Category Archives: Tribal

MGM’s urban renewal; Ruffin rides again

Posted on August 4, 2014 by David McKee

Despite an atmosphere of uncertainty in Massachusetts, executives at MGM Resorts International are putting their faith in a November victory at the ballot box. They’ve closed on the purchase of two tornado-damaged buildings, the Springfield State Armory (shown) and the … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, Boyd Gaming, Economy, Election, Kansas, Massachusetts, MGM Mirage, Penn National, Phil Ruffin, Racinos, Taxes, Tribal | Comments Off on MGM’s urban renewal; Ruffin rides again

Tribal warfare; Happy ending in Pittsburgh

Posted on August 4, 2014 by David McKee

Congress is fiddling around the edges of the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act but, for all the talk of reform, only ‘reservation shopping’ seems to be a real subject of concern. This political bogeyman is cited whenever a tribe wants to … Continue reading →

Posted in Arizona, Don Barden, Pennsylvania, Politics, Tribal | Comments Off on Tribal warfare; Happy ending in Pittsburgh

Flake-ing out over tribal gambling

Posted on July 29, 2014 by David McKee

It must be nice to have two U.S. senators at your beck and call. That’s the case for tribal opponents of the Tohono O’odham Nation casino proposal. Sens. John McCain and Jeff Flake (R-AZ) are introducing a bill that would make … Continue reading →

Posted in Arizona, Politics, Regulation, Tribal | Comments Off on Flake-ing out over tribal gambling

Penny pinchers; Tribal warfare in New Mexico; Who’s tops in Macao?

Posted on July 24, 2014 by David McKee

Although the hold on penny slots in Illinois casinos is grotesquely higher than that for quarter slots/video poker, the imaginary value of penny machines makes them by far the most popular genre in the state. Punters dropped $41 million into … Continue reading →

Posted in Election, Illinois, Macau, Melco Crown Entertainment, MGM Mirage, Neil Bluhm, Penn National, Sheldon Adelson, Stanley Ho, Steve Wynn, Technology, Tribal | 1 Comment

Has tribal gaming peaked?

Posted on July 24, 2014 by David McKee

That’s the import of remarks by Assistant Secretary for Indian Affairs Kevin Washburn, testifying before a Senate committee. Not only have revenues plateaued in the $26 billion-$28 billion range, they’ve essentially been the same since 2007. Meanwhile, private-sector gambling is … Continue reading →

Posted in Horseracing, Kentucky, Regulation, Technology, Texas, Tribal | Comments Off on Has tribal gaming peaked?

Power play in Vegas; Positive talk in Pennsylvania

Posted on July 22, 2014 by David McKee

Las Vegas Sands and Bwin shareholder, and all-around string-puller Jason Ader is committing 350 million of (other people’s) dollars to bringing a Major League Soccer franchise to Las Vegas. Much of the investment would be realized through the EB-5 visa … Continue reading →

Posted in Downtown, Harrah's, International, Internet gambling, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Regulation, Sports, Tribal | Comments Off on Power play in Vegas; Positive talk in Pennsylvania

Argosy saved … for now

Posted on July 21, 2014 by David McKee

Not only has the Iowa Supreme Court not ruled on Judge Elizabeth Ovrom‘s ruling to close Argosy Sioux City, it hasn’t decided whether or not to hear the case. However, it still has kept the Penn National Gaming riverboat on life … Continue reading →

Posted in Foxwoods, Greenwood Racing, Iowa, Massachusetts, Penn National, Pennsylvania, Regulation, Sheldon Adelson, Tribal | Comments Off on Argosy saved … for now

Strange doings in Alabama

Posted on July 18, 2014 by David McKee

Continuing its persecution of the Poarch Creek Band of Indians, the State of Alabama is taking them to federal appeals court. And it looks like state Attorney General Luther Strange might have a leg to stand on. He’s citing the … Continue reading →

Posted in Alabama, Kansas, Oklahoma, Regulation, South Carolina, Tribal | Comments Off on Strange doings in Alabama

Reversal in Phoenix; Flame out

Posted on July 17, 2014 by David McKee

So noxious to some in the Phoenix area is the idea of a Tohono O’odham Nation casino that Arizona‘s congressional delegation has actually tried to get a special law passed to stop it. For five and a half years, the Tohono … Continue reading →

Posted in Arizona, Current, Dining, Downtown, Environment, Politics, Tribal, Westgate LV | Comments Off on Reversal in Phoenix; Flame out

Terra incognita

Posted on July 15, 2014 by David McKee

Boldly going where no tribe has gone before, the  Iipay Nation of Santa Ysabel is days from launching PrivateTable.com. In the Iipay Nation’s viewpoint, tribal sovereignty overrides California law, permitting it to go it alone as an i-poker provider. The idea … Continue reading →

Posted in California, Downtown, Internet gambling, Regulation, Slot routes, Station Casinos, Tribal | Comments Off on Terra incognita

Station’s big hit; Tribal roundup

Posted on July 8, 2014 by David McKee

There’s no doubt that Graton Resort, less than an hour’s driving distance from San Francisco, has been a success for Station Casinos. We just didn’t know how much. In addition to earning a $7.4 million management fee during 1Q14, Station … Continue reading →

Posted in California, Florida, Kansas, Regulation, Station Casinos, Technology, Tribal, Wall Street | 1 Comment

Atlantic City: Tide’s out?

