Category Archives: South Korea

Temporary relief for Illinois; CityCenter for sale?

Posted on April 7, 2017 by David McKee

As a huge gambling expansion works its way through the Legislature, casino owners in Illinois must feel like condemned men awaiting the execution. At any rate, it behooves them to gather roses while yet they may. Fortunately, gamblers felt like … Continue reading →

Posted in Boyd Gaming, California, CityCenter, GLPI, Harrah's, Illinois, Macau, MGM Mirage, Mississippi, Neil Bluhm, Penn National, Regulation, South Korea, Sports, Taxes, The Crown 18, Wall Street | 1 Comment

Shawn The Sham; Cal-Neva in limbo

Posted on March 31, 2017 by David McKee

“They got the signatures to put it on the ballot and they are going to be spending millions of dollars on advertising, probably six weeks prior to this Election Day in November, to convince people to vote for it. It … Continue reading →

Posted in Galaxy Entertainment, Harrah's, Horseracing, International, Japan, Maine, Nevada, North Dakota, Penn National, Politics, Regulation, South Korea, Technology | Comments Off

Freeman attacks Yucca Mountain; Brawl in Connecticut

Posted on March 20, 2017 by David McKee

Back when Frank Fahrenkopf was its president, the American Gaming Association was little seen or heard, as Fahrenkopf played a flawless defensive game behind the scenes. Washington, D.C., never laid a glove on Big Gaming (although eugenicist and sometime Congressman Steve … Continue reading →

Posted in Donald Trump, Entertainment, Foxwoods, Geoff Freeman, Harry Reid, history, Massachusetts, MGM Mirage, Mohegan Sun, New York, Politics, Problem gambling, South Korea, The Strip, Tourism, Transportation, Tribal, Westgate LV | Tagged Winnie the Pooh | Comments Off

Atlantic City suffers February hiccup; Caesars K.O.’d in Korea

Posted on March 14, 2017 by David McKee

All good things must end and, in the case of Atlantic City, a pretty steady comeback hit a pothole in December, with business down 2%. Even Borgata ($58 million) was down a percentage point. Citywide, slot revenue was actually up … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Carl Icahn, Dan Gilbert, Detroit, Glenn Straub, Golden Gaming, Greenwood Racing, Hard Rock International, Harrah's, Internet gambling, Isle of Capri, Macau, Maryland, MGM Mirage, Mohegan Sun, Pennsylvania, PokerStars, Revel, Sheldon Adelson, South Korea, Tropicana Entertainment | 1 Comment

Wayne Newton, Mr. Convention; Adelson covets Vietnam

Posted on March 1, 2017 by David McKee

If you doubted that the convention business is the new face of Las Vegas, it trotted out the pretty visage of Wayne Newton. The latter’s Casa de Shenandoah is promoting itself as the new place to hold your meeting, offering to … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Economy, GLPI, Hard Rock International, Harrah's, Illinois, Japan, Lawrence Ho, Macau, Marketing, Melco Crown Entertainment, Penn National, Politics, Racinos, Regulation, Sheldon Adelson, Singapore, South Korea, Technology, Tourism, Tropicana Entertainment, Vietnam, Wayne F. Newton | Comments Off

Cool breeze in Singapore; Pennsylvania gets on the sports-betting bandwagon

Posted on February 17, 2017 by David McKee

It seems more unlikely than ever that Singapore will issue casino concessions after gaming revenues laid an egg in 1Q-3Q/16. For the full year, tourism to Singapore reached record heights, but receipts for “sightseeing, entertainment and gaming” dropped 16% in the … Continue reading →

Posted in Australia, Dining, Donald Trump, Foxwoods, Idaho, International, James Packer, Law enforcement, Massachusetts, MGM Mirage, Mohegan Sun, Pennsylvania, Politics, Singapore, South Korea, Sports, The Crown 18, Tribal | Comments Off

