Category Archives: Tribal

Wall Street loves Red Rock; ColSux foiled again

Posted on May 24, 2016 by David McKee

Wall Street analysts are initiating coverage of Red Rock Resorts and they like what they see. JP Morgan‘s Joseph Greff put a $25 price target on the stock, emboldened in part by RRR’s acquisition of the Palms and its growing … Continue reading →

Posted in Columbia Sussex, Dining, Downtown, Economy, Environment, Harrah's, history, Kentucky, Palms, Reno, Station Casinos, The Strip, Tribal | Comments Off on Wall Street loves Red Rock; ColSux foiled again

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

MGM prevails, Wynn slowed in Massachusetts

Posted on May 13, 2016 by David McKee

Bowing to the inevitable, the Massachusetts Gaming Commission ratified MGM Resorts International‘s redesign of MGM Springfield, on which the casino company is already hard at work. What was the MGC to do? Tell MGM to go back to Square One? … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, Environment, International, Internet gambling, Massachusetts, MGM Mirage, Mohegan Sun, Politics, Regulation, Steve Wynn, Transportation, Tribal | Comments Off on MGM prevails, Wynn slowed in Massachusetts

Quote of the Day

Posted on May 12, 2016 by David McKee

“Tribes are sovereign. But their casinos employ non-Indian workers. One argument used to sell casinos to the public is that they provide jobs. Those jobs should come with basic protections afforded by federal law.” — the Sacramento Bee on HR … Continue reading →

Posted in Politics, Tribal | Comments Off on Quote of the Day

Wampanoags’ patience rewarded; March Mildness at Vegas sports books

Posted on May 3, 2016 by David McKee

Those who set store by the fable of the tortoise and the hare can take heart from the saga of the Mashpee Wampanoag. It took them a long time to get their act together, federal land-in-trust approval seemed unlikely and … Continue reading →

Posted in California, Economy, history, Massachusetts, Politics, Regulation, Sports, Tribal | Comments Off on Wampanoags’ patience rewarded; March Mildness at Vegas sports books

Dicey casino drive calls it quits; Steve Wynn’s newest mousetrap

Posted on May 2, 2016 by David McKee

Casino speculator Shawn Scott is skulking out of Maine, his attorney having withdrawn an appeal of Superior Court Justice Michaela Murphy’s ruling on the (in)validity of petitions filed by Scott and his sister Lisa, who was bankrolling the referendum drive. … Continue reading →

Posted in California, Economy, Election, Encore, Entertainment, Kansas, Law enforcement, Louisiana, Macau, Maine, Massachusetts, Mohegan Sun, Sports, Steve Wynn, Tribal | Comments Off on Dicey casino drive calls it quits; Steve Wynn’s newest mousetrap

Brockton casino nixed; The sleeping tiger

Posted on May 2, 2016 by David McKee

An “uninspiring” design and a lack of a solid Brockton business plan scuppered Neil Bluhm‘s ambitions in Massachusetts. The state’s gaming commission voted his proposal down, 4-1. “If this were a knockout proposal and a great strategy to lift Brockton, this … Continue reading →

Posted in Delaware, Economy, International, Massachusetts, Neil Bluhm, Politics, Racinos, Regulation, Sheldon Adelson, Singapore, Taxes, Tribal | 2 Comments

Case Bets: California, Florida, Minnesota, Macao

Posted on April 28, 2016 by David McKee

In a dramatic development, the six-tribe coalition that opposed letting PokerStars into California stood aside, clearing the path to unanimous approval by the Assembly Governmental Organization Committee of a bill by state Rep. Adam Gray that would legalize online poker in … Continue reading →

Posted in California, Election, Florida, Galaxy Entertainment, history, Horseracing, Internet gambling, Macau, Minnesota, PokerStars, Politics, Taxes, Tribal | Comments Off on Case Bets: California, Florida, Minnesota, Macao

Macao junketeers left holding the bag; Lionel Richie wows the ladies

Posted on April 28, 2016 by David McKee

We could see another shakeout in Macao junket operators. According to Daiwa Securities Group, most of the industry is “struggling just to break even.” Part of that problem is that they’re carrying almost $3,9 billion in bad debt — and you … Continue reading →

Posted in Australia, Economy, Entertainment, Foxwoods, International, Macau, Marketing, Melco Crown Entertainment, Mohegan Sun, Penn National, Planet Hollywood, Regulation, Sheldon Adelson, South Dakota, Sports, Steve Wynn, Taxes, The Strip, Tribal, Wall Street | Comments Off on Macao junketeers left holding the bag; Lionel Richie wows the ladies

It’s official: Boyd buys Cannery; Massachusetts’ agonizing dilemma

Posted on April 26, 2016 by David McKee

Confirming the worst-kept secret in Las Vegas, suddenly acquisitive Boyd Gaming announced that it was buying out Cannery Casino Resorts. The price ($230 million) was toward the lower end of Wall Street had predicted for the deal and means the … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Boulder Strip, Boyd Gaming, Cannery Casino Resorts, Downtown, Economy, Massachusetts, Neil Bluhm, North Las Vegas, Penn National, Regulation, Taxes, The Strip, Tourism, Tribal, Wall Street | Comments Off on It’s official: Boyd buys Cannery; Massachusetts’ agonizing dilemma

What did Wynn know and when did it know it?; MGM REIT a hit

Posted on April 26, 2016 by David McKee

An unwelcome sideshow for Wynn Boston Harbor is playing out in a Massachusetts courtroom, in a court case of “excruciating details.” What is at issue is whether Dustin DeNunzio, Anthony Gattineri and Charles Lightbody attempted to defraud Wynn Resorts by concealing convicted … Continue reading →

