Category Archives: Steve Wynn

2017: Boom or bust?

Posted on January 4, 2017 by David McKee

Vital Vegas, whose predictive skills are superior to ours, recently came out with a blockbuster, forecasting that Las Vegas Sands or MGM Resorts International or Wynn Resorts (or maybe some combination of the above) might be headed into bankruptcy. “Tectonic … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Detroit, Economy, Harrah's, Japan, Macau, MGM Mirage, Regulation, Sheldon Adelson, Steve Wynn, Wall Street | 1 Comment

Japan goes all in; Adelson, Davis on the outs?

Posted on December 27, 2016 by David McKee

In an uncharacteristic flurry of activity, the normally tortoise-powered Shinzo Abe got casino enabling legislation through both houses of the Japanese Diet prior to adjournment. “To us the opportunity is thoroughly Japanese and thoroughly delicious,” said a lip-smacking Steve Wynn. … Continue reading →

Posted in California, Florida, Geoff Freeman, Japan, Politics, Seminole Tribe, Sheldon Adelson, Sports, Steve Wynn, Taxes, The Strip, Tourism, Wall Street | Comments Off on Japan goes all in; Adelson, Davis on the outs?

Japan: Hold your horses!

Posted on December 6, 2016 by David McKee

Contrary to a press report over the weekend — and too credulously picked up by S&G — casino gambling is far from out of the woods in the Japanese Diet. True, it was voted out of committee in the lower … Continue reading →

Posted in Cirque du Soleil, CityCenter, Cosmopolitan, Japan, Melco Crown Entertainment, MGM Mirage, Politics, Regulation, Sheldon Adelson, Singapore, Steve Wynn, Taxes, The Strip, Tourism, Wall Street | Comments Off on Japan: Hold your horses!

Caesars: No free ride; Straub sues New Jersey

Posted on December 1, 2016 by David McKee

In an utterly predictable move, Caesars Entertainment will begin charging for parking at its Las Vegas Strip casinos in late December, at the same when MGM Resorts International‘s paid-parking regime is expected to go wide, encompassing locals. (December 29 is … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Economy, Encore, Entertainment, Glenn Straub, Harrah's, Japan, Macau, MGM Mirage, Movies, Politics, Regulation, Revel, Steve Wynn, The Strip, Tourism, Wall Street | 1 Comment

Reboot for Wynn Palace; Does Trump still heart sports betting?

Posted on November 30, 2016 by David McKee

Gaming analysts confirm reports of a slow opening at Wynn Palace in Macao, likening its performance to that of the early days of Studio City — not the sort of comparison Wynn Resorts probably wanted to hear. Room rates have … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Donald Trump, Economy, Horseracing, Internet gambling, Macau, Melco Crown Entertainment, Politics, Racinos, Sports, Steve Wynn | 1 Comment

Trump Taj saves Atlantic City; Barrack resurfaces; Visiting Memory Lane

Posted on November 17, 2016 by David McKee

When we rounded up Atlantic City gaming numbers yesterday, we didn’t get into market-adjusted comparisons and thus buried the lead. The Boardwalk’s surviving casinos saw, on average, a 6% increase in gaming revenue, thanks to the Oct. 10 closing of … Continue reading →

Posted in Arizona, Atlantic City, Carl Icahn, Cirque du Soleil, Colony Capital, Donald Trump, Economy, Entertainment, Genting, history, Internet gambling, Japan, Law enforcement, Louisiana, Macau, Maryland, Mississippi, Ohio, PokerStars, Regulation, Revel, Sahara, Sheldon Adelson, Sports, Steve Wynn, Taxes, The Strip, West Virginia, Wisconsin | 1 Comment

Mixed bag in Indiana; Don’t mess with Massachusetts

Posted on November 10, 2016 by David McKee

One less weekend day in October helped depress casino revenues in Indiana, down 3%. However, individual property results were all over the place, making generalizations perilous. For instance, Majestic Star II in Gary was down 9%, to $5 million, but … Continue reading →

