Category Archives: Texas

Mandalay Bay mystery a labyrinth

Posted on October 6, 2017 by David McKee

As the clouds of war gather again over our great country, we’re finally gaining some clarity regarding Mandalay Bay shooter Stephen Paddock. He was that seeming oxymoron: a video poker “whale,” one who didn’t blanch at wagering $100 a spin. … Continue reading →

Posted in Boyd Gaming, Cannery Casino Resorts, Cosmopolitan, Downtown, Harrah's, Illinois, Law enforcement, Mandalay Bay Massacre, Massachusetts, Mesquite, MGM Mirage, Philippines, Politics, Problem gambling, Regulation, Reno, Texas | Comments Off on Mandalay Bay mystery a labyrinth

Adelson goes to London — sorta; Comanches zing Zinke

Posted on August 24, 2017 by David McKee

Having taken forever to build Sands Cotai Central, owner Sheldon Adelson is wasting no time re-doing it. According to Macau Business Daily, the metaresort’s four hotels — St. Regis, Sheraton Grand, Conrad and Holiday Inn — will be redecorated in a … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, Dennis Gomes, Environment, Internet gambling, Macau, Oklahoma, Regulation, Sheldon Adelson, Sports, Taxes, Texas, Tribal | Comments Off on Adelson goes to London — sorta; Comanches zing Zinke

Quote of the Day

Posted on August 16, 2017 by David McKee

“I think it’s a little hypocritical that we can have a state lottery or horse racing in Texas but we can’t let people play poker.” — state Sen. José Menendez (D) on the legal penumbra in which Texas card clubs … Continue reading →

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

Quote of the Day

Posted on August 11, 2017 by David McKee

“The two things we have to really ensure to keep going with these clubs is that poker is taking place in a private place and that other than of skill or luck there is no economic benefit to anybody. That … Continue reading →

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

Okada in the cross-hairs; Oregon poker rooms (sorta) saved

Posted on June 22, 2017 by David McKee

Could it be? Dare we hope? Gamey gaming mogul Kazuo Okada is in danger of losing his Nevada license. (Steve Wynn is quietly celebrating somewhere.) Already he’s been suspended by his own company, Universal Entertainment Corp., and his dreams of … Continue reading →

Posted in Cordish Co., Greenwood Racing, Iowa, Isle of Capri, Japan, Kazuo Okada, Missouri, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Politics, Regulation, Sports, Steve Wynn, Texas, Westgate LV | Comments Off on Okada in the cross-hairs; Oregon poker rooms (sorta) saved

They messed with Texas; Strip hotels have boom month

Posted on October 28, 2016 by David McKee

Tribal casinos are normally pretty tight-lipped about their financial performance. Not so the Alabama Coushatta Tribe of Texas. “It’s a quaint little spot and we’re pretty proud of it,” a tribal member told Houstonia magazine, speaking of Naskila Gaming, a … Continue reading →

Posted in Alabama, California, Economy, G2E, history, IGT, Marketing, Penn National, Regulation, Texas, The Strip, Tourism, Tribal, Wall Street | Comments Off on They messed with Texas; Strip hotels have boom month

Straub resurfaces; Last casino to Clarksville

Posted on September 2, 2016 by David McKee

In case you’re wondering, “Whatever happened to Glenn Straub?”, the answer is that he’s finally been dragged, kicking and screaming, into applying for a New Jersey gaming license for Revel and is finalizing the paperwork. Huffington Post also reveals than … Continue reading →

Posted in Arkansas, Atlantic City, California, Election, Environment, Foxwoods, G2E, Glenn Straub, Internet gambling, Macau, MGM Mirage, Mohegan Sun, Oklahoma, PokerStars, Politics, Regulation, Revel, Texas, Tribal | 1 Comment

Quote of the Day

Posted on July 21, 2016 by David McKee

“It is anything but a victimless crime. Just as we have partnered with law enforcement at every level, including the FBI, state attorneys general, sheriffs and chiefs of police, we look forward to supporting efforts of the Ohio Casino Control Commission … Continue reading →

Posted in Internet gambling, Law enforcement, Ohio, Texas | 1 Comment

Indiana market battered; Foxwoods branches out

Posted on June 8, 2016 by David McKee

One less weekend of business hit Indiana casinos fairly hard last month. The state’s industry was down 7%, to $186 million. Patrons were spending more — a heartening metric — but foot traffic was off nearly 12%. However, even less … Continue reading →

Posted in Ameristar, Boyd Gaming, Full House Resorts, Georgia, GLPI, Harrah's, Indiana, Majestic Star, Mississippi, Penn National, Pinnacle Entertainment, Racinos, Texas, Tribal, Tropicana Entertainment, Wall Street | 1 Comment

Sheldon’s big surprise; AGA attacks NFL silliness

Posted on May 25, 2016 by David McKee

Sheldon Adelson is feeling bullish on the Las Vegas market these days. Undeterred by the debut of T-Mobile Arena, he is proposing a 17,500-seat concert venue, to be built on underutilized land behind Venelazzo. Adelson has formed a consortium with … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, California, Downtown, Entertainment, Geoff Freeman, history, Hooters, Internet gambling, MGM Mirage, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Sheldon Adelson, Sports, Texas, The Strip | Comments Off on Sheldon’s big surprise; AGA attacks NFL silliness

Caesars’ slippery slope; Parx, Sands lead Pennsylvania

Posted on May 19, 2016 by David McKee

In 20 years of covering the gaming industry, I have rarely seen an example of looting a company so brazen as the “sale” of Total Rewards from Caesars Entertainment Operating Co. to parent Caesars Entertainment for $0.00. And since Big … Continue reading →

