comment

Golden, Scientific on the move

Posted on January 26, 2015 by David McKee

Golden Gaming continues to absorb its competitors. Its latest acquisition is Lakes Entertainment, one of the most venerable names in Midwestern gambling. Golden will pay a 37% premium to purchase Lakes at $9.57 a share. While 64% of shareholders will … Continue reading →

Posted in Bally Technologies, Golden Gaming, Horseracing, IGT, Kentucky, Maryland, Ohio, Scientific Games, Slot routes, Technology, Wall Street, WMS Industries | Comments Off

Possible Pennsylvania cutback?; Prudes pressured Walker

Posted on January 26, 2015 by David McKee

Once casinos move to fill a vacuum, it’s difficult to push them back. But that’s what Pennsylvania state Rep. Will Talman (R) is trying to do. He’s proposing a bill to close Keystone State casinos nightly between 2 a.m. and … Continue reading →

Posted in International, Iowa, Macau, Pennsylvania, Politics, Regulation, Sheldon Adelson, Slot routes, Tribal, Wisconsin | Comments Off

New day at the AGA; Illinois casinos feel the slot-route squeeze

Posted on January 14, 2015 by David McKee

For the first time, a Native American gaming enterprise has become part of the American Gaming Association, as Seminole Hard Rock Gaming has cracked what had been the lobbyist equivalent of a whites-only country club. It’s part of an image … Continue reading →

Posted in Alabama, Economy, Geoff Freeman, Greenwood Racing, Hard Rock International, Illinois, LVCVA, Missouri, Penn National, Slot routes, Tribal | 1 Comment

Slots drive Vegas; Big change at Foxwoods

Posted on November 26, 2014 by David McKee

Las Vegas Strip casino revenues fell 6% last month, largely thanks to soft table play. Deutsche Bank analyst Carlo Santarelli characterized slot play as “encouraging and driven primarily by volume,” as the Strip recorded its sixth consecutive month of increased … Continue reading →

Posted in Boulder Strip, Delaware, Downtown, Entertainment, Foxwoods, Lake Tahoe, Laughlin, Mohegan Sun, North Las Vegas, Racinos, Slot routes, Taxes, The Strip, Wall Street | Comments Off

Missouri miracle; Guarded hope in Illinois, Indiana

Posted on November 10, 2014 by David McKee

Finally, there was good news for saturated gaming markets. Missouri was up 2% last month, although the result was a bit lopsided. The St. Louis market rose 3% while the Kansas City area slipped 2%. The latter appears to be … Continue reading →

Posted in Ameristar, Boyd Gaming, Donald Trump, GLPI, Harrah's, Illinois, Indiana, Majestic Star, MGM Mirage, Missouri, Neil Bluhm, Ohio, Penn National, Pinnacle Entertainment, Slot routes, Tropicana Entertainment | Comments Off

N.Y.: Accentuate the negative; Sheldon’s change of heart

Posted on October 27, 2014 by David McKee

“The economy is so depressed around here, anything is a plus. That’s how bad it is around here.” With that backhanded endorsement, the owner of Pepe’s Bar-B-Q in Binghamton, N.Y., gave his blessing to casinos in the area. In order to … Continue reading →

Posted in CityCenter, Economy, Greenwood Racing, Hard Rock International, Illinois, MGM Mirage, Neil Bluhm, New York, Pennsylvania, Sheldon Adelson, Slot routes, The Strip | Comments Off

Caesars flirts with Chapter 11; MGM sells relic

Posted on October 17, 2014 by David McKee

Caesars Entertainment CEO Gary Loveman has as much as said bankruptcy would happen over his dead body. Funeral services may be held in January. Caesars, y’see, has filed for an amendment on its debt that would give senior bondholders first … Continue reading →

Posted in Harrah's, Herbst Gaming, Illinois, MGM Mirage, Regulation, Slot routes, Wall Street | Comments Off

VLTs come to Texas; Slots inundate Illinois; Gomes honored

Posted on September 19, 2014 by David McKee

Casino gambling has finally got its foot in the door of Texas (not counting a pair of tribal casinos on the Mexican border). Late last month, the Texas Racing Commission voted overwhelmingly to approve “historical racing” VLTs at Texas tracks, effective … Continue reading →

Posted in Bally Technologies, Charity, Dennis Gomes, Economy, Illinois, Racinos, Regulation, Slot routes, Technology, Texas | 1 Comment

Revel: A quiet death

Posted on September 3, 2014 by David McKee

“Gaming in Atlantic City isn’t dead, but it has to go on a crash diet to survive.” That’s the coroner’s verdict of the Newark Star-Ledger, in which former Atlantic Club worker Bill Terrigino adds his voice to the chorus that … Continue reading →

Posted in Alex Yemenidjian, Architecture, Atlantic City, Illinois, Marketing, MGM Mirage, Revel, Sam Nazarian, Slot routes, The Strip, Trump Entertainment Resorts | 3 Comments

Illinois: Adding insult to injury; Sheldon’s nuisance

Posted on August 29, 2014 by David McKee

Casino-based slot machines in Illinois are now outnumbered by ones in convenience stores, bars and truck stops. To make the challenge even worse, the Legislature — which goes out of its way to kneecap the Land of Lincoln’s existing casinos … Continue reading →

Posted in Illinois, Internet gambling, Macau, Sheldon Adelson, Slot routes, West Virginia | Comments Off

Terra incognita

Posted on July 15, 2014 by David McKee

Boldly going where no tribe has gone before, the Iipay Nation of Santa Ysabel is days from launching PrivateTable.com. In the Iipay Nation’s viewpoint, tribal sovereignty overrides California law, permitting it to go it alone as an i-poker provider. The idea … Continue reading →

Posted in California, Downtown, Internet gambling, Regulation, Slot routes, Station Casinos, Tribal | Comments Off

No-Wynn situation in Boston

Posted on July 15, 2014 by David McKee

To hear Boston Mayor Martin Walsh tell it, there’s no point in further negotiations with Wynn Resorts. He also claims that insufficient information has been put on the table for an arbitrator to make a decision. Steve Wynn’s offers, he … Continue reading →

Posted in Massachusetts, Regulation, Slot routes, Steve Wynn | Comments Off

Boffo May in Vegas; The power of convenience

Posted on June 27, 2014 by David McKee

Wall Street was pleasantly surprised by May’s gambling numbers from Nevada and especially the Las Vegas Strip, which was up 17%. Statewide, revenues rose 8%, reflecting the dilutive effect of an 8% decline in locals gaming revenue. A 3% dip … Continue reading →

Posted in Boulder Strip, Downtown, Economy, Election, Hard Rock International, Harrah's, Illinois, Laughlin, Massachusetts, MGM Mirage, Mohegan Sun, North Las Vegas, Ohio, Penn National, Problem gambling, Racinos, Regulation, Slot routes, The Strip, Wall Street | 3 Comments