Category Archives: Sports

MGM National Harbor rules; Beating the eye in the sky

Posted on December 6, 2017 by David McKee

MGM National Harbor dominated Maryland yet again, garnering 39% of market share and grossing $50.5 million. The balance of revenue continues to creep toward the (punitively taxed) slot side of the casino, so MGM won’t be completely thrilled with November’s … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, Cordish Co., Donald Trump, Golden Gaming, Japan, Law enforcement, Lawrence Ho, Maryland, Melco Resorts & Entertainment, MGM Mirage, New York, Penn National, Racinos, Regulation, Sports, Steve Wynn, Taxes, The Strip | Comments Off on MGM National Harbor rules; Beating the eye in the sky

Sports betting makes its case

Posted on December 5, 2017 by David McKee

Yesterday saw the much-anticipated oral arguments in the case of Christie v. NCAAA, the legal joust that could lead to the downfall of the Bradley Act and open up the land to legalized sports betting. The arguments made before the … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Downtown, Florida, Geoff Freeman, Hard Rock International, Racinos, Regulation, Seminole Tribe, Sports | Comments Off on Sports betting makes its case

Caesars buys Harrah’s; How it went with SCOTUS

Posted on December 4, 2017 by David McKee

Caesars Entertainment created a bit of income for itself, selling Harrah’s Las Vegas to its REIT, Vici Properties for $1.1 billion. That’s quite a tidy sum for Caesars’ dowdiest Strip property, some 43 years old and showing every one. As … Continue reading →

Posted in Geoff Freeman, Harrah's, Indiana, Regulation, Sports, The Strip | Comments Off on Caesars buys Harrah’s; How it went with SCOTUS

The Main Event; Macao roars

Posted on December 1, 2017 by David McKee

Monday is the big day: Oral arguments in the Supreme Court over Christie v. NCAA. It’s an understatement to say the gaming industry is getting pretty excited over the hearing, which is expected to lead to a rejection of the … Continue reading →

Posted in Baseball, Economy, history, International, Internet gambling, Macau, Mississippi, Nevada, Problem gambling, Regulation, Sheldon Adelson, Sports, Steve Wynn, Wall Street | Comments Off on The Main Event; Macao roars

Case Bets

Posted on November 28, 2017 by David McKee

Council Bluffs, Iowa, isn’t reacting so well to the revival of a 2007 casino plan by the Ponca Tribe of Nebraska to open in nearby Carter Lake. First off, the proposed site was ostensibly intended for an as-yet-unbuilt tribal medical … Continue reading →

Posted in Ameristar, Atlantic City, Harrah's, Iowa, Japan, Mandalay Bay Massacre, MGM Mirage, Regulation, Sports, Taxes, Tribal | Comments Off on Case Bets

Coming soon to Las Vegas

Posted on November 27, 2017 by David McKee

A fistfight during an Oakland Raiders game? Horrors! Surely you jest! The Aqib Talib–Michael Crabtree slugfest constituted the undercard to a Raiders/Denver Broncos tilt. Las Vegans can look forward to many such fisticuffs a few years hence. (It’ll probably be … Continue reading →

Posted in Current, Sports | Comments Off on Coming soon to Las Vegas

Quote of the Day

Posted on November 14, 2017 by David McKee

“Except in extreme situations, where other states were endangered, there simply was no reason, let alone power, for the federal government to get involved. Think fire departments – we don’t want Congress to be in charge of fighting fires.” — gaming-law … Continue reading →

Posted in Current, Regulation, Sports | Comments Off on Quote of the Day

Bullish Boyd; Inside Station’s crystal ball

Posted on November 13, 2017 by David McKee

Deutsche Bank analyst Carlo Santarelli met with Boyd Gaming‘s brain trust and liked what he heard, but I’ll let him tell it in his own words: “Within Las Vegas, management is encouraged by unrated play, particularly in the Downtown segment, … Continue reading →

Posted in Boyd Gaming, Downtown, Economy, Florida, IGT, Internet gambling, Marketing, Palms, Reno, Seminole Tribe, Sports, Station Casinos, Taxes, Technology, Tribal, Wall Street | Comments Off on Bullish Boyd; Inside Station’s crystal ball

Quote of the Day

Posted on November 13, 2017 by David McKee

“If you want to sit in your ivory tower and pontificate about the integrity of your beloved game, why would you put one of your franchises within walking distance of several sports books?” — retired ESPN sportscaster Brent Musberger on … Continue reading →

Posted in Current, Sports, Texas | Comments Off on Quote of the Day

Quote of the Day

Posted on November 6, 2017 by David McKee

“I recently heard a father on the 19th hole say to his young son, ‘I beat you on eight holes, so you owe me 80 cents.’ Where is a country headed when it allows parents to bet with their children?” … Continue reading →

