Category Archives: Tourism

Solons press for Connecticut clarity; Macao mulls casino renewal

Posted on November 15, 2017 by David McKee

Today’s news takes us straight back to Washington, D.C., where Sens. Chris Murphy (D) and Richard Blumenthal (D) are demanding that the Bureau of Indian Affairs get off the fence and clarify its stance regarding the $300 million East Windsor … Continue reading →

Posted in Donald Trump, Economy, Election, Entertainment, Foxwoods, Macau, MGM Mirage, Mississippi, Mohegan Sun, Penn National, Pennsylvania, Politics, Regulation, Sociedade de Jogos de Macau, Tourism, Transportation, Tribal | Comments Off on Solons press for Connecticut clarity; Macao mulls casino renewal

Ohio defies the calendar; Pennsylvania vote pricks Adelson’s balloon

Posted on November 8, 2017 by David McKee

Ohio gaming revenues powered up 5.5% last month despite a supposedly “unfavorable” calendar (one less weekend day).  Except for a flat outcome at Thistledown Racino ($9.5 million), everyone was revenue positive for the month. Even Jack Cleveland snapped out of … Continue reading →

Posted in Dan Gilbert, Eldorado Resorts, Genting, Hard Rock International, Internet gambling, Japan, Ohio, Penn National, Pennsylvania, Pinnacle Entertainment, Politics, Racinos, Sheldon Adelson, Singapore, South Korea, Tourism | Comments Off on Ohio defies the calendar; Pennsylvania vote pricks Adelson’s balloon

National Harbor rules; #VegasAmnesia anyone?

Posted on November 7, 2017 by David McKee

Last week I was saying that anyone who thinks the Washington, D.C.-Baltimore corridor can absorb another casino doesn’t have their head screwed on right. Well, the latest numbers are in and S&G feels more validated than ever. Maryland Live ($46 … Continue reading →

Posted in Boyd Gaming, Colorado, Cordish Co., GLPI, Harrah's, Louisiana, Mandalay Bay Massacre, Maryland, MGM Mirage, Neil Bluhm, Penn National, Pennsylvania, Pinnacle Entertainment, Slot routes, Tourism, Wall Street, West Virginia | 1 Comment

Tally-ho, friends!; NY State casinos cry uncle

Posted on October 30, 2017 by David McKee

As Sigma Derby games at MGM Grand and The D continue to eke out a perilous existence, getting by on spare parts cannibalized from other machines, they have a new rival. Konami Gaming has taken note of the enduring popularity … Continue reading →

Posted in Baseball, Derek Stevens, Dining, Economy, Genting, IGT, International, Jeff Guard, Macau, MGM Mirage, New York, Sports, Taxes, Technology, Tourism, TV | 1 Comment

Quote of the Day

Posted on October 27, 2017 by David McKee

“I don’t want to say that I know exactly what Asians think is a period of mourning that’s appropriate, but I’ve heard that it’s sometimes a period of three months, four months, in that range.” — Caesars Entertainment CEO Mark … Continue reading →

Posted in Harrah's, International, Mandalay Bay Massacre, Tourism | 1 Comment

Less-than-Golden Week in Macao; Pac-Man devours G2E competition

Posted on October 16, 2017 by David McKee

“Somewhat disappointing” was JP Morgan analyst Joseph Greff‘s verdict on Golden Week numbers out of Macao. “Given that some VIPs visit Macau after the holiday to avoid the crowds, we note that channel checks post Golden Week indicate that gaming … Continue reading →

Posted in Charity, Economy, G2E, GameCO, Macau, Melco Resorts & Entertainment, MGM Mirage, Sheldon Adelson, Sociedade de Jogos de Macau, Steve Wynn, Technology, Tourism, Wall Street | Comments Off on Less-than-Golden Week in Macao; Pac-Man devours G2E competition

Adverse Golden Week in Macao; Ho, Caesars jockey for position in Japan

Posted on October 11, 2017 by David McKee

Golden Week is an important holiday for Macao casinos and it failed to deliver this year. Visitor traffic was down 1%, causing stocks of both Sands China and Galaxy Entertainment Group to be punished on Hong Kong‘s Hang Seng Index. … Continue reading →

Posted in Election, Galaxy Entertainment, Harrah's, Japan, Lawrence Ho, Macau, Marketing, Sheldon Adelson, Stanley Ho, Steve Wynn, Tourism, Wall Street | Comments Off on Adverse Golden Week in Macao; Ho, Caesars jockey for position in Japan

