Category Archives: Tribal

The wrath of Icahn

Posted on June 11, 2019 by David McKee

Investment bankers BidaskClub aren’t buying Caesars Entertainment. Literally. In an almost-unheard-of development in gaming, Bidask put a “sell” recommendation on low-priced CZR shares. Perhaps this reflects caution over Caesars’ still-massive debt overhang or of the additional debt that would be … Continue reading →

Posted in Arizona, Caesars Entertainment, Carl Icahn, CityCenter, Cosmopolitan, DFS, Eldorado Resorts, Illinois, Lotteries, Mandalay Bay Massacre, MGM Resorts International, Regulation, Resort fees, Sports betting, The Strip, Tilman Fertitta, Tribal, Wall Street, West Virginia | Comments Off

Wire Act reversal reversed; China scare for Las Vegas

Posted on June 10, 2019 by David McKee

A federal judge dealt a major defeat to the Justice Department in its efforts to reinterpret the Federal Wire Act as a ban on Internet gambling. Nope, only sports betting ruled Judge Paul Barbadoro. The ruling is a boon to … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Caesars Entertainment, Economy, Eldorado Resorts, Entertainment, Florida, Hard Rock International, Indiana, International, Internet gambling, Law enforcement, Lotteries, Marketing, Mohegan Sun, Ocean Resort, Palms, Pennsylvania, Regulation, Seminole Tribe, Sheldon Adelson, Singapore, Sports betting, Station Casinos, Tourism, Tribal, Unite-Here, Wall Street, World Series of Poker | Comments Off

Anxiety over Japan; Profit squeeze in Atlantic City

Posted on May 28, 2019 by David McKee

Think Japan‘s going to have casinos open in time for the 2025 World Expo? Think again. Shinzo Abe‘s ruling Liberal Democratic Party is postponing the regulations governing casino bidding until after next year’s elections. That’s bad news for Osaka, in particular, … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Caesars Entertainment, Economy, Eldorado Resorts, Hard Rock International, Internet gambling, Japan, Las Vegas Sands, Melco Resorts & Entertainment, MGM Resorts International, Mohegan Sun, North Carolina, Ocean Resort, Politics, Sports betting, Tribal, Wall Street | 1 Comment

Worries from the Far East & other Case Bets

Posted on May 22, 2019 by David McKee

This goes in the Not A Great Idea file. Macao, still down from its go-go years, is thinking of implementing a tax on tourists. No kidding. It’s even gathering poll data on how the money should be spent, even before … Continue reading →

Posted in Economy, Japan, Las Vegas Sands, M Resort, Macau, Penn National, Pennsylvania, Sheldon Adelson, Taxes, Tribal | Comments Off

Tribe trumps Trump; Rockford pleads for casino

Posted on May 20, 2019 by David McKee

Despite being thrown off the fast-track legislative calendar by a blast of hot air from Donald Trump, a bill to restore land-in-trust status to the Mashpee Wampanoags has sailed through the House of Representatives, 257-146 in a bipartisan win. “Without support … Continue reading →

Posted in Aristocrat, Caesars Entertainment, Culinary Union, Donald Trump, Genting, Illinois, Indiana, Law enforcement, Marketing, Massachusetts, Nevada, Technology, Tribal, Unite-Here, Wisconsin | 2 Comments

Illinois agonizes over expansion; Frustration in Connecticut

Posted on May 14, 2019 by David McKee

Always looking for ways to kill the golden goose, Illinois lawmakers are contemplating gambling expansion yet again. Slot route operators are understandably balking at Gov. J.B. Pritzker‘s proposal to raise the current 30% tax rate to a 50/50 split with … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, Connecticut, Foxwoods, Illinois, Internet gambling, Las Vegas Sands, Macau, MGM Resorts International, Mohegan Sun, New Jersey, New York, Politics, Resort fees, Slot routes, Sports betting, The Strip, Tribal | Comments Off

Ruffin’s move

Posted on May 14, 2019 by David McKee

Phil Ruffin is in the hunt for Caesars Entertainment … well, sort of. He said he’s interested in individual Las Vegas Strip properties, clearly anticipating some kind of sell-down to deleverage an Eldorado Resorts or Tilman Fertitta acquisition of the … Continue reading →

