Category Archives: Slot routes

One casino for sale, real cheap; Miracle at Cosmo; New wrinkle at Dairyland

Posted on November 11, 2013 by David McKee

Colony Capital‘s insolvent Atlantic City Hotel received bankruptcy court permission to keep doing business. Still, the ACH appears to be circling the drain rapidly, telling reporters “the casino said it doesn’t have enough cash to continue to operate for a … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Colony Capital, Cosmopolitan, Culinary Union, Golden Gaming, North Las Vegas, Regulation, Slot routes, Tribal, Wisconsin | Comments Off

Case Bets: New York, Wynn, Packer, Atlantic City & Reno

Posted on October 30, 2013 by David McKee

In a positive omen for Tuesday’s casino vote in New York, shares of Castkills-based Empire Resorts (NYNY) leapt 29%, closing at $5.30/share. The company hopes to bring casino gambling to the Concord Hotel, although jostling for the probable two Catskills … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, California, Current, Genting, Harrah's, Illinois, International, James Packer, Melco Crown Entertainment, New York, Reno, Slot routes, Station Casinos, Steve Wynn, Tribal | 4 Comments

War of words in N.Y.; Double standard in Illinois

Posted on October 25, 2013 by David McKee

After keeping a low profile for most of election season, pro-casino forces sprang into gear, rolling out a bevy of TV ads. In an attempt to neutral potential hostility downstate, one commercial points out that New York City‘s two mayor … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Current, Detroit, Economy, Election, Illinois, New York, Politics, Problem gambling, Regulation, Slot routes, Taxes | Comments Off

Caesars: Fiasco in Boston

Posted on October 21, 2013 by David McKee

Suffolk Downs will be moving forward … without Caesars Entertainment. The track dropped Caesars like a bad habit over the weekend. Caesars tried to make it sound like the decision was its own. Spokesman Stephen Cohen threw a hissy fit, … Continue reading →

Posted in Hard Rock International, Harrah's, Illinois, Internet gambling, Massachusetts, MGM Mirage, Neil Bluhm, Problem gambling, Regulation, Slot routes, Steve Wynn, Wall Street | 2 Comments

New look for IGT; Bally thinks small; Why see Britney?

Posted on September 24, 2013 by David McKee

There’s a new logo in town and it belongs to International Game Technology. That futuristic type you see is emblematic of the slot-machine company’s ongoing reinvention of itself into an online-gaming provider. The firm may be rolling out new machines … Continue reading →

Posted in Bally Technologies, Entertainment, IGT, Illinois, Internet gambling, Scientific Games, Shuffle Master, Slot routes, The Strip, Wall Street, WMS Industries | Comments Off

Upturn in Illinois, blindsided in Indiana

Posted on September 10, 2013 by David McKee

Could we finally be seeing “green shoots” in Illinois, up 5% last month? Maybe, although such recovery as there was consisted of the force that is Rivers Casino, up 36%. Penn National Gaming‘s three casinos posted a feeble $29 million, … Continue reading →

Posted in Current, Economy, Harrah's, Illinois, Indiana, MGM Mirage, Neil Bluhm, Ohio, Penn National, Pinnacle Entertainment, Racinos, Regulation, Slot routes, Wall Street | Comments Off

Quote of the Day

Posted on August 6, 2013 by David McKee

“It’s not a bar. It’s a gaming facility.” — James Hockenyos, on why his proposed, four-drink-maximum bar with a slot route in Auburn, Illinois, would not really be a bar. Well, I’m certainly glad we’ve got that cleared up.

Posted in Current, Illinois, Slot routes | Comments Off

Revel gets forgiveness; Illinois gets hammered

Posted on July 8, 2013 by David McKee

You’ve heard about the “Gamblers Wanted” marketing campaign at Revel that refunds slot refunds over $100 — if you’re a member of the players’ club. There’s another catch: You don’t get a cash refund but additional free play, doled forth … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Current, Donald Trump, Economy, Harrah's, Illinois, Marketing, MGM Mirage, Missouri, Neil Bluhm, Ohio, Penn National, Politics, Revel, Slot routes | 1 Comment

Station 2, Caesars 0; Death in Vegas

Posted on July 2, 2013 by David McKee

My expectation that Caesars Entertainment, leveraging its World Series of Poker brand, would outstrip Station Casinos‘ online-gaming offerings is looking unduly optimistic. Caesars Interactive hasn’t been able to get out of the driveway while Ultimate Gaming has gone virtually coast-to-coast. … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Boyd Gaming, Cirque du Soleil, Donald Trump, Economy, Harrah's, history, Illinois, Internet gambling, MGM Mirage, Slot routes, Station Casinos, The Strip | 1 Comment

Penn: Start making sense!; Casinos clean up in Lege

Posted on June 4, 2013 by David McKee

Casinos in Ohio have not been living up to revenue expectations. Given such a fallow market, what has Penn National Gaming decided to do? Break ground on two racinos, of course! One is in the Dayton area, the other — … Continue reading →

Posted in Boyd Gaming, Current, Dan Gilbert, Economy, Harrah's, Internet gambling, Macau, MGM Mirage, MTR Gaming, Neil Bluhm, Ohio, Penn National, Politics, Racinos, Sheldon Adelson, Slot routes, Stanley Ho, Station Casinos, World Series of Poker | 1 Comment

