Category Archives: Technology

New York’s big score; Tribe wins in California

Posted on May 22, 2015 by David McKee

Various law enforcement agencies are richer to the tune of $9.6 million after nailing an offshore betting ring that extended all the way to Panama. The case started humbly enough, with some Albany County jail officers found to be involved … Continue reading →

Posted in California, Florida, International, Internet gambling, New York, Oklahoma, Penn National, Regulation, Technology, Tribal | Comments Off

Sheldon steps in it; Tomato King to the rescue

Posted on May 21, 2015 by David McKee

Las Vegas Sands‘ CEO Sheldon Adelson’s pet piece of legislation, “Restoring America’s Wire Act” turns out to have a raft of unintended consequences, several of which would kneecap the casino industry. For one, it would ban mobile gambling, which is … Continue reading →

Posted in International, Penn National, Pennsylvania, Politics, Racinos, Regulation, Sheldon Adelson, Sports, Technology, Tomato King Procacci | Comments Off

Massachusetts: And then there were two

Posted on May 18, 2015 by David McKee

Last Thursday, casino boosters from Somerset were expected to show up a Massachusetts Gaming Commission hearing and ask for yet another delay to get their act together. Instead, they surprised the MGC and the rest of us by simply pulling … Continue reading →

Posted in Foxwoods, Internet gambling, Massachusetts, New York, Politics, Racinos, Regulation, Sports, Technology | Comments Off

Murren takes sanguine view; Straub’s struggles

Posted on April 30, 2015 by David McKee

With MGM Resorts International having rejected one REIT proposal, in part because it relied too much on asset sales, Union Gaming is teeing up another. It’s not providing specifics but says it would provide “additional financial flexibility without the disruption of … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Boyd Gaming, Glenn Straub, Harrah's, Internet gambling, Japan, Macau, MGM Mirage, Politics, Revel, Sheldon Adelson, South Carolina, Sports, Technology, Transportation, Wall Street | Comments Off

Tightening the screws on Macao; While we were in recess

Posted on April 15, 2015 by David McKee

In what may come as bad news to casino operators, the Macao government is placing a quota on the number of mainland visitors the gaming enclave will allow per year: 21 million. On the other hand, the government is pivoting … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Environment, Hard Rock International, Harrah's, LVCVA, Macau, Marketing, Ohio, Penn National, Pennsylvania, Regulation, Stanley Ho, Technology, Tourism | 2 Comments

No megaresorts in Florida’s future; Big experiment at Sands Bethlehem

Posted on April 8, 2015 by David McKee

Bowing to political realities, Florida state Rep. Dana Young (R, left) has Slim-Fasted her omnibus gambling-expansion bill from 300 pages to 60. Among the items gone into the shredder was a provision for two casino megaresorts in South Florida. So, … Continue reading →

Posted in Animals, Atlantic City, Entertainment, Florida, Genting, Macau, Marketing, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Pennsylvania, Politics, Racinos, Sheldon Adelson, Singapore, Taxes, Technology | 1 Comment

Penn National exits major project

Posted on March 31, 2015 by David McKee

There’s one casino license left in Pennsylvania but favorite son Penn National Gaming won’t be the one developing it. “We are disappointed to be withdrawing from this project. However, given the continued softness in the economy and the level of market saturation … Continue reading →

Posted in Cannery Casino Resorts, Foxwoods, GLPI, Harrah's, Isle of Capri, New York, Ohio, Oklahoma, Penn National, Pennsylvania, Racinos, Technology, Tribal | Comments Off

Saving souls on Capitol Hill

Posted on March 26, 2015 by David McKee

Rep. Jason Chaffetz (R) finally got to hold his dog-and-pony show on the eeeeeeevils of Internet gambling, after a previous date had been snowed out. As expected, the proceedings “broke little new ground” on the issue. Afterward, Chaffetz condescended to … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Fontainebleau, Harrah's, Internet gambling, New York, Politics, Regulation, Revel, Sheldon Adelson, Technology, Tribal, Trump Entertainment Resorts | Comments Off

Nugget drives Louisiana; Sauce for the goose in Pennsylvania

Posted on March 19, 2015 by David McKee

Subtract the Golden Nugget Lake Charles from last month’s Louisiana gambling revenues and they’re absolutely flat with 2014. Two wannabe REITs went in opposite directions. Pinnacle Entertainment‘s aggregate Pelican State casinos were up 9% while Caesars Entertainment got hammered, down … Continue reading →

Posted in Boyd Gaming, Churchill Downs, GLPI, Greenwood Racing, Harrah's, Internet gambling, Isle of Capri, Marketing, Neil Bluhm, Pennsylvania, Pinnacle Entertainment, Politics, Racinos, Regulation, Sheldon Adelson, Taxes, Technology, Tilman Fertitta, Tropicana Entertainment | 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