Posted in AGA, Arkansas, Caesars Entertainment, Eldorado Resorts, Law enforcement, North Carolina, Phil Ruffin, Politics, Sports, Sports betting, Station Casinos, Taxes, The Strip, Tilman Fertitta, Tribal, Westgate LV | 1 Comment

MGM, Adelson tussle for Japan; Wynn pouts over fine

Posted on May 13, 2019 by David McKee

Everybody wants to be in Osaka, now that it’s open for casino development and the Osakanese government strongly covets a casino, one hopefully that would be open in time for the 2025 World Expo. Among the entrants, Las Vegas Sands, … Continue reading →

Posted in Dining, Galaxy Entertainment, Genting, Japan, Las Vegas Sands, Lotteries, Massachusetts, Melco Resorts & Entertainment, MGM Resorts International, Mohegan Sun, Politics, Regulation, Singapore, Sports betting, Transportation, Tribal, Wynn Resorts | Comments Off

Wynn disappoints, MGM expectations managed

Posted on May 13, 2019 by David McKee

Although Wynn Resorts reported $1.6 billion in revenue for 1Q19, Credit Suisse analyst Ben Combes called the numbers “disappointing … We remain Neutral on WYNN, given macro uncertainty and policy risk in Macau and China. Our forward macro indicators are … Continue reading →

Posted in Boyd Gaming, Caesars Entertainment, Crown Resorts, Eldorado Resorts, Full House Resorts, Indiana, Lotteries, Macau, MGM Resorts International, Penn National, Scientific Games, Spectacle Entertainment, Sports, The Strip, Tribal, Wall Street, Wynn Resorts | Comments Off

Solid month for Maryland; Casino sale aborted

Posted on May 7, 2019 by David McKee

Maryland casino revenues inched up to $145 million last month, led by MGM National Harbor with $61 million and 42% of market share. Maryland Live, no surprise, was second with 33% and $48 million (+2%). Horseshoe Baltimore grossed $20 million … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Caesars Entertainment, Churchill Downs, Cordish Co., GLPI, Golden Gaming, Illinois, Internet gambling, Iowa, Lotteries, Macau, Maryland, Melco Resorts & Entertainment, MGM Resorts International, Missouri, Mohegan Sun, Nebraska, Penn National, Politics, Regulation, Sports betting, Tribal, TV, Wall Street, West Virginia | Comments Off

Eldorado strong, Penn stronger; Caesars screws you

Posted on May 3, 2019 by David McKee

Were it not for inclement weather, Eldorado Resorts would have exceeded Wall Street’s consensus $172 million cash-flow prediction by $8 million for 1Q19, not come up $5 million short. For instance, Reno (pictured) had snow in 24 of February’s 28 days … Continue reading →

Posted in Arizona, Atlantic City, Caesars Entertainment, Colorado, Cordish Co., Cretins, Culinary Union, Detroit, Dining, Economy, Eldorado Resorts, Florida, Hard Rock International, Illinois, Internet gambling, Iowa, Macau, Massachusetts, MGM Resorts International, Mississippi, Penn National, Pennsylvania, Pinnacle Entertainment, Racinos, Regulation, Reno, Sports betting, Station Casinos, Tribal, Wall Street, West Virginia, Wynn Resorts | Comments Off

Quote of the Day

Posted on May 3, 2019 by David McKee

“[There] is a deeply wrongheaded habit to project today’s norms, values, ideals backwards in time to find our ancestors inevitably falling short. It betrays a very troubling intolerance of art and the ambiguity of art and the aspirations of art.” — … Continue reading →

Posted in California, history, Politics, Tribal | Comments Off

Boyd, Churchill Downs garner raves; Indiana governor seduced

Posted on April 26, 2019 by David McKee

Boyd Gaming got a good review on Wall Street today, lauded both for slightly surpassing revenue expectations and for moving quickly to deleverage in the wake of the Valley Forge, Belterra and Ameristar acquisitions. Downtown continues to be Boyd’s bastion … Continue reading →

Posted in Ameristar, Boyd Gaming, Caesars Entertainment, California, Charity, Churchill Downs, Current, Derek Stevens, Downtown, Florida, Hawaii, Horseracing, Illinois, Iowa, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Mississippi, Ohio, Palms, Pennsylvania, Politics, Racinos, Rhode Island, Slot routes, Spectacle Entertainment, Sports betting, Station Casinos, Taxes, Tribal, Wall Street, West Virginia, Westgate LV | 1 Comment

