Category Archives: Technology

Revel draws more interest; Risky business

Posted on September 16, 2014 by David McKee

Glenn Straub having put $130 million in escrow just in case his $90 million, all-cash bid on Revel doesn’t do the trick, other bidders are tipping their hands. Money doesn’t mean much to California developer Richard Meruelo, who forfeited a … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Glenn Straub, Neil Bluhm, Ohio, Penn National, Pennsylvania, Regulation, Revel, Technology, Tilman Fertitta | 1 Comment

Case Bets: Wisconsin, Nebraska, Alabama

Posted on September 15, 2014 by David McKee

Jumping the gun, the Menominee Nation has launched a site for job-seekers at its hoped-for Dairyland Park casino. The landing page promises “Opening Soon Pending Approval.” (Did you notice how they jumped over that pesky construction phase?) The Forest County Potowatomi … Continue reading →

Posted in Alabama, Hard Rock International, Horseracing, Racinos, Technology, Tribal, Wisconsin | Comments Off

Can’t stop the consolidation

Posted on September 9, 2014 by David McKee

Continuing the shrinkage of the manufacturing sector, Global Cash Access is taking another chess piece — Multimedia Games — off the board. GCA will pay $1.1 billion for Multimedia, which specializes in VLTs for racinos and tribal markets.The price represented … Continue reading →

Posted in Arizona, Foxwoods, Hard Rock International, Harrah's, MTR Gaming, Ohio, Penn National, Pinnacle Entertainment, Racinos, Regulation, Technology, Tribal | Comments Off

Trump card played; NBA embraces sports betting

Posted on September 5, 2014 by David McKee

Can casino-based Internet gambling keep going after the host casino has ceased to be? That’s the existential question faced by New Jersey regulators. Although it is closing Trump Plaza, owner Trump Entertainment Resorts wants to continue the property’s online-gambling platform, … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Golden Gaming, Internet gambling, Sports, Technology, Trump Entertainment Resorts | 1 Comment

Penny pinchers; Tribal warfare in New Mexico; Who’s tops in Macao?

Posted on July 24, 2014 by David McKee

Although the hold on penny slots in Illinois casinos is grotesquely higher than that for quarter slots/video poker, the imaginary value of penny machines makes them by far the most popular genre in the state. Punters dropped $41 million into … Continue reading →

Posted in Election, Illinois, Macau, Melco Crown Entertainment, MGM Mirage, Neil Bluhm, Penn National, Sheldon Adelson, Stanley Ho, Steve Wynn, Technology, Tribal | 1 Comment

Has tribal gaming peaked?

Posted on July 24, 2014 by David McKee

That’s the import of remarks by Assistant Secretary for Indian Affairs Kevin Washburn, testifying before a Senate committee. Not only have revenues plateaued in the $26 billion-$28 billion range, they’ve essentially been the same since 2007. Meanwhile, private-sector gambling is … Continue reading →

Posted in Horseracing, Kentucky, Regulation, Technology, Texas, Tribal | Comments Off

Prosperity in Detroit? You bet; Penn’s persistence

Posted on July 18, 2014 by David McKee

Those busy boffins at the American Gaming Association have been crunching data from Detroit and come up with some interesting statistics. The three Motown casinos are a bit lighter in the workforce (down 4%), having lost or laid off 350 … Continue reading →

Posted in Economy, Election, Massachusetts, MGM Mirage, Missouri, Penn National, Regulation, Taxes, Technology, Tropicana Entertainment | Comments Off

Take my casino, please; Nail-biter in Iowa

Posted on July 17, 2014 by David McKee

Rather than accept three potential casino closings as a fait accompli, Unite-Here is out beating the bushes for potential buyers. Given, the casinos aren’t Unite-Here’s to sell but there’s no law that says the union can’t play matchmaker. “We want the world … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Carl Icahn, Columbia Sussex, GTECH, Hard Rock International, Harrah's, IGT, Internet gambling, Iowa, Penn National, Regulation, Revel, Technology, Tropicana Entertainment, Trump Entertainment Resorts | 1 Comment

Station’s big hit; Tribal roundup

Posted on July 8, 2014 by David McKee

There’s no doubt that Graton Resort, less than an hour’s driving distance from San Francisco, has been a success for Station Casinos. We just didn’t know how much. In addition to earning a $7.4 million management fee during 1Q14, Station … Continue reading →

Posted in California, Florida, Kansas, Regulation, Station Casinos, Technology, Tribal, Wall Street | 1 Comment

Freeman’s strange plea; Aristocrat on the move

Posted on June 26, 2014 by David McKee

This morning, a strange letter landed upon my cyber-desk, signed by American Gaming Association Senior Vice President of Public Affairs Sara Rayme. However, it’s perfectly congruent with the aggressive tendencies of AGA President Geoff Freeman, so I look upon him … Continue reading →

Posted in Aristocrat, Geoff Freeman, IGT, Internet gambling, Politics, Technology, Texas, Tribal | Comments Off

Gentlemen, grab your joysticks; Massachusetts: Another day, another poll

Posted on June 20, 2014 by David McKee

Video-game/slot hybrids have been licensed by the Nevada Gaming Commission and will be on display for your entertainment at the next Global Gaming Expo. The lucky winner was Gamblit Gaming, which is owned by American Capital by way of Hard … Continue reading →

Posted in Election, G2E, Hard Rock International, Harrah's, Internet gambling, Massachusetts, New York, Regulation, Technology, Uncategorized | Comments Off

Flip-floppery in Iowa; Affleck banned again?

