Category Archives: Stanley Ho

China: Hands off Hainan

Posted on March 7, 2014 by David McKee

China dealt a severe blow to the hopes of Big Gaming this week, declaring the island of Hainan off-limits for gambling. “We cannot at all allow Hainan to operate casinos,” declared resident Communist Party strongman Luo Baoming. This cannot have … Continue reading →

Posted in Animals, Architecture, Charity, Harrah's, Illinois, International, Kansas, Macau, MGM Mirage, Phil Ruffin, Sports, Stanley Ho | 1 Comment

Stupid player tricks & other Case Bets

Posted on February 26, 2014 by David McKee

What do you do if the cops try to bust you for having $115K in phony casino chips (allegedly)? Throw them in the nearest body of water, naturally. “Fortunately for police, the chips floated.” Vuong Q. Truong and wife Rosa A. Nguyen supposedly … Continue reading →

Posted in Cordish Co., Cretins, Current, Japan, Lawrence Ho, Macau, Maryland, Melco Crown Entertainment, Mississippi, Penn National, Sheldon Adelson, Stanley Ho | Comments Off on Stupid player tricks & other Case Bets

A Ho no-show; Adelson omnipresent; Revel to close?

Posted on February 13, 2014 by David McKee

There was apparently no Stanley Ho sighting at the Cotai Strip groundbreaking of Sociedade de Jogos de Macau‘s $3.9 billion Lisboa Palace. Ho is 92 and well into his dotage, so a public appearance would have come as a surprise. … Continue reading →

Posted in Foxwoods, Genting, Hard Rock International, Harrah's, Internet gambling, Macau, Penn National, Pennsylvania, Politics, Revel, Sheldon Adelson, Stanley Ho, Technology, Vietnam | 1 Comment

Macao’s incredible jackpot; Execs on the move

Posted on February 11, 2014 by David McKee

If you think the emergence of Macao as the gambling capital of the world has been amazing, you ain’t seen nothin’ yet. That’s the essence of a new report from Nomura Securities. It predicts that the Macao market has the … Continue reading →

Posted in Affinity Gaming, Colorado, Harrah's, IGT, Internet gambling, Macau, Melco Crown Entertainment, Sheldon Adelson, Stanley Ho, Wall Street | Comments Off on Macao’s incredible jackpot; Execs on the move

Penn gets frostbite; Virginia passes up gambling

Posted on February 6, 2014 by David McKee

Caught between harsh weather and a tighter competitive squeeze, Penn National Gaming posted 4Q13 revenues that were 13% down from last year. The $645 million loss drew a surprisingly muted reaction from gaming analysts. The company is already drastically reducing … Continue reading →

Posted in California, Louisiana, Macau, Missouri, Ohio, Penn National, Politics, Problem gambling, Racinos, Sheldon Adelson, Stanley Ho, Steve Wynn, Taxes, Wall Street | Comments Off on Penn gets frostbite; Virginia passes up gambling

Florida: Death by a thousand cuts; New player in Macao

Posted on January 10, 2014 by David McKee

Casino expansion in Florida may be nominally on the table for the incoming Lege but it looks D.O.A. Both Senate President Don Gaetz (R) and possibly Speaker of the House Will Weatherford (R) want preferatory constitutional amendments that would require … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Florida, Genting, Harrah's, Kansas, Macau, Penn National, Politics, Sheldon Adelson, Stanley Ho, Tropicana Entertainment | Comments Off on Florida: Death by a thousand cuts; New player in Macao

Adelson undeterred; Winners and losers

Posted on December 23, 2013 by David McKee

I’m not sure which part of this story is more alarming: That Affinity Gaming was the victim of a widespread identity-theft scheme for seven months … or that the company didn’t disclose it until late this year. It certainly makes … Continue reading →

Posted in Affinity Gaming, Atlantic City, California, Dan Gilbert, Detroit, Environment, Florida, Harrah's, Horseracing, International, Internet gambling, Japan, Macau, New York, Ohio, Penn National, Problem gambling, Sheldon Adelson, Singapore, Stanley Ho | Comments Off on Adelson undeterred; Winners and losers

