Category Archives: Sports

Regulating DFS; So long, Harrah’s Tunica

Posted on November 3, 2015 by David McKee

Although he doesn’t think state government ought to “impede one’s enjoyment of fantasy sports,” New Jersey state Sen. James Whelan (D, right) thinks it’s time for the Garden State to regulate daily fantasy sports. In a letter to the Division of … Continue reading →

Posted in Arkansas, Atlantic City, Dining, Harrah's, Internet gambling, Mississippi, Oklahoma, Politics, Regulation, Sports, Tribal | 1 Comment

All’s well at Penn; Mulroy’s misdeed; Discomfort at Studio City

Posted on October 22, 2015 by David McKee

Penn National Gaming pleasantly surprised Wall Street, reporting third-quarter revenue of $739 million and $210 million in cash flow, exceeding projections by $8 million and $11 million, respectively. It paid out $109 million in rent to Gaming & Leisure Properties … Continue reading →

Posted in California, Economy, Galaxy Entertainment, GLPI, Illinois, Lawrence Ho, Macau, Marketing, Massachusetts, Melco Crown Entertainment, MGM Mirage, Missouri, Ohio, Penn National, Regulation, Sports, Steve Wynn, The Strip, Tribal, Wall Street | Comments Off on All’s well at Penn; Mulroy’s misdeed; Discomfort at Studio City

Macao rebukes Wynn

Posted on October 20, 2015 by David McKee

Steve Wynn‘s criticism of Macao governmental policy toward casinos as “outrageous and ridiculous … the single most counterintuitive and irrational decision that was ever made” went over like a lead balloon in China. Casino executives, including Wynn Macau President Gamal Aziz, … Continue reading →

Posted in Internet gambling, Macau, Massachusetts, Regulation, Sports, Steve Wynn, TV | Comments Off on Macao rebukes Wynn

James Packer thinks big; DFS’ self-inflicted wound

Posted on October 19, 2015 by David McKee

One scarcely thinks of Crown Resorts as anything but an upmarket brand. However, as it contemplates debuting in Las Vegas and pines after Japan, Crown is developing a new, luxury brand. The unlikely template will be a $1.1 billion, 90-story … Continue reading →

Posted in Australia, California, Delaware, Illinois, James Packer, Japan, Macau, Mississippi, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Regulation, Sheldon Adelson, Sports, The Strip | Comments Off on James Packer thinks big; DFS’ self-inflicted wound

Quote of the Day

Posted on October 16, 2015 by David McKee

“When you legalize a form of gambling, the state looks around, finds out what the highest rate is in the country, and then goes higher.” gaming-law expert I. Nelson Rose on what the daily fantasy sports industry should be prepared to … Continue reading →

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

DFS banned in Nevada

Posted on October 16, 2015 by David McKee

Well … not exactly, but the roof came crashing in for DraftKings, FanDuel and their ilk yesterday when the Nevada Gaming Commission sent them a cease-and-desist order, instructing that daily fantasy sports pools quit taking action from Nevada-based players until … Continue reading →

Posted in Foxwoods, Massachusetts, Mohegan Sun, Penn National, Regulation, Sports | Comments Off on DFS banned in Nevada

DFS rose fast, fell faster

Posted on October 15, 2015 by David McKee

This just in: Nevada has lowered the boom on DFS operators. The fat’s in the fire for daily fantasy sports — and New Jersey might want to rethink its push for unregulated sports betting in the Garden State. According to … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Geoff Freeman, International, Louisiana, New York, Regulation, Sheldon Adelson, Sports, Texas, TV | Comments Off on DFS rose fast, fell faster

So long, Sammy; DFS gets a wakeup call

Posted on October 8, 2015 by David McKee

As predicted here, Sam Nazarian has liquidated his 10% stake in SLS Las Vegas to majority owner Stockbridge Capital Group. He’ll still get some extra cash out of the deal, which licenses his SLS brand to Stockbridge (although you could … Continue reading →

Posted in Aristocrat, G2E, Regulation, Sam Nazarian, SLS Las Vegas, Sports, Wall Street | Comments Off on So long, Sammy; DFS gets a wakeup call

No boost for Illinois; The wrath of Wynn

Posted on October 7, 2015 by David McKee

So much for the invigorating effect of Labor Day weekend. Even with a holiday, September in Illinois still saw a decline in casino revenue. Casinos in the Land of Lincoln were down 5% for the month. Foot traffic fell 2% … Continue reading →

Posted in Boyd Gaming, GLPI, Harrah's, Illinois, Massachusetts, MGM Mirage, Neil Bluhm, Penn National, Regulation, Slot routes, Sports, Steve Wynn | Comments Off on No boost for Illinois; The wrath of Wynn

Trouble in Fantasyland

Posted on October 6, 2015 by David McKee

Remember, it’s not whether you win or lose but whether you covered the spread. Untoward, insider dealings in a completely unregulated, gray-area, half-understood  industry? Why, I’m shocked, I tell you, shocked! At least the allegations of self-dealing within DraftKings and … Continue reading →

