Category Archives: Sports

Disney dives into gambling; Death at M Resort

Posted on April 6, 2015 by David McKee

Gambling really is the all-American pastime now that Walt Disney Co. is buying a $250 million piece of for-money fantasy league DraftKings. The agreement commits Disney to buy $500 million in advertising time and imagery on a variety of ESPN … Continue reading →

Posted in Florida, Harrah's, M Resort, Penn National, Politics, Sports, Tribal, TV | 1 Comment

Lone Star illegality; Showboat hits shoals

Posted on April 1, 2015 by David McKee

Texas lacks the will to legalize casino gambling, yet it shrugs off a black-market version of it that is estimated to generate $1.9 billion a year. Under Texas law, you can own slot machines so long as their “payout” is … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Derek Stevens, Glenn Straub, Harrah's, Regulation, Sports, Texas, Tilman Fertitta, TV, Unite-Here | 1 Comment

MGM’s REIT risk; Will Lone Star State go for gambling?

Posted on March 18, 2015 by David McKee

Investor Jonathan Litt‘s proposed conversion of MGM Resorts International isn’t just another random case of REITmania. According to Forbes, MGM is expected to return to profitability this year and “some of those expected profits will leak into government coffers.” REITs are … Continue reading →

Posted in Economy, Macau, Maryland, Massachusetts, MGM Mirage, Politics, Regulation, Sheldon Adelson, Sports, Texas, Wall Street | 2 Comments

Macao’s Great Recession; Caesars shreds contracts

Posted on March 17, 2015 by David McKee

Yes Virginia, there is a recession in Macao. With two consecutive quarters of negative GDP growth, the casino city meets Wall Street‘s definition of a recessionary economy. Eighty percent of Macanese revenue comes from gambling, so when the central government … Continue reading →

Posted in California, Economy, Entertainment, Harrah's, Louisiana, Macau, New York, Philippines, Planet Hollywood, Regulation, Sheldon Adelson, Sports, Steve Wynn, Tourism, Transportation, Wall Street | Comments Off

Roundball is Borgata’s newest draw; Board disses Elaine Wynn

Posted on March 16, 2015 by David McKee

Borgata is ahead of the curve again in Atlantic City. At least it’s thinking progressively, incepting a March Madness-themed free-throw competition as a first step toward skill-based gambling. Four hundred people have already plunked $20 each down to play on ad … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Boyd Gaming, Internet gambling, Marketing, Regulation, Sports, Steve Wynn, Technology, Tilman Fertitta | Comments Off

The torments of Glenn Straub; Icahn wins another round

Posted on March 13, 2015 by David McKee

“I keep waiting for the elevator doors to open and somebody to walk out carrying bags of money. We keep hearing about people with money wanting to make bids. I haven’t seen them yet.” So said Glenn Straub, who continues to … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Cantor Gaming, Carl Icahn, Glenn Straub, Harrah's, Horseracing, Idaho, Massachusetts, MGM Mirage, New Hampshire, Politics, Revel, Sports, Technology, Trump Entertainment Resorts, Wall Street, Westgate LV | 2 Comments

Quote of the Day

Posted on February 23, 2015 by David McKee

“We make money in our sports books. We provide good amenities, and they are profitable. I’m just not sure sports betting belongs in every state.” — Boyd Gaming CEO Keith Smith expressing surprising hesitancy about introducing sports wagering to Boyd’s regional … Continue reading →

Posted in Boyd Gaming, Cantor Gaming, Sports | 1 Comment

Building a better Cosmopolitan

Posted on February 20, 2015 by David McKee

Although awash in generalities, Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas CEO Bill McBeath did allow some form of insight into his plans for the resort. Allowing that casino-floor performance was “pretty anemic,” he hopes to make it more attractive to high rollers. … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, Atlantic City, Cosmopolitan, Dining, Donald Trump, Economy, history, MGM Mirage, Sports, The Strip | Comments Off

The new Siegel in town; The word on the Strip is “Fore!”

Posted on February 19, 2015 by David McKee

Any article that begins by described the late Star Trek: The Experience as “essentially weird” has one strike against it. (I can’t tell you how many former employees told me it was the best job they ever had.) Such is … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, Colony Capital, Entertainment, Japan, MGM Mirage, New York, Politics, Singapore, Sports, The Strip, Westgate LV | 2 Comments

Can New York casinos work miracles?