Posted in Ameristar, Boyd Gaming, Election, Full House Resorts, Harrah's, Indiana, Law enforcement, Lawrence Ho, Macau, Majestic Star, Marketing, Massachusetts, Melco Crown Entertainment, Penn National, Pinnacle Entertainment, Racinos, Steve Wynn, Tropicana Entertainment | Comments Off on Mixed bag in Indiana; Don’t mess with Massachusetts

The day after

Posted on November 9, 2016 by David McKee

This morning’s biggest winners are not politicians or pundits (certainly not the pollsters) but the punters who laid their money on a Donald Trump victory when sites like Betfair had him as a one-in-five underdog or worse. Their wallets are … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Donald Trump, Election, Florida, Harry Reid, Horseracing, Maine, Massachusetts, Nevada, Politics, Racinos, Regulation, Sheldon Adelson, Steve Wynn | 1 Comment

Election Special; Station Reno project approved

Posted on November 7, 2016 by David McKee

Preoccupied with stumping for legalized sports betting, the American Gaming Association fell down on the job and failed to deliver a promised (yes, they literally promised us) election roundup. By this shortcoming, the AGA flunked one of its mandates, which … Continue reading →

Posted in Arkansas, Atlantic City, Election, Entertainment, Harrah's, Internet gambling, Massachusetts, Nebraska, New York, Politics, Regulation, Reno, Scientific Games, Station Casinos, Steve Wynn, Technology, Wall Street | Comments Off on Election Special; Station Reno project approved

MGM hearts Japan; Atlantic City aims for total victory

Posted on November 1, 2016 by David McKee

According to Reuters, if casinos are legalized in Japan, then MGM Resorts International would be willing to build the world’s second $9.5 billion megaresort. (Las Vegas Sands has already brandished $10 billion.) That’s leading with your chin. However, MGM believes … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Election, Genting, Japan, Marketing, Massachusetts, MGM Mirage, Politics, Sheldon Adelson, South Korea, Station Casinos, Steve Wynn, Taxes, Tribal, Unite-Here | 1 Comment

Turnaround in Macao; Trop claims another victim

Posted on November 1, 2016 by David McKee

There’s finally solid ground for optimism with regard to Macao, admittedly a good market to be in even at the worst of times. October gaming revenues surged 9%. Deutsche Bank analyst Carlo Santarelli took the numbers with a couple of … Continue reading →

Posted in Economy, Entertainment, Macau, Melco Crown Entertainment, MGM Mirage, Penn National, Pennsylvania, Politics, Sheldon Adelson, Sports, Stanley Ho, Steve Wynn, Taxes, The Strip, Tourism, Wall Street | 1 Comment

Pennsylvania lawmakers screw the pooch; Adelson’s way or the highway

Posted on October 28, 2016 by David McKee

Pennsylvania communities are scrambling to reach voluntary revenue-sharing accords with the casinos they host after the Legislature left the issue in limbo. Rather than address the host-community fee on its own, the House of Representatives tacked on approval of Internet … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, Environment, GLPI, Golden Gaming, Greenwood Racing, Harrah's, Internet gambling, Maryland, Massachusetts, Penn National, Pennsylvania, Politics, Regulation, Sheldon Adelson, Slot routes, Steve Wynn, Taxes, Technology | Comments Off on Pennsylvania lawmakers screw the pooch; Adelson’s way or the highway

Casino moguls get stadium religion; Macao casinos not a Beijing priority

Posted on October 11, 2016 by David McKee

MGM Resorts International CEO Jim Murren has had a come-to-Jesus moment on Sheldon Adelson‘s proposed NFL stadium. After all, MGM stands the most to benefit from proximity to its all-but-certain Russell Road location. Failing to fund the stadium, Murren told … Continue reading →

Posted in Economy, Macau, MGM Mirage, Sheldon Adelson, Sports, Steve Wynn, Taxes, The Strip | 1 Comment

Local is beautiful; Adelson loses partner

Posted on October 10, 2016 by David McKee

Motley Fool columnist Travis Hoium says investors are missing a good bet if they overlook Las Vegas locals operators to focus on the big Las Vegas Strip players. He cites Station Casinos, Boyd Gaming and Penn National Gaming (presumably for … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Boyd Gaming, Cosmopolitan, Downtown, Economy, Entertainment, history, Law enforcement, M Resort, Maryland, MGM Mirage, Palms, Penn National, Regulation, Sheldon Adelson, Station Casinos, Steve Wynn, Taxes, Technology, The Strip, Wall Street | 1 Comment