Posted on June 12, 2014 by David McKee

Barring an emergency injunction, Belle of Sioux City is doomed to shut down on July 1, a federal bankruptcy judge having been deaf to Penn National Gaming‘s pleas. Penn is arguing that the Iowa Racing & Gaming Commission overstepped its authority … Continue reading →

Posted in Detroit, Dining, Downtown, Economy, Harrah's, Iowa, Penn National, Regulation, Steve Wynn, Technology, Warner Gaming | Comments Off

Big vote on Boardwalk; Horsey antics in Texas

Posted on June 10, 2014 by David McKee

“It’s going to be a very complicated and difficult negotiation.” So admits Unite-Here President Robert McDevitt of the mid-September scrum when all the casino collective bargaining agreements come up for renewal. McDevitt’s still tasting victory from last week’s vote at … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Boyd Gaming, Donald Trump, Horseracing, Kentucky, MGM Mirage, Racinos, Regulation, Revel, Technology, Texas | Comments Off

Quote of the Day

Posted on June 5, 2014 by David McKee

“Not only are they getting a lot of knowledge that’s not available anywhere else, they’re getting patent work done for free; they’re getting mathematical analysis done for free—they are getting to a point which most inventors never get to. And … Continue reading →

Posted in Technology | Comments Off

May in Macao; Brave new slots

Posted on June 5, 2014 by David McKee

Given “softer than expected” numbers out of Macao, expect Wall Street analysts to dial down their expectations for the balance of the year. Gaming revenues rose ‘only’ 9% instead of the expected double digits and there was a surprise leader … Continue reading →

Posted in Bally Technologies, Boulder Strip, Macau, Melco Crown Entertainment, MGM Mirage, Regulation, Sheldon Adelson, Stanley Ho, Station Casinos, Steve Wynn, Technology, Wall Street | Comments Off

Tilting the odds; The week of bad taste

Posted on June 4, 2014 by David McKee

Slot machines, we’re constantly being told, just aren’t on with the younger generation. Weaned on video games, millennials want something more skill-based. Insert Coins owner Christopher LaPorte aims to give them what they want. For the unfamiliar, Insert Coins is … Continue reading →

Posted in Downtown, Election, Marketing, Regulation, Sam Nazarian, Technology | 2 Comments

Adelson vs. Loveman: Splitting the difference

Posted on May 30, 2014 by David McKee

“One of the things I’ve learned in this industry is we are extraordinarily competent at shooting at one another.” So said American Gaming Association President Geoff Freeman after getting caught in the crossfire over Internet gambling. So, as the industry … Continue reading →

Posted in Geoff Freeman, Hard Rock Hotel, Harrah's, Internet gambling, Macau, Politics, Sheldon Adelson, Technology, The Strip, Warner Gaming, World Series of Poker | 1 Comment

Keeping with the times; Inside Bally’s palace coup

Posted on May 20, 2014 by David McKee

For people like myself, whose formative experiences of Las Vegas took place 10-plus years ago, it’s important to go with the flow. For instance, the ever-burgeoning and remunerative nightclub business. When SLS Las Vegas opens Life, bottle service will be … Continue reading →

Posted in Bally Technologies, Election, Entertainment, Harrah's, Rhode Island, Sam Nazarian, Shuffle Master, Steve Wynn, Technology, The Strip, Wall Street | Comments Off

Fertitta breaks ranks; Roll them bones

Posted on May 19, 2014 by David McKee

Golden Nugget owner Tilman Fertitta, 56, may be a Baby Boomer himself, but he’s not satisfied with his Boomer-centric clientele. As he told the Southern Gaming Summit, “One of my scariest things that is young people do not play slot machines.” … Continue reading →

Posted in Downtown, Geoff Freeman, Massachusetts, Sheldon Adelson, Steve Wynn, Technology, Tilman Fertitta | 2 Comments

New York: The rush is on; Baloney in Philly

Posted on May 13, 2014 by David McKee

New York State has come out with its required minimum casino investments, which range from $70 million to $350 million, although the reality is a complicated formula too tortuous to unravel here, laden with ‘ifs,’ ‘ands’ and ‘buts.’ (The $350 … Continue reading →

Posted in Downtown, Economy, Genting, Harrah's, Internet gambling, New York, Pennsylvania, Shuffle Master, Technology, Tribal | Comments Off