Category Archives: Technology

Cutting the Gordian Knot in Florida; New Hampshire tries yet again

Posted on April 3, 2017 by David McKee

Daily fantasy sports is expected to be legalized in Florida with little fuss. Resolving the casino-gambling impasse — that’s another story. Next week, a committee of the Legislature will try to reconcile two radically different bills. The state Senate one … Continue reading →

Posted in Florida, Japan, New Hampshire, Politics, Problem gambling, Regulation, Seminole Tribe, Singapore, Taxes, Technology, The Strip | Comments Off on Cutting the Gordian Knot in Florida; New Hampshire tries yet again

Shawn The Sham; Cal-Neva in limbo

Posted on March 31, 2017 by David McKee

“They got the signatures to put it on the ballot and they are going to be spending millions of dollars on advertising, probably six weeks prior to this Election Day in November, to convince people to vote for it. It … Continue reading →

Posted in Galaxy Entertainment, Harrah's, Horseracing, International, Japan, Maine, Nevada, North Dakota, Penn National, Politics, Regulation, South Korea, Technology | Comments Off on Shawn The Sham; Cal-Neva in limbo

Raiders prompt magical thinking; Next stop: Yankton?

Posted on March 29, 2017 by David McKee

Boxing promoter Bob Arum has drunk deeply of the NFL-in-Vegas Kool-Aid, telling the Wall Street Journal, “Say  [the Raiders] play the Giants. It’s going to bring 20,000 people coming from New York to watch the game, clutching fistfuls of money … Continue reading →

Posted in Boyd Gaming, Florida, Japan, Law enforcement, Macau, Seminole Tribe, Sheldon Adelson, South Dakota, Sports, Technology, Tourism, Westgate LV | Comments Off on Raiders prompt magical thinking; Next stop: Yankton?

Trump’s revenge; Larry Flynt, casino boss

Posted on March 28, 2017 by David McKee

Why is Trump Plaza the whitest elephant among Atlantic City casinos? (Scroll to bottom) Because its operating costs include a $1 million ground lease to former American Jewish Congress head Robert Lifton, who owns the underlying acreage. This little poison … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, California, Carl Icahn, Donald Trump, Hard Rock International, Harrah's, history, Isle of Capri, MGM Mirage, Technology, Trump Entertainment Resorts | 1 Comment

Quote of the Day

Posted on March 24, 2017 by David McKee

“Perhaps if the utility called the exit fee a resort fee the casinos would be more comfortable with an exorbitant fee imposed on them for profit.” — anonymous LVA reader on Las Vegas Sands‘ and MGM Resorts International‘s recalcitrance at … Continue reading →

Posted in Current, MGM Mirage, Sheldon Adelson, Technology | Comments Off on Quote of the Day

Quote of the Day

Posted on March 2, 2017 by David McKee

“I’m a big contrarian when it comes to saying the slot machines’ time is over. In fact, if you look nationally overall, slot revenues are higher than they’ve ever been. But at individual properties, they’re down.” — casino consultant Buddy Frank … Continue reading →

Posted in Marketing, Technology | Comments Off on Quote of the Day

Wayne Newton, Mr. Convention; Adelson covets Vietnam

Posted on March 1, 2017 by David McKee

If you doubted that the convention business is the new face of Las Vegas, it trotted out the pretty visage of Wayne Newton. The latter’s Casa de Shenandoah is promoting itself as the new place to hold your meeting, offering to … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Economy, GLPI, Hard Rock International, Harrah's, Illinois, Japan, Lawrence Ho, Macau, Marketing, Melco Crown Entertainment, Penn National, Politics, Racinos, Regulation, Sheldon Adelson, Singapore, South Korea, Technology, Tourism, Tropicana Entertainment, Vietnam, Wayne F. Newton | Comments Off on Wayne Newton, Mr. Convention; Adelson covets Vietnam

Smoke got in their eyes; Curious doings at Mohegan Sun

Posted on February 22, 2017 by David McKee

Macao Chief Executive Fernando Chui is denying that his government is abasing itself before casino operators even as his administration rolls out a new policy, proposed but not yet adopted, that would represent a total cave-in on Chui’s drive to … Continue reading →

Posted in Cretins, Environment, Idaho, Law enforcement, Macau, Mohegan Sun, Pennsylvania, Politics, Regulation, Technology, Tribal | Comments Off on Smoke got in their eyes; Curious doings at Mohegan Sun

Caesars: The comedy is (almost) finished; Lawmaker gets high — on revenue

Posted on February 22, 2017 by David McKee

By merging Caesars Acquisition Co. (which holds most of the goodies) with Caesars Entertainment, the conglomerate may be finally able to ring the curtain on its bankruptcy. It’s been a long-running show, often replete with elements of farce. What seems … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Environment, Florida, Harrah's, Louisiana, Marketing, MGM Mirage, Neil Bluhm, Nevada, New York, Politics, Regulation, Taxes, Technology | Comments Off on Caesars: The comedy is (almost) finished; Lawmaker gets high — on revenue

