Category Archives: The Mob

Unwelcome surprise for Steve Wynn

Posted on November 21, 2013 by David McKee

A bomb just went off under Steve Wynn‘s $1.3 billion casino project in Everett. Multiple felon Charles Lightbody has been bragging upon his supposedly hidden ownership in the land on which Wynn has taken an option. So say confidential sources. … Continue reading →

Posted in Harrah's, Internet gambling, Marketing, Massachusetts, MGM Mirage, Sam Nazarian, Steve Wynn, The Mob, Tourism | 1 Comment

Foxwoods, Suffolk struggling in Massachusetts

Posted on November 14, 2013 by David McKee

Foxwoods Resorts Casino‘s inability to keep its financial house in order has, as predicted, caught up with it in Massachusetts. The tribally owned casino’s debt burden put it in the hot seat before the Massachusetts Gaming Commission. Chairman Stephen Crosby … Continue reading →

Posted in Election, Foxwoods, Genting, Harrah's, Internet gambling, Massachusetts, New York, Racinos, Technology, The Mob, The Strip | 1 Comment

Quote of the Day

Posted on November 6, 2013 by David McKee

“We understand transactions and licensing agreements. We understand how the [Caesars Entertainment–Gansevoort Hotel Group] relationship worked. Regulators need to be both reasonable and intelligent.” — Nevada Gaming Control Board Chairman A.G. Burnett, criticizing the Massachusetts Gaming Commission for “gotcha gaming … Continue reading →

Posted in Harrah's, Massachusetts, Regulation, The Mob | Comments Off on Quote of the Day

Big win for Wynn; Murren in the spotlight; Lies, damned lies and Sheldon Adelson

Posted on November 1, 2013 by David McKee

In a disappointing but entirely predictable result, the Nevada Supreme Court ruled that Nevada law permits employers to confiscate and redistribute tips received by employees (euphemistically referred to as “tip sharing”). Now, if a I stuck a gun in your … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Boyd Gaming, Election, Florida, Harrah's, Marketing, Massachusetts, MGM Mirage, New York, Palms, Pennsylvania, Revel, Sheldon Adelson, Sports, Steve Wynn, The Mob, Tourism | 3 Comments

Loveman must go

Posted on October 30, 2013 by David McKee

Suffolk Downs executives are trying to move on after severing ties with Caesars Entertainment. At their suitability hearing with the Massachusetts Gaming Commission (which is expected to approve them), they played dumb. They not only pleaded ignorance of Arik Kislin‘s … Continue reading →

Posted in Colorado, Maryland, Massachusetts, Regulation, The Mob | 1 Comment

Caesars tries to change the subject; Penn makes its case

Posted on October 23, 2013 by David McKee

As Caesars Entertainment skulks away from Massachusetts, tail between legs, a campaign of manufactured outrage continues to be mounted on its behalf. At its baseline is an attempt to minimize the reasons why the Massachusetts Gaming Commission was poised to … Continue reading →

Posted in Harrah's, Horseracing, Internet gambling, Maryland, Massachusetts, MGM Mirage, Penn National, Problem gambling, Regulation, Stanley Ho, The Mob | Comments Off on Caesars tries to change the subject; Penn makes its case

Case Bets: Caesars, Ceylon, Cosmo and clubbing

Posted on October 22, 2013 by David McKee

It’s G-Day plus four and questions continue to mount about Caesars Entertainment‘s partnership with the Gansevoort hotel chain. In particular, what didn’t the company’s compliance not know about Arik Kislin and when did they not know it? Suffolk Downs might … Continue reading →

Posted in Cosmopolitan, Culinary Union, Entertainment, Harrah's, International, James Packer, Macau, Sheldon Adelson, The Mob, The Strip | Comments Off on Case Bets: Caesars, Ceylon, Cosmo and clubbing

The bill that wouldn’t die; Taking a wrecking ball to “Jubilee!”

Posted on October 17, 2013 by David McKee

Illinois legislators continue to butt their heads against Gov. Pat Quinn‘s opposition to casino expansion (and a terrible gambling economy). Impervious to reality, state Rep. Robert Rita (D) is introducing yet another bill for five casinos and airport slot routes. … Continue reading →

Posted in Current, Economy, Entertainment, Harrah's, Illinois, Macau, Mississippi, Ohio, Penn National, Politics, Stanley Ho, The Mob, The Strip | Comments Off on The bill that wouldn’t die; Taking a wrecking ball to “Jubilee!”

Better times are here

Posted on September 16, 2013 by David McKee

Las Vegas remains lumbered with journalistic dinosaur Sherman Frederick, a grumbling, blogging old fussbudget who predicts doom and gloom as he tucks into his stewed prunes every morning. I’ve never run across anybody who rooted against their home town so … Continue reading →

Posted in CityCenter, Current, Economy, Entertainment, G2E, Hard Rock Hotel, Harrah's, International, MGM Mirage, Morgans Hotel Group, Phil Ruffin, The Mob, The Strip | 1 Comment

I’m shocked, shocked!

