Category Archives: Sports

Pugilism pays off for Vegas; Ho dissed by son

Posted on October 4, 2017 by David McKee

Those tomato cans Floyd Mayweather and Conor McGregor were very good for business when they battled on August 26. “It could be a while before we see money like this bet on a fight again,” said Betfair‘s Katie Baylis. Indeed. Betfair … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, Australia, Internet gambling, Japan, Lawrence Ho, Macau, Mesquite, Sports, Stanley Ho, The Strip | Comments Off on Pugilism pays off for Vegas; Ho dissed by son

Trump to bigfoot Connecticut controversy?

Posted on September 26, 2017 by David McKee

Could we see heavy-footed federal intervention in the MGM Resorts International vs. Connecticut tribes slugfest? Bridgeport Mayor Joe Ganim (D) hopes so. A supporter of Donald Trump‘s presidential campaign, he’s hoping the White House will stomp into the Nutmeg State fray, interceding … Continue reading →

Posted in DFS, Donald Trump, Economy, Election, Foxwoods, Galaxy Entertainment, Genting, Geoff Freeman, International, Macau, MGM Mirage, Mohegan Sun, Regulation, Singapore, Sports, The Strip | Comments Off on Trump to bigfoot Connecticut controversy?

Palms renovation weighs upon Station; Japan dithers on casinos

Posted on September 25, 2017 by David McKee

Calling Palms renovations “an issue that has been persistent all year and whose magnitude keeps surprising us to the downside,” J.P. Morgan analyst Joseph Greff lowered revenue projections for Station Casinos for the remainder of the year, extending into early … Continue reading →

Posted in Dining, Entertainment, Foxwoods, Mohegan Sun, Regulation, Scientific Games, Sports, Station Casinos, Technology, Wall Street | 1 Comment

MGM gets potty-mouthed; New York casino flops

Posted on September 22, 2017 by David McKee

MGM Resorts International‘s casinos-without-gaming new ad campaign is playing to divided opinions. For instance, the company has 100,000 square feet of gaming at Bellagio but you won’t spot so much as a pair of dice in the ad, yet MGM … Continue reading →

Posted in Cirque du Soleil, CityCenter, Genting, International, Lawrence Ho, Marijuana, Marketing, MGM Mirage, Neil Bluhm, New York, Philippines, Politics, Sports, Tribal, TV | 2 Comments

Light at end of Atlantic City tunnel; Madonna gets played

Posted on September 14, 2017 by David McKee

There’s one reason to look forward to November in Atlantic City: Revenue comparisons will no longer have to include the dead weight of Trump Taj Mahal. Gaming revenues were up 3.5% on the Boardwalk last month but add the Taj … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, Aristocrat, Atlantic City, Cosmopolitan, Dan Gilbert, Detroit, Entertainment, Harrah's, Marketing, MGM Mirage, Mohegan Sun, Paragon Gaming, Scientific Games, Sports, Technology, The Strip, Tilman Fertitta, Tropicana Entertainment, Trump Entertainment Resorts, Westgate LV | Comments Off on Light at end of Atlantic City tunnel; Madonna gets played

Quote of the Day

Posted on September 8, 2017 by David McKee

“By ordering New Jersey to maintain prohibitions on sports gambling that its state legislature has considered and repealed before, Congress is coercing the State of New Jersey to govern according to Congress’s instructions.” — Rep. Frank Pallone (D), in an … Continue reading →

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

Freeman takes on SCOTUS; Golden Gate expands

Posted on September 6, 2017 by David McKee

No big surprise, the American Gaming Association has submitted an amicus brief in Christie v. NCAA et. al. The brief makes some normative arguments that are unlikely to sway the Supreme Court, which will undoubtedly take a narrow view in … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, Derek Stevens, Downtown, Downtown Grand, Geoff Freeman, history, International, Louisiana, Movies, Sports, Tribal | Comments Off on Freeman takes on SCOTUS; Golden Gate expands

Fontainebleau plans take shape; Newton blitzes sports books

Posted on September 5, 2017 by David McKee

Fontainebleau continues to make news. First off, lead investor Steven Witkoff and his partners plan to re-name the unfinished resort. Good idea, as “Fontainebleau” brings nothing but bad karma and negative associations to anyone who frequents the Las Vegas Strip. … Continue reading →

Posted in Boyd Gaming, California, Environment, Fontainebleau, Harrah's, history, Lawrence Ho, Macau, MGM Mirage, Sports, Station Casinos, Steven Witkoff, The Strip, Tribal, Wall Street | 2 Comments

Odds move toward Mayweather; MGM coy about Cotai plans

Posted on August 25, 2017 by David McKee

As Las Vegas gears up for the Floyd Mayweather/Conor McGregor clash of the tomato cans, rationality is starting to manifest itself in the betting lines. Several large wagers — two as big as $1 million — presumably from ‘sharps,’ began hitting … Continue reading →

Posted in Macau, Marijuana, MGM Mirage, Missouri, Nevada, Oklahoma, Regulation, Sports, Taxes, The Strip, Tribal, Westgate LV | Comments Off on Odds move toward Mayweather; MGM coy about Cotai plans

Adelson goes to London — sorta; Comanches zing Zinke

Posted on August 24, 2017 by David McKee

Having taken forever to build Sands Cotai Central, owner Sheldon Adelson is wasting no time re-doing it. According to Macau Business Daily, the metaresort’s four hotels — St. Regis, Sheraton Grand, Conrad and Holiday Inn — will be redecorated in a … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, Dennis Gomes, Environment, Internet gambling, Macau, Oklahoma, Regulation, Sheldon Adelson, Sports, Taxes, Texas, Tribal | Comments Off on Adelson goes to London — sorta; Comanches zing Zinke