Quote of the Day

Posted on February 15, 2017 by David McKee

“The trick [to regulating e-sports] will be to come up with a framework that is appropriate and nimble enough to deal with innovation and technology that changes on the fly,” — Massachusetts state Sen. Eileen Donaghue on the difficulties of … Continue reading →

Posted in Massachusetts, Regulation, Technology | Comments Off on Quote of the Day

Station, Culinary at it again; Attack of the Russian slot cheats

Posted on February 14, 2017 by David McKee

After reaching a fragile labor peace with Station Casinos, the Culinary Union is heading for another scrum with the company, publishing a petition to “Stations Casino” [sic!], detailing various and sundry workplace complaints, such as “first aid supplies were not … Continue reading →

Posted in California, Culinary Union, Georgia, International, Law enforcement, MGM Mirage, New York, Penn National, Politics, South Carolina, Station Casinos, Technology, Tribal, Tropicana Entertainment, Wall Street | Comments Off on Station, Culinary at it again; Attack of the Russian slot cheats

Wynn shows Adelson up; Schenectady casino opens tonight

Posted on February 8, 2017 by David McKee

Contrary to crude insinuations by the Las Vegas Review-Journal, Steve Wynn‘s gift of $7 million in company stock late last year went mainly toward medical research at the University of Iowa’s Wynn Institute for Vision Research ($5 million), while another $1.7 … Continue reading →

Posted in Animals, Charity, Economy, Harrah's, Iowa, Maine, Marketing, Neil Bluhm, New York, Sheldon Adelson, Sports, Steve Wynn, Technology, The Strip, Tribal | 1 Comment

Penn National backpedals; Feral bunnies terrorize Vegas

Posted on February 2, 2017 by David McKee

Penn National Gaming released fourth-quarter numbers and, according to Deutsche Bank‘s Carlo Santarelli acknowledged a “difficult start” at Hollywood Jamul (this despite having an extra-long runway to get the new property aloft). Santarelli called the tribal casino a “drag” on … Continue reading →

Posted in Animals, Atlantic City, California, Dining, Donald Trump, Election, Glenn Straub, GLPI, Hard Rock International, history, Illinois, Iowa, Japan, Macau, Marketing, Penn National, Regulation, Revel, Sheldon Adelson, Slot routes, Steve Wynn, Technology, The Strip, Tribal, Trump Entertainment Resorts, Wall Street, West Virginia | Comments Off on Penn National backpedals; Feral bunnies terrorize Vegas

Wynn Palace a work in progress; Hawaii ponders i-gaming

Posted on January 27, 2017 by David McKee

Wall Street analysts were pleasantly surprised by the latest results from Wynn Palace, which exceeded expectations. As JP Morgan analyst Joseph Greff wrote, the Palace “has reconfigured the main casino floor (mass market), adding new slot/poker sections and opening up … Continue reading →

Posted in Delaware, Economy, Hawaii, Internet gambling, Macau, Massachusetts, Neil Bluhm, Nevada, Penn National, Pennsylvania, Regulation, Sheldon Adelson, Steve Wynn, Technology, The Strip, Wall Street | Comments Off on Wynn Palace a work in progress; Hawaii ponders i-gaming

Quote of the Day

Posted on December 9, 2016 by David McKee

“You know your industry is in trouble if the most current product you offer your 21st century patrons is bingo.” — gaming-law expert I. Nelson Rose on the casino industry’s struggle to adapt to changing times.

Posted in history, Marketing, Technology | Comments Off on Quote of the Day

Japan: The impossible happens

Posted on December 5, 2016 by David McKee

Just when even Wall Street analysts were giving up hope — and ahead of schedule — Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe got a casino-legalization bill through the Diet. This isn’t the end of the process, although casinos are now legal, … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, Boyd Gaming, Cannery Casino Resorts, Donald Trump, Economy, Geoff Freeman, Hard Rock International, Japan, Kazuo Okada, MGM Mirage, North Las Vegas, Regulation, Sheldon Adelson, Technology, Tourism, Transportation | Comments Off on Japan: The impossible happens

Quote of the Day

Posted on November 29, 2016 by David McKee

“They don’t want to sit in front of a metal box with spinning wheels in a building the size of a warehouse.” — gaming-law expert I. Nelson Rose on millennials’ preference for mobile gambling. Pennsylvania lawmakers had the opportunity to … Continue reading →

Posted in Marketing, Pennsylvania, Technology | Comments Off on Quote of the Day

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

Quote of the Day

Posted on November 1, 2016 by David McKee

“Just because blackjack is played on a computer doesn’t mean it’s OK.” — Seminole Tribe attorney Barry Richard, arguing against the electronic table games deployed at Florida parimutuels. The Seminoles have/had a compacted exclusivity on table games. Tribal exclusivity is … Continue reading →

Posted in Florida, Technology, Tribal | Comments Off on Quote of the Day

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