Posted on July 7, 2014 by David McKee

New Jersey can’t add new casino or racino sites until late 2016, per Gov. Chris Christie‘s rescue plan. But lawmakers may not wait that long. A 2015 statewide ballot question to add new gambling jurisdictions is “a very real possibility,” according … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Election, Foxwoods, Massachusetts, Politics, Taxes, Tribal, Wall Street | Comments Off on Atlantic City: Tide’s out?

Australia: New promised land?

Posted on July 2, 2014 by David McKee

As Chinese visitation grew 36% in the last year alone, accounting for $7.75 billion dollars of economic impact, Australia is plunging full speed ahead into the race to be the next big gaming thing in the Pacific Rim. Hong Kong … Continue reading →

Posted in Arkansas, Australia, James Packer, Massachusetts, Sheldon Adelson, Singapore, Tourism, Tribal | Comments Off on Australia: New promised land?

Freeman’s strange plea; Aristocrat on the move

Posted on June 26, 2014 by David McKee

This morning, a strange letter landed upon my cyber-desk, signed by American Gaming Association Senior Vice President of Public Affairs Sara Rayme. However, it’s perfectly congruent with the aggressive tendencies of AGA President Geoff Freeman, so I look upon him … Continue reading →

Posted in Aristocrat, Geoff Freeman, IGT, Internet gambling, Politics, Technology, Texas, Tribal | Comments Off on Freeman’s strange plea; Aristocrat on the move

Et tu, Thrillist?; Bed-hopping in N.Y.

Posted on June 23, 2014 by David McKee

Poor Sam Nazarian. He’s still two months away from opening SLS Las Vegas and Thrillist has gone and jumped the gun. It’s crowned The Cromwell “already Vegas coolest hotel.” Not even an unfinished parking garage could dampen their enthusiasm, motivated … Continue reading →

Posted in Churchill Downs, Cordish Co., Hard Rock International, Harrah's, Iowa, Massachusetts, MGM Mirage, Neil Bluhm, New York, Penn National, Racinos, The Strip, Tribal | Comments Off on Et tu, Thrillist?; Bed-hopping in N.Y.

Revel to close, barring a miracle; Gaughan memorialized

Posted on June 19, 2014 by David McKee

That’s the message coming from top Revel Resort brass, who sent a letter to casino employees cautioning them that — unless the property can be sold by Aug. 18 — they all may be out of jobs: “If Revel is unable … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Downtown, Economy, Fontainebleau, Hard Rock International, Harrah's, history, Massachusetts, Tribal | 1 Comment

Atlantic City courts the LGBT dollar; Indiana casinos court anybody’s dollar

Posted on June 17, 2014 by David McKee

Formerly a gay getaway, Atlantic City lost its LGBT-friendly image when the casinos came in 1978, or so the history goes. “When the casinos came, people were quick to bulldoze whatever they had to sell for millions, and we lost … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Boyd Gaming, Harrah's, Illinois, Kansas, Marketing, Ohio, Penn National, Pinnacle Entertainment, Racinos, Sam Nazarian, Slot routes, Taxes, The Strip, Tribal | Comments Off on Atlantic City courts the LGBT dollar; Indiana casinos court anybody’s dollar

N.Y.: Another one bites the dust

Posted on June 17, 2014 by David McKee

Orange County in New York State could get a casino by default, as Catskills-area projects continue to fall by the wayside. The latest one to drop out is Foxwood Resort Casino‘s joint-venture bid to redevelop the old Grossinger’s Hotel site. … Continue reading →

Posted in Foxwoods, Genting, Harrah's, Massachusetts, MGM Mirage, Mohegan Sun, New York, Tribal | Comments Off on N.Y.: Another one bites the dust

Hot pursuit for IGT; Players leave good deal on table

Posted on June 17, 2014 by David McKee

It’s a feeding frenzy for International Game Technology. Among those who were quick to pounce on rumors of a sale were lottery king Gtech, Caesars Entertainment co-owner Apollo Management, Ron Perelman-controlled MacAndrews & Forbes Inc. and Carlyle Group, with the … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, California, Cosmopolitan, Harrah's, IGT, Internet gambling, Scientific Games, Tilman Fertitta, Tribal, Wall Street | Comments Off on Hot pursuit for IGT; Players leave good deal on table

Restarting the clock in Massachusetts; Atlantic City, international destination?

Posted on June 13, 2014 by David McKee

It looks like it’s back to Square One for Massachusetts‘ southeastern region. No host community agreements have been executed. No referendums have been held (with a mid-July deadline looming). And, although the cutoff date has passed, new candidates want to … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Foxwoods, Harrah's, International, Massachusetts, Ohio, Regulation, Tourism, Transportation, Tribal | 1 Comment