Category Archives: The Mob

Little relief for Caesars; Atlantic City braces for labor strife

Posted on June 17, 2016 by David McKee

It’s out of the frying pan and straight into the fire for Caesars Entertainment. Federal bankruptcy court has put a temporary halt on litigation against the casino giant, giving it until Aug. 29 to cut a new deal with bondholders. … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Boyd Gaming, Carl Icahn, Donald Trump, Eldorado Resorts, Geoff Freeman, Harrah's, Illinois, Pennsylvania, Pinnacle Entertainment, Politics, Slot routes, Sports, Taxes, The Mob, The Strip, Tropicana Entertainment, Trump Entertainment Resorts, Unite-Here | Comments Off on Little relief for Caesars; Atlantic City braces for labor strife

Trump: The art of failure, Part II

Posted on March 25, 2016 by David McKee

Donald Trump‘s current ubiquity is causing the spotlight to fall upon his many setbacks in the gaming industry. “If you look at anything that guy has done in this industry, he has a lead thumb — it’s the opposite of a golden touch,” … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, California, Donald Trump, Foxwoods, Harrah's, history, Indiana, The Mob | 1 Comment

Study: Triads rampant in Macao casinos

Posted on March 3, 2016 by David McKee

Wow, what a shocker — not. A new study by T. Wing Lo and Sharon Ingrid Kwok of the City University of Hong Kong for the British Journal of Criminology reports that casino operators look for junket partners who have ‘dor’ or … Continue reading →

Posted in Election, Law enforcement, Macau, Marketing, Massachusetts, MGM Mirage, Neil Bluhm, Regulation, Rhode Island, Stanley Ho, Steve Wynn, The Mob, Tribal | Comments Off on Study: Triads rampant in Macao casinos

Another day in Adelsonia

Posted on January 5, 2016 by David McKee

After a weeks of ham-handed “managing” of the Las Vegas Review-Journal, controversial executive Michael Schroeder got the heave-ho, the apparent price of having brought unwanted attention to Sheldon Adelson‘s ownership. He was also an ethical cancer on the R-J, having … Continue reading →

Posted in Donald Trump, Harrah's, Macau, Politics, Regulation, Sheldon Adelson, Steve Wynn, The Mob, The Strip | Comments Off on Another day in Adelsonia

Catwalk beauties, oysters and organized crime at G2E

Posted on October 1, 2015 by David McKee

Pulchritude on parade was an important subtheme of this year’s Global Gaming Expo, as was showcasing Las Vegas’ many dining options. Chef Daniel Bouloud, by the way, earns our thanks for initiating “Oyster Hour” at db Brasserie in the Venetian. … Continue reading →

Posted in Dining, Entertainment, G2E, Geoff Freeman, Harrah's, Sheldon Adelson, The Mob | Comments Off on Catwalk beauties, oysters and organized crime at G2E

Quote of the Day

Posted on September 30, 2015 by David McKee

“Suffice it to say, the money was not going to college tuition.” — Virginia Commonwealth University professor Jay S. Albanese on the revelation that illegal gambling monies are flowing to biker gangs, drug dealers, and New York and Philadelphia branches … Continue reading →

Posted in G2E, New York, Pennsylvania, The Mob | Comments Off on Quote of the Day

Crime and plentitude at G2E

Posted on September 30, 2015 by David McKee

Internet gambling having been temporarily moved to a back burner, thanks to Sheldon Adelson, the American Gaming Association has turned its attention at Global Gaming Expo to organized crime, which continues to be a shadowy partner to gambling, at least … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Boyd Gaming, G2E, Genting, Geoff Freeman, Internet gambling, Macau, Maine, Massachusetts, MGM Mirage, Mohegan Sun, Neil Bluhm, Penn National, Scientific Games, Sheldon Adelson, Technology, The Mob, The Strip, Tribal, Wall Street | Comments Off on Crime and plentitude at G2E

Quote of the Day

Posted on September 8, 2015 by David McKee

“They are generous, mother-worshippers, sentimental and capable of much kindness. They are also ruthless, cruel, violent and devoid of scruples.” — Noel Coward, on the Mob members he ran across when playing the Desert Inn in 1955.

Posted in history, The Mob, The Strip | Comments Off on Quote of the Day

Quote of the Day

Posted on July 27, 2015 by David McKee

“[U]nderworld figures were reportedly told to avoid Echo’s Gold Coast property, the Jupiters Hotel & Casino, because their presence might hurt Echo’s chances to win the second Brisbane license.” — from a Global Gaming Business expose of Australian casino operator … Continue reading →

Posted in Australia, The Mob | Comments Off on Quote of the Day

Penn has big plans for Trop; It’s not easy being Steve Wynn

Posted on July 14, 2015 by David McKee

Penn National Gaming has been talking up its growth strategy to Wall Street and the Tropicana Las Vegas is central to the plan. At present, the Tropicana is pulling in just $40 million a year in casino revenues, less than … Continue reading →

Posted in California, Environment, Maine, Massachusetts, Penn National, Regulation, Station Casinos, Steve Wynn, The Mob, The Strip, Tribal, Wall Street | Comments Off on Penn has big plans for Trop; It’s not easy being Steve Wynn

GLPI ups ante for Pinnacle

Posted on July 7, 2015 by David McKee

Wall Street has been consistently saying that Gaming & Leisure Properties‘ previous offer for Pinnacle Entertainment wouldn’t get the deal done. Now GLPI has put $47.50/share on the table, to a cool response from Pinnacle management. J.P. Morgan analyst Joseph … Continue reading →

