Category Archives: Tribal

Incest in Philadelphia and New Jersey

Posted on March 17, 2014 by David McKee

Pennsylvania‘s one-and-one-third rule for casino ownership is playing hob with applications for the state’s final casino license, in Philadelphia. For instance, frontrunner Market 8 would be one-quarter owned by the ubiquitous Ira Lubert, who already owns half of Valley Forge … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Cordish Co., Don Barden, Greenwood Racing, Iowa, Macau, Mohegan Sun, Neil Bluhm, Penn National, Pennsylvania, Regulation, Revel, Sheldon Adelson, Tomato King Procacci, Tribal, Warner Gaming | Comments Off on Incest in Philadelphia and New Jersey

New York’s challenge; History repeats itself as farce

Posted on March 13, 2014 by David McKee

Wasting no time, the New York State Gaming Commission appointed three experienced public servants to the Resort Gaming Facility Location Board and gave them a June deadline to accept bids. That’s light speed compared to Massachusetts. It also overshadowed something … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, Boyd Gaming, Economy, International, New Hampshire, New York, Racinos, Tilman Fertitta, Tribal, Trump Entertainment Resorts, Wisconsin | Comments Off on New York’s challenge; History repeats itself as farce

Rocky Mountain high roller; Playing spoiler in Boston

Posted on March 11, 2014 by David McKee

“Recreational horse racing to me is more appealing than recreational pot.” So says one of the backers of expanded gambling in Colorado, state Rep. Don Coram (R). “We’re opposed because the way the initiative is written it gives the owner of … Continue reading →

Posted in California, Colorado, Election, Entertainment, Internet gambling, Massachusetts, MGM Mirage, Ohio, Regulation, Rhode Island, Tribal | Comments Off on Rocky Mountain high roller; Playing spoiler in Boston

Notes from Indian Country; Penn’s fast break

Posted on March 7, 2014 by David McKee

Native American casinos in Maine took a step toward realization when the lower house of the Legislature rescued pro-casino bills from seeming death in the Veterans & Legal Affairs Committee. The legislation “would allow the Passamaquoddy Tribe to build a … Continue reading →

Posted in California, Churchill Downs, Horseracing, Maine, Massachusetts, Penn National, Politics, Racinos, Tribal, Wisconsin | Comments Off on Notes from Indian Country; Penn’s fast break

Tribal casinos good for your health? Bet on it

Posted on March 5, 2014 by David McKee

“Reservation shopping” used to be Us versus Them language, as the private sector sought to hold back tribal casinos. Now it’s been added to the arsenal of tribe-on-tribe verbal violence. Writes the New York Times, “casino-owning Indian tribes have emerged … Continue reading →

Posted in Arizona, California, Environment, Politics, Tribal, Wayne F. Newton, Wisconsin | Comments Off on Tribal casinos good for your health? Bet on it

More slots for the Sunshine State; Sheldon’s big payday

Posted on March 5, 2014 by David McKee

 A 453-page casino-enabling bill in the Florida state Senate just got a bit longer when Sen. Maria Sachs added language that would enable six additional counties (Palm Beach, Gadsden, Washington, Lee, Hamilton and Brevard) to have slots at their parimutuels. … Continue reading →

Posted in Arizona, Atlantic City, Environment, Florida, International, Isle of Capri, Macau, Politics, Racinos, Regulation, Revel, Sheldon Adelson, Steve Wynn, Taxes, Transportation, Tribal | 1 Comment

Scott makes his move; Sudden death in New Hampshire

Posted on March 5, 2014 by David McKee

Just when it looked like the casino train was going to leave the station without him, Florida Gov. Rick Scott (R) has opened compact renegotiations with the Seminole Tribe. The latter would like to keep blackjack and baccarat, Scott would … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Boyd Gaming, Florida, Genting, MGM Mirage, New Hampshire, New York, Racinos, Regulation, Revel, Sheldon Adelson, Tribal | Comments Off on Scott makes his move; Sudden death in New Hampshire

Caesars sells … to itself

Posted on March 3, 2014 by David McKee

Our friends Big Caesars and Little Caesars are back in the news again. Caesars Growth Partners (Little Caesars) has agreed to spend $2.2 billion to obtain Bally’s Las Vegas, The Cromwell, The Quad and Harrah’s New Orleans. The price includes … Continue reading →

Posted in Current, Election, Harrah's, Louisiana, Macau, Sheldon Adelson, The Strip, Tribal, Wisconsin | 2 Comments

Revere: Mohegan Sun rising in the east; Dose of reality in New Jersey

Posted on February 26, 2014 by David McKee

Election results are in from Revere, where Suffolk Downs and Mohegan Sun are partnering to build a racino. It wasn’t even close. Casino opponents were heavily outspent and, in the end, heavily outvoted, being crushed in a landslide, 63% to … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Cordish Co., Current, Economy, Election, Greenwood Racing, Internet gambling, Massachusetts, Mohegan Sun, Penn National, Taxes, Tribal | Comments Off on Revere: Mohegan Sun rising in the east; Dose of reality in New Jersey

Florida: Go big or go home

Posted on February 25, 2014 by David McKee

It’s casino expansion time again in Florida, where a major change of the status quo has been unveiled in the state Senate. Pending local approval, Miami-Dade County would get one megaresort (minimum investment: $2 billion) and Broward County would get … Continue reading →

Posted in Boyd Gaming, Current, Donald Trump, Florida, Genting, Politics, Racinos, Regulation, Sheldon Adelson, Tribal | Comments Off on Florida: Go big or go home

Quote of the Day

Posted on February 24, 2014 by David McKee

“Unfortunately with this big influx of cash, [gaming] has tended to create a monoculture of economic development. The main economic development was always in gaming.” — Oneida/Menominee blogger Leah Sue Dodge, commenting on the vast economic disparity among Wisconsin‘s gambling-enabled tribes.