How Conor McGregor is like Donald Trump & other news

Posted on August 23, 2017 by David McKee

Not since the election of Donald Trump have oddsmakers been poised to take such a shellacking as at this weekend’s showdown between tomato cans Floyd Mayweather Jr. and boxing debutante Conor McGregor. Despite Mayweather’s proven track record, sports books have … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, George Maloof, Harrah's, Internet gambling, MGM Mirage, Michael Gaughan, New York, PokerStars, Sports, Steve Wynn, Taxes, Technology, The Strip, Tilman Fertitta, Tribal, Westgate LV | Comments Off on How Conor McGregor is like Donald Trump & other news

SCOTUS sports betting throwdown spurs excitement; Trump’s Mafia ties resurface

Posted on August 22, 2017 by David McKee

Legal wonks are getting all worked up about the Supreme Court‘s upcoming hearing of Christie v. NCAA, with one saying it had the “markings of a sleeper blockbuster.” Wrote Virginia Solicitor General Elbert Lin and deputy Thomas M. Johnson Jr., “The parties … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Australia, Donald Trump, Galaxy Entertainment, Harrah's, International, Japan, Kazuo Okada, Melco Resorts & Entertainment, Philippines, Regulation, Sports, The Mob, The Strip, Wall Street | Comments Off on SCOTUS sports betting throwdown spurs excitement; Trump’s Mafia ties resurface

Japan sets casinos up for failure; Renegade card room in California closed

Posted on August 18, 2017 by David McKee

About the nicest thing Jim Murren had to say about Japan‘s casino market is that it’s “unclear at the moment.” Casino developers are bracing themselves for delivery of a 130-page report from the Expert Committee, laying out proposed regulations for megaresorts. … Continue reading →

Posted in Arizona, Atlantic City, California, Cretins, Donald Trump, Election, history, Internet gambling, Japan, Maine, MGM Mirage, Pets, Regulation, Sheldon Adelson, Singapore, Sports, The Strip, Tilman Fertitta, Tourism, Transportation, Virginia | Comments Off on Japan sets casinos up for failure; Renegade card room in California closed

Cromwell re-do planned; The other Sin City

Posted on July 17, 2017 by David McKee

While the contest to re-name the Cromwell (perhaps as something less puritanical) has gone down the memory hole, that doesn’t mean the boutique casino is off Caesars Entertainment‘s radar. Far from it. The company has announced a fleet of changes … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, Dining, Entertainment, Harrah's, history, Kentucky, Law enforcement, Sports, The Mob, The Strip, TV | 1 Comment

Becalmed in Atlantic City; The friends of Sheldon Adelson

Posted on July 13, 2017 by David McKee

Casinos in Atlantic City would have been up 11% last month — were it not for the big, fat zero that is Trump Taj Mahal in same-store revenue comparisons. Instead, they were dead even with June 2016, redeemed only by … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Dan Gilbert, Detroit, Donald Trump, Election, Harrah's, International, Internet gambling, Japan, MGM Mirage, Mohegan Sun, Politics, Sheldon Adelson, Sports, Tilman Fertitta, Tropicana Entertainment | Comments Off on Becalmed in Atlantic City; The friends of Sheldon Adelson

What happens in Vegas goes to France; Big setback for Japan

Posted on July 10, 2017 by David McKee

French President Emmanuel Macron could be collateral damage of a made-in-Vegas scandal involving the 2016 Consumer Electronics Show. At the time, Macron was minister of the economy but had the ill judgment to headline a “French Tech Night” that was … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Election, Harrah's, International, Japan, MGM Mirage, Regulation, Sheldon Adelson, Singapore, Sports, Wall Street | Comments Off on What happens in Vegas goes to France; Big setback for Japan

Next stop, East Windsor; Everybody (in Vegas) must get stoned

Posted on June 29, 2017 by David McKee

“Make no mistake about it – the legislation I signed today is about jobs for the residents of Connecticut, and securing those jobs in our state.” With those words, Nutmeg State Gov. Dannel Malloy (D) affixed his signature approving a … Continue reading →

Posted in Donald Trump, Foxwoods, Geoff Freeman, Massachusetts, MGM Mirage, Mohegan Sun, Nevada, Politics, Regulation, Sheldon Adelson, Sports, Taxes, Tribal | Comments Off on Next stop, East Windsor; Everybody (in Vegas) must get stoned

Quote of the Day

Posted on June 29, 2017 by David McKee

“That creates problems for airports as far away as Bucks County in Pennsylvania. It restricts training flights, forcing pilots to fly with tracking devices and grounding skydivers and hot air balloons.” — Associated Press report on the adverse economic impact … Continue reading →

Posted in Donald Trump, Economy, Sports, Transportation | Comments Off on Quote of the Day

The truly big game: Sports betting; Trump vs. tribes … or not?

Posted on June 28, 2017 by David McKee

Going out on a limb, I. Nelson Rose predicts the Supreme Court will rule in New Jersey‘s favor with regard to sports betting. As he notes, “[Chief Justice John Roberts] and the other conservative members of the Court would like … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Donald Trump, Geoff Freeman, history, Internet gambling, Politics, Regulation, Sports, Tilman Fertitta, Tribal | Comments Off on The truly big game: Sports betting; Trump vs. tribes … or not?

Days of wine and roses; SCOTUS to weigh Bradley Act

Posted on June 27, 2017 by David McKee

After seven years of hesitation, The Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas has committed to a purpose for its top four hotel floors. They’ll be high-roller suites known as the Boulevard Penthouse will be the most expensive hotel rooms known to man. … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, Australia, Cosmopolitan, Dining, Harrah's, history, International, Massachusetts, PokerStars, Regulation, Sports, The Strip, Tribal | Comments Off on Days of wine and roses; SCOTUS to weigh Bradley Act