Nevada: Strip weak, locals strong; Busing it to Macao

Posted on April 25, 2019 by David McKee

Las Vegas Strip gambling revenues were down 4% last month to $552 million. Some of that is attributable to an impossible baccarat comparison. In March 2018, baccarat win was up 118%. Last month it was down 56% on 43% less … Continue reading →

Posted in Animals, Architecture, Arkansas, Australia, Boulder Strip, Downtown, Lake Tahoe, Laughlin, Lotteries, Macau, Mesquite, Nevada, New Mexico, North Las Vegas, Reno, South Korea, Sports betting, The Strip, Tourism, Transportation, Tribal | 1 Comment

War of the Palms; Odds on the Avengers

Posted on April 25, 2019 by David McKee

In its latest salvo against Station Casinos, the Culinary Union has commissioned a study to determine if the Palms will achieve an ROI pleasing to Wall Street. Its conclusion is that the revamped casino-hotel will need to generate cash flow … Continue reading →

Posted in Churchill Downs, Culinary Union, Downtown, Kentucky, Movies, Palms, Station Casinos, Terry Caudill, Tribal, Wall Street | Comments Off

Sands gets spanked; Palms (almost) loses its name

Posted on April 22, 2019 by David McKee

Las Vegas Sands is on its way out of Pennsylvania but not before receiving two swift kicks in the posterior from Keystone State regulators. The casino was fined $120,000 for allowing underage gaming and $110,000 for offenses related to the … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, Boyd Gaming, Caesars Entertainment, Churchill Downs, CityCenter, Eldorado Resorts, Environment, Greenwood Racing, history, Horseracing, Indiana, Japan, Las Vegas Sands, Law enforcement, Mississippi, Mohegan Sun, Ohio, Palms, Penn National, Pennsylvania, Regulation, Resort fees, Rush Street Gaming, Slot routes, Station Casinos, Technology, Tribal, Virgin Hotels, Wisconsin | Comments Off

Tunica: Another one bites the dust

Posted on April 18, 2019 by David McKee

Even before Arkansas casinos could clear their holsters, a third Tunica property has bitten the dust. Penn National Gaming took the hit, as Resorts Casino Tunica was announced to close on June 30, leaving six casinos in the rural Mississippi … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, Arkansas, Caesars Entertainment, California, Colony Capital, Economy, GLPI, Mississippi, Penn National, Tribal, Washington State | 1 Comment

Nebraskans hope fifth time is the charm

Posted on April 15, 2019 by David McKee

It’s try-again time for casinos in Nebraska. Ho-Chunk Inc. CEO Lance Morgan announced last week that ballot language had been filed with the secretary of state’s office to authorize casino gambling at the state’s horse tracks, generating a projected $50 … Continue reading →

Posted in Election, Horseracing, Iowa, Nebraska, Racinos, Tribal | Comments Off

The Legend of Ted’s Treasure; Slot routes in Missouri?

Posted on April 12, 2019 by David McKee

Ted Binion is long since dead and buried. So, legend has it, is his treasure. Binion’s corpse wasn’t even cold before sleazy Rick Tabish was caught digging up the casino heir’s silver vault in scenic Pahrump (a sheriff’s deputy discovered … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Boyd Gaming, Cretins, history, Marketing, Missouri, North Carolina, Ocean Resort, Pahrump, Penn National, Politics, Slot routes, Sports betting, Tribal | Comments Off

Around the horn

Posted on April 11, 2019 by David McKee

Gambling revenue hit a record amount in Maryland last month, up 9% to $164 million. The good news for MGM National Harbor was that winnings were up 4% to $64 million. The bad news is that this was driven by … Continue reading →

Posted in Affinity Gaming, Ameristar, Boyd Gaming, Caesars Entertainment, Churchill Downs, Cordish Co., Dan Gilbert, Eldorado Resorts, Full House Resorts, GLPI, Golden Gaming, Hard Rock International, Illinois, Indiana, Isle of Capri, Maryland, MGM Resorts International, Missouri, Ohio, Penn National, Racinos, Rush Street Gaming, Taxes, Tribal, Wall Street, West Virginia | Comments Off