Posted in Boyd Gaming, Churchill Downs, Cordish Co., Dining, Eldorado Resorts, Entertainment, Greenwood Racing, Harrah's, Isle of Capri, Kansas, Louisiana, Mohegan Sun, Neil Bluhm, Oklahoma, Penn National, Pennsylvania, Pinnacle Entertainment, Planet Hollywood, Sheldon Adelson, Texas, Tribal | Comments Off on Caesars’ slippery slope; Parx, Sands lead Pennsylvania

Freeman slags Guardian; The truth remains out there

Posted on March 22, 2016 by David McKee

In a risky move, American Gaming Association President Geoff Freeman lashed out at Atlantic City Mayor Don Guardian, after the latter reiterated his opposition to northern New Jersey casinos in a spirited public debate. Hizzoner wasn’t the only skeptic: Resorts … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Downtown, Geoff Freeman, Harrah's, Law enforcement, Politics, Texas | Comments Off on Freeman slags Guardian; The truth remains out there

Vegas philanderer meets grisly fate; Hot water for Westgate

Posted on March 21, 2016 by David McKee

Phillip Frank Panzica should have wiped that grin off his face. After being caught in Las Vegas performing public sexual acts on the Vegas High Roller, he pled out to a misdemeanor charge and had scarcely returned to Texas before … Continue reading →

Posted in Law enforcement, Regulation, SLS Las Vegas, Texas, The Strip, Westgate LV | Comments Off on Vegas philanderer meets grisly fate; Hot water for Westgate

Winning quarter for Wynn

Posted on February 15, 2016 by David McKee

In the current era of managed expectations of all things related to Macao, the 4Q15 report from Wynn Resorts fell into the “better than anticipated” category, with earnings down ‘only’ 17% (superior to Wall Street consensus) and profits just over … Continue reading →

Posted in Economy, Florida, Georgia, Law enforcement, Macau, Melco Crown Entertainment, Nevada, Penn National, Pennsylvania, Regulation, Reno, Seminole Tribe, Sheldon Adelson, Steve Wynn, Texas, The Strip, Wall Street | Comments Off on Winning quarter for Wynn

The 7% solution; Grief in Texas

Posted on January 26, 2016 by David McKee

Woe betide the “Borgata Babe” who loses or gains more than 7% of her body weight. Do it and you’re out the door. This archaic — to say nothing of sexist — policy was passively reaffirmed when the New Jersey … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Boyd Gaming, California, Delaware, Election, Internet gambling, MGM Mirage, Problem gambling, Regulation, Sports, Texas, Vermont | Comments Off on The 7% solution; Grief in Texas

When you wish upon a star

Posted on December 21, 2015 by David McKee

Despite a shakeup by Gov. Greg Abbott (R, below), the Texas Racing Commission still has a death wish when it comes to “instant racing.” When, in keeping with Abbott’s wishes, the TRC held a vote to repeal the VLT gambling, … Continue reading →

Posted in California, Dining, history, Horseracing, New York, Racinos, Regulation, Texas | Comments Off on When you wish upon a star

Racinos under siege in Texas; Seminole compact no sure bet

Posted on December 9, 2015 by David McKee

Texas Gov. Greg Abbott (R) wanted the Texas Racing Commission to repeal its approval of ‘historical racing’ at Lone Star State tracks. Rather than put it on the agenda, commission Chairman Robert Schmidt handed in his gavel, exchanging the chairmanship … Continue reading →

Posted in Florida, Hard Rock International, Horseracing, Massachusetts, Penn National, Politics, Racinos, Seminole Tribe, Taxes, Technology, Texas, Tribal | Comments Off on Racinos under siege in Texas; Seminole compact no sure bet

Texas lottery gives guv Grief; The Incredible Shrinking Casino

Posted on October 23, 2015 by David McKee

Those cowpokes who run the Texas Lottery Commission have gotten a bit off the ranch. Of a proverbial fact-finding mission to the Delaware lottery, Executive Director Gary Grief said, “We were particularly interested to learn about your sports betting, Internet wagering … Continue reading →

Posted in Delaware, Horseracing, International, Internet gambling, Massachusetts, MGM Mirage, Penn National, Racinos, Regulation, Texas | Comments Off on Texas lottery gives guv Grief; The Incredible Shrinking Casino

DFS rose fast, fell faster

Posted on October 15, 2015 by David McKee

This just in: Nevada has lowered the boom on DFS operators. The fat’s in the fire for daily fantasy sports — and New Jersey might want to rethink its push for unregulated sports betting in the Garden State. According to … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Geoff Freeman, International, Louisiana, New York, Regulation, Sheldon Adelson, Sports, Texas, TV | Comments Off on DFS rose fast, fell faster

Big players accentuate the positive

Posted on September 29, 2015 by David McKee

Deutsche Bank analyst Carlo Santarelli has been a busy man these past few days, meeting with the top companies in gaming. In no special order … Boyd Gaming took the usual line on REIT conversion and acquisitions, basically saying, “If … Continue reading →

Posted in Ameristar, Boyd Gaming, Colorado, Downtown, Economy, Florida, GLPI, Illinois, International, Isle of Capri, Louisiana, Macau, Marketing, Massachusetts, MGM Mirage, Penn National, Pinnacle Entertainment, Sports, Steve Wynn, Texas, The Strip, Tilman Fertitta, Wall Street | Comments Off on Big players accentuate the positive