Caesars liberated from bankruptcy; Wynn pitches tantrum

Posted on January 19, 2017 by David McKee

It’s not the end, nor the beginning of the end but the end of the beginning for the Caesars Entertainment bankruptcy, to paraphrase Winston Churchill. So protracted has the bankruptcy been that its quiet resolution comes as an anticlimax.”I’ve never … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, Donald Trump, Georgia, Harrah's, International, Japan, Macau, Maryland, MGM Mirage, Politics, South Korea, Steve Wynn, Wall Street | 1 Comment

Japan: Another failure; Reading the Trump tea leaves

Posted on November 15, 2016 by David McKee

According to Morgan Stanley analysts, the chances of pro-casino legislation passing in Japan this year are “quite low.” Yes, Prime Minister Shinzo Abe has booted the ball yet again. His big push [sic] to bring casinos to the Land of … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, California, Delaware, Donald Trump, Florida, Genting, Internet gambling, James Packer, Japan, Law enforcement, Macau, MGM Mirage, Nevada, Politics, Sheldon Adelson, Singapore, South Korea, Station Casinos, Tourism, Tribal | Comments Off

MGM hearts Japan; Atlantic City aims for total victory

Posted on November 1, 2016 by David McKee

According to Reuters, if casinos are legalized in Japan, then MGM Resorts International would be willing to build the world’s second $9.5 billion megaresort. (Las Vegas Sands has already brandished $10 billion.) That’s leading with your chin. However, MGM believes … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Election, Genting, Japan, Marketing, Massachusetts, MGM Mirage, Politics, Sheldon Adelson, South Korea, Station Casinos, Steve Wynn, Taxes, Tribal, Unite-Here | 1 Comment

Atlantic City saved

Posted on September 23, 2016 by David McKee

It’s all over. The fat lady hath sung. And Atlantic City lives to gamble another day. Discouraged by poll numbers that showed insurmountable support for the status quo in New Jersey, expansion PAC Our Turn NJ is closing up shop. That … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Carl Icahn, Cordish Co., Election, Entertainment, Harrah's, Illinois, International, Maryland, MGM Mirage, Mohegan Sun, New York, Penn National, Politics, Rhode Island, Slot routes, South Korea, Transportation | 1 Comment

Analysts not sold yet on Macao recovery; Soggy month for Louisiana

Posted on September 16, 2016 by David McKee

They came, they saw, they were unconvinced. “The re-affirmation that mass is improving was pronounced,” reported Deutsche Bank analyst Carlo Santarelli, adding that projections were all over the place. “We get the sense that expectations remain low with respect to … Continue reading →

Posted in Australia, Boyd Gaming, Churchill Downs, Economy, Eldorado Resorts, Galaxy Entertainment, GLPI, Harrah's, Isle of Capri, Louisiana, Macau, Massachusetts, Melco Crown Entertainment, MGM Mirage, Penn National, Pinnacle Entertainment, Racinos, Sheldon Adelson, South Korea, Steve Wynn, Tilman Fertitta, Tropicana Entertainment, Wall Street | Comments Off

Parisian opens amid uncertainty; Jones attacks old-boy network

Posted on September 13, 2016 by David McKee

While Sheldon Adelson‘s Las Vegas Review-Journal covered the opening of Wynn Palace from a safe distance, it has sent Richard Velotta to Macao to be on hand for today’s opening of Parisian Macao. What he discovered, among other things, was … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, Boyd Gaming, California, Galaxy Entertainment, Harrah's, IGT, International, Japan, Macau, Melco Crown Entertainment, MGM Mirage, Nevada, Pinnacle Entertainment, Scientific Games, Sheldon Adelson, South Korea, Station Casinos, Steve Wynn, Wall Street | Comments Off

Glenn Straub flakes out; Adelson woos South Korea

Posted on September 12, 2016 by David McKee

Glenn Straub‘s reputation for mercurial behavior was reinforced last week when he blew his stack before the Casino Reinvestment Development Authority. What was the flashpoint? The CRDA wanted Straub to come up with a new landscaping plan for Revel, in … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Glenn Straub, Harrah's, Japan, Massachusetts, MGM Mirage, Mohegan Sun, Regulation, Revel, Sheldon Adelson, Singapore, South Korea, Steve Wynn | 1 Comment