Trump Taj Mahal: End of an era; Wynn joins Atlanta pursuit

Posted on October 10, 2016 by David McKee

“It’s like saying goodbye to an old friend for the final time. I worked here and lived here, it was my whole life and now it’s closing. It’s all been taken away. My whole body is shaking.” So said longtime Trump … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Carl Icahn, Cordish Co., Donald Trump, Election, Florida, Geoff Freeman, Georgia, Greenwood Racing, Harrah's, history, International, Internet gambling, Neil Bluhm, Pennsylvania, Seminole Tribe, Steve Wynn, Tropicana Entertainment, Unite-Here | 1 Comment

Crisis mode in Pennsylvania; Hard Rock unifies the brand

Posted on October 3, 2016 by David McKee

Although Pennsylvania lawmakers theoretically have three months to amend an “incredibly complex” state law that directs casino revenue to host cities and counties, the grim reality is that the Lege has only eight session days in which to get it … Continue reading →

Posted in Australia, Charity, Eldorado Resorts, Florida, G2E, Greenwood Racing, Hard Rock Hotel, Hard Rock International, International, Macau, Pennsylvania, Politics, Seminole Tribe, Sheldon Adelson, Steve Wynn, Taxes, Technology, TV, Wall Street | Comments Off on Crisis mode in Pennsylvania; Hard Rock unifies the brand

Trump: The art of losing (money); Daylight in Macao

Posted on October 3, 2016 by David McKee

Being the most inept casino developer in American history (four bankruptcies speak for themselves) has its advantages. The red ink hemorrhaged by Donald Trump‘s Atlantic City casinos spilled over onto his 1995 income-tax form, enabling the mogul to record a … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Donald Trump, Harrah's, Macau, Regulation, Sheldon Adelson, Steve Wynn, Taxes, Tilman Fertitta, Wall Street | 3 Comments

Big Gaming meets the Street

Posted on September 26, 2016 by David McKee

Deutsche Bank analyst Carlo Santarelli has been in town and conducting a busy schedule of meetings. Pride of place must go to Wynn Resorts, which declared the opening of Wynn Palace “very clean,” with “solid” VIP business. Hotel occupancy is … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Boulder Strip, Boyd Gaming, California, Cannery Casino Resorts, Culinary Union, Economy, Glenn Straub, GLPI, Illinois, Louisiana, Macau, Marketing, Massachusetts, MGM Mirage, Mississippi, Missouri, North Las Vegas, Pinnacle Entertainment, Reno, Revel, Sheldon Adelson, Slot routes, Station Casinos, Steve Wynn, The Strip, Tribal, Wall Street | Comments Off on Big Gaming meets the Street

Round One to Adelson; Berman honored; Atlantic City winning in polls

Posted on September 21, 2016 by David McKee

Sands China has been getting mad props for its handling of the Parisian rollout last week. Compared to Wynn Palace‘s “passive” approach to the market (and despite a hailstorm of upbeat verbiage from Steve Wynn), analyst Christopher Jones wrote, “The awareness … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Carl Icahn, Election, Harrah's, history, International, Lyle Berman, Macau, Marketing, Melco Crown Entertainment, Mississippi, Nevada, Regulation, Sheldon Adelson, Steve Wynn, The Strip, Transportation, Wall Street, World Series of Poker | 1 Comment

Macao: Dirty money; What Millennial problem?

Posted on September 21, 2016 by David McKee

Is Macao‘s gaming prosperity built on “often shady links to organised crime and racketeering” through the junket business? The South China Morning Post‘s Niall Fraser contends that it is. As of 2013, $202 billion in ill-gotten-gains were flowing through the … Continue reading →

Posted in Boyd Gaming, Downtown, Harrah's, history, International, Internet gambling, Macau, Marketing, MGM Mirage, Pinnacle Entertainment, Riviera, Sheldon Adelson, Steve Wynn, The Mob, The Strip | Comments Off on Macao: Dirty money; What Millennial problem?