Posted in Regulation, Sports | Comments Off on Trouble in Fantasyland

Quote of the Day

Posted on October 1, 2015 by David McKee

“Many regulators, many policymakers, are saying that this is a gray area. Well, it’s time to make it black or white. Casinos can either get involved in this business or they can’t.” — American Gaming Association President Geoff Freeman, trying to … Continue reading →

Posted in G2E, Geoff Freeman, Sports | Comments Off on Quote of the Day

Why DFS really, really isn’t sports betting … they say

Posted on September 30, 2015 by David McKee

DraftKings CEO Jason Robins makes the preposterous argument that daily fantasy sports isn’t sports betting because there’s only 15% overlap between the two. But with sports wagering limited to a small handful of states, how could the the pool of … Continue reading →

Posted in G2E, Sports | Comments Off on Why DFS really, really isn’t sports betting … they say

Big players accentuate the positive

Posted on September 29, 2015 by David McKee

Deutsche Bank analyst Carlo Santarelli has been a busy man these past few days, meeting with the top companies in gaming. In no special order … Boyd Gaming took the usual line on REIT conversion and acquisitions, basically saying, “If … Continue reading →

Posted in Ameristar, Boyd Gaming, Colorado, Downtown, Economy, Florida, GLPI, Illinois, International, Isle of Capri, Louisiana, Macau, Marketing, Massachusetts, MGM Mirage, Penn National, Pinnacle Entertainment, Sports, Steve Wynn, Texas, The Strip, Tilman Fertitta, Wall Street | Comments Off on Big players accentuate the positive

Nah, this isn’t sports betting

Posted on September 25, 2015 by David McKee

Draft Duel: Where Winning Is Fantasy from Funny Or Die

Posted in Sports, TV | Comments Off on Nah, this isn’t sports betting

The mystery of Steve Wynn; DFS steps in it

Posted on September 24, 2015 by David McKee

For the third time, Steve Wynn has pulled back from Atlantic City. This time he’s yanking Wynn Interactive‘s application for an online casino. The move comes an awfully long time after Wynn announced his opposition to Internet wagering, so who knows … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Culinary Union, Election, Genting, Geoff Freeman, Harrah's, International, Internet gambling, New York, Oklahoma, PokerStars, Regulation, Sheldon Adelson, Sports, Steve Wynn, Taxes, Tribal | 1 Comment

Fantasy sports pushback; Wynn “punished enough”

Posted on September 17, 2015 by David McKee

If the glutting of our TV screens with obnoxious FanDuel and DraftKings ads has not been enough to trigger a backlash, it has been sufficient to inspire Wynn Las Vegas‘ resourceful sports books director, Johnny Avello, to devise his version of … Continue reading →

Posted in California, Geoff Freeman, Macau, Massachusetts, Politics, Sports, Steve Wynn, TV, Wall Street | Comments Off on Fantasy sports pushback; Wynn “punished enough”

Trouble in Fantasyland

Posted on September 15, 2015 by David McKee

Daily fantasy sports leagues have gotten awfully brazen since pairing with major sports leagues, inundating TV airwaves with advertising, and this has gaming regulators in some states looking askance at DFS. The first shot across the bow came from Nevada, … Continue reading →

Posted in Boyd Gaming, Detroit, Kansas, MGM Mirage, PokerStars, Politics, Regulation, Sports, TV | 1 Comment

First the good news …

Posted on September 14, 2015 by David McKee

Internet gambling revenues were up 16% in Atlantic City last month, for a $12 million haul. Resorts Atlantic City didn’t get much of the action — 6% — but the other four online operators divvied it up pretty equitably. As … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Boyd Gaming, Carl Icahn, Glenn Straub, Harrah's, history, Internet gambling, MGM Mirage, Mohegan Sun, Revel, Sports, Tilman Fertitta, Tribal, Tropicana Entertainment, Trump Entertainment Resorts | Comments Off on First the good news …

Culinary Union declares war on Deutsche Bank; The NFL’s dirty hands

Posted on September 14, 2015 by David McKee

Deutsche Bank, in its role as 25% shareholder in Station Casinos, continues to draw fire from the Culinary Union. Let’s clear up a couple of things first. Yes, the Culinary still has an axe to grind with Station over the … Continue reading →

Posted in Culinary Union, Entertainment, Harrah's, history, Oklahoma, Regulation, Sam Nazarian, Sports, Station Casinos, Tamares Group, Tribal | Comments Off on Culinary Union declares war on Deutsche Bank; The NFL’s dirty hands

Wynn gets one step closer; Those insidious resort fees

Posted on September 1, 2015 by David McKee

“At moments like this, there is certainly a feeling of gratification and forward movement. It lifts our spirits and energizes us.” Thus spake Steve Wynn after Wynn Everett cleared another hurdle on its way to completion. A 27-page memo from Massachusetts … Continue reading →

Posted in Economy, Macau, Massachusetts, New York, Regulation, Sports, Steve Wynn, The Strip, Tourism, Transportation, Tribal | 1 Comment