Posted in GLPI, history, International, MGM Mirage, Penn National, Pinnacle Entertainment, Sports, The Mob, The Strip, Wall Street, Wisconsin | 1 Comment

Adelson’s minions do his bidding; Seminoles lose patience

Posted on June 26, 2015 by David McKee

Two presidential aspirants, Sens. Lindsey Graham (R) and Marco Rubio (R), joined forces with a gaggle of other senators in reintroducing “Restoration of America’s Wire Act,” Sheldon Adelson‘s pet vehicle for keeping his competitors out of Internet gambling. Among those … Continue reading →

Posted in Florida, Harrah's, Internet gambling, Macau, MGM Mirage, Politics, Regulation, Sheldon Adelson, Technology, The Mob, Tribal | Comments Off on Adelson’s minions do his bidding; Seminoles lose patience

Big legal bill for Steve Wynn; SLS Las Vegas craters

Posted on June 24, 2015 by David McKee

In case Steve Wynn is having second thoughts that maybe it was a bad idea to try and muzzle stock-picker James Chanos, a federal court made it official. On top of two defeats in the courtroom, Wynn has been handed a … Continue reading →

Posted in Colony Capital, Cosmopolitan, Entertainment, Genting, James Packer, Macau, Marketing, Massachusetts, MGM Mirage, Sahara, Sam Nazarian, Sheldon Adelson, SLS Las Vegas, Steve Wynn, The Mob, The Strip, Tribal, Wall Street | Comments Off on Big legal bill for Steve Wynn; SLS Las Vegas craters

Billion-dollar bonanza in Macao; Mob boss returns

Posted on June 24, 2015 by David McKee

Casino investment in the U.S. has largely been a bust for private equity firms. However, two funds — Silver Point Capital and Oaktree Capital Management — could be about to hit the jackpot in Macao. It seems that Melco Crown … Continue reading →

Posted in Economy, International, James Packer, Lawrence Ho, Macau, Melco Crown Entertainment, MGM Mirage, Singapore, Stanley Ho, The Mob, Tourism, Wall Street | Comments Off on Billion-dollar bonanza in Macao; Mob boss returns

Sayonara, Sam; Showstopping Steve

Posted on December 17, 2014 by David McKee

When the going gets tough, Sam Nazarian gets the hell out of Dodge, although he’ll try to take some of the revenue stream with him. That’s the moral to be drawn from his withdrawal from any operational role at SLS … Continue reading →

Posted in California, Entertainment, Geoff Freeman, Regulation, Sahara, Sam Nazarian, Steve Wynn, The Mob, Wall Street | Comments Off on Sayonara, Sam; Showstopping Steve

Scandal brushes Wynn Boston

Posted on October 3, 2014 by David McKee

Federal and Massachusetts state authorities have filed charges against three men who sold land to Wynn Resorts for its Everett casino project. Mob associate Charles Lightbody, Anthony Gattineri and Dustin DeNunzio have been indicted on a spectrum of felonies that include … Continue reading →

Posted in CityCenter, Current, Massachusetts, MGM Mirage, Mohegan Sun, Regulation, Steve Wynn, The Mob, The Strip | Comments Off on Scandal brushes Wynn Boston

Hard Rock rocks Sioux City; Chris Christie’s mighty pen

Posted on August 11, 2014 by David McKee

Lost in the loud death rattle of Argosy Belle Sioux City was the opening of its successor — some would say usurper — Hard Rock Hotel & Casino. And, contrary to what naysayers would have you believe, it’s bringing a … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Economy, history, Iowa, Oscar Goodman, Penn National, Politics, Sports, The Mob, Tourism, Warner Gaming | Comments Off on Hard Rock rocks Sioux City; Chris Christie’s mighty pen

Murren on Japan; Blatstein’s big buy

Posted on March 31, 2014 by David McKee

It’s still a long haul until casinos are legalized in Japan, let alone built, but MGM Resorts International CEO Jim Murren is waxing confident. He notes that Japan’s tourism is expected to grow 100% by 2020 and another 50% by … Continue reading →

Posted in California, Foxwoods, Harrah's, Internet gambling, Japan, MGM Mirage, Mississippi, Pennsylvania, The Mob, Tourism | Comments Off on Murren on Japan; Blatstein’s big buy

Winter of discontent

Posted on January 17, 2014 by David McKee

It’s been a grim December for regional casino markets. Even Pennsylvania, once a bastion of strength, ended 2013 with a slight year/year decline. In Connecticut, a 15% revenue decline was reported at Foxwoods Resort Casino, with handle off 21%. Mohegan … Continue reading →

Posted in Boyd Gaming, Economy, Foxwoods, Harrah's, Louisiana, Marketing, Mohegan Sun, Penn National, Pennsylvania, Pinnacle Entertainment, Politics, Sheldon Adelson, Sports, Taxes, The Mob, The Strip, Tourism | Comments Off on Winter of discontent

Overexuberance in New Jersey, generosity in Maryland

Posted on December 27, 2013 by David McKee

New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie (R) is setting himself up for a fall with his blue-sky projections of Internet-gambling revenue. Eilers Research has projected that it will take two or three years for gambling revenue to reach $227 million … … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Economy, Goldman Sachs, Harrah's, history, Illinois, Internet gambling, Macau, Maryland, Massachusetts, Regulation, Slot routes, Taxes, The Mob, The Strip, Wall Street | Comments Off on Overexuberance in New Jersey, generosity in Maryland