Fly the friendly slots; New tax takes aim at slot routes

Posted on March 4, 2015 by David McKee

Unlike most states, Maryland hasn’t hit the saturation mark and a bill to put a slot route into Thurgood Marshall Airport will probably have little effect on that. The slots will only be accessible to ticketed passengers, with the idea … Continue reading →

Posted in Aristocrat, Cordish Co., Dotty's, Golden Gaming, Harrah's, Maryland, Michael Gaughan, Politics, Taxes, Technology, Transportation | Comments Off

Naughtiness at Las Vegas Sands; Caesars makes bankruptcy plan official

Posted on March 4, 2015 by David McKee

Sands China could have some stateside problems. Judge Elizabeth Gonzalez is mulling whether or not to slap Sands’ wrist for tampering with evidence. The documents in question are part of a wrongful-termination lawsuit brought by former Sands China CEO Steven … Continue reading →

Posted in Harrah's, IGT, International, Macau, Sheldon Adelson, Technology, The Strip | Comments Off

Caesars quits Ohio; Adelson’s Iran problem

Posted on March 2, 2015 by David McKee

Caesars Entertainment‘s portfolio is lighter to the tune of two Ohio casinos and a racino. The beleaguered company sold its 20% in Horseshoe Cleveland, Horseshoe Cincinnati and ThistleDown Racino to majority shareholder Rock Ohio Ventures, giving Dan Gilbert full control … Continue reading →

Posted in Dan Gilbert, GTECH, Hard Rock Hotel, Harrah's, IGT, International, Kentucky, Maryland, Ohio, Racinos, Regulation, Sheldon Adelson, Technology, Warner Gaming | 2 Comments

Bigamy in New York; Bluster in New Jersey

Posted on February 24, 2015 by David McKee

Empire Resorts‘ Montreign Resort Casino project has two things in common with Rivers Casino & Resort and Lago Resort & Casino (well, three if you count the fact that none has been built yet). All were chosen from among 16 … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Bally Technologies, Cordish Co., Genting, Harrah's, Neil Bluhm, New York, Penn National, Racinos, Regulation, Scientific Games, Technology | 1 Comment

Riviera’s fate sealed

Posted on February 17, 2015 by David McKee

… or soon will be. On Friday, the Las Vegas Convention & Visitors Authority is holding a board meeting at which the future of the venerable hotel-casino will be decided. On the table is a $182.5 million purchase, which values … Continue reading →

Posted in Fontainebleau, LVCVA, Movies, Riviera, Technology, The Strip, Westgate LV | Comments Off

We’re Number One; Adelson goes Disney

Posted on February 13, 2015 by David McKee

Las Vegas is officially the epicenter of the nightclub universe. Seven of the 10 top-grossing clubs in Nightclub & Bar‘s 2014 survey are on the Las Vegas Strip. The honor roll is topped by XS Nightclub, followed by Hakkasan, Marquee … Continue reading →

Posted in Cosmopolitan, Economy, Entertainment, Harrah's, Macau, MGM Mirage, Palms, Sheldon Adelson, Steve Wynn, Technology | Comments Off

Fisticuffs in Idaho; Wynn woos Bostonians

Posted on February 12, 2015 by David McKee

Idaho‘s Coeur d’Alene tribe got a taste of its own medicine when four lawmakers penned a letter to Gov. C.L. Butch Otter and to the U.S. Attorney’s office charging the tribe with being out of compliance with its compact. The … Continue reading →

Posted in Environment, Horseracing, Idaho, Massachusetts, Politics, Problem gambling, Racinos, Regulation, Steve Wynn, Technology, Transportation, Tribal | Comments Off

Golden, Scientific on the move

Posted on January 26, 2015 by David McKee

Golden Gaming continues to absorb its competitors. Its latest acquisition is Lakes Entertainment, one of the most venerable names in Midwestern gambling. Golden will pay a 37% premium to purchase Lakes at $9.57 a share. While 64% of shareholders will … Continue reading →

Posted in Bally Technologies, Golden Gaming, Horseracing, IGT, Kentucky, Maryland, Ohio, Scientific Games, Slot routes, Technology, Wall Street, WMS Industries | Comments Off

Casinos slump in Illinois, boom in Arkansas

Posted on January 20, 2015 by David McKee

Never mind that Illinois casino admissions were down 1.4 million last year and the state’s gambling houses brought in $87 million less than in 2013. Politicians are preparing to try and ram another big gaming expansion through the Legislature, counting … Continue reading →

Posted in Arkansas, Economy, Illinois, MGM Mirage, Penn National, Politics, Racinos, Taxes, Technology | Comments Off