Posted on February 16, 2015 by David McKee

“Do I believe in it? I believe in it. I think Sullivan County is destined for an absolute true turnaround,” says Monticello restaurateur Bill Sipos, when asked about the potential impact of Empire Resorts‘ Montreign (left) on his area. The project … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Boyd Gaming, Economy, Environment, Neil Bluhm, New York, Regulation, Sheldon Adelson, Sports, Trump Entertainment Resorts | Comments Off

Case Bets

Posted on February 6, 2015 by David McKee

A lengthy bout of bronchitis has kept me out of action, but I’m finally on the mend and apologize for all the news coverage I missed, such as … * First there was Deflategate. Now there’s Menzelgate. Could Idina Menzel … Continue reading →

Posted in Donald Trump, Entertainment, Internet gambling, Iowa, Mississippi, Regulation, South Dakota, Sports | Comments Off

Super Bawl

Posted on January 28, 2015 by David McKee

Never mind that it’s one of the biggest weekends in Sin City, the National Football League continues to stick its fingers in its ears when it comes to casinos that dare whisper the words “Super Bowl.” Not only must Las Vegas … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, Arizona, Economy, Geoff Freeman, Regulation, Sports, The Strip, Tribal | Comments Off

Where will the Caesars fight be fought?

Posted on January 26, 2015 by David McKee

In the battle between Caesars Entertainment and its dissident creditors, the opening route — the choice of venue — may be the decisive one. As noted previously, Caesars wants the case heard in Chicago and not in Wilmington, even though … Continue reading →

Posted in Delaware, Economy, Harrah's, Illinois, Macau, Massachusetts, MGM Mirage, Sports, The Strip, Wall Street | Comments Off

Indian givers in D.C.; Mixed bag for Foxwoods, Mohegan Sun

Posted on January 19, 2015 by David McKee

Arizona‘s congressional delegation continues to single out the Tohono O’odham Nation for being too successful. Sens. John McCain (R) and Jeff Flake (R), and Reps. Trent Franks and Paul Gosar are trying yet again to legislate the Tohono O’odham’s $400 … Continue reading →

Posted in Arizona, Economy, Foxwoods, Geoff Freeman, International, Mohegan Sun, Politics, Regulation, Sports, Tribal | Comments Off

Sands scores in Pennsylvania; More nonsense from Trump

Posted on January 19, 2015 by David McKee

Pennsylvania isn’t anywhere near done with building casinos but it is feeling market saturation. A $40 million decline in slot winnings pushed casinos to sub-2013 levels. The proliferation of casino product did not help. “When I came here six years ago, there were … Continue reading →

Posted in Cantor Gaming, Donald Trump, Macau, Massachusetts, Michael Gaughan, Pennsylvania, Regulation, Sheldon Adelson, Sports, Steve Wynn, TV | Comments Off

Atlantic City hangs in there; Mississippi mulls i-poker

Posted on January 15, 2015 by David McKee

When it comes to Atlantic City it literally is a question of whether the glass is half-empty or half-full. The city’s casinos are 48% off their 2006 high of $5.2 billion. In 2014, the decline was slowed somewhat by $123 … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Boyd Gaming, Colony Capital, Economy, Harrah's, Horseracing, International, Mississippi, Politics, Revel, Sports, Tilman Fertitta, Tropicana Entertainment, Trump Entertainment Resorts | Comments Off

Cuomo’s New York mess thickens

Posted on January 14, 2015 by David McKee

Bowing to pressure from New York State Gov. Andrew Cuomo (D), the Gaming Facility Location Board is starting the clock on a new round of bidding for casinos in the state’s thinly populated Southern Tier. It didn’t draw much interest last … Continue reading →

Posted in Economy, International, James Packer, LVCVA, New York, Philippines, Regulation, South Korea, Sports, Technology, The Strip, Transportation | Comments Off

Wynn proceeds in Boston, Genting stalls in Miami

Posted on January 9, 2015 by David McKee

Although Steve Wynn‘s Everett project is besieged with lawsuits, a member of the Massachusetts Gaming Commission is relatively sanguine about the resort’s prospects. “I don’t think necessarily the suit will delay it; I think it is the various permit-granting authorities … Continue reading →

Posted in Florida, Genting, International, Massachusetts, New York, Regulation, Sports, The Strip | 1 Comment

That wily Glenn Straub

Posted on January 9, 2015 by David McKee

Freed by Judge Gloria Burns of encumberances, Revel is Glenn Straub’s for the taking — provided he’s willing to pay $95 million. Ir sounds like Straub’s position is softening. Although he has the power to evict Revel’s remaining tenants, he … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Economy, Entertainment, Glenn Straub, Indiana, Politics, Revel, South Dakota, Sports, Taxes, Transportation | 2 Comments

Happy New Year from the AGA

Posted on December 29, 2014 by David McKee

Geoff Freeman, dynamic leader of the American Gaming Association, has a wish list for the new year. It includes a crackdown on illegal, offshore gambling and the eradication of gray-market Internet “sweepstakes” cafes. He’d also like to see the expansion of legal sports … Continue reading →

Posted in Geoff Freeman, Internet gambling, Sports | Comments Off