Category Archives: Tribal

Rocky Mountain low; Crouching Tiger, hidden ownership

Posted on September 26, 2014 by David McKee

A study by — you guessed — proponents of a racino in Colorado is projecting some hard-to-believe numbers, contingent upon Arapahoe Park being approved for casino gambling in November. They’re predicting $418 million in statewide economic impact, including $114 million … Continue reading →

Posted in California, Colorado, Economy, Election, International, Kazuo Okada, Melco Crown Entertainment, Racinos, Regulation, Taxes, Tribal | Comments Off

Quote of the Day

Posted on September 26, 2014 by David McKee

“According to National Relief Charities, a nonprofit organization that assists Native Americans in the Plains and Southwest, ‘Over 500 treaties were made with American Indian tribes, primarily for land cessations, but 500 treaties were also broken, changed or nullified when … Continue reading →

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

Wynn: What, me worry?; Clouds over Wisconsin

Posted on September 23, 2014 by David McKee

Steve Wynn is taking the softness of the Macao market in stride. “When you see that kind of adjustment, you adjust your business. You take tables away from VIP and put them into mass or premium mass,” he told Chinese reporters. … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Economy, Florida, Hard Rock International, Illinois, Japan, Macau, Politics, Sheldon Adelson, Steve Wynn, Tribal, Trump Entertainment Resorts, Wisconsin | Comments Off

Inside Sands’ success; Furor in Fresno

Posted on September 19, 2014 by David McKee

The most baccarat tables per casino in the U.S. are to be found at — no kidding — Sands Bethlehem. The casino, which fields 50 baccarat tables grossed $18 million in table game revenue last month, a record amount for … Continue reading →

Posted in California, Election, Greenwood Racing, Marketing, Massachusetts, Mohegan Sun, New York, Pennsylvania, Politics, Regulation, Sheldon Adelson, Station Casinos, Tribal, Wall Street | Comments Off

Cycle of futility; Hard luck in Indian Country

Posted on September 15, 2014 by David McKee

As the casino industry braces itself for Global Gaming Expo, this could hardly be a worse moment to be hawking slot machines. Not only is it undergoing a painful contraction but new markets (like Boston and Washington, D.C.) are a … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Bally Technologies, California, Economy, G2E, Harrah's, IGT, Maryland, Massachusetts, Mississippi, Revel, Scientific Games, Station Casinos, Tribal, Trump Entertainment Resorts | Comments Off

Case Bets: Wisconsin, Nebraska, Alabama

Posted on September 15, 2014 by David McKee

Jumping the gun, the Menominee Nation has launched a site for job-seekers at its hoped-for Dairyland Park casino. The landing page promises “Opening Soon Pending Approval.” (Did you notice how they jumped over that pesky construction phase?) The Forest County Potowatomi … Continue reading →

Posted in Alabama, Hard Rock International, Horseracing, Racinos, Technology, Tribal, Wisconsin | Comments Off

Macao’s loss is Vegas’ gain

Posted on September 12, 2014 by David McKee

There is discernible evidence that the anti-corruption crackdown in China is redounding to Las Vegas‘ benefit. According to a report by Deutsche Bank‘s Carlo Santarelli, “we do see a relatively compelling empirical case that supports the view that anti-corruption crackdowns … Continue reading →

Posted in Detroit, Economy, Macau, MGM Mirage, Ohio, The Strip, Transportation, Tribal | Comments Off

Can’t stop the consolidation

Posted on September 9, 2014 by David McKee

Continuing the shrinkage of the manufacturing sector, Global Cash Access is taking another chess piece — Multimedia Games — off the board. GCA will pay $1.1 billion for Multimedia, which specializes in VLTs for racinos and tribal markets.The price represented … Continue reading →

Posted in Arizona, Foxwoods, Hard Rock International, Harrah's, MTR Gaming, Ohio, Penn National, Pinnacle Entertainment, Racinos, Regulation, Technology, Tribal | Comments Off

New hope for Showboat, gloom for Atlantic City

Posted on September 8, 2014 by David McKee

While Revel and Trump Plaza go begging — and Trump Taj Mahal reportedly plans to close in November — suitors are lining up to woo Caesars Entertainment for the Showboat Atlantic City. Already Atlantic Properties Group has pitched the idea … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Boulder Strip, Donald Trump, Harrah's, history, Japan, MGM Mirage, Revel, Tribal, Trump Entertainment Resorts | Comments Off

Narrow race in Massachusetts; Boffo biz in Alabama

Posted on September 2, 2014 by David McKee

No state that has ever approved casino gambling has repealed it in over 80 years. That being said, casinos are polling weakly in Massachusetts — with support hovering at 50% — and the opposition is getting cocky. A perversely worded … Continue reading →