D-Day nears for Massachusetts, Maryland

Posted on December 9, 2013 by David McKee

This just in: MGM Resorts International has been tentatively approved by the investigative branch of the Massachusetts Gaming Commission, pending the satisfaction of certain matters. That moment is drawing nigh at which point the Massachusetts Gaming Commission must rule upon … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Colony Capital, Cordish Co., Greenwood Racing, Harrah's, Maryland, Massachusetts, MGM Mirage, Pansy Ho, Penn National, Regulation, Stanley Ho, Steve Wynn, Tribal | 1 Comment

Imbalances of power; Vegas to Israel?

Posted on December 6, 2013 by David McKee

It was another bonny month for Maryland, whose casino revenues grew 55% in November, up to $67 million. It’s not an apples/apples comparison, since neither Rocky Gap Casino nor table games were in play a year ago. Tables were responsible … Continue reading →

Posted in Charity, Cordish Co., Economy, Greenwood Racing, Harrah's, Illinois, Macau, Maryland, Melco Crown Entertainment, MGM Mirage, Neil Bluhm, Penn National, Pets, Sheldon Adelson, Stanley Ho, Steve Wynn | Comments Off on Imbalances of power; Vegas to Israel?

The little slot company that could; Thinking small in New York; Thinking big in Macao

Posted on November 15, 2013 by David McKee

Earlier this week, Howard Stutz looked into the fascinating story of Multimedia Games, beloved of stock analysts but shunned by share buyers. What’s not to like? Multimedia widened its profit last quarter, to $10 million. Sales in FY13 rose 27%, … Continue reading →

Posted in International, Japan, Macau, New York, Racinos, Stanley Ho, Technology, Wall Street | Comments Off on The little slot company that could; Thinking small in New York; Thinking big in Macao

Penn overboard!; Macao’s zenith

Posted on November 7, 2013 by David McKee

First the good news about Ohio: Gambling revenue was up 47% last month. Now, the bad news. One a same-store basis it was down 2% year/year. Who knew the Buckeye State would get saturated so quickly? The statewide gross was … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Boyd Gaming, Current, Dan Gilbert, Delaware, Economy, Harrah's, Illinois, Internet gambling, Macau, Melco Crown Entertainment, MGM Mirage, Missouri, MTR Gaming, Neil Bluhm, Ohio, Penn National, Racinos, Sheldon Adelson, Stanley Ho, Station Casinos, Tourism, Wall Street | 1 Comment

MGM Springfield keeps its fingers crossed

Posted on November 7, 2013 by David McKee

And then there was one … MGM Springfield. But you won’t hear MGM Resorts International execs popping champagne corks or seeing them do victory laps. The Massachusetts Gaming Commission has already warned that it’s not required to issue a license. … Continue reading →

Posted in Dan Gilbert, Horseracing, Macau, Massachusetts, MGM Mirage, Mohegan Sun, Neil Bluhm, Racinos, Regulation, Reno, Stanley Ho, Uncategorized | Comments Off on MGM Springfield keeps its fingers crossed

Caesars tries to change the subject; Penn makes its case

Posted on October 23, 2013 by David McKee

As Caesars Entertainment skulks away from Massachusetts, tail between legs, a campaign of manufactured outrage continues to be mounted on its behalf. At its baseline is an attempt to minimize the reasons why the Massachusetts Gaming Commission was poised to … Continue reading →

Posted in Harrah's, Horseracing, Internet gambling, Maryland, Massachusetts, MGM Mirage, Penn National, Problem gambling, Regulation, Stanley Ho, The Mob | Comments Off on Caesars tries to change the subject; Penn makes its case

The bill that wouldn’t die; Taking a wrecking ball to “Jubilee!”