Posted on September 4, 2013 by David McKee

If you thought Pennsylvania‘s casino-selection process was more than a bit fishy, you’re not alone. Pennsylvania State Police Lt. Col. Ralph Periandi (ret.) tried to probe whether then-Gov. Ed Rendell (D) and “members of his administration and others in state … Continue reading →

Posted in Don Barden, Foxwoods, Massachusetts, Neil Bluhm, Pennsylvania, Politics, The Mob, Tribal | Comments Off on I’m shocked, shocked!

Ditched, dumped, divorced, dud; Mob Attraction on the move?

Posted on August 26, 2013 by David McKee

Once again, the Las Vegas Hotel & Casino has been the place where shows go to die. Tedious demi-musical The D* Word is going dark for good on Sept. 1. You’d never guess this self-ripoff from the author of Menopause … Continue reading →

Posted in Alex Yemenidjian, Current, Entertainment, The Mob, The Strip | 1 Comment

Quote of the Day

Posted on August 9, 2013 by David McKee

“I think the Macau government has made it very clear that it will treat every junket application in a fair and equitable way. So if anybody gets a licence I don’t see any problem for any of the concessionaires to … Continue reading →

Posted in Macau, Regulation, Stanley Ho, The Mob | Comments Off on Quote of the Day

Cosmo plunges again; Nevada signals surrender

Posted on August 5, 2013 by David McKee

Would somebody please sack the so-called casino management and marketing staff at The Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas. Everything at the Cosmo is improving except the gambling floor, which took a 20% nosedive in 2Q13, to $31 million. Losses were 25% … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Colony Capital, Cosmopolitan, Current, Dining, Internet gambling, Macau, MGM Mirage, Regulation, Sheldon Adelson, Singapore, Stanley Ho, Steve Wynn, The Mob, The Strip | 5 Comments

Hail, Caesars; Some roads lead to Foxwoods; Bluhm disappoints

Posted on July 18, 2013 by David McKee

It’s not every day that Caesars Entertainment CEO Gary Loveman has a good idea. But when he does, it’s a real brainwave. Such has proven to be the case with Caesars’ purchase of social-gaming Web firm Playtika. The latter has … Continue reading →

Posted in Hard Rock International, Harrah's, IGT, Illinois, Internet gambling, Macau, Maryland, Massachusetts, MGM Mirage, Neil Bluhm, Pansy Ho, Penn National, Pennsylvania, Politics, Regulation, Stanley Ho, Station Casinos, Taxes, The Mob, Transportation, Tribal | Comments Off on Hail, Caesars; Some roads lead to Foxwoods; Bluhm disappoints

Quote of the Day

Posted on July 8, 2013 by David McKee

“In March, 26 year-old Xiao Ye Bai began serving a life term for stabbing a man to death in a crowded karaoke bar near the Strip. Prosecutors said Bai was a martial-arts trained enforcer for the Taiwan-based triad United Bamboo, … Continue reading →

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

Macao: Light and darkness

Posted on June 17, 2013 by David McKee

If you read Bloomberg News last week, Macao is tantamount to Disneyland, at least if you visit Venetian Macao, which is “home to a fake grand canal, crooning gondoliers and brands from McDonald’s to Dior.” The amenity-laden style of Sheldon … Continue reading →

Posted in Macau, Marketing, MGM Mirage, Regulation, Sheldon Adelson, Stanley Ho, Steve Wynn, The Mob, Tourism | 1 Comment

Quote of the Day

Posted on May 17, 2013 by David McKee

Found by Vintage Vegas Valley, a Facebook page you really should “like.” As in, right this minute.

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

Land of the Rising Hope

Posted on April 29, 2013 by David McKee

Every few years, brows are knitted earnestly in discussion of whether this will finally be the year in which Japan legalizes casino gambling. I’ve been hearing versions of this debate regularly since 2005, so you’ll pardon me if I suppress … Continue reading →

Posted in Current, Genting, International, Lawrence Ho, Macau, Melco Crown Entertainment, MGM Mirage, Sheldon Adelson, Singapore, Steve Wynn, Taxes, The Mob, The Strip, Tourism, Wall Street | Comments Off on Land of the Rising Hope

Adelson: Yes, we did! Wait, no, we didn’t! Well, OK, sorta … but not really!

Posted on March 5, 2013 by David McKee

“On the U.S. side … we view the State of Nevada as having uninspiring oversight of activities occurring in Macau. For every gap of oversight that exists from the Nevada Gaming Control Board or Nevada Gaming Commission, the U.S. Federal … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Current, history, International, Internet gambling, Macau, Movies, Politics, Regulation, Sheldon Adelson, Stanley Ho, Steve Wynn, The Mob, Wall Street | 3 Comments

MGM back into Atlantic City?

Posted on February 8, 2013 by David McKee

MGM Resorts International has a 50% stake in Borgata that nobody wants … except MGM. In bolstering move that Atlantic City sorely needs, MGM may get to reclaim its half of the resort (with the support of partner Boyd Gaming), … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Boyd Gaming, Current, Economy, Election, Horseracing, Internet gambling, Macau, Maryland, Massachusetts, MGM Mirage, Penn National, Regulation, Stanley Ho, The Mob | 1 Comment