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

And then there were three; Atlantic City under pressure again

Posted on February 20, 2014 by David McKee

Nevada gaming authorities will have to start reporting the Silver State’s online-gambling revenue now that South Point has entered the lists under its Real Gaming banner. (We won’t get the numbers until late March.) The site ” is offering tournament play … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Boyd Gaming, Election, Entertainment, Florida, Harrah's, Internet gambling, Michael Gaughan, Regulation, Station Casinos, The Strip, Tribal | Comments Off on And then there were three; Atlantic City under pressure again

Hard Rock OK’d; Tribal casinos’ power plays; Caesars’ astute move

Posted on February 17, 2014 by David McKee

Instead of being left to rot, Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Sioux City will be permitted to resume construction, with a view toward a late-summer opening. That good news was handed down from the Polk County District Court bench. If … Continue reading →

Posted in Florida, Foxwoods, Genting, Harrah's, Internet gambling, Iowa, Massachusetts, Mohegan Sun, Penn National, Regulation, Rhode Island, Tribal, Wall Street, Warner Gaming | 1 Comment

Market8 endorsed; Web casinos raided; Gridlock in Kentucky, Florida

Posted on February 12, 2014 by David McKee

Market8 is emerging as the frontrunner in the competition for a Philadelphia casino license. Three area politicians have come forward in support of Ken Goldenberg‘s project, which will be run by Mohegan Sun. As part of a joint communique, First … Continue reading →

Posted in Florida, Internet gambling, Kentucky, Mohegan Sun, Pennsylvania, Politics, Regulation, Tribal | Comments Off on Market8 endorsed; Web casinos raided; Gridlock in Kentucky, Florida

Pinnacle beats The Street; MGM goes electric

Posted on February 12, 2014 by David McKee

Pinnacle Entertainment did a brilliant job of managing Wall Street‘s expectations, its cash flow coming in $5 million above analysts’ consensus, driven by lower operating expenses. J.P. Morgan‘s Joseph Greff called the results “better than feared,” which tells you how … Continue reading →

Posted in Ameristar, Environment, Foxwoods, International, Internet gambling, Maryland, Massachusetts, MGM Mirage, Missouri, Ohio, Pinnacle Entertainment, Transportation, Tribal, Wall Street | Comments Off on Pinnacle beats The Street; MGM goes electric

Churchill Downs gets singed, casino creditors get burnt

Posted on February 10, 2014 by David McKee

Nick Ribis, a contentious figure in the Atlantic City casino scene is at it again. Or so contends a lawsuit by Churchill Downs. The racino company claims it paid Ribis $2.5 million “to develop and operate” Internet gambling on its … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Churchill Downs, Colony Capital, Florida, Foxwoods, Harrah's, Horseracing, Internet gambling, Massachusetts, Mohegan Sun, Racinos, Revel, Sam Nazarian, Tribal | 1 Comment

Sheldon Adelson vs. the world

Posted on February 5, 2014 by David McKee

A fissure has opened within Big Gaming. Sheldon Adelson‘s efforts to push anti-Internet-casino legislation will be officially opposed by an industry lobby that includes MGM Resorts International. Both MGM and the American Gaming Association are constituents of the Coalition for Consumer … Continue reading →

Posted in Economy, Election, Florida, Genting, Internet gambling, MGM Mirage, Politics, Sheldon Adelson, Tribal | Comments Off on Sheldon Adelson vs. the world

A cautionary tale

Posted on February 5, 2014 by David McKee

Many people think tribal casinos are a panacea, a ‘license to print money.’ They should read the sad story of the defunct Santa Ysabel Casino. It was damned by many factors, including a poor location, small size and an opening … Continue reading →

Posted in Arizona, California, Tribal | Comments Off on A cautionary tale

Super Blowout

Posted on February 4, 2014 by David McKee

And, no, I don’t mean what happened on the field last Sunday at the Super Bowl. Nevada‘s sports books surpassed last year’s record $99 million handle and it wasn’t even close — $119 million. The nearly $20 million in profit … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, Election, Florida, Foxwoods, Harrah's, history, Massachusetts, Regulation, Sports, The Strip, Tribal | Comments Off on Super Blowout

Buoyancy in Vegas, contentment at Wynn

Posted on January 31, 2014 by David McKee

Despite somewhat less money being dropped on the Las Vegas Strip, revenue was up 13% last December, closing out a strong 4Q13. Statewide, revenue was up 10%, slightly over a billion dollars. Tighter slot hold on the Strip helped fuel … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Boulder Strip, Boyd Gaming, Downtown, Economy, Lake Tahoe, Laughlin, Macau, Massachusetts, Mohegan Sun, Racinos, Reno, Steve Wynn, Taxes, The Strip, Tribal, Wall Street | Comments Off on Buoyancy in Vegas, contentment at Wynn