Don’t tell Sheldon!; East Coast misadventures

Posted on June 4, 2013 by David McKee

As EuroVegas appears on the verge of collapse, recent bulletins pile another indignity upon Sheldon Adelson. When Barcelona‘s BCN World wanted to add a casino, it reached 3/4 of the way around the globe to recruit … Melco Crown Entertainment … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Harrah's, International, Internet gambling, Marketing, Massachusetts, Melco Crown Entertainment, New Hampshire, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Politics, Sheldon Adelson, Slot routes, Taxes, Transportation, Tribal | 2 Comments

The rest of the story: Boyd, IGT & Bally

Posted on June 3, 2013 by David McKee

While in Vegas, Deutsche Bank’s Carlo Santarelli dropped in on Boyd Gaming and … well, the news wasn’t as good there as on the Strip. He predicts a “tempered recovery,” adding that “expectations for an inflection in the LV locals … Continue reading →

Posted in Boyd Gaming, Current, IGT, Illinois, Internet gambling, Louisiana, Mississippi, Slot routes, The Strip, Tribal, Wall Street | Comments Off

Illinois: Not so fast!; Adelson pursues world domination

Posted on May 30, 2013 by David McKee

It really looked like the fix was in, the deal was done and existing casino operators in Illinois were about to thrown to the slaughter by legislators hungry for licensing fees. But the wheels of the grand plan are coming … Continue reading →

Posted in Current, Election, Illinois, International, Macau, Neil Bluhm, Penn National, Politics, Regulation, Sheldon Adelson, Slot routes, Taxes, The Strip, Tourism, Wall Street | 1 Comment

Christie’s big bet; New Hampshire’s big blunder; Nevada’s big bully

Posted on May 23, 2013 by David McKee

New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie (R) is banking on $180 million in Internet casino revenue to make his budget work. That might be a little off — if by “little” you mean 80%. Online wagering could bring in a comparatively … Continue reading →

Posted in Current, Dan Gilbert, Detroit, Economy, Election, Harrah's, International, Internet gambling, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Politics, Slot routes, Sports, Station Casinos, Taxes, Wall Street | 1 Comment

Inside the Adelson verdict; Wackiness in Illinois

Posted on May 15, 2013 by David McKee

Early news reports held that yesterday’s $70 million judicial beat-down of Las Vegas Sands was unanimous. Not so, it turns out. At least one juror felt that Macao schmoozer Richard Suen had neither demonstrated the existence of a contract with … Continue reading →

Posted in Current, Economy, Illinois, Macau, Politics, Regulation, Sheldon Adelson, Slot routes, Station Casinos, Steve Wynn, Taxes | 2 Comments

Illinois: Quinn caves; Money grab in Missouri

Posted on May 7, 2013 by David McKee

That pesky Illinois Legislature writes up a new, gambling-expansion bill as fast as Gov. Pat Quinn (D, left) can veto the last one. Evidently worn down by long combat with lawmakers and facing a $100 million hole in the state’s … Continue reading →

Posted in Ameristar, Current, Economy, Harrah's, Horseracing, Illinois, Isle of Capri, Missouri, Neil Bluhm, Penn National, Pinnacle Entertainment, Politics, Problem gambling, Racinos, Slot routes | 2 Comments

A chilly wind in Atlantic City; They gave a casino and nobody came

Posted on April 11, 2013 by David McKee

One doesn’t really think of going to shore in March, so it’s no surprise that Atlantic City casino revenues were — excluding Revel — down 14% last month. The latter grossed $10 million, pulling it almost dead even with the … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, Boulder Strip, Boyd Gaming, Colony Capital, Current, Donald Trump, Downtown, Economy, Harrah's, Oklahoma, Revel, Slot routes, Station Casinos, Texas, Tilman Fertitta, Tourism, Transportation, Tribal | Comments Off

Illinois: Recovering or grasping a branch?

Posted on April 6, 2013 by David McKee

We’re at a point where we can finally say that Illinois‘ colossal slide in casino revenues has ended … at least until people get into the habit of playing video poker in bars. Reckless legislators like Rep. Lou Lang (D), … Continue reading →

Posted in Boyd Gaming, Current, Economy, Harrah's, Illinois, Isle of Capri, MGM Mirage, Neil Bluhm, Penn National, Slot routes | 1 Comment

Case Bets: Binion’s redux; Dr. Doom; Everybody goes to Caesars

Posted on February 15, 2013 by David McKee

Today’s top story is the rumor, first aired on LasVegasAdvisor.com that Binion’s Gambling Hall & Hotel will close in July, lock, stock and million-dollar display. This dovetails with an earlier report that a detailed makeover is in the works. So … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, Atlantic City, California, Dan Gilbert, Derek Stevens, Dining, Downtown, Economy, Harrah's, Illinois, Indiana, Internet gambling, Marketing, Massachusetts, Ohio, Oscar Goodman, Palms, Penn National, Pennsylvania, Problem gambling, Racinos, Slot routes, Taxes, Technology, Terry Caudill, The Strip, Tilman Fertitta, Tribal | 3 Comments

Case Bets: Super Bowl, WMS, Bally, Wynn, Penn vs. MGM

Posted on February 1, 2013 by David McKee

“The twilight’s last reaming”?!?!? Christina Aguilera said it, I didn’t. Of all the proposition bets being made on Sunday’s “Big Game” (the favored Vegas euphemism), my favorite is how long it will take Alicia Keys to crawl through the National … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, Bally Technologies, Current, Economy, Entertainment, IGT, International, Macau, Maryland, Massachusetts, MGM Mirage, Penn National, Pennsylvania, Scientific Games, Slot routes, Sports, Steve Wynn, Tourism, Wall Street, WMS Industries | Comments Off