Posted on October 17, 2013 by David McKee

Illinois legislators continue to butt their heads against Gov. Pat Quinn‘s opposition to casino expansion (and a terrible gambling economy). Impervious to reality, state Rep. Robert Rita (D) is introducing yet another bill for five casinos and airport slot routes. … Continue reading →

Posted in Current, Economy, Entertainment, Harrah's, Illinois, Macau, Mississippi, Ohio, Penn National, Politics, Stanley Ho, The Mob, The Strip | Comments Off on The bill that wouldn’t die; Taking a wrecking ball to “Jubilee!”

Busted!; Crystals off the block; Rumble in Macao

Posted on September 27, 2013 by David McKee

Archie Karas (real name Anargyros Karabourniotis), high roller and reputed casino cheat is cooling his butt in a Las Vegas jail cell right now. The advantage player is facing extradition on charges that he bilked Barona Casino out of eight grand … Continue reading →

Posted in CityCenter, Current, Economy, Foxwoods, Macau, Massachusetts, MGM Mirage, Sheldon Adelson, Stanley Ho, The Strip, Tribal | Comments Off on Busted!; Crystals off the block; Rumble in Macao

Japan’s in; Chaperoned at Caesars; D.C. gridlock strikes again

Posted on September 19, 2013 by David McKee

A pro-casino group of lawmakers plans to introduce gambling-enabling legislation in the upcoming session of the Japanese Diet. Steve Wynn was quick to plunk $4 billion-plus on the table, while MGM Resorts International promises unspecified “billions.” It’s like a gold … Continue reading →

Posted in Harrah's, Japan, Massachusetts, Melco Crown Entertainment, MGM Mirage, Ohio, Sheldon Adelson, Stanley Ho, Steve Wynn, Tribal | Comments Off on Japan’s in; Chaperoned at Caesars; D.C. gridlock strikes again

Revel resurgent; MGM, Sands to Japan

Posted on September 10, 2013 by David McKee

For all the flack that it’s taken for its misleading “refund” on losses promotion, Revel Resort continues to woo customers back. Its revenues rose 2% in August, pushing the megaresort ahead of Showboat and into the middle tier of Atlantic … Continue reading →

Posted in Boyd Gaming, Current, Donald Trump, Harrah's, International, Melco Crown Entertainment, MGM Mirage, Mohegan Sun, Revel, Sheldon Adelson, Stanley Ho, Tropicana Entertainment | 3 Comments

How much sin in Sin City is too much?; Woe and Ho

Posted on August 27, 2013 by David McKee

Wearing a strap-on dildo seems to be the outer limit of decency in Las Vegas. Any casino that hosts a nightclub is playing with fire to some extent but Las Vegas Sands well and truly burned its fingers with The … Continue reading →

Posted in Current, Harrah's, International, Macau, Ohio, Penn National, Planet Hollywood, Regulation, Sheldon Adelson, Stanley Ho, The Strip | 2 Comments

Rising son goes to Land of Rising Sun; The man who would be emperor

Posted on August 16, 2013 by David McKee

After a calamitous and incoherent venture into the U.S. gaming industry, James Packer has stuck pretty close to the markets he knows best: Australia and Macao. But he’s feeling his oats again, looking toward Manila, Sri Lanka (which I still … Continue reading →

Posted in Genting, International, James Packer, Lawrence Ho, Macau, Melco Crown Entertainment, Regulation, Stanley Ho | Comments Off on Rising son goes to Land of Rising Sun; The man who would be emperor

Murren disses Adelson; Caesars bows out of Macao; Clerical choler

Posted on August 12, 2013 by David McKee

“Maybe because he’s rich he thinks people care about what he has to say. It’s obvious we know Las Vegas better than he does.” With those wordsMGM Resorts International CEO Jim Murren laid a surprisingly blunt smackdown on Las Vegas … Continue reading →

Posted in Current, Florida, Harrah's, James Packer, Lawrence Ho, Macau, Massachusetts, MGM Mirage, Problem gambling, Sheldon Adelson, Stanley Ho, Steve Wynn, The Strip, Wall Street | 3 Comments