Posted in Sports | Comments Off on Quote of the Day

Reno’s bright future; All-time high for Vegas sports books

Posted on November 3, 2017 by David McKee

We love Reno. It has a river in the middle of downtown, nearby mountains and all the charm that Las Vegas so desperately lacks. It also had a gambling market that was written off for dead 15 years ago. Times … Continue reading →

Posted in Economy, Eldorado Resorts, International, Nevada, Oklahoma, Paragon Gaming, Pennsylvania, Politics, Reno, Sports, Station Casinos, Taxes, Tribal, Wall Street | 1 Comment

Case Bets

Posted on November 2, 2017 by David McKee

In an early Christmas present to gaming historians, the Center for Gaming Research at UNLV has unveiled the Harrah’s Entertainment Corporate Archives, focusing on the 1940-2000 period. In other words, it doesn’t just go back to the beginning but before … Continue reading →

Posted in GLPI, Harrah's, history, Illinois, Lake Tahoe, Mandalay Bay Massacre, Missouri, Pinnacle Entertainment, Reno, Sports, The Strip, Tropicana Entertainment | Comments Off on Case Bets

Quote of the Day

Posted on October 31, 2017 by David McKee

“We’re not talking about a massive influx of new revenues in the sports book business.” — Station Casinos Vice President of Race & Sports operations Art Manteris, downplaying the impact of federal legalization of sports betting.

Posted in Sports, Station Casinos | Comments Off on Quote of the Day

Tally-ho, friends!; NY State casinos cry uncle

Posted on October 30, 2017 by David McKee

As Sigma Derby games at MGM Grand and The D continue to eke out a perilous existence, getting by on spare parts cannibalized from other machines, they have a new rival. Konami Gaming has taken note of the enduring popularity … Continue reading →

Posted in Baseball, Derek Stevens, Dining, Economy, Genting, IGT, International, Jeff Guard, Macau, MGM Mirage, New York, Sports, Taxes, Technology, Tourism, TV | 1 Comment

“A gambling state without parallel”

Posted on October 30, 2017 by David McKee

It’s up to Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Wolf (D) now. [Update: Wolf got off the fence with uncharacteristic alacrity and signed the bill.) The state House has passed the most sweeping expansion of gambling S&G has ever seen. It includes Internet … Continue reading →

Posted in Eldorado Resorts, Harrah's, Internet gambling, Penn National, Pennsylvania, Politics, Slot routes, Sports, Taxes | Comments Off on “A gambling state without parallel”

It’s about time; Pols attack Atlantic City

Posted on October 24, 2017 by David McKee

Twelve years after Hurricane Katrina, Midwest and Bible Belt states still require casinos to be built on the water. Exceptions have been made for casinos on Mississippi‘s Gulf Coast and one of Mike Pence‘s latter acts as governor of Indiana … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, Atlantic City, Election, history, Indiana, Louisiana, Mandalay Bay Massacre, MGM Mirage, New York, Pinnacle Entertainment, Politics, Sports, Tropicana Entertainment | Comments Off on It’s about time; Pols attack Atlantic City

Abe, casinos win; Tournament of Rose

Posted on October 23, 2017 by David McKee

In a snap election, Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and his Liberal Democratic Party posted big gains. The mandate was sufficiently huge to give the LDP outright control over every committee in the Diet. This is a big boost to … Continue reading →

Posted in Australia, Crown Resorts, e-sports, Election, Harrah's, James Packer, Japan, Macau, Regulation, Sports, The Crown 18 | 1 Comment

Freeman goes native; MGM hits a three-pointer

Posted on October 18, 2017 by David McKee

American Gaming Association President Geoff Freeman was in Oklahoma City yesterday to talk up the economic benefits of Native American gaming. While one might be tempted to say they speak for themselves, the AGA rolled out some pretty powerful numbers. … Continue reading →

Posted in Alaska, Animals, California, Cosmopolitan, Florida, Foxwoods, George Maloof, Mandalay Bay Massacre, Marketing, Massachusetts, MGM Mirage, Mohegan Sun, Oklahoma, Sports, Texas, The Strip, Tribal, TV | Comments Off on Freeman goes native; MGM hits a three-pointer

Quote of the Day

Posted on October 16, 2017 by David McKee

“Kaepernick obviously not in the NFL because the quality of play at QB is so deep with stars like Hoyer, Bortles, McCown, Hogan, Cutler …” — Kyle Ayers, on reports that blacklisted Colin Kaepernick will sue NFL owners for collusion. … Continue reading →

Posted in Current, Sports | Comments Off on Quote of the Day

Boxing creates boom for Nevada bookmakers

Posted on October 10, 2017 by David McKee

Nevada sports books saw an increase of 1,650% in August wagering. (No, that’s not a typo.) It would be an understatement to say that the Floyd Mayweather/Conor McGregor fight helped. $70 million was wagered on it, with the books keeping … Continue reading →

Posted in Donald Trump, Genting, Mississippi, Regulation, Sheldon Adelson, Singapore, Sports, Technology, Tilman Fertitta, Westgate LV | Comments Off on Boxing creates boom for Nevada bookmakers