Posted in Alabama, Architecture, Economy, Election, Florida, Massachusetts, MGM Mirage, Penn National, Regulation, Rhode Island, The Strip, Tribal | 1 Comment

Strangest story of the year

Posted on August 29, 2014 by David McKee

Steve Wynn‘s Encore is making news in a way its owner would probably prefer it didn’t (and not for the first time this year). Bryanna Warren, Trinity Kennard and Charmella Triggs picked up a couple of guys in an Encore bar … Continue reading →

Posted in Cretins, Steve Wynn, The Strip, Tribal, TV | Comments Off

Recovery in Vegas? It depends on where you stand

Posted on August 28, 2014 by David McKee

July was a mixed blessing for Nevada. Gambling revenue was up 5% along the Strip, down 4% among locals and essentially flat statewide. Strip casinos won big at baccarat, with player losses increasing 16% on 24% heavier play. Non-Strip baccarat play … Continue reading →

Posted in Boulder Strip, Downtown, Isle of Capri, Lake Tahoe, Laughlin, Macau, MGM Mirage, Missouri, North Las Vegas, Reno, Taxes, The Strip, Tribal, Wisconsin | Comments Off

Party poopers

Posted on August 25, 2014 by David McKee

Those losers at Al-Qaeda are fixating on Las Vegas. In their fanzine, Palestine, they urge their followers to build car bombs and target Sin City. Nightclubs and casino floors are the high-impact targets of opportunity. (Real geniuses, these terrorist folk.) Both … Continue reading →

Posted in Election, Florida, Harrah's, International, Macau, Massachusetts, MGM Mirage, Sheldon Adelson, The Strip, Tribal | Comments Off

Cali Tribe goes rogue and other Case Bets

Posted on August 19, 2014 by David McKee

Legislative inaction be damned, the Iipay Nation of Santa Ysabel is going ahead with Internet poker. It’s already got a free play site but plans to go live with the real deal perhaps as early as next week. Isn’t that … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, California, Dining, Election, Entertainment, International, MGM Mirage, Transportation, Tribal | 1 Comment

Pacifism in Alabama; Flop in Florida

Posted on August 18, 2014 by David McKee

There’s nothing that trumps ideology like the need for tax dollars. Such is the case in Alabama, where budget shortfalls are bringing state government around to the idea of a gaming compact with Poarch Band of Creek Indians. No negotiations … Continue reading →

Posted in Alabama, Boyd Gaming, CityCenter, Dubai, Florida, MGM Mirage, Politics, The Strip, Tribal | 1 Comment

“You lost the war”

Posted on August 13, 2014 by David McKee

It took a contentious, fist-pounding meeting, but the Tohono O’odham Nation has a done deal with Glendale, Arizona. The $400 million casino project will pay the city $26 million over 20 years. “What we are being presented with tonight is peanuts … Continue reading →

Posted in Arizona, International, Taxes, Tribal, TV | Comments Off

Station’s big quarter; Smoke gets in your slots

Posted on August 13, 2014 by David McKee

Although customers are holding their purse strings tighter, Station Casinos registered noteworthy growth in earnings last quarter. Powered by Graton Resort & Casino in California, Station reported revenue of $55 million, up from $7 million a year earlier. In the … Continue reading →

Posted in California, Dining, Environment, Harrah's, Neil Bluhm, Ohio, Penn National, Pennsylvania, Pinnacle Entertainment, Racinos, Station Casinos, Tribal | Comments Off

Caesars’ unmagical empire

Posted on August 11, 2014 by David McKee

Caesars Entertainment ” hasn’t posted a profit since late 2009″ and it kept that perfect streak alive today, more than doubling its 2Q13 loss of $212 million. The company lost $466 million — and I don’t think we can blame it … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Harrah's, Internet gambling, Iowa, Maryland, Pennsylvania, Regulation, Reno, Revel, The Strip, Tribal, Wall Street | Comments Off

The Macanese squeeze

Posted on August 5, 2014 by David McKee

“Everyone has got dealers and waitresses and cooks and housekeeping and we all got them from the same place … what do you think is going to happen 18 months from now? Exactly the same thing.” That’s the sound of … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, Current, Macau, Regulation, Sheldon Adelson, Steve Wynn, Tribal, Wisconsin | Comments Off

Packer’s second chance

Posted on August 5, 2014 by David McKee

“You can’t be in the gaming industry and not have a special reverence for Las Vegas — that’s where it all began. While we fell short in past attempts to enter that market, we now have the ideal opportunity.” So said … Continue reading →

Posted in Arizona, Cannery Casino Resorts, Donald Trump, Election, Fontainebleau, Harrah's, James Packer, MGM Mirage, Politics, Sam Nazarian, Station Casinos, Steve Wynn, The Strip, Tribal, Wall Street | 2 Comments