Cuomo’s overreach; Penn punts on Trop upgrade

Posted on October 5, 2017 by David McKee

Genting needs to get worried, very worried about over budgeted Resorts World Catskills. New casinos promoted in upstate New York by Gov. Andrew Cuomo (D) are grossly underperforming. The three already in operation need an incredible 4Q17 to make good on … Continue reading →

Posted in Boyd Gaming, California, Dining, Economy, Genting, Mandalay Bay Massacre, Neil Bluhm, New York, Penn National, Racinos, Taxes, The Strip, Tourism, Tribal, Wall Street | Comments Off on Cuomo’s overreach; Penn punts on Trop upgrade

“It feels like business as usual”

Posted on October 3, 2017 by David McKee

As we mentioned earlier, Deutsche Bank analyst Carlo Santarelli is in Las Vegas this week. He just released an investor note detailing the atmosphere following the tragic events of October 1. I don’t have much to add, so I will … Continue reading →

Posted in Economy, Law enforcement, Mandalay Bay Massacre, The Strip, Tourism | Comments Off on “It feels like business as usual”

Japan sets casinos up for failure; Renegade card room in California closed

Posted on August 18, 2017 by David McKee

About the nicest thing Jim Murren had to say about Japan‘s casino market is that it’s “unclear at the moment.” Casino developers are bracing themselves for delivery of a 130-page report from the Expert Committee, laying out proposed regulations for megaresorts. … Continue reading →

Posted in Arizona, Atlantic City, California, Cretins, Donald Trump, Election, history, Internet gambling, Japan, Maine, MGM Mirage, Pets, Regulation, Sheldon Adelson, Singapore, Sports, The Strip, Tilman Fertitta, Tourism, Transportation, Virginia | Comments Off on Japan sets casinos up for failure; Renegade card room in California closed

This just in: Cotai hot, Macao not; Seminoles thrash Gilbert

Posted on August 15, 2017 by David McKee

In today’s dog-bites-man story, a Wall Street analyst has belatedly concluded the obvious: that the casinos on Cotai will sap business from Macao proper. Global Market Advisors analyst Andrew Klebanow wrote, “What the industry can expect to see is a pattern … Continue reading →

Posted in Alabama, Atlantic City, Australia, Dan Gilbert, Georgia, Internet gambling, Macau, MGM Mirage, Ohio, Politics, Racinos, Seminole Tribe, Sheldon Adelson, Sociedade de Jogos de Macau, Stanley Ho, Steve Wynn, The Strip, Tilman Fertitta, Tourism, Wall Street | Comments Off on This just in: Cotai hot, Macao not; Seminoles thrash Gilbert

Cuomo’s experiment disappoints; Caesars sweet on Japan

Posted on August 14, 2017 by David McKee

Whatever marketing studies drove the conclusion that upper New York State was ripe for gambling expansion have proven to be have been seriously off the mark. Gov. Andrew Cuomo‘s three-casino addition to upstate gaming options are disappointing Albany with their … Continue reading →

Posted in Cordish Co., Genting, Greenwood Racing, Harrah's, Japan, Marketing, MGM Mirage, Neil Bluhm, New York, Pennsylvania, Regulation, Sheldon Adelson, Taxes, Technology, The Strip, Tourism, TV, Vietnam | 1 Comment

Slippage in Illinois; MGM carries Maryland

Posted on August 7, 2017 by David McKee

One less weekend day than last year proved costly for casinos in Illinois, where gaming revenue fell 2.5% in July. (It had been flat in 2016.) True, the creeping effect of slot routes may have played a role but speculation … Continue reading →

Posted in CityCenter, Cordish Co., GLPI, Golden Gaming, Harrah's, Illinois, Maryland, MGM Mirage, Neil Bluhm, Penn National, Racinos, The Strip, Tourism, West Virginia | Comments Off on Slippage in Illinois; MGM carries Maryland

Mohegan Sun rules; Conflict over e-sports

Posted on July 25, 2017 by David McKee

Executives at Mohegan Gaming Entertainment can take a victory lap this morning. Readers of USA Today voted Mohegan Sun the finest casino in America, edging out Caesars Palace for the top spot. Bracketing Caesars was another tribal casino, Pechanga Resort … Continue reading →