Murren minces few words; Wynn Boston Harbor sets opening date

Posted on August 5, 2016 by David McKee

Commiting truth isn’t as rare in the casino business as in politics but MGM Resorts International CEO Jim Murren was startlingly candid in yesterday’s earnings call, crediting a surge in Las Vegas summer business to a Zika virus outbreak in Florida, … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, California, Carl Icahn, Entertainment, Florida, Foxwoods, International, Internet gambling, LVCVA, Massachusetts, MGM Mirage, Mohegan Sun, Politics, Riviera, Singapore, South Korea, Steve Wynn, The Strip, Tourism, Transportation, Tropicana Entertainment, Trump Entertainment Resorts, Unite-Here, Wall Street | Comments Off

Wynn Boston Harbor breaks ground; MGM modestly beats expectations

Posted on August 4, 2016 by David McKee

Somerville Mayor Joseph Curtatone has apparently thrown in the towel in his opposition to Wynn Boston Harbor, with the consequence that construction will have begun by this time tomorrow. The $2.1 billion project’s endurance is a tribute to Bostonian Steve Wynn‘s … Continue reading →

Posted in California, Environment, Geoff Freeman, Macau, Massachusetts, MGM Mirage, Mississippi, Mohegan Sun, Penn National, South Korea, Sports, Steve Wynn, Technology, The Strip, Transportation, Wall Street | Comments Off

DFS becomes political football; More trouble for PokerStars

Posted on March 28, 2016 by David McKee

Add Yahoo to the list of daily fantasy sports providers that are tiptoeing out of New York State under an accord with state Attorney General Eric Schneiderman. The latter has said that if the issue can’t be resolved in the … Continue reading →

Posted in Arizona, Election, Florida, Harrah's, Indiana, Internet gambling, Law enforcement, Maryland, Minnesota, Missouri, New York, Oklahoma, PokerStars, Politics, South Korea, Wisconsin | Comments Off

Adelson’s $10 billion bet; PokerStars comes to Atlantic City

Posted on March 22, 2016 by David McKee

Sheldon Adelson is desperate to get into South Korea. He doesn’t need to articulate it: Las Vegas Sands‘ actions say as much. The company has vowed to do “whatever it takes” to penetrate the market. “Anything” includes raising the prospective … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Economy, Genting, Internet gambling, Japan, Macau, Mohegan Sun, PokerStars, Regulation, Sheldon Adelson, Singapore, South Korea, Tourism | Comments Off

Nevada casinos wrangle with Buffett; Mashpee Wampanoag take the lead

Posted on March 8, 2016 by David McKee

We’ve written about the solar-panel installation atop Mandalay Bay‘s convention center and now the 20-acre array — soon to be the United States‘ largest — is making international headlines. The high priority on solar power at MGM Resorts International puts a … Continue reading →

Posted in Environment, Harrah's, Massachusetts, MGM Mirage, Mohegan Sun, Regulation, Sheldon Adelson, South Korea, Steve Wynn, Technology, The Strip, Tribal, Wall Street | Comments Off

Trump plotting Vegas comeback; Mohegan Sun gains Korean foothold

Posted on February 26, 2016 by David McKee

Even after his improbable spate of electoral successes, you have to wonder if Donald Trump is serious about running for president. His attention is already wandering to a market where the art of the deal has not panned out for … Continue reading →

Posted in Boulder Strip, Donald Trump, Downtown, Entertainment, Lake Tahoe, Laughlin, Mohegan Sun, North Las Vegas, Phil Ruffin, Reno, South Korea, The Strip, Wall Street | 1 Comment

Wynn Everett’s uncertain destiny; Buyer for F-blew?

Posted on February 25, 2016 by David McKee

Forget those plans you were making to visit Wynn Everett. The casino resort won’t open until 2019, maybe later. Somerville Mayor Joseph Curtatone has thrown a monkey wrench into the works with his appeal of Wynn Resorts‘ waterside-construction permit. In … Continue reading →

Posted in Carl Icahn, Environment, Fontainebleau, Macau, Massachusetts, Sheldon Adelson, South Korea, Steve Wynn, The Strip | 1 Comment