Posted in Internet gambling, Law enforcement, Massachusetts, MGM Mirage, Oklahoma, Regulation, Sheldon Adelson, Singapore, Steve Wynn, Tribal, Wall Street | Comments Off on What did Wynn know and when did it know it?; MGM REIT a hit

Ethnic insensitivity in Oregon; Penn’s last stand in Iowa

Posted on April 20, 2016 by David McKee

A TV ad campaign for Oregon state-sponsored VLTs has riled up the Coquille Indian Tribe, not least because it depicts the Lewis & Clark Expedition happening upon video gaming in wilderness that has been ethnically cleansed of Native Americans. Coquille Chairman … Continue reading →

Posted in California, Delaware, Economy, Internet gambling, Iowa, Macau, Marketing, Penn National, Regulation, Tourism, Transportation, Tribal, Warner Gaming | Comments Off on Ethnic insensitivity in Oregon; Penn’s last stand in Iowa

Could a Chicago casino be in the works?; High-flown idea for Vegas

Posted on April 15, 2016 by David McKee

Taking a page from Kansas, lawmakers in Illinois are exploring the idea of a state-owned casino. A bill before the House Executive Committee would authorized a super-sized casino (up to 10,000 slots) in Chicago, with the proceeds dedicated to “public … Continue reading →

Posted in Illinois, Neil Bluhm, New York, Politics, The Strip, Tribal | 1 Comment

Icahn promises little, gets OK’d anyway; Tribal generosity in California

Posted on April 14, 2016 by David McKee

Carl Icahn is officially the owner of Trump Taj Mahal, having received the blessing of the New Jersey Casino Control Commission. The OK was given despite Icahn’s having reneged on his promise of a $100 million capex infusion into the … Continue reading →

Posted in Alabama, Atlantic City, California, Carl Icahn, Donald Trump, Genting, International, Penn National, Tribal, Tropicana Entertainment | Comments Off on Icahn promises little, gets OK’d anyway; Tribal generosity in California

Smoke gets in their eyes; Tax breaks all around

Posted on April 14, 2016 by David McKee

Yesterday morning, it looked like Baton Rouge casinos were going to have to brace themselves for a smoking ban. Today, they’re lighting up celebratory cigars in relief: While proponents of the smoking ban on the city council had six votes, … Continue reading →

Posted in Boyd Gaming, Environment, GLPI, Harrah's, Louisiana, New York, Pinnacle Entertainment, Regulation, Reno, Taxes, Tribal, Tropicana Entertainment, Wall Street | Comments Off on Smoke gets in their eyes; Tax breaks all around

New life for California online poker?; Maine casino push struggles to stay alive

Posted on April 13, 2016 by David McKee

Online poker is described as being “as close as [it’s] ever been” to legalization in California. So says California Nations Indian Gaming Association Chairman Steve Stallings, as a bill by Assemblyman Adam Gray shows signs of advancing. The primary obstacle, as ever, … Continue reading →

Posted in Dan Gilbert, Detroit, Election, Internet gambling, Maine, MGM Mirage, PokerStars, Taxes, Tribal | Comments Off on New life for California online poker?; Maine casino push struggles to stay alive

Quote of the Day

Posted on April 13, 2016 by David McKee

“This casino project takes a significant piece of property off the tax rolls, and this is a problem for a county that has the dubious distinction of having the highest percentage of tax-exempt properties in the whole state. I think if … Continue reading →

Posted in Indiana, Taxes, Tribal | Comments Off on Quote of the Day

Lobbyists win in Atlantic City fight; Untimely reprimand for Bluhm

Posted on April 12, 2016 by David McKee

As Atlantic City fights to maintain its monopoly on casino gambling in New Jersey, it’s getting a lot of help from casino companies themselves — and lobbyists are making out like bandits. The biggest spender to date has been Caesars … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Australia, Boyd Gaming, Downtown, Election, Entertainment, Genting, Greenwood Racing, Harrah's, Illinois, LVCVA, Massachusetts, MGM Mirage, Neil Bluhm, Penn National, Pennsylvania, Regulation, Sheldon Adelson, Singapore, Tourism, Transportation, Tribal | Comments Off on Lobbyists win in Atlantic City fight; Untimely reprimand for Bluhm

Penn talks turkey; Celebrity brawl at Aria

Posted on April 11, 2016 by David McKee

Next week Penn National Gaming turns on the Marquee Rewards spigot at the Tropicana Las Vegas. Given some of management’s recent disclosures, it won’t come a day too soon: 85% of Penn’s customer base comes to Sin City but stays … Continue reading →

Posted in Affinity Gaming, Ameristar, Boyd Gaming, CityCenter, Cordish Co., Full House Resorts, Harrah's, Indiana, Isle of Capri, Majestic Star, Marketing, Maryland, Massachusetts, MGM Mirage, Missouri, Ohio, Penn National, Pennsylvania, Pinnacle Entertainment, Racinos, Steve Wynn, Taxes, The Strip, Tourism, Tribal, Tropicana Entertainment, Wall Street, West Virginia | 1 Comment

Penn trumps Caesars in Ohio

Posted on April 7, 2016 by David McKee

Hard Rock Rocksino regained its top spot in Ohio last month, grossing just over $20 million (+9%). Just imagine what it could do if it had table games. The Caesars Entertainment/Dan Gilbert trifecta continued to underperform, with a flat month … Continue reading →

Posted in Dan Gilbert, Hard Rock International, Harrah's, New York, Ohio, Penn National, Pinnacle Entertainment, Racinos, Taxes, Tribal, Wall Street | Comments Off on Penn trumps Caesars in Ohio