Posted in Arizona, Atlantic City, California, Downtown, e-sports, Foxwoods, Harrah's, Iowa, Louisiana, MGM Mirage, Mohegan Sun, Pinnacle Entertainment, Regulation, Reno, Sheldon Adelson, Station Casinos, Steve Wynn, The Strip, Tourism, Tribal | 2 Comments

Glenn Straub, gaming’s problem child; Panic in New York State

Posted on June 28, 2017 by David McKee

“We’ve been shut down now for three years. As an abandoned building, we want the value of an abandoned building, not the value of a casino hotel,” said Revel owner Glenn Straub, defending his failure to pay Casino Reinvestment Development … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, Atlantic City, Boulder Strip, Foxwoods, GameCO, Glenn Straub, history, Marketing, New York, Planet Hollywood, Politics, Racinos, Regulation, Revel, Station Casinos, Taxes, Technology, Tourism, Tribal | Comments Off on Glenn Straub, gaming’s problem child; Panic in New York State

Adelson in the catbird seat; Lui has advice for Macao

Posted on June 12, 2017 by David McKee

We’re still a long way from requests for proposals for Japanese megaresorts but one source is already tapping Las Vegas Sands as a finalist. (Hardly a radical prediction, it’s true.) The tip comes from Morningstar Investment Management Asia analyst Chelsey … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Boyd Gaming, Crown Resorts, Galaxy Entertainment, Genting, Harrah's, Japan, Law enforcement, Macau, Melco Crown Entertainment, Oklahoma, Regulation, Scientific Games, Sheldon Adelson, Singapore, Sports, Technology, Tourism, Tribal | Comments Off on Adelson in the catbird seat; Lui has advice for Macao

Murren also breaks with Trump; Adios, Vegas Vickie

Posted on June 9, 2017 by David McKee

So far, Donald Trump‘s proposal to zero out the Brand USA program is going over like a lead balloon with the gaming industry. Already American Gaming Association President Geoff Freeman has dissed the decision. Now, in a CNN op-ed, MGM Resorts … Continue reading →

Posted in Donald Trump, Economy, Foxwoods, Geoff Freeman, MGM Mirage, Mohegan Sun, Rhode Island, Sports, Technology, The Strip, Tourism, Unite-Here | Comments Off on Murren also breaks with Trump; Adios, Vegas Vickie

Illinois becalmed; Freeman breaks with Trump

Posted on June 7, 2017 by David McKee

Lawmakers in Illinois obviously don’t care about the future of the state’s 10 extant casinos, considering the next gaming expansion (following slot routes) that they are preparing to ram through. If they bothered to look at the market, they’d see … Continue reading →

Posted in Boyd Gaming, Cordish Co., Geoff Freeman, GLPI, Golden Gaming, Harrah's, Illinois, Marketing, Maryland, MGM Mirage, Neil Bluhm, Penn National, Philippines, Regulation, Slot routes, Tourism, Wall Street | Comments Off on Illinois becalmed; Freeman breaks with Trump

Solution in search of a problem; Trump causes Macao jitters

Posted on May 18, 2017 by David McKee

As it its civic duty, Plainridge Park racino pays into the local Community Mitigation Fund. Now it’s being ill-repaid by Norfolk District Attorney Michael Morrissey, who wants 75 dimes of CMF money to investigate crimes his office says are “stemming directly” … Continue reading →

Posted in Arizona, Donald Trump, Law enforcement, Macau, Massachusetts, MGM Mirage, Penn National, Politics, Regulation, Sheldon Adelson, Steve Wynn, The Strip, Tourism, Tribal, Wall Street | Comments Off on Solution in search of a problem; Trump causes Macao jitters

Big bounce in Louisiana; Poker and booze go better together

Posted on April 19, 2017 by David McKee

Compared with a flood-plagued March of 2015, business was booming  at Louisiana casinos, up 10%, especially Baton Rouge (+20.5%), although New Orleans was flat. JP Morgan analyst Joseph Greff is predicting less salubrious results in April, blaming the Easter Bunny, among … Continue reading →

Posted in Boyd Gaming, Churchill Downs, Economy, Eldorado Resorts, Foxwoods, Genting, GLPI, Harrah's, IGT, Internet gambling, Isle of Capri, Louisiana, Massachusetts, MGM Mirage, Mohegan Sun, Pinnacle Entertainment, Politics, Regulation, South Korea, Taxes, Tilman Fertitta, Tourism, Tribal, Tropicana Entertainment, Wall Street | Comments Off on Big bounce